Halfway through the shoot, my phone started beeping in my pocket.
With one hand, I pulled it from my skirt and looked down at the lit screen. Incoming call, Jennie.
Why in the hell would Jennie be calling? I thought. "Can we pause for just a second, please?" I called, taking a step back and putting my camera down on the table. With the slightest nudge of panic, I accepted the call and pressed it to my ear. "Hello?"
"Laken, we have the trainee in my office. Since she's going to be following you around for the next few weeks, you need to go and pick her up." The blunt statement came through the speaker. "She's going to be working on the new nature columb."
"Oh, okay sure. What's the-" Before I could further talk, the line was disconnected. Oh, thanks, Jennie.
Muttering my apologies, I quickly left the room and make my way down to her office. The camera around my neck jumped with every step I took.
I made it to the overtly large office, and knocked. There was a strict no-entry-unless-knocking rule, and I wasn't about to push my boundaries. "Jennie?" I called, pushing my ear closer to the door to see if I could hear any movement.
So when the door came flying open, and a small- not Jennie- petite brunette came flying out like the place was on fire, I stumbled back quickly, my eyes widening.
"Whoa, there-" I began, but my voice trailer off as my eyes looked over the girl. I know her! I thought.
"Oh my god, hey! Laken, right?" She beat me too it. "Wow, this is so weird. You work here?"
She had on a pair of black Capri trousers, matched with a light pink shirt that was zipped at the side, and a black blazer jacket, hanging over her arm.
"Urm... Yeah, I do." I said.
"That's great!" She had so much enthusiasm for a small person. It was actually kind of refreshing. "Well, boss," she grinned. "I guess we should get started!" I nodded, following her as she practically skipped through the hallways.
"Hey," I said after a while. "I couldn't help but notice you seemed pretty eager to get out of Jennie's office earlier. Is everything okay?" I knew what Jennie could be like. She didn't care about making a good impression, she just did whatever she felt like.
She waved her hand in front of her. Standing like this, she came up to my shoulder. And I wasn't even very tall. "She's your boss, so I can't really..." She mumbled, a small frown creasing her eyebrows together.
I wanted to laugh. "Trust me, if you would like to scream about her at the top of your lungs, go right ahead. You'll probably even get some claps at the end."
Her eyes bulged as she jerked her head towards me. "But she's your boss!"
I knew that, but the fact was simple. "But she's also a bitch." I said matter of factly. And if she knew me, she'd know I meant it. I very rarely cursed, but Jennie had something about her that brought it out of me.
"Oh, ok." Luna said. "So she's like that to everyone? Kind of... Nasty. She wouldn't even talk to me for more than 5 seconds! She just kept asking me if I could be quiet and leave her office. So I did, and then she called me back and asked me of I could run some errands for her! I don't even know how to get out of this place!" She shook her head. "Eventually she let it go, and I had to stand there while she complained about how she has too much work to do and how she needs to retire."
PLEASE! I thought exasperated. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.
"Yeah, you'll learn to just... Ignore her if you choose to stay."
"Oh, and about that. I hope this is okay... You know, working here."
"Oh, no it's fine-"
She cut me off. "Because I know we're neighbours, and this is your work place, so I can go somewhere else, if you like. I can try out for a new job." And I was shaking my head before I could register her words fully. This girl barely knew me and she was already worried she'd upset me. Wow, that was something.
"Honestly, it's fine. It would be nice to have more than one familiar face around here." I offered, trying to make her feel better.
She seemed to relax just a fraction as she replied. "Okay, that's good. But if I ever start to bug you, just tell me. My brother tells me I talk too much, but he's an ass."
We arrived back with the models. I showed her around, introducing her to kaitlyn and briefly to the ones I knew were more like Jennie's spawn.
Luna sat at the back of the studio, taking notes of a small clipboard. Her eyes were like hawks, scanning until they looked like they were going to pop right out of their sockets. I could tell, already, Luna was the sort of person who was extremely dedicated and ambitious. Again, it was a refreshing change to a lot of the models here, who got it easy and acted like they had a terrible time, anyway.
The shoot was just about done as I said, "Do you know how to get out of the building?"
She looked a little embarrassed as she replied, "Not really," and then she added. "But I'm sure I can work it out."
"I'm nearly done, I just have to pack my things up and then I'll walk you out, if you'd like?"
"Oh," She sounded suprised. Was I that hostile towards people? Probably. "Well, thank you! That's great."
"No problem," I muttered, packing up my camera and bag, strapping it around my shoulder..
"So how long have you worked here for?" Luna asked curiously.
"Just under a year." I replied. "How long have you been interested in photography?"
"A while, a couple of years I guess. It was always just a hobbie, though. And then my brother suggested this job, kind of short notice, and I phoned up as soon as I could. Yesterday." She laughed. "I was so happy when they told me I could come in this afternoon to try it out. I'm so excited!"
I smiled at her enthusiasm, and then we were outside. It was the early afternoon, it's hottest, and the sidewalks were busy. The buzz of people was like static in the air, and I felt the pull to join the crowd and blend with them, become the buzz of static.
Birds sung their praises of the new summer weather, hiding above roofs and telephone poles, their mystified voices traveling round to meet my ears, but hiding from my eyes.
My shadow was spread along the sidewalk, trampled by books and heels as the unsuspecting crowds walked by. Luna was talking, but I didn't really know what she was saying any more.
I looked up at just the right moment, catching a certain eye.
Levi Remington, leaning against the side of the very car he'd had the night we met.
And I so wanted to blame my frantic heart on something other than the man in front of me. And I also so wanted to stop the panic that was rising at the thought having my heart beat for someone else.
"Dude," I heard Luna say from beside me. "Why are you staring at my brother like that?"
Her what?
