"Smile big!" I told the little redheaded girl, who's parents stood behind me making enormously cheesy smiles. She sat, unamused with her freckled arms crossed. Her forehead had a single line, showing her stubbornness.
I stood behind my tripod, just counting down the minutes to when I could get out of there. Finally, when her father had promised her ice cream after the shoot, she lit up, leaving all cares and all anger behind. I managed to snap a few good ones, thanked the family for coming, and picked up my things from the room. I put my camera back into my bag, put my tripod back in the closet, and told Casey I would see him tomorrow. I opened the glass door, and stepped foot into the traffic of people passing the store. The bell jingled as the door closed otherwise silently behind me. Logan's was a block or two away from the store, and with only thirty minutes to spare, I more than speed walked through the crowds. At a cross walk, I halted and waited with the group that was also stopped with me. Taxis sped past us, and the buildings towered above us. We were surrounded in city. The light across the street blared and shone a green figure as we all stepped across the sidewalk and continued on our merry way. After a bit of walking, I saw the small blue and red neon sign sporting "Logan's!" High above the line of doors. I made a quick swerve to the handle and tugged it open, ringing a similar bell to the one back at the photo shop. It smelled like coffee, and it was a warm temperature inside. The mahogany tables were fairly clean, and the counter had no wait in line. There were a couple of people sitting at the bar stools looking out the widows at the people passing by, and one person at a large corner table reading a magazine that was offered at the front. I recognized the blonde hair right away. I stepped down the two steps into the dining area and walked over to her. As I sat across from her, Maya placed the magazine down and smiled. She was no longer wearing her wedding dress, but now wore a gray loose T-shirt, and light blue jeans. Her hair was thrown up into a messy bun and her makeup was recovered.
I wasn't sure how to start the conversation, so I ordered a black coffee to pass the time. "So..." She began finally. "First of all, thank you for letting me talk to you." She said, playing with the fork on the table.
"No, don't thank me. I understand." I said, hoping to reassure her.
"Well it's just that I had a really bad week, and-" she was interrupted by the waitress dropping off my coffee.
"Thank you." I said softly, picking the off-white mug up and taking a sip as Maya continued. "And I really appreciate that someone cared." She finished. I swallowed the steaming hot coffee painfully. "So I think that by my dress, you could tell what happened?" She said, adding an awkward chuckle as tears built up in her eyes. "Yeah I have an idea." I replied, with no humor in my voice, not knowing how touchy the subject could be.
She scooted forward on her chair and interlaced her fingers, leaning forward and looking me in the eyes with her own. "I know that I've already asked a lot from you" she began. I sat up straighter and rubbed my chin, preparing to turn her down for whatever she was about to ask. "But I'm staying here with my in laws- well Brandy's parents." She paused. "Brandy was-" I cut her off. "Your fiancé." I finished for her. She bit her lip and looked away, sadness filling her happy eyes. "Yeah." She chuckled awkwardly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her pierced ears and finding my stare again. "So I'm staying here with them. And I can't go back after what happened. I can't look at Brandy anymore. Just not the same way." She said. "Can I ask why he left you?" I asked, barely above a whisper, and immediately regretting it, even though the question didn't seem to upset her anymore than the previous mentioning had. "He didn't." She said, seeming to be lost in thought due to the robotic tune of her voice. I sat silently, awaiting a dragged out follow up from her which never came. We sat in undisturbed silence, the soft jazz music playing in the background of the coffee shop. Finally, Maya blinked away her stare and cleared her throat. "I left him." She mumbled, straight faced while rubbing her forehead. I took a sip of my coffee while thinking of a response. "Is there a reason?" I asked, realizing it was a stupid question right off the bat. She looked up, tears swelling in her eyes and her lower lip quivering. She scooted her chair farther into the table and sniffled. "You're going to think it's silly." She said with a sad chuckle. They were becoming the regular chuckle at this point. "Well let's hear it." I said curiously. She waited before giving a response. But finally, words slipped from her lips. "He just wasn't the one." She whispered, giving a light sniff. "I loved him, and he loved me, but I just knew he wasn't the one." I sat, unmoving and tethered to the handle
of my mug. "So why did you marry him?" I followed up.
"Because I didn't realize it until I had to walk the aisle." She responded rather quickly. "But why then?" She paused. "I don't know." She finally spoke. Her voice was soft and harmless, innocent but confident. And it had a rasp to it that signaled she had a strong voice when she needed to. She fingered the napkin and rested her head on her arm. "How old are you?" I shot out unexpectedly. She glanced up without moving her head, and then returned to her napkin.
"Twenty two."
"Twenty two?"
"Yes. Twenty two."
She looked as young as sixteen, being so short and so youthful. But she gave off the vibe of an old soul.
"When did you meet this guy?" I asked, wanting more information. There had to be another reason.
"A year ago." She said innocently.
"You married a guy that you met a year ago?" I said, confusion riding in my voice.
"I did." She responded rather confidently for just leaving her own wedding.
"And whys that?" I asked, digging for information.
"I was lost. I thought he was my destination." She lifted her head up and sat straight up once more, leaning on her elbows to look me in the eyes. I awkwardly glanced away, and ran my hand through my hair, breaking the clumps of gel. "So as I was saying" she began again. "I don't have anywhere to stay. Is there any way you could lend me some money for a hotel?" I thought for a moment. And part of me mysteriously didn't want to leave her icy blue stare. "Look. You've had a long day. A stressful day. And a crowded New York hotel won't settle that. I have a spare bedroom. You can stay with my girlfriend and me for the week, but then you have to go." I said returning our stare which seemed to find itself like two puzzle pieces. Her eyes lit up, but her face didn't show it. "Are you sure...?"
"No."
"Well- thank you so much. I'll pay for my own food, and I'll-"
I cut her off.
"No need. We'll take care of you for the week. But just the week."
A smile crept across her face as she jumped up across the table and embraced me. Her body splayed across the table top, nearly spilling my half full coffee mug across the both of us. "And your girlfriend?" she asked concerned, the smile slightly fading with the question.
"Heather. It'll take some explaining when I walk through the door with another girl, but she'll understand." I said calling a waitress over so I could pay. The brunette girl pranced over, showing off fact that she has on rather large heels. "All finished here?" She said, looking at me and picking up my coffee mug. She stared at me the entire time, biting her over lined lips and flickering her fake eyelashes at me. I smiled awkwardly. I've always attracted girls. Be it teenagers, middle aged housewives, or older women. They all flock. And I'm not bragging, either, it gets old. I never used my looks to my advantage, even though I definitely could have. There were always more important things to do in life than have a one night stand. After the waitress cleared our table, Maya and I got up and walked to the door. The clouds told me that it was about to rain, so I threw my hood up, and Maya did the same. She took my arm as we marched down the sidewalk, searching for a taxi to take us home.
