𝐂𝐇𝐋𝐎𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐔𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓 the embodiment of sunshine, always with a bright smile and an easy laugh. She was the one everyone turned to, the friend who never faltered, always radiating positivity. But behind that cheerful exterior, how much darkne...
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The sunlight streamed through my bedroom window, waking me earlier than usual. Groaning, I reached for my phone and blinked at the notification lighting up my screen. It was an invitation to a fashion show, where Winter was set to star as the headliner. Attached was a small note that read, 'Please come x'.
I stared at it for a moment, feeling a pang of guilt and a flicker of hope. Winter and I hadn't spoken much since the rooftop fight. I knew we were both trying to piece things back together, but it was slow, tentative. Still, this invitation felt like another olive branch on her part.
Winter's mother had taken a step back from their company recently, focusing on herself after years of family turmoil. This was her first big project since returning, and I knew it meant the world to Winter to make her proud. I couldn't miss this—not just for Winter, but for us.
So here I was, a few hours later, walking into an elegant venue in a soft blue cocktail dress, my hair pinned back in loose waves. Jayden, Travis, Bella, and Lucas walked beside me, all dressed to the nines in suits and sleek outfits that matched the formal theme of the night.
The venue was dark yet dripping with elegance, the kind of atmosphere that demanded attention and silence in equal measure. Chandeliers hung high above, their crystals catching the dim blue and gold lighting that bathed the room in a mysterious glow. The runway stretched out in the center like a black river, sleek and reflective, bordered by plush rows of seats draped in rich velvet. Everything whispered wealth, sophistication, and just a touch of rebellion.
I sat with Jayden, Travis, Bella, and Lucas in the second row. The air hummed with quiet anticipation, the faint scent of expensive perfumes and colognes mingling in the space. Despite our formal appearances, there was an edge of unease between us, leftover tension from the past weeks that none of us had fully addressed. But tonight wasn't about us. It was about Winter.
When the lights dimmed further, the audience stilled. A familiar, seductive beat began to play, the opening notes of Britney Spears' 'Toxic' reverberating through the room. I blinked in surprise, exchanging a glance with Bella, whose eyebrows shot up in amusement.
"They really went there, huh?" she whispered, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips.
"This is a lingerie line," Jayden muttered, his voice low and incredulous. "Makes sense, I guess."
All conversation died the moment the first model stepped onto the runway. She was draped in a sheer, intricately designed bodysuit, the delicate lace catching the light as she moved. Gasps rippled through the audience, followed by murmurs of approval and rapid camera flashes. The models that followed were just as striking, each piece of lingerie more daring and luxurious than the last.
"This isn't just lingerie," Travis said under his breath. "It's... art."
I bit back a laugh, nudging him. "Don't get too distracted."
