Pictures of Lily

hadn’t really thought about it.’
    ‘Well, I think these are great,’ he reiterates, putting the photos back down on the shopping bag. ‘I’d love to see your next set.’
    And in a funny kind of way, I’m already looking forward to showing him.
    ‘What are you up to after this?’ he asks.
    ‘I’ll probably head back to Michael’s.’
    ‘Still finding it hard to call it home?’ He pauses. ‘You’ve been calling it “Michael’s” ever since you got here.’
    ‘It is Michael’s home,’ I reply defensively.
    ‘It’s yours now, too. Hopefully it won’t be long before it feels like it.’
    ‘Mmm.’
    ‘So when did you get your camera?’
    ‘My dad gave it to me as a leaving present.’
    ‘Oh, right. That was nice of him.’
    ‘My dad’s a nice man.’
    ‘I bet you miss him.’
    ‘Yes.’ I look away.
    ‘When did you find out you were leaving the UK?’
    ‘My mum only told me a couple of months ago,’ I mumble.
    ‘Blimey, that all happened very quickly.’
    ‘You’re telling me.’
    ‘Bet you wish you could have brought a few mates with you.’
    I want to skip over that question for reasons I don’t care to explain, so instead I divert attention towards Kay and Olivia. ‘I wish I could have brought my sisters.’
    ‘I didn’t know you had sisters.’
    ‘Young half-sisters. And my stepmother is pregnant with a third. I’m going to miss the birth of the baby.’
    He gives me a sympathetic look. ‘That sucks.’
    We fall silent for a bit until finally he speaks. ‘I should probably set off.’
    ‘Where are you going?’
    ‘Home. Do you want a lift?’
    The bus was fine, but you can’t beat a lift straight to the front door.
    ‘Er, could I?’
    ‘Sure.’ He gets to his feet and I do the same.
    ‘Actually,’ I hesitate, remembering my reason for being back in the Botanic Gardens, ‘I wanted to take a few more photos. Of the lily pond in this light,’ I add self-consciously. ‘You go on. I don’t want to hold you up.’
    ‘Don’t be silly, I can wait.’
    ‘No, really.’
    But he sits back down on the grass. I waver for a moment then tell myself, What’s the big fuss? You’re only taking a bloody photograph. I force myself to chill out and walk away from the pond.
    ‘Am I in the way?’ Ben asks.
    ‘Yes, actually,’ I reply cheekily.
    ‘Sorry, sorry.’ He gets to his feet and goes to sit on a nearby bench. A short while later I join him. ‘Are you done?’ he asks with surprise.
    ‘Yep.’
    ‘That was quick!’
    ‘I only took a few shots. Don’t want to waste film,’ I explain, awkwardly.
    ‘You should have got one of those new digital cameras,’ he says as we set off towards the gates.
    ‘My dad mentioned them, but I don’t like the way they come out when you print the pictures. Too grainy or something.’
    ‘Yep, the resolution’s not great. The technology will improve though. It always does. Maybe by the time you upgrade.’
    We cross busy North Terrace and head towards Rundle Street. ‘I’m in the multi-storey.’ He points up the road.
    ‘Are you at work tomorrow?’ I ask.
    ‘Nope. Back on Monday. You coming in then?’
    ‘I’d like to. Michael said he might be able to get me a summer job.’
    ‘That would be great,’ Ben says sincerely.
    We’re walking past a pub when I hear my name being shouted.
    ‘Oi! Lily!’
    I whip around to see Josh sitting at one of the crowded tables out on the pavement. Damn, he’s good-looking. Shame he knows it.
    ‘What are you doing here?’ he asks.
    He’s with a group of five other guys and girls, all of whom regard me with curiosity.
    I hold up the bags in my hands. ‘Shopping. I just bumped into Ben.’
    ‘Sit down. Have a beer.’
    I glance at Ben waiting on the pavement a few feet away.
    ‘Hey, Ben,’ Josh calls half-heartedly.
    ‘Alright?’ Ben responds in an equally lacklustre fashion.
    I look back at Josh. ‘Ben was about to give me a lift home.’
    ‘I’ll give you a lift home,’ he says. There’s a half-empty glass of beer on the table in front of him. I don’t know how long he’s been here, how long he’s planning to stay, or if he intends to keep on drinking, but after another night in on my own yesterday, I don’t want to turn down what might be my last invitation.
    ‘Do you mind if I stay?’ I ask Ben.
    ‘Of course not,’ he replies, taking a step backwards. ‘See you on Monday?’
    ‘Cool,’ I reply.
    ‘Bye, Ben.’ Josh waves slightly too