What It Cost

Make You Look Good

Lilly had spent the past few days locked away in her room, throwing herself into work to mask the swirl of emotions she couldn't quite shake. Noah's insistence on keeping their relationship "professional" had struck a nerve she hadn't anticipated. She barely knew him—after all, they'd only met recently, thrown together by her new job. There was no reason for her to feel this frustrated, let alone disappointed.

It's ridiculous, she thought, pacing her room late at night. We've barely spent time together. Why do I care so much?

So, she buried herself in planning the band's promo photoshoot. It was the perfect distraction. She worked tirelessly, crafting the ideal vision to boost excitement for their upcoming tour. Tasha helped her perfect the fashion mood boards and brainstorm location ideas, while Matt fine-tuned the logistics. After days of work, Lilly finally felt ready to present her plan.

"Thanks for meeting me, guys," Lilly said, handing out neatly organized packets to the band members. "These are the looks I'm thinking of for the shoot—outfits, mood, the whole vibe. Take a moment to look it over. I'm open to feedback, but the goal is to really showcase you."

She watched the group quietly review her ideas, her heart pounding as she tried not to overthink every glance they exchanged.

"I'd like to start shooting soon," Lilly continued, forcing her voice to stay steady. "That way, I'll have time to edit and make sure we've got a strong collection to pull from."

Jolly was the first to speak. "This all looks solid. I'm good whenever. Pretty sure I've got something in my closet that'll work."

"Thanks, Jolly." Lilly's grin widened as she glanced at the others. "Anyone else?"

"This works for me," Folio said with a shrug. Ruffilo chimed in with a thumbs-up.

"Noah?" Lilly prompted, noticing his silence.

He glanced at his sheet, then back at her. "Yeah... it's fine."

Her smile faltered just slightly, but she recovered quickly. "Do you still have that trench coat I highlighted?"

Noah skimmed the page again, his expression unreadable. "I'll find something," he said, locking eyes with her. "Or maybe you can help me look."

Lilly felt her cheeks heat under his steady gaze, but she forced herself to stay calm. "Uh, yeah. Sure. That's fine."

"Perfect." He leaned back in his chair, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his lips.

Clearing her throat, Lilly continued. "I've got poses planned, but feel free to suggest ideas. I want this to be a collaboration."

As the meeting wrapped up and the others filtered out, Lilly tried not to overanalyze Noah's lingering gaze. Maybe she was imagining things. Or maybe his earlier comments about being "professional" were his way of keeping distance—something she couldn't let herself dwell on right now—or ever, maybe.

The meeting wrapped up, and the others filtered out, but Noah lingered.

"Yes, sir?" Lilly teased, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

"Don't call me that," he said, his tone light but firm. "Did you want to look for that coat now, or...?"

"Now works." Lilly grabbed her shoes, trying not to trip over her own excitement.

Noah drove in silence, only speaking to announce they made it to their destination; a thrift store. Once inside, he headed straight for the coats while Lilly wandered through the racks, snapping photos of potential pieces and sending texts to Jolly for the group's sizes.

A buzz from her phone caught her attention—Noah had sent her pictures of himself trying on jackets.

You couldn't just call me over? she typed back.

No. Just tell me which one works.

Lilly chuckled, typing quickly. Hmm, I think I need to see them in person.

Moments later, Noah appeared behind her, wearing one of the jackets, the others in hand.

"Well?" he asked, turning slightly.

Lilly stepped closer, brushing invisible lint from his shoulder and adjusting the collar. "It's good, but let's see the others."

Noah tried on the rest, but when he donned the final jacket—a sleek black coat with sharp lines and subtle details—Lilly's eyes lit up.

"Oh, yes sir! This is it!" she said, circling him. "The fans will eat this up. It's classy, but not too much. Let me take some photos!"

Noah frowned playfully. "I told you not to call me that."

Ignoring him, Lilly snapped a few pictures and sent them to Tasha before diving back into her search. Noah followed, occasionally vetoing her choices for the others.

After a while, he nudged her toward the women's section. "Why don't you get something for yourself?"

"I don't need—"

"You're behind the camera, but you still deserve to feel good. What size are you?"

Lilly sighed. "Women's sizes aren't simple, Noah. It's... complicated."

He wandered off, returning with a sleek black dress. "How about this?"

She opened her mouth to protest, but his hopeful expression stopped her. Huffing, she snatched the dress and went to the fitting room.

"You have to show me!" Noah called after her. 

Once she had the dress on, Lilly stepped out of the dressing room hesitantly, her arms crossed over her stomach as if trying to shield herself. The black dress clung to her body in a way that made her chest tighten, every curve on display, every flaw amplified—or so she felt.

"What do you think?" she asked, her voice barely audible, her eyes darting to the floor.

Noah's jaw dropped slightly, and a smile broke across his face like sunlight through clouds. It was the most she had seen him smile yet. "You look stunning. Seriously. That color, that fit—it's perfect on you."

Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. She turned to the mirror, her eyes scanning her reflection with ruthless precision. All she saw were the things she always saw—the slight softness in her arms, the uneven line of her waist, the way her stomach protruded too much, how the fabric clung too tightly at her hips.

She frowned. "No, I look awful. It shows... everything. I shouldn't have even tried anything on."

Noah stepped closer, his brow furrowing. "Lilly, what are you talking about?" He sounded shocked

She shook her head, avoiding his gaze. "You don't understand." Her voice cracked, the weight of her insecurities pressing down like an invisible hand. Not giving Noah a moment to say anything else, she shut the door to the dressing room and put her clothes back on. Once she was done, she walked out of the dressing room and past Noah. "Lets just pay for your coat and leave, ok? I'll be waiting by the car..." She walked quickly out of the store, leaving Noah behind.