Five faces turn towards me and I smile.
“Hi guys, my name’s Starr and I’m Andrei’s replacement for this tour.”
“Hey Starr, good to meet ya. I’m Howie.” He reaches out and shakes my hand with a sweet smile.
“Wow, you’re better lookin’ than Andrei” is AJ’s introduction and I laugh.
“Is that hard?” I ask with a grin and he laughs.
“I’m Kevin and this is my cousin Brian.”
“I’m Nick.”
I smile at them all. “Well now we have the introductions outta the way could we do your promo shots?”
“Of course,” says Kevin as I put my bag down and start getting my camera ready. “What clothing do you want?”
“Group shots first?” asks Howie.
I look them all up and down for a few seconds before deciding on individual shots first. AJ is already changed. He’s dressed in black pants, a yellow shirt and dark shades. “Wanna get started AJ?” He nods and follows me into a separate room as the other guys head off to get changed.
“Ya want me on the platform?” he asks boredly.
“Naw, just sit here with me,” I gesture to a couch and sit down. He looks surprised.
“I thought we were doin’ pictures?”
“We are. I just hate the posed look so I figured we sit here, talk a bit and I’ll take a few informal shots. That ok?”
“Cool,” he shrugs and sits down.
“So, any things ya wanna know ‘bout me?” I ask winding the camera on.
“Sure, lotsa things!” He chuckles and I get my first shot. “We’ll start with how old you are and whether you’re single.”
“Straight to the point huh?” I laugh and start taking pictures as we talk. “I’m 22 and yeah, I’m single. How about you?”
“You don’t already know?!” he laughs.
“Nup. All I know about you guys are your names and that I dig a few of your songs.”
“Yeah? Which ones?”
“Fishin’ for compliments huh?” I raise an eyebrow. “Well, my favourite right now is The Call. So damn funky.”
“That’s one of my favourites to sing,” he starts humming it as I take a few more shots.
“So, avoidin’ the question?”
“Huh?”
“The age and status thing?”
He laughs. “No. I’m 23 and I’m kinda single.”
“Kinda?! Hmm, there’s a story there.”
“I guess. Well, I dated her a few months ago then this tour came up and we had this huge fight over it, and we dumped each other. But I still wanna be with her so I’m kinda bidin’ my time.”
“Good plan,” I grin. “And on that note, you’re done.” I start changing the camera film and he looks surprised.
“I’m done?! You’re kiddin’ me?!” I shake my head and he chuckles. “No dumbass poses? Wow I like your style girl.”
“Why thanks,” I say with a grin. “Now go get changed for the group shots.”
“Sure. Who should I send in?”
“Whoever’s ready I guess.”
“Okies,” he stands up and disappears into the other room.
Kevin appears dressed in a black suit just as I finish readying my camera. His collar is open and the stylist has tousled his black hair. He looks seriously gorgeous and I’m aware of my heart skipping an involuntary beat. I check out the wedding ring on his finger and smile to myself. His wife was one lucky woman waking up with him every morning. He smiles and sits on the couch.
“You sure made an impression on AJ,” he grins. “He’s yellin’ somethin’ bout not posin’.”
“Yeah,” I grin. “I’m just more into natural shots.”
“Really?” he looks at the camera as I start taking pictures of him. “But I always figure posed pictures are better for promos.”
“Trust me, I’m a photographer,” I giggle. “I always wanted to say that!” He chuckles and leans back on the couch. “So, how old are you Kevin?”
“Me?” he looks surprised. “Uh, I’m 29.”
“And you’re married?”
“Yeah. I got married just over a year ago.”
“What’s your wife’s name?”
“Kristen.”
“How long have you been together?”
“Around eight years on and off. I met her when we were both working at Disney World.”
“Wow, that’s a long time.”
“Yeah,” he smiles. “How about you?”
“Me? Oh I’m single.”
“By choice?”
“Yeah, I guess it is. I’m concentrating on my career right now.”
“Don’t let it take over,” he says. “It can get lonely.”
“The voice of experience?” I ask wryly.
“Yeah, hence the off part of the eight years with Kristen.”
“Well, you’re done now.” I start changing the film as he stands up and stretches.
“Wow, AJ was right. Impressive. Who do ya want next?”
“I’m not fussy,” I grin as he disappears.
A few minutes later Howie appears and sits down. He looks good in black pants and a white shirt.
“Hi Starr. How’s it goin’?”
“Real well,” I smile and start shooting. “How old are you Howie?”
“I’m 28. It was my birthday last month.”
“Oh, happy late birthday!”
“Thanks,” he grins. “How old are you?”
“I’m 22. Do anything special for your birthday?”
“Yeah, my family has a place in Puerto Rico and we had a big party out there. It was cool. Even the guys came.”
“Wow, sounds cool. I’ve never been to Puerto Rico.”
“Oh you must!” He laughs. “It’s my favourite place to go.”
“Are you Puerto Rican?”
“My mom is but I was born in Orlando. Where are you from?”
“Atlanta. I lived in New York for a few years and then I moved to Tampa last year.”
He smiles. “Do you like it?”
“Oh yeah! I love bein’ near the water.” I take a few more pictures before the film is finished. “Ok, Howie. You’re done.”
“Really? Cool. You’re very fast Starr.” He stands up and heads towards the door. “I guess it’ll be Brian next cos Nick usually has to be dragged into photo sessions.”
I laugh as he disappears.
Just as I click a new film into my camera, Brian walks in with a couple of cans of Sprite. He’s dressed in denim pants and a midnight blue shirt. He sits down and offers me a can.
“I figured you’d be thirsty.”
“Thanks Brian,” I smile and take a sip before starting to take pictures. “How old are you?”
“I’m 26. And you?”
“22. You’re married right?”
“Yeah. Her name’s Leighanne. She’s an actress.”
“Yeah? What’s she been in?”
“Oh, lots of stuff but she’s got the starring role in this new movie called Olive Juice. It’s out in a few months.”
“Olive Juice?” I laugh. “That brings back memories.”
“You used to say that as a kid?” he looks excited as I nod. “Wow! You’re the first person I met who did!”
“I am? Wow, I thought EVERYBODY did that.”
“Apparently not,” he shrugs. “You’re from Georgia right? You have the accent.”
“Yeah I am. Atlanta actually.”
“Really? Leigh is from Atlanta too!” He grins. “She’d love to meet you. A fellow Atlantan AND you know olive juice.”
I laugh. “From beneath the sea.”
“Huh?” he looks confused.
“Atlantis? The hidden city,” I explain but he still looks confused. “Ah, it’s a bad joke.”
“Oh, ok,” he grins. “It’s probably me.”
“Well, that’s you done,” I say as the film runs out.
“Yeah? Cool,” he stands up. “I usually HATE these photo shoots but so far it’s pretty painless.” He grins and I laugh. “But nobody hates ‘em more than Nicky. I’ll go get him.” He disappears and I fix a new film into the camera.
By the time Nick walks in, I’ve finished my Sprite and was beginning to think I’d have to go and physically drag him in. He’s looking pretty damn good in a black suit, with his blonde hair all spiky. The only thing spoiling it is his sulky expression. He sits on the couch and fixes me with an intense look.
“Ok, ok, I know the drill. I sit here, you ask me stuff, I relax, you get real cool intimate shots, blah de blah. Whatever. Let’s get on with it.”
“Whoa,” I stare at him. “Who whizzed in YOUR Cheerios?”
“Hey,” his eyes narrow and I shrug and start taking pictures.
“So I guess I’ll forget tryin’ to talk to ya huh?”
“Sounds like a plan,” he mutters and I shoot him daggers with my eyes. I snap away in total silence until a whirring indicates the film is full.
“Well, you can go get the other guys in now.”
“Why?” he looks suspicious.
“I figured we could have this orgy… For a group shot, duh.” I walk away from him and start changing the film.
He stands up and heads towards the door. “Don’t treat me like I’m dumb.”
“Stop actin’ it then,” I retort.
His response is to slam the door and I sigh heavily. Talk about getting off on the wrong foot I tell myself. But it hadn’t been my fault. He was the one with the attitude. Sure I hadn’t helped any but I’m not the type of girl to just sit there and take it. But I guess pissing off one of your bosses in the first hour is kinda bad.
The door opens and I turn around. It’s Kevin. He smiles apologetically at me.
“Sorry ‘bout Nick. He’s been havin’ a bad day.”
“I noticed,” I say wryly. “So, ready for the group shots?”
“We sure are.”