#model!mc

My manager Talia held a straw up to my lips once my makeup was on. I had to start out hydrated because I wouldn’t get many chances to do so once I was in the zone. When everything was done, we headed to the first set. My gown was pastel blue and sparkled with every move. Talia and a stylist made sure the train didn’t touch the ground.

“Ah, you’re done already?” Caleb asked and then looked up at me.

I wasn’t sure what happened, but air left my lungs in an instant. His eyes were gorgeous. My face got warm.

He touched his cheek, “Is it something on my face?”

“Oh! No, nonono. I just. Your eyes are stunning! Breathtaking even…” I then bowed. “I’m Y/N, please look after me.”

He bowed in return, “It is nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot of great things through the photographer grapevine. You’re very professional and have a good attitude.”

“They really say such sweet things about me?” I beamed. “I’m glad.”

Caleb smiled, “They sure do. I hope I can sing your praises as well once we’re done. Anything about your body or today’s vibe that I need to know?”

“No. Nothing like that. Well…actually I hurt my ankle recently. It’s mostly ok, but if anyone has to do hands on repositioning for me, just be gentle.” I said. “It’s the left one.”

He nodded, “Good to know. Everyone hear that? Careful with the left ankle!”

“Heard!” His assistants echoed.

“Wow. You run a tight ship.” I looked around.

Caleb offered his hand, “Let me help you up onto the platform. We’re starting with the ‘siren’ set.”

My candy was conversation hearts. He took a few photos of me playing with them on a pearlescent table. It was small and low to the ground while I was resting on something that looked like spongey coral. I did bored faces and happy faces, cute expressions and annoyed ones. Sometimes I’d hear Caleb giggle before giving me compliments and direction.

“Ok, now reach out to the camera.” He said after getting closer and putting the camera up to his face.

I did as told.

His lips pursed, “Your hand is too limp. May I?”

“Uh, sure.” I said.

Caleb held my hand and flipped it over so that my palm was up. Then he squeezed slightly to make it into a cup form. He checked through the lens and adjusted it some more. His fingertips were calloused and slightly scarred, but the rest of his hands were softer than I expected.

I heard the shutter click while my thoughts were still away.

“Cute.” He said softly.

I exhaled and kept my hand out, trying not to get flustered or embarrassed over such a small comment. He placed a conversation heart in my hand. I thought it was a blank white one since it’d be the easiest to photoshop over in post. My eyes and lips went through the expressions again. He told me to act coy. It’d look funny with my features, but I did it anyways.

“Pout a little more, please.” Caleb requested.

My bottom lip went up.

“Perfect. Now stay there, and we’re gonna do the setup for extreme close ups. Makeup, please touch up her lips. Thank you.” He tucked his slightly shaggy hair behind his ear.

“Heard!” Came the reply.

Then we did closeups of my mouth. I had to hold a conversation heart between my painted lips. The first one said XOXO. There was a lightbox that started right above my nostrils but didn’t show my eyes. All I had to focus on was how to move my lips. My eyes and ears were fully on Caleb.

I watched how he worked. His focused and serious face was adorable even for a grown man. The photographer’s features were the perfect mix of soft and sharp, strong…supple. His lips were so nice.

“Miss Y/N, you’re, uhhh, drooling.” His eyes flickered up to me. “Do you wanna take a break?”

“Hmm? Oh, uh--” I felt panic start to set in.

“I’ve got it.” He pulled a cloth napkin from his pocket, “Drop it.”

I let go of the candy, “I’m so sorry. I just zoned out. I don’t need a break.”

This was so unprofessional! And it was me! I wasn’t usually like this!

Caleb smiled, “It’s fine. Give me 10 more minutes with this look, and you can relax a bit, ok?”

“Yeah, I can do that. Um, touchups?” I asked.

“No, actually…” He tilted his head and stared at my lips. “I promise my hands are clean. Can I touch?”

I nodded, “Go for it. I trust you.”

He exhaled and smiled at the same time. Caleb held my chin gently before smearing my lipstick with his thumb. There was enough sweat from the heat and leftover drool that it worked.

“Perfect.” He said, his thumb now covered in sparkly blue makeup. “Now, here’s a new candy.”

I felt it nearing my mouth and closed my lips to rest on it. Was it just in my head, or did we make eye contact the entire time? Focusing on not drooling again, I finished the remaining 12 minutes before getting help up. His hands. His face. His eyes! I wasn’t sure what this feeling was, but this wasn’t the time to have them.

Even after my makeup was finished, and I was in a new outfit, the set was still being updated. I went back into my waiting room. My manager handed me a pink 3D heart with a glossy surface. LUV YOU was written on it in red dry erase, the marker attached to it.

“What’s this?” I asked Talia.

“A real life Conversation Heart. Someone else has the other heart since these are still prototypes. You’ll be using it in the commercial portion tomorrow, so we wanted you to get some practice with it. This is the default message. It should have a signature from an approved staff member.” She said and went to take a call.

I looked again. On the back, Paired with: CALEB was on the heart as well. Whatever he wrote would show up on my screen and vice versa. However, we could only use the 18 built-in messages. Anything else was too much for the heart to understand and send right now. It was made to read and display our handwriting.

So, I decided to send out UR SWEET because that was the truth. I turned on some music to match the dreamy scene we would be doing next. I was sort of dressed like Cupid. A pink version of the commercialized cherub. A ruffled petticoat underneath my puff sleeved mini toga.

A few minutes later, I got back: UR CUTE

I giggled, erased his message, and replied: FLIRT

This response was quick. I guess he was just waiting, too. WINK WINK followed by CUTIE PIE.

OOO LALA was my response, but I didn’t want him to misunderstand. YOU + ME and I hoped it could understand a question mark.

It seemed like the answer was yes. XOXO and YOU + ME without a question mark came back.

I wasn’t sure what to say. Based on the sheet that told me what the Heart could understand, it was either too much or not enough.

LOVE BIRDS is what I decided on. However, I didn’t know what I’d see his response since it was time for the next shoot. I was given a golden bow and arrow with a heart at the end. We both acted as though we hadn’t been sending PG rated love notes to each other. This was work and maybe that was, too. Caleb didn’t seem the insincere type.

Still, we cared about our jobs so much that professionalism took over. Even when I was back in my makeup room, I didn’t have time to check if he had said anything. The last look was yellow. A soft and pastel charming look with polka-dot T-strap heels. Large conversation hearts filled the set, and all I had to do was interact with them. I played with confetti and gave smile after smile after smile while the photographer took endless photos.

“My chicks hewt.” I said while massaging my face.

“Break time!” Caleb said without even missing a beat. “Five minutes and then we’re back. Hydrate. Snack.”

He gave his camera to his assistant and talked to them. I got a sip of water and a mouthful of my favorite cookie. Mini versions. We were both busy doing our own things, but my mind still wondered what he would say. Was this just a moment of being cute and playful or something more? I wouldn’t ever know, probably. I’d just take it as it came and cherish the fleeting flirts.

About an hour later, I got out of the yellow dress and it was time to go home. I had the commercial to do in less than 24 hours. I had all my bags, all my staff, and was heading to the car when my assistant asked if I had the Conversation Heart.

“Oh, no! I didn’t know I could keep it. I’ll go grab it since I know where it is.” I said and rushed back in my slip on sneakers.

When I found it on the table, it had a note next to it. It read “Whenever you’re free, but hopefully soon.” with a camera doodled where one would sign their name. Then I looked at the heart

DATE NIGHT?

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