Picture Perfect

Chapter 8

"Hey there, I heard you take great pictures. I'll pay you,"

With exams coming up Alice's photo-taking business had slowed down. Everyone was busy preparing, so she was pleasantly surprised one day to read a DM asking for her services. She didn't think much about the fact that the username of the person was OfficialShira.

Shock was not enough to describe the moment she went to the Art Room, the designated meeting place. She agreed to take the job, it seemed like the person wanted a LOT of photos to be taken.

Alice came face to face with Ben Gross. They looked at each other wide eyed for a moment before getting interrupted by none other than the client herself. His girlfriend, Shira.

"I need at least 50 shots today, it's a special day," Shira turned to Ben with a sly smile, "Isn't it, babe?" Alice noticed the slow drawl of Shira's speech. She had a naturally seductive voice, enough to rival Peitho, the Greek Goddess of Seduction.

Ben smiled back at his girlfriend, "Of course, but uh, you didn't tell me we were taking photos, babe," he laughed nervously. "I mean, we could just hire a better one, my dad knows a lot of photographers who take pictures for singers and artists," he continued.

Shira looked at him blankly, "But are they Instagram photographers?" Ben could not answer right away, he opened his mouth to answer, glanced at Alice, and closed his mouth again. "Well, they're even better!" he concluded.

"Hm," Shira started, but still turned to Alice who was pretending to be busy with her camera settings. "Well, she's already here, besides, I hear her photos get 300 likes on average," Shira leaned towards Ben, dangerously close, their lips nearly touching, "But you know what babe, your idea is good too, let's get a personal photographer tomorrow," Shira then turned to Alice "We can just do 20 shots today, I have to save myself up for tomorrow, get some skin care done today and some beauty rest,"

Alice shrugged. Business was business. She signalled to Shira that she was ready, all the while trying to avoid Ben's gaze. For some odd reason, the two of them obviously felt awkward with the present situation at hand, but she wasn't a quitter and she would see the deal through. Besides, what was the big deal? It's just normal photo-taking. She's done it before.

"Okay, for our first shot, let's do this," Shira directed Ben on what to do. By that, she grabbed his arms and put it around her while she pressed up against him. She was not happy with Ben's hand placement and shifted them around. One tightly around her waist and the other over her rotund behind.

"Woah, hey, okay," said Ben, his hands fumbling around before settling down on their designated places.

"Is this fine?" asked Shira.

Alice put her camera up, "Hold that position," took a snap and reviewed it on the camera screen. All done professionally. She squinted her eyes at the photo, brows furrowing. No matter which angle she looked at it they just didn't match.

Ben had an undeniably forced smile, his shoulders were stiff and eyes blank. Shira on the other hand, tried way too hard. Draped over Ben and pointing a cat-like gaze towards the camera. It left a bad taste in Alice's mouth the same way that a weird food invention like broccoli ice-cream would.

"Umm... How 'bout let's try to... be a bit more natural? I mean, you can save the photoshoot for the pros," Alice shrugged a hand over to Ben, "...and for today how about you guys get on with your day, and I'll sneak in some candid shots from afar?"

Ben and Shira unwound themselves from each other, dribbling the idea in their mind. Shira spoke up first, a tinge of delight in her voice "So kind of, like, the paparazzi?"