Thanks to everyone who read the last chapter.

Chap 2

Hank got to his shop around 6:30am. He walked over to his desk and turned his lamp on. His first cup of coffee was almost gone. It was at this moment he mentally kicked himself for not buying a coffee maker for the studio, to have at moment like this. He thought about texting Sarah and asking her to bring him a second cup. He knew it was going to be a long day, in more ways than one due to the lack of sleep and possibly having another 'conversation' about yesterday. He sat at his desk looking at his phone for a few minutes, an internal war going on inside him….to text or not to text? He desperately wanted some kind of contact with her. As much as he hated the conversation they had the day before he needed her to know he was thinking about her. Sarah usually didn't come into work until 9am and he figured she wouldn't be awake yet. So he decided to put his phone down and find the negatives he wanted. Maybe he would text her later.

After finding the negatives he wanted to develop, he headed to the darkroom. He turned on the red lights and let his eyes get adjusted. There was no need in changing the chemicals from yesterday. He had just recently added the newest Mumford & Sons album to his iPod, he hit play and walked over to the developer. He had to shake his head about while listening to the lyrics of the song "I Will Wait"

But I'll kneel down wait for now
And I'll kneel down
Know my ground
And I will wait I will wait for you

Sarah was a person he wanted to wait for, he knew this.

This was truly his sanctuary. When everything in the world just seemed crazy, he found peace and solace here. He was listening to the song he couldn't help but think of the day he had while taking these negatives he held in his hand.

Just a few days ago he had taken Sarah out and shot some landscapes. There are some beautiful areas in Berkeley such as the Berkley Hills which is where he decided to take her. He wanted to get her more familiar with the equipment and teach her about film. Of course after just a few minutes of instructions and a few shots taken, she wanted to take a few shots. Sarah shot a few photos and then tried to convince Hank to get in front of the camera. The idea made him laugh out loud.

"You can't be serious?! I don't need any photos of myself" He secretly loved the idea of Sarah taking his photo but that would put him in a vulnerable state.

"Yes, I'm totally serious. Go stand by that tree."

He put his hand on his hip. "No, I'm not going to stand by a tree.

"What's wrong with the tree?"

"Well for starters this isn't my senior portrait!"

Sarah laughed and asked, "Ok, fine, where do you want to stand?"

Hank threw his hands up in the air, "No…no you are now the photographer, if you want to take my photo you need to find the best place to take. Which by the way isn't by a tree."

They both laughed a bit, both of them loving the silly banter between them. Sarah looked around for at her surroundings.

"Let's just walk along this path for a bit."

True to his nature he had to put up an argument, "Why? This area is fine." He would gladly walk for miles if it meant being with Sarah, but he couldn't let her know that.

"The hills are beautiful this time of year, just walk."

He gave up his fight easily and just started walking. He didn't want to upset her and have her leave. He was walking along a path thinking about just how long he could be with her, out in the beautiful location. He was lost in thought when Sarah started talking, asking him questions about the camera, and why he got into photography. They were getting close to the peak of the hill, when he turned around and said in a slightly teenager whine, "Are you ever going to take my photo?" She grabbed his arm so he would keep walking and she replied, "Impatient much? I haven't found the right time to take it or the right spot." They walked for a few more minutes and then out of nowhere she said, "Thanks for giving me a second chance, I really do appreciate it." He slightly smiled and before he could respond, she took his photo.

"You know Hank, you should really smile more. You've got a great smile, more people should see it."

"Trust me you've got a much better smile, than I do" Did he really just say that? What was happening to him?

"I know, that's what 2 years of braces will do for a person! Plus, I smile on a regular basis!"

He truly loved the light banter they had. She handed the camera back to him and they decided to head back, the sun was starting to set and he didn't want to risk saying any more 'nice smile' comments. Sarah was a few paces ahead of him as they were headed back down the trail. He called out to Sarah and she turned around giving him somewhat of a quizzical look, at that moment he took a photo of her. She started to laugh and he couldn't help it, he snapped a few more photos. He was sure there was a lesson there on lighting if she asked why he was taking her photo.

"Hey we should take a photo of the two of us, to mark this monumental occasion!" Sarah practically shouted when she thought of the idea.

"Just what exactly is this monumental occasion?"

"I used a film camera for the first time and you smiled!" She was teasing him and he knew it.

"Why? Do you like, scrapbook or something?" It came out very condescending and he could see the look in her eyes, hurt and disappointed.

"Nevermind, let's go. It was a stupid idea." Sarah slightly shook her head and started to walk away. He quickly grabbed her arm stopping her dead in her tracks.

"Let's take the picture, maybe I'll even smile."

"You better smile!" Sarah giggled and went to grab the camera.

"Whoa, what are you doing?" He guarded his camera better than secret service agents.

"I was going to take our photo, you self portrait style. Like the kids do these days."

"Um, no. This camera has a self-timer on it. We can set it on that railing and sit on this log. No self-portraits."

"Oh come one, live a little. It's one photo. You can even take it."

"No I don't do self-portraits, every time someone does that Annie Leibovitz cries a little."

"Annie who?"

He was shocked. "You don't know who Annie Leibovitz is? She is an amazing photographer!"

"Ok well when we get back to the studio I'll look her up."

"Yes you will! I've got a couple books of hers"

"Do you want a book report by Friday?

"Ha ha very funny. Keep it and I just might!"

"Oh come on, just one self portrait and if your photo is better than I'll buy coffee."

Hank let out a defeated sigh, "Make it coffee for a week."

"Deal. Ok you need to be on my right side." He stood about a few away from her. "No, you need to stand NEXT to me." She threw her arm around his shoulder and pulled him closer. "There, don't move and try to smile. Remember you have a nice smile." She looked at him and flashed him her beautiful and he couldn't help but smile as well. Sarah quickly snapped a photo.

"Ok, now you can take your 'professional' photo." Hank laughed as she put air quotes when saying professional.

He set up the camera and the railing, making sure the timer was set just right. And making sure they would both be in frame. "Scoot a little to your left" he instructed. He hit the shutter and went and set next to her. She put her arm around him and said in a very serious tone said, "Smile."

"Believe it or not, I know what to do around a camera" he teased back. She put her arm around him again, he was beginning to like this.

"Well you better have smiled," she laughed and started to stand up.

"I think I blinked actually, let's take one more." He knew he didn't blink, but he also knew he had one shot left on the film and he wasn't about to waste it.

Not about to say no to her boss Sarah sat back down. He quickly reset the shutter and sat back down. Again she put her arm around him and leaned her head closer to his. He figured this was just her natural habit and he was actually enjoying it. He followed suit and put his arm around her as well and ever so slightly leaned his head in.

When the heard the shutter release he quickly got up and grabbed the camera. He had let his guard down a lot that day and he needed to work at putting it back up.

"See that wasn't so painful" she joked as they put away the camera equipment and started walking back to the car.

That morning as he was going through the negatives he couldn't help but smile as he thought about that day and what a good time he had actually had. He was worried when he first suggested it, but very thankful at the new memories he had. He loved being around her, the way she could easily make him laugh, how at ease he felt around her, getting to be right next to her and smell her perfume. He knew he had about an hour and a half before Sarah showed up and he desperately wanted to develop the pictures that had been taken of her but he decided to develop some of the landscapes first. He didn't want her to talk in while he was working on the photos of her. He focused his attention to the landscapes for the time being.

After doing a few test strips on the first landscape and pulled out an 8x10 sheet and set it in the frame and turned the light on the enlarger on. The light on the enlarger shut off after 15 seconds and he put the photo in the first tub of developer. This was his favorite part, watching the photo come to life. Seeing what he had created take form. He the photo then to the stop bath and then to the fixer. As he was waiting by the third tub he remembered he desperately wanted another cup of coffee. After a few more minutes he placed the photo in the water bath and with a bounce in his step took off towards his phone.

It was now almost 7:30am and he decided to send that text. He retrieved his phone from his desk and sent Sarah a text, "Coffee? I'll buy lunch if you bring coffee in today." Without stopping to think about the text or what she would think, he hit send.

I'm in love with Mumford and Sons and I could totally see Hank listening to them. Anyway, I don't own anything. Let me know what you think! I'm really liking this story. I'm sorry if it rambles a bit or it isn't clear. I'm not sure how often I'll be updating this. Right now I can't stop writing, but we'll see what happens. I don't want to bore anyone!

Thanks!