Black And White

[Quinn Wiley]

Quinn checked the pictures. They were pretty good. He already promised Erika to send them to her, as this was her fashion show. Quinn stayed backstage the whole time while the models prepared, taking shots of the energy there was then. He had pictures of them getting their hair and makeup done. He had one of a model getting final touches to her outfit while on her but he didn't go as far as to take one as the models dressed up. There was a limit of what was interesting to see. He also thought, of his own, to take one of everyone just standing to show the clothes well before showing them while they modelled in it on the improvised runway.

He had pictures of that too, even if Lucy distracted him quite a bit then. He didn't get how this girl could be so annoying an interesting at the same time. She frustrated him for this. Not that he intended to let her see that, she would love it far too much.

Either way, he didn't want to think of Lucy right now. He wanted to focus on his pictures. Even though he promised Erika to send them, he wanted to check them first. He could work on some to make them look better if necessary and erase those who were not good at all and beyond saving. For now, some fell in that category as he was still sorting through the backstage ones. "They actually kind of look better in black and white" he said to himself. It was not like they were to show the clothes. Those required colors. These ones... yeah, much more dramatic in black and white. This one even looked like it came out of a makeup ad, no? Eh, he was just trying to convince himself he was good.

TAG: Beth Young

[Beth Young]

Opening the door as silently as she could, Beth peeked her head out. Her green eyes immediately fell upon the dark haired boy and she offered him a smile, but paused as she noticed that he wasn't looking at her, but instead, looking down at photos. She knew enough about the boy to know that he both enjoyed and was rather good at taking photos. Clearing her throat then, she opened the door and took a step back.

"Mr. Wiley, I presume?" she asked, head tilting as her smile widened. "Please come inside." She offered the boy a short nod before stepping further into her office, leaving the door open for the boy to enter. She walked straight for her desk and took a seat behind it. She cleared it and placed the palms of her hand flat against the smooth surface.

She wondered if the boy had come here willingly or if anyone had forced him. Maybe the school had started rounding up all the children that needed help and sent them her way. Now, she truly believed that the other counselors were fully equip to take care of this kids - even if she didn't necessarily agree with their methods.

[Quinn Wiley]

Quinn looked up, taken by surprise when someone spoke to him. His green eyes stared at the woman who talked. They were wide, expressionless and he merely blinked when she told him to follow her. Could someone really be surprised he didn’t want to? She was not the first social worker he spoke with. It was sort of an obligation when your mother decided to kill herself and you were the one who found her. Sure he managed to avoid the whole foster care but someone had to look after him while waiting for his grandparents to come. He didn't know if this one also fancied herself a psychologist. Didn’t mean he would trust her any more than if she did.

Quinn didn’t like social workers. They talked to you softly, trying to be nice to you when in reality they just wanted to know how fucked up you were. And then they unloaded the burden that you were onto someone else. He didn’t see why she’d be any different. Why did he have to go and meet her? What could this counselor do for him? He was told a meeting with her was necessary and Quinn was ready to suffer one visit if that made them off his case. They wanted him to open up no? That’s what he had been doing lately. He was pretty sure he talked to more people in the past months than he had in the previous years he had been at the school.

He rose from his seat. In silence, he joined her into her office, giving only one quick glance at the place. He didn’t need to have come to many offices like that before to guess he would be asked to sit on the chair in front of her desk. “They told me it could be useful for me to come here. I don’t really know why. I would have thought the fact I’ve finally took part in the school’s activities was what they wanted,” he said as he sat down. He socialized with people. He went to the ski trip, he didn't avoid that camping one despite it being a huge mistake. And he even was the photographer for the fashion show. What more could they want of him? “Is it because I told my trainer I’d like to pass the test to stop training? Because we also agreed to work harder to make sure I was prepared.”

[Beth Young]

Watching the boy in silence, Beth offered him a light smile. "I suppose we'll have to find out then." After all, whether or not this would be useful to him was entirely up to the boy. Beth wanted to help, but it was up to the boy to let her. She wasn't going to push. "It's a very good thing that you did. Take part in the school activities, I mean." She pushed her hand forward, pushing a plate of freshly baked cookies towards the boy. "We're here to talk about whatever you want to talk about, Mr. Wiley," she gently informed him.

"How are you doing lately? You take pictures, right? I've always envied people with creative passions," she started, leaning back in her chair. "Sadly, the most creative I ever get is the Christmas cards I send to my mother every year." It had been few of those the past year. After the incident that had caused her and her husband to move here, anyways. Before that though...

She shook the memory away and looked back at the boy. He didn't look as if he wanted to be here. Sadly, a lot of the kids she got in here was the same way. She couldn't really blame them. Talking to a complete stranger about your innermost feelings? Few people could feel comfortable with that.

[Quinn Wiley]

Beth could be here for him, to help him and have only his best interest in mind, Quinn was not one who easily let people do that. He was more the kind to sabotage himself. The moment he might get a chance to something good, he would do everything to lose it. If this pattern was not entirely unknown to him, he was not really doing anything to change that. Old habits die hard and this was one habit Quinn didn't even know how to kill to begin with.

He stared at her when she said it was a good thing he participated more in the school’s life. “I guess so,” he replied, almost mumbling his answer. Though, to be fair, he actually like the fashion show. The clothes didn’t really interest him but he never had the chance to take so many pictures without anyone upset at him for taking their pictures. It was true that it had been so chaotic backstage most must not have noticed him.

Quinn eyed the cookies. He reached out to get one, stopping in his track though at her words. “Really?” What he wanted to talk about? That was a first. Usually, they liked to orientate the conversation on what they wanted to know. He did expect her to try and be friendly. Everything in there, from her smile to the tray of cookies, showed she wanted to put people at ease. If he didn't want to let that affect him, talking of his passion softened him slightly. “I don’t really know if it’s something to envy,” he said, a little uncomfortable by this. He was not used to be complimented, as he felt she was trying to compliment him. “I just like taking pictures.” Would she read anything in that? He didn't want her to start doing some sort of psychoanalysis because he had more contact with people through his camera than he did in person.

[Beth Young]

His halt and question, or rather, asking for a confirmation, had Beth smiling again, and nodding. There was little else to be said about it, after all. "I do," she chuckled. "Well, I'm glad that you have something like that." When she'd been his age, her life had resolved entirely around studying and getting good grades. She hardly had a life outside of that. At least not until she'd met her husband at the age of seventeen. He'd quickly turned her life upside down and forced her out of her shell. In many ways, she was thankful.

"Is it something you've always liked, or is it recent?" The boy seemed comfortable talking about his creative endeavors, so Beth figured that likely was the safest topic to discuss for the time being. After all, the boy was in charge of what was discussed here and she wouldn't push unless he wanted her to. That hardly seemed fair.

And something told her the boy wouldn't feel overly comfortable with something like that sprung on him. No, she needed to make him feel at ease and make sure he was comfortable. If he wanted to talk, he would.

[Quinn Wiley]

She nodded and Quinn understood he really could take one of those. Of course, he figured this was a stupid question. Who would put a plate of cookies in clear sight if they did not expect people to take some, especially when they brought it closer to the other person and told them they could? But Quinn still asked. He wouldn’t go as far as say he never had homemade cookies of course but when you had four teenage boys in a house, you better be quick if you wanted one. You better be quick if you wanted anything.

As he nibbled at one of the cookies, he looked at her. She was smiling and everything about her seemed to say she meant her words but it was hard for Quinn to believe that. She was a social worker, meaning one he shouldn’t wholly trust. Yet, here she was, being happy for him because he liked taking photos. She was not even asking if he was respectful while doing so. When he brought it up, he expected her to say she heard about it and be branded a creep even by her. Instead, she asked how long he’d been passionate of this. He shrugged at that. “A little while... My aunt wanted me to pick an activity and I really didn’t like to play football with my cousins,” he explained. His cousins were more athletic than he was, or at least more manual. “She just let me play with the old family’s camera.” He didn't think there was anything impressing. He didn't discover a photographer and loved his work so much he wanted to be one too or anything like that. He just needed an activity and picked that. The fact it was a lonely activity probably explained why he liked it so much.

Quinn was actually starting to feel a little more comfortable around Beth. He would still stiffen and quiet down if she pushed him but the fact she was not helped him talk a little more than he first intended to. And he had yet realised that too.

[Beth Young]

Issuing a laughter, Beth smiled. "It's funny how the things you grow to love sneak up on you like that," she smiled. After all, it wasn't like someone was born and immediately went "I love painting". Usually, more often than not, it was discovered through trying various things our or simply accidentally crossing paths with something. It was amusing, just how simple it all really was, yet, at the same time, overly complicated.

"I'm also glad you managed to find something like that at such a young age. So many people go through greater parts of their life, always trying to find something to feel passionate about, yet never really seem contained." She sighed softly. She understood that in more ways than one. After all, it had taken her quite some time to figure out what she'd been passionate about as a teenager and before she'd met her husband, her entire life had been studying and trying to make herself better.

Now though, now she realized just how pointless it all was. Sure, the good grades had helped her get into a good school, but it wasn't all about that. At the end of the day, it was about doing what you loved and burned for.

[Quinn Wiley]

Quinn had a light frown as the woman laughed. This was not how he was used for social workers to act. He remembered the one who talked to him after his mother’s suicide. Or those he saw over the years, just to make sure he was doing fine. The fact he was within his family did not mean they gave up on him immediately. Sure, they probably did not come and check on him as often as other kids, at least he believed so, but they would still look. Well, they had not for a while by the time his power showed up but he was living with his aunt for years then, so it made sense. One more case they didn't have to worry and for once they could at least rejoice it was not because he became an adult and so out of their care. If Quinn could say they cared.

She seemed to have cared more in the few minutes they’ve been talking than any of those he talked to. He barely grumbled answer and shrugged then and they never said anything against it. She took an interest in him and even though he was certain it was just because of her work and that she’ll forget about him once that session was over, it still felt good.

“She still wished I’d picked a group activity but at least I was going outside,” he answered, unable to show as much enthusiasm as she was. He bet she was a glass-half-full kind of person. He was the opposite. He was thankful for his aunt but he also couldn’t help pointing out it wasn’t exactly what she had wanted for him. He didn't really know what to say as she kept going though. What can you reply to that? Soon, he might have to admit it was hard to find models, or that some found him creepy for taking their pictures without asking permission first. He didn’t want that. The mere thought of that had him shifting on his seat. “I took part in the fashion show. I was the one taking pictures,” he told her. They could only be happy of this, right? Quinn didn’t look like he was beaming at this though, even if he liked his experience a lot. No, he looked as though he was waiting for her to say it was good.

[Beth Young]

"Thankfully, it's not about what others want for you, but about what you want for yourself," Beth said. "You're the master of your life, and yes, I realize now how stupid that sounds." She tapped her temple and laughed. "It sounded better in my head," she admitted with a sheepish smile. "But it's still true though. Only you can define yourself and only you can decide what makes you happy and go for it." She saw far too many children who put too much weight on what others thought. It was sad, really and it usually didn't make anyone happy.

"Really?" she asked, her brows furrowing as she tried remembering the event he was talking about. "I think I participated baking cookies," she grimaced. "I don't know why, but you strike me more as the type to take pictures of landscapes." Maybe it was the gloomy cloud that seemed to linger above his head. He didn't strike her as a people person, but maybe, just maybe, that was exactly why he took pictures of people.

"You should sign up for the newspaper or yearbook committee. I don't think they have anyone to take their pictures," she said. Maybe she was wrong though. "At least, I don't think they do..." She leaned towards her computer and started rummaging through various school club files.

[Quinn Wiley]

Not what others wanted but what he wanted for himself? Could it really be that simple? Because he didn't think anyone ever bothered to ask him what he wanted for himself. Not even when his life was simpler. He just followed along when he had no other choice. The rest of the time, he stood there, not moving, not doing anything, just being there and even that he sometimes seemed to try not to do. Not that he ever have been suicidal or anything like that. He never thought that of his life. The fact his mother chose that way out had disgusted him of it. He’ll never do that. Anyway, he didn’t think his life sucked enough for that.

Plus he was not thinking about that but what he might be wanting for himself. Was it bad not to know? There was something very apathetic about him. Unable to see his dreams able to come to life, he couldn’t see the point in working for that to happen. As a result, he was just there, letting things happen to him as opposed to make things go his way. And now, he was thinking about that, disturbed only when Beth laughed, making him frown and wonder why she did. She explained her words sounded a bit stupid. Did they? He didn't notice. “I’m not good at going for it,” he admitted. He didn’t know why he shared that with her. She didn’t seem to be analyzing him. She was just talking to him. And maybe he felt a little sorry for her to have been forced to say something stupid and be embarrassed of it so he told her something in return. He was not sure. But he still told her.

He believed he got why he told her after a moment. Because it wasn’t about her going to leave him the moment he’ll start to care. He’ll be the one moving on eventually and going away. Yeah, that had to be it. It seemed not to be all that different but it was in his head. It made all the difference. He nodded as they talked of the fashion show. “I also took pictures backstage. But not when they were changing,” he added quickly to defend himself. He was no pervert. “I thought Erika might want picture of her clothes with the models just standing there. And also how they prepped them for the show.” Trying to explaining it now, it sounded a bit ridiculous but he thought it made a lot of sense. Plus he thought they looked good. He even checked them before talking to her.

She seemed surprised he liked to take pictures of people. He shrugged at that. “People are more inspiring.” He took a few pictures of landscapes and even sometimes tried of animals but people were more interesting. The only reason he might be interested in taking pictures of landscapes would be for the chance of travelling to these locations. Other than that... He looked at her as she suggested for him to join the newspaper or the yearbook committee. Normally, it was at that time he would clam up. Instead, he just shrugged again. “I’ve given some pictures to the newspaper. But I don’t really like being told what to photograph.” Was that snobbish? That sounded snobbish. “It’s just... not everything’s that interesting. But I gave them pictures when they needed some and I had them,” he mumbled, almost embarrassed at the attitude he might have shown with his previous comment.

[Beth Young]

A comforting smile formed on her lips as she sighed. "Then maybe you should work on that," she suggested with a light shrug. Though, she wasn't about to force him, of course. She had a feeling these were the kind of things the boy had to come to terms with on his own. All she could really do was push him in the right direction and hope he'd take the leap and land on his feet as opposed to backing out completely. There was much time, though. He was still so young, with his entire life in front of him.

There was no rush.

"It sounds to me like you're quite good at planning ahead and looking at the bigger picture as opposed to what's just in front of you," she said with a smile. "That's a good quality to have, which not many your age have - and sadly, few adults as well." She'd met her fair share of adults who seemed to be far too ignorant to see anything past their own nose. It was obvious that the boy had a good head on him.

"How so?" she asked when he pointed out that people were more interesting. She wondered if it was because there was so much more to them than what others could see from looking at for example a tree. There was life, a story behind a pair of eyes. "I can see that," she nodded. "It's not for everyone, and I think it's a good thing you stand for what you believe and want to do." She shrugged her shoulders as she leaned back in her chair. "You should take pictures of what inspire you, I agree."

[Quinn Wiley]

He had to work on getting what he wanted? This conversation kept being weirder and weirder. He was certain she would ask him questions about his family, about why he found it hard to be sociable with others, suggest him to work on himself and let go some of his walls. She said nothing of the kind so far. She had to think it though, no? Hard to tell, as she seemed more interested in his passion for photography. She didn't tell him it was a loner activity, like his aunt did. She didn’t suggest anything. It really was not how he expected it to go.

He said nothing. He’d have to think about it. Beth was also better not to keep pushing the matter as he would feel forced into it and would only turn away then. He had to be the one making the first step. And the second. And all the others. If he felt like it was someone else who walked for him, he would only refuse to make another step.

“I am?” He never thought he was the kind to plan ahead. But it was true he thought of different things during the fashion show. He didn’t wait for Erika to tell him what she wanted. He gave her a bit of everything, figured she could choose through that. Maybe he was able to plan ahead. He thought it was just the fact he didn’t like being told what to do.

Talking of photography was a lot easier for Quinn than pretty much any other topic they could have talked about. “I don’t know it’s just... I’m more inspired by people than landscapes.” He found it hard to explain. Mostly because he didn’t want to sound pathetic over the fact he lived through his pictures. He didn’t want her to start pitying him. He nodded as she agreed about his decision. It did not happen a lot. He even had a little smile. It was small indeed and a bit hesitant but his lips certainly curled up.