The Hurting Kind

Thomas and Forrester International

Maybe once I am done modeling I can look into gaining a position as a fashion executive. With all this 'real world' experience that I have gained lately. Maya thought sarcastically.

She tried to take in the sights and explore, but everywhere she went she thought of Rick. Thankfully she received an offer to shoot in Germany for an Avant Garde line by Wolfgang Max and she accepted without any questions. By the end of that week, Maya was wearing dangerously short skirts, crop tops with lethal-looking shoulder pads, and boots made of old car parts. Finally back to modeling, she was able to use her loneliness and heartache to pull off her edgiest spread ever.

Maya found herself diving headfirst into her work. It's better than moping around and being lonely, she told herself. 

Just a few days after the Avant-Garde show in London, she took another job. This time it was a photo shoot for the 25th Anniversary of The Great Frog. And when that ended, she found herself on a plane within hours afterward to catch a direct flight to Cape Town, South Africa for a 'Coming to America' themed editorial shoot.

While in the chair for hair and makeup, Maya took in her sights and was blown away by the city around her. The night sky was a mixture of violet and navy hues with a rich full moon. She closed her eyes to take in all the sounds. Until she felt her cell phone vibrating in the pocket of her robe. Maya glanced at the screen and smiled before answering.

"Hi! How are you, little sis?"

"Oh! Haven't you forgotten about me? I was beginning to wonder..." Nicole replied.

"I'm sorry Nicky. I've been so busy with work that I haven't had any free time to call you back sooner," she explained.

"It's okay, I didn't call to guilt trip you. Just wanted to know if you would be in Paris again anytime soon?"

Maya hadn't made any plans to leave South Africa yet and hadn't received any more work offers, so she wasn't sure of her next move. With curiosity ringing through her voice she spoke, "Well, I have no other work lined up right now so I could be in Paris in the next couple of days. Why do you ask?"

"Ridge and Caroline are taking us interns to Paris on their next trip and I knew that that was the last place that you went after – Ummm, I wanted to visit you while we were there," Nicole said hopefully.

"Of course! I would love to see you! When will you guys be arriving?"

"Yea! Caroline says that we will be leaving on Friday morning and we'll get there by 8 pm. I'm so excited!" she squealed.

The photographer's assistant had called Maya on the set so she had to end her call with Nicole. She promised to call her back as soon as she was free, and for the first time in months, Maya couldn't stop smiling.

                                                                                     ***

Several days later Maya was back in Paris. She still had a dull ache in her chest when she thought back to her last time there, but now she was able to really take in her surroundings. Instead of wasting her time holed away in her hotel room, Maya wandered the city with newfound excitement. She finally stopped in front of The Foundation Café to order a cup of coffee.

While waiting in line, Maya got lost in her thoughts of spending time with Nicole until a rich tenor voice reached her ears.

"Is this the Maya Avant that I have heard so much about?"

Quickly turning around to see who was talking to her, she was soon engulfed by her sister in a tight hug.

"Wow! How did you know that we'd be coming here?!" Nicole exclaimed.

"Well, I didn't know. I was just taking in the city and stopped for something to drink... Come here you!" As the two hugged again, they heard light laughter from behind them.

"Oh crap! I'm sorry. Thomas, this is my big sister Maya. Maya, this is Thomas, my boss." Nicole blurted out.

Up until now Maya had only heard of Thomas occasionally and seen a few pictures of him around FC. None of which did him justice. He definitely had inherited his parents' good looks. "Hi Thomas. It is good to finally meet you."

"You too Maya. Nicole has been talking about you the entire way here. She is really proud." He said. 

Nicole smiled sheepishly before gently nudging Maya's hip. "Don't let it go to your head. I'll get us some coffee." 

As she walked away Maya spoke, "I think I'm more proud of her than she is of me. Nicole really is putting in the work at FC when she could have easily walked away. That takes courage."

"Yes, it does." Thomas agreed. "I think she may have gotten that from you."

"Thank you."

"No problem. So, how are you doing?"

Just as she was about to put on her one-woman act of the 'Being SO Happy' show, Maya saw something in Thomas' eyes. She wasn't sure what it was exactly, but it made her hold off on acting as though she was completely okay. "Do you really want to know?"

"Well, yes. I did ask, didn't I?" 

Maya glanced over at the counter where her sister was and she answered Thomas in a low voice. "A few weeks ago, I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to heal and start to move on. I now know that I can. Still hurts though from time to time." 

Thomas nodded. "I understand. It's hard loving someone so much and being so far away from them. Just so you know – it does get easier. Keeping yourself busy helps." 

She looked at him again. Thomas caught her staring and didn't look away.

He's been through the same thing as me. Well, not the exact same thing, but he's been separated from a loved one too... He knows this feeling first hand.

It was at that moment that Maya knew that she would have a friend in Thomas. Nicole then walked back to the two of them with their drinks. 

"One coffee with half and half and another with only 2 sugars." 

They both looked at her, shock evident on their faces. 

"What? I'll have you know that a good intern always remembers how their boss likes their coffee, and I did live with you for months Maya." Nicole explained.

Laughing as they accepted their drinks, Thomas asked, "Is this your way of securing a more permanent position at FC? If so – it's working."

"Really? Thanks!" she beamed up toward her boss.

"Now Nicole," Maya started, "What would you like to do first? We can be complete tourists and take pics all over the city, do a little shopping, or we can just go back to my room and veg out on junk food and watch a few romantic comedy movies. Whatever you want to do is fine."

"Well... Thomas and everyone else was going to head over to the FC International office to meet the other interns and designers, and I wanted to go too. Would that be okay?"

"Oh, that's fine. I'll meet you back at the hotel when you guys are done."

Before Nicole could agree with Maya, Thomas spoke up, "Why don't you join us, Maya? We won't be long, and then you and Nicole could leave together?" 

Smiling on the outside and slightly panicking on the inside, she countered. "Are you sure that that would be okay? I mean, I don't want to impose or anything." 

Thomas quickly glanced over at Nicole before giving Maya an encouraging smile.

"I am sure. You wouldn't be imposing at all. Besides, I think everyone there would be more than welcoming to the idea of meeting one of the best models that Forrester Creations has ever had." He reached out his hand and after a beat Maya accepted.

She was still nervous about going Forrester Creations International, but after seeing Nicole's blinding smile and excitement about the decision – how could she not go?