Can you Save Me?

Job Woes

Amber Mikelson

The office was like any another newspaper office. I was doing a job as their photographer so that I could collect money for Creative Writing course in NYU. I also had a mind to take on other job but for now I was new and working one job was more than enough.Our head and editor, Mr Byran Matthews was a man in late thirties with balding head, a square lens glasses and a serious face. But he was generous enough to give me a cabin to myself though it was small, like really small but it was mine.My senior, Anna Tanner was the one who made me feel comfortable on my first day.“I will give you the least amount of burden so just what you do, click what you appreciate and don’t think for a moment what others might think.” She said in a gangster type of cool way which amused me a little.I nodded as she manoeuvred me expertly around the office, introducing each employee and I think every cabinet and wall also. She looked like no crap taking woman. Her hair was dyed in three different colours and she was chewing gum like there was no worry in the world.“Now this evening, we are going for a band performance event, a local band called Hood. Those guys are super popular and mind you super hot.” She said with an excited smile.Her grey eyes lit up and extracted a smile from me too.“Since you are new in town, I am sure you will soon join the swooning fangirls once you see them tonight.” She said with confidence.“Sure I will.” I said answered just for her sake.“Now you first job is to get best shot of those performing and also some fan clicks, candid..you know what I mean, like where they are shouting, giving dreaming look and all that.While I will be trying to go all James Bond and sneak in backstage and get some personal shots with the boys.” She said almost swooning herself.I could imagine how hard her job might be playing James Bond to meet a group of hot guys.“What time do we leave?” I asked feeling hungry now.“Four thirty, because their show starts at six and we don’t want to kick our way through the crowd.” She said now taking a glance at her watch.There was still time so I just sat on my desk and made a folder of pictures I found acceptable. And just for the fun of it I googled, The Hoods of Westwend and bit my lip when I saw the photo displayed by Google that can’t possibly be wrong.The rude guy from yesterday was staring back at me with amber eyes still glaring.I couldn’t believe it, it was my first day at my job and this was her my task!Laser, 22, the lead singer of the locally popular band The Hoods. I scanned the photo with my eyes and I knew I was right earlier, he was damn hot.There was smouldering frown on his face that never left in any picture. If he was aiming for that bad boy look with subtle on his face, it was working well on him, too well.He was a little over six feet and had sand brown hair, but there was something really sensuous about those lips where my eyes seem to rest a little longer before I was to remind myself how weird this was getting.But everything about him was dangerous. There were four other members but my eyes just looked at his photo, his amber eyes tilting and shifting in every position to look at the screen. Those eyes looked at me with such hatred, that even made me think twice If I did something wrong.Maybe, maybe this guy had an attitude being town’s celebrity and all.I hit my head hard on the desk, feeling bad about all of this.“Why are you worrying , you are not going to take a personal shot of him. That’s Anna’s job.” I tried talking to myself, a nervous habit of mine.I will just take snaps from a distance, no worries at all.“Come on, Amber, time to go.” Anna called out and I followed her with my camera.Earlier photography was just a hobby I had no idea it will turn into a job for me. But I am glad it happened that way.Since I was new and all I didn’t have a car, so naturally Anna offered me a ride and I wasn’t shy or foolish enough to refuse. She was rapidly talking to some guy on phone giving him instructions, asking about her passes for the concert. It felt like it was a big thing in this town.As Anna talked and drove my eyes followed the path since it was a new one. I tried to remember signs and any thing else that might help me remember this way for future need.“There is an open arena, half a mile from here now. It is actually a sports field but concerts are held there. Since no big bands come here so Hoods are really popular.” Anna explained now free from the call.“It’s beautiful , the scenery , the silence here.” I said it out loud.She gave a short laugh to this.“People usually don’t like these places, especially people from city. They are all about malls and discos. You are unusual.” She commented.“Ha! No I just like being away from noise that’s all.” She nodded and didn’t prod further and I was relieved. I couldn’t answer her questions further, that might mark me as insane. Even my parents didn’t know about the voices and noises or the dreams...nightmares!Her car stopped after a while and I peeped out before opening the door.It was indeed a large auditorium kind of thing, oval in shape and surrounded by stairs made for people to sit there. There was trees around and if one stood on the stairs , they could see a huge lake in front. It was serene and beautiful.I stepped out and allowed my ears to hear every single detail, the birds, the leaves rustling, the water in the lake nearby, some distant animal in the woods. It was wonderful what we can hear in peace not bothered by honking car horns and loud people.Anna has already walked away shouting instructions to people working on settlement for the auditorium. It was a huge volunteer group almost giving the feeling like Hugh Jackmen was the celeb guest today.“Sweety, take a look around and take some pictures if you like. Just don’t get lost and don’t wander off to that area behind the parking since Hoods are there and they hate when people invade their privacy.” She said hurriedly and without waiting for my response she walked away.It was getting crazy wild here and I felt it seeping through me, Anna was right, I was also feeling the excitement. The sun was setting and I needed to inform my mother about the whole staying out till dark thing.“Candice, where is mom?” I asked over the phone.“Setting up the kitchen. What’s up sis? I just got back from school.” She said sounding excited.“Umm... I will be late because of this task I have on my first day.” I said not mentioning anything about band to my already boy crazy sister.“Okay! I will let mom know. When you come home I have lots to tell you, especially about this boy in class.” She said it all in one go making me laugh.Boycrazy...definitely!“I will listen to all you stories, till then try not to cyber stalk him Candy.” I said using her least favourite nickname and heard her whine.After I hung up, I looked around and found my favourite place to photograph. It was right beside the wooden cabin build there to keep all the stuff required for the concert The Hoods banner was tied over the cabin door. It was slightly on the higher ground than the concert arena and from there one could look at the hills aligned beautifully with a stream of water escaping from between them.A fresh, chilly breeze hit me as I stood there breathing deeply, my lips lifting in a smile. I loved these kinds of places. I closed my eyes and lifted my face a bit to feel the touch of wind. After a while I opened my eyes and brought my camera to them focusing on the nature laying in front me and took a few shots. It was still half an hour for the concert to begin and I should have gone back to arena now but heart didn’t allow me to move from that location.I tried to focus on the far lying trees now, moving ahead a bit almost to the edge of the cliff and took a satisfactory shot, with sky changing colours now. My phone vibrated, probably a call from Anna.As soon as I was about to pull it out from my pocket, I lost balance suddenly my foot slipping on the slippery edge of the hill. My heart in my throat I gasped out loud but before I could fall to my death a strong set of arms encircled around my waist pulling me up easily as if I was a feather. I immediately looked around to see who my saviour was...a very familiar frown and set of amber eyes greeted me.