Lifetime

L'amour

Fashion week in Milan was a beast that I don't think any amount of prep could have readied me for. Faye arrived at her hotel at the beginning of the week, giving me a hug so tight I was sure she would break a rib or two if we continued. We met for dinner first, both with busy weeks ahead and wanting to squeeze out every moment of time we could spend together.

A good night's rest felt like a thing of the past as I continuously moved around the city for events and fashion shows where I provided assistance to Margo and ensured that she was able to greet every important person who approached her by name. I was practically glued to her hip until night, spending more time in the fashion district than I ever had, surrounded by models, stylists, and fashion enthusiasts from around the world.

Taehyung joined Faye and I at nearly every public event we attended, catching the eye of a couple of agents on the afternoons we dined in the city together. On Faye's last night in Milan, after the week was concluded, Jungkook cooked for us. They laughed as she recalled the first time I got shitfaced drunk and the disaster of a roommate we attempted to have closer to the end of my time in Chicago. She did her best to keep it together as she watched the three of us interact, but I could still see the glint of surprise in her eye every time one or both of them showed me affection.

With only two days between fashion week in Milan and Paris, I filled the tiny break with sleep. I slept past ten hours on the first night, only waking to eat and nap on the couch throughout the next day. My procrastination left me packing at the last minute, pulling an all-nighter as I paced around my room and the apartment to make sure I had everything I'd need for the week away.

Between the budget for our jobs and dipping into our savings we were able to splurge on a room at one of the most luxurious hotels in the city, Shangri-la Paris. We felt like celebrities as our bags were taken up to the room without having to lift a finger. The bright beige and gold accents were beautiful, but nothing compared to the view of the Eiffel Tower outside the window.

"Everything in here is too pretty to touch." I observed, my fingertips grazing the soft and perfectly placed comforter.

"Everything?" He asked, his arms wrapping around me and mouth descending on mine in a smirked peck.

I giggled against his lips. "You're lucky you're not that pretty." I taunted. "Maybe I'll feel better about touching some of the gorgeous things in the room after a shower." I pulled away to tug the hem of my shirt over my head, tossing the top at him as I walked backward into the bathroom.

"Better yet, in the shower." He proclaimed, following after me. I yelped as his arm wrapped around my waist from behind, my feet lifting from the marble floor as he dragged us into the glass shower.

We spent the rest of the evening lounging around the room in the plush robes and slippers that were provided, munching on snacks and toasting with the tiny bottles of liquor in the cooler.

That first day of the week was filled with tasks for work. I was summoned in the morning to provide some assistance to one of the models we often worked with after an unexpected night of intense substance use, met with other representatives from Vogue in the afternoon and assisted Margo as she photographed the Burberry show in the evening.

On the second, Taehyung and I had more time together, using the morning to immerse ourselves in the city before the afternoon runway show I'd been invited to photograph, a collection from an emerging designer. I managed to snag him an invitation after being assigned, plunging into work and the thrill of the new experience in my career. With my workday over and a change of clothes, we headed into the night with dinner and a final show from another designer Taehyung knew well.

Back to back fashion weeks proved to be chaotic, only the reminders in my phone keeping me on task amid the blur of runway shows, street photography, private and public events we attended.