Post by Skye on Jan 16, 2011 12:23:33 GMT -5
As Skye pushed open the studio door, a soft chime sounded within, signaling the arrival of a potential customer. It was not the usual tinkle of a bell, or buzzer sound, but a melodious tune, no doubt from a favorite musical. Leave it to Sonny to be different. Stephanie, a local girl just graduated from high school, looked up from behind a newly installed desk. Sonny had hired her to be his much needed receptionist. Both the tasteful antique maple writing desk and the sweet-faced blond girl looked perfectly at home in a corner of Oh Snap! previously used for frame displays. It was obvious Sonny had been busy while Skye was away on the road so much.
Stephanie recognized Skye and smiled brightly, “Hi Skye… errr, I mean... Good Morning, Skye, can I help you?” She grinned a bit at correcting herself. There were no customers in the studio, but she obviously was trying hard to make sure she was professional. Stephanie intended to pursue a career in photography, but was taking a year off before heading to college. Working for Sonny gave her the opportunity to earn money and semi-intern in the field at the same time.
“Hello Stephanie, it’s nice to see you again. Congratulations on your graduation, I’m so sorry I missed it. And the new job! How long have you been here?” Skye was genuinely pleased to see her here, she had real talent, and would be an asset to Sonny in the studio.
“Thank you, I’m sorry you were out of town, I’d been hoping you’d come to the party.” She colored slightly, “This is my first week, I’m still not used to answering the phone, I get so nervous.”
Skye smiled and leaned towards her, “I used to be nervous too, just remember: They are calling you, they want to make the appointment.” She straightened and looked towards the back, “Is he with a client, or in the darkroom?”
“He’s in the darkroom at the moment, no clients until…” Stephanie scanned the appointment book, “two o’clock. You can go on back. Thanks for the advice, I never thought of it that way.”
“Advice is free anytime, and sometimes only worth the price,” She winked, “See you on my way out,” Skye headed down the hall to Sonny’s darkroom, and knocked on the door, “Hi Sonny, its Skye.” Then she waited, she’d seen the red light next to the door that indicated he was processing and no one could come in or the film he was working on would be ruined.
Sonny’s voice came to her through the thick door, “Hi Sweets, glad you’re back! Give me just a minute and you can come in.” A couple minutes later, the light flicked off and the door clicked open. “Come on in.”
Skye pushed the door open wider, as Sonny was reaching for a light switch near his workbench. “Yes, I’m back, and I have some film I’d like to leave in your capable hands while I’m in Norway if that’s alright.” She let her purse slip off her shoulder as she spoke, setting it down and reaching in for the film canisters.
“Of course I will! Are they party photos?” Sonny gave her an expectant look, as if hoping she’d been partying with celebrities while in Nevada.
“Sorry Hon, they are landscapes. You know me and water, rocks and trees.” Skye grabbed a few labels off the shelf in front of her, pulled a pen from her purse, and began to mark her name and the date on the film containers before setting them down with the rest of Sonny’s work load. “And no, I didn’t see anyone recognizable as famous. No one even recognized me, or else they were polite enough to let me have an evening of anonymity.”
Sonny looked closely at her, “But you had a good visit? How are Al and Dave doing?”
“They are fine, Al sends love and kisses, and Dave says hi.” She smiled, “Yes, I had a wonderful visit. I’m very glad I went” Skye proceeded to tell Sonny all the details of her trip to Lake Tahoe, and the New Years Eve party she attended with Alexandra and David, two of her best friends from college. She’d just run down the entire weekend and was about to suggest they go to lunch when she remembered the photo shoot she’d set up. Her eyes snapped to Sonny’s face. “Hey! Were you forgetting to tell me, or are you afraid you will faint reliving the details? HOW did your photo shoot with Jack Bull go?”
Sonny squinched his face a little, and scratched behind his right ear, “Well…”
Skye leaned against the workbench, saying nothing, though the sympathetic look in her eyes spoke volumes. She was pretty sure which way the wind blew for Jack, but giving Sonny the chance at a photo shoot with his crush was a gift she’d never deny her buddy. She waited for Sonny to finish his thoughts.
“Well… it wasn’t… everything I’d hoped for… but… Oh, Skye… he’s even more drool-worthy in person than on TV or in photos.” Sonny let his shoulders droop in a little melty pose to emphasize his point. “He wears too many dark colors, but, at least has good taste in designers. Yes, I peeked at the labels… don’t give me that look.” Sonny was used to disappointment in the crush department, but had found some compensations, or tried to. He wasn’t always successful. “In some ways, it was probably a good thing he didn’t seem to figure out I am gay.” Sonny paused, “I don’t think he would be comfortable around a gay man, but this way I might have a chance at another photo shoot if he likes these pictures.”
“I’m happy if the shoot went well,” She fished in her mind for something positive to say without putting too much emphasis on the downsides of the event. “And it would be great if he likes your work. He can be very picky when it comes to reporters and photographers.” She breathed a sigh of relief.
Sonny had pulled out his wallet as she was speaking, “That reminds me,” The look on his face was downcast as he fished something out, “He asked me to give you this,” Sonny handed over a small card, “He’s interested in going out with you, though I am not sure whether he was referring to an actual date. He said something about it was time you got over Toby and he was just the man to… anyway… there.”
Skye looked at the card in stunned silence for a few moments, then up at Sonny. This time, the disappointment he must have felt was all over his face. She set the card on the workbench and reached over to hug her friend. “Oh Hon”
“Hey now, it’s not your fault.” Sonny pushed her back gently and looked down at her, “It’s not like it’s the first time a guy I thought was a cutie was more interested in you.”
She glanced at the card on the bench again, “I wonder when he expects an answer” She looked at Sonny out of the corner of her eyes, “No, I’m not going out with him, in any capacity. It’s bad enough anyone in the company or elsewhere thinks I am sleeping with Sabora, but I wouldn’t date anyone who worked for or was affiliated with the EUW. It’s too awkward when it doesn’t work out.”
Sonny raised an eyebrow, “Toby worked for the EUW.”
“Technically, we never worked there at the same time.” Smiled Skye, “Plus, we were together before I started working there, and it was partly his idea that I take the job. I’m going to say that one is an exception.” She stuck her tongue out at Sonny, then looked at the clock, “You still have time for lunch before your next appointment, shall we go? I can tell you about Al’s friend in Norway she’s connecting me with for a motorcycle trip while I am there.”
“Okay, but you’re buying. Do you mind picking something up for Stephanie as well?”
“Not at all. I’m glad you hired her, she’s got some talent. Do you remember that last art show at the High School?” Skye turned her head towards him to whisper before they went to the front of the studio.
Stephanie recognized Skye and smiled brightly, “Hi Skye… errr, I mean... Good Morning, Skye, can I help you?” She grinned a bit at correcting herself. There were no customers in the studio, but she obviously was trying hard to make sure she was professional. Stephanie intended to pursue a career in photography, but was taking a year off before heading to college. Working for Sonny gave her the opportunity to earn money and semi-intern in the field at the same time.
“Hello Stephanie, it’s nice to see you again. Congratulations on your graduation, I’m so sorry I missed it. And the new job! How long have you been here?” Skye was genuinely pleased to see her here, she had real talent, and would be an asset to Sonny in the studio.
“Thank you, I’m sorry you were out of town, I’d been hoping you’d come to the party.” She colored slightly, “This is my first week, I’m still not used to answering the phone, I get so nervous.”
Skye smiled and leaned towards her, “I used to be nervous too, just remember: They are calling you, they want to make the appointment.” She straightened and looked towards the back, “Is he with a client, or in the darkroom?”
“He’s in the darkroom at the moment, no clients until…” Stephanie scanned the appointment book, “two o’clock. You can go on back. Thanks for the advice, I never thought of it that way.”
“Advice is free anytime, and sometimes only worth the price,” She winked, “See you on my way out,” Skye headed down the hall to Sonny’s darkroom, and knocked on the door, “Hi Sonny, its Skye.” Then she waited, she’d seen the red light next to the door that indicated he was processing and no one could come in or the film he was working on would be ruined.
Sonny’s voice came to her through the thick door, “Hi Sweets, glad you’re back! Give me just a minute and you can come in.” A couple minutes later, the light flicked off and the door clicked open. “Come on in.”
Skye pushed the door open wider, as Sonny was reaching for a light switch near his workbench. “Yes, I’m back, and I have some film I’d like to leave in your capable hands while I’m in Norway if that’s alright.” She let her purse slip off her shoulder as she spoke, setting it down and reaching in for the film canisters.
“Of course I will! Are they party photos?” Sonny gave her an expectant look, as if hoping she’d been partying with celebrities while in Nevada.
“Sorry Hon, they are landscapes. You know me and water, rocks and trees.” Skye grabbed a few labels off the shelf in front of her, pulled a pen from her purse, and began to mark her name and the date on the film containers before setting them down with the rest of Sonny’s work load. “And no, I didn’t see anyone recognizable as famous. No one even recognized me, or else they were polite enough to let me have an evening of anonymity.”
Sonny looked closely at her, “But you had a good visit? How are Al and Dave doing?”
“They are fine, Al sends love and kisses, and Dave says hi.” She smiled, “Yes, I had a wonderful visit. I’m very glad I went” Skye proceeded to tell Sonny all the details of her trip to Lake Tahoe, and the New Years Eve party she attended with Alexandra and David, two of her best friends from college. She’d just run down the entire weekend and was about to suggest they go to lunch when she remembered the photo shoot she’d set up. Her eyes snapped to Sonny’s face. “Hey! Were you forgetting to tell me, or are you afraid you will faint reliving the details? HOW did your photo shoot with Jack Bull go?”
Sonny squinched his face a little, and scratched behind his right ear, “Well…”
Skye leaned against the workbench, saying nothing, though the sympathetic look in her eyes spoke volumes. She was pretty sure which way the wind blew for Jack, but giving Sonny the chance at a photo shoot with his crush was a gift she’d never deny her buddy. She waited for Sonny to finish his thoughts.
“Well… it wasn’t… everything I’d hoped for… but… Oh, Skye… he’s even more drool-worthy in person than on TV or in photos.” Sonny let his shoulders droop in a little melty pose to emphasize his point. “He wears too many dark colors, but, at least has good taste in designers. Yes, I peeked at the labels… don’t give me that look.” Sonny was used to disappointment in the crush department, but had found some compensations, or tried to. He wasn’t always successful. “In some ways, it was probably a good thing he didn’t seem to figure out I am gay.” Sonny paused, “I don’t think he would be comfortable around a gay man, but this way I might have a chance at another photo shoot if he likes these pictures.”
“I’m happy if the shoot went well,” She fished in her mind for something positive to say without putting too much emphasis on the downsides of the event. “And it would be great if he likes your work. He can be very picky when it comes to reporters and photographers.” She breathed a sigh of relief.
Sonny had pulled out his wallet as she was speaking, “That reminds me,” The look on his face was downcast as he fished something out, “He asked me to give you this,” Sonny handed over a small card, “He’s interested in going out with you, though I am not sure whether he was referring to an actual date. He said something about it was time you got over Toby and he was just the man to… anyway… there.”
Skye looked at the card in stunned silence for a few moments, then up at Sonny. This time, the disappointment he must have felt was all over his face. She set the card on the workbench and reached over to hug her friend. “Oh Hon”
“Hey now, it’s not your fault.” Sonny pushed her back gently and looked down at her, “It’s not like it’s the first time a guy I thought was a cutie was more interested in you.”
She glanced at the card on the bench again, “I wonder when he expects an answer” She looked at Sonny out of the corner of her eyes, “No, I’m not going out with him, in any capacity. It’s bad enough anyone in the company or elsewhere thinks I am sleeping with Sabora, but I wouldn’t date anyone who worked for or was affiliated with the EUW. It’s too awkward when it doesn’t work out.”
Sonny raised an eyebrow, “Toby worked for the EUW.”
“Technically, we never worked there at the same time.” Smiled Skye, “Plus, we were together before I started working there, and it was partly his idea that I take the job. I’m going to say that one is an exception.” She stuck her tongue out at Sonny, then looked at the clock, “You still have time for lunch before your next appointment, shall we go? I can tell you about Al’s friend in Norway she’s connecting me with for a motorcycle trip while I am there.”
“Okay, but you’re buying. Do you mind picking something up for Stephanie as well?”
“Not at all. I’m glad you hired her, she’s got some talent. Do you remember that last art show at the High School?” Skye turned her head towards him to whisper before they went to the front of the studio.
