"Thank you, Felix!" The woman hugs me tightly. "You did amazing with our wedding, I'm going to recommend you to everyone I know!"
I gently pat her back, Elise holds in a giggle at the awkwardness.
"Of course, thank you."
"No, thank you." She sighs happily. "I'm going to cherish this." She holds out the frames picture of her and her new husband.
"I'm so glad you like it."
"I love it." She grins. "See you later!" She rushes out before I can reply.
"Another happy customer." Elise laughs.
"Why do they go to hugging?" I frown.
"You make them happy, lots of happy couples." She sits on my desk.
"Not me." I sigh. "I mean...fuck." I groan.
"Hey, come on...you'll find someone eventually." She pats my back softly.
"When?"
"I wish I could tell you, dude." She sighs. "Are you really that down about it?"
"Elise, I take photographs of all these couples, engagements, weddings, families, baby showers...it gets depressing when you're alone."
"I didn't think of it like that." She chews the inside of her cheek.
"Maybe I'm destined to be alone, I mean by now a vampire finds their spark."
"Okay, no one ever explains to me how you guys know." She frowns. "Explain the 'spark' because maybe I can help."
"From what my parents told me, a spark only happens once. It feels like it's just you and them, no one else matters, you can't even think about anyone else, you feel what they feel, you just know what they need."
"Have you felt like that with anyone recently?"
I shake my head slowly.
"Damn, I thought you and Val had something."
"Thag girl from the shoot?" I chuckle. "I don't think we saw each other long enough to feel something, you have to really look at them."
"How do you know she isn't your spark?"
"What makes you think that?" I look at her.
"You were nervous with her."
"She's a very beautiful woman, who wouldn't be nervous?" I scoff.
"I'm just saying, love finds itself in strange places." She hops off the desk. "I'm gonna head home, get some rest." She kisses my forehead quickly.
I sit back slowly, looking at my computer, I can't think. Blood, I haven't had any in a day, shit. I stand up and head to the fridge, all out great. I grab my car keys and drive to the bank. No line, good. I head inside, bumping into someone as they walk put of the building.
"Watch it!"
"I'm so sorry." I hold my hand out. "Oh, hi."
"Felix." Val blinks and looks away. "I was actually going to call."
"Everything okay?"
"I just wanted to swing by soon."
"I'm free for the next couple of days." I shrug.
"Can I come by in an hour or two?"
"Of course, just walk in."
She nods and quickly leaves, weird...I walk up to the desk and place my order, getting berated for being late on ordering in my supply.
"Thanks." I mumble.
I hear my door swing open, Val is here. I spin around in my chair and grin.
"I'll grab a seat, take mine."
"Thanks."
I grab another chair from the studio and place it down at the desk.
"What were you doing at the bank?" I mumble.
"Donating."
"Well, thanks for the kindness." I chuckle softly.
I get a soft hum as a reply, I quickly pull up her folder and let her flick through it.
"I love these." She mumbles softly. "I look pretty in some of them."
"Some of them?" I raise an eyebrow. "You're pretty in all of them."
"You're just saying that." She scoffs.
"Why do you think so low of yourself?"
"Idiot exes, no one really looks at me."
"They are idiots." I scoff. "You're gorgeous."
She spins around in the chair, frowning at me.
"What?" I frown back.
"You think I'm pretty?"
I gulp softly, meeting her gaze. Nothing, Elise was wrong for once in her life and that bums me out.
"I think you are stunning."
She stares at me as if she's studying me.
"Why are you so nervous?"
"How do you know?"
She shrugs and turns back to the computer.
"I don't know, you're easy to read."
"Thats...a lie." I laugh. "No one can read me."
Sue turns to face me again with a smirk.
"You're actually a huge nerd."
"What?"
"Tell me I'm lying."
"Well...you're not lying, but how?"
"Your computer background is a video game." She laughs softly.
"See, anyone could notice that." I argue.
"How many have?"
"None." I look away for a moment. "Anyway...pick your favorites and ill start editing."
It takes a while, but she picks six photographs. She doesn't know what she wants to do with them, but I'm glad she likes them.
"Can I come by tomorrow?"
"You're welcome here any time." I smile.
I turn on some music to help me get into a working mood, I don't feel like doing anything today on my day off but I have to start editing some more photos, I guess I don't get a day off even when there's no clients. I deserve a lazy day right? Fuck it. I turn off the speaker and grab my phone, what to do? I grab my camera and head out to the car.
"Going somewhere?"
"Val, were you coming by?"
"I was, but if you're busy I'll come back later."
Its now or never.
"Wanna come a drive? I was getting out for a bit."
"Sure." She smiles.
Its such a genuine smile this time and I feel a twang of something in my chest, her smile is amazing. I can't help but smile back at her, we climb into the car happily.
"Connect your phone, you get the music since you're a guest."
"So polite." She giggles.
We have similar music taste, we both end up singing along to some of the songs. I don't think I've felt this relaxed with someone in a while. We pull up to the beach, thankfully the sun is setting, makes for good photos. As long as the suns low we can go out and since it started setting when I left, I'm all good.
I start taking pictures of everything around me to test my camera settings, I adjust them accordingly and look around, it's pretty empty.
"Val, mind if I take some photos?"
"Of me?" She seems shocked.
"I don't do landscapes." I shrug.
She agrees after thinking about it for a moment.
"Just let loose, be yourself!" I start walking backwards.
The first few shots are awkward, but she finally starts getting into it. Eventually, she's laughing and grinning as she poses for the camera. I look up at the sky, clouds. I pop the flash attachment to the camera.
"Its gonna rain, you ready?"
"I love the rain!" Val smiles brightly.
Right on time, the downpour hits, but it doesn't stop us. I watch the woman dance in the rain, so carefree and full of life. I keep taking photographs until we're both drenched. I pull my jacket off and hold it over our heads as we run back to the car.
I turn on the heating, including heated seats for a shivering Val.
"That was fun." She speaks, turning down the music.
"You're right."
"I haven't had that much fun in a long time."
"Me neither." I sigh happily.
"Can I still come over?"
"Of course, I'll give you something to change into."
I pull up at the apartment, both of us make our way inside. I take Val to my bedroom and let her pick whatever. I change in the spare room, drying my hair off with a towel. I frown at the fluffiness of it but decide to deal with it later. I upload the pictures from this evening to the computer and pull them up on the screen. Val walks in slowly, but thanks to my hearing I know she's there. I turn around and gasp quietly. There's something about her in my clothes...no, calm yourself.
"I can bring the chair over."
"Just move over a little." She waves her hand.
I slide over slightly, it's a tight squeeze but somehow neither of us mind it.
"You have a nice smile." I speak softly.
"You have a thing about complimenting me."
"I just...like to be honest." I shrug, swiping the screen.
"Its sweet."
"You can stay here if you want...for tonight."
"Didn't even buy me dinner first."
"I didn't mean it like that, shit now I look like a creep. I'm sorry, that's not my intention."
She places a finger on my lips and laughs.
"Kidding, silly. Of course I get it, thanks for the offer I'll take it."
I calm down and continue looking through the photos, both of us enjoying the company.
It feels nice to be close to someone again.
