Capturing Savannah (5 page)

“Ok? You’re hurt.” He says.

“Really. I am ok.” I say.

We sit in silence for several minutes.

“Thea. Are you sure you don’t want me to call the cops?”

“Yes. I am sure.” I say.

“Ok. Let me finish this delivery real quick. It’s a block away. And then your coming back with me to the shop to get that leg cleaned up.” We sit in silence as he pulls the car over in front of a meter. “Don’t go anywhere.” he says with a serious tone. I think he is only gone a minute before he returns back to the car. The rest of the car ride is more silence. I feel like crying but then I remind myself they may have put their hands on me but they didn’t hurt me, not where it really hurts. On the inside. But they aren’t the reason why I am really upset. I am upset about how I let my remaining guilt almost get me into trouble. I am upset because for an instant I might have gone through it. With letting them hurt me. The cops wouldn’t be able to help with that, not with really happened. Plus it was my fault. I am the one who walked up to them in the alleyway. I am the one who lingered when I knew I shouldn’t have. I asked for it.

David
parks the car in front of a building with a sign that reads
Vinnie Van GoGo’s Pizza
. It’s green and yellow like his shirt. I didn’t notice it before but his shirt has the same text as the sign. He turns off the engine, takes out the keys and turns to look at me. I am waiting for him to speak so when he doesn’t I turn to face him.

“Thea are you sure you are ok?”

“I am good, really” I say. Turning back and reaching for the car door handle so we can go inside. I leave my camera equipment on the floor of the car. He gets out too and I attempt to change the subject.

“So this your car?” I ask. L
ooking back at the white Honda Accord. Thinking to myself about the white color of the car and how he just might be my white knight here.

“Ya. It’s how I got the job here
. Having a car helps with a delivery job.” He says. “Plus I am not too bad with making a pizza either.”

He opens the pizza shop door for me and we walk to the end of the
bar top counter all the way in the back. It’s packed inside but I take the empty seat at the end stool and he says he will be right back. In only a few minutes he returns with hydrogen peroxide and cotton balls. He rolls my jeans up to my knee very delicately. The light touch of his hands on my leg brings the butterflies back into my gut. So much that I don’t feel anything else when he applies the peroxide. It’s not a deep cut but it’s a few inches wide. He carefully puts a large bandage over it and rolls my jeans back down.

“Thanks
.” I say.

“Hey do you want to just get a pizza to go tonight instead?” he asks.

“Changed your mind about the date thing already huh?” I ask a little sad but mainly being sarcastic. “Actually I didn’t get a chance to make it in to the photo lab.” I say. “So I think I may just go do that tonight. If that is ok with you.” Giving him an out in case he did change his mind about our date. But also just wanting to keep myself busy instead of thinking of the guys from the alleyway and Jacks.

“Ok” he says. “I’ll bring pizza. What kind do you want?”

“You want to go to the photo lab?” I ask.

“
If you think I am letting you out of my sight after all of that, you’re crazy.” he says making me blush once again.

“Ok.
Ham and pineapple then.” I say.

“You got it.
Hawaiian it is. Coming right up.” He says.

He goes to the back but I can still see him through the kitchen window tha
t follows the length of the bar. I catch him looking through it at me every now and then. Before I know it he comes back out with the box of pizza and we get back into his car.

There are
only a few people in the lab. I guess since it’s Friday night it would be pretty deserted. Most students are out partying right now. I start mixing the chemicals. I watch David in the low amber light of the room as he looks around at all the tanks and tubs and tongs and jugs of chemicals. I have the developer part, the stop bath, and the fixer solutions ready. I put the roll of film into the canister and tilt and turn it to start the agitating process putting in each of the chemical solutions followed by a wash as they are needed. After awhile the negatives are ready to be looked at.

I wash up and bring the negatives and
David out into the non-darkroom  processing area. We take a seat on the couch and I look through the negatives as he eats what must be five slices of pizza by now.

“Hey
, save me a slice.” I tease.

“You might have to fight me for it
.” he teases back.

But I decide to make him pay for that remark. Getting up and
lunging towards the pizza box. He moves it just out of reach from me. I pretend to give up and when I notice him let his guard down a little I go for it again. He tricks me and traps my arms around his waist not letting me go. We both laugh and there is a moment in there I think, but we both let is pass. And he gives into letting me have a slice of the pizza.

“This pizza is amazing
.” I say. “I can’t believe you made it.”

“What just cause I am a guy I can’t cook
?” he says back.

I laugh remembering my comment to him that first night at the
Paper Moon
when I said
what girls can’t pay for themselves
or something to that affect. His sideways grin is back and I think I might melt right there.

We finish the pizza and I pick out the
seven negatives that I want to make prints of. I ignore the negative of that last photo I shot today. The one that I used the flash on, the only protection I could think of in the alleyway and went through with when David appeared.

There is one other guy in the darkroom but besides that it’s just
David and I. I set up the negatives in the carrier and position the enlarger over the paper on the easel. I am relieved that I am not alone in here with David because that thought makes me really nervous. Just then the other guy in here leaves saying goodnight to both of us.
Shit
I think to myself. David watches as I continue working on the prints. I have the seven pieces of paper ready for the next chemical process. David comes up behind me and I can feel him standing extremely close but not touching me.

“Teach me how to do it
.” he says.

“Ok sure
.” I say. I feel his arms slide around my waist and move along the tops of my arms asking me to guide him. The butterflies are back full force but I manage to stay calm enough to talk him through what I am doing and keep going. Our one set of arms holds the tong and move together placing the prints one by one in an assembly line down through the tubs of chemicals. I was resting the other arm on my stomach when he put his arms around me so that set of arms remains around my waist. It feels amazing.

“Wow. Thea these pictures are amazing
.” he says”

Before I know it we are done and ready to hang the prints.
So I pull away enough to grab the close pin holders and start hanging. David moves so he is facing me and helps me reach the top of the line to hang all of the prints. Our hands brushing against each other. After the last one is hung I drop my arms slowly to my side. David leans in closer to me and moves one of his hands along the side of my face. Gently he caresses my hair and ear. He leans in closer and now caresses my lips with his. I feel his tongue on my lips gently parting them. The butterflies are so intense now that I moan out loud. This makes his kiss harder and he intensely sucks my top lip between his. His grip on my face tightens and grabs onto my hair. My hands touch his chest. Our tongues move together fiercely. It all makes me moan even more.

His other hand comes up on my waist
lifting my shirt a little with it and I can feel the touch of his thumb run along my ribcage. We lose control and shift our stance back smashing a little into the wall of the darkroom. I move my hands under his shirt and run them along his bare chest feeling the lines of his muscles and ribs. I move them around to his back wanting to feel that too. In between kisses I pull his shirt over his head.

Our kiss deepens even more. His
fingers move lower on my waist and he lifts my shirt slightly touching the skin above my jeans on my hips. Still up against the wall he gently unbuttons my jeans unzipping them next. His fingers lightly graze over and under the top of my panties. I bite his lip the part of his mouth that always moves into a sideways grin. But I have to pull back stopping the momentum of things and to take a breath. He stops starring me right in the eye and touching my face gently.

Just then
the dark room door opens and a new guy comes in forcing us apart. I rapidly zip up and button my pants as David puts his shirt back on. The guy clears his throat a little and I hear David chuckle slightly under his breath. I check the prints and pull them down from the line. Trying to think straight which is really hard to do after that...that kiss.

We load all of my things into his car. After we both ge
t in and shut the door we simultaneously let out a laugh. I think it’s nervous energy from getting caught just before. He drives us back to the dorms and walks me to my room.

“It’
s been a pretty eventful day.” I say.

“Ya
,” says David with his wicked grin. “You sure your ok from earlier? I can stay with you if you want.”

“
I am ok. You don’t need to stay.” I say.

“I hope you mean it when you say you are ok. I respect that you didn’t want to call the cops, but I just want to make sure you
don’t think you deserved that or anything. I mean you shouldn’t have gone into that alleyway, but you didn’t deserve that, not for going in there and not for what happened with your brother. And I think what are you doing with those photos are amazing so keep doing that just stay out of sketchy alleyways ok?”

“
David?” I say.

“Ya?” he says.

“Thanks. Your friendship means a lot to me. And I don’t want to mess that up.” I say.

“
Thea. You are not going to mess things up between us. I’ll always be there as your friend or more than a friend if you want that.” David says.

I blush when he says it. The butterflies in my gut are on fire now.

“See you tomorrow then?” I ask.

“And anytime you need a ride. I’ll take you. Don’t walk around that part of town by
yourself again.” David says.

I see David the next day and the day after that. He has to work nights the rest of the weekend and part of the next week. And somehow he gets me to agree to go on a fancy date with him next Friday night but I remind him that we need to focus on school. At the same time the new college me remembers that I wanted to have some fun here too. I do have plenty of assignments to keep me busy until next Friday. Tomorrow is my Intro to Photography class where we will be displaying our photo series that represents Savannah. Today I need to get all the black matte board cut down and the photos mounted. I am a little bit of a perfectionist so I already know it will take me some time to get it lined up, measured, and placed on there. I get it finished though and ready to go.

In the morning after breakfast in
the cafeteria the school shuttle drops me off at the Photography building. I carry the seven boards with me. When I walk into the classroom there is a ledge that goes all the way around the room and several series of photos are displayed on it. I add mine to the ledge as well. Keeping them in the order I took them in.

Class starts and we are asked to all walk around the room to have a look at each of the series of photos.
I notice quickly that mine are the only ones with people in them. So I am a little worried about that. There are few that have the same subject matter, like the fountain from
Forsyth Park
and the
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
is an on going theme between projects. One of the graveyard and another that shot the squares kind of like I did but the squares not the people in them. All amazing photographs by the way. Everyone is making comments and giving feedback.

Then we get to my photos. There is a drawn out silence. Someone says
, “Bums. So bums are the visual for Savannah?”

Someone else interjects “It’s brilliant really. Ya it shows homeless people in the squares. But you can see the history in their faces. All the lines and wrinkles are these rich details making up this rich history and hardship.
Which says a lot about this city.”

The teacher chimes in too and they seem to go over really well.
Then we do another walk around of the room to discuss the development techniques and camera settings used and then it’s lecture time. We get our new assignment and we are done right on time. I walk out of the building to find David waiting on me on his white Honda Accord.

“So what have you been up to? You haven’t been waiting her
e long have you?” I ask.

“
No. Drawing class got out a little early so I figured I would give you a ride. I was just doing some sketching in the meantime.” He says.

I peek at his sketch
book and see another image of an oak tree with Spanish moss. It’s breathtaking.

“Do you mind if we stop by the pizza shop? I need to pick up my check.
I know I’ll be there tonight but need to get it in the bank.” He says.

“Of course I don’t mind. It’s your car
, drive where you need to go. I am just a passenger here.” I say.

We pick up the check, he runs into the bank and then it’s back to the dorms.
He only has a few hours till his shift starts so we both go back to our rooms to get some assignments going. I catch up with Emily on how things are going for her with her classes. I ask about black haired ponytail guy too. Which she says is no more.

“Actually speaking of that Thea. A few girls and I are going to this pizza place tonight with a couple of guys from our
Architecture class. You should come with us. It will be fun and we can catch up some more.” Emily says.

“That does sound fun. I’m in. Which pizza place is it?” I ask.

“Vinnie Van GoGo’s.” She says and it makes me smile knowing that is where David works.

We have a few more hours till we leave for dinner so I start
thinking through my assignments. The time passes quickly and by the end of it I haven’t settled on anything yet. It’s time to go now and I decide to bring my camera. I always seem to wish I had it when I don’t so might as well be prepared.

It’s a rather long walk but we can’t all fit in Emily’s mini. I don’t mind too much because I like walking. And I am getting
back to being comfortable with walking in this town since what happened in the alleyway. Having a group to walk with certainly makes that part easier.

The pizza shop is packed for a weeknight. But I guess it’s to be expected in a college town. I look for
David as we walk in and don’t see him. There are no tables except for the patio at the very edge so we all, all four girls and three boys, cram into the back. One of the guys sits by me, which throws me off a little. I hope Emily isn’t trying to set me up or something. She knows I don’t want a boyfriend and doesn’t really know how David and I are a little more than friends and I guess I am to blame for that since I haven’t talked to her about it.

We order a variety
of pizzas to try for the table. One all veggie, one all meat, and another a mixture of the two, and my favorite ham and pineapple. The guys in the group are 21 and order beer. I stick with water. The guy next to me is starting to slur a little and I loose track of what we are even talking about. They are on their fourth or sixth beer when finally our pizzas come out. I am sitting there still trying to get into what he is slurring about when David interrupts.

“Hi Thea
.” He says. Setting down a few of the pizzas. I smile at him and he winks at me. Then he whirls around and is gone and I am disappointed but I get it he is working. In five minutes time David is back with the rest of our pizzas and I am sure I am beaming again.

“Can you take a break at all?” I ask him.

“Ya I just got that okayed.” he says.

There are no spare chairs around since the place is packed.
So I ask “Want to step outside for a minute?”

“Later
.” he says. “You eat first.”

I get up and tell him to sit down. He looks confused but I grab his hand and guide him into the chair sitting on his knee so I can eat my pizza.
The drunk guy next to us still tries to talk to me and I still can’t understand what he is going on about. I am finished with my pizza so I decide to give David a big but quick kiss on the mouth hoping drunk guy will get the hint that I am not interested in him. That does the trick and the guy moves onto talking to one of Emily’s other friends.

“Ok
your not getting away with that so easily.” David says. “Let’s take that step outside now. It’s not nice to tease.” He entwines his fingers with mine and guides us out the back way that opens to the street.

I don’t think through the part about what kissing him would mean to him so much. I mean I very much liked kissing him but I really was trying to get
drunk guy to lay off a little.

He
cuts off my thoughts with his tongue biting my top lip gently and leaning me back against the door we just came out of by guiding my hips. A gasp escapes my mouth. I kiss him back and he kisses me back. His hands are still on my hips and his thumbs caress the skin above my shorts. I moan. And then he stops just like that.

“You think I am
a tease.” I say.

“
Have to get back to work. And you started it.” He says.

“How long till your shift is over?” I ask.

“Not till one a.m.” he says. “I am cleanup crew tonight.”

“Really?” I ask. “Hey I have a favor to ask
you. I have a new assignment to show a business behind the scenes for my photography class. Mind if I stick around and take some pictures of you.”

“Ok. I’ll check with the boss
.” he says. And we both go back inside.

By
eleven thirty the crowd starts winding down. And Emily and the group are ready to go to a club or something. I tell Emily I am staying and will get a ride back from David. She raises her eyebrow ring at me and I tell her it’s no big deal.

After they leave I move to the bar and get out my camera
, prepping the f-stop settings for indoors at night. I take some shots of customers picking up to go pizzas and the transaction at the cash register. I take more images of the servers carrying pizzas above their heads and images of the chefs through the long rectangle window peeking through to the kitchen. It’s nearly midnight and the last customer finally leaves.

“Let me lock up and then the cleaning can begin
.” David says.

Luckily there is one other employee on clean-up du
ty otherwise I am not sure I would let David get any work done. But I need to focus on the assignment here. I start clicking away zooming in on his hands holding the broom handle and his green shirt framing the background of the shot. I snap away more backing up and going out on the other side of the bar to get some shots through the window that looks into the kitchen. I walk back into the kitchen without moving my eyes from the camera viewfinder. I suddenly feel something slimy land on my arm. I look down and it’s a pepperoni. I realize where it came from and that David is asking for a full on food fight. So I grab all of the olives from a small bowl and smack. They land right in his face as I take a picture capturing a few of the olives still in flight. He runs at me and I scream going behind the island and around. He chases me still with the broom in hand and catches me. He acts like he is letting me go when more pepperoni hits me. I keep taking pictures not sure how many of these just came out.

“Ok. Ok.
You win.” I say. His devilishly handsome smile lifts up the side of his mouth knocking one of the olives off of his face and onto the floor. I follow it with my camera and take another shot. He lets me go and I click a few more times before setting down the camera and grabbing a cloth to pick up the olives and wipe down the counters with him.

We are just about finished in h
ere when I see the other employee stacking chairs in the inside dining area. I snap a few shots of his hands touching the upside-down legs of the chairs and the dishcloth gripped tightly. David starts moving the patio tables and chairs inside. I take some of his silhouette holding the door open with his foot and a large table in his hands.

Finally e
verything is done and it’s time to head out. I get one last high contrast shot of his hand flipping off the light switch. I make sure I get frames before, after, and during it too. And it’s literally lights out for the night.

The next couple of days pass quickly and without much
excitement to speak of. And finally it’s Friday. Our dinner date night. He hasn’t told me where we are going. Just to dress nice but comfortable and he will come by my room to pick me up at seven.

Emily let’s me borrow a black jersey knit
dress that comes a few inches above my knees. I don’t mind the length even though it does display the faint reminder of the night in the alleyway. The cut on the back of my leg is mostly healed and turned into what’s looking more and more like a scar. The knit dress is lightweight so I won’t have to worry about the sweat sticking or showing up too badly. I pin my hair up too also in retaliation to the typical warm Savannah night that I know it’s going to be. The black high-heeled shoes are also thanks to Emily, which she forces me to wear. It’s quarter to seven and I decide to wait for David on our stoop. I inhale the slight breeze and the short pieces of my bangs blow around the edges of my face.

“Hi there beautiful
.” David says in a quiet but serious voice.

“Hi
.” I say taking my arms off the railing and turning around to face him.

“You clean up nice yourself
.” I say but thinking he is the sexiest thing I have ever seen.

“You’re early.” He says.

“So are you.” I say back.

He is wearing
a light grey shirt with a thick strip of brown around the collar and the bottom of the shirt with light brown pants. He has on brown canvas looking shoes. His hair is slicked back a little and I can see a hint of stubble on his face.

We stand there a moment looking at one another and I can’t seem to think of anythi
ng else. And I don’t want to. He walks towards me slowly stopping in front of me. We are as close as we can be without touching. David reaches his hand up and gently settles the bangs blowing around wildly on my cheek directly below one of my eyes. When he moves his hand away from my face he runs it along my neck, down my arm and interlaces his fingers with mine.

“Ready?” he says.

“Sure. So where are we going?” I ask as we both manage to get our feet moving.

“A shack on the beach
.” He says.

“Really? I may be
slightly overdressed for that.” I say as we step onto the elevator.

“The shoes might have pushed it over the edge
.” He says as his eyes skim down my legs to my feet and to the black high heels of Emily’s.

“Ya
they might be a bit much. They are Emily’s. I can run back and grab my flip flops.” I say.

“No way.
I am enjoying them way too much.” says David making me blush.