The Time Phasing Luna

I groan as I carry all of my equipment up the stairs. This day could not possibly get any worse than it already has, I think to myself. Each step making my calves burn. “Stupid bride”, I mumble as I fight fatigue. You wouldn’t think carrying 150lbs of camera equipment to be a problem, but it is when you don’t get paid! I struggle up the last flight wondering when the hell they were going to fix the lift. It had been broken all week and I had put in a work order Monday. Here it’s is Saturday and they still had not fixed the damn thing! I could feel the sweat dripping down my back as I struggled not to drop anything. “I should have just taken two trips, I sigh to myself. But I never made things easy did I? As I reach the top of the landing I relax knowing I’m almost there. A few more steps and I can relax and take a shower. I reach my apartment door just as I hear the ding ring down the hallway. I turn my head as Mrs. Wallis exits the lift with her groceries. “Hello Cassie”, she calls out pulling her cart behind her. “They fixed the lift”. She states obviously. I turn and close my eyes. I didn’t even check to see if it was fixed. I just assumed it wasn’t because they still had it tapped off this morning when I left carting all this equipment. Frustration and anger at my own stupidity washed through me. I can feel my cheeks heat with it. I grit my teeth and respond, “That’s great Mrs. Wallis.” I try to make my voice sound kind, but it’s more flat to my ears. I unlock my door and hurry inside and lean against the closed door. I slowly lower my equipment to the floor with relief. It had been a hell of a day. Nothing went as planned and now I have to file a breach of contract all thanks to that stupid bride! I look around my little apartment as I push off the door and grab a bottle of water before throwing my body onto my bed. My apartment is not huge. It’s just a one bedroom, I use it more like a loft as I have my dark room in the only bedroom. Camera equipment and photos line most surfaces of my space. Most of the furniture have seen better days. I couldn’t afford anything but second or third hand items most days. But it’s home, my little space. I lived in an old rundown apartment building that most people would shy away from. Most other tenants were elderly or singles that could not afford anything else. Hell, I couldn’t afford anything else until I got my business running and more contracts coming in regularly. “Ahhggg”, I whine knowing I’m going to have to file that breach of contract on the couple. Not that they care. Things like that are probably the last thing on their minds at the moment. I jump as my door bangs open and in walks my friend from down the hall. “Cass babe? You home already?” Michelle asks. We have been friends since she moved here two years ago. Michelle is a ballet dancer and wants to be leading a show one day but has yet to get the part. She has the perfect body all dancers do. A long lean frame without an ounce of fat. Her long blonde hair is always up in a bun or pulled up away from her face. She has beautiful blue eyes and a beautiful complexion. She is taller than me but not by much. I on the other hand am a little bit more plump. I’m not fat, but where Michelle has toned muscles from all the dancing. I’m a bit more with a hour glass shaped with curves. My hair is a wild with curls and a rich red color that has blonde tones to it. She always says she envy’s it and my deep mossy green eyes. “So your shoot did not go well?” She asks me. “No.” I state with an angry tone. Feeling the anger well within me again. “Awe…. What happened?” She asks I sit up and look her in the eye. “Well after I got everything set up. I was there snapping photos of the pre- wedding. Everyone getting ready and happiness….blah,blah,blah!” I state waving my hand in the air as I throw myself back down on the bed. “ Then I’m standing there waiting for it to begin. I have my video playing as I walk around waiting to capture the moment. To get the money shot of them when they see each other for the first time when she comes out. Only that never happened.” “What? Why?” She questioned. “ Well it turns out the damn bride was doing it with her soon-to-be brother in law in the pastors office. Poor guy found them together.” I state. I hear her snort trying to hold back her laugh. “ So instead of capturing her walking down the isle I capture the poor pastor running down it to the front.” She is now laughing and not even bothering to hide it now. “ To add to it, he falls half way down. Everyone goes running to assist him just as the bride and brother in law make a grand entrance. Then the groom sees this and just stands there.” “He just stood there?” She asks totally engrossed in the scene. “Yes doesn’t say a word. But then his sister who is is best man, loses it and goes off the handle and attacks the bride.” I smirk to myself remembering the whole thing. “The poor bride didn’t even see it coming and that sister was scrappy. Ripped the dress right off the bride showing all her bits.” I sit up running my hands over my face trying to remove the images from my brain. Michelle is laughing so hard now she has tears running down her face. “To make things worse the pastor just faints at the sight and others start snapping photos. The groom just looks at the situation very sadly and walks up to his brother and laughs at him. Doesn’t say a word other than laughing and walks away as his bride is still fighting with his sister as others try to stop them.” “Ohmygoodness!” Michelle breathes, “please tell me you have that. You didn’t stop recording.” She says as she falls into more giggles. I look up at her and smirk at her. She knows I would stop recording. “You got it! We have to watch it!” She states. I frown at that thinking what good is the video other than a few laughs. I’m out the money for the contract, even the clause will only give me 15% of what I could have made today. “What’s wrong?” Michelle’s asks picking up my mood change. “I’m out the contract.” I state sadly. “The breach of contract will not be enough to cover what I’ve spent on the new equipment the bride just had to have for her day.” I look at her with tears in my eyes, “ I’m f****d Michelle.” “ Cass, we will figure it out.” She states sadly not believing her own words. I’m not sure what to do. That would have brought in enough cash and the high profile wedding I could really get my name out there. “Let’s develop your films and see what we can figure out.” She states. I just shake my head, no sense in wasting the paper or developer. “I…” begin when there is a knock at the door. I meet Michelle’s eyes but she shrugs and gets up to open the door. Standing on the other side is a man in a grey suit. He has short cut dark hair. Grey eyes looked at Michelle assessing her as they travelled down her body and back up to here face. A small smirk graced his arrogant lips. “I’m looking for a Miss. Andrea Wade.” He stated the sons of his voice rumbled though the room. As I heard Michelle gasp in a breath. “ I’m Andrea”, I stated walking to the doorway. I felt his eyes travel the same way over my body assessing me as he did Michelle. He reached into his pocket and grabbed and envelope out and hand it to me. I looked down at the envelope with my name on it and address.