all credits to @/greatooglymooglyyy on tumblr!!
contains: kissing, fluff, slight angst, ex!chris, flashbacks (in italics), use of y/n, 1.3k words
If there's ever a time where I hate being an event photographer, it's in moments like this. Shifting my camera bag from one shoulder to the other, I try the number I was given for the event coordinator again. But again, it goes straight to voicemail. Great.
I yank the door of the employee entrance one last time out of pure desperation to no avail before I give up and walk back around to the front. There's a long line stretched around the side of the building waiting the show to start.
A few girls at the front of the line tense up when they see me coming but their shoulders drop when they realize I'm not someone they know. Hoping they won't think I'm cutting the line, I walk up to the glass doors where a security guard is posted.
"Hi. I'm working the event tonight." I say with a nervous smile, pulling my camera bag up so he can see. "I couldn't get into the employee door. Could you let me in?"
He gives me an apologetic look and shakes his head. "You'll have to call Gabe. I can't let anyone through."
"But, I did call him," I say with a hint of frustration. "Do you think you could tell him I'm here? I think his phone is dead."
"Can't leave. Sorry. You'll have to wait until the talent arrives."
That's exactly what I was afraid of. As if it isn't humiliating enough to be working my ex-boyfriend's event, I'm going to have to wait out front with the fans. I might as well have made a sign.
Sighing, I thank the security guard and turn around to head back to my car when everyone in line begins screaming. The tour bus pulls to a stop in front of the door and creaks open. The boys and their team pile off the bus pretty quickly, rushing towards the door, and I step off the side hoping I can stop their manager without being noticed.
But as Chris passes me by, a fan calls out his middle name and he looks up, meeting my eyes. And it's like I'm being flung backward in time.
we're lying in the grass of my backyard studying the stars for an astronomy class. somehow, as we always manage to do, we shifted from laying side by side and my head now rests on his stomach as we form a T shape.
"how do we tell if that's the little dipper or the big one?" he asks, straining his eyes to see the worksheet.
"the little dipper's upside down it says... and smaller."
chris sits up, forcing me to as well, and grabs his phone to take a picture of the constellation for the project. but as i look back up at the sky, a flash covers me and I look back confused.
"what are you doing?" i ask, taking the worksheet from him and moving closer.
"taking a picture of my favorite star," he says with a wide goofy grin.
"oh. my. god. corny!" i say dragging the word out through a laugh.
"Y/N," Chris says like he can't believe his eyes. Unsure of what to do, I give in to the awkwardness, waving and exclaiming a too-excited, "Hey, you!"
He blinks at me, clearly wanting to ask what I'm doing here but not wanting to be rude so I put him out of his misery. "I'm supposed to be your photographer today but I couldn't get in. But honestly, maybe I should just go. I mean really it's fine-"
Nick cuts me off with a squeal having doubled back looking for Chris. He pulls me into a tight hug and I lean into this boy who was once one of my closest friends. After I re-explain the situation to Nick, he takes my hand and leads me in the doors behind him before introducing me to their manager.
She and I discuss the details of what I'll be shooting and I thank her, going to set up my equipment. I perch at the edge of the stage taking some test shots when someone settles in beside me. I look over and I can't help but smile at how bewildered Chris still looks.
"So..."
"So..." I prompt when he trails off and he nudges my shoulder.
"You're doing it! You always talked about taking photography seriously. That's so fucking cool, kid."
I bark out a laugh at his absurdity. "This?" I say holding up my camera. "How about you guys being fucking superstars? Is it everything you thought it'd be?"
Chris' smile wavers for a split second before snapping back into place. "In some ways, even better. But in others... I don't know."
I nod in understanding and make a move to lighten the mood. "Say cheese." I scoot back to get a good angle and point my camera towards him. He smiles and strikes a stupid pose. "You got my good side?"
"just one more, i promise!" i say, reaching out and gently adjusting chris' head position.
"babe, i love you, but we've been at this for two hours. my neck hurts," he whines but keeps his head where i've angled it.
"i know. i know. i'm sorry. but i need this portfolio to be great. please just a couple more."
he folds under my pleading eyes and nods, straightening his posture. i smile and lean in, pressing a sweet kiss to his lips as a thank you. he follows me when i go to pull away, giving me two more short pecks.
i smile but scold him with feigned strictness. "christopher! stop moving your head."
"then stop distracting me! did you at least get my good side?"
Someone calls for Chris from backstage and my face drops as I realize our time is over. "I think the show's about to start."
He nods but doesn't move, keeping his eyes trained on mine. "I know."
"Chris, you should-"
"I miss you." He cuts in, his voice full of sincerity. "I miss you all the time. And I know why we did this. I know what we said. But, every day without you just doesn't feel worth it."
chris holds my face in his hands, his thumbs wiping away my falling tears, while his stream undeterred.
"i'm just scared we'll end up hating each other." he chokes out. "all we do is fight when i'm in LA and i'm supposed to be moving in two weeks."
i nod, leaning my forehead against his. "i don't ever want to hate you, chris."
"so what do we do?"
"we walk away." i breathe out a heavy sigh. "and you go make sure it's worth it."
"what if it never is?"
"then you try harder."
I blink back the tears springing to my eyes at the memory, the weight of how much I want this second chance heavy on my chest. "What if it doesn't work?"
"We'll make it work."
"But-"
Chris cuts me off with a kiss I feel all the way down to my toes. His lips taste like watermelon and home and I lean into him, drunk on the feeling.
We finally pull away gasping for breath after what feels like hours and he stares at me, uncharacteristically serious.
"I'm never letting you out of my life again. So we will make it work." He says with a tone of finality. I grin and let him pull me into his arms, whispering into his neck how much I've missed him. I lean back to press another kiss to his lips but jump when someone else speaks.
"Finally!" Matt exclaims, stepping out on the stage. Heat rises to my face and I go to pull out of Chris' arms but he holds on tighter. Matt grins at the two of us like a proud parent, walking over and picking up my camera before snapping what I'm sure is a very blurry candid. "We missed you around here, gang."
I raise a brow but can't fight back my smile. "Oh, is that right?"
"Duh," He says, snapping another picture. "I mean, who do you think booked you in the first place?"
