Lights Out

Concrete Jungle

Friday 9th July.
"Hey, guys! I know, I'm actually streaming for once. Sorry, it has been a while. I'll stream a bit during the summer break maybe. Where am I? I am in New York at the moment. Shooting for Vogue, yeah. Well done! You guys have good memory! Uhhh yeah, I'm excited for it. It's tomorrow, yeah. No, Harry is not with me. Do you guys want to see him in a stream with me then? Yeah? Ha, well I'm glad you guys approve of him. Anyway, so as you can see, my hair has grown out and it's time to replace this beautiful hair dye that Gaia chose in Azerbaijan? I think? So today we're going to strip this hair dye out and go the opposite of this colour. We are going a baby blue. I've not done this shade before so I'm hoping, finger crossed, that it looks good. I've done brighter shades of blue and darker shades of blue, but I haven't gone this light before, so we'll see. Oh, yeah, I'm streaming on my laptop. I connected my proper camera to it so, I have a better setup than Lando," I chuckled. My phone pinged and I picked it up, my eyes scanning over the notification before I opened my phone and read the message.
Harry <3: You look beautiful at the moment xx
Read 4.31pm
I grinned, realising that he was actually watching my stream.
Harry <3: And if it's not too much to say, I very much wish I was with you to let my hands explore your skin... xx
Read 4.32pm
I felt my face heat up and placed my phone down on the counter, ignoring his messages. Last week, in Austria before the race weekend, I'd let him see some of my scars. He'd asked me if he could see the ones on my legs as we had been talking about my recent mental health. Of course, I didn't own any shorts that were short enough to show my scars, and so he'd seen me in my underwear for the first time. I'd been wearing an oversized t-shirt, so he'd edged it up to uncover the tops of my thighs and my underwear as well.
"Okay," he'd said. "I don't know why you were so worried, I still think you're gorgeous, darling."
His hands had travelled under my shirt slightly to hold my waist gently whilst he spoke, and I had gasped involuntarily at the contact, which had made him more confident to lean forwards and kiss me hard on the lips. We hadn't gone any further but...
You're streaming you idiot.
I shook myself out of the memory and back into the present.
"My boyfriend is actually watching the stream at the moment, apparently. Everyone say hi and ask about funny stories so I can embarrass him." I looked smugly into the camera, directing it all at Harry, who I knew would be chuckling and shaking my head. My phone pinged again, and I checked it.
Harry <3: Thanks for the shoutout love xx
Read 5.34pm
Jessie: You're very welcome xx
Delivered
"Hang on," I said, putting my phone down again. "Harry, you dirty stop-out, you're watching my stream and haven't subscribed. Give me a damn subscription! Honestly... some people, eh?" I shook my head in mock disapproval and watched as the chat ripped him to pieces before I got a notification telling me that he'd subscribed. I laughed, cheering and congratulating the chat.
"Anyway let me get on with this."

Saturday 10th July.
I pressed the buzzer to the tall building that stood in front of me. I thought it was the right one. I'd just followed the directions that Alecz had forwarded to me.
"Hello?" A broad New York accent crackled through the speakers; a woman's voice.
"Uh, hi. This is Jessie Osbourne?"
"Jessie... Jessie..." It sounded like the woman was looking for my name somewhere before I cry indicated that she'd found it.
"Jessie, sure," she said, pronouncing the 'sure' and 'shwuar'. "Come on up, sweetheart."
The front door buzzed open, and I went inside, opting for the lift instead of the stairs. The elevator pinged and the doors opened to show me a rather glamourous reception, with the lady, who's New York accent I could only assume to be hers, sat.
"Jessie Osbourne?" she asked, confirming my thoughts.
"Yep, that's me."
"Excellent. I'll call Sandra up for you. Take a seat, if you want."
I did, sitting on one of the comfortable black chairs whilst the receptionist, who's name I realised I didn't know, spoke quietly into a telephone. A door opened and a rather tall blonde woman strode out towards me, a smile wide on her face. I stood up as she held out a hand, which I took, and she shook it almost vigorously.
"Jessie Osbourne," she said, the smile not once faltering. "What a pleasure it is to meet you. My name is Sandra Bell."
"Nice to meet you, Sandra."
Her accent was what can only be described as 'very American' in the classic English way of thinking that all American accents sounded Californian. I had to look up at her, and I was certain that it wasn't just the black stilettos she wore that gave her the height. She was very thin, like a model you'd see on one of the runways on Fashion Week in Paris, and her teeth were the whitest of white.
"I am loving the colour of your hair," she said, really admiring it. "Did you do it yourself?"
"Yep," I said, popping the 'p'. "I always do. I hope it'll be alright for the shoot."
"Oh, yeah, it'll be beautiful." She started walking and I followed her. "We've got a few outfits lined up for you, all of which will look absolutely gorgeous I'm sure, and we'll have experts giving you advice on poses in case you aren't sure. Although, you've had your picture taken so many times I'm sure it comes naturally to you by now; it certainly looks like it does, anyway. You are very photogenic." I blushed, hiding a grin. I decided that I liked Sandra a lot, and that I'd get on well with her. She carried on speaking.
"Here is the makeup team. I see you have come without any makeup today, which is fine. This is Lucas," she said, pointing to a man who's dark skin was beautifully accentuated by the golden eyeliner he donned, "and this is Myra." She pointed to a woman with purple hair and a smile like stardust, and eyeshadow that perfectly matched the shade of her hair.
"Hi," I said, waving shyly.
"Amazing to meet you. Your skin is amazing! How do you keep it that clear with all of the sweat from racing?"
"Luck, I guess? I used to have a skin routine but it's more of a 'can I be bothered' routine now."
They laughed, as did Sandra and I.
"We'll be back with you two in just a moment," Sandra said. "Now to meet the photographers, directors, and the dress team."