holiday syndrome

9. the photoshoot

"steal my blood and steal my heart"

gif: mack

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            MACK hadn't done a photoshoot for Symptomatic in months, which was something Marley had been incredibly grateful for. It only helped her keep her sister separated from work and fuelled Marley's desire to avoid her. Maybe it was petty considering everyone loved Mackenzie and claimed that the magazine was suffering from her lack of appearances, but Marley didn't really care. She knew that magazine was just as fine as ever, especially the American office after scandalous shoot met the pages.

     That photoshoot was something she spent a lot of time pretending didn't exist, even if it had been very present on the internet lately. Though she supposed that she couldn't be mad about it forever, just as long as she didn't have to see it any more than she had to. Bringing it up to Mackenzie wasn't really an option either, or at least she suspected. They had both done things recently that they shouldn't have.

     When Marley walked into the middle of a photoshoot that she hadn't known was planned, all of the twisted anger and confusion she had felt since New York seemed to come flooding back. There was her sister, loosely fitted with pieces of cloth that might have been considered fashion a million years ago or so. She was lying down on a faux bear rug and placed in front of a fire place prop. She was stunning as always, and her hair was split into tiny, individual braids like when she was a child. It had been straightened and curled for so long that Marley forgot what her sister used to look like. It was too bad that the small flashback moment couldn't erase the overwhelming bitterness lodged in her throat.

     "Marley, darling, how have you been?"

     Mack lifted herself from the ground mid-picture and confidently sauntered over to the red haired girl. Marley did her best to look unfazed, like she was obsessing over how many things she wanted to say but couldn't. Instead she plastered on a smile and put her phone in the pocket of her jeans. She must have looked so plain, wearing fairly expensive black jeans and a cream silk blouse that cost her a fortune. No, not many could look stellar next to Mackenzie Greenwald. Especially not Marley.

     "I've been busy." A lie. Talking to Mackenzie was always somewhat of a game, Marley realized. Sometimes when going long periods time without talking to her sister, Marley found herself forgetting what it was like to think before letting a single word past her lips. The way they talked to each other was barely human.

     "Why don't we find a place to catch up, I want to hear about your life. And mum. I haven't had a chance to stop by lately."

     How long had it been since Marley had gone for drinks with Mads? A month? Did Mack even know about that, about how Marley had practically begged for her mother to have some kind of company? The message she had left on her sister's answering machine hadn't been answered but Mack had still texted once or twice in the past month. She hated how time seemed to move so slowly but her mother's illness accelerated so quickly. Sure, she was jumping far ahead, but it hadn't gotten any easier to feel like she was disappointing Mora.

     Her mother was a strong, passionate woman. She deserved more than the bitter mess that Marley was.

     "Sure, we can sit in the third floor lounge or something. I have no idea what projects you've been into lately. We haven't seen you around here."

     Mack waved to the photographer and he willingly let her go, mumbling about having a billion photos anyways. It was always that easy for Mack, no one would ever tell her what to do even if they controlled the camera placed in front of her. If only everyone could have had it that easy. As they made their way to one of the comfortable lounges that Marley never brought anyone to, Mack tried to make small talk.