Just my cup of tea

Drought: Part 2

I leaned back in my chair in the control room as I monitored the cameras. I had sent Hayleigh to assist one of the camera men, to view what he does and how he uses the camera. The day seemed to move in the usual haze and before I knew it, it was time to wrap up. I reached for my car keys and spotted the little black elephant key chain. I paused and stared at it for a few seconds. I reached for my phone and as I picked it up I half knew I would see nothing. And I was right. Nothing but silence filled the room right before I threw my phone back in my bag. Hayleigh speeds through the control room doors, "That was so much fun! Yet stressful but I cannot wait to do it again! Those cameras are amazing." She sat down next to me as I continued to sign out. "It was only your first day, but I am glad you enjoyed it. Not every day will run so smoothly though, you need to be prepared for any obstacle." She chuckled to herself, "Do you always sound so serious?" I looked up from my documents to her. "You came to me with a serious vision, a serious aim and goal of a serious nature. Therefore I will act accordingly while I train you." I abruptly stood up and walked out the room.

Hayleigh's POV

I don't understand, was she upset with me? She looked a little annoyed but it didn't make any sense. She barely spoke or saw me today for her to be angry at me. She's meant to be training me but all I have been doing is watching others. Oh there I go again, assuming to quick. She may have had a rough day...or week..sure seems like it. Maybe I just don't know her well enough for her to feel so comfortable talking to me in that manner. Just then my phone rang.

Kevin: "Hey Haylz"

Hayleigh: "Kevin, whatsup?"

Kevin: "We were thinking of going go carting tonight. If you finish work early think you could join us?"

Hayleigh: "Go carting hey, I think I may just be able to."

Kevin: "Great! We going to meet at the park first at about 5pm"

Hayleigh: "Perfect, hey listen...would it be ok if I brought someone along?"

Kevin: "yeah sure, who is it?"

Hayleigh: "Just a business friend who's helping me with the school media project."

Kevin: "Ok great, looking forward to meeting her or him."

Hayleigh: "haha it's a girl Kevz, and trust me, you are not her type."

Kevin: "I'm every girls type."

Hayleigh: "haha you are an asshole. I'll see you later."

Kevin: "hah ok bye."

As I cut the call Alice returned and headed towards the equipment. "Do you need help with those?"

She handed me two tripod bags, "Hey listen I didn't meant to be so harsh earlier, just that you're new and this is not always so easy. I don't want you to get a false sense of what the industry is like." I smiled at her. I knew she couldn't be such a cold person, surely her lash out was a result of a personal matter. "Oh don't even worry about that! I am here to learn." We finish load the equipment into the van an Alice started towards her car. I wanted to ride with her back to the studio but I also did not want to impose anymore than I did. I locked the van and turned towards the crew bus when Alice Honks. She sticks her head out the window, "Hey, come on. You can ride with me."

I jumped in her car and I swear I could get the faint scent of weed?? And baby colon?? She must have notice my reaction as she cleared her throat, "Mind the car will you, I smoke in it." Well that was easy for her to say. "What? You don't smoke weed?" She just asked me if I smoke weed. Is it ok for me to tell her I smoke weed? Oh what the hell, why not? "Everyone smoked weed." She looked shocked. Is that a bad thing?

Alice POV

She actually smokes weed, shocking, she doesn't really look much like a stoner. Before she could start talking about other things I decided to get right to the point. "So, did you learn anything today?" She opened her window a little, "Yep I did. I saw how the crew works together but within their allocated time. I learned camera movements and that you are very quiet, not something I expected." She kept her gaze forward as she turned the volume on the radio down. I eyed her doing that and felt a little annoyed at the fact that she thought she could just come in here and change whatever she wanted. Why was I getting so annoyed with her? I know I've been doing it the entire day and she probably thinks I'm an asshole. "I'm not a quiet person; I'm just a really tired person at the moment. Been working hard lately and long nights. I wondered if she could see past that lie and I doubt it. There is no art to find the minds constructions on the face and I learned that the hard way. "Well if you not too tired then maybe after work you would like to join me for go carting? I was thinking of rolling a spliff first...you would really enjoy it."

And there it was, the reason she had been getting on my nerve the entire day. To you it might sound ridiculous but to me it made perfect sense. For the past two weeks I have been smoking my spliffs by myself. It has gotten me through the two weeks just fine. I'm not happy. Nor am I sad. I've just been here, smoking my spliff on my own. The thought of smoking a spliff with her was nauseating. It felt as though she had sucked up all the smoke protecting my heart, leaving it susceptible to the thoughts and emotions that clings to my insides. I do not want to smoke a spliff with Hayleigh, I don't want to smoke a spliff with anyone else...but her. And although she is long gone and the girl I once knew no longer exists I still cannot even think of the possibility of smoking a spliff with anyone else but her. I did not want to lash out at Hayleigh though, nor did I want her to feel as though I would ever accept her offer, "That is a really kind gesture of you but I have lots of work to do." Although I did not completely dismiss the possibility I did close the matter entirely. I dropped Hayleigh off at the office, left her with instructions to make sure everything is checked and signed for and then she can leave early to meet her friends.

As I got back into my car the thought of going home seemed daunting. I knew my dear friend Robyn was waiting for me. I stepped into my apartment and Robyn raced out the room with a bright smile on her face. "Hey dude!" She walked towards me with excitement that quickly changed to concern as she could see the tears full up in my eyes. I grabbed her and held on tight as she placed a hand over my head. "it hurts. It won't stop." Robyn gripped me tighter as she rubbed my head, "I know."