𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈 everyone knows who she is. Worldwide model, covered in many vogue magazines, walked catwalks, and runaway. But people don't know what happens behind the curtains. Despite the many scandals that have plagued her reputation...
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Bella's shoulder was warm beneath my head, her soft laughter mingling with the faint scent of her perfume. Chloe and Travis's voices buzzed in the background as they bickered about which movie to watch, but I was too wrapped up in the moment to pay them any real attention. I closed my eyes, feeling a rare peace settle over me. Everything felt perfect, even if just for a little while.
"I love you," I whispered to Bella, the words slipping out easily, like they were meant to be said.
Bella let out a light giggle, tilting her head to glance down at me. "You've been saying that a lot lately."
"I feel it a lot," I replied, my voice just as soft, but with a weight that matched the sincerity behind it. It was the truth—I did feel it a lot, and I was starting to think that maybe I hadn't said it enough in the past. Maybe that's why it felt so important to say now.
Bella smiled and squeezed my hand, her touch reassuring. I sighed, content, but something prickled at the edge of my awareness. It was like a gentle pull, something urging me to look up. When I did, I found Lucas watching me.
He was sprawled out on one of the plush recliners, dressed in a white compression shirt that clung to his body and grey sweats that hung low on his hips. His large curls were a mess, like he'd been raking his hands through them in frustration, or maybe just absentmindedly. His dark eyes were locked onto me with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat. I couldn't quite read his expression—was it curiosity, concern, or something else entirely? Whatever it was, it made the room feel a little smaller, like everything was closing in around us.
My heart did a strange little flip, and I forced myself to look away, burying my face in Bella's shoulder again. But even as I tried to focus on the warmth and comfort of her presence, I could still feel Lucas's gaze on me, like it was searing into my skin. It was almost too much, the way he looked at me—like he could see everything I was trying to hide, everything I was too scared to say out loud.
Before I could get too lost in my thoughts, Chloe's triumphant voice cut through the tension. "Okay, fine! We'll watch a horror movie!" she declared, throwing her hands up in mock defeat.
Travis let out a loud cheer. "Finally! Something good!"
Chloe rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips. "You're such a child, Travis."
"And proud of it!" he shot back with a grin, grabbing the remote and quickly pulling up a list of horror movies. His fingers flew over the buttons as he scrolled through the options, muttering to himself about which one would be the scariest.
Bella groaned, playfully nudging me with her shoulder. "Ugh, horror movies. Why do we let them choose again?"
"Because if we didn't, we'd be stuck watching rom-coms all night," I teased, giving her a little smirk.
"Hey, rom-coms are classics!" Bella protested, but the grin on her face told me she wasn't really that upset. It was all part of the usual banter between us—light, easy, and familiar.
