That Was Then, This Is Now

Part 17

Mom came home yesterday afternoon from Faiths and I could tell she had been emotional. She spent a few hours with me and told me to "be careful with Faith" and not to "rush anything" or to make her "feel uncomfortable" so clearly Faith hates me again. I'm on my way to the photo shoot that we have today and I would like to point out that I hate these. I pull up to the venue and walk inside. There's a big black backdrop hanging and Leather sofa in front. The cameras are all set to go, there's lights and it appears all there's left to do is hair, makeup and wardrobe. I see Faith sitting on one of those classic set chairs. Her hair is in big rollers and she's getting makeup applied.
"Tim!" I hear Jack say. "You're here, sit down and let's get going."
"Okay So today you two are just gonna listen to the photographers. They'll give you directions so just do what they say." Says Gary as some woman starts putting stuff on my face.
"And for the love of god don't be children about it." Jack says reprimanding us before we even begin. The two of them then walk of towards the photographer. It looks like Jason, he always does my shoots so at least I know him.
"How are you?" Faith asks me as her makeup guy puts the glitter stuff on her eye.
"Yeah, good thanks. You?" I ask her while the lady powders my face.
"Mmmh Good. I had fun with your mom." She says smiling. I like it when she's happy. She looks like she's in a better mood, well rested and not as grumpy.
"She said she had fun too." And she also said that I should basically leave you alone but here we are. After a few more minutes Faith leaves to get dressed and I'm given my outfit. It's a pair of black trouser pants and a short sleeved black button up, perfect. I quickly get changed and put on my black hat and sit down near the photographer as we wait for Faith. When she comes down from where she got dressed the breath is taken write out of my lungs. She looks stunning.
"Faith, you look beautiful." I say to her.
"Okay Tim, you go sit on the left side of the couch, Faith You on the right." Says Jason. We take a seat and all the eyes in the room are on us. "Someone powder his neck and chest."
The girl who did my makeup quickly runs over and does it.
"Okay so keep the distance between you and look at the camera. Don't smile don't look happy." Probably easy for Faith since she hates me. "Good. Can someone just go ruffle Faiths hair." Again someone runs quickly to do it. Okay Faith turn and put your legs over Tim." He says getting ready to take the photo. She does as she's told and looks at him. "Okay Faith look at me. Tim look at her." I already was.
"Can you do some with Tim standing behind the couch and her on it?" Asks Gary. He always had an eye for the creative things.
"Yeah let's do that." I get up and stand behind the couch. "Faith keep your legs on the couch and Tim keep looking down towards her." We again do as were told in silence. The room is in a constant state of uncomfortable silence.
"Y'all this more awkward than a virgin at prom." Says Jason.
"Yeah y'all need to fix this." Agrees Gary.
"Why don't we all leave and leave them with Jason?" Suggests Jack and suddenly every scurries away leaving us alone with Jason.
"Okay you two, listen up." he says walking towards us. "Let me take you you back it's 2002 Keith is releasing a new album, arguably one of his best, the whole thing was amazing. Artistic genius from beginning to end. Except you want to know what the cover art was? Him looking off into the distance in an outfit I could get from a gas station that looked like it had been taken by my a high school photography student trying to showcase 'subtle emotion'. It was awful and the album sales tanked. It got radio time because no one saw that ugly photo but no one in their right mind was buying that." By this point I'm laughing. I mean i remember the album, Keith was pissed. It was hilarious. "Now I know this duet will be good, y'all always are, so please take some good photos."