Chapter 8: Photoshoot

After I gathered my composure, I stood up, grabbed my phone and put it in my pocket of my jeans and walked back outside. I didn't want to be "late" on my first day on the job.

I saw Zak standing at an entrance to an old, abandoned tunnel. It lay in amongst a bunch of trees. The area was to be the back drop for our shoot.

It looked like Zak was doing a few single photos, because he was posing and Ashley Wasley, the GAC still photographer, was taking pictures of him.

I suddenly felt an arm around my shoulders. I nearly jumped out of my skin.

"Sorry!" Aaron exclaimed while laughing, "Didn't mean to scare you. I'm not normally someone who can sneak up on people," he laughed still.

I couldn't help but laugh myself.

"It's okay. I was zoned out," I started, then quickly added, not needing Aaron to think Zak had been the reason I was zoned out, "I'm still in shock over all this."

Aaron grinned.

"Wait until we get you to your first lockdown," Aaron replied.

I laughed.

"Come on," he said, as he started leading me toward the entrance to the tunnel, "They're ready for us." Aaron explained.

I swallowed nervously.

Here goes nothing… I thought.

"Alright guys, since Alicia is our first timer for this shoot, it's her call on the music playlist," Ashley stated, finishing her last touches setting up her camera.

I blinked.

Aaron nudged me and leaned down toward my ear, "Have music on your phone?" He asked with a smile.

Oh, duh!

"Yes," I said, taking out my phone as I walked away from the guys and over toward Ashley.

"I'll give you a hundred bucks to have a playlist full of Taylor Swift!" Billy called, causing himself, Aaron, Jay and Ashley to laugh.

"Shut up man!" I heard Zak remark and I glanced back to see him shoving Billy.

I laughed.

I wasn't offended. Pop music was my main style of music. The Backstreet Boys were my favourite band. But I liked other styles too.

As I looked through my playlists, I jokingly said in a high pitched, "dumb blonde" type voice, "Like, that's like, an awesome idea Billy!"

Billy, Aaron, Jay and Ashley laughed even harder.

Then I realized Zak was also laughing.

"I'm warning you Shorty, I'll make your first lockdown a real nightmare," Zak joked.

He had talked to me. He had joked. He called me Shorty…

"Bring it Bagans," I said seriously, looking back over my shoulder at him with a smirk, before turning back to my phone.

What the hell Ali? Did you just flirt with him?

I heard the guys all go "ooohhhh" and then start laughing.

I just smiled to myself as I picked a playlist and readied it to play, then handed my phone to Ashley.

"Alright, let's see what you got," Ashley said, taking my phone and started the playlist as I walked back over to the guys.

"Going Under" by Evanescence started to fill the surrounding air.

The guys looked shocked, especially Zak.

"Right on Shorty!" Aaron exclaimed as he gave me a high five.

I smiled to myself as I turned back to face Ashley, and she started giving us directions on how to start.

Zak's Point of View

This season is going to be the death of me, I thought.

This girl was something else.

When I saw her walk out of the hair and makeup trailer, I had stopped in my tracks. Dressed all in black, wearing healed boots and rocking a kick ass hair style, I couldn't stop myself from staring. She was hot.

I should of walked over to her to apologize for being an ass to her during the interview, but I didn't want to risk causing a scene on the set of the promo shoot. The network wanted the promos out, like yesterday, not only so they could "introduce" Alicia to the audience, but also because we were due to start filming Season 10 in a few weeks. We were cutting things close.

Then, standing there with the guys on set as they rip me of my dislike of Taylor Swift music, she had surprised me again.

Did she just flirt with me? I had questioned myself, when she had looked over her shoulder and told me to "bring it".

Don't tempt me…

And lastly, she had picked a playlist that started out with a rock/metal song.

I was going to die. Plain and simple.

"Alright guys, the four of you kneel down. Zak and Aaron in the middle. Ali, you stay standing behind them. Imagine you rule over all of them," Ashley stated with a smirk.

Alicia laughed.

"I think I can do that," she replied.

I smiled to myself as I knelt down with the guys.

We took a few different shots like this, slightly changing positions and poses as directed by Ashley. She didn't seem to give much direction to Alicia. I was more than curious to see how these pictures would turn out.

"Alright guys, stand back up," Ashley stated, looking over to a few guys standing off to the side. "Bring the couch in."

My turn to flirt, I thought, suddenly getting an idea.

As I slowly started to stand, I nudged my lower torso in between Alicia's legs, which had been parted some for her last pose. Once I was sure I was in place, I quickly stood up fully, reaching back to grab the back of Alicia's knees for support so she wouldn't fall, and basically lifting her up onto my back in a piggy back fashion.

"Zak…what are you- eek!" She yelped as I felt her frantically wrap her arms around my neck and shoulders.

I closed my eyes briefly.

Why does that feel so soothing..? I thought.

Her laugh caused me to open my eyes again.

The guys were laughing too, mainly at Alicia's reaction.

"Good God, I can see all of Las Vegas from up here," Alicia joked.

I laughed as I glanced back to look at her.

"I thought you might like to see it, since, you know, you're so short-"

I was cut off by Alicia smacking my chest, but she was laughing.

"Oh very funny, Mr. Perfect Hair," she replied. The guys burst out laughing at that one. "Now let me down," she added, as the crew guys had brought the couch over and positioned it in front of us.

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Yes ma'am," I said politely, bending at the knees to lower her down to the ground, purposely letting my hands brush along her thighs as she slid down off my back.

"Ali, you're on the couch," Ashley stated.

I looked at Alicia as she walked around from behind us to go to sit on the couch. Her face was flushed.

I couldn't stop the smirk that had appeared on my face.

"Alright Ali, lay back along the couch, with your upper body propped up by your arms. Good. Bend your back leg up so your foot is flat on the cushion. Now lean your head back a bit, but keep looking at me…awesome!" Ashley directed. "Guys, stand behind the couch," Ashley added.

I kept my eyes on Alicia.

Oh my God…

"Zak? Earth to Zak?" I heard Ashley say, waving her hand slightly to catch my attention.

I blinked and quickly moved to stand closer to the back of the couch.

"Sorry," I mumbled.

Yep, Season 10 of 'Ghost Adventures' would be known as the Season of Zak's Death, I thought briefly, before I gathered my composure and got myself back into the shoot.