The Shards of War: Balancing Power

Chapter 82

Earlier that same day Matsu went to visit Illiyas, Calie and Marie were on that Idol grind...

As Calie and Marie stepped out of the car and approached the idol company for their photoshoot, Calie couldn't help but feel a familiar knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach. She glanced nervously at Marie, who gave her a reassuring smile and squeezed her hand.

"Hey, you okay?" Marie asked, her voice soft with concern.

Calie forced a smile and nodded, though her unease was evident in her eyes. "Yeah, just... nervous about the photoshoot, you know?"

Marie nodded understandingly, her gaze filled with warmth. "Hey, you're going to be amazing, as always. Remember, you're beautiful just the way you are."

Calie's cheeks flushed at the compliment, and she ducked her head slightly. "Thanks, Marie. You always know how to make me feel better."

With a supportive squeeze of her hand, Marie led Calie towards the entrance of the idol company, their footsteps echoing in the quiet of the hallway. As they approached the studio where the photoshoot would take place, Calie took a deep breath, steeling herself for the challenge ahead.

Together, they stepped inside, ready to face whatever the day had in store for them. With Marie by her side, Calie felt a renewed sense of confidence, knowing that no matter what, they would tackle it together.

Marie glanced around the bustling studio, taking in the flurry of activity with a curious expression. "So, any idea what kind of photoshoot we're doing today?" she asked, her tone laced with anticipation.

Calie shrugged, scanning the room for any clues. "Not sure yet. Hopefully, it's something fun and not too... revealing," she replied, her voice tinged with a hint of apprehension.

Marie chuckled softly, giving Calie's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry, whatever it is, we'll rock it together. And if it's something you're not comfortable with, we'll figure it out, okay?"

Calie smiled gratefully, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over her for having Marie by her side. "Thanks, Marie. You always know how to make me feel better," she said, her voice filled with genuine affection.

With a shared smile, they continued to make their way through the bustling studio, ready to take on whatever challenge lay ahead. As long as they had each other, they knew they could handle anything that came their way.

As they approached the dressing room area, a stylist greeted them with a warm smile. "Hello, Calie and Marie! We're all set up for your shoot today. We'll be doing a fashion spread for the upcoming summer issue of 'Glamour Star'," she explained, motioning for them to enter the dressing room.

Calie's eyes widened with excitement at the prospect of a fashion spread. "That sounds amazing!" she exclaimed, her nerves momentarily forgotten in the thrill of the moment.

Marie grinned, her enthusiasm matching Calie's. "Yeah, it does! I can't wait to see what outfits they've picked out for us," she said, her excitement palpable.

The stylist ushered them into the dressing room, where racks of clothing in various colors and styles awaited them. "We've got a mix of trendy summer looks for you both to try on. Feel free to browse and let me know if there's anything specific you'd like to wear," she said, stepping aside to give them space.

Calie and Marie exchanged excited glances before diving into the racks of clothing, eager to see what fashionable ensembles awaited them. Today's photoshoot promised to be an adventure, and they were ready to embrace it together.

Then Marie noticed Calie's discomfort as she looked through the clothes and immediately walked over to her, concern etched on her face. "Hey, Calie, are you okay?" she asked gently, placing a comforting hand on her cousin's shoulder.