"Jess." Autumn called
"Hey, Autumn. What's up?" Jess asked
"My dad was supposed to drive me to the art studio downtown, but he's not here! I've called him ten times, and he's not picking up. Can I get a ride from you?" Autumn asked
"Of course! Why do you need to be downtown right now anyway?" Jess asked
"I'll explain on the way there! Go, go, go!" said Autumn
Jess drives Autumn in her car
"So what's going on downtown?" Jess asked
"I have this photography internship, and my boss is trusting me with this big, new art project that'll be featured in his showcase!" said Autumn
"That sounds great, Autumn!" said Jess
"I'm thrilled! I'm supposed to meet him at the art studio right now to get the details from him. I hope he doesn't mind that I'm a little late... I still can't believe my dad wasn't here to drive me! He promised me he would!" said Autumn
"What happened back there? Did you ever hear from him?"
"He texted me saying that he got caught up in meetings at work. I don't get him. He's never been too interested in my work, but ever since this internship, he's been more distant than ever."
"Maybe he's just busy."
"Maybe he just doesn't care." Autumn looks sadly out the window.
Jess pulls in front of the art studio, and Autumn jumps out.
"I'll be right back!" Autumn runs inside. A short time later...
"You look happy! What'd your boss say?" Jess asked
"He's doing a showcase on human emotion, and he told me that I get to take over the photo series on love! This is my biggest project yet! I'm so excited! Although now I have a ton of work to do since the showcase is coming up soon! I don't even know where to start!" said Autumn
"I can help!" said Jess
"Okay, my boss told me to capture four different kinds of love. I'd like to do each kind in a different style. The first is object-love, or the love you have for something you own. I'm thinking an overexposed close-up of someone holding something they adore." said Autumn
"So what, you need to take a photo of Julian hugging a football?"
"The world isn't ready for the intense love between Julian and football... ...but have you seen the look in Payton's eyes when she holds a brand new pair of Ouch Ouch Pretty Feet shoes for the first time?"
"I have a feeling I'm about to. How much do those cost again?" Jess brought a new pair of Ouch Ouch Pretty Feet. "I have the shoes."
"And I have Payton!" Autumn leads Payton forwards, and you gold up the gift-wrapped shoebox...
"Ooooh! A present? I really hope it's something I can eat or wear or kiss! Or maybe all three!" said Payton
"I... don't know what that would be... but... um... I hope you like these." Jess open the box, and Payton's eyes light up when she sees the pair of pink high heels with bright, sparkling gems!
"OMG! These are... these are... Ouch Ouch Pretty Feet couture shoes! I LOVE them! They're pink and sparkly and beautiful! They're like cotton candy mixed with dreams!" Payton squealed
Autumn focuses her camera on Payton and starts snapping photos. "Yes, that look right there! Payton, your face is perfect!"
"THESE are perfect! So these shoes... I really get to keep them? Can I at least pay you back by helping you get more photos?" Payton asked
"Sure! The next subject I need to capture is 'the love between friends.' What's something we can do that shows two friends having fun?" Autumn asked
"Hmmm, let's see... You could throw a party... Or go to a club... Or throw a party... Or do a project... Or throw a party."
"Payton, do you want to throw a party?" Jess asked
"YES!" Payton squealed
Jess throws a party decorated in school colour with different clique. That had a lot of fun singing and dancing to the music. "That WAS a ton of fun!"
"Hey, I wouldn't let you guys go to a boring party! Were you able to get all the shots of 'friendly love' you needed, Autumn?" Payton asked Autumn
"I think so. But I could definitely use one more! I'm going to take a picture of you two. Do something fun!" said Autumn
"What do you want to do, Jess? I'll follow your lead..."
Jess and Payton give the camera wide, sunny smiles.
"Cute! Nothing says 'friendship' like two people having fun together!" said Autumn
"So what kind of live are we focusing on next?" Jess asked
"Romantic love." said Autumn
"Ooh! I know all about that! What do you need? New couples, old couples, couples that should be couples but don't know it yet?" Payton suggested
'All of those, actually, but before that, we could use a good setting to stage the shots... someplace magically whimsical and charmingly rustic!"
Jess, Autumn, and Payton set up the decorations.
"Ooh! This is SO pretty! I've put pink bow ties in the trees with pink paper lanterns! Oh, and these pink roses should definitely be paired with those pink dahlias over here!' said Payton
"Are you sure, Payton? Everything's getting to be a little too." said Autumn
"Elegant? Stylish? Perfect?" Payton asked
"For the sake of composition, how about we just leave the roses where they are and call it done?"
"Yeah, it looks perfectly charming!" said Jess
"Now that we've got the setting, it's time to find the right people! I'm thinking we capture each stage of love." said Autumn
"Stages of love? You mean like first base, second base, third-" said Payton
"I was thinking more like flirty, steady, and long-term. We'll need at least four couples for the shoot." Autumn finishes up snapping photos of the four couples. Payton even brought her boyfriend. "That's it! Hold up that plastic swan just a teensy bit higher so it doesn't cover the fuzzy heart pillow... aaaand I've got it! That'll do it! Thanks for coming out, guys!"
Jess and Payton crowd near the screen on Autumn's camera as the couples head out.
"Ooh! Super flirty, super stead, and super long-term cute!" said Payton
"We're knocking these out! Three down, one to go! What's the last kind of love you have to capture, Autumn?" Jess asked
"Uh, my boss said to do something on family love. But I've kind of been putting it off." said Autumn
"I'm guessing things are still rough with you dad, huh? What about taking a quick family shot with just you and your mom then?"
A leaden silence falls over the group, and Autumn's face falls.
"Unless that's a... bad idea?"
"No, it's a fine idea, but... it's just... I... I'm sorry. I need to go." Tears form in Autumn's eyes as she runs off.
"It was something I said, wasn't it?" Jess asked
"Oh... you don't know. Autumn's mother passed away a few years ago in a really bad car accident. Autumn was really close with her, and I don't think she or her dad have ever gotten over it." Payton asked
'I had no idea. Poor Autumn. We should go talk to her."
"Yeah, but we need to FIND her first. We'll need the help of someone with good eyes."
Jess, Payton, and James start searching the school grounds for Autumn.
"So she ran this way?" James asked
"Yeah. We checked it out, but we have no idea where she went after that." said Payton
"An upset artist looking for somewhere to run... I think I know where she is." James rushes forward, and you and Payton follow. In the photo lab, Jess find Autumn.
"I'm sorry I ran away earlier. I knew getting photos of 'family love' was going to be hard, but I didn't know HOW hard until just now. When my mother passed away, everything changed. She was the center of our family. My dad and I were devastated. Even though it's been a few years, I still miss her." said Autumn
"Of course you miss her." said Jess
"She was your mom." said James
"Yeah... I even took up photography because of her. She taught me the basics. Now when I take pictures, it makes me feel connected to her. I still don't know what I'm going to do for my 'family love' photos. My dad won't post for a family picture. It'd just remind him that my mother's gone. Besides, he's been working so much. It's almost like he's been avoiding me. I'm pretty sure he's not even coming to see my photos at the showcase!" said Autumn
"Well, you don't have to do a standard family portrait. There are different ways of showing 'family'." said James
"My boss did suggest that I do a still life for one of my photos. Maybe I could take photos of items that represent me, my mom, and my dad?"
"I like that idea."
"The only problem is that most of my mom's belongings are packed away in a box. I don't know if I can go through it by myself."
"You don't have to do it alone. I can open it with you." said Jess
"That would be good. Thank you, Jess." said Autumn
A little later, Jess and Autumn arrive at Autumn's house. Together, Jess start unpacking Autumn's mom's things from a box in the attic.
"Some sketches, a couple paintbrushes, and a bottle of perfume." said Jess
"Oh! Look, here's my mom's jewelry box. I used to love going through this when I was little." Autumn runs her hand reverently over the lacquered lid of the box.
"Aren't you going to open it?" Jess asked
"Yes. I...I just need to get myself ready..."
In the attic of Autumn's house, Jess sit close to Autumn as she opens her mother's jewelry box. "Here goes..." She opens the box and starts lifting things out, beginning with an old photograph of Autumn with her mom in the park.
"Here's a photo of us. My mom loved taking photos in that park, so she'd always take me when I was younger and push me on the swingset you see in the background. Oh, and here's a brooch I made for her out of feathers, glitter, and paper in my second grade art class. I can't believe she kept this." Autumn sets the brooch aside and looks back into the jewelry box. Her hands hover over it for a second before she pulls out a pearl necklace.
"And here's the pearl necklace she wore on the day she married my dad. I used to bed her to let me try it on all the time. On my last birthday before she... before she got into that accident, she let me wear the necklace for my party. I was SO happy." Autumn holds the necklace to her heart and glances down at the floor.
"I miss her.'
Jess put an arm around Autumn as she squeezes her eyes shut. "It's okay, Autumn."
After a few minutes, Autumn sits up and brushes tears away from her cheeks. "Thanks for being here, Jess. I'm glad I have a friend like you."
"I'm happy to help." said Jess
"And I think I have an idea what I want to do for my art project on family love. I'm going to take photos of my dad's leather jacket, my mother's necklace, and my old camera. That way, I can include my whole family in the photo!"
A short time later, Autumn shows off her photos.
"These are beautiful, Autumn. They're touching and sweet." said Jess
"That's what I was going for. It was nice to look through my mother's things again. We had so many happy times together. It's good to remember that. Anyway, I need to get to the art studio to get these photos printed. The showcase starts tonight! Are you coming?" Autumn asked
"Of course! You go on ahead. I'll round up everyone else." Jess gather Payton and Julian
"Hey, everyone, I'm leaving for Autumn's showcase. Are you guys in?" Jess asked
"Yeah! No way am I missing the chance to see a close-up of my favorite shows!" said Payton
"She came to my football game. It's only fair that I go see her art thing." said Julian
"Uh-huh. And it has nothing to do with the fact that Autumn's doing an art show on LOVE." said Jess
"Shut up."
"Come on, guys. Stop fooling around. It's time to go!" said Payton
Jess, Julian, and Payton arrive at the art studio where the showcase is happening.
"Wow, the photographer Autumn's working for must be a big deal to have his work in a trendy place like this." said Jess
"It's SUPER swanky! The art around here's just gorgeous!" said Payton
"Oh yeah, it's really great. A bunch of black-and-white photos of sad streets and old farmhouses? REAL compelling..." said Julian
"There's an exhibit around the corner of a bunch of scantily-clad fashion models..." said Jess
"I... need to go check that out immediately! For art!"
Jess, Julian, and Payton find Autumn next to her exhibit.
"Looks like your photo series is a hit, Autumn!" said Jess
"That's wonderful. I just wish my dad were here to see it too. I don't think he's coming." said Autumn
"Autumn... It doesn't matter if he comes. Whether he shows up or not, Autumn, you should know that every shot you took looks amazing! You did a really great job, and we're all here and proud of you!" said Jess
"Yeah!" said Payton
"Thanks, Jess. You always seem to know the right thing to say. You're right. Even if I my dad doesn't make it, I loved all the photos I took." Just then, Autumn's phone beeps with an incoming text message. She glances at the text. After a moment, she looks up, a small smile on her face.
"What's up, Autumn? What's going on?" Julian asked
"My dad just sent me a text apologizing. He says he really wanted to come and support me, but my mom used to do art shows like this, and it's stirring up some old memories..." Autumn explained
"So he's not coming then?" Jess asked
"No... But he did offer to take me out to dinner after to celebrate, so that's something. I wish he could see my work... But at least it's a step in the right direction." said Autumn
"Small steps, Autumn. That's how you move on." said Jess
"Yeah... it is. I'm going to catch up with him. I'll see you guys later!" Autumn left