Chapter 1: Love Behind the Camera

It took me three minutes to revise my college application choices before I realized the tourist photographer Mabel Sutter had randomly stopped was still waiting.

I was about to tell her I didn't need any photos after all, but she raised her camera first and smiled brightly. "Can you do me a favor? I'm a beginner. I think you really fit the scenery here. Could I take a sample set of photos for my portfolio? It'll be free. And if you don't like them, I'll even pay you 100 dollars."

She caught me off guard and made me laugh.

After thinking it over, I agreed.

After all, I had spent extra time getting ready today, and I loved having my picture taken.

But this was already the third day of our trip. Mabel had taken photos of the waves, the sunset, and countless pictures of Ethan Jilbert laughing without a care in the world. She had never taken a single one of me.

I didn't even have one photo good enough to post on social media.

Once the shoot started, the young photographer became completely focused. She gently and patiently guided me through different poses and expressions.

She wasn't impatient like Mabel.

Before long, the session was over. She turned the camera around so I could see the pictures.

To my surprise, every single shot looked amazing.

After looking through them carefully, I said sincerely, "I should pay you after all. You're really good."

There was no way a beginner could take photos like these.

But she just smiled and waved her hand. "I'm not a professional photographer. It's nice to meet you. Enjoy your trip."

After sending me the photos, she turned around and walked away along the shoreline.

Not far away, Mabel and Ethan were still taking pictures.

Mabel kept pressing the shutter while exchanging smiles with Ethan.

I walked over to tell my classmates I was heading back first.

But when Ethan saw me, he spoke before I could, "Alvin, we're taking a boat to the little island for more pictures. Want to come with us?"

I shook my head. "I'm kind of tired. I want to go back to the hotel."

Only then did Mabel turn around and look at me for several seconds.

"Are you upset? Didn't that photographer get any good pictures of you? Well, that's normal. You're just hard to photograph. Most people wouldn't have the patience I do to keep finding the right angle for you."

I looked sadly at the girl I had spoiled since we were kids.

I couldn't understand why she had become so mean after Ethan showed up.

She used to encourage me and compliment me all the time. But after Ethan transferred to our school, that all changed.

I shook my head. "No. I love the photos she took of me. They're my favorite pictures from this whole trip."

Mabel's face darkened instantly. The annoyance in her eyes was impossible to miss.

She let out a mocking laugh. "You're just upset because I didn't spend today taking pictures of you. Don't say something that ridiculous just to make me mad. What kind of good photos could some cheap roadside photographer possibly take?"

"Ethan, let's go." She turned and headed for the boat.

But Ethan grabbed her hand and looked at me with disapproval. "Alvin, Mabel has taken so many great pictures of you before. How could you say something like that and hurt her feelings? You're ungrateful."

Ungrateful?

Was I supposed to be grateful that she had fallen for someone else and grateful that she kept putting me down?

After hearing Ethan's words, Mabel didn't seem as angry anymore.

"Forget it. Not everyone knows how to appreciate kindness the way you do."

With that, she left with Ethan.

I stayed where I was and watched them walk away.

As the waves crashed onto the shore, salty seawater splashed against my lips.

It tasted so bitter.