Every Breath You Take (Denis Stoff, Denis Shaforotov, Asking Alexandria)

15

Emma-
I took a deep breath as I opened the doors to my gallery the next afternoon. Taking a deep breath, inhaling the musky woodsy scent of the building, which had used to be a warehouse, now turned into my studio/ gallery. I was beyond thrilled with this development.

"Looks great doesn't it?" My manager smiled as she strolled in.

"It's amazing. Everything I ever dreamed of." I smiled.

"I'm so glad." She smiled. "We are scheduled to open in an hour, and I'm sure you already saw the line forming outside." She smiled.

"I did." I beamed.

"Do you have the piece that I had you do last minute?" She asked.

I nodded as I pulled it out of the flat file I had to transport it.

"Here you go. What do you think?"

"It's beautiful." She smiled.

"Thanks."

"Thank you for doing this so last minute. What inspired it?"

I shrugged.

"I really just was sketching and this came out."

"I don't buy that." She laughed. "That is the same man from that picture." She pointed to the west wall, where a sketch of Denis was. "And that girl is you. He must be pretty special."

"He was." I bit my lip. "I cut off contact for his sake." I sighed.

"Why?"

"It's complicated. It's just easier for us to be apart and for my brother and him to work together. Keep the two worlds separate." I nodded.

"Sounds complicated."

"Very." I nodded.

"Well. If you are ready we can open the doors and let some of these eager people in?" She suggested.

"Sounds great! Let's do this."

-----
A few hours after we had opened doors the place was still buzzing. People were asking me questions, admiring my work, even offering to buy some and commission some already.

I was elated at the thought.

I was chatting with a customer when I noticed a five familiar figures walk in the door.

"Excuse me for a moment sir." I apologized as they approached me.

The lads.

Cam, Sam, Ben, Denis, and my brother.

"What are you doing here? This is supposed to be a happy day for me." I glared at James.

I still hadn't forgiven him for what he had said and done.

"And it is. I came to support you. Not to fight. So just let me do that. If you don't want to talk we don't have to."

"Just.... Not right now." I sighed, making eye contact with Denis.

He looked hurt, his eyes a bit watery as he glanced at sketches I had done of him. He was everywhere in here.

"Hey." I whispered, biting my lip.

"Hey." He said. Awkwardly hugging me as I stiffened up.

"Emma there's a man asking about buying....." My manager walked up and trailed off as she saw Denis there, her eyes going back and forth between my work and him, surveying to see if he was the guy from all the artwork.

He was.

"Can we talk?" He sighed.

"I...uh" I bit my lip, glancing around the gallery as my manager  spoke.

"She can go. Just got to the office and be back in twenty minutes."

Are you kidding me?

"Okay." I whispered as I climbed the stairs up to the loft that was my office Denis following behind me.

I sat on the edge of my desk as he leaned on a table, looking at some of my rejected sketches.

"These are beautiful."

"I don't have time for small talk." I bit my lip.

"What happened Em?" He sighed, running a hand through his mousy brown hair.

"What do you mean Denis?"

"I mean you left, basically told me you loved me and then ignored all my messages." He sighed.

"Nothing happened, I was just busy."

"That's a lie and you know it. You could have sent a single text."

"Did you come here to yell at me? Because I'm not letting you take this night away." I glared, standing up.

"That's not what- Emma- ugh" he groaned.

"Why did you come here?"

"Why did you ignore me?" He retorted.

"You answer first." We said at the same time.

"No you!" In unison again.

"Fine! Because I care about you!" I snapped.

"How does caring for me make you ignore me?" He scoffed.

"I didn't want it to be tense between you and James." I bit my lip.

"Well it was a bit late for that."

"If you came here to make me feel bad then you are doing a hell of a job. Now please excuse me, I have a gallery to run." I pushed past him as he grabbed my waist, making me gasp.

"I came here to win you back. I'm just trying to understand this. Why you threw us away. I love you."

And with that his lips were on mine.

They moved with a feverish haste, as though he was afraid that I would disappear in a few quick seconds.

Our kiss got more intense as he pushed the papers aside on the desk, pinning me to it as he reached for my dress zipper, the door swinging open as he did so, revealing James.

I bit my lip, adjusting my clothes. As I got up, fixing my hair a bit awkwardly.

"I'll go." Denis bit his lip, leaving me alone with my brother.

"We need to talk."

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A/N: Sorry it's been a bit! I've been super busy. I'm keeping this A/N short, but I wanted to let you all know I'm starting a Sam book soon, so stay tuned for that! As always much love! ❤️ -Anon