Upon A Star

Chapter 4

The photo-shoot was supposed to be a casual one. Just a few shots of her profile and she'd be done. But she was mistaken.

The door swung open and there he was, in the flesh. And there she was, almost drooling like a bulldog.

Nick. The same Nick who had a girlfriend, the girlfriend who was not Celeste.

"What are you doing here?" she tried not to stumble on her words as the makeup artist approached Celeste in order to retouch her face.

"We are having a photo-shoot-," he stated and then turned to the photographer as if he was having second doubts. "Right?"

"Right," the photographer agreed and twirled and twisted his moustache in a way that suggested that this was not going to be a good day for Celeste's hormones. "So, Celeste, you know that we want to photograph your face?" He recited the question to Celeste who was completely unaware of what was going on.

"Well, yes-,"

"Well, we are going to take a video instead. We are going to tape a commercial for a perfume that is supposed to appeal men. So I want you to look sexy, and I want Nick here-," he explained and dragged Nick closer "I want Nick, to be completely infatuated with you. The way you will present the perfume, the way you wear it, and flaunt it. I want him to be head over heels for the perfume through your actions. So chop, chop, chop with hair and makeup," he clicked his fingers and Celeste ran to her dressing room to take a breath or two.

She sat in her chair, her arms slumped and her head wilted. She tightly shut her eyes and tried to blink away the tears.

This guy was going to act like he was passionate about her, infatuated even. She couldn't bear the thought, how could she get through this when all she wanted was to kiss him? But he was out of limits, girlfriend and all, and Celeste wasn't the type of girl to snatch unavailable guys. She was a lady, at least that's how she considered herself, and she wanted to have manners and be respectful of Nick's relationship. She had to put her feelings aside.

A gentle knock sounded on her door. And without replying, it opened. She opened her eyes and fixed them on the mirror in front of her, which was decorated with light bulbs on its frame. In the mirror's reflection, she saw him approach her, but she had to remain nonchalant, or at least, act that way.

"Is everything ok?" He placed his hand on her shoulder and she shuddered at his touch. "You left in a rush, are you feeling sick?"

His warm voice caressed the back of her neck as she refused to face him and fall into the trap that was his eyes.

"I'm fine," she barely uttered a whisper and let a tear stain on her cheek. She had to prevent her instinct to wipe it away, because if she did, it would give it away. Nick would know she was crying – even if it was silent.

"Look, if you don't want to do the shoot – I'll let Richard know," and the politeness in his voice just tickled her heartstrings. How could the only caring guy she knew be uninterested? Unavailable?

"I'll be out in a second," she replied while concealing the whimper that almost escaped her lips.

"Ok," his touch left her, and she was cold and alone once again.

As soon as Nick was gone, getting his own retouching. Celeste's makeup artist and hair stylist entered the room to find Celeste sobbing endlessly. She felt helpless, hurt, betrayed, a wound in the heart.

"What's wrong sweetie?" The young makeup artist asked, concern filling her voice as she approached the fragile, crying, teenage, model.

"I'm fine," and that was a lie everyone in the room knew. But they all chose to ignore it.