Chapter 1
Durbbie:
Melissa and I arrived
in New York the night before and were not being escorted to our location of
the photo shoot. In this case it was a run down theater off of 34th street.
It was so secluded that if you didn't see the little sign, you'd never know
it was there.
"Door's open," I heard someone call as we knocked. Melissa and I made
our way into the old theater and started to set up when I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"You ARE aware that you almost gave me a heart attack, right?" I said
not even turning around to face whoever it was.
"Is that any way to greet your friend?"
"My only friend is Melissa and unless she had a sex change in the past
5 seconds, I'd say you're kidding yourself." I continued fiddling with
my cameras and trying to set up the lights.
"You haven't changed have you? You're still the same stubborn person you
were three months ago."
"And you're aware that you're taking time away from me and therefore my
clients. So unless you are willing to pay for the time you're filling, I suggest
you find your way out of there before I'm forced to remove you," I said
sternly. I still wasn't looking at this person.
"Will you look at me already?
"If it'll make you go away."
I turned my face to the speaker and…
AJ:
"Surprise,"
I said as Durbbie's jaw hit the floor.
"It's you?" I nodded. "I should have known." With that she
picked up a lighting system and started to walk off.
I followed. "That's it? No 'nice to see you again?' No friendly hug? Nothing
to show that you actually acknowledge that I'm alive and we haven't seen each
other for 3 months?" I was incredulous.
"Look AJ," Durbbie said turning around, "I associate one of the
most difficult times of my life with the five of you. So if I'm not squealing
around like a little teeny-bopper, don't be surprised." She went back to
her lighting.
"Real nice Durbbie," I countered starting to get angry. "Just
so you know, I was looking forward to this because I was concerned. Ever hear
of that word? It's usually used in a friendly situation. I guess you wouldn't
know anything about that." I paused for a moment. "Forget it,"
I said and walked off to find the guys.
Kevin:
I
wasn't too happy about being in another setting with Durbbie and Melissa. Those
two reeked more havoc in the two weeks they were with us than in the 8 years
we've been together. To say that I wasn't looking forward to interacting with
them is an understatement. I tried to get out of this, but management said no.
It's a conspiracy.
"We'll take you guys over here," Melissa said as she came over. She
looked basically the same. Her hair was a little longer, but other than that,
Melissa looked the exact same. I don't know what exactly I was expecting, but
whatever. The group walked in silence, that was our usual form of communication
these days, to the lighted area where we were to have our pictures taken.
"Kevin, I need you in the back next to Howie…No wait…No, next
to AJ. Brian, you get in front. Howie, you're next to Brian, and Nick make yourself
useful," Melissa said in her usual tone. I could see the obvious look of
discomfort in Brian's eye as he tried to shake it off.
"What's wrong Brian?" I asked trying to keep my smile.
"Nothing you need to be concerned about," he answered. Shocker. That
was the normal way things were. I don't even know why we stay together anymore.
Melissa:
You
could tell from the tension in the air that the dynamics had fallen apart. They
weren't the same people. OK, physically yes, but mentally? I beg to differ.
"That about wraps the group thing. Go get changed into your other outfits
and we'll take a few rolls each and we're done for the day," Durbbie said
as calmly as she could. Something was eating away at her. "AJ," she
said through clenched teeth, "you're up first."
AJ went off to get changed and everybody else concerned themselves in their
own little world. Durbbie and I were left to get set up for AJ's set up.
"What's going on with you?" I asked as I helped maneuver the lights
into position.
"Nothing. Why?"
"You seem a little bit more on edge than usual."
"Whatever."
And that was Durbbie for you: few words and a lot of attitude.
"Just…try to let it go. Whatever it is, forget what happened last
time."
"Seeing them again is just a little rough, you know? I always think about
Scott when I hear of them…"
"Listen to me," I said firmly and looking at Durbbie in the eye, "Scott's
gone. He's a good for nothing waste of a human. He never deserved you. It's
been a while now. It's time to move on. Yeah, OK, the memories and the flashbacks
can suck, but it's part of moving on."
"So what are you saying? I should date the guys who think they're all buff
because they've got scruffies on their chin?"
"Forget it," I said going back to the lights and getting my own set
ready. "Whenever you feel like coming back to the human race, I'll be here."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~