Note: Thanks to all of you who reviewed. You make me feel all warm & fuzzy inside. sniff Here is the next installment of my little baby. Happy reading!
Maureen didn't hear Mark pad barefoot across the floor and sit opposite her at the kitchen table. Wispy tendrils of smoke climbed above her mug. The tangy scent of cinnamon held her senses captive. Mark cleared his throat. Maureen blinked rapidly before looking up.
"Oh. Hi."
"Hey."
"Can I get you some tea? Coffee?"
"No thanks."
The clock on the wall ticked, gauging the tension as it rose. Maureen seemed not to notice. She quickly swigged the last dregs of her tea.
"If you're going to mope after me like a lovesick puppy, I'm going out," she said.
"Why can't we just start over, Mo?" he pleaded.
"Do you want to know the truth? It's that goddamn camera! If you didn't carry it with you everywhere, maybe I would reconsider it."
Mark looked dumbfounded. "That's why you broke up with me?"
"Yes! That thing freaks me out! It looks like it's going to suck the life out of me!"
Mark held the camera tighter. "I thought you liked the attention."
"Sweetie, I want the attention to come from a person, not a machine." Maureen threw a leather jacket on over her sweater. She paused before leaving the loft. "Let it go, Mark," she said over her shoulder.
Mark sat immobile. Maureen's words buzzed in his skull. He stared at the camera in his white-knuckled grip.
"Maybe I am too attached to this," he thought sullenly. He placed it on the table. The lens leered at him like an all-seeing eye. Mark shivered a little in spite of himself.
"It was just a draft," he reasoned.
Roger shuffled in, announcing his arrival with a loud yawn.
"Hey, Mark! How's it goin'?" he said, clapping a strong hand on Mark's shoulder.
"I've been better," he mumbled.
Roger flopped onto the worn excuse for a couch. "Did Maureen have another diva fit?" he asked in a bored voice.
"She broke up with me because of my camera."
"Seriously? I thought that kind of thing would be right up her alley. She's always trying to be the center of attention."
"Yeah. That's what I thought too. Obviously, I was wrong."
"Forget about her, man. She's a grade A bitch. She has no idea what the hell she wants. You don't need that headache." He looked over at his depressed friend. "You do need to tone down the cinematographer thing, though. It makes you look like a perv sometimes."
Mark laughed a little. "I guess you're right. Thanks, Roger."
"Anytime, buddy."
"I think I'll go down to the park for a bit."
"Bring back some Chinese, ok?"
"Sure," said Mark. "See you in a bit."
Mark ran into Collins on the way down the stairs. After a short hello and a promise to be back soon, Mark walked out into the city.