Part Four

Arriving at Keystone Park, Dexter made his way over to where he was meeting Audrey, the pair picking up immediately where they left the last time they met as they rehearsed the song for her parents wedding anniversary. It was as she stumbled with the next words and looked around, Dexter shook his head at the girl before sighing.

"Right," Dexter said. "You're good. You know the words and you have a decent voice but you're singing like you're apologising," Dexter continued. "Like you're apologising to everyone around us that you're making so much noise and for drawing attention to yourself,."

"No, I'm not." Audrey protested.

"Look at me," Dexter moved closer to Audrey. "You're so busy worrying about those strangers hearing you that you've forgotten, they don't matter, you're singing for your parents. If you're worried about strangers, don't. If you can sing in front of them, singing in front of the people you care the most about…"

"I am trying," Audrey swallowed. "It's just... hard. When they're looking."

"They don't care. They're too focused on themselves to do so," Dexter reiterated. "Listen. Music isn't about perfection. It's not about hitting every note like a target. It's about feeling. It's about letting the sound carry what you can't say. That song?" Dexter paused. "What do you feel when you sing it? Forget the audience. Forget the park. What does it stir inside you?"

"I... I feel..." Audrey started, before shaking her head and laughing slightly. "Like... I don't know what I feel actually,"

"That's the problem," Dexter sighed. "You're singing about someone else's feelings. Your parents' feelings about this song. What it means to them. You need to figure out what that song means to you." Dexter paused and then looked up at her. "What are you doing tonight?"

"Tonight? Nothing. Just... home." Audrey said, confused by the sudden change in topic.

"Good." Dexter grinned. "You're coming out with me. Properly out. I'm going to show you what music is really like. And wear something a little sexier than this, You don't want to stand out." Dexter said, indicating towards the blouse she was wearing.

"Where? I don't…" Audrey said in confusion.

"Meet me at the tube station entrance at eight. Don't be late." Dexter said, grabbing his things. “Until then. Class is over.”

Chantelle adjusted the strap of her camera as she stepped out of the tube station and made her way across the streets of London until finally she reached the botanical gardens where she waited for a few minutes until finally Jake arrived, clutching onto the strap for his camera and also holding two cups of coffee with his other hand.

"You're late," Chantelle commented. "Traffic or Tube chaos?"

"Neither, I got us both coffees." He nodded toward the street. "Hope you like a latte?"

“It'll do.” Chantelle smiled as she took the coffee from him and the pair paid the entry fee and entered the gardens.

"Yep. So we'll do some test shots?" Jake said. "I can't remember, did you say you've done weddings here before?"

"Once. They used this pavilion. It's perfect for portraits." Chantelle nodded as she took a sip of coffee. "Easier to get more authentic moments."

"Lead the way, then. Show me around some of the places to get the best shot." Jake told her.

Chantelle guided him down a path, occasionally taking photos of some of plants and flowers along the way until they reached the entrance to the pavilion, often used to host events like the wedding that Jake was hired to do.

"Over here," Chantelle said, stopping before a curved arch covered heavily with roses in shades of red and cream. "See how the light filters through your lens, it'll be perfect for shots of the couple?"

"Yeah..." Jake said, taking a photo before shifting, toward a stone bench by the arch. "We could get the couple here during golden hour. Backlit, maybe with a prism for flare." Jake glanced up, catching her watching him. "What?"

"Just... you look like you actually know what you're doing," Chantelle teased.

"I’m learning,” Jake chuckled. “Come on, let's scout the pavilion."

Jake gestured towards the path where the Victorian glass structure stood and together they walked until they entered the pavilion, the sunlight streaming through the arched glass ceiling, creating patterns on the tiled floor.

"This place is perfect for weddings and photos." Chantelle murmured.

Jake nodded, already snapping test shots, his shutter echoed across the silent pavilion. Jake then crouched low and captured a photo of Chantelle, surprised by the way the light reflected off her body.

"You're… this place is stunning," Jake agreed, showing Chantelle the photo he had just taken of her.

"Hey! I didn't say you could take a picture of me," Chantelle feignedly protested. “Oh," Chantelle softly breathed, taking a good look at the photo. "It's... really good, Jake." Chantelle said, looking up at him. "The light, the framing... you caught something... real."

"Think I can pull off this wedding then?" Jake smiled at the black-haired beauty.

"Yeah," Chantelle smiled. "Yeah, you definitely can." She added before pointing at the camera. "That shot... it's got instinct. You saw the moment. Just don't be so smug about it. You still have a lot of work to do.”