Soap

Treppenwitz II

for more information check chapter 11

"I always found it hard to make friends", Frank said after a second of silence that felt like an eternity.
"Being known in the industry doesn't make it easier. I mean... have you met some of the people out there? Not people you would even want to be friends with."

Frank let out a dry chuckle and turned back to his Laptop. He sighed and pushed it back on the counter until he was able to rest his own arm on the cold marble.

"I can't even imagine", I said honestly, "Not being able to trust anyone, because you don't know who is only using you for whatever it is they hope to gain from you."

"Oh, I am just as bad, don't get that twisted"
The grin on Frank's face seemed genuine, yet misplaced. It was the grin of someone who had come to terms with a shitty situation.
"I also know how to take advantage of my position."

"Like when you take pictures of Jenny and some random guy having sex?", I blurted out, cursing myself the second the words left my mouth. I didn't want to think about the night that started all of this trouble. And for some reason it felt like a violation of privacy mentioning it.

But Frank only nodded and didn't seem too surprised by my question.
"For example", he answered, "Jenny and Sarah have been in the industry just about as long as me and they've been pretty quick to learn how things work around here. I get some pictures for my shows and galleries, like the one that's coming up next week. And in return they have something edgy to add to their portfolio."

"That doesn't sound worth it, if you ask me."

"Are you sure about that? Do you know how much I charge for something as simple as a headshot?"

"How much?"

Frank snorted at my innocent question and I instantly felt a little stupid. I didn't even know how much a regular small-town-photographer would charge for headshots, let alone someone who regularly shoots for stars.

"It's a number you would choke on if I told you. You'd have to clean a lot more celebrity flats to be able to afford me."

"How lucky I am to get your services for free, oh great Frank Iero!", I swooned playfully.
My lower back was starting to hurt from the weird position I had been trying to uphold for way too long now, and so i lifted myself from the counter and sat up straight again. I stretched my back from side to side to release the tension from my muscles and sighed in relief when I felt the pain lessen.

"Keep up that attitude and I might change my mind, sunshine."
Frank smiled, making me shiver a little.

There was a pause.
Silence neither comfortable nor uncomfortable.
I could still hear the blood rushing through my veins from my little stretch, and that soft static it left in my ears made it hard for me to think.

Frank was looking at me.
Of course he was.
He was probably waiting for me to make some stupid remark about being called 'sunshine', but I didn't really feel like it.
Suddenly i didn't feel like anything at all, but by now I had already come to terms with the fact, that I was the one with the mood swings.

Was it past midnight already?
For some reason midnight marked a time of change. Once the clock strikes twelve reality seems a little less real, as if actions wouldn't result in consequences.
It was a dangerous time for people like me.

People who don't know when to speak their mind and when to keep quiet.
People who like to be called 'sunshine' by sarcastic photographers.

"Have you ever been in love?"