I woke up to a knock at my bedroom door and the sun pouring in through my window. Daniel was asleep beside me, and I become a bit panicked at the fact that he stayed the entire night. I pushed myself from his unconscious body realizing I’d fallen asleep with my head on his shoulder. There was something overly intimate about waking up next to him in my bed, but I shoved it aside. Getting up quietly, I opened the door to reveal a flushed looking Austin.

“Good morning,” he said with a little wave.

“Good morning, Austin, what are you doing here?” I asked.

“I don’t know if you had anything planned for today, but I was going to go for a run. Zayne mentioned you also go for runs, so uh…” He looked down at his shoes. “I thought you could possibly accompany me if you’re free.”

I hadn’t been running as much in the past few weeks. I was starting to feel the effects too. The only time I had was in the evening during the week and running on my own at that time didn’t feel safe, if only because it reminded me of that night. “Sure. Should I meet you in the living room in ten minutes?”

“Sure.”

Once he walked away, I went back to my bed to Daniel who was still sleeping upright with his mouth slightly open. He looked so peaceful, but I had to wake him up. He grunted when I first shook him but eventually woke up.

“Ugh, I can’t believe I fell asleep,” he groaned, getting out of the bed. His morning voice was raspy and deep, kind of like Zayne’s.

I couldn’t remember what happened prior to falling unconscious, so I didn’t bring it up. “Are your parents going to be upset?”

Daniel rubbed his eyes and took out his phone to look at the time. His sleepy eyes widened slowly, and he furiously became typing away at his screen. “No, but my brother might.”

“You should go. I have to get ready to go out anyways,” I said awkwardly. It was odd enough that we fell asleep last night. I hadn’t expected to wake up to him.

“Kicking me out already? I guess that’s for the best. My hypothetical girlfriend won’t be too happy with my coming home at this time anyways.”

I snorted unattractively trying not to laugh as I remembered our conversation in his car from before. “Yep, we should skip on the goodbye kiss too. She might break up with me this time.” I waved as I watched him climb out the window and turned to my dresser to find something to wear.

From the warmth of the sun coming through my window, I could tell it was going to be a on the warmer side. I changed into a pair of shorts, a sports bra, a long sleeved top, and sneakers that coincidentally matched my shorts.

Not wanting to leave Austin waiting for too long, I ran downstairs trying to put my hair into a ponytail. “Let’s go,” I said, strapping my phone onto my arm.

We went running in the park and actually raced around it a few times. It felt good to be out again. Of course, because of Austin’s height and athleticism, he won all races we did. I think we went almost eight miles. It was exhilarating.

“I didn’t think you’d be able to keep up,” he said breathlessly, running his fingers through his damp hair that looked much darker now.

“Don’t underestimate me,” I warned.

“I’ll remember that,” he laughed. “One more lap before we turn back?”

“Nah, I’m tired. I’m going to go get some water. Meet you by the fountain?”

“Yeah,” he said and started jogging off.

I bought a bottle of water and walked over to the fountain in the middle of the park. The merciless sun beamed down at me as I sat on the edge of the fountain. It was hot but I wouldn’t complain. A few months ago, it was much hotter, and I preferred cooler temperatures. Hopefully, since we were approaching the last quarter of the year, it would cool down even more. I took off my top leaving me in my sports bra, and sighed as the wind blew against my torso and back.

Someone let out a low whistle and I whipped my head around at the sound. A tall young man with light brown hair like shiny caramel fudge and heavenly features was staring at me. He was dressed in full black, and his eyes were like black pits. His skin was pale yet strangely beautiful. Alluring.

“Hi,” he said sticking his hand out for me to shake it. “Ridge Cameron.” He had a slight accent that was similar to, but fainter than mine, that made him sound as sexy as he looked.

“Nina Vásquez,” I said shaking his hand.

“I thought I recognized you.”

“And this is why I stay inside almost always,” I joked. No one ever recognized me.

He cracked a smile. “I’ve seen your spreads, they’re great,” he complimented, and I smiled awkwardly. He ran his fingers through his hair, and I caught sight of something sticking out of it. A feather? I slowly reached up and took the black feather out of his hair. It wasn’t very big, but it wasn’t small enough to be a common bird’s either. “Wow, how did that get there?”

“I should be asking you that,” I said and laughed at him a little as he took the feather from between my fingers.

Ridge and I struck up a conversation as I waited for Austin to come back. He told me how he had only just started out as a model and we bonded over the creativity in the industry even though we were only a tiny part of it. The traveling, meeting so many new people and getting to revel in the beauty of the finished product after a shoot were some of the best parts of the job.

It was exciting whenever I got noticed professionally or got to work with amazing brands and companies. Getting free clothes and products were definitely big pluses and travelling meant making friends all over the world.

It wasn’t always as glamorous as those who only saw the finished product thought it was. The attention could be overwhelming, and I remember feeling like a doll at times being touched and pulled at while getting ready, especially during a time crunch. There was also the stress of working out and eating as healthy as possible because of the pressure that came with maintaining a perfect appearance.

Traveling and meeting new people didn’t always mean luxurious places and likeable people. I’d watched my mother do long shoots in freezing temperatures and scorching heat while trying to stay composed. There were people I had met that would use cheap, manipulative tricks to get models to do whatever they wanted even if they were uncomfortable with it.

He started asking me a bit about my job and I didn’t want to seem like I was getting a big head, but I was a bit flattered. I felt as if he looked up to me somewhat which I thought was odd since for majority of the past year, I had been lazy with my job. I knew I did way less than I was capable of. That was yet another result of me coasting through my days.

By the time Austin came back, Ridge was gone, but we had exchanged social IDs. He ran off saying he was meant to meet his girlfriend soon.

“Ready to go back to the house?” Austin asked.

I tied my top around my waist by the sleeves and nodded. “I feel so dehydrated. I don’t know how you managed to do another lap.”

“Stamina, I guess?”

I didn’t bother to take my clothes with me into the bathroom when I took my shower. One long, cold shower. Long enough for my fingers to turn to prunes and go numb.

Wrapped in a towel with my wet hair over one shoulder, I went into my bedroom. I stood in front of my floor length mirror looking at my body wrapped in a short towel. My skin was duller, and I was thinner since my parents’ death which was saying something because I was naturally tan and was more on the curvier side. My eyes looked lifeless and like I hadn’t slept in forever, with faint circles under my eyes. I reached up to touch my collar bone that was more evident than usual.

I knew I wasn’t taking care of myself. I had lost two of the most important people in my life. I stopped taking the pills I was prescribed, and I refused to see my therapist anymore. There was nothing wrong with me, and I didn’t need to talk about it. I was mourning the death of the only parents I ever knew in my own way. Leanne did so by never talking about it. Cris did so by not talking at all. And Diego, my older brother, did so by running away.

Running my fingers through my hair, I watched the sun set in the background of my reflection. My mom loved my hair. I remembered the weekends when she didn’t have to work, and we would have our movie marathons. I’d just lay there while she braided my hair any way she wanted.

My lips were pale instead of their usual pink tint. I seriously needed something to change the state I was in. My therapist said that I needed to make more friends, find something good in my life and hang on to it. If I didn’t have any happiness to hold onto, I was going to lose it, and I didn’t intend on being admitted to a psych ward.

Looking in the mirror was giving me eerie flashbacks of what happened in the boy’s restroom at school. I hadn’t seen Jack or heard anyone talking about it, so I was positive I had imagined what happened. Glass didn’t go sailing through the air on its own. My tired, stressed brain conjured it all.

Tired of looking at myself, I quickly changed into comfy clothes and went down to the kitchen for something to eat. I was running on fumes and felt like I was starving. I entered the kitchen with my upcoming shoot looming in the back of my mind, but everything went out the window once I inhaled what Leanne was cooking.

“Princesses?” I asked and she nodded. “Did I ever tell you how much I love you?”

Leanne laughed. “You better. What do you have planned today?”

I shrugged and found a seat at the island to not get in her way as she cooked. “I wanted to hang out with Natalia today, but he’s busy. Austin just got here, so I won’t bother the love birds.”

“They’re so cute, aren’t they?” Leanne asked, eyes wide. “When he told me that Austin was his boyfriend, I nearly lost it. They are so adorable.”

“And all over each other,” I said, remembering how Zayne reacted when Austin and I came back from our run. He’d behaved as if Austin had been gone for two years instead of a couple of hours. “I’m so jealous. I want someone to be all over.”

“Woah, what’s going on?” Leanne asked, concerned. “I thought you and Jack were fine.”

I looked guiltily at the countertop. “Did I forget to mention that? Jack and I are over. Things started going downhill and he, for some reason, didn’t want to break up. I think he finally gets it by now though. I kind of lost it on him a couple days ago.”

“Aww, baby. I’m sorry things didn’t work out.”

“Oh, don’t be. I think we both changed and even if we fit at the beginning of the relationship, we definitely don’t fit now so I’m over it. Not quite sure if I want to date again right now or if I just need to get out more.”

“Then let’s make a day of it. Coffee or tea?”

“Coffee, please. What do you mean?” I asked, getting up to help her with the mugs while she fiddled with the espresso maker.

“I still can’t get Cris to go out, but you and I could spend the day together.”

“That sounds like a great idea. I need some girl time.” I looked towards the stairs worriedly. How well could he do back at school when he refused to leave the house? “Has he eaten?” I asked.

“Yeah, I made sure he ate. I’m worried about him too, but he says he’s fine. He looks fine. Nina, the only thing we can do is hope he knows that if anything ever isn’t fine he can come to us. I won’t push him about school either. He can be switched online in no time. He’s smart. He just wasn’t ready for having to deal with people and… life for a while.”

I sighed as she handed me the plates of our breakfast. I brought them to the table, and she followed behind with our coffees. “You’re right, but I can’t help but worry. He won’t talk to me or even spend time with me anymore. We used to be so close.”

“Give him a little more time.”