LOVING HIM IS NOT A SLOW BURN.

“i mean that you’re gorgeous. you’re in the elite, the people that most everyone else wants to look like.”

“ oh my gosh, no. stop. you’re gorgeous too. ”

“ ew! ” gabriel cannot help but make that disgusted noise. “ dorian isn’t beautiful! ” he really keeps just teasing the other by how handsome he looked putting himself in front of their friend. “ fuck— what have i say to you that will makes you believe how good you’re, shi? is an industry thing, innit? all models have a little photoshop on their photos. besides, everyone who is in the media did that. once they took my beard off, and i haven’t the faintest idea how it happened. you look— um, beautiful. stopped being this silly, alright? ” he cleared his throat. “ feels like i didn’t see you in ages. what you think about being here though? ”

shiloh blushes, avoiding gabriel’s soft blue eyes. “ y-you don’t have to say anything -- you said it all awhile ago.. don’t you remember? ” of course, shiloh was hoping the many months that he and gabriel spent together, tangled up under endless sheets, kissing until their lips were chapped beyond belief. “ i think it’s alright. i don’t like the camera thing, though. what about you? ”

“ well , not all people want to. once you’ve got an athletic frame like that of an abercrombie model , there’s a lot to pressure to keep that way. and mind you , a lot of work goes into maintaining such a stature. too much work at times. not to mention that most o’those model photos are heavily photoshopped. those ‘ideal bodies’ the industry puts in people’s heads can sometimes be humanly impossible. but of course you should know that , right ? from what i’ve heard , you’re also pretty big in the modeling business. ” arabella grinned. “ please do correct me if i’m wrong. ”

“ yeah, i guess i’m big. i don’t consider myself to be, though. i think it’s key to stay modest, yeah? ” shiloh nods his head. “ i know i’ve seen you around before, but i’m sure if we have formally met. i’m shiloh langston - it’s nice to meet you! ”

“okay, for starters, when have i ever cared?”

“why are you so damn rude?”

gabriel chuckle a little when the other talk about their mutual best friend. “ i’m just sick of his face the whole time, almost paying plastic surgery for him, ya'know? just kidding. ” he didn’t want to notice how easy it was to be next to shiloh, but this happens automatically, like everything about him. “ good, thank you. just a little confusing, but it’s all very strange. and you? looks like you’re doin’ great, since i see you in every corner now. ”

“ you can’t do that to him!! he is beautiful the way he is. ” shiloh puts on a pout, his lips slightly chapped. “ i’ve been alright. ” he pauses. “ yeah, i know, i see myself everywhere. it’s not exactly the best thing ever though, like, i see all of the touch ups they do and all of the damn photoshopping they do -- and here i was thinkin’ i looked fine the way i was. ”

“i like american eagle too.”

“what do you mean the elite?”

“what do you mean the elite?”

“ you’re cute looking as fuck too, shiloh. ” he rolled his eyes, but unlike the usual scowl, a small grin was showing on his lips. “ if it helps, i’m glad you’re here. seeing dorian’s ugly face every day would be like an overdose, and your face… well it’s your face. ”

“ yeah, you too.” shiloh looks down to his feet for a moment, meeting gabriels’ gaze not long after. “i’m glad you’re here too. dorian’s face is nice looking though, he doesn’t have any ugly-ness or whatever.” shiloh knew he was babbling, but he just couldn’t help it. “how, um - how have you been?”

the girl couldn’t but roll her eyes at the boy’s response following with a chuckle. “oh please– thank you, shi,” she accepted graciously before looking back up at him. “i don’t really know how i feel about this whole 24/7 camera thing, it’s really invasive… how about you?”

“you’re very welcome, viv.” he smiles, listening to her question, and taking a moment to process his answer before actually answering. “i don’t really, like.. hate it? but it doesn’t exactly knock my socks off, if you know what i mean. i don’t want everyone knowing everything about me. there’s shit i keep secret for a reason, y’know?”

“ what the fuck are you talking about? you’re the one looking like a model that gucci hire to be their face. no wait, i’m a little late for that comment. ”

“yeah, you’re just a lil bit late, but s’okay.” shiloh feels a light blush come to his cheeks, smiling, hoping to hide it. “but still, those models are cute looki’n, right?”