; infinite

“That’s true. I am a serious person but sometimes when i am bored, i am the opposite” 

     “Oh, is that right?” Kira asked with a quirked brow, letting her arms fold. “Are you telling me you’re bored?” she concluded, hip cocking out in a manner that was accusatory but jokingly so, knowing having a picture taken wasn’t the most exciting in the world.

“Did you bring food as well? Because then we’re talking,” Mels said, a grin smile on her face now.

     Tipping her head, offering an expression of disbelief, Kira sighed and brought out her other hand that was holding a paper bag, folded at the top and warm in her hand. 

Kira was a positive person and being around her always lifted her mood and made her feel a sense of happiness. The last thing she wanted to do was have professional headshots done but when it was her newfound friend doing them, it wasn’t as bad as she expected. “Look at you dishing out compliments left and right.” Reina said with a chuckle, brushing some hair from her face so she could see the lens. “I don’t think anyone will be jealous of me, you goof. But thank you.”

     “None of that talk,” Kira said with a point of her finger, sending a pout in Reina’s direction before walking over after setting the camera down. “Anyone would be jealous of you, you hear me?” she asked, arching a brow before bringing her hands up to fix a few pieces of hair out of place, smoothing the longs strand down and letting a few spill over her shoulders. 

As the two of them walked towards the cafe, it made Reina realize just why she decided to move back her in the first place. It was the reason why her mother loved this town so much and chose to live here until she died. No matter where you were or who you were, you could always make a new friend and everyone always treated you kindly. “I’m Reina.” She began in response to her newfound acquaintance. “I lived here when I was thirteen until I was eighteen. Then I went to the University of Connecticut and after that I attended medical school in Maryland. I moved back here about eight months ago when my mother became sick.”

     Five years, that’s how long Reina had been there and Kira had no clue. She wasn’t sheltered, not in the slightest, however her family made sure she was only in the presence of certain people, of certain families and their kids so the more she thought about it the more she figured it made sense. And that alone was a sin, the fact that she had missed so much of what had happened in her hometown and lost a lot of experience that she could have had.

“Dude… Yes! I really want that, no… I need it! I’m so hungry… Let’s pay for all of this stuff so we can get something to eat before I die. Ahh, and I also want some fries, a milkshake, and maybe something with chicken too,” Camila began saying as she carried all of her stuff towards the cash register. “You think that if we go to Burger King they’ll give me one of those paper crowns?”

     Laughing, Kira helped with the stuff they had picked out and brought it over to the counter, dropping it on the surface with a smile at the cashier before turning back to Camila. 

“I can’t even imagine having more than one child,” she laughed. “That sounds like an amazing idea.”

     “I can’t even imagine having one child,” Kira said with a small shake of her head. “I mean, I love kids and all, but I like other people’s kids because then I’m not fully responsible for them.”

“I’m anything but plain,” he smirked. “Surprise me…” He followed behind her silently, watching her hips sway side to side seductively, and wanting nothing more than to put his hands there and pull her back into him. He’d maybe tease her neck with his lips and teeth while she whipped up the batter, spin her around and kiss her lazily on the counter while they cooked on the griddle, lifting her up so that she sat on the counter while her thighs straddled his hips… 

     Kira never really had an issue with a “friends with benefits” type of situation didn’t make things complicated, there was no drama or questions of what was going on, and that? That was nice. Despite being drug into it for the most part because of her “fix everything” nature, she tried to avoid dramatics as much as possible, and so far whatever was happening right now was just kind of easy. That, and the fact that she could sit happily afterwards with Davis as friends who could just hang out, was just nice.

Dimitrie smiled softly and shook his head. “I do not think so. He loves to learn and he loves to socialize, so it seems to me that he will enjoy school very much.”

      The kid was polite amongst other things, Kira noted, smiling as the boy turned to ask nicely if he could see the pictures she had taken. How could she say no to a face like that? And it was so with a wide grin and a nod of her head that she led them towards where her setup was, the large screen of the computer heavy on the desk and she pulled another chair over for them to sit.

Porter wasn’t entirely sure what that meant, but he relaxed his shoulders and attempted to just be himself, which was a rather awkward human being in general. “Damn straight. I’ve been perfecting the look since I saw the movie fifteen years ago,” he continued to joke, hands fidgeting with the lapels of his suit jacket. In response to her question, a small smile stretched across his lips. “Uh, for a few years. I tried just about everything in the culinary world – small diners, fine dining, being a personal chef, even working at a food truck – and just couldn’t find something that stuck, so I thought I would give owning my own place a shot.” He rubbed the back of his neck a bit awkwardly, flashing her a sheepish smile. “How long have you been a photographer?”

     It was in the second that he thought about his restaurant that Kira knew she’d get the right shot, and it was as Porter started speaking did she lift her camera again and watched, snapping photos. Because that was always the trick, she found, when people started talking about why they do what they do or explaining the things they love there was always just something brilliant in photos. Whether is was the brightness on their face or the passion in their eyes, there was just something genuine and absolutely beautiful about it.

“If you’re bringing me coffee, you’re my saviour,” said Mels with a smile. “So maybe I could change my mind.”

     “Then voila,” Kira said with a pull of her arm, producing the large cup and holding it up in front of Melody’s face. “Your knight in shining armor has arrived.”

Ade really didn’t know why she was apologising, but he said nothing about it, simply settling down and getting himself comfy now that he had company. “I would?” he questioned, his smile bright as he spoke, an eyebrow perked in amusement. “I think I could do with a little more weird in my life, anyway, so that can’t be a bad thing as far as I’m concerned.” As she continued, he laughed and shook his head, then questioned, “Why? Is that something you’re likely to do?”

     “That’s something I’m likely to photograph, and if you’re interested please, please, please let me know because no one is willing to do it,” Kira explained with a small pout, leaning back into her seat and folding her arms over her chest. “Apparently not a lot of people are that comfortable with themselves no matter how much I promise I’m a professional and won’t make em’ look bad.”

Anna seemed to be in her own little world as he stared at the band-aid. She seemed happy to look at it and it was clear she was more than okay. Dominique smiled at Kira’s comment and couldn’t agree more. “ Yeah, she’s always been like that. She recently turned four, which doesn’t seem right. I swear it was yesterday she was born”

     Looking back over at the little girl who was absolutely happy with the way things had turned out, enthralled by her band-aid, Kira grinned and waved a little when she looked up. “Four, hm?” she asked, arms crossing slowly as she nodded. “Well, by the time you’re seven I think you’re gonna be a kick butt viking warrior if you keep this up.”

Phoebe followed the woman’s lead, allowing her to guide her to the car. She was so thankful to be back in Lakewood, where there were people to help when she needed it. Without a partner to help her raise her son, she often felt like she was floundering, just trying to keep her head up. “Thank you,” Davis said in a soft voice, using both hands to pull himself in the car. He settled in the seat and folded his hands in his lap, being careful with his wounded hand. “I was playing with scissors,” he answered, ducking his head to look at the floorboard of the car. “Mommy told me I’m not s’posed to do that, but I wanted to cut my paper.” Phoebe sighed, a small smile on her lips. “He cut his hand instead.” To which her son replied, “but I also cut my paper!”

    Frowning a little at the fact that there was such a dangerous situation at hand, glancing back in the mirror at Phoebe’s son who looked sorry he had even done the deed, Kira released a sigh and turned the key in the ignition. She did, however, give a thumbs up at the fact that he managed to cut the paper, saying, “Just next time you’ll avoid your hand, right? I don’t think there’s much cutting that’ll happen when you’re hurt.”

Dimitrie took a step forward to help his son get what he wanted, and the little boy looked over his shoulder. “No, t’ank you,” he said. “I do it.” Lucas let out a little noise of satisfaction as he grabbed the snack he wanted and sat down in a chair to eat.

     “And then, in approximately seven years down the road, he’s going to be wishing he never jumped in so fast and will do anything to get the heck out.” Laughing, Kira sucked in a deep breath and turned to put her camera down, removing the SD card. 

Phoebe nodded her head, swallowing the lump in her throat before letting out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding. “Yeah. Yeah, I can relax,” she said with a soft laugh, nodding her head once again. “Sorry about the little mini-panic attack.”

     Kira smiled and moved a little closer to the woman, letting her hand rest on her back to give it a little rub as she pulled her towards the vehicle, urging her to take a seat. It was when she was safely in did she shut the door and look towards the little one who was already pulling on the handle to get the door open.