Capturing Savannah (12 page)

As we are heading out one of the other tables catches my eye.
I see a guy that looks a lot like David talking to a girl. As I get closer I realize it is David. I kind of stop in my tracks and my sister Cami runs smack into me. I nearly fall. Just then David looks up and sees me. I see what looks like hurt on his face but then he starts to grin his normal sideways grin.

“
Thea we will meet you outside.” My mom says ushering my sister and dad outside.

“
Thea. Hi.” Says David standing to greet me.

I almost feel like he is going to hug me, but then someone behind me says “Excuse me.”
We both move to the side back closer to his table.

“Hi.”
I say back starting to smile a little.

“
Thea?” Says the girl at the table. She looks familiar to me but I can’t place her.

“Yes. This is
Thea.” David says. “Thea this is my sister Caroline.”

Caroline jumps up to hug me
. I kind of just stand there and then finally say, “Nice to meet you Caroline.”

I stumble to say something
else to her and David but I can’t figure out what to say. Before I can finish my thoughts another girl joins us and puts her arm through David’s. Seeing her touch him makes me hurt.

“Hey guys. What’s going on? Who is this?” she asks.

“Maggie this is Thea. She is an old friend from when I lived here in Savannah. I guess we haven’t seen eachother for what…three years?” He says.

She reaches her other hand out to me. The one tha
t is not interlocked with David. “Hi I am David’s girlfriend Maggie!” She says with such excitement I am surprised she doesn’t jump up and down while she says it. She has got to have been a cheerleader.

“Oh great to meet you.” I say.

“So are you all here for a summer vacation?” I ask.

“Yes.” Says Maggie.
“David’s always saying how amazing this place was so I just had to see it, too.”

“Have you run into anyone else, any of the old crew?” I ask.

“Nope. Haven’t. How are they? How’s Dax?” He asks.

“
They are all pretty good. All graduated. Some moving back home, but I am staying. I just got an apartment with Micah and one of the guys from my photography class a few streets away.” I say.

“Oh an apartment in this town. That must be nice.” Says Maggie.

She is interrupted by their pizza arriving and placed on their table.

“Oh finally our pizza.” She says turning and pul
ling David with her to sit down to eat. “I am starving.”

“Well it was nice seeing you
all. Enjoy your trip.” I say.

“Sit and eat with us.” Says Caroline.
“Sorry we are starving. We had to listen to David talk about this pizza place the whole drive. But please join us.”

“I don’t want to intrude on your dinner and besides my parents and sister are waiting outside for me.
It was really nice seeing you all.” I say forcing my legs to move and start walking to the door.

“Good seeing you. Bye
Thea.” Says Caroline and Maggie.

I keep walking and
David starts to get up but Maggie interlocks her arm with David pulling him back down into his chair. “She said she has to go David. It’s fine.”

“Bye
Thea.” He says and I keep walking somehow getting my legs to continue. And I think about how I should be glad that he has someone in his life. But a big part of me wishes that someone was me.

When I get back to the apartment
Micah and Grayson are each unpacking in their rooms.

“Hey guys.” I say.

“Hey Thea.” Grayson says.

“Thea. This place is great. Eh?”
says Micah popping his head around the corner and smiling at me.

“Ya. I think living here is going to be amazing.”
I say.

I play with the focus of the shot. This time I zoom into their fingertips that are just barely touching through their extended arms. Only seeing a fraction of the sky through the large picturesque window. Then I zoom back out framing them with the bright white curtains that lay at the sides of the picturesque window. Both of their heads are turned sideways to look at each other. Below their extended arms and fingers is a view of the off white hotel and rows of palm trees meeting up with the beach and drifting into the bright blue waters.

We have only been in Key West for a day,
but it is amazing to be this close to the stunning turquoise blue waters.

“Ok. Let’s get
one more of you two with the wedding party before we head into town.” I say.

The group of guys and girls huddle together.

“Looks great guys. Everyone put your arm around the person next to you. The girls shift your bodies so you have your right hips slightly forward. Guys shift so you have your left hips slightly forward.” I say. “Ok. Now smile. One. Two. Three.”

I take multiple shots in case anyone blinks.

“Ok. We are done here.” I say.

“Oh Th
ea. I am so excited. I know these pictures are going to be amazing.” My sister Cami says.

“Yes. Thanks Thea.
About the shots in town I think you…” Says Alex, Cami’s soon to be husband.

“Alex. She has got this. She’s had her degree for seven years now.”

No one has eaten yet this morning or had coffee so we are two missions; wedding party photos and on a mission to find a close cafe to go to. We start walking towards
Coffee Plantation
on Caroline Street. On the way there I take shots of the group walking. Alex scoops up Cami on his back and I rush in front of them to get some pics. Cami’s red and brown high heels dangle at his sides. She has one arm slung across his neck and the other arm around his shoulder that interlocks with her other arm. Her engagement ring glistens in the Florida sun and I am sure it makes a sort of lens flare on some of these shots. Alex sticks out his tongue and Cami gives a sideways grin with her head tilted and her wavy hair pulled to one side bobbing on her shoulder. You can feel the fun and happiness from them.

I am still walking ahead of t
hem and walking backwards to capture the motion of them and their friends behind them. I get tons of wide angle shots so I switch to close ups of just their faces and her arms and the ring on her hand. I get caught up on the shots and start to forget to look behind me as my feet keep taking me backwards.

Smack. I knock into someone.

“Oh my gosh. Sorry about that.” I turn around and say embarrassingly. I notice I knocked this person’s paper coffee cup from his hand to the ground. The lid came off and it’s spilling everywhere on the sidewalk. I pick up the almost empty cup and lid and toss it into the trashcan that is a few feet away.

“Let me buy you another cup…..” I say stopping as I meet his
cool blue grey eyes. I can’t speak. I just stare and I am sure I look like a deer in headlights right now. His mouth perks up into a devilish sideways grin. The same grin I fell in love with almost ten years ago. It still gives me the same feelings of nervous self confidence and butterflies in my stomach.

“David…” I start to say.

“Thea. What did you do? I am so sorry she was taking our picture before ….” My sister Cami rambles.

“It’s fine. She said she would get me another one.
” David says without looking away from me.

“Oh good. We are going to the
Coffee Plantation
, think it’s right around the corner.” Cami says.

“Yep. Just right here.” He says.
“That’s where I just came from.”

“Great. Let’s get you that coffee.” Alex says.

I watch David and Alex turn around and start walking away. I am still standing where I was.

“Thea? You ok? You look like you just saw a ghost or something.” Cami says.

“Ya you do. You ok?” our cousin Naomi echoes.

“I’m ok.” I say finally.

They each take an elbow and give me a gentle pull. It does the trick and my feet start moving. The rest of the group walks into the coffee shop where Alex and David are waiting. As soon as I walk in David looks at me. I walk towards him.

“So what are you having?
Black coffee?” I ask not sure what else to say and getting straight to buying him coffee.

“
Yes. Coffee, black.” David says.

I immediately turn and order his coffee and a tea for myself.

“They’ll bring it to us if you want to sit with me
?” David says.

“Ok
.” I say back.

Cami gives me a confused look as David and I sit at a small table for two.
The rest of the group orders coffees and breakfasts and bunches up together on the comfy sofas that are towards the front of the place but not too far from where David and I sit. The café is painted a warm tangerine orange and feels bright, beachy, and airy.

“You changed you hair.” David says. “I like it.”

“Right.” I say reaching to pull it back off my shoulders.

It is still black but I have let it grow out to just over my shoulders.
No more fun color streaks going on.

“So you move here for the key lime pie?” I ask him.

His chuckle sounds just like I remember it. It sends another round of butterflies swirling in my gut.

“Ya that and I am finishing up grad school here.” He says.

“Oh you went back to school. That’s great.” I say.

“Ya.
Getting my Masters so I can teach art.” He says.

Inter
rupting my sister Cami brings me a plate of spinach and cheese quiche plus a fruit parfait.

“Thought you’d want some breakfast Thea.” Cami says.
“Not sure if you wanted anything too….um”

“It’s David. No
, thanks I ate already.” He says.

“Oh my sister used to know a David…”

“Thanks Cami.” I say giving her the eye. She sits down at the table across from us.

“I hope you don’t
mind me talking to Thea.” He says to Cami.

“No not at all David. Seems like you guys know
each other already.” She says.

“We do.” Is all David says to that.

My phone rings. Saved by the bell.

“Gotta take this.” I say and stand up to move a short distance away from the table.

It’s my
kids. They are with their other Grandpa. They update me on their day yesterday at the park and then the baseball game they went to.

“Ok. I am glad you called. I will be out late tonight so I probably won’t talk to ya’ll till tomorrow morning. Be good. I love you both.” I say.

David and Cami are in the midst of a conversation and now Alex has joined them as well. David is just as adorable as the first time I saw him and the last time I saw seven years on graduation day. His hair is a little shorter. His build is the same, maybe a touch taller but he is still fairly fit looking and I imagine his muscles look just as good now as they did back then.

“Oh Thea. Isn’t it great? David just told us about this bar with the dueling pianos and a
dance floor. It sounds perfect for the bachelor and bachelorette party tonight.” Cami says.

“That
’s great Cami.” I say smiling awkwardly at David.

I sit back down at the table and it get’s quiet.
Alex pulls Cami up and she giggles all the way back to the sofa.

“I know how much you like breakfast food. So eat.” Says David with his sideways smile.

That smile makes me think about his lips and how I know they feel to kiss. I pick up my fork and make an attempt to shake these thoughts away.

“So when is the wedding?” he asks.

“You mean they didn’t tell you?” I say. “It’s tomorrow afternoon.”

“Congratulations.” He says.

“Ya.” I say continuing to eat up. My eyes meet his and I notice his gaze is a look of bafflement.

“So who is the lucky guy?” he asks.

“You already met him.” I say confused by his questions.

“
Dax?” he says.

“
Dax? What are you talking about Dax?” I say.

“Cami is marrying Alex. The two crazies that were just over here.”  I say.
“Cami is my little sister.”

“Ok that makes more sense.” He says.

“Wait you thought I was the bride?” I say blushing and finishing my last bit of quiche.

“Ok Thea. Mom just called we are needed back at the hotel.” Cami interrupts.

“Ok.” I say stalling and taking another sip of my tea.

“David you
should come to the bar with us tonight. I am sure Thea would love a dance partner.” Cami says.

I almost spit out my hot
tea on them both. But I manage to choke it back and grab a napkin. A cough or two still escapes me though.

“
It sounds fun. I would like to go. If it’s ok with Thea.” Says David.

Cami nudges me a few times until I say “Ok.”

“I’ll see you guys there then. Thea. Good running into you…or you running into me.” David says.

“See you later then.
” I say giving Cami a look.

Davi
d leaves and the group heads out too. Walking back to the hotel I don’t talk much. I am too busy trying to process what just happened with David. And I am still shocked I am going to see him again tonight. I mean it’s not a date or anything but we will be out together as adults and with other adults.

When we get back mom leads both Cami and I to the spa floor. Should have known she was up to something like this.
Cami is getting the full everything package. Mom got me the basic to start she says. It includes a ten minute massage, pedicure, manicure, and hair treatment. All that sounds like plenty to me so I move forward on the basic package.

“OMG Mom! Thanks. You’re the best. I am such a lucky girl.” Cami says.

“Ya mom. Thanks.” I say making sure I don’t overshadow Cami’s gratitude.

I get lost in my thoughts for hours upon hours at the spa.
There is time in-between my massage and the mani/pedi so I decide to take advantage of the sauna. It feels nice to feel the steam against me. I sweat a lot which isn’t all that different than being in Savannah, but this time it feels good to sweat. I take deep breaths in and out. After awhile I get out and take a cool shower using the apricot exfoliating scrub that is stocked in the spa shower room. I feel totally relaxed.

My sister sits in the middle pedicur
e chair flanked by mom and I. Cami tells the pedicure artist all about the wedding flowers and ceremony that will be held on the beach. She picks out a light cool blue polish that we all end up using on our toes and our fingers. We all get our hair styled next. It’s a nice girl day. Following we eat a light seafood dinner, just Cami, Alex, mom, dad, and I.

After all that relaxation
we are ready for a night out on the town. Instead of the traditional separate bachelor and bachelorette parties Cami and Alex want to have the party together. The guys all wear casual beach resort wear, which consists of Hawaiian looking shirts, varying shades of khaki shorts and sandals or flip flops. Us girls all wear sundresses. Cami’s is white of course. Mine a pale greenish yellow with light grey polka dots. The other girls’ dresses are shades of blues, greens, and reds. I take a photo of Cami laughing and then ask the girls to all line up for a shot together.

We meet the guys by the elevator.
Everyone crams inside but I linger back before stepping in with them to take some photos. Alex and the guys pick up Cami and hold her sideways along them. I keep taking shots of them smiling and laughing until they pull me inside with them. We all fill up the elevator space.

It’s a good walk to
Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar
on Duval Street. I hesitate going inside but my cousin Naomi pulls me in with her. The place is packed even though the pianists haven’t started yet. The bar overlooks the two pianos and the four steps leading down to them. There is a small dance floor off to the side. It’s tiny. I am surprised David would even notice it, as tiny as it is and knowing how much he doesn’t like to dance.

It’s dark in here.
It reminds me of being in a photo lab darkroom. The main lighting is over each of the pianos and it has a similar amber tone also like the dark room.

“Hi Thea.”
David says suddenly next to me.

“Hey.”
I say as Naomi nudges me. “Oh. This is my cousin Naomi.”

“Good to meet more of Thea’s family.” He
says with his sideways smile.

“Good to meet one of Thea’s friends.” She says back.

“Can I buy you two a drink?” David says.

“Sure.” Says Naomi answering for the both of us.