[I'm in LOVE with a Hobo, who won't stop Snapping His Shutter] [One shot]

[I'm in LOVE with a Hobo, who won't stop Snapping The Shutter][One shot]
Nick wasn't always a hobo.
What am I saying; Nick was always a hobo. To me.
I don't think he minds. He's an artist. And he spends his money on other stuff. He wasn't really conventional enough to buy a house.
But he's still an artist.
A photographer, in fact.
That's how I met him. I was sitting, half out of my bedroom window, and he was taking my picture from the hum and bustle of the city below.
I was a senior in high school. It was my first day of the last year of high school.
Actually it was the first afternoon, and it hadn't been a good day. My friend had moved away, and my boyfriend dumped me.
For another guy.
Anyway, there Nick was, a dirty blond, looking slightly dishevelled and windswept like a bird whose feathers had been ruffled.
But he had this way of getting my attention. I couldn't help it. It was a bit hypnotising. And he was so far away, so far down below from my apartment.
You can probably tell I don't live in the suburbs.
That afternoon, nick stood there for about 15 minutes, knowing I was looking at him. And then he left. I didn't leave. I sort of hoped he would come back. You know? But at about 6pm, I went inside, and recommenced living life.
The next afternoon, Nick was back. There again.
I know it sounds weird. I mean, who doesn't call the police when some hobo starts photographing you methodically.
Me. I didn't. Only because I had been thinking about Nick all day. Thoughts of someone who took their time just to notice the world in that way were quite warming.
He photographed me again. Except this time was different. He stopped, just before 6pm, and put the camera down. I think he put his hands in his pockets. And the he stood there.
Only for about 30 seconds. And for the most part, he wasn't even looking up. But he did stay.
To my dismay
Yes, I know it's strange that I had only seen him for two days
But to my dismay, nonetheless, Nick wasn't there the next day. But he did come back on the Thursday. He came back with a bigger camera. A different one. And he stayed for only a few minutes. Then he looked up. I think he nodded. I wasn't sure.
That made me think: that the next time, I would get some binoculars. So I did. And on Friday afternoon, I watched Nick watching me. And I was surprised.
I was surprised at what I saw. Nick. He had dirty blond, unkempt hair, and brown eyes. He had a shadow where he didn't shave. He only looked about 19 or 20. Snapping the shutter of his camera at me.
When he saw what I was doing, he smiled.
I smiled.
And then I disappeared.
To him, I mean. I actually went down.
''I'm going out, is that OK?'' I shouted, to no one in particular. I didnt know when last my dad was home. I had a key and, from time to time, a job. So did my dad. And apart from genes, that's all we had in common.
I ran down the stairs as quickly as I could. When I reached the bottom, I pushed open the door, and stared around.
And then I saw him.
He was taller than I had guessed. Well, obviously, since he was always looking up at me, a few floors up.
And he still was. He was staring up at the building, I think waiting for me to come back. And then, I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to disturb him and his looking. I didnt want to startle him. And even more, I didn't really want to upset this distant... thing we had. It was ambiguous. But it was there.
At that point, I considered turning back, and retreating to my bedroom window again.
Nick looked up, and then behind him, and then down at the ground. I froze. Then he looked up and saw me.
''Oh...oh!'' he said. He smiled. ''Hello.''
''Hello,'' I said with effort.
Nick cleared his throat. He was quite lean, but in a good way. A good way.
''I'm sorry,'' he said.
''That's OK,'' I said, knowing that he was talking about taking my picture, ''it was nice.'' It was. But I didn't think ''it is nice would have been right. Because I could tell things would change from this moment on.
''I...I don't live anywhere, at the moment.''
That was random.
I smiled. ''Oh.'' I said. He was just staring at me. And I stared back.
''Will anyone mind, if I borrow you for a while?''
I pointed upwards. He nodded. ''No, '' I said cautiously.
''Wow, I sound kind of creepy. I meant, I just want to show you something. No, I mean, I want to...um...just trust me, it's not weird or whatever. It's quite stupid actually.''
''...OK.'' I did trust him, for some reason. Didn't know why then. I still don't know why.
I'm glad I did.
He showed me a glass building, tall and modern. ''I want to get some of me in there. My pictures. Especially the ones of you.''
I looked at him. ''Can... I see them?''
His eyes widened. ''I dont think I'm ready to show them to you yet.''
''But, I you want the whole world to see them, then why not show me? You have to start somewhere.''
''Other people have seen them. I'm just not ready for you to.''
''Oh,'' I said. I smiled at him acceptingly. He returned it with a smile of relief.
And we walked. Nick and I. In fact, that's when I found out that his name was Nick. And than he was an orphan, who had been studying art, but dropped out to pursue photography when his professor said he would never make it. ''The course was shitty anyways,'' he commented. ''And I like the freedom.''
He told me of how he often slept under the stars, and how he was happier than he had ever been before. I told him my name was Nathalie.
We didnt get back until 4am. And he said goodnight, and see you soon. I said the same, and went to bed. But I couldn't sleep.
As the weeks went on, we walked more. And I watched Nick take pictures of other things, and it was amazing. And he sometimes snapped me, unexpectedly. Things seemed better for me. Though school was still hollow, or shallow, or both, I looked forward to going home. And walking.
I found out that nick made money with the pictures, just by selling them. But only the ones he wanted to. He was really serious. And it was worth it.
I told Nick how my mom had left us. How my dad blamed me for it, and that I went days without seeing him, even though we lived in the same apartment. But how I still loved him because he was my dad.
''People should appreciate what they have,'' Nick had said. I nodded. And then we kissed.
Ok, we didnt kiss exactly. We were just very close. He rubbed my shoulders, and had he moved a few millimetres further, we would have kissed.
But our eyes were wide open.
''I'll take you home,'' he said. And then he came up. And we ordered Chinese food and watched The Texas Chainsaw massacre.
And then, that was it. I didnt see Nick again after that morning, when he said goodbye and then waved from below. For about 2 weeks. I waited, and I watched. But there was nothing.
I was quite said, to be honest. In fact, I was quite lost as well. He just wasn't there.
I went to school, a little torn. But then on that Friday, I walked out as the bell rang, and who should meet me on the street but Nick.
He was frowning. So was I. My heart leapt.
''Hello,'' he said.
''Hello,'' I answered, with effort.
''I'm sorry,'' he said.
''For what?''
He coughed. ''For not being here. With you.'' He paused. ''I missed it.''
''Mmm.''
''But Nathalie,'' he said, ''I want to show you what I've been doing. Why I was away. Why I was so busy that I could come and see you.'' I looked up at him. ''Actually,'' he continued, ''why I refused to let myself see you.''
That hurt a little bit. It showed.
''Don't be sad. You'll understand. Come out tonight. And I'll show you.''
I sighed, and agreed, and left. He watched me go.

Aw. Rest in the results...
At 7pm, I looked out and he was there. I came down, and he took my hand. And we walked to the glass building. It was lit form the inside with bright, white light. A man opened the door for us, nodding especially to Nick.
He took me through the halls hurriedly, and people were milling around everywhere in every room.
Then we stopped. And Nick pointed. And I gasped.
I was in a room. The floor was lit, and three of the walls presented pictures... of me. They were taken from below.
I looked at Nick. He was staring intently, apprehension showing as he swallowed. ''What do you-''
''Nick.''
''Yes?''
''They are beautiful.''
He let out a deep breath. ''Thank you.''
They really were. They were black and white shots, different sizes and sometimes different angles, when I didn't even know that he was there, or where he was.
''You did it.''
''I did. Thank you,'' he sighed. ''I'm sorry, about not seeing you. But I couldn't let you see them. I was nervous, and I didnt want you to see you, until you could see how I saw you. Everything I dreamed of.''
My eyes were pricking with tears, and he could tell.
But I didn't look away, and neither did he. In fact, he looked right into my watery eyes and smiled. And then we kissed.
Really.
And then we walked, and we talked. And he showed me his pictures, and I told him what I saw. And he held my hand, and I held his.
The people congratulated Nick on his exhibition. Surprised that he was so young, another artist noticed and loved his work. And Nick didnt sleep rough again. I finished school, and moved out. And then moved in with Nick.
And now, we sit, in a beautiful house, with photographs and Polaroids of things and people, eating Chinese and watching The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Talking.
''I love you,'' Nick says.
''I love you too,'' I say back.
We smiled.
The End!
I know it was a 'happily ever after' one, but I just wanted to change up the style with something aimless... I guess it was pretty different from my usual style. Less craziness, a bit more poesy.. But hey, hope it was a nice read! xxx