so glad you came, o

Lacie tucked a few loose strands of her crimson locks behind her ear. The rest pulled up into her ponytail fluttering in the ocean winds like ribbons dancing up in the air. Her thoughts still fixated on why she was told to take the day off. Did she miss a spot when she was cleaning the dishes? Was there a customer complaint on her services? That was going to bother her until she went back to work. It was quite an enticing thought to return back to work to ask her boss why he was giving her the day off. She was worried that she wasn't meeting standard regulations of the restaurant.

Her train of pensive thoughts were quickly pulled away by the sound of a camera snapping. It came nearby which woke the eighteen year old up from her drowning worry. A voice, male, family to her ears rang in a teasing tone. A frown marred her lips as she turned to face a certain bluenette looking up at her behind a pair of fancy camera lens.

"No, Luke," she sighed softly, "I'd be sooner dead than to turn into a good for nothing bum. It's called taking a day off. Ever heard of it?" Because Lacie certainly was having a hard time grasping it. Besides, as long as she was living under the same roof as Axel then she was going to try to get him to do something. In the mean time, her focus was on Luke. "What brings you all the way out here?" she inquired, "Or wait, let me guess, your 'Lacie senses' were tingling, telling you I would be here. It's a phenomenon, so you must take pictures?"

Randomly taking pictures out of the blue was rather creepy.

She inwardly flinched as he called her out about knowing the meaning of taking a day off. If it there was one thing she didn't like aside from having nothing to do then it was being called out for moments of vulnerability such as this. Like she needed to be told how to to take a break and understand what it meant! Ha, what a joke! Though what really deepened the frown on her face was the subtle surprise glint in Luke's features that she did know the word and it's meaning. For someone who knew her since they were little kids he sure had a lot of faith in her. Not.

“I have never and would ever do any of those things to any of my customers,” she huffed, “I'll have you know that I give nothing less than the best service to the tables I wait on.” He was even there a couple of times to see her in action. She wouldn't miss a single detail on her work station. Despite how much she'd prefer if he didn't come as much as he did - she couldn't refuse any customers, which included him. Much to her dismay.

The best solution she always followed down to the fine details when dealing with less than tolerable people was avoid them. Though sometimes she wondered if there was an outside force that liked toying with encounters. This one in particular because of all the places to stumble across the bluenette it had to be here. His last comment had her quiet for a moment or two. She wanted her pictures taken? Goodness gracious, no! That was far beyond what she wanted. As a matter of fact she wanted to avoid being caught on camera. Lacie was not photogenic in the slightest.

“What do you take me for, Luke? Do I look that conceited that I would ask for my pictures taken?” The only person who was even worth capturing on camera was one of her flatmates, Konrad, but that's because he's an actual model. A male model at that too. They're far more rare in commidity than women any day and for good reasons too. She shook her head quickly. “You know what? Never mind. Just delete that picture you took of me, please. That must be horrible.”

“Are you serious?” It seemed so. Wow, she honestly thought that he had more taste than that. Lacie couldn't imagine any photo with her in it being anything worth seeing. At all. Here she was thinking that he was professional with his passion. “I don't know what you see but that's still a bad photo and you should get rid of it. Seems like I'm not the only one off of their game.”

The sound of laughing girls was caught in her ears. She turned to the corner of her eye to see two girls passing by. Slim, slender forms racing off to the waters. Those were the type of girls who should have their pictures taken. Anyone except her. What was it like to smile so naturally racing out to the waters were a mouthful of that could make anyone gag? Though the stinging salty sea waves didn't bother them in the slightest. She didn't have time for these things. Or well, she used to not have time for this!

She would rather be working to earn enough money first. Maybe then she may consider getting a new bathing suit for the beach. “Fine, you can keep that picture,” she sighed, “but don't you dare publish it. I'm serious, Luke.” If she somehow finds that she sees her face on something - be it a magazine or anywhere on the internet then she would be highly upset with him. “I think coming here would've been better if I asked the guys back in the flat if they wanted to come out.” At least in a big group such as the guys - plus Luke - it may have been chaotic but at least she wouldn't have to worry if Axel would get upset about her being alone with another male.

“Actually, never mind. Axel's so lazy to come to the beach. That or he'd insist on me to keep my pullover on.” Because showing off skin at a beach was such a magnet for guys to check her out. Ha. Like she's had that problem before. Not when she lived with a large group consisting of nothing but men.

Lacie was a little bit of a judgmental person. Only because she expected nothing but the best–especially when it geared towards something someone is passionate in. Luke could do so much better than taking pictures of her. There was nothing interesting about her appearance whatsoever. Besides, it wasn’t like she was expecting to find a date anytime soon. There was a time and place for everything. A boyfriend wasn't something she needed at the moment. She already lived with a group of guys who were all handful. Not to mention she had standards that had to be considered as well when looking for a candidate for the boyfriend title.

“That makes you sound like some creepy stalker,” she pointed out. “You're lucky we've known each other since we were kids. Otherwise, I could press charges for identity exploitation.” It’s been quite some time since she saw him pick up his very first camera. So long that she forgotten what model he got when he started or the other models of cameras he went through during his practice in photography. The eighteen year old pony-tailed lass pretty much considered it like an extension of his body. She never saw him without it in his hands. “Still, you've got quite the portfolio of pictures, don't you?”

Overly protective twin brother didn’t even begin to express Axel's behavior when just the very mention of another guy comes into the conversation. She didn’t look the slightest bit surprise when she heard the bluenette mention that he still feels like his life was in danger around her brother. A wry smile graced her lips. “Figures the one thing he’s actually responsible in is the thing that could get him into trouble.” Though, she knew... well, deep down somewhere in that lazy exterior, he meant well. Or at least she hoped he did.

She looked back at the same time as Luke did when the giggling girls could be heard playing in the ocean waters. It must’ve been nice to be carefree at the beach like that. Though her attention was quickly turned away from the beach, the girls playing in the salt waters, and the scenery altogether by a sudden question. Blinking, she turned back over to the blue-haired photographer trying to make sure she heard him right. “This Saturday?” she repeated. She pulled out her cell phone before going into her apps – she scrolled through the list to find her work schedule to check her weekend. “It depends. I’ve got a morning shift at work, but I get off at one o’ clock. I’ll have the rest of the day off afterwards. Why do you ask?”

Touché. Either way, the point of the conversation was taking pictures unexpectedly before or after she was aware of the camera was uncomfortable. It's hard to look natural when there's a camera lens staring at her face. She's tried taking pictures of herself with her phone as well so she knew just how awkward she must've looked. Her smile is all wonky, and her face didn't scream confidence in her complexion. Put her in a waitress apron, with a notepad in her hands, or a server's tray then she'll be in the zone. Ready to work and please the guests who come into the restaurant. It was easier than staring in front of a camera.

“If it helps, I don't hate you to that point yet. Though that's subject to change though depending on what you do in the future.” Despite living in a flat with a group of men, she still doesn't understand a lick worth of how a man's brain ticks. Luke was no exception either. Especially with the type of friends that mix together with their attitudes. How they've managed not to kill each other up to this point is still a god-send to the red-haired younger Jones twin.

She nodded her head in agreement with his statement. Lacie trusted that Axel had fairly good judgement when it came to waging who was worth picking fights with. Hopefully, he wouldn't have to fight on her behalf either. If she had to pick the lesser of two evils then it would be that he stayed lazy rather than get hurt by someone who could really do damage to him.

“Wha-what?” she staggered her question. “Just a second, Luke!” Before she could begin stringing along her interrogation for this meeting downtown at the park, he spoke over her. Her eyes widened at the mention of her photo going in a tourism magazine or on a website. Dear god, she didn't want to call him out on a bluff but the urge to take that camera to delete the photo was very high. Unfortunately, she didn't even get the chance to even do that as the bluenette took off. “I hate you, Luke...”

She collected her things before checking the time. It certainly flew by as it was time for her to hit up the grocery store to start making dinner for the boys. A sigh escaped her lips making a mental note to text Luke later. For specifics as to where exactly in the park to meet up, and what did he have in stored. That was what worried her the most. Not knowing what the robin's egg blue haired boy was plotting.