The Photographer (Tyler Hoechlin AU)

III

(One week later)

My phone started to ring. I put my camera down and looked at my phone. It's Tyler.

"Hi Tyler." I answered.

"Hi, where are you right now?"

"Death Valley." I responded.

"Really?"

"No I'm on Hollywood Boulevard taking photos." I chuckled.

"Street photography?"

"Yeah." I smiled.

"Well I'm actually on Hollywood Boulevard. Where are you?"

"Um, outside of Madame Tussauds Hollywood."

"Wait, I'm actually about to drive passed there. Do you wanna grab lunch?" He asked.

"Oh, um, sure."

"Great, I think I see you." A black Range Rover pulled up and the call ended. I lowered my phone as the window went down, "Hey, get in." Tyler smiled. I grinned a little then looked around, "Come on." Tyler leaned over and pushed the door open. I hopped into his car and closed the door. He put the window up from his side. I pulled the camera neck strap off of me. I looked at Tyler and he grinned then looked around at the car. It's so nice, "What?"

"It's just that I've never been in a nice car."

"Really?"

"My parents always drove beat up cars and now I have the same. It's from nineteen-ninety."

"Well it's gotta be a little nice right?"

"No it's a piece of shit, but it still runs so I should be grateful for that."

"I thought you would have a better car than that considering you're a photographer?"

"Well I would be a bit better if I still wasn't paying off my Yale loans. I'm kind of running on fumes to be honest. Keeping my car and my crappy apartment. I only eat like twice a day 'cause I can't spend too much. People think photographers must make a decent amount of money but you gotta be really good at it. I thought going to Yale would get me somewhere decent with my photography. Like a movie, behind the scenes photographer. I would love to do that." I can tell Tyler doesn't know what to say. He just drove off. I don't expect him to really say anything because he's an amazing actor and he makes a big amount of money,"So where are we getting lunch?" I asked.

"Well what do you feel like?" Tyler asked.

"Anything really." I told him. I can tell he is thinking.

"Do you need to be home any time soon?"

"No."

"Great, I'm taking you to one of my favorite places then." He smiled.

"And where would that be?"

"You'll see. In the meantime, do you want to listen to music?"

"Sure."

"What kind of music do you listen to?" He wondered.

"Any kind to be honest. Mainly classic rock though."

"Really I thought you'd be like a country fan or maybe like house music."

"Those are two completely different genres." I chuckled.

"Well I didn't know which one but who is your favorite band?" He asked.

"The Rolling Stones for sure. Then probably Lynyrd Skynyrd."

"Alright, I'll play some Stones." He smiled then he plugged in his phone to the aux. He then started to play 'Sympathy For The Devil' by The Rolling Stones. One of my all time favorites. I started to sing along with the lyrics. I can see Tyler smiling.

"Come on, join in." I smiled.

"No it's ok. I'm not the best singer."

"It's fine." I chuckled.

"Well I won't be able to even compare my voice with yours."

"What do you mean?"

"You're an amazing singer." He smiled at me then back at the road.

"No I'm not. I'm like average."

"Well compared to me, that's being amazing." He said then my phone started to ring. It's Will.

"Hey Will." I answered.

"Hey girl, do you wanna get lunch? We can go to that greek place you like."

"Tempting but I actually can't."

"What? Why not? Wait, are you still taking pictures? Girl, You need to take a break."

"No I stopped taking pictures. I just got a last minute plan."

"Did you find yourself a man and you didn't tell me?"

"No I didn't. I would've told you. I promise."

"Then who are you getting lunch with?"

I looked at Tyler and he smiled, "Tyler."

"WHAT?! And you didn't tell me?!"

"He literally saw me taking photos and then asked if I wanted to get lunch. It was very last minute." I can hear Tyler chuckling a bit.

"Well that sounds like a last minute date to me."

"Will, seriously."

"I'm just saying but I'll let you be. Bye Em."

"Bye Will." I ended the call.

"Well the first thing I'm gonna say is how old is that phone?" Tyler asked then we both laughed.

"It's the IPhone four. I don't exactly have the money to buy a new phone."

"Alright, and second, who's Will?"

"Will is my best friend."

"Are you sure he's just a friend and not anything more?" Tyler smiled.

"Tyler, he's gay so I'm pretty sure he's just my best friend."

"Alright then. By the way, is the date of my party an issue?"

"No, well, it is the day after my birthday."

"Really well I better get you something then."

"No don't do that. It's your birthday party."

"Yeah that my brother wanted. I originally didn't want any kind of party."

"Then just cancel it."

"No, it's already set up. Also if there wasn't a party I would've never met you." He smiled at me then looked back to the road.