Work Text:
A likely alliance of chattering voices echoes softly into the hallway. Their conversation is an intimate symphony of feet swaying and pencils fidgeting. They strategically sit on the side of the room opposite the AC vent with inconsistent air flow. Louis and Lestat enjoy many afternoons like this together. It's well past 4pm and they're still in the art room. The art teacher has learned that they're only interested in each other's company, trusting that they'll leave the classroom how they found it despite her absence. Talk of dreams is interrupted by the voice of a vaguely familiar classmate. "Can I take a photo of you guys for the yearbook?"
The pair look at each other for confirmation before saying "sure" in a staggered unison.
Louis gets up from her seat and satirically poses with her hand on her hip in a dramatic manner, emphasizing her awkwardness. "I'm not sure how to stand, all of my pose references come from Toddlers & Tiaras" she says jokingly. Lestat chuckles beside her.
"Um..." The photographer steps back for a moment to asses the composition. The AC kicks back on, interrupting a heavy silence. She gestures at Lestat, "how about you put your arm around her?".
"Okay" Louis says hastily. Lestat cautiously reaches around Louis' shoulder, inhaling sharply. They face the camera and smile.
Click. Click.
Louis burns with embarrassment before cooling down and leaning into Lestat's frame. Lestat notices how comfortable Louis seems. She doesn't point it out for fear of the moment ending sooner. Now they are both flushed.
"Okay, now mogging version." Lestat says. She begins to smize, her eyes piercing the camera lens. "Wow, that's so... severe..." the photographer whispers under her breath. Louis is laughing heartily, struggling to suppress her smile as she mimics Lestat's facial expression.
Click.
"Alright, thanks guys, I got what I needed!" says the photographer, letting the camera hang around her neck.
"Yeah, no problem!" says Louis.
The pair sit back down in their original positions. They both shift in their seats, trying to regain comfort. The air feels fixed. "What were we talking about again?" says Lestat.
"Dreams."
"Oh yeah, you were telling me about the dream you had about an elephant."
They resume their conversation, rhythm slightly off-kilter now. Lestat feels a peripheral longing for the hallway, wondering where the yearbook photographer went. Louis pretends not to notice, convinced that she's hid her affections. It's not often that there's a witness to this intrinsic routine.