One Shot 01 - "Snap."

- I keep writing short stories and then putting them away to edit later. What always happens is that i'll come back to it another day and think it's a piece of crap and then delete it. This time i'm just going to do a one shot thing, and let you guys see the crap. Note: I named the guy Justin because i wasn't feeling creative. I don't mean for him to be connected with myself in any way.-

Snap. "Lift your chin a bit."

Snap. "Take a step forward"

Snap. "Stop smiling because i told you to. You're a really crappy actress you know."

Snap. "Think about next year. You're going to be in Paris, if you can't smile about that, you're not a real teenager."

She beamed. He snapped one last photo, and the camera whined. He shut it off and and begun to pack up his equpiment. She took off the gown and handed it to him.

"Thanks Justin, my parents will love them."

"Don't mention it. Just don't forget my espresso tommorow."

"Can't believe we made it through."

"Just barely."

"How were they?"

"You looked great."

They are sitting in a cafe. The rain is pouring and all of the seats are taken, most by people who aren't even ordering. He takes a sip from his espresso and places it carefully on the table. A second later he lifts the small cup to his lips and takes another sip. She's bouncing her knees and working away at a crossword puzzle in the damp newspaper she grabbed from the stand. Her pen breaks through the page and she gives up.

"I was really excited you know."
"I know"

"It was a new place, full of history and art and culture and wine. Actually the wine wasn't a let down..."
"It never is"

"I just wasn't expecting to lose it all. The drive"

He takes another sip. Eyes still locked on hers. Carelessly he spills on his shirt. As she rests her head on the cold window pane she continues to talk as he frantically dabs it with a wad of napkins.

"But it feels like i'm just crawling through each day."

Dab dab dab. "This is why I shouldn't buy white clothes..."

"It makes me wonder if heading to Paris was the wrong idea in the first place. Was it?

He takes a long sip of his espresso. Lowers his cup. Thinks twice and throws back the rest of it. Using the same napkins as before he wipes his mouth. He looks around at all the other people in the cafe, miserable because the weather has ruined their plans. Looking out the window he listens intently, loving the sound of each droplet falling from the heavens to nurture the earth. She's looking at him, eyebrows raised, waiting for the response.

"Do you know what's amazing about photos?"

"Justin come on, i'm pouring my heart out here. At least-"

"-Time. It doesn't exist. A fleeting moment is captured and immortalized. Every emotion and thought in the frame is contained forever."

He removes something from his jacket pocket. He hands her a polaroid. It's losing colour and the edges are frayed. She takes it from him and is surprised to see a younger version of herself smiling away. A genuine smile, filled with emotion and conviction. Conviction that the coming years are filled with promise.

"This is a friend mine. I've recently heard she's gone missing. Can you help me find her?"

She doesn't look away from the photo. She grins. "Of course."