Chapter 17

We've been shooting all day and Shannon's shots are twice as good as before. The twins are loving each one of them and its making it harder for us to pick the best one. They're all amazing. Shannon kept her distance but kept glancing at me and every time I would catch her, which is all the time, she would give me a smile and just looks away. I know I'm being a total bitch to her right now, but my head is all over at the place at the moment and I just need some space from her. But I have to admit, her hoodie is so comfortable, I love it.

"Last shots then we can wrap it up, Go" Mary Kate says to Shannon which she follows immediately jogging to the shooting area leaving us three alone. Mary Kate sighs quite stressed about this.

"Her shots are fucking perfect its so hard to choose, I want them all published but that's not possible." Ashley nods in agreement.

"Well, at least there aren't any bad ones, whatever we choose its still gonna be good." We go over the shots again but then new ones are coming in again and that tells me she's in action again. I take my usual spot in between monitors and watch her. I've been doing this since she started taking pictures and fortunately the twins haven't noticed what I was doing or else they would be teasing the shit out of me.

She still looks so hot when she works, still has that serious charming face and hell she looks so fit. Does she goes to the gym this time or still take long walks? Either way she looks hot.

"Liz can you look at this." I snapped out of my daze and turn to look at Ashley silently cursing her for interrupting my show. I look at the shots and saw two almost similar shots but perfect in every angle.

"Choose one." Well they are both perfect but the other really shows the details and accessories of the suit in frontal view, so I point my photo of choice and Ashley agrees

I return my gaze on her in between the monitors and caught a glimpse of the scar. It is totally visible even at far distance. Shannon never told me about the accident but Trent did and I was horrified. She was having black outs and it just gotten worse to the extent that she almost died. The thought of that instantly brings a lump in my throat. I couldn't imagine getting a call from whoever it is that she didn't make it that day. Maybe my depression would've gotten worse then.

"Let your guard down little sis." I hear Ashley says snapping my head towards her who raised her brows at me. Fuck! She caught me staring. I cleared my throat as I try to compose myself but I can already feel the heat rising up to my ear at the embarrassment of being caught checking out my 'ex' girlfriend.

"Here, go and choose some photos to keep your mind off things. I'm going to check on them." Before I could say anything, she goes to stand and leave. As usual, I'm stuck doing my only job here at the headquarters and that is to help them with their decision making, whether if its patterns, colors, pictures or designs. Sometimes they would give it some rest when I'm too busy with work but most of the time, they would get my schedule from Marla and just hijack me from my apartment whenever it is possible.

I let out a huge sigh and stared at my screen. These photos are really good and its really hard to choose. Shannon really got better with her shots and I think Marvel have something to do with that. She said she has work next week so she needs to fly back to LA for that. So I have like four days with her until I have a week to myself. I don't even know if that's what I want anymore.

I randomly pick the photos, well they all look perfect so there's a high possibility that whatever I choose, the twins will eventually approve it and pass it on for the publication and while I do this, I decide to do a run down of Shannon and I's schedule for the week. Okay, so tomorrow we'll have that dinner with Kathryn. Maybe the day after that we'll go to the beach, well that's where she always goes to think. Maybe she'll remember something if we go there. After that maybe a stay in will be good for her for the weekends.

I don't know what will happen tomorrow and I've been dreading that to come since Kathryn knows everything about my struggles with Shannon and now she's meeting her for the first time.

After that incident of me running out of the room earlier for the reason I don't fucking know, I panicked I guess, Kathryn called, she told me that she's here for a photoshoot and that she knows that I was here too and with Shannon. Well headlines are circling around, why would I be surprise about this? Anyways she invited me for dinner and specifically told me to bring her. So that was the story of that. I just hope tomorrow goes well.

Shannon's P.O.V."That's a wrap" Mary Kate says as I stood up after capturing the final shot. "David, can you bring the suits for you know who and bring them down here." I hear her say making me wonder and say,

"Are we not done yet, I though-"

"Nope" She simply say glancing at Ashley with a knowing look. I shrug it off thinking maybe there's another batch of models coming up. I'm getting tired though but that's fine. I'm actually enjoying myself here, kind of distracting myself of worrying too much for Elizabeth. She scared the fuck out of me earlier when she had that panic attack, according to Mary Kate. My mom told me I had one of those before but never did I imagine that I would be witnessing it sooner and not from Elizabeth herself. So I try and distance myself from her giving her some space because clearly I'm the reason for that. I'm not stupid.

"Are you spending the night at Lizzie's again?" Ashley asks and I shake my head remembering I promised Casey I'll be home tonight.

"I need to go home to my sister's." I smiled and glanced at Elizabeth who is currently busy on the computer at the moment with her cheek resting on the heel of her hand, a little pout forming on her face and its just adorable but then I remembered what happened earlier. "Besides, she might not want me there." I mutter.

"Hey, don't be like that." Ashley says. "She's just a bit shaken up and confused."

"Yea, I've heard." I nod and glanced at Mary Kate who nods her head agreeing with me.

"I already told her that."

"Well, maybe I should just give her some space. I think that's just what she wants." Mary Kate then walks away to meet with David who's holding three garment bags in his hands. I stand beside Ashley folding my arms against my chest watching Mary Kate and David as they hang the garment bags on the rack quite curious on what's inside of them and who are they for.

"Who am I shooting next?" I asked before glancing at her. She just smiles and looks at my camera at the same time Mary Kate calls my attention. I then walk towards Mary Kate and stood beside her with raised brows.

"What?" She looks at me with a wide smile on her face.

"I'll have David to assist you with the suits. We'll go with these ones first-"

"What? wait wait." Okay, what is she talking about. I'm so confuse right now. "What are you talking about? I thought I'm shooting another batch of models."

"Yes and you are it. You don't know how long I've waited for this day to come. These suits are yours." What? I glanced at Elizabeth hoping to find some kind of explanation to this but she's still busy on the computer. So I glanced at Ashley instead her giggles just sums all of these up.

"So let me take that." Mary Kate takes my camera in my hands and for some reason I let her. I'm so lost right now, I really am having trouble being in the present and responding to any of this. "David, please".  I felt myself being pulled from them by the arm. Did this happen before, Did I model for them?

"Wait, have I done this before?" I say stopping in my tracks and turn to them. The twins exchanged looks before nodding their head simultaneously and I really don't trust that but David pulls me in again. Well, this is new. I can't believe I'm doing this to be honest, the only time I work in front of the camera is when I'm filming my YouTube videos. Never in a million years, I imagined being in a photoshoot with a well known fashion brand. My career was really blooming two years ago.

We got to the changing room and David handed me the garment bag. I hesitated but David takes my hand forcing me to take it so I did and let out a deep breath and walked in the changing room hanging the garment bag on the rack. I start to take my clothes off leaving me in my underwear and caught a glimpse of myself at the mirror. Can you do this? You know what, fuck it. Just make the best of it.

I zipped down the garment bag and take out the outfit which has a tag on it that says, The Row for Shannon Beveridge. Wow, this was really made for me. Maybe the twins are really saying the truth that I've done this before. But why didn't Elizabeth mentioned this to me? Anyway, I really don't have a choice do I?

As soon as I slipped into the whole outfit, I'm feeling pretty confident at how I look. Well, it was made for me, that is a privilege already. But damn, I look good but my hair doesn't fit the look so I put my hair into a clean low bun and that's just the cherry on top. I glanced at the outfit at the mirror once again and smiled, This will do.

I walked out of the room seeing David waiting for me. His lips formed into a wide smile as he eyes me from head to toe.

"Well, you look gorgeous." He says and I gave him a nervous smile before saying a sincere 'Thank you' to him.  I let him lead the way back to the shooting area suddenly having second thoughts on this. I forgot, I have no idea how to do this. Fuck!

"Oh my God! You're smoking hot." I look up and saw the twins, eyes wide sparkling in some way, their jaw dropped before smiling so widely showing their pearly whites and this was making me a bit shy. I touched the hairs on the back of my neck as I approach them.

"So?" I asked and they shake their heads in disbelief looking at me from head to toe.

"Go sit over there and pose for me. God, thank you!" Mary Kate gushes making me roll my eyes and do what I was told taking my seat on the stool putting one foot on the rung while Ashley sprints back with Elizabeth who is still stuck at the monitors seems like she's in her own world now. I shake my head slightly trying not to think about her at the moment and focus on what Mary Kate is trying to make me do as she starts snapping photos.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

We  continued this photoshoot session with three more outfits. By the time we got to the middle of shooting the  third outfit, the music suddenly changes and the lights changes into a dim dramatic lighting.  I don't know what the song is but it seems so familiar and it makes me think of her, Elizabeth. I glanced at Mary Kate who smiles sweetly before turning to look at Ashley who looked at us with sweet grin on her face. She looks at me and gestured at Elizabeth who is currently hiding in the monitors.

"So," she starts raising her brows at me and I think I know what they are trying to make me do. "What're you waiting for, Go. its okay." I'm not sure what it is but I suddenly caught on on what Mary Kate is saying. Should I though? She's mad at me right? Well, I'm in a suit and there's sweet music echoing in this huge studio all I need is a muse.

Before I could even think about it, my body decides for me as I got off the stool and walked towards the monitors where Elizabeth is. I can feel my heart beating so fast in my chest, I don't know where my courage is coming from but this is insane. I've never danced with someone before, not that I know of but for some reason I want this to be perfect.

"Uh- Hi" It came out as a whisper but she heard it clearly and turns to me. Ashley is watching us closely enjoying this little show they've put up for us to execute. I smile as I held my hand out for her to take.

"May I have this dance?" I say in a gentle tone looking into those jade eyes getting lost in them again. I wasn't expecting anything from her really but she eventually take my hand which is a huge relief and it shows as a huge smile grew on my face. She smiles sweetly looking into my eyes as I lead us to the middle of the studio.

"Have we done this before?" I whispered as I take her hand and gently placed it on my shoulder while my arms made its way around her waist.

"Yes" She whispers and I was quite surprised by that. I take her hand as my smile grew wider at that sudden information. We started dancing with me taking the lead just getting lost in the moment. All of the sudden, everything starts to fade around us and all that is left is us dancing, just looking in each others eyes. Feels like we're on a cloud or something but this feels so strangely amazing. Its like dejavu, reliving a moment I have dreamt before or even done before.

We're both lost in it and before I know it both of her arms are now hanging from the back of my neck with my arms around her waist pulling her closer to me as our foreheads rests on each others. My heart wants to explode at this moment, the butterflies inside of haven't stopped fluttering around and a strong feeling I haven't felt before with anyone, an intense connection. Its overwhelming but at the same time, it feels so good.

"We've done this before" I whisper closing my eyes. Its not a question anymore, I know it happened. I felt it, I felt her.

"Yes" She whispers back and I smile before opening my eyes just to be met with her jade ones and I can see everything. Hope, sincerity but mostly fear and pain and I want to take that away so badly. She doesn't deserve that. 

"I'm here Elizabeth. Whatever it is that you're thinking or going through. I'm here. I won't go anywhere." I whispered with pure sincerity. Her eyes suddenly filled up with tears which sends a heavy weight on my chest. Is it that really heavy? I wipe the fallen tear that had escaped from her eyes not taking my eyes off her. She then looks at my lips then my eyes and I had that urge again to kiss her. But this time, for an unexplainable reason, I act on it.

We stopped dancing as the song comes close to an end and place a hand on her cheek and slowly lean down giving her time to push me away but she doesn't instead her hand made its way to the side of my face, her fingers curling to the back of my neck and something tells me that it really belongs there.

Our lips touched softly brushing against each other until I finally take her sweet lips in mine that's the time my heart explodes in my chest. a euphoric sensation building up inside me. I can't explain it but it feels so right, so good. Am I in love? Is this how it feels to fall in love? Cause if it is then I would like to stay in love with her forever. I haven't felt this good my entire life and I want it to last.

The song ends and silence filled the room. We slowly pull away before staring at each other's eyes. But this time, I can't tell what she's feeling and its scaring me. I need to say something, just to reassure her.

"That is fucking amazing!" I hear Ashley says breaking our gaze. I let out a smile wrapping an arm around Elizabeth and just place a kiss on her forehead hoping that's enough to send the message and I think it did as her arms wrapped around my waist before resting her head on my chest. God this feels so good. I glanced at the twins with a huge smile on my face and saw them filming the whole thing making me smile.

"You planned this whole thing didn't you?" I say and they both winked at me. I rolled my eyes at them before mouthing the words 'Thank you'. I placed another kiss on top of Elizabeth's head and this made her look upto me with an unsure look still. I think we need a talk after this. To make things clear. Obviously, she has many worries and maybe a talk can fix it.

"We'll talk later okay?" I whispered in her ear. She nods and smile before returning her head on my chest. At least she's not pushing me away anymore and I guess that's a good sign.

"This cause for a celebration" Mary Kate says earning a giggle from the both of us. Hmm, I might forget about a lot of things but I won't ever forget this moment. Not in a million years, I won't.