Josh after Gracie Chapter 2

Josh has met an old school acquaintance at his local café and they seem to get on well.

After Josh leaves Sophie quizzes the other regular waitress about him.
Michelle ( the other waitress ); " he often comes in, he seems to live nearby"
Sophie; " does he always come alone ?"
Michelle; " recently yes, but maybe 6 months ago he had this gorgeous blonde, they were all over each other, so cute, obviously in love. I think she might have been a cop too, but suddenly she stopped coming. I asked him once where she was and he seemed really cut-up about it. In fact he seemed rather depressed for a while there. Classic case of a broken heart I'd say...."
Sophie; " wow, how sad.....he's pretty hot "
Michelle is amused; " fancy him do you ?"
Sophie; "maybe !"
Sophie finishes her shift for the day and goes to her studies.

Next day

Josh arrives earlier today, he doesn't have such a late shift today.
He asks Michelle about Sophie; "Sophie not in today ?"
Michelle; "nuh, she's at Uni today"
Josh; "Uni hey ?"
No more info. is volunteered and he's reluctant to appear too interested. He doesn't want a girlfriend but Sophie intrigues him at the moment, he's been thinking about her. He thinks that he can strike up an "old school - mates friendship" with her.

Following day.

Josh had a morning shift and arrives at the cafe in the afternoon. Sophie is actually about to finish her shift. They chat a little; "hi, how are you" etc, then walk out of the cafe together when she finishes her shift ( which just happens to co-incide with him finishing his coffee ). She's carrying a camera, an SLR film camera, pretty unusual these days when everyone has tiny digitals.
Josh, laughing; "what kind of antique is that ?"
Sophie; "its an SLR, you know; film, shutter speed, aperture, manual focus..."
Josh nods, "sounds pretty serious "
Sophie; "well yeah, if you want to take a decent photo, enlarge it for an exhibition or publication, then that's what you will need"
Josh; " I see, so are you a photographer ?"
Sophie; "well, not exactly, I'm studying photography at Uni"
Josh; " oh " ( of course he already knew she is a student but he can't let her know that he's been asking questions )
Sophie; "did you think I worked in the cafe full-time ? "
Josh; "no, of course not, well, not that there's anything wrong with that ......."
Sophie laughs.
Josh; "but shouldn't you be using digital technology ?"
Sophie; "we do that too, but this term we're doing wet photography, that's film, developing our own film and photos in the darkroom"
Josh; "sounds cool !"
Sophie; "yeah, it's fun, like magic seeing the image appear on the paper, floating in the chemicals"
Josh; "so what sort of stuff do you photograph ?"
Sophie; "I like photographing people. Our subject this term - for our assessment - is sport"
Josh; "ok, so what sport are you going to do ?"
Sophie; "I dunno yet.........what sports do you do ?"
Josh; "well, nothing organised......."
Sophie; "why don't you pose for me ?" ( this isn't spontaneous, she'd been thinking about this since she first saw him and mistook him for a professional sportsman )
Josh stops and stares at her; "me ? "
Sophie; "why not ?"
Josh opens and closes his mouth, he doesn't know what to say......he's stunned.. "uh.......well, why not.....ok then......."
Sophie smiles.
Josh; "hang on.......is this nude ?"
Sophie laughs; "Photography isn't always of nudes !"
She doesn't dare say yes, she doesn't want to scare him off, but if he's game then she'll do it.
Josh isn't sure what to think, but he's not one to be cautious, why not, this is the most adventure he's had in months.
Josh; "so when do we start ?"

When Josh and Sophie next see each other at the cafe, they exchange phone numbers so that they can arrange to meet for the photo shoot. She notices that he has a blonde girl's photo on his phone screensaver ( help me here, is it called that ? ) but she doesn't say anything.

Josh is still a bit worried about this photo shoot idea. He mentions it again.
Josh; "it's not nude, right ?" Sophie is amused but tries not to show it; "Josh, we're going to meet in a public park !" Josh nods; "right, yes we are, ok, see you tomorrow then"

Next day

They meet at the park, he's going to go jogging.
Josh; "what do you want me to do ?"
Sophie; "Josh, I don't want you to pose for me"
Josh is relieved, but now he's confused.
Sophie continues; "because that would look too unnatural, I just want you to do your normal routine and I'll follow you"
Josh; "what, like a stalker ?"
Sophie; "well yeah...."
She laughs, and he's finding this amusing too, he relaxes a bit, He never thought he could get so wound up over some photos.
Josh; "so are you going to run too ?" ( looking at her unsuitable clothes )
Sophie; "no, can't you go around in a circle or something ? I'll just sit on this bench."
Josh cracks a joke; "or hide behind a tree" She laughs and says; "ha ha "
Josh starts warming up; "I've got to warm up first"
Sophie starts photographing him. He finds it very odd and worries a little about what the other joggers might think. Maybe he shouldn't have come to his usual spot, now they'll be wondering who he is, getting photographed like he was someone special..
She continues photographing him and by the end he is all sweaty and flushed.
Sophie; "well, that's enough for today, have you finished ?"
Josh; "uh, maybe" ( he'd usually do more, but he's had enough of photographs )
He comes over and looks at her camera.
Josh; "its weird not being able to see the shots on the LCD screen"
Sophie; "well you'll have to wait a while. First I have to finish the film and process it, then do a proofsheet, then choose the best shots..."
Josh; "geez, how long will that take ?"
Sophie; "I have to book the darkroom too, everyone else is doing assignments at the same time". Josh rolls his eyes, then asks; "so didn't you finish a roll of film ?"
She looks; "no, there's a couple of shots left"
Josh: "lets see ?" He has his hand out to take the camera.
She passes him the camera, and he immediately points it at her, starts focusing.
Sophie; "Josh ! do you know what you're doing ?"
Josh; "maybe...."
Sophie; "yeah right " and she goes to get it off him, but he weaves and ducks.
He takes a couple of shots of her smiling and laughing and then the film is finished.
She takes it off him and checks the aperture and focus, looks fine, maybe he did know what he was doing....
They soon part ways and he goes home for a shower. He's not going to tell her that he did some photography course once, nothing as serious as what she's doing, so he doesn't want to brag about it. His little secret.

Two weeks later.

Josh and Sophie are friends, there's some sexual tension, but he's been doing a good job of ignoring it. He still believes that they can be 'old school-friends' which is ridiculous because Josh never does that and the frustration of several months without is starting to wear him down...... Sophie senses his reluctance and is wary of pursuing anything. They've done a few shoots and she's shown him a proof sheet, but he finds it awkward looking at photos of himself and he had to pretend to be interested. He's not vain.

She's found it thrilling watching the images emerge in the shadows of the darkroom, seeing his body appear on the paper is like a private glimpse into his world but looking at his face, it's a very closed world and she knows she's not allowed in yet.

They meet at the cafe, looking over a new proofsheet. His phone beeps, he has a message. When he puts the phone back down she can see that blonde girl's face again. This time she says something.
Sophie; "Who's that on your phone ?"
It seems like an innocent enough question, but he's reluctant to answer. He sits still, looking at the photo. She watches him. Then he picks up his phone, puts it in his pocket stands up without looking at her, then he walks out the door quickly. He didn't say a word.
Sophie sits shocked.
Sophie; "wow...." and she looks across at the other waitress in astonishment.