Book 1: Oh love, how could I forget~ (Lance Stroll)

Chapter 40: Night to Remember

"Lance" Lily was feeling jitters and it was getting worse. She held onto Lance's arms but she kept on shaking and feeling nauseous. He sits her down by the side as everyone was busy, moving from one place to another. It was only a couple of minutes before the event. When Lily saw the crowd and the front row sitters, it was her idols. Her fashion idols. Some of them are people she only saw on magazines and news. The riches and the people of fashion. She suddenly feels a bit of regret. She was overthinking the whole thing. She feels embarrassed and wonders what if she can't deliver what she was needed to. She was afraid of the disappointment that she's been building onto her shoulders.

"Lily" he whispers.
"Lily" he calls her again.
"Lily.. babe" he gently cups her face to face him.
"Look at me.." he whispers as he tries to meet her eyes.
"Lily Cruz. Listen to me"
"Lance I can't.." it was nerve wracking for her but he didn't give in.
"Listen to me.. hey" he tries to catch her attention and when he did.
"Lily.. You. Are. Amazing. Believe in yourself babe. You can do this." He says as he gives her a reassuring smile.
"Breath in and out for me okay? In and Out." He helped her calm down and slowly her jitters stopped.
"Babe.. Claim your moment. This is your time. This is your chance. Show the world that this is you.. Lily Cruz" He hugs her carefully and she smiles.

"We need everyone lined up please" the head-staff was calling them.

"Go now. I'll be watching you outside" Lance kisses her cheek and Lily went towards the line. She had cold feet and cold hands but Lance's smile calmed her down.

"I can do this" she chants to herself.
"Be yourself. Don't forget to have fun" Emily says seeing her in the line. Lily nods.

First set went out and soon it was her queu.
Lily went out flawlessly. She couldn't see anyone in the audiences except the man standing on the back in white. As she reaches the center, she strikes a pose and smiles at Lance. He mouthed something she couldn't read but this gave her more confidence as she finishes her first walk.

When she got to the backstage... "ohh slowdown love" Madeline chuckles as Lily's knees grow weak and almost trips. "How'd I do?" She was worried.
"You were amazing love" Madeline smiles. "Thank you. I owe it to you and Emily" She almost tears up.
"Later love. You need to change now for the second set" Madeline chuckles as she guides her to her next outfit.

Her second walk was as great as the first one and this time she got to see some audiences and by the third walk, she was feeling herself. The white dress she was wearing wasn't the best one in the collection and yet when she walked it out, it felt like the audience was given a highlight.

Lily hears the host inviting Emily out along with them and the models. She went out on the stage again and saw really pretty models beside her. The camera's were flashing but she gave out a smile.

It was new to her but she felt connected. For the first time, she feels so content with what happened. She began to wonder if this was what she has always wanted. If modeling was something she could do in the future.

"Lily!" Lance with a bouquet of orange roses, calls her as soon as she got back.
"Lance" she runs to hug him. He feels happy with her response.
"Is this..?" She asks pointing at the bouquet
"How'd you know this is my favorite? Thank you" She smiles from ear to ear.
"I know you more than you expect" Lance says as he puts his arms on her waist.

"Lily!!" Emily rushes to her and delivers good news.
"Yes thank you Emily" Lily hugs her.
"Great news! Someone wants to buy this dress off the runway!" Emily was so happy.
"What?? Ohmygod. Who bought it?!" Lily was also so happy with the news.
"She's known as Love Marie"
"OMYGOD WHAT" Lily can't believe it. It was her fashion icon. A filipina too.
"Let's deliver the dress to her then" Lance suggests.
"She actually asked to see you too. She got told you were a fellow filipina so she got curious" Emily says.

They agreed to deliver the dress to her tomorrow.

There was an after party for everyone and so Lance waited for Lily to change. "Wow" he was mesmerized as she walk out. It's been such a long time since he saw her wearing a dress, her hair up and showcased her beautiful neckline.

"A fly might go in there Lance" Emily teased him.
"I'm ready to go" Lily says coming up to them.
"Oh Lily! Thank you for agreeing to model for me. Hope we can continue" Emily hugs her
"I hope so too" Lily smiles.
"If Lance here haven't snatched you, I would've love my son to date you" Emily laughs as Lance was getting jealous.
"Car's here" Lance says which makes Emily laugh some more.
"Thank you again" Lily says.
"Enjoy the after party" Emily waves goodbye.

"You're such a kid" Lily chuckles as she buckles up.

When they arrived to the venue, Lily saw models and there were some really famous artists too.
"Stay close" he whispers.

They went in the crowd and it was quite fun. The music was loud and everyone was having a great time.

"I'll get some drinks" Lance says near her ear.
"Okay!" She speaks a bit louder because the music was loud.

"Hey! You're Lily right?" This pretty boy comes up to her. "Uh.. yes?"
"I'm Tom! You new?" He was getting close to her but she slowly backs up.
"Yeah. Emily's" she politely smiles but tries to look for Lance in the crowd.
"Can I buy you drink?" This tom guy keeps on trying to hit on her but she wasn't comfortable with how he tries to get close.
"No thank you.. I'm waiting for my boyfriend" Lily lies and bites her lip.
"Boyfriend? Who? That dude?" Tom points out on the other side of the venue and at that angle she sees Lance talking close with these fabulous girls. The girls were clinging onto him. It stung her heart. "Come on he doesn't like you" Tom just fueled her disappointment. "I don't like you too" Lily drank Tom's drink in one shot, left that tom guy and slowly went in the crowd towards Lance' side.

Every step she took, her anger grew. She honestly thought things were going well for once and that maybe he finally feels the same way but this shit no. She wasn't taking it anymore.

Splash

"You really like to play huh" Lily scoffs at Lance as he was wet from the drink she just threw at him. He looked surprised but quickly got wind of why she reacted like this. Lily puts down the glass on the bar and storms out of the venue. Lance chased her.

"Wait Lily!! Lily!!" He called her out and finally he caught up with her.
"What the fuck just happened??" He was confused but it was clear what he had in mind.
"I don't know! You tell me!" Lily's tone was higher and she seems like she was going to burst into tears.
"Did you think I was doing something with those girls??"
"Weren't you??! Jeez Lance. Do it everywhere else but not infront of me atleast!"
"I wasn't doing anything! They were the ones who came up to me!"
"Yeah right. Like how you pretended to get with me but you were just playing too!"
"WHAT??! I DIDN'T!" Lance starts to get angry at this point too.

Lily was starting to cry but she didn't want Lance to see that. She tries to walk away but Lance grabs her hand and faces her again.

"Was this the reason you left??" He suddenly calms down as he sees Lily's tears. She wipes it off.
"No. Let's just end this" she says.
"Why do you always run away? Tell me what happened why did you leave that day?"
"No!" She pushes him away but Lance wasn't gonna let this go. Not again.
"Hear me out please Lily.. please" He begged as he looks into her teary beady eyes. It hurt him to see her like this. She didn't respond. It's like everything just flashed at her again. Her vision was blurry and Lance started spinning.

"Lily.. those girls are nothing. They just came up to me but I swear I was just getting us drinks. Why would I do that to you? I never played you. I have always been serious about you"

"You? You haavv—" Lily slurred her word and her vision just went blank.

"Lily!" She hears Lance but she couldn't move nor speak.
"Shit!"
"HELP!! I NEED HELP HERE!!"

She felt helpless and the last thing she heard was Lance freaking out as she gets carried to somewhere she couldn't even comprehend.