Model Behaviour

Innocence (30)

(READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE AT THE END IT'S VERY IMPORTANT!!)

The Italian fashion shows went faster than a haute couture sale. We spent the rest of the days before Paris fashion week travelling and being tired.

Everyone mostly spent their time on transportation napping or screaming loudly on coaches.

I, on the other hand spent my time curled up next to a window and Tom. I was re-reading a Keira Cass book for the third time on my iPad with Goddess by Banks softly playing in my headphones. Tom had fallen asleep on me for most of the journey- his own headphones in his ears. We spent our a good portion of our time together in silence: but the small breaks of silence were never awkward. Instead, it allowed a silent exchange of communication of emotion between us- a simple emotional bond that ties us close.

In all honesty, I was happy about going to Paris. I wanted to see Paris through someone else's eyes, someone who had never seen it before. I've been to Paris a good few times, and each time I left I felt as if I left pieces of me to find again.

It was a city that could never bore me, there was always places to discover- new art, new buildings and new people. My mother was right; sometimes the best places made you fall in love with the streets and not the people. France in general was whimsical and carefree, you could get lost and still feel like you belong within the cities.

My seat was kicked lightly, and I carefully turned my head towards the culprit without waking the sleeping teenager next to me. It was Katie. She winked at my position with Tom, and then signalled to her phone. "Take a selfie!" I quickly nodded before resettling back into the seat and waiting for the perfect face Tom would pull.

Well, his face was perfect no matter what he would be doing. But I was pretty much hell bent on snapping not-so-pretty photo of this increasingly popular male model. With his lips slightly parted and face that showed the crinkles that my shoulder made on his face, this was the best I could get. These moments were carefree and innocent between us. I'm sure he has less than model worthy mugshots of me sleeping, it was a trade of sorts. Only he didn't know my intention for these photos were to go on social media.

A sleepy voice jolted me out of my inner monologue. "Gracie."

// Oh God, his sleepy voice is even better than his normal velvety voice!//

"Yes?"

"Always knew that you wouldn't resist the opportunity to take a photo of me." I almost felt the smirk on his lips just from listening to him.

I laugh. "It's a wonderful picture don't delete it!" And Tom waggles his eyebrows before running his hand through his hair. "It'll last longer than my actual face since you seem to love inflicting pain upon this ungodly beauty."

"Pfft, you deserved everything you received from me." I laughed.

"Just like the kiss?"

In a flash, I turned my torso so I was facing him. A wave of horror washed over me. "Yes- Wait no! You did not deserve that young man!" And soon after, the burn of embarrassment started to show its feelings. "Ugh you conceited-"

But before I could even finish the sentence the familiar set of lips quickly pecked my own for a brief moment. I wasn't like the previous kiss; Full of anger and need, it was an innocent peck that could only be described as full of childish innocence. Nevertheless, it still made my lips ignite with those damned sparks that always seem to appear when I'm close to him.

"And now the lovely pink shade on your face has turned to a deep scarlet Gracie." He murmurs, with his arm slowly snaking round my waist, pulling me closer to his side. Weirdly, he felt like home, the all-too-familiar cologne he used beckoned me to switch positions, now I was safely tucked away instead of him.

I didn't know what we were, the seemingly small kiss that occurred over complicated things. The situation between Tom and I had undoubtedly changed from enemies; and I wasn't too sure about calling him 'just a colleague' either. Were we friends? Did he think of me as a friend or a little more? He has now made the move officially twice- and those butterflies that always fluttered when he was in my presence never cease to stop. What were we in real life? The press were already very intrigued when he defended me at the press conference.. They already suspect something. Would we have to pretend anything for the cameras, was it all just an act? My mind was reeling with clouded thoughts trying to decipher the relationship between us.

"Gracie?"

"Mhm?"

"What are we?" His question mirrored my own.

I gulped. What could I say?

Deciding answering his question with another question was the safest bet for me, I attempted to regain control of my erratic heart. "What do you want this to be Thomas?"

Silence.

His response was silence.

I was still plastered onto his shoulder, and if I focused really, really hard I could hear his heartbeat pulsing though his body. The soft pounding of his heart sounded like it was increasing.

And still I only received silence as my answer.

And then I felt his chin turn, and his lips lightly kissing the top of my head, leaving the much needed shot of hope in my veins. "You already know Gracie."

I pretended not to hear his response, smirking amusedly. "Hmm, I'm not too sure.. Care to clarify?"

His answer was a pretend groan, telling me that he was playing along.

"How should I ask this.. Gracie.. Will you be my.. Best friend?"

Laughter erupted from my lips, and my hands lightly slapped his forearm. "Tom!"

"Okay okay, I knew you couldn't resist this!" He smirked (Again, what a surprise) pointing his hands towards his body.

The next six words came out as a rushed slur of muttering. "Gracie, will you be my girlfriend?"

Yes! He asked! He doesn't think I'm a friend! I'm probably more useful than a lamp to him, although I hope that's why his face lights up when he sees me.

Pretending to think about those words carefully, I adopted a 'Rodin's Thinker' position.

"I'm not sure Thomas.. It's so difficult to give to a straight answer." And now he returned the favour of hitting me lightly.

"Oh for the love of God, just shut up and kiss me Gracie!"

And so I did.

And I never felt more at home than in this moment of time, where nothing could go wrong.

.~*~.

00:23 am.

*oh and guys you have to listen to Goddess by banks! She's amazing!*

Hello!

*coughs on dust because I haven't updated in an atrocious amount of time*

I'm sorry.

You see I had a FULL chapter written back in MARCH time: (A load of spare time on the French exchange- a ten hour journey one way: Coach to London, Eurostar to Paris, Parisian metro and then have a 6 hour journey to Toulouse.) And then when I had the full chapter ready on my phone (again, I find it's easier to write on the go that way)..

MY PHONE WAS STOLEN.

I kid you not, I had my jacket pocket zipped up, but this lady had a clipboard against my hip and grabbed onto my shirt: ripping it in the process. And she took my phone, I guess. And because I did not have wifi in the train, my iCloud backup did not manage to save the ready-to-go-chapter.

So yeah. I did lose inspiration for quite a while, and I had so much school things such as Head Girl interviews, GCSE mocks, sports day , and the impeding role I have to uptake a in my scouts (in year 11, Ffs) and I'm currently on work experience.

I promise when I edit this story the chapters will be longer. I'm just trying as hard as I can right now.

Thank you for being patient with me.