Personal Paparazzo (ft. Les Twins)

Globetrotter

~5~

"We need some help out here!" I hear Akeno call from the back entrance.

We both get up from our comfy spots on the couch. As we walk to the back, a respectable distance between us, I think about Laurent's comment.

"Give me one example of how I'm unprofessional." I dare my back blocking the door.

I feel Laurent step closer and take in a deep breath.

"The way you dress. It can be... more better." Laurent picks at my sleeve and his finger brushes against my skin.

I glare at him lifting my eyebrows willing him to go on.

"It can be sexier." He mumbles licking his lips.

I shouldn't have made him go on. Laurent searches my face for a reaction while I search his for humor. I don't see any humor in his eyes, only... something that shouldn't be in the eyes of a new acquaintance. I finally roll my eyes and he laughs. 

"At least I dress sensibly." I say turning around.

Laurent's face scrunches and he grabs my wrist. For the second time today.

"Th--"

Laurent is interrupted by the door opening.

"Did I interrupt something?" Eleni asks suspiciously.

I yank my hand away from Laurent's.

"Nope." I smile and proceed to walk out of the door.

As I walk from the back door and around the building, I feel a hand brush gently against mine and already know who it is.

"When did you get so bold?" I ask.

"I always been bold." Laurent answers and I realize he's right. I've just needed to change my perspective.

I remember when I made my first derogatory comment and he was already about to nip me in the butt about it. I also recall him grabbing me after I provoked him before the shoot. And in the back hallway, he grabbed my wrist. But someone is always around to stop his actions from furthering.

"You sure do like to touch me." I mumble.

"You want it. Or else you wouldn't flirt."

I stop walking and turn to Laurent, livid. Quiescence takes over Laurent as he takes in my bothered appearance.

"You think my blunt and snark remarks is me flirting? You got me all the way f--"

"Sue! Come on! We need help!" I hear Akeno shout from around the building.

I close my eyes and breathe slowly. I hear a long sigh but ignore it. I reopen my eyes but just get antagonized in a new way. Laurent stands in front of me with an irking smirk on his face. I grimace and quickly walk away from him.

Being around him makes me feel lightheaded. Like he invades every thought of my head. I don't like the feeling at all but yet, I still stick around him.

I don't care. I find Akeno and some others helping pack up a few cars. I see Larry smile at me but it just a reminds me of his brother. It doesn't matter. I'll never have to see him again after this.

••••••
It's been a few hours since I've left the studio. I can't stop thinking about what Laurent said before he left.

"Work on being more... professional."

But before he also said make my outfits more enticing? I've been sitting in my room trying to analyze it but have gotten nowhere. So, I'm just going to forget it. Im sure I won't see him again. If I do, I'll just ask him about it. Right now, I have more important matters to tend to.

A couple of weeks ago, I entered a contest. I was to write a five page essay on why I want to travel the world taking pictures. From the top of my head, I can name at least twenty but the main reason is because it's my aspiration in life. I can't remember a time I didn't want to take pictures and if I did, it's because I didn't have camera in my vocabulary. I am on page four of five and the deadline is this Thursday. Today is Wednesday so I have a one day to... actually since its Wednesday night, it's due tomorrow? Great.

•••••
I would say I finished my essay successfully. I did a lot of revising and editing. I eventually went to sleep around 4 am in the morning. It's been four days since the competition and I recently found out the winner was the coordinator's nephew in-law. You can imagine how pissed I am. I did work hard on that essay. It was my dream and someone wasted my time and effort for a small family vacation.

It's Monday and I have to drop into the studio. Akeno says she has some "great" news. Whenever she says that I usually end up blowing my top. Correction, I'm always blowing my top because she is constantly making decisions without my consent. You may say, "She's your boss, she can do that." Again, correction, she can decide unless it involves me and my consent. Her pride is so high that she always uses the same excuse.

"I'm trying to help you sort out your boring life." Or something like that.

Not every part of that statement is true. It just... stuns me. I don't have the most desirable life but it's a work in progress. She thinks I'm wasting my time. What she really means is I'm wasting my time not finding a partner. She thinks it's her job to find me a lover. Whether it's temporary or long term. Once she told me to go pick up our regular orders at the coffee shop, and I was stopped by a man claiming I said, and I quote, "I would meet him to have a date".  Moral of the story is, Akeno believes she is helping me when she makes horrid decisions.

I walk through the doors of the studio and immediately see Akeno sitting in the lobby smiling at me. I walk to her eyeing her suspiciously.

"What did you do?" I ask sitting down with a sigh.

She crosses her legs and sits on the edge of her chair.

"Nothing." She says shrugging.

I glare at her.

"Okay! It definitely wasn't nothing!" She squeals. I've never seen her this excited.

"Remember those twins?" She asks smiling. Oh no.

"They would like you to follow them around and take pictures of them." She's now cheesing way too hard.

"Okay? What's so great about that?" I ask palming my face. I'm already annoyed and I've only been talking to her for three minutes.

"Around the world." I look at her with furrowed brows. "They want you to travel around the world with them, and take pictures!"

My eyes widen as I realize what she just said.

"What! They want me?" I scream jumping up.

Akeno jumps up nodding vigorously.

"Wait," I slow down "is this a joke because if it is I'm--"

"It's not a joke, Sue. They really like your skills. You're gonna travel the world like you wanted!" Akeno hugs me and I hug her back, thanking her.

"When do we leave?" I ask as we release each other.

Akeno looks around and then back to me.

Sheepishly, she says, "Tomorrow morning."

"What?!" I groan. "You know I like to pack at least a week before! Especially if I'm traveling the world!"

"I know, I know! But they just told me this morning!" Akeno rushes me out of the door.

"Go home and pack!"

"I plan on it!" I rush out of the studio door squealing.

For the first time, I realized I'm actually happy with her decision. Even if the twins are involved. I just hope nothing screws up my trip. After all, this is my life's goal. I've planned it a certain way in my mind and even though that is dangerous, I'd like to at least mimic my plan.

••••••