Inescapable Game of Tag

Child's Triangle

Sophie

I cleared my throat, "You're not taking pictures now?"

He answered instantly, but his cold, impassive voice really took that quality away, "People generally don't like it when I take pictures of them eating."

"Oh, right, right."

Silence.

"You look absolutely beautiful."

"Huh? Oh, um... Thank you. You look really handsome."

Silence.

God, I wanted to just disappear. Or for him to disappear. Might have been best if we both did it, to be quite honest with myself.

I got a bite of the chocolatey tip of the strawberry, chewing thoughtfully before speaking, "You... You know..." I pouted, trying to block out the children running past and their shrill laughs and cries. "When I saw you in front of me, you really gave me a shock. I almost didn't believe it."

"I didn't believe it when you were called Sonya."

Nervous, I chuckled, "Ah, yeah."

"... Why did he know you, anyway?" He finally moved, a tiny shift at his feet.

I felt a lump in my throat, "It... Wasn't anything serious with that guy. It's not like... I was just making some friendly banter with him before he had to step out."

"That... Guy... Huh...?" He murmured, and I held my breath. I still didn't look at him, I kept my shrouded eyes looking forward at the blurred up people, the kids occasionally breaking it. "So... By that guy... Does that mean-?"

I didn't care for him continuing that question. "How's all this photography stuff going for you? I mean, you got a lot of time left to go. This is your last break, I think."

"It's... Interesting. The harder stuff starts when the toasts start in a minute. I'm supposed to have a second shooter here, but it's just me."

I gave him a quick look, "Why don't you have another shooter?"

"I don't know. I told them I needed one, but there's no one else."

"What's the second shooter for? Or, well, the photographer..."

"Well, one photographer would take pictures of the main subjects. Like, the best man or maid of honor giving their toast, and the other photographer would focus in on the bride and groom and the guests."

"So, you have to do all of that?"

"Yes. I tried telling those two but they said it was fine. I don't think so, to be honest."

"Those two?"

"The bride and groom."

I took the final bite of my strawberry, taking the time to chew it down. "I'm sure it's fine, then. They chose you for a reason, right?" Again, it was too easy to believe that they would orchestrate all this. They were too nice and willing for their own good. "Don't worry about it."

He paused, "I mean, I guess... Why are you here, then? How do you know these people? I don't see you talking to anyone else, besides that friendly banter." I didn't like how he said those last two words, it made me scrunch up my nose.

"Well, I'm friends with the bride. I was her upperclassmen back in University. I'm sure I've told you, she was that one friend I made and took seriously to some extent. Of course, I met Jeffry plenty of times before, they were dating even back then in school. Apart from that, no, there isn't really anyone here that I know. I mean, family members and some of the bridesmaids from the stories Jasmine's told me, but..."