Note: I'm sorry, it seems I post so much that you have a hard time following the pace... And it's not going to get better XD
Most likely an update tomorrow as well :)

Matt felt pretty dull the next days. The events with Mello had left him with a bitter taste, and on top of it, he didn't even know more about the reasons why the model was so cautious about letting anyone close. Or at least himself.
It was almost driving him crazy when he started to dwell on it, especially at night when he was trying to find sleep. He kept on replaying everything from the first encounter in his head, and although he was aware that he had made mistakes, he was also very sure that it would never have happened that way with a normal person. Not that Mello was abnormal, that wasn't the right adjective to describe him. Weird for sure, overly reactive, jerk. But there had to be a reason, Matt was sure of that. You don't feel on the verge of tears just with a stranger hitting a bit too close to home with his words, except if you're having it really bad. It had been brief but Matt hadn't missed it.
It wasn't about dating him or anything alike, Matt was curious, but the nasty kind of curious: it wasn't his business, the guy obviously didn't want to know him and vice versa, but there was something so secretive about him that Matt just had to know. But as the redhead's mother would say, when he was a little boy asking too many questions, curiosity killed the Matt.

But with time, weeks passing by, he finally could get the blond out of his system, sort of. As in, not thinking about what had happened at least during the day, but it would all come back at night still. It didn't fill his dreams or nightmares anymore, and Matt hoped that after some more time he'd forget completely.
Even if, working in very related jobs, they were likely to meet again. But once Matt would be over his misplaced curiosity, that wouldn't be a problem to see Mello again, he supposed.

Matt was preparing for a shoot one evening, making sure that all his USB cards were empty, deciding for which material to take, stuffing bags, when Ken called him.
"Hey Matt, tomorrow is cancelled. What the fuck happened with you and that model, the one you called a diva? He refused the shooting when he knew that we were doing it. That's bad man, really bad..."
"I didn't even know he was one of the models we would be shooting tomorrow..." Matt was wondering how to explain his issues with Mello, but Ken cut him: "I didn't know either until now, the client just called me after the agency informed him that the guy had refused categorically once he had known we were the photographers, care to explain since you're the one of us both that shot him last? Did you date him in the end or something?"
Ken was sounding really angry, and Matt could understand why: it was a very big client, one that usually didn't do business with small societies like theirs, he actually used to work with the one they were employed at before, and had wanted to hire them because Ken had been his photographer for a shoot while still at their previous job. And Matt was the one to fuck it up, to his opinion. Well, he wasn't wrong... But still, Matt didn't feel like taking full responsibility for the model being overly sensitive about this all.

Matt was right about the fact that something like that was bound to happen someday. He expected it to come more from the fact that Ken's cousin was at the head of the agency for which Mello worked, but no matter the way in which it happened, Matt knew that the eventuality could occur sooner or later. he just didn't expect Mello to go as far as refuse a shooting because of him.

"Listen, the guy has some issues with me, and I don't know why. Just say I won't be there, and he'll come."
"But I need you. How am I supposed to do that alone, you know the planning, it's impossible to get this done alone."
"I'll be there. He just doesn't need to know until he gets there." Matt had no other solution for the problem, but he could only hope that it wouldn't lead to a massive mess. All he was seeing right at that moment was the opportunity to meet Mello again. Not that the other would be predisposed to talk to him, but if Matt could at least get Mello to tolerate being in the same studio, that would be much. Then he could try to talk to him, maybe.

Matt was aware that he was probably deluding himself, too happy to have an occasion to meet Mello again, but what could he do? They had to do that shooting, and this client was a big fish they couldn't lose. Let's just hope that Mello would finally come. He was so hard headed that the possibility of him standing his ground and still refuse to come was high.
Ken confirmed a while later that the model had finally changed his mind, being tricked into thinking that Matt wouldn't be there.

Matt and his associate had agreed that Ken would text Matt to let him know when the model would be in the studio so Matt could arrive after him, making sure he didn't run away as soon as he would open the door and see the redhead.
Unfortunately, Mello had only been there for a few seconds, depositing his bag in a corner, that he left to go to the bathroom at the very moment when Ken sent the text to Matt, resulting in both men meeting in the corridor.

"Not as honest as you claimed to be, apparently." Mello spat, glaring at Matt as soon as he saw him climbing the last stair, his equipment on his shoulder.
"Not as professional as you claimed to be, apparently." Matt retorted. Great, they were back to jumping at each other's throat...
But Mello, after sending him a murderous look, left pretty quickly for the toilets. Too quickly for it to be natural.
Matt heard the door of a booth slam open then closed, more likely from a hasty invasion, then the distinct noise of someone puking. Mello was paler than Matt remembered, now that he thought of it.

He waited, worried. Mello was alone in there so it could only be him. When he heard the toilet flush and the water run in a sink, he deemed it safe to enter the studio, Mello wasn't about to pass out or something, and Matt didn't want to embarrass him, Mello didn't need to know that he heard everything. There was no risk for the model to run away without his bag and since he didn't have it with him, it was in the studio, so Mello would have to retrieve it first, and Matt would run after him if needed.

But he didn't need to. Mello was seething, but he stayed.
They were shooting for a perfume line. Mello was going to be the image of a masculine fragrance, which once again involved shirtless pictures, but there would be no editing this time since him and the feminine variation would be shot back to the camera, only half of them reflecting in a mirror, and of course it was going to be Mello's 'good half' being photographed. The way the client said it made Matt angry for some reason, as if Mello's scar was some useless wasted space.

Matt hated it when the client made himself too present during a shooting. It was normal to be giving some directions, but when the CEO himself was there, telling the photographers what to do, it could soon become really annoying. And they hadn't even started.

The studio was the biggest one and they were able, as initially planned, to set two shooting areas in place, to take care of both the masculine and feminine lines at the same time. The client had insisted to do so, so he could shout his orders at both Ken and Matt at the same time and get similar pictures with both models, then they'd do a shooting together that was meant for the promotion in magazines. Same space, double ad.

The poor female model was greeted by the CEO of the cosmetics company in the most obnoxious manner as she arrived twenty minutes late. Although he was for nothing in the man's fit of authority, Matt gave her an apologetic look as she jumped into the dress she was supposed to wear and hastily sat at the dressing table, the make-up artist getting at it under the scolding stare of the CEO, still babbling about respect and loss of time and whatnot. They were still setting the equipment in place so what was the problem with her being late anyway? With the way things were going, they weren't close to being ready, if that old fart kept on having a finger in every pie.

Ken was all smiles and ass-licking, which was good because Matt, usually very laid back, was starting to feel like a pressure cooker with the CEO turning around him, asking questions and giving opinions on how the work should be done. The redhead held on until he had everything in place, and, glancing at Ken and rolling his eyes, he exited the studio for a much needed smoke.

He went to the toilets before going back into the studio, and found himself hearing someone puke in the next booth as he was taking a piss.
"Are you okay?" he asked, pretty sure it was Mello again.
He didn't get an answer, but saw the blond exit the booth in the reflection of the mirror as he was washing his hands. The model didn't say a word, rinsed his mouth, washed his hands, not even looking at Matt.
"I heard you a little earlier too. Are you sure you can make it today?"
"Worried for your paycheck?" Mello's voice was a trial at being venomous, but it sounded more tired than anything.
"No. For you. I know, I shouldn't, blah blah blah, but no matter what you think, I hear you puke twice and, sorry, but you look like shit, so I worry."
"Well, thanks for the compliment. But yeah, you shouldn't worry. I can take care of myself." Mello exited the bathroom, Matt following him to the studio.
It wasn't going to be easy today, since they had apparently reverted back to how things were right at the beginning. Yay.

But the highlight of the day was more than certainly when it was decided (by, of course, the CEO) that Ken would be shooting the girl and Matt Mello.
Mello gave Matt such a glare that the redhead felt a hole being burnt in his head. As if he was responsible of that...
For once, Matt was thankful that the old man was giving directions to the models, because he didn't have to do it himself, thus no need to talk to Mello directly.

Once they started, things rolled pretty well, several poses were tried, and after two hours, the CEO was happy with the shooting, or at least the first half of it. Fortunately, the make-up artist was able to make Mello look good, erasing all traces of dark circles under his eyes, and giving him a better looking complexion. They still had to take pictures of the two models together though, and the old guy wanted to go on and get everything done without a break, but Matt protested.
It was obvious that Mello was totally worn out, and Matt did his best to convince the CEO to let everyone have lunch before getting at it again, fortunately everyone rooting for the idea, making it easier to win a break.

Mello was out as soon as he knew he was freed for the next hour. Matt, going out for a smoke, wasn't surprised to see him enter the bathroom again. A stomach bug, most likely. Or too much partying. Or drug withdrawal. Whatever.
Killing his cigarette, Matt headed for the café next to the studio. Everyone had chosen the deli on the other side of the street, but Matt didn't feel like talking about work when he was taking a break from said work, and preferred to eat alone. Plus he wasn't a deli type of guy, classy food didn't appeal to him as much as chips and a greasy burger he knew was served at the café.

Leaning on the counter, he was placing his order before taking a seat when Mello came in, obviously annoyed as he saw Matt.