Chapter Text
"You're SunshineKoala- aren't you?"
The words hung between them, Danielle didn't answer, atleast not immediately- she had visibly tensed. The breeze continued through the overlook, rustling the leaves overhead as if Mother Nature was also waiting for her response.
"…What makes you think that I am?" Danielle asked quietly, keeping her gaze fixed at the view in front of her, she couldn't bear to look at Haerin.
Haerin let out a slow breath through her nose, "You already know why."
"Enlighten me, Kang." Danielle challenged, looking down at her hands- which were fidgeting with the frayed sleeve of her hoodie, twisting the fabric between her fingers.
"It's pretty obvious, you know." Haerin began, "at the cafe- that couldn't have been a coincidence."
"What if it was? What if it was a coincidence?" Danielle repeated, her heart thumping loudly in her ears.
Haerin let out a light chuckle, "You know that's not true, Danielle."
Danielle stayed quiet.
"You somehow knew I liked tomatoes- but I never told you that." Haerin continued, her voice remaining calm- impossibly so. She finally turned her head just enough to look at Danielle's profile, catching a glimpse of the break in her composure, "Not at school, anyway."
Danielle fingers stopped twisting the fabric of her sleeve at the mention of tomatoes- only for a second, before starting again.
"You also knew how much I hate thunderstorms." Haerin hummed, her eyes drifting back towards the valley below. "The first time it rained in winter, you asked if I was okay." A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth- "I remember wondering why you would ask me that when we barely spoke besides insulting or arguing with one another."
Danielle swallowed harshly for what seems like the nth time today- but Haerin continued onward.
"You said it was 'cause I looked nervous."
"You did look nervou-"
Haerin cut through, "But that wasn't why."
"You remember a lot of things that nobody else remembers about me, especially things i've only told Sunshine, which is funny- since you seem to 'hate me' so much." Haerin noted- tucking a strand of hair that had been swept loose by the wind behind her ear.
Another breeze swept across the overlook during the pause in dialogue-
"You remembered my birthday," Haerin said- almost absentmindedly like she was simply piercing together a puzzle she's already solved. "I mentioned that like… what? Once the entire school year?"
"I thought I was just imagining everything at first," Haerin admitted- "I kept on telling myself I was reading too much into everything when we started this project, that I just… wanted it to be true because it would explain why someone I've spent years arguing feels…" Haerin trailed off, searching for the right word.
"Familiar?" Danielle finished for her.
Haerin looked back toward the horizon, where the sun had begun dipping behind the rolling hills, painting the clouds in streaks of orange and pink.
Danielle's eyes widened, her chest tightening in tandem as her body had a physical reaction to Haerin's words- "It's not like you're any better either," she groaned- "You deliberately called me Sunshine to get a reaction out of me."
"So you're not denying that your Sunshine?" Haerin smirked, raising one eyebrow.
Danielle tensed up again, all movements pausing, "I- wha-" She sputtered, freezing up.
Haerin turned back to look at Danielle, leaning in closer to her- "So tell me honestly,"
"Are you Sunshine? My Sunshine?"
Danielle finally dragged her eyes to meet Haerin's shaking ones, her breath hitching at the use of the word 'my.' Haerin's eyes searched hers with a desperate uncertainty, like she was just waiting for Danielle to laugh and tell her she built an entire reality out of coincidences, her lips were pressed into a thin line- her shoulders drawn tight.
Haerin already knew the answer, she was just asking because she needed to hear it for herself.
Danielle broke the eye-contact, looking away with flushed cheeks, "You shouldn't have said it like that."
"Like what?"
"'My Sunshine.'" Danielle quoted, gesturing with her fingers.
"What's wrong with that?"
"It just-" Danielle paused, the words weighing heavy atop her tongue, "Nevermind that."
A breeze swept around them, lifting the ends of Danielle's curls as another lull in the conversation appeared, the silence between them snapping as a train horn echoed faintly before disappearing into the quietness of the setting dawn.
Danielle didn't want to respond, she really didn't- what would Haerin do? Flip out? Call her a psycho? Cut her off and never play Genshin with her again? The possibilities were endless in Danielle's already spiraling mind, but if she knows if she doesn't respond now and shy away- Haerin would just press further.
"So," Danielle murmured, forcing a crooked smile that didn't reach all the way up to her eyes- "You've known this whole time?"
At the confirmation, Haerin visibly relaxed, her shoulders dropping from the rigid tension they'd been locked in all day, she didn't even realize how tightly she's been holding herself together until her singular questions been answered.
Haerin let out another slow breath, almost shaky in its relief, "No." she answered quietly, her eyes trailing from Danielle's face to her fidgeting fingers, "Not the whole time."
Danielle remained facing the valley, but she could feel the piercing gaze on her.
"I only really started thinking about it after the cafe."
"When you saw me?" Danielle put out, her heartbeat finally calming down at how relaxed Haerin seemed to be.
Haerin nodded, "When I saw you."
On Danielle's walk up to her door that night after dropping off Haerin, a familiar orange cat was waiting for her.
The next morning, nothing looked particularly different.
Their school's hallways were just as crowded as they always were, packed shoulder-to-shoulder with students dragging themselves toward first period while conversation bounced off the lockers in every direction, to their peers- it was another school day.
To Danielle, it felt more like the first day of school all over again.
She had spotted Haerin before classes had began- Danielle defended the fact her eyes automatically searched the sea of people for Haerin first, telling herself that it was cause she 'stood out'.
When really- she was just standing at her locker near the end of the hallway, calmly switching textbooks between her backpack and the metal shelf as though nothing monumental happened less than 24 hours ago. Her headphones rested around her neck instead of over her ears, strands of dark hair tucked neatly behind one side of her face while she skimmed through the day's schedule.
Danielle slowed as she got closer without realizing, usually- this was the part of her day where she would walk past and throw out some harmless jab, just some banter to brighten things up you know?
"Move it, Kang."
"You planning on living in your locker today? Or your notebook?"
The lines came to Danielle's mind as naturally as breathing, the rhythm of them so familiar she could practically hear herself saying the words, a week ago- she would've. The scene would play out like this; Danielle would make some witty comment, and Haerin would've looked over with her signature unimpressed expression, mutter something equally sarcastic back- and the two of them would continue walking in opposite directions.
Only now, Danielle couldn't bring herself to say any of it.
Especially not after yesterday, not after sitting beside Haerin for hours watching the sun disappear behind the hills, learning that the person she's looked forward to talking to every night has been standing by her everyday for the past 4 years- well she already knew the last part, she just hadn't come to terms with it.
The distance between them shrank with every step Danielle took until she found herself stopping a few feet from the locker, close enough that Haerin could hear the squeak of her sneakers against the tile- close enough that she looked up from whatever notebook or planner she was engorged in immediately.
And when their eyes finally met, Danielle's steady pulse spiked- it's astonishing how different that simple act felt now.
Haerin's expression shifted ever so slightly, the guarded look she usually wore when she was around Danielle softening before settling- and ever so observant, Danielle caught the almost imperceptible inhale she took.
The silence stretched for a bit, before Danielle's eyes shot down to the floor, shifting her weight awkwardly, "…Morning."
Haerin simply stared, shutting the planner in her hands and tucking it into the crook of her elbow, "Morning." she returned.
Danielle winced internally- did she seriously waltz over here with absolutely no plan beyond saying hello? Lesbianism really makes you do dumb things. Her brain, so wonderfully articulate online, had apparently decided to abandon her the second she had to speak to Haerin face-to-face.
"So…" She started, and immediately regret it."
"So?" Haerin echoed, equally unhelpful.
"Uh…" Danielle rubbed the back of her neck, searching desperately for something- anything that wouldn't sound ridiculous.
"…Did you get the photos from yesterday?" She blurted, the question leaving her mouth before she could stop it.
Haerin tilted her head, pursing her lips, "Oh- no, I didn't actually. You were supposed to send them to me, remember?"
Danielle tensed up, fuck! Danielle- why would you even ask her that? You haven't even transferred the photos from the camera to your phone!?
She snapped out of her thoughts after a moment, clearing her throat awkwardly, "Right! Right…" Danielle trailed off, "I'll uh… I'll send them to you once I get home."
Haerin stared at her for a second more, expression blank, "We good?"
Danielle nodded a little too quickly, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of red, "Yeah! Yep! Definitely."
The corner of Haerin's mouth twitched upward for the briefest moment before she looked down at the notebook still tucked beneath one arm, almost embarrassed that she'd nearly smiled.
Danielle noticed it, of course- she recognized that smile from the time they went to the field of cats. In the moment, Danielle remembers wishing that smile would be caused by her- so to see Haerin's lips twitch upwards like that, her heart soared with pride.
Without thinking, Danielle smiled back, but it was nothing like the exaggerated grin she usually had plastered onto her face around Hanni and Minji, it was something meant exactly for the girl standing in front of her.
The hallways noise seemed to fade into the background as they stood there, both trying to reconcile the person in front of them with the girl they came to know through a screen- it was almost disorienting. Danielle could still picture those late-night conversations scrolling endlessly upwards in their chat history, and seeing those same gentle expressions she imagined reflected on Haerin's actual face somehow made everything feel brand new again.
Overhead, the first bell rang- it's shrill echo cutting through the hallway and jolting the both of them back to reality, students began moving with renewed urgency toward their classrooms, conversations abruptly ending as backpacks were hoisted higher onto shoulders.
Danielle shifted her own bag higher, "I should…"
"Yeah,"
It felt wrong to end the conversation there, but neither of them knew how to continue it without venturing into a territory that belonged to Sunshine and CoolCat rather than Danielle and Haerin.
Finally, Danielle took a step backward- nearly bumping into a peer as she did so, "Have a good day." The words came out quietly.
"You too, Danielle." Haerin replied- looking at her for another moment before turning to her locker and slamming it shut.
She said her name so naturally and effortlessly that Danielle almost missed it, because in the 4 years that she's known Kang Haerin, Danielle couldn't remember a single time she ever heard her say Danielle without attaching some sarcastic remark to the end of it.
Danielle spent the last three classes catching herself looking for Haerin everytime the passing period bell rang, only to quickly look away and hide herself behind someone like a coward- it was embarrassing at how automatic it was, she used to search the hallways just to make sure she wasn't about to run into Haerin! But look at her now!
When she finally reached Geography, Haerin was already in her usual spot.
She occupied the same seat near the windows, directly infront of Danielle's seat, sunlight pouring across half of the desk while she absentmindedly flipped through the project packet they've been working on for god knows how long. The camera rested on her desk, the memory card still tucked safely inside after yesterday's trip to the outlook.
Danielle slipped into her seat behind Haerin's with an unusual lack of fanfare, the familiar backpack landed gently behind Haerin's seat instead of being slammed onto the ground- and after a brief glance at Haerin from over her shoulder, Danielle quietly pulled her notebook from her bag.
"Hey," She called out, looking over tentatively.
Haerin looked up from the project packet she'd been reading and looked over her shoulder faintly, "Hi."
The exchange was brief, painfully ordinary in Danielle's eyes- but it was enough to make the two of them acutely aware of how different everything felt.
Their fellow students gradually filtered into the classroom, conversations growing louder as more and more desks filled- Their teacher walked in moments later carrying a stack of papers beneath one arm, setting them down on the front desk before writing the days agenda across the whiteboard.
Geography Project - Cultural Landscape.
"As some of you already know," he began once the bell rang, "I'd like each group to include one location that reflects the identity of our town- San Diego, your first three photographs focused on natural and historical beauty- this last one should show what makes our community feel like… well, this community."
A collective sigh drifted through the room, and he smiled sympathetically, "I promise, after this one you guys will only have a photo or two more."
As discussion spread across the room, Danielle looked down at the nearly completed worksheet between them, 3 locations had already been checked off in Haerin's neat handwriting, leaving only a single empty line at the bottom.
"So," Danielle murmured, turning her pencil between her fingers, "You have an idea for someplace?"
Haerin nodded, her eyes attentively scanning the blank space, "Balboa Park."
Danielle looked over, "You think so?"
Haerin nodded in return, forcing herself to make eye-contact with Danielle, "It's the most logical place- and the easiest one to explain for the essay portion. The gardens, the museums, the old buildings, and theres alot of scenery- so that we won't struggle finding photos."
Danielle found herself agreeing immediately, "I haven't been there in quite a while."
"I used to go with my parents." Haerin added, jotting down the words 'Balboa Park' in the empty space of paper.
"I remember," Danielle blurted- the words slipping out before she could think about it.
Haerin's pen stopped in it's place, slowly turning her head to look at Danielle.
At Haerin's confused expression, Danielle felt the need to explain herself- hesitating only briefly, "You told me once."
Months ago, Haerin casually mentioned spending spring afternoons feeding ducks near the Lily Pond while texting Sunshine late one night, at the time- neither of them could've imagined that memory would one day become something they shared face-to-face.
Haerin slid the paper toward Danielle, "I think this fits." Deciding to not dote on the past words that came from Danielle.
Danielle nodded after reading that, "Yeah."
Their teacher eventually made his way around the classroom, stopping beside each pair to0 approve their location- he glanced over their worksheet before giving an approving nod, "Balboa Park's an excellent choice," he said- "There's a lot there… think about the Spanish Colonial architecture, the public spaces, the cultural institutions."
He marked their paper with a check before continuing to the next pair.
Danielle looked toward the windows, the sky was perfectly clear, perfect weather. "Are you doing anything after school?"
Haerin looked up from the paper, "No, why?"
"I was just thinking…" Danielle paused, choosing her words carefully, "We already have the camera here-" she gestured to the camera on Haerin's desk, "We could just go today and get it over with."
"Let's use a polaroid instead." Haerin suggested.
"Okay!" Danielle agreed, way too eagerly.
Haerin only had to consider it for a moment- traffic would be heavier later in the evening, but the light would be good by the time they got there, waiting until another day doesn't really make the most sense when they're both free.
"I don't see why not." Haerin finally let out, which Danielle exhaled in relief. "We'll probably get everything done before sunset, and the late afternoon light will look better anyway."
"Then it's settled." Danielle finalized, leaning back in her chair.
When the final bell finally echoed through the school, Danielle lingered in her last class for an extra minute- stuffing loose papers with more concentration then what the task requires- she was buying time.
She told Haerin they would meet outside her classroom after the bell so they could walk back to Danielle's house together and take her car to Balboa Park- it was a perfectly normal plan, one she had planned before, and also one she agreed to without much thought. Doesn't Haerin literally have a drivers license? Danielle thought- zipping up her bag.
She slung her now-shut and stuffed backpack over her shoulders and stepped into the hallway, where Haerin already stood.
Haerin was standing a few feet from the classroom door with both hands tucked into the pockets of her hoodie, headphones hanging loosely around her neck- and when Danielle appeared, their eyes met instantly.
"Hey," Danielle said as she approached Haerin, adjusting the strap on her backpack- a habit she gained over the years.
"Hi," Haerin let out- almost breathless.
It was embarrassing how quickly Haerin's attention caught on the detail's shes never really allowed herself to notice before- but nonetheless, Haerin found herself noticing all at once. The soft shape of her features, the way her curls framed her face, the faint warmth in her cheeks having just hurried out of class- even the little smile that appeared when she made eye contact with Haerin. It was almost disorienting- it's like she was seeing Danielle in a whole new light.
And now she didn't know how to stop.
Haerin looked away after realizing she was staring- mentally scolding herself as she quickly looked away, silently praying Danielle hadn't noticed the faint flush spreading across her face.
"You weren't waiting too long, were you?" Danielle asked with a tilt of her head.
Haerin shook her head a bit too fast, "I got here a minute ago."
Another pause- Danielle glanced down the hallway, then back at Haerin, "My house isn't too far, we can walk."
"I know." Haerin responded automatically, but she seemed to realize how it sounded a second later, clearing her throat and look towards the doors she followed it up with- "Like uh, last time. When we walked to your house."
Danielle's lips curled into another small smile, "Right."
They started walking together down the hall, falling into step almost naturally- the hallway had already emptied out by then, leaving behind the occasional student rushing or lingering by the lockers- their shoulders were close enough that Danielle could feel the warmth coming from Haerin whenever they passed through the narrower sections of the hallway, but neither of them commented on it.
The walk to Danielle's house itself was quiet, not a single word was shared between them.
Well, it was mostly Danielle's fault, (or is it?) there were so many things she could have said. She could have complained about their teacher giving them more work, she could've asked whether Haerin wanted to stop somewhere before they went to Balboa park, she could've made some stupid observation about the weather recently.
But really, Danielle was just thinking about how this was the second time they had walked to Danielle's home together without either of them pretending they were only doing it cause they had to.
And Haerin seemed to be thinking deeply about something too- maybe not too deep, since every few minutes, she'd glanced sideways at Danielle before quickly looking back towards the sidewalk.
On her 5th time, Danielle caught her, "What?"
Haerin blinked back at her, "Nothing."
"You keep looking at me, thats not nothing."
"I'm not though?"
"You were."
Haerin's lips pressed together, fighting back a smile, "Maybe I was."
Danielle's smile widened slightly at the admission, but she turned her attention back toward the sidewalk so Haerin wouldn't notice how pleased she'd become over something so small, "Why?" she asked, her tone quiet- "You've been doing that all afternoon."
Haerin's steps slowed for half a second before falling back into rhythm beside her, "I… I uh- I don't know."
"You don't know?" Danielle echoed.
Haerin shook her head, gaze fixed somewhere ahead them. "I just…" she paused- trying to find an explanation that didn't sound ridiculous, "I'm still getting used to all… all this."
Danielle knew exactly what she was talking about.
Walking beside someone shes been going to school with for years and been arguing with her almost… everyday while simultaneously feeling as though she'd only met her yesterday was definitely confusing to the average girl.
"Me too," Danielle admitted- eyes falling to the floor.
The two words seemed to relax Haerin a little, her shoulders lowering as they continued down the sidewalk- pace slowing naturally now that there was no reason to hurry, the late afternoon sun hung low enough to cast warm light across the neighborhood, stretching their shadows several feet ahead of them.
Danielle's house wasn't too far from school, and the familiar route was second nature to her- she knew it like the back of her hand, but having Haerin beside her made the walk feel unfamiliar.
After another minute of silent walking, Danielle spoke again- "You know, you don't have to act different around me."
Haerin looked up from the ground, glancing over at her, "What?"
"I mean…" Danielle pursed her lips- "You've just been uncharacteristically quiet today."
"So have you." Haerin shot back.
"That's different."
"How is that any different?"
Danielle thought about it for a second longer, realizing she was in the wrong here- "I… I don't know, I think I just said that to say it."
Haerin's mouth curved into a faint smile, "Exactly."
Danielle rolled her eyes, but there was no irritation behind it, "Okay! Fine, maybe we're both being weird."
"We are, obviously."
Danielle didn't bother to continue talking- and they walked on, a few houses passed on either side of them- familiar driveways and parked cars blending together beneath the afternoon sun.
"So, Balboa Park…" Danielle started- tugging on the straps of her backpack.
"Mhm."
"So what do you wanna take pictures of first?"
"The gardens, probably?" Haerin pointed out, like that was the most obvious thing ever… well it kind of is.
"Well yeah, no shit sherlock- what about the buildings?"
Haerin let out a snort, "Psh- obviously, and the fountains too."
"And the museums?"
Haerin nodded, humming thoughtfully- "We should get the botanical building if there's good lighting."
Danielle turned to look at Haerin with a skeptical look on her face, "You really take this project seriously, don't you?"
Haerin looked almost offended, "And you don't?"
"I do, of course! What makes you think that?" Danielle retorted, her hands coming in front of her to emphasize her point.
"Weren't you complaining about it a few days ago?"
"I can take something seriously and still complain about it!"
Haerin considered it before giving her a curt nod and throwing up an okay sign on her hand, "Fairs."
By the time they reached Danielle's street, the awkwardness that had followed them from school had loosened considerably, it wasn't gone completely- still lingering in the way they walked beside each other, something that made Danielle of every little movement she made, but it no longer felt like they were constantly stepping around an invisible line.
They were simply just walking home together, nothing more.
Once they approached Danielle's house, Haerin glanced toward the porch- her expression softening with recognition, "I still can't believe you live this close to the school."
Danielle looked at her funny, "You've been here before."
"I know that."
"You even know where the spare key is."
Haerin finally let a small smile slip from her lips, "I know."
Danielle unlocked the front door, stepping inside just long enough to grab her car keys, and returned a moment later, her polaroid in hand.
"You got everything?" Danielle asked, locking the door behind her.
Haerin climbed into the passenger seat after walking down the driveway after Danielle, carefully keeping the camera out of the way as she settled into the seat. Danielle started the engine, and a few moments later they were pulling away from the curb and heading toward Balboa Park.
The drive through San Diego was relatively quiet, since neither of them bothered to get on aux-afternoon traffic had started picking up, but they still made decent time. Haerin watched the scenery pass through the passenger window, occasionally pointing out something she thought was worth photographing on the way back.
Danielle glanced over at her once as she turned the steering wheel, "Hey, don't you have a license too?"
Haerin dragged her eyes from the window, "Uh, yeah. Why?"
"If you have a license… why are we still using my car?" Danielle laughed, "And you aren't exactly paying me gas money, do you know how expensive it is nowadays?"
Haerin just snorted in response, and they fell quiet again.
When Balboa Park finally came into view, Haerin's attention shifted toward the buildings and gardens surrounding the perimeter just outside the parking area, the familiar Spanish Colonial Revival architecture that's been drilled into her head from years of social studies classes stood out between the trees, illuminated by the late afternoon sun.
Danielle found a parking space and turned off the engine.
They wordlessly climbed out the 2 ton metal vehicle, Danielle locked the car before joining Haerin on the sidewalk- who was busy adjusting the camera hanging from her shoulder, checking that the strap was secure before looking in the direction of the park.
"Where should we start?"
Danielle shut the driver door and looked around, her brown doe eyes moving slowly across the gardens and buildings, "The gardens, maybe."
Haerin nodded, following after the curly-haired girl.
They started along one the quieter paths, walking beneath the looming trees while Haerin carried the camera between them, and the first thing that stopped them was a large flower bed tucked beside one of the paths- rows of flowers spilling outward in different shapes and textures, the sunlight catching on the edges of the petals while the shadows of the surrounding trees stretched across the grass.
In the middle of it all, was a small yellow flower- rumpled at the edges.
Danielle stopped, "That." she declared, pointing at it sternly.
Haerin lifted the camera, "The flowers?"
The girl beside her hummed agreement, and Haerin stepped closer to the flower bed and looked through the viewfinder- she adjusted the angle slowly, crouching slightly so the flowers filled the foreground while the architecture behind them remained visible.
"Too much building?" Haerin asked, locked in on the view infront of her.
Danielle stood behind Haerin, leaning down closer to look at the screen, "A little."
Haerin shifted the camera downward, "Like this?"
Danielle made a wince of disappointment, "Let's maybe move back a little."
Haerin took a few steps backward, till Danielle stopped her, "Right there."
The shutter clicked, and Haerin lowered the camera and looked at the photograph while Danielle crouched beside her.
"That's actually really good," Danielle murmured in approval.
Haerin smiled to herself, "You think?"
"Yeah, just like that."
The praise seemed to catch Haerin slightly off guard, she looked back toward the screen- studying the photograph, trying to determine whether Danielle genuinely meant it or was just fucking with her.
"I like the way the light hits the flowers," Danielle pointed out- breaking the awkward silence.
They moved on, and a little farther down the path- Danielle's attention was piqued by a fountain surrounded by stonework and greenery, the water caught the sunlight as it fell from the spout, scattering tiny reflections across the basin.
Haerin raised the camera again, crouching near the edge of the fountain- carefully framing the shot so the water filled most of the image while the surrounding architecture remained visible in the background.
She took one photo after another, and Danielle watched her work from the sidelines, "You've gotten pretty good at that."
Haerin gave her a short glance before looking back, "I've had practice." She hummed.
"Really?" Danielle asked, tone teasing, "It seems like this whole project i've been the only one taking the photos, and you're the muse."
Haerin snorted, "Well- would you rather you be the muse?"
Danielle just shrugged, though Haerin couldn't exactly see her- "I'm not particularly against it."
Haerin stood up fully and turned to face Danielle, letting the camera fall from her hands and rest on the strap across her torso, "Then, can I take a photo of you?"
The breath Danielle was inhaling manually stopped- throwing her into a coughing fit as soon as Haerin finished talking, she looked up- "I wasn't… I wasn't expecting you to-" she paused again, "Of me?"
Haerin shrugged, trying to make her question sound insignificant, "We do need pictures for the project…"
Danielle stared at her for a moment before narrowing her eyes slightly, "Of the park."
"Well," Haerin coughed into her hand awkwardly- "You're in the park."
"That's not what our teacher meant." Danielle pointed out, "Why do you really want to?"
Haerin hesitated, she didn't have a good answer that wouldn't reveal how badly she wanted to photograph her, or really it was just an excuse to stare at Danielle without feeling like a creep. She's already taken a few pictures without really thinking about it, but those were just candid shots!
"I mean- you just brought up the whole muse thing and…" Haerin trailed off, as Danielle shot her a knowing look- "And because I think it'll look good." she finally admitted, saying the last part quieter than the first.
Danielle's expression softened, but a faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, "You think I'll look good?"
Haerin began to regret her choice of words, "The picture, the picture." she replied, but then realized that sounded even worse, "Not to say you're ugly or anything! You're everything but!"
Haerin took it, suddenly far more nervous than she'd expected to be. She adjusted the strap around her wrist and looked around for somewhere that would work. A few feet away, a flowering garden stretched beneath the shade of several trees, with one of the park's ornate buildings rising behind it. The late sunlight filtered through the branches overhead, leaving patches of gold across the stone walkway.
"Stand over there," Haerin said, pointing toward the edge of the garden.
Danielle walked to the spot, turning around. "Here?"
"A little to the left."
She moved as directed.
"Actually... a little back."
Danielle laughed. "You're picky."
"I just want the background to look good."
Danielle rolled her eyes but moved again. "Better?"
Haerin lifted the camera, "Much better." she brought the viewfinder to her eye, then immediately forgot what she was doing.
Danielle stood in the middle of the frame with the garden behind her, the last sunlight catching the edges of her curls and turning them almost copper beneath the warm light. A few loose strands had fallen around her face, moving gently whenever the breeze passed through. Her cheeks carried a natural flush from the walk, and the soft expression on her face was completely different from the one Haerin was used to seeing at school- the guarded smile, the sarcastic smirk, the expression she wore whenever she was preparing to argue with someone (usually Haerin).
Her finger hovered uselessly above the shutter, frozen in place.
Danielle tilted her head innocently, "Why aren't you taking it?"
Haerin blinked, "I-" she looked away for half a second, like it would factory reset her brain, "Give me a sec."
The curly haired girl frowned, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong! Perfectly fine."
"But you've been staring at me for a hot minute now?"
Haerin swallowed, bringing the camera back up before Danielle could see how warm her face had become. Not that you can see the temperature of ones face, or can you? Whatever,- Haerin looked through the viewfinder again, "Just… stay like that."
Looking through the viewfinder was somehow worse, since Danielle was looking directly at her now, her eyes catching the sunlight as she stood against the scenery. This is unfair, Haerin thought- the same girl who irritated her everyday couldn't possibly be the same person who made her heart race whenever her phone lit up with a new discord message
She's beautiful, Haerin thought- the idea appearing before Haerin could stop it, her entire chest tightening as she pressed the shutter.
Click.
She lowered the camera for a second, breathing out slowly- her heart racing at a million miles per hour.
"Was that one bad? Is it my pose?" Danielle called from her position infront of Haerin.
"No! No, nothing's wrong with it." Haerin replied, a bit too quick.
"Then? What's wrong?"
Haerin shook her head quickly, "Nothing's wrong, you're fine."
Danielle's eyebrows rose, "I'm fine?"
Somehow, all of the remaining blood in Haerin's body rushed to her cheeks- the ones on her face, forcing her to drop the camera- hitting her chest with a thud as it lulled on the strap, "I- I mean, the picture! The picture is fine."
Danielle just smiled back, and Haerin lifted the camera again before she could say anything else, "Look toward the garden."
Danielle turned slightly, the breeze moved through her hair again, and the sunlight slipped between the leaves overhead, casting soft patterns across her face- and Haerin's heart gave an embarrassing, violent thump.
Click
Haerin started to forget to check the composition entirely, clicking away aimlessly- the scenery was already beautiful, but every time Danielle shifted her posture or looked in a different direction, Haerin wanted herself wanting photograph after photograph- there was one where Danielle looked toward the fountain, the one where she smiled at something happening off to the side- and another where she looked back at Haerin with an almost shy expression.
It made Haerin stop completely, her body tensing as she saw the complete photo- and of course, Danielle clocked it.
Nothing about the polaroid was particularly complicated, Danielle wasn't even posing dramatically- Heck, she wasn't even smiling properly! She was just standing there beneath the trees with the gardens behind her, looking at Haerin like she was the only person in the park.
Rows of flowers stretched out around the walkway, their colors softened by the warm light, while the dark green leaves of the trees created a natural frame around Danielle, further behind her, the ornate architecture of Balboa park rose between the branches, its pale walls glowing beneath the sunset.
But Haerin could barely focus on any of it, her eyes had gone straight to Danielle.
The photograph had caught her at an almost perfect moment, one Haerin hadn't even realized she's been looking for- Danielle's curls had fallen loosely around her face, with a few strands lifted by the breeze, and the sunlight caught along their edges so delicately that they seemed almost illuminated, her head was tilted just slightly- her shoulders relaxed, and there was the faintest curve at the corner of her mouth.
Most of it all, it was her eyes- they weren't looking at the lenses of the camera, they were looking directly at Haerin.
There was an openness in them that Haerin wasn't used to seeing in person, especially not from Danielle. Whenever she saw Danielle, at school or not- her eyes were usually sharp with amusement or narrowed whenever they argued, always carrying some hint that she was already preparing for her next response.
Haerin stared at it, infatuated- for several seconds longer than she should have, her thumb resting motionless against the side of the camera, she swallowed hard- suddenly conscious of how quickly her heart was beating.
"Haerin?"
Her eyes snapped upward, Danielle was still standing exactly where she'd left her, thoguh her expression had changed she's noticed sudden silence, the way Haerin had stopped taking pictures, and now she was watching her with a small crease between her eyebrows.
"You stopped," Danielle half-yelled to make herself audible, stating the obvious.
Haerin glanced down at the camera and back up at her, "You noticed?"
"Something wrong?"
"I already said- nothing's wrong!"
"Then why are you looking at the camera like that?"
Haerin opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out- Because you're beautiful, because I can't stop looking at you, Because somehow after everything they'd learned about each other, Haerin still wasn't prepared for what it felt like to have Danielle look at her this way.
Danielle didn't seem convinced, obviously- she took a few steps closer, her shoes brushing softly against the stone path- "Can I see?"
Haerin's stomach dropped to her ass, and for half a second- she considered throwing away the polaroid completely, but Danielle was already beside her, and reluctantly- Haerin tilted the polaroid to her.
She leaned in, her curls falling forward slightly as she studied the photograph, her eyes moving over the image slowly, taking in the flowers, the trees, the buildings behind her, and finally herself. Haerin could feel the warmth radiating off Danielle, the faint smell of her perfume-
Haerin looked at her, "Is it okay?"
Danielle finally stood up straight, smiling brightly at Haerin, "Yeah! It's really pretty."
Haerin's eyes dropped back to the photo, the compliment making her heart beat even harder, "You look…" she started- then stopped,
Danielle's eyes dragged up to make eye-contact with Haerin, making her mind go completely blank- "I look what?"
She could've said good, could've said nice- she even could've said that the lighting looked good, or she could say the truth- that Danielle looked absolutely breathtaking.
Haerin caught herself just in time, "…Natural," she finished awkwardly.
"Natural?" Danielle echoed, her smile widening impossibly further, "You're terrible at compliments, you know?"
"I know."
Danielle laughed- the sound echoing in Haerin's ears, who was looking away- pretending to inspect the camera while trying to calm herself down.
As Danielle got back into position for more photos, Haerin glanced at the polaroid one more time, there she was- beautiful enough to make Haerin forget the entire reason she'd picked up the camera in the first place.