Collide - Tom Kaulitz

Heidi Klum.

Paparazzi swarmed the pair as they walked through the airport. Maeve expected it. What she didn't expect was for them to call out her name aswell as Ben's.

They said her name, asked questions about her work and her life. They didn't see her as Ben's friend, they didn't ignore her and focus solely on Ben. It felt good.

Ben advised her to keep her head down, getting to the car was their main priority.

Maeve got in first, Ben following her.

She fiddled with her ringed fingers nervously in her lap, watching the scenery pass by the windows.

"I was thinking we could get dinner later. Just the two of us. I heard good things about a restaurant beside our apartment."

Ben sat with one leg over the other, his British accent clear and strong when he spoke. Maeve turned to him, nodding in agreement.

"Sounds good." She hummed.

"And these friends of yours, when will you be meeting them again?" He asked again, glancing over at her.

"I'm meeting Bill for drinks tomorrow. We were supposed to meet today after we arrived in LA, but he said something came up." Ben hummed, nodding along to her words.

"Alan Clifford got in touch. He has an offer for the both of us." Ben informed. He leaned back in his seat, looking completely unbothered by the news.
"He wants to partner up for his magazine. He was very eager to meet you. He's a big fan of your photography." Ben's fingers grazed along his chin and jaw as he thought back to his conversation with Alan Clifford.

Maeve's lips parted and her eyes widened.
Alan Clifford? The thought that he knew who Maeve was, was unbelievable as it was. The fact he wanted to work with her for his magazine? Completely insane.

"Fucking hell."
That was all Maeve managed to say. Ben looked over at her with a smirk. Finding her shock amusing.

*

LA apartments were something else.
The one they were staying in was grander than the previous one's they had stayed at. The windows were taller and the rooms were more spacious. The walls were grey, matching the furniture, and the floors were dark oak. The city was on full display from the windows in the living room.

"I've made reservations for dinner at eight. It's a fancy place, no doubt expensive." Ben walked up behind her.

Maeve hummed, her attention on the beautiful marble countertops.

"I have to meet up with Thomas. He has a few designs he wants to go over. I'll be back in time to drive us."

Thomas studied with Ben in college. The two grew up together and were quite close. Both created beautiful and unique pieces. Maeve had met him once or twice, he was kind but kept mostly to himself.

Maeve felt his presence behind her, and she felt it when he walked away. Gently he shut the door behind him as he left her alone in the apartment. Ben was always meeting with people, so Maeve didn't mind his sudden departure.

Sighing, Maeve decided she better start unpacking her luggage.

*

True to his word, Ben arrived back at the apartment in time for dinner. He had enough time to take a shower, freshly shave his face and change into a new suit. Ben was almost always wearing a suit.

Before meeting Ben, Maeve rarely went to fancy restaurants, or parties hosted by people with connections all over the industry. Now it seemed to become the norm.