Behind The Nikon

"This is absolutely amazing Miss Ryes." My instructor says. I gave him a bashful smile. "It's alright," I say as I look down at my camera that was hanging around my neck. "Please, In all of my years working here you're work seemed to be the only one to impress me." He says as he examined my pictures I took this week. I nod, "Thank you." I say as my eyes wandered off to the clock above the classroom door. I made my way to my table where my memory card from last nights game sat openly on my little book. I placed my camera on the table and started to pack my belongs in my satchel. I put my memory card in my book and was about to put it in my bag when I heard something fall on the ground. I turn my head and saw that my camera was now laying on the ground. I groan, instantly regretting not putting it away first. "I'm sorry about that." A voice says from beside me, making me aware that I wasn't alone. "It's not a problem," I told him. Honestly, I didn't even know who was talking to me, My camera was my sole focus right now. I pick it up and immediately notice that the lens of the camera was cracked and the whole flash part was loose. I bit my lip as I examined it when the person next to me hiss. "That's a lot of damage. I'll pay for a whole new one, It is my fault after all." He offers. I averted my eyes from my camera and on to him for a brief minute. "Uh, it's an old camera. I'll just get a new one, don't sweat it." I tell him with a half smile. "I insist." He says, I look up from my camera and shook my head. "Cameron, it's okay," I say. He raised his brow, "You know me? God this is embarrassing. I don't know your name." He said rubbing the back of his neck. I chuckle "I know of you. You're the university's quarterback. Best in the state." I told him. My eyes drifted to the clock again and I shove the broken camera in my bag. "See you around," I told him as grabbed my bag and walk around him. "I still want to pay for your camera, I'm the one that broke it. And you didn't tell me your name." He says. I turn around, now walking out of the classroom backward. "I'm Reign, and it's nothing my cousin can't fix. Thank you though." * "I can't fix this RiRi." My cousin says with a small shrug. I gape at him "What?" I ask, shocked. It wasn't even broken ... completely. It's just a hairline fracture. "It's f****d internally. And this camera has been through hell and back. It's time to let it go." he says. "Maybe I don't want to let go." I frown, he chuckles. "I can let you borrow one from here. Just take care of it as in don't f**k its insides." He said with a 'serious' stare. I glare at him, "It wasn't my fault." I told him for like the millionth time "Yeah Yeah, Go home. Or take pictures elsewhere." He says. "Love you, Vicky." I say as I walked out of his camera shop, "I literally told you to never call me that again." He yells from behind me. I smiled and giggle as I could still hear his muffled voice from outside the shop. I turn on the camera and lean against my beat up 2004 Toyota. I flick through its settings, adjusting it to my liking as I go and stared into the lens. He let me borrow a brand new camera. I raised it up to my face and manipulated the suns glare on my liking and took pictures. At one point, I saw Cameron come into the frame and I put my camera down. He seemed to have noticed me too and smiled brightly. "Reign, Right?" He says a little unsure as he approached me. I nod and gave him a small wave. "Yeah. Hey." I said smiling a bit. He looked down at the camera I was holding. "Wow, that was quick. I broke it like what? Six hours ago? Whoever fixed that for you is a pro." He says in amazement. I chuckle and shook my head, "Oh no. This a new camera. Mine couldn't be repaired." I say with a small shrug. His eyes widen at this and he reached in his back pocket. "Gosh, I really am sorry about that. I'm glad you were able to buy a new one." He says "Not mine." I told him "My cousin let me borrow this." I added playing with the lens. He pulls out his wallet and nodded towards the new Target across the street. "I can get you a new one." He proposes. I shook my heads "I'm fine with a temp." I say "I really insist. The camera seemed really important to you." He said. I shook my head "It's fine. Really. Congrats on last night, You guys earned that win." I say changing the topic. He smiles "You think so?" He asks and I nod. "I've been to every single game. You boys never seem to disappoint." I said truthfully. By now we were both leaning against my car, watching the sunset as if this was an everyday thing. I raise my camera up and took a few flicks. "You're at every game? Supportive girlfriend?" he questions. I laugh at this and shook my head "Try chief newspaper editor and photographer." I say. He raised his brow "You're the one that takes those timeless pictures of whats always on the University's paper? Everyone talks about those pictures you know." He says, both shock and amazement evident in his voice. I shrug "I am. And I'm sure people talks about my pictures." I say nonchalantly. "They almost look photoshopped," he said. I chuckled and shook my head "They are not that good. You literally sound like Mr. Wilson right now." I say as I go through the pictures I took on the camera. "They are that good." He says. I glance at my small watch and smile. "Right. Well, I have to go. Family dinner, Can't miss it." I said with a smile. "Okay. Later Reign." He says with a bigger smile. With a final wave, he disappeared around the corner. I unlocked the door to my car and got in. I looked at my broken camera and the borrowed camera and sighed, My smile slowly fading as I examined the broken camera on my own. "Internally damaged, seriously?" I whine to myself. I saved up my allowance cash from Junior year to the middle of Senior year for this camera. Here we are Senior year in college and it broke because I didn't pack it first. I need to save up for another one again. I thought as I start the car. My phone begins to vibrate in the cup holder, Contact name read Mum. I smiled a bit and answered her call. "Hi, mom." I beam as I pull out of the parking lot, "Hey sweetie, I wanted to know if you're still coming over for dinner, I miss you." She says, In the background, I could hear my dad correcting her "We!" I chuckle "I'm actually on my way right now. I had to stop by Victor's shop." I tell her. She hums in understanding. "Well hurry up because I miss you and I want o hear all about your first three months in college." She says and again my dad could be heard correcting her. I laugh "We go through this every year mom." I say and she sucked her teeth. "I love hearing about your school experiences love." She says. I pulled into the driveway of my parents small home "Well, I'll be there soon." I say then put the phone on mute. I knocked on the door and leaned against the frame of the door, "Tom you stop being a hover husband and get the door, it's probably the neighbors again. They can sense your annoyingness." She said. I stifle a chuckle as I heard my dad mock her. I unmute the call as I saw his shadow figure walk towards the door. "So, anything new? Like a boyfriend? Girlfriend? I accept both." My mom says through the phone as my dad opens the door. "Hey old man." I smile, "Old man- YOU'RE HERE?!" She screamed loudly. This happens every year. Dad smiled brightly, "Well sunshine. Welcome home."