A/N: I love taking photos, but I'm honestly not very good at it. When I was younger I always thought that the better your camera the better your photos would be. I mean of course it was part of it but a lot of it also has to do with skill (which I don't really have) hahahha. Still a great hobby though.


The Canon was weighing her down, but it was a good kind of burden. She'd never had such an expensive thing hanging around her neck. What's more, it was the ultimate photographer's dream. She fiddled with it throughout the day and now that it was nearly time for the school play, she hung it around her neck like a trophy.

The school play was a peculiar event. The audience was limited, not everyone could watch it mostly because space was limited and whatever seats were available, were reserved for the performers' or the drama club members' family.

Alice realized she had been standing at the entrance of the auditorium for a while and there was still no sight of Ben Gross. She had no clue where in the auditorium he would be or if he was even waiting inside. She decided to wait a few more minutes before exploring the unknown inside.

When it was clear in her mind that perhaps Ben Gross arrived here earlier than she did, she stepped into the cold, dark room and started to scan the area for him. There were a lot of people. Mostly parents and some students who were actually interested in the play. Alice heard that this year's production was special and the lead female was a natural. She would be lying if she said she wasn't looking forward to it at all.

"There you are," a familiar voice piped up, causing Alice to whirl around on her toes and look up at the taller guy. "I was starting to think you ran away with my camera," Ben Gross stated, watching the way she cradled it with great care.

She half glared at him, "Well, technically, it's mine now, isn't it?" After spending more time with the Canon, Alice determined that Ben Gross shouldn't take his word back. He said she could take it, and take it she would.

Ben didn't answer and whipped out his phone instead, "Give me your phone number so that I'm not left wondering whether or not you ditched on a school event,"

Alice obliged and said her number out loud. Ben pocketed his phone and motioned for her to follow him. Turns out he had gotten seats on the second row. The view was spectacular and Alice had become more excited after sitting down.

The only reason she liked the school play was because it was usually an adaptation of a written story. Something like Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and sometimes even the more modern ones like Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast.

This year, the drama club chose Wizard of Oz. Alice LOVED the Wizard of Oz. The character development was rich and the story itself was full of morals. Before she knew it, the lights had dimmed and the play had started.

For the first half of the play she was clearly immersed. Dorothy made a wonderful entrance and the rumours were true that the female lead was a great actress. Five minutes into the play she felt Ben nudge her side, whispering "Don't forget to take photos,"

There was a sense of urgency in his voice, as if not wanting her to forget what she was really here for. She grumbled under her breath and positioned her camera at a non-invasive angle, not wanting to block the view of the audience behind her. She clicked a few photos before looking through them for a few seconds.

The routine would repeat throughout the play but she had stopped for a moment at her favourite part. In Wizard of Oz, the scarecrow asked for brains, while the tinman had asked for a heart. Alice had always thought this part was interesting.

"I shall ask for brains instead of a heart; for a fool would not know what to do with a heart if he had one." said the Scarecrow.

"I shall take the heart," returned the Tin Woodman; "for brains do not make one happy, and happiness is the best thing in the world."

Alice hummed a bit after her two favourite lines were said, and without thinking about it, said out loud, "I'd still rather be brainless over being heartless,"

"I'd rather not feel anything than lose the brilliant brains I have," Ben countered without looking at her, eyes glued on the play as well. Alice side-eyed him in slight surprise, not expecting him to reply to her.

"But if you don't have a heart you'd never feel happy," Alice said.

Ben shifted slightly in his seat, still entranced by the stage and muttered, "Yeah but I'd never feel lonely too,"

There was a gasp stuck in Alice's throat. She was not expecting that answer but it made complete sense. To her surprise, he kept on talking, "This story is nice but not as compelling as The Secret Garden," it was as if he was in his own trance and forgotten where he had been.

The people sitting in front of them stirred a little bit but at the mention of The Secret Garden, Alice couldn't help but throw in her opinion too, "The Secret Garden is wayyyy more complex yet endearing. It's simple, but tugs at your heartstrings,"

"The character growth is realistic too," Ben added. Still watching the play. The people in front of them stirred yet again.

"I know! Mary and Colin in the story are—"

The woman sitting in front of them finally turned around and eyed Alice and him evilly. "Could the two of you maybe spare your discussion for another time? Some people are trying to watch here," she hissed.

Alice shut her mouth immediately and Ben looked back at the said woman, surprised. He hadn't noticed that they were actually having a full blown conversation. Alice muttered a very soft "Sorry," before returning to watching the play and taking photos.

By the end of it she had taken a total of 43 photos—not all were useable—she could already tell as she sifted through them rather professionally. They were back in the so called Yearbook club room. Just her and him.

"These ones are fine," she tilted the camera screen towards him and he peered over to have a look. He scoffed "I can only see half her face!"

Alice rolled her eyes, "That's the point! It's aesthetic!" She turned the camera off with a click and a huff, extracting the memory card from it and handing it over to him "Whatever, you choose,"

Her job here was done and she had decided to pack up and do her remaining duties in school. "Here," A $20 bill appeared in front of her face, along with a few papers.

She straightened up and received it hesitantly. "What's this?" she muttered, flipping the papers over, discovering that it was tomorrow's assignments for AP History. "Oh," she said, sounding unimpressed. "Right," She'd nearly forgotten that they had struck a deal.

It crept up to her at a turtle's pace, the realization that she actually had fun today. It wasn't tedious nor was it difficult. She liked the play and she liked taking pictures. For a split second, she nearly felt bad that she was getting payment for it. In the next second, she had totally convinced herself that not every event would be like this, the next one would probably bore her out of her mind and waste her time.

"What?" Ben Gross raised an eyebrow at her, slightly sounding offended, "I'll let you know, that's definitely and A-grade paper," he concluded.

Alice shook her head and packed the papers in her bag, "No, it's not that, don't mind me, thank you," she stumbled on her words, slinging her backpack on and shrugging. "Anyway, I'll keep track of the school events, just... call me whenever," it felt weird saying it but Ben Gross thought nothing about it.

He didn't even look at her when he said "Bye," under his breath.

Alice wasn't sure why, but that definitely bothered her in a way that a bad grade would.