“Take a break for a few minutes,” Ava said, suddenly moving away from Ally and making her feel naked without her so close. Ava busied herself with photographer things as she spoke, “You have worked very hard. The sun will be down soon, but I want a sunset shot with the bath.”
In a rush, John and Ally talked over each other.
“Do I need to get undressed?”
“Shall I go out for a while?”
“No! Don’t worry! Relax. Don’t go, John. Don’t take your clothes off, Ally. No water for now; you will be fully dressed. Like a ‘what is going on scene.’ You know, if you want to make a film dramatic, you put someone in a shower fully dressed. Have you ever gone in a shower fully dressed?” Unusually for them, neither John nor Ally had anything to say.
“Of course not! It is bizarre. Very weird. Only a few times you might ever do that. I will let you imagine why, but it is a question. And a mysterious and perhaps sexy question. You see it in film though, when they want to make the character look a little crazy, suggest something extraordinary has happened. You know? Well, same with the bath. Have a drink. There is alcohol if you want some, but not too much, I don’t work with drunk people!”
In a nervous silence, John helped Ally to a drink. She would have wanted something more refined and elegant, but when she saw the bourbon, she pointed rapidly to that, and John poured her a large glass. He knew what was required. Was it excited nerves or worried nerves that made her sip the glass in rapid little motions, emptying it before she was called on again? John took longer sips at his and enjoyed the taste of a good choice on his pallet. He was also, he had to admit, enjoying seeing Ally a little out of water for what felt like the first time ever. He laughed at his own pun but didn’t share it. Jokes were for another time now.
