a terribly late birthday present for Static Lull- I'm so sorry, hope you enjoy!

how the camera makes you shine

You fall in love with a laughing boy with darkdark eyes and hair that you could run your fingers through. He's nice and he has such an innocent face that it kind of makes you intimidated, because he's too good for you and you know it.

When your best friend catches you staring at him for the twenty-thousandth time, she snickers and nudges you. "Just give him some you know," she hisses.

But you know that love potions aren't right for someone like Colin, that this means too much, that if he ever falls in love with you, you want it to be real.

And one day, he notices you. He comes up to you, awkwardly sticking his hands in his pockets and rocking back on his heels, and for one wild second, you think he's going to ask you out. But instead, he just gives you a lopsided grin and nods at his camera dangling from his neck. "I was wondering if I could take a few pictures sometime? Your face…it's different." He notices your expression and flushes. "Not in a bad way! It's pretty…uniquely pretty. And I think you'd make a good model."

"My mother was a gypsy," you offer hesitantly, and his responding smile sucks you in until you're drowning, heads over heels.

x.x

You pose for him one evening, letting the light of the fire cast shadows on your uniquely pretty face. Colin smiles from behind the camera, and you let the clicks and the flashes wash over you as you soak up the attention you neverever get.

x.x

Ginny's talking to him the next day, and with a sinking heart, you watch as she makes her way to you.

"I just told Colin," she tells you, "about what you almost did to Harry and Merlin-knows who else. I just thought he had a right to know." She regards you for a second and you stare back stoically at her, trying to fight the blush creeping over your cheeks.

Ginny smiles and gives a careless shrug. "So if he doesn't accept any of your refreshments, don't take offense!"

She skips off, and you duck your head, hot shame spreading across your face, trying not to look at Colin. But then he's right before you and you hesitantly meet his eyes and he's smiling.

"Six tonight?" he says sweetly. "I have to say, you're my favorite model."

You manage a nod and he touches your cheek briefly. And then he's gone and you're falling, falling, falling.