"SweetieWright_84;c-18065316" wrote:
You just so happened to snap almost an identical picture of the ferry/riverboat as I did, except mine was going the oppositedirection. Mine is my profile picture. I love that part of Willow Creek at night, especially with my Reshade settings.
@SweetieWright_84 I remember seeing your profile picture and hoping I'd catch the boat in motion sometime. Your Reshade settings do give the scene a very warm, inviting glow.
And, while I'm here, how about another chapter?
14. Café societyUnlike some of his friends, who started hitting the clubs as soon as they could sneak in, Cameron was nobody’s definition of a party animal. He wasn’t stuffy–he enjoyed a drink now and then, and he had a few moves on the dance floor–but he preferred a quieter sort of night out.
The Willow Café was one of Cameron’s favorite spots to hang out. It was a convivial place, with couches and chairs arranged in cozy nooks, perfect for conversation. Cameron enjoyed getting a cup of coffee and relaxing there; he almost always ran into someone he knew.
That’s what he hoped for, one chilly spring evening after a busy shift at his lifeguarding job. The café was nearly empty when he arrived, so he bought a cup of ‘Mericano and sat down at a table, idly thumbing through a book. He took a deep breath and sighed happily. It felt good to gear down a bit.
Suddenly his reverie was broken by the sound of the door banging shut, and the louder sound of a woman’s voice.
“Brrrrrr! I had no idea it got SO cold here!”, the woman announced. Cameron’s eyes had nearly closed, but now they popped open. He looked up to see the woman who had just made her entrance. She was pretty, with her blonde hair pulled up into a stylish twist.
The woman saw Cameron at the very same moment. She smiled brilliantly. “Sul sul! I don’t believe we have met. I’m Sage Eaton. May I?” She motioned to the chair beside Cameron’s, and when he made no move to stop her, she slid gracefully into it.
https://i.imgur.com/EumgkQn.jpg
“Hi, Sage. I’m Cameron Ross. It’s a pleasure to meet…”
“Ross? Oh! I met your mother JUST this morning. At least I think I did. Courtenay Ross.”
Cameron nodded. “Yes, she’s my…”
“Courtenay is SUCH a sweetheart! But of course you know that. I’m living in one of the new townhouses in Foundry Cove. The house isn’t new–you know that, too–but it wasn’t a townhouse before. Oh! You’ve lived here all your life, right?”
“I’ve just moved into my grandparents’ house in…”
“So I’m SURE you know Tommy and Rosalind Geiger! They’re two of my housemates. Oh! They are the SWEETEST couple! They’ve been together since they were kids. But you probably know that, right? I’m so so sorry! I tend to go on and on!” Sage’s soliloquy ended with a quirky little giggle.
Cameron couldn’t help smiling. Too much Sage–in a dish, or in a social setting–could be unappealing, but just the right amount could be terrific.
There was a moment of silence, but just a moment. It was broken by another voice, one Cameron knew well.
“I’m thinking about changing my major to Drama. I’m planning to become an actor,” the speaker declared.
Cam turned in the direction of the voice. He frowned and shook his head. “Excuse me for just a minute, Sage,” he said.
Seated at a table across the café was his younger brother, Patrick. Beside him was a girl with curly auburn hair, a girl Cameron had never seen before. Cam made his way to their table. Patrick had seen the look on Cameron’s face before, a smirk that said,
You are such a llama.
“Hey there, Paddy.” Cam greeted him with his family nickname. Paddy tried to fight back a blush.
Then Cameron turned his attention to the girl.
Hold up, he thought.
This is not a high school girl. She’s at least as old as I am…“Hey, Cameron,” Patrick finally mumbled. “This is Macy.” Just like that, Patrick’s bravado was gone.
“Hello, Cameron. Macy Winters.” She smiled at both of them. “You two obviously know each other.”
Cameron grinned, a twinkle in his eye. “We go way, way back. Patrick’s my brother.” Patrick simply scowled; perhaps to his credit, he looked calmly at Cam and Macy. Meanwhile, his insides silently churned.
https://i.imgur.com/xpXqQhz.jpg
Macy smiled again. Her green eyes sparkled captivatingly. Cameron could see how she had enchanted Patrick so thoroughly. “Do you go to UBrite, too?” she asked.
Cameron arched an eyebrow and looked over at Patrick.
Here goes, the younger boy thought.
I hope he makes it relatively painless. Patrick considered how awkward it would look for him to suddenly remember a pressing engagement and bolt from the café.
Cam shook his head. “No, I’m not a student. I’m taking care of my grandparents’ house in Brindleton Bay and working part-time.”
Patrick’s heart, which had been pounding in his chest, began to slow. He finally released the breath he’d been holding while he waited for his brother to answer Macy’s question and, possibly, expose his boastful misrepresentation.
“It sounds like Patrick has a nice, quiet place where he can study, then,” Macy pointed out.
“Exactly,” replied Cameron. Patrick was still not quite capable of speech.
“Well, gentlemen, this has been lovely, but I have to work early in the morning. I hope I see you both around sometime.” Macy smiled at the two of them, and made her way out of the café.
Cameron turned back to Patrick. “You owe me.”
“More than I’ve ever owed you before.”
“More than anybody’s ever owed anybody.”
Patrick nodded and paused for a moment. “Thank you,” he said to Cam, his voice barely above a whisper.
Then Cameron remembered Sage, who was sitting patiently at the table where Cameron had left her…as patiently as Sage could sit. Cameron waved and beckoned her over.
Sage smiled perkily and sashayed toward them. “Now who is THIS??” she inquired.
“I’m Patrick Ross. Cameron’s younger brother. I’m a junior at Buckingham High.”
Good boy, Cameron thought.
