Secrets
Given
By Chris Owen
Kris' bad mood sank to a new low each time his
assistant opened her mouth to speak.
"Tell me again why we're doing this shoot?" Lola was
sitting in the passenger seat of the van, one boot up on the
dash. She was sulking. "It's not like I don't appreciate
overtime but, God. It's fucking midnight. I hate lighting night
shoots."
"You won't have to light." Kris didn't bother suppressing
his sigh as he pulled into the parking lot behind a derelict-looking
Stop&Shop. There were several vans already there and a trailer
as well where the model's hair and make up would be done. Hopefully
all three of those things -- hair, make up and lighting -- were
already done and everyone involved was standing around waiting
for Kris to arrive and work his magic.
Lola didn't seem to share that hope. The springs creaked in
protest as she turned on the seat and glared at him. "If
I'm not lighting, what the hell am I doing out of bed, then?
And who's doing the lights? And, while we're on the subject,
why are we doing this shoot? I mean, seriously. This sucks."
Kris parked as close to the trailer as he could and turned off
the van's engine. "I don't know who's doing the lights,
I don't care. You're here because you're my assistant and you're
going to keep my cameras ready for me. We're here because I
owe Ahnny and because you owe me. Or did you already forget
about the disaster that was last week? You're lucky I didn't
fire your ass, Lo, so shut up and do your job."
She looked stunned for a moment then snapped, "You can't
talk to me like that."
"And what the hell makes you think you can talk to me like
you were?" He put his hands on the steering wheel and looked
at her, giving her back the glare. "Do you honestly think
I want to be here? That I take great joy in dragging you out
with me in the middle of the night? Come on. We've been together
for three years; what makes you think it's cool to treat me
like crap just because you're in a foul mood?"
Her eyes went wider, but the anger and frustration drained away.
"Kris. Are you okay?" She wasn't precisely apologetic,
but she was backing away from her mood fast.
"I'm fine." He climbed out, looking up as the light
he'd parked under made a popping noise and went out. "Great.
Remember, we're parked under the crappy light."
"Got it." He could hear Lola's sigh as she got out
the other side and slammed her door.
Leaving Lola to open the back of the van, Kris headed to the
bank of trailers and then beyond them into a wide alley that
was harshly lit by a series of portable light stands. Lola should
thank her lucky stars that she didn't have to do the lighting,
Kris thought as soon as he saw the set up. He was also happy
he didn't have to supply the lights.
"Kris, darling." Ahnny oozed out of the darkness to
meet him before he got there. "Thank you for coming to
my rescue."
"Drop it." Kris was far too tired to put up with games.
"I'm only here so you can never, ever do this to me again.
Clear?"
Ahnny shrugged and flipped her sheet of cranberry red hair off
her shoulder. "Clear. Christ, you're cranky. We did all
the set up for you, I don't know why you're all wound up."
He gave her a flat look that he hoped spoke volumes. "Fill
me in." There wasn't anywhere to go other than under the
lights so he stayed where he was, letting people move past him
as they kept setting up gear and props in the alley.
Ahnny waved a hand around negligently. "Oh, you know."
Kris turned and walked away. "Good night."
"Kris!" She chased after him and grabbed his arm.
"God, you really have changed. Where's the charmer I know
and adore?"
"Where's the woman who knew how to act professionally?
Where's the brain behind the bullshit? Did she go the way of
your real name, Annie?" Kris shook her hand off. "I
don't do fashion anymore because of people of like you. I don't
want this bullshit in my life and if you don't suck it up and
fill me on about what the client wants, I'm taking my camera
and going home. Period."
Annie -- Ahnny -- stared at him. "Fuck you. Go."
"Really?" Startled, Kris stared back for two seconds,
not quite daring to hope she was serious. Then he realized she
might change her mind if he stuck around, so he turned on his
heel and started walking.
He'd almost reached Lola and freedom when Ahnny grabbed his
arm again. "Stop, you bastard," she whispered at him.
"Don't you think you're taking your little artistic temper
tantrum a bit too far?"
With a sigh, Kris stopped walking and turned to face her. "I'm
serious," he said quietly. "I don't want to do this.
I hate this."
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