Strung (Rock & Romance I.)

Chapter 23. - Thirdly

A/N: Welcome back to date night with Lukas LaBelle! Anyone else freaking out?!

This chapter is dedicated to shue-chan !

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For our third date, Lukas picked a concert.

Unlike the concerts I've attended before, this was much smaller scale. It was an unplugged event, where the band was going to play for a few VIP fans, while recording themselves for their website. I couldn't be more excited for it – two of my favorite things, live art and the man I was falling hopelessly in love with, all in one room.

Initially, Lukas was worried about me going public with him. He warned me about how people could get, and the gossip that would spread if we were to be seen together.

But the reality was that I've already had paparazzi following me around constantly. I've already received so many hate comments and threatening messages, that my head spun with all the creative ways women could be told off. I was already the topic of gossip blogs and drama channels, even though I've been doing my best to lay low and just go about my day.

If I was going to be in so much limelight regardless, might as well continue living my life. And the little devil inside me wanted to give these gossip blogs a real something-something to talk about.

Callie fussed over what I'd wear until my head spun.

She wanted everything to be just perfect, because it was going to be all over tomorrow's fashion blogs - either tearing my choices apart, or wanting to know where I've purchased my outfit from. "You need heels. You're way too short next to him, and it makes your legs look longer." She murmured, mostly to herself as she rummaged through my closet.

Boxes and boxes of new clothes and accessories laid piled up in one corner, but I haven't bought any of them. They were just sent to me by various designers and brands for publicity.

It was strange receiving packages of clothes and shoes in a size that fit me and my body type perfectly, and all for free.

Of course, Callie was used to it. Being an up and coming model, she scored complimentary things all the time. But she was a damn supermodel, and I painted for a living!

"Not those!" I pointed at the pair of red bottom heels she was currently holding. "I can't walk in those. The last thing I need is a dislocated ankle in front of those piranhas."

Callie sighed. "You need to practice, then!" She whined, but set the shoes back in their original box, and picked up another one. "If you're gonna be seen with a rock star, you need to be chic. Plus, your height difference is too weird for the photos. If they want a close up of his face, they can only see you from the eyeball up. So not cute!"

Looking good in a close up was the least of my worries – but I didn't want to crush my best friend's spirit. She was just trying to help, and although she had a weird way of showing it, kindness came so rarely my way these days, I wanted to cherish it. "Ok. I'll wear whatever you want." Her grin was illuminating, but before she could grab the Louboutins she was originally holding, I waved my finger at her. "Except for that."

"Fine, fine." She groaned. "I'll make do with something else."

In the end, she picked out a thigh high pair of black, velvet boots, with thick heels. Thanks to the tightness of the material, they supported my ankles, so even though they were on the higher side, I felt safe walking in them. Callie paired them with a light burgundy sweater dress, that hugged my curves, but was thick enough to fight off the chilly night air. As for accessories, I didn't let her go overboard. I was an overalls and t-shirts kind of girl, and the girl in the mirror already felt too much like another person. Callie picked a simple, black purse - but wound a cheetah print scarf around the handles -, and black stud earrings.