golden hour;

“Hilarious, but you can just call me Italia, when you call me by my full name it feels weird.” Everything about this situation felt odd because the two of them hadn’t seen each other in a while, she’d certainly not conducted herself very well. Not that she wasn’t planning on ignoring that with the ferocity she’d used whenever she usually denied their fleeting relationship both to anyone else as well as to herself. Gritting her teeth she felt her jawline clench before she noticed in the mirror that it was visible, pressing her lips together in an attempt to cover it up. “Can you give us a second, please?” The model asked the other members of the crew with a smile that was sweet enough to give you toothache, fluttering her eyelashes for good measure. The last thing that was needed was an audience for a conversation she already didn’t want to be having. Of course he was the person who was filming today, that was just her luck. Italia had no intention of bringing up any of their personal history but she couldn’t be sure he was planning the same. “Taken off alright? I’d say it’s more than taken off, Collin, I’ve been doing it for years.” Eyes flicking across his face there was a softness that crept into her chest for a split second before she booted it out with force. “How are things? Still doing….that” Waving her hand towards the camera slightly, just as dismissive to his job as she felt he’d just been towards hers seconds before.

“alright, italia — if you insist.” saying it left an odd taste in his mouth. it left a reminder of a recent trip to the country and the complete inability to enjoy it, as everything was a reminder, everything simply pointed back to the brunette. and although she had done absolutely nothing (in that regard), collin resented her. his eyebrows shot up at the woman’s words towards the crew members, even shared a puzzled look with one of the hairdressers. they had no other choice but to do as the model said, and collin had no other choice but to step to the side, further into the room, to let them out of the room. a few excuse mes from them and many more polite nods from collin sealed it — he was now alone in the room with the one woman who had actually made him feel something, then had taken it away, just as fast. blue eyes narrowed at her words. it wasn’t easy, but he could see through the kindness, the woman who’d left him for no reason was there, she had always been there. in return, collin couldn’t hold the shake of his head. “right, right. i’m sorry. congratulations, then. a deal with this brand will surely look nice on your portfolio,” the man sighed. a dry chuckle followed. “yep, still doing that.” he mimicked her hand gesture, rolling his eyes slightly. “you know what they say, if it ain’t broke — don’t fix it.”

“Collin? What’s up man?” he called out to the director as he witnessed him a cross away at the Springfest. Addy had run into another fellow nanny of the same friend group as Cecelia’s and excused himself after seeing the old face. “Where’ve you been? Hiding behind a a camera production team telling people what to do?” he joked.  @collinmnt​

seeing the people out and about, enjoying themselves and the beautiful spring weather almost made the whole experience worth it. truly, collin had just ventured out to try all the exciting-sounding beverages and dishes offered. but this helped him as a reminder there was more to new york than just his apartment. he turned around with a to-go box in his hand once he heard his name called. well, truly, it could’ve been any other collin, but he turned just in case. when he saw milo his muscles relaxed, his extroverted persona coming out almost immediately. “hey dude!” he greeted back. “oh, you know it. that’s my natural habitat, i feel totally out of place here.” he added with a laugh. “what about you, man? ever get that ball you keep running after?”

“so, i don’t know if you’ve ever heard of this,” collin announced as he approached his sister with a cup in his hand. it smelled really good, and the way he’d spoke at first announced the beverage as a rare one. “i thought i’d bring you one, just in case you were trying to switch up your diet, or whatnot...” the smile began to creep in midway through that sentence. “it’s called apple juice. and guess what? zero alcohol. totally virgin. what a game-changer, huh?” the man was mostly picking fun at himself and his own alcohol-consuming habits, but his sister just happened to be the target during the spring festivities.

Stealing a glance to her side,  it seemed that she had already muted the man that was talking to her for a few seconds. Was it a long time since someone had flirted with her? Surely, yes. But, it seemed like she was single and she was open to anything. Although, she had just met him-if anyone asked, she didn’t know why she should say if she already knows him. Of course, if it was William, she’d definitely say that he was with her. The more she thought about it and tried to excuse it, the worse she felt. And it didn’t become any better when he apologized. She swallowed and turned slowly to face him again. “You have?”, she almost squealed, her face fully lit up. “I’m glad more people like this movie to just go and watch it twice”, she said with a smile that was growing wider. “I don’t know if quizzing you would work, but sure”, she giggled. “I can probably find a buzzfeed personality test and make you do it to see which March sister you could be?”, she chuckled. “I’m a Jo, by the way”, she made a pause. “If it’s not prevalent?”, it came more of a question and she shook her head. “I’m Noelle”, she fully turned to his side and gave him her hand.

collin almost jumped up in his seat when he got the reaction from this young woman, so surprised to hear he’d already seen the movie in question. she was so surprised, and seemed... oddly proud? so much so that the man was almost ashamed to admit he simply found himself there out of boredom, having found himself with more time in his hands than what he was used to, and not knowing what to do with it. but she had an interesting reason, to which he had to agree. agree in his mind, and he gave her a purse of his lips and an enthusiastic nod. “it is a fantastic movie. greta outdid herself.” the plot was incredible in itself, but of course the creative direction taken drove the point home. but this girl was so intriguing. her giggle made him smile! he liked her energy. “now that’s a quiz i’d love to take. i already know which type of bread i am, so i would definitely like to know which march sister i am.” he smiled and nodded approvingly at her apparent quiz results. “nice to meet you, noelle. or should i call you jo?” he asked, a little joke. he was terrible at those, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try. “i’m collin.”

“Well I’m not really. I’d imagine if it wasn’t Cecelia and Harry I wouldn’t be on the invite list,” he raises an eyebrow and angles his body towards the other man, smiling slightly. “You though, exactly the kind of guy I’d expect to be at this kind of thing,” he pauses, and takes him in “A turtleneck is an interesting choice, not one I’d make, but it looks good,” he has to comment on it because it’s who he is as a person and in thirty six years, he’s always been consistent on that. “Cheers indeed to my suit, I do look good in Prada,” he comments, raising his glass before taking a long drink. “I’m great, perfect, really,” he says, and it’s mostly true, things are good right now, he has no complaints. That’s not true, he has a few, but still. “I’m not holding it against you, don’t worry. I’ve got bigger things to worry about. But it has been a while. How are you?”

collin couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow and let out a soft chuckle at the man’s words. collin himself wasn’t very acquainted with the bride and groom, but what really took him aback was the compliment. not unexpected, considering his history with the older man in front of him, but surprising. and welcome, to be honest. “not entirely sure what that means, but i’ll take it. regardless of status and everything, i’m here for the drinks. they went all out with the open bar thing, man.” the most exciting thing about the whole event, in his opinion. “but thank you, i’ll take the compliment and store it so i can blackmail you with it later,” he joked, pointing at elias with his glass of wine. he offered him a nod afterwards. “you do, indeed.” collin chuckled, taking a sip. “bigger things, huh? i’ll try not to take that to heart, now! but, i’mg glad you’re doing good. always a pleasure to know. i’m doing okay, too, all things considered. your date looks stunning too, if you don’t mind me saying.”

“Collin!” The second Lara spotted the adorable giant, she swiftly made her way through the crowd to his side, murmuring a few light excuse mes. At his compliment, she wrapped an arm around his waist fondly. “Your secret’s safe with me! To be fair, I’m wearing a lot of make-up. Underneath I’m just a crying flustered mess.” Lara informed him with a bright smile before wiggling her eyebrows towards his glass of wine. “I’m good, my plan it to get super wasted once I’m the only guest left, care to recommend some fine wine for me? Hide a bottle somewhere so it doesn’t get snatched? … By you, most likely" the blonde jested lightly, not really wanting to get into the whole reason why he was drinking as much at a wedding. “What about you?” Lara continued in a light tone. “Are you in search of creative inspiration today? Because I have some for you,” her gaze traveled over the guests. “Comedy, tragedy, drama, horror… You name it.”

Annie: Yeah! My flight should be returning around 8 Sunday.

Annie: Dinner sounds lovely.

Annie: You better bring me this exuberant wine Collin or I'll be sorely pissed off with you after hearing you brag about it.

Collin: It's a date, then?

Collin: Deal. I don't know if it's for sale, but you're worth maybe stealing a bottle or two for.

“You’re hiding a hickey under that?” The older man teased, playfully tugging down on the turtle neck, trying to peep. Pax and Collin had greeted earlier on the ceremony, but giving Lucy was with him, they couldn’t talk much. Despite how things turned out with his ex, he had maintained a good and friendly relationship with his former brother in law. “Sexy motherfucker, you look sharp in all black. You might even have a chance with any of the single bridesmaids, can I be your wingman?” ( @collinmnt​ )

“why of course,” collin spoke as his hands came together in a slightly pretentious clap, although it was mostly a joke. “what else could it be?” once at the reception, collin had separated from his sister, as he was her plus one, in search of what the rich people wedding had to offer. collin had been a guest to a few other rich people weddings, but this was something to behold. a royal-type wedding would certainly have some royal-type wine, wouldn’t it? “please, there is nobody else i would rather have as my wingman. and, you’ll have to allow me to be yours. can’t believe you didn’t bring a date with ya, man.”

“No, you really don’t. I’m glad you knew that already, though,” She teased. Being the older sibling, she often did call the shots, so over the years she had taken to making jokes about it. “With that open bar, everyone is going to be drunk within the next couple hours, which will make for interesting people watching,” she pointed out, a laugh escaping her lips as she walked over to the bar with Collin. “Antisocial-ness really does run in the family, doesn’t it? First me, and now you.” Usually Lucy was the type to not really speak to anyone, but she did know a handful of people at this wedding. “Kevin’s not my boyfriend, Collin. We’re still figuring things out.” It was taking a while, despite having previously dated. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. I would have loved to have met your ex-wife and ex-girlfriend,” she said, going along with his story. It was what he said next that caused her to quirk a brow. “Really? Does she have a name? I hope you know I’m going to be asking you a million questions now.”

“for sure. one of those people might be me, so make sure you watch me. and please stop me if i do something stupid like the bride’s brothers... i’d hate to make this more awkward for everyone involved. although i do have to say, it was kinda funny.” collin chuckled to himself mostly, as he knew the situation that unfolded wasn’t funny, but it was, in a dark way. he swiftly avoided the mention of why he was keeping his distance from other guests, especially other arts-involved guests, saved by his sister’s segue into her personal life. “oh, tomato, to-mah-to. you act like a couple, might as well call it what it is.” he gave the older one a shrug and a smile. he had always been the best at annoying her, a talent he would proudly add to his resume if he could. “oh, she has a name. and she beats both the ex-wife and ex-girlfriend, by the way. but i’m not telling you what her name is. now, about that drink...”

Annie: Thanks. But only one question allowed mister per attendee.

Annie: Okay lol?? Then that just means you have to figure out what brand and flavor this AMAZING wine is and buy us a bottle the next time we hang out.

- 2 minutes later -

Annie: I'm sure it's not that bad. I honestly would have loved to have been there truly.

Collin: Are you coming back to the city this week?

After dancing with Kevin for a while, Lucy approached her brother and grabbed him by the arm. “Come get a drink with me, brother dearest?” She asked. Well, she wasn’t really asking since she as already pulling him towards the bar. “What have you been up to? I haven’t seen you since we got here. For all I know, you could have met someone and made her your girlfriend by now,” she teased, a laugh escaping her lips. 

@collinmnt​

“do i have a choice?” collin laughed as he spoke. not only did he feel out of place at the wedding, but his sister sure made the situation a lot more bearable. when she was away from her boyfriend, anyway. “really gotta give these guys props — the open bar thing? genius.” he pursed his lips at the eldest’s question. “drinking, mostly. i’m telling you! open bar? fucking genius!” so insistent, as if trying to make up for how slightly antisocial he was being, especially after learning about the absence of the one face he’d wanted to spot among the crowd. “and that, of course. as soon as you left to smooch your boyfriend, i got married. i divorced her immediately, though — then i found myself a new girlfriend, but we broke up after i found the bar.” it was genius, but he’d save lucy from having to hear him saying it again. he sighed. “but if i’m being honest, i was hoping i’d see someone here today, but turns out she’s in atlanta this weekend. of all places... in atlanta.”

Annie: Yeah, I spoke on a panel about primary prevention efforts in our communities. Riveting things I tell you lol.

Annie: It looks like it! I've been living vicariously through people's social media postings. 🙈

Annie: If I????

Collin: That's actually very impressive. Shoulda been there to ask you a bunch of random questions about it. 😈

Collin: Sorry, not sure what happened there. If you could have some of this wine!

— a couple of minutes later

Annie: Hi! No I am not. At a work conference in Atlanta for the weekend.

Annie: How's it going?

Collin: No way. Really?

Collin: I mean, the wine's amazing. Food, too. I'm sure you'd like the damn wine!