Shadows and Stars ✔

Chapter Twenty Four

Two whole weeks have flown by in a blink of an eye, and I can barely believe it's October already.

I've been so focused on my new project at work, preparing all my documents and creating detailed plans, that I thankfully haven't had much time to dwell on how Grayson and I left things.

Granted, I've not heard from him since, and to think about him and how our last meeting ended makes my insides ache, but I'm thankful for my busy work schedule to distract me from it all.

"All done," I say to Danny, who's been watching me in amusement over the past four hours as I frantically shove multiple pages into plastic wallets, wearing out my keyboard one email at a time.

"Well I should hope so," he laughs, clicking away at his computer. "You've been faffing about all day."

I envy how he's always so chilled with everything.

"Will you be there tomorrow?" I ask, realising I haven't even found out who else is due to be helping at the fashion show.

"I will be."

My shoulders fall in relief, glad that I won't be the only apprentice there. That and the fact I'll have a friendly face to support me. Danny is so relaxed, which is good for me because I've done nothing but stress about this project. He counteracts me in a way.

"Good luck tomorrow guys!" Rachel calls to us from her desk, flicking her long, red hair behind her shoulder. "You'll do great!"

"Thanks," Danny and I say in unison.

At 5pm, the rest of the team head home, leaving me to do some last minute panic preparation. An hour later, I call it day, stuffing my documents and laptop into my bag and starting through the building towards the lobby.

"You all good for tomorrow?"

Jumping, I notice Michael in his office, my heart in my mouth because I thought everyone had left.

I nod my head frantically, shifting my bag higher up my shoulder. "I think so," I say, standing against the glass doorframe, watching Michael press a cup of coffee to his lips. "Well, I hope so."

"Good. I'll see you there tomorrow at 9am sharp. Do you know how to get there?"

Upon learning that the fashion was being held at a hotel in Westminster, me being me, I planned out the commute to the finest detail, making sure to arrive at least thirty minutes early.

I smile. "Yeah, I've planned it all out."

"See you then Mia."

Bidding Michael goodbye, I head out of the office and into the cold of the city, exhaling when I reach the platform of the tube station.

Tomorrow has to go perfectly. I have to prove to Michael that I'm capable. Because I so desperately want a job at the end of my apprenticeship.

When I'm home, I'm surprised to see Hailey snuggling with a random guy on the sofa. Though, I'm not sure why I'm all that surprised, she's never been one to show interest in commitment. She much prefers a fling.

"Hey Mia!" She beams from the sofa, her leg curled around the man's waist as he lies, relaxed and content, in a bright red t-shirt and a pair of baggy jeans.

"H—hey," I say, awkwardly sitting myself onto the other sofa, contemplating whether to just go upstairs to my bedroom and leave them to it.

"You all ready for tomorrow?" Hailey asks with a smile, stuffing a crisp into her mouth as the guy she's with focuses his eyes on the football match on TV.

"I think so," I say.

"What's going down tomorrow?" The young man asks, startling me.

Hailey laughs. "Mia, this is Ryan. Ryan, Mia."

I smile. "Hi Ryan."

"Hey."

Feeling as though I'm a third wheel in this scenario, I decide to grab a portion of leftover pasta from the fridge and take myself to my room to watch TV, and, probably for the twentieth time today, to make sure I have everything I need for tomorrow.

Sitting on my bed and shoving pasta into my mouth, I check my notes, my stationery, and the many leaflets Danny and I created that I've neatly stacked within my bag.

Deep down I'm certain I have everything I need, but I go over it all again at least five times just to be sure.

After brushing my teeth and removing my make up, I decide on an early night. I've set way too many alarms, but the paranoia within me is telling me that if I don't, I won't wake and I'll miss the show completely. And I can't deal with that fear hanging over me.

I collapse in bed, relishing the comfort of my duvet, cocooning myself inside of them and exhaling. At the same time, I stare to the dark ceiling, praying that tomorrow goes perfectly. It just has to. There's no other option. Turning on my side, I shift the thoughts of work to the back of my mind, begging my body to sleep.

But the inevitable happens, and suddenly I'm met with with the heart-wrenching images of Grayson, clouding my mind, infesting my thoughts like a goddamned disease.

I've tried so damn hard to forget about him—God only knows that I should—but he's like an itch that can't be scratched.

I'm still craving his touch, his heat, his energy and the way he delicately yet fiercely took my lips against his in a moment of uncontrollable passion.

I miss his confidence, his power, his humour and the irritating yet adorable way he loves to order me about.

Most of all I miss his cheeky yet charming exterior, and the urge within me to feel him again is too strong.

But I have to fight it with every ounce of energy I have left in me, otherwise I won't be able to fight it at all. And I don't want to think about what could happen if I don't.

Bringing my knees to my chest, I shake the thoughts of Grayson Cooper temporarily away—or at least try to anyway. I place my head against the pillow,  allowing my eyes to shut, allowing my brain to shut down for just a short moment until it'll work on overtime again.