Bright Lights and Dark Blood (On Hold)

Chapter 6

♪Anna Sun by Walk the moon♪

♪Give a little more by Maroon5♪

♪Belong by Cary brothers♪

 

Before long they were throwing fancy chairs to the wall and banging vases to the floor with the upbeat music with Vincenzo’s voice shouting over the music. The apartment was fully trashed when Vincenzo told them to move closer and kiss. Nicolas and Ella were still kissing when he called cut. When they finally broke away they were still filming and got that moment of intense stares. Applause broke out.

Vincenzo ate his words hard.  The whole sequence was just one take. The dirty blonde was exceptional and Ella was amazing. They flooded the room with chemistry that even translated on film as he reviews it before moving to his SLR mount. His models were in wardrobe change and he caught them looking at each other like nobody else exists. He snapped the fleeting moment, the kind that made his mind to become a photographer 25 years ago when he captured his grandparents in their farm in Sicily. He called them out to start the shoot.

The still shots were equally breathtaking. They laid on the broken piano. Ella with a men’s shirtdress hugging on Nicholas’ propped leg him wearing only pants and a coat over his bare chest.  Vincenzo was so happy of the outcome he called to have champagne popped. Everyone is in gleeful mood and visibly jumping of joy except for Ella and Nicholas. They still shared the intense stare.

“That was fun” he broke the silence.

“I know, look at Vincenzo all jumpy and talky” she chuckled. Nicholas raised his glass and Ella clinked them. Vincenzo was coming to their direction. With a happy but determined face.

“Vincenzo is so happy” he said with a heavy Italian accent with his hands expressing too. “Vincenzo cannot remember last fun shoot but you too eeeh? Give Vincenzo a kiss” before Nicholas could object Vincenzo has his hands on both his cheeks and gave him two huge wet kisses on each. He could only give a smile. Ella just turned both her cheeks. “You two know each other?” he asked them. “We met yesterday, Vincenzo. At the gala” Ella replied. “Oh, only yesterday?” he cleared and they both nodded.

“Very unusual. You two look like you know each other for a long time. You look at each other like Vincenzo’s mami and papi in old country”

Nicholas looked at Ella knowing what the odd photographer was saying and she was already looking at him. “See? See? Like two old souls” he touched both of them. An assistant whispered on Vincenzo’s ear. “Pardon Vincenzo” and he left.

They were locked in the stare they have been sharing all day. By this time Ella has memorized the map of his eyes, every eyelash and the timing of his blinks.  

“Elizabetha” a voice broke their stare. She knows that whisper too well to be wrong. Ella saw Henry standing near the door pass the people still pouring champagne.

Henry was standing there for a while now. He was there to drive Ella home but instead he heard the man tell them that she and her plaything were old souls and see them stare with so much hunger that Henry got what the man meant. He had to look down because it felt so intimate.

“Who is that?” Nicholas inquired.

“A friend of mine” she said. Those words felt like a hot iron being plunged to Henry’s heart.

Ella saw Henry look away when she said it. Was she wrong? Was he expecting another answer? She wasn’t oblivious to his feelings but was she to lie and say that they aren’t just friends? She caught herself mumbling in her head. She was felt guilt consuming her.

“I need to go” she managed as she choked on her guilt. She dashed to Henry. “Henry?” she stepped to where he was facing. He took a gulp of air “You ready to go?”  he gave a dead smile. She nodded.

It must have been the longest elevator ride for both of them now they have to drive all the way home. Ella managed to throw topics but to no avail Henry wasn’t answering any of them. He just drove with eyes dead straight to the road, his jaw clenched. Ella was becoming impatient when they pulled off in front of the house. Henry turned the engine off and went out slamming the door. That was the last straw.

“What is your problem?!” She shouted as Henry turned his back on her. “Did I say something wrong? What was I supposed to say Henry?” still no response. He was still striding to the door. “WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!” she demanded. He turned his heel and faced her.

“Like any other FRIEND does when they’re mad. Walking away” he said with such acid.

“No! No! No! You DO NOT turn your back on me. You know your place” Ella flashed in front of Henry and he walked passed her. “That’s the thing, I know my place so I’m walking away” he said flatly.

“Henry, you can’t expect me to lie about what we are”

He stopped once again but this time he didn’t turn around. Henry was fighting back tears he knows he shouldn’t shed. Tears he have been fighting for many centuries. “That’s why it hurts El, because it’s the truth. You don’t love me” his voice was low.

“I do love you Henry.” She argued. Henry finally and slowly turned. “Like what exactly, Elizabetha?” he prepared himself. He knows that he’s calling another blow to the heart.

“Like a brother” she closed her eyes pained at what she said.

Henry gave a mocking laugh that made Ella snap her eyes open. “Yes, Elizabetha. That makes it so much better” — he laughed so acidly and clapped his hands once— “because that’s SOOO much better than being a friend of yours” he mimicked with sarcasm.

Ella felt a gush of wind and he was gone.