Tommy sat down on the hard-blue plastic chair and stared up at the clock above the blackboard. One minute to eight, he was just in time. It had been three long years since he'd been at school, not that he thought fondly of his teenage years. Tonight was different, however, he'd enrolled in an adult learning class, so he was back in the classroom. The second hand swept over the twelve, bringing the woman standing next to the blackboard to life. She was tall, thin, with a shock of curly red hair cascading over her shoulders. She looked around the room at the twelve or so people sitting down.
"Welcome everyone, to Digital Film Making. My name is Robbie, and I am your course instructor. This is a hands on, eight week course where we will cover a little theory and a lot of practical work with your camera, culminating with a five minute video presentation shot by each and every one of you." She paused as the classroom door opened and a young woman entered. Tommy had his back to the door, so didn't see her come in. As there were a couple of spare tables next to him, the woman quickly murmured an apology and sat down. Robbie continued with her course introduction.
"The video is the highlight of the course, I'll take you through scripting, story-boarding and editing. I'd like you to work in pairs, so we should have seven movies to watch in eight weeks-time. Yes, you have a question?" Robbie had turned to look at the woman sitting next to Tommy, who had her hand in the air.
"Umm, is there a topic for the video, or are we free to choose?" the woman asked.
A strange feeling went through Tommy. He knew that voice. He twisted his head to his right, to look at the inquisitive woman, and started as he recognised her. Olivia. Liv. It had been at least three years since he'd seen her. God, she looked great, Tommy thought, wonder if she remembers me? He was about to whisper a hello when the instructor intervened.
Robbie shook her head. "Good question. No, there are no set topics, you are free to choose. Just choose something interesting, tasteful, nothing derogatory or nasty. I'm happy to suggest a topic if you like, okay?"
"Okay, thanks," said the woman.
Tommy leaned towards her and whispered "Olivia, Liv, hi." He tried to make a nonchalant smile as the woman turned to look at him.
"Tommy!" she whispered back at him. "What, what are you doing here?"
"I'm about to ask you the same thing."
Robbie had begun speaking but stopped when she realised the two students were talking.
"Okay, we'll get a chance to introduce ourselves in a couple of minutes, please just listen to a couple more bits of important information."
"Sorry," said Tommy. It was just like being back in school, he thought.
When the introductions were made, Tommy mentioned that he knew Liv from school. "Great," said Robbie, "you two can catch up on old times and partner each other in the video making. That was an easy pair to get out of the way!" Robbie looked pleased, Liv much less so. She sat, arms folded across her chest for the next half hour as Robbie ran through some basic film theory.
*
When the class had a short break, Olivia turned to look at Tommy. He didn't think she'd changed much. Always one of the prettiest girls in the group, with dark brown, shoulder length hair styled around a small, round face with flawless olive skin. Her pale green eyes had always mesmerised him, he'd dreamed many times of kissing her full red lips. But it was not to be, circumstances had made sure of that.
The two had actually met after school. Liv was friends with the sister of one of Tommy's mates and had met at one of the Year 12 end of year parties. They had hung out in the same circle of friends that summer, going to Bondi or Nielsen Park most days, with plenty of parties in between the end of school and the start of university. Liv was due to start a business degree at UTS in early February, Tommy was taking a gap year and had deferred starting an arts degree.
Beyond the memories of brilliant sunshine, cold surf and baking white sand, what Tommy remembered most was the sad, lost soul that Liv had been. Her parents had separated right after the end of her exams and as an only child she took it very badly. Bacardi Breezers and parties seemed to dull the pain, but at quieter times during the day, Tommy could see the hurt etched in her face and felt for her. He knew what she was going through, his parents had split when he was in Year 9, which turned an already crazy year into a hormone fuelled rage fest. Three years on and he could reflect on the emotions that had bent him. One hot afternoon at Redleaf Gardens, Liv sat silently on the pontoon in the middle of the harbour pool. Tommy swam out to talk to her, confided in her about his family. The two sat, talking, until the sun was about to set, and they had to leave. From that moment on Liv relied on Tommy to listen to her fears and help her navigate her emotions. Tommy was glad to help, although deep down he wished he could have met her in a happier time for he was taken with her intelligence, wit, her wry sense of humour, her natural beauty. But because he knew the pain she was trying to hide from everyone else, he stayed stoic throughout the summer, despite the not so subtle digs coming from his mates. Liv, for her part, was consumed with grief and was oblivious to Tommy's hidden desires.
A few weeks later, Tommy flew out to Bali to begin his gap year. He tried to keep in touch with Liv, but even with the simplicity of texting and social media, they soon lost contact, until tonight.
"So, Tommy, it's been a while," said Liv, staring at him, her green eyes spooking him as they had all those years ago.
"Yep," agreed Tommy, staring down at his desk so he wouldn't lose his composure, "three years I reckon. How've you been? Last I heard you'd been doing great at Uni." Tommy nodded several times as if to reinforce his point.
The pretty young woman smiled at him. "Yeah, I've done all right. What about you? Last time you sent me a photo you were somewhere deep in the bowels of Laos or Vietnam. Know where I'd rather have been." Liv paused and stared back at Tommy as Robbie re-entered the room.
"Listen, we can't talk here all night. Do you fancy a drink afterwards? Coach and Horses?"
Tommy smiled back at Liv and nodded. "Sure, sounds good." With that, the two turned back to face Robbie and the class resumed.
*
One hour later and the class finished, Robbie had allocated partners for the filming and left the students with the homework of defining their chosen topic. Tommy stood, stretching his legs. "Come on partner,' he said, "let's go work out our subject over a couple of drinks." He waited for the diminutive brunette to walk out of the room and followed.
*
A Tuesday winters night was a quiet night in the Coach and Horses. The CD machine blared an old track by Powderfinger as the barman disinterestedly poured a schooner for Tommy, eyeing the half empty room. Liv sat at a table and smiled at Tommy as he placed a vodka and tonic in front of her.
"Look at you, all grown up drinking Vodka. You've graduated from breezers then?" Tommy gently ribbed Liv.
"Yes, all business now. Thanks, Tommy. It's...it's good to see you." Liv looked up at Tommy, she was surprised at the change in him, he had grown late and had looked younger than most in their final school year. Now he had grown into his body, still thin but tall, a shade under six foot. His light brown hair was shorter than it used to be, gone was the short ponytail of Year 12. She looked into his striking blue eyes, Tommy gave her a crooked smile that enhanced his youthful look and made her smile inside.
"Good to see you too. Hey, sorry I lost touch. I guess travelling around can make you a little selfish, you're in your own head most of the time."
Liv swept her hand in front of her. "Nah, don't worry, it's okay. It's not like you were my boyfriend or anything." Tommy tensed as she said that. "Anyway, tell me about the travels, what have you been doing for the last three years and when did you get that boring hair cut?"
"Three years is a long time to cover, want the speed dating version?"
"Sure, guess we don't have all night, do we?" Olivia smiled and raised an eyebrow at Tommy. If he knew any better, he'd swear she was flirting with him, but this was the unattainable, never dating Olivia. He lightly shook his head and took a breath.
"Okay, three years in a minute." Tommy paused to gather his thoughts as Olivia waited expectantly.
"So, three years ago, Laos, Vietnam, Phuket. Back to Sydney for Mum's 50th, then off to Europe. Did a DIY Kontiki tour through most of Western Europe, met a German girl called Sabine and lived with her family on their farm for six months. Split with her, ended up in London for a year, bar work mostly which funded more travel. Met a few girls, broke up with a few girls. Kept taking photos and managed to sell a few to some magazines, how am I doing for time? Well, who cares, nearly done. Back to Sydney last October, landed a job, saw this course, went to the first session and bumped into you. And as you're bound to ask, no, no current girlfriend. There, you're officially up to date with Tommy Christensen."
With that, Tommy took a breath and drank a few mouthfuls of beer.
"Okay, the travel sounded great. Are you back for good? Must be, with that sad haircut."
Tommy made a face at Liv. "Work rules. Must be smart and presentable in customer facing roles, don't you know? It's not too bad, at least I don't have to cover any tattoos or piercings. Still, I like my work, it's the reason I'm doing this course."
"Why is that?"
"I help manage the social media content and we pay loads of money for external video footage to upload. I was talking to our head of marketing the other day and mentioned I used to do PDM at school and I'd love to get back to shooting videos. She was keen to see if I had any examples for her to look at, I dug out a couple of pieces and she liked them. Now I do this course and the company will let me shoot a few videos - if they're any good I'll get a new role and extra cash."
"Sounds great, Tom, lucky we did PDM. Hey, want my speed dating last three years? Won't take as long as you." Tommy nodded, Olivia grasped her drink and began.
"Three years of study, successfully passed my bachelor degree last December and graduated in April. Enrolled in my Master's which is now driving me mad with the detail I need to go into. Still living with Alice who's now working in PR and loving it, looking for another housemate at the moment and no you can't. Worried about the end of the year and looking for a job, but that's months away. There, told you there wasn't much to say."
"All right," said Tommy. "So, how come you're doing this video course?" He leant forward and stared at Liv. She held his gaze for a few seconds, then looked back down at the table.
"Just bored with studying business, I guess. Picked up one of those continuing education brochures in a newspaper the other day, flicked through and saw some film courses. Went online and searched, came up with this one. Just want something else to look forward to rather than just study."
Liv clasped her hands together and gave a short nod at Tommy, as though there was a finality to her decision.
Tommy narrowed his eyes and thought for a few seconds. "So...all you do is study, right?"
Liv nodded.
"So...no social life, no beach, no crazy nights out?"
