The Photographer

Chapter 5

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Toronto, Canada

Vanessa poured her steaming hot, homemade hot chocolate in a travel mug and topped the warm drink before grabbing her car keys and heading for the door. She had switched shifts with another server at the diner in order to finally make time to buy some last minute gifts for her parents for the Christmas holiday. Dinner with them a few nights ago had reminded her just how close the special day was approaching and she wanted to get them something to show her love despite the recent bickering with them.

She locked up her small apartment then headed down the stairs and out to the parking lot.

"Good morning!" A voice shouted happily just as Vanessa was nearing her car.

Vanessa jumped, startled by the loud voice until she saw Davian approach her with a boyish smile plastered on his face.

"Davian," she breathed out heavily. "You have to stop sneaking up on me like that. I almost had a heart attack," she chuckles while trying to calm her racing heart.

"I'm sorry," he apologizes. "I just saw you and got a little excited. It's rare that I see you around."

Vanessa nodded, "what are you doing up so early?"

"I could ask you the same thing." Davian smiled.

"Oh...I'm headed to the mall to buy my parents some last minute Christmas gifts."

"Today's the twenty-first," Davian points out.

"Emphasis on the words 'last minute'," Vanessa replies with a guilty shrug.

Davian chuckles and holds his hands up in defeat.

"You?" Vanessa asks. "What's got you up and out this early? Your little crew isn't even around to torment me this morning."

Davian frowns, "I like the silence. It's the only time of the day that's not heavily filled with chaos."

She watched him for a long time before finally nodding slowly.

"Well I have to get going," she says before taking a small step in the direction of her car.

Davian says goodbye and Vanessa turns around. She stops at her car door then looks back in Davian's direction.

"Uh, would you like to ... join me?" She asks.

Immediately after the words leave her mouth, she regrets them. Although Davian seems nice, Vanessa had to keep in mind the type of people he hung around and that his politeness could all be an act just to get her guard down and do something more sinister. But it was too late as Davian had already accepted her offer and was now heading towards her car.

Vanessa scolded herself as she unlocked her doors--suddenly realizing that she's broken one promise she made to her father to ensure her safety. They both enter the vehicle and Vanessa starts the car and reverses out of the parking lot.

"So, tell me about yourself," Vanessa says after about ten minutes of just listening to the radio.

Her voice comes out fragile and afraid. She has no idea what this guy is capable of and she's given him an open invitation into her car. He could rob her right now if he wanted.

"What do you want to know?" Davian asks, smoothly. There's a hint of playfulness in his voice.

"Um, where are you from? Are you in school? Do you have a job? Kids?"

She takes a look over at her mysterious new 'friend' before focusing back on the road.

"I'm native. I grew up here, in Toronto. I graduated from Central Commerce Collegiate in 2009 and I'm a part-time student at Seneca College."