Okay... So, Here's The Thing...

Chapter 20

Raven came back with a tired look.

"Let's head to the studio. My photoshoot will be starting soon and we gotta be there a little earlier." He said, with an odd look on his face.

But Lukas didn't pry. He trusted Raven to tell him if anything was bothering him.

Was it the blood, earlier? He wondered.

Lukas had finished his ice cream by now and nodded in response to the dark haired boy, throwing out the napkins and following after Raven.

As the dark haired boy drove, he was uncharacteristically quiet. Lukas was a little suspicious about it. And worried, too. But he still didn't point it out.

"Hey," Raven said finally. Lukas snapped his head towards him, almost getting whiplash, focusing all his attention on the other. "You know how I promised I'd be your friend no matter what?"

Lukas nodded, but then realized Raven couldn't see him while driving. "Yeah. Why?"

Raven pursed his lips. "Can you promise the same? That... you'll be my friend no matter what?" He asked.

Lukas blinked, dumbfounded. "Of course! That's definite! I'm your friend, and will be till we die! Even if you don't want to be my friend, for some reason— but I really hope that never happens— I'll still consider you my best friend. My only friend." He said fiercely.

Raven smiled, his eyes glancing at Lukas for a split second, before going back on the road. "Thanks. Good. I... I just needed the reassurance. I'll be your friend forever too, promise again. Don't think I'd leave you when you're such an amazing friend. Of course I'd be your friend."

"Good. Wouldn't want you leaving me." Lukas said, his teasing tone falling a little.

"Thanks, though. For the reassurance." Raven spoke again.

"Of course." Lukas said softly. "But why so suddenly? Did something happen?"

"No. I just..." Raven sighed. "Let's just, hypothetically, I'm not who you think I am. Would you still be friends with me?"

Lukas looked at him weird. "Of course, like I said. No matter what."

Raven grinned. "I know, I know."

Lukas sighed, shaking his head. "If anything's on your mind, you can tell me, you know that right?"

"Yeah."

Lukas gently pinched Raven's cheeks— they were unsurprisingly squishy.

"Don't. I'm not a cat." The dark haired pouted.

Lukas laughed.

—

The two arrived at the studio and hurried up after the receptionist confirmed they were supposed to be there.

2:01 p.m.

A little late, but that was okay.

According to Raven, at least.

As soon as they entered the room, Raven was immediately rushed into the dressing room and Lukas was told to sit down on the bench by the mirror.

"Mr. Gwon, we'll have you change into this outfit—" The lady with the blonde hair shoved an outfit in front of the changing room curtains, and Raven's pale hand grabbed it with a quiet 'thank you'.

"—then the makeup artists will be doing your makeup for the first outfit. You'll do the photoshoot, then change into your next three outfits." She recited, reading off from her clipboard.

"The first shoot is going to be a casual concept!" The other lady piped up. "We'll be using a greens screen backdrop so it looks like you're in a park by flowers! Remember, casual boy concept, alright? Casual!"

Raven hummed a reply back, his voice muffled by the curtains.

Lukas felt oddly out of place, surrounded by all the gleaming gold labels and designer clothes hanging on the racks, with his less-than-luxury plain white shirt and trousers with dirt stains on them.

It also felt weird to hear his best friend being addressed to so... formally.

Lukas bit his lip and chose to focus on the room's interior. The walls were stark white with crystal-shaped lights hanging off from the bright blue ceiling.

The walls were lined with mirrors, with chairs lined up with each one of them. Light bulbs decorated the edges of each mirror, and hundreds of makeup and hair products Lukas didn't even recognize filled up the tables.

At last, Raven emerged from the changing room. Lukas' jaw dropped.

Casual, huh? Raven is...

He didn't let his mind finish that sentence.

Raven looked shy, wearing a pastel brown, oversized shirt over blue jeans.

He pulled it off well. Almost too well.

"All we need to do for makeup is your lips, then straighten down your hair. Be prepared to go into shoot in a few minutes." The blonde lady said, before rushing out the door.

Lukas watched in silence as the makeup artists applied lip balm and lip gloss over Raven's lip, and brushing out his hair.

"Why are you staring at me?"

Raven's voice asked suddenly, a look of amusement painted on his face as he looked at Lukas through the mirror.

Lukas blushed, realizing he had been indeed staring at the other male. "No reason. Just... watching the magic happen."

"Magic." Raven repeated, a grin spreading across his face.

Lukas nodded. "Yup."