Falter

Chapter 35 - friends for keeps

ELIZA

Author's note:

Just want you all to feel how it felt like writing this emotional scene of Hunter and Eliza and it's inspired by the song Sink In by Amy Shark. I hope you listen to it while reading this chapter and let me know. 💟

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I'm on my fourth glass of champagne and can already feel the smooth hit of alcohol. I've been acquainted with Hunter's friends, some back in high school, some model friends he has back here in London. A mix of girls and boys and they've been pretty nice to me. It must be Mo's doing but I'm sitting here with Erin, one of his friends in the modeling agency she's in, chuckling about boys and their toys.

"You know what, when Hunter first signed up with us, he was this shy little egghead with wide eyes and a dimpled smile and always says hello to everyone. He's an incredible model and I can't wait for the world to see him. You should go to his fashion shows sometime."

She smiled at me. She has medium length curly hair and fair skin. She has freckles and her lips are full and pink. Her English accent is thick but after a few minutes of talking, I got used to it.

"I don't know. That doesn't seem like a good idea, I mean, for now."

"Why?" she tipped her flute to her mouth and drank the remaining champagne.

"This project we're currently working on, the fans are a bit intense, and I guess, I just want this," I gestured my hand to myself, "between us to stay between us for now. If you know what I mean..."

"Yeah, yeah. I totally get it. I had this boyfriend once and he was so famous. He's a top model choice so everyone knew him in the industry. I was there in every show, every country. Gosh, looking back, I realized I was so stupid to even follow him around."

She shakes her head and stares out in space like it's a memory she doesn't want to relish.

"What happened?" the curiosity in me blossoms.

"I don't know, really. I fell out of love, both of us did. First few months, I tell you, it was passionate, like we couldn't get enough of each other but then he got busy, he was booked every month, we just didn't have time for each other. I feel like I'm just there on the sidewalk in a street full of people staring at him from afar."

"You felt out of place?" I asked.

"Like that, yeah. I guess being famous has it's disadvantages."

"Wow..." was all I could say. Her story stirred something in me. Something that created a hollow in my heart, fear of what's to come for us. I watch Hunter on the far end of the room, talking to his friends while he drinks his beer. He's smiling and he seems genuinely happy even though cameras are in his face. His friends, I noticed, like to document everything in their lives and since Hunter hasn't been home lately, he's the center of attraction.

"Hey, cheer up! This party is just getting started." She smiled and proceeded to stand up, saying she'll go to the restroom. It felt warmer so I bunched up my hair and put it up like a messy bun. I touched my nape and sweat sticks to my fingers. I feel him before I can even see him. He's between my legs and his large hands covering my thighs. He looked up at me, those green eyes I adore, and smiled.

"Are you feeling okay?" he reached for shirt and as if on autopilot, he flipped the fabric and touched my stomach. He loved doing that. I loved him doing that to me. My focus is only on him and him on me. It's like we're in our own world every time we are with each other.

"I'm fine..." I smiled and pulled him to sit beside me. He snaked his hand on my waist and kissed the side of my head.

"Do you want to go home?" he asked, still his lips on my temple.