Caught on Cam (Weekend Freewrite -- 09/14/2019)

Prompt First Sentence: "Aren't you risking your reputation by coming here?" She frowned.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Instead of answering her, the man in question took two strides and hugged her tight. "I can't do it. Not without you. You gotta come back with me." The man named Lance said, his voice slightly muffled as he still held her in a tight hold.

Ava, who knew Lance to be a smooth-talker, was suddenly disconcerted with this change in him. Having deemed herself already involved in the situation, she decided to come with him.

If coming with Lance would get him to come clean, then they'd have to face Gwen together.

Prompt 2
"She comes for the food," he said.

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Awkwardly gesturing to Ava before going to Gwen to give her a quick kiss. Ava gave Gwen a tight smile in return. "Make yourself at home! Dinner is just about ready!" Gwen said, flustered while playfully glaring at Lance for not telling her he'd tag along his sister.

He looked away, embarrassed as he sat down at the round dining table. Ava cautiously entered the homey dining area and sat stiffly at the table, all the while exchanging glances with Lance while Gwen had her back turned to them.

"So what brings you here, Ava? Not that I mind, it's really refreshing to see you siblings get together more often." Gwen asked inbetween placing the food and dishes on the table. Having been an only child all her life, she never minded having an extra person to talk to.

Ava quickly thought of a reply just as Gwen sat down and looked expectantly at her, "Well uh... Just business in town before I'm off to a next shoot. Lance just kinda dragged me over here sooo... Here I am!" Ava wanted to slap herself for sounding so stupid but thankfully Gwen just nodded enthusiastically while busy filling her plate. "It must be nice to be a freelance photographer... Getting to go to all those different places..." Gwen wistfully said more than asked.

Ava caught Lance's eye and they shared a look; Gwen only knew half of it. Being the older of the two, Ava was expected to take on the family business, but she didn't want any of it and instead kept defying their father. Having feared that her defiance may influence Lance, their father was forced to cut her out of the family tree; both literally and figuratively. It was only years later, now that Lance was already handling the business, that he managed to track her down and was trying to reconcile their estranged relationship.

Ava, wanting to clear her mind of the past, sighed and excused herself from the table. She was only here because Lance asked for her help, and the sooner she got it done, the faster it was for her to leave.

Prompt 3
that screeching bird

Image by ilangr from Pixabay

It was a pest in her preparations! How it managed to get itself entangled amongst the fairy lights was beyond her, but she had to fix it fast!

Just minutes after the bird problem, Ava heard voices nearby and recognized it belonged to Lance and Gwen. Stealthily situating herself near the main light switch behind a huge tree trunk, she waited while she got her camera ready. Lance would surely appreciate a copy of his proposal for later.

Entering the small clearing just beyond her backyard was Gwen, blindfolded and giggling while Lance gently led her forward. "Now when I remove the blindfold, just keep your eyes closed for a few seconds till I say so, alright?" Ava heard Lance tell Gwen.

Not needing further instructions, Ava simply switched the fairy lights on just as Lance removed the blindfold on Gwen.

Squinting and adjusting her eyes to the sudden brightness, Gwen couldn't have thought she could smile any wider. There in front of her, spelled out as if fireflies strung together, were the words "Will you Marry me?"

Before Lance could even pull out the ring and get down on his knees, Gwen had already encased him in a hug and was repeatedly saying "Yes!" in excitement.

Ava caught it all on film, how Lance's face brightened up in happiness, and how upon finally glimpsing her behind the tree, gave her a thumbs up and mouthed "Thank you!" while still holding Gwen close to him.

And for just that moment, Ava thought their happiness was contagious.

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