Neil

"Cigarette?"

The male model held out the cigarette to Neil. His black locks were perfectly curtained, and his Levi's jeans - that was the brand they were shooting with today - were a deep, striking blue and perfectly tailored to fit his legs. His brown eyes peered at Neil from above a perfectly manicured stubble.

Neil shook his head. "Ruins my teeth. I spent too much on these veneers to damage them."

The model raised his eyebrows. "Impulse buy after your first big show?"

"No, I got them for free as part of an influencer deal."

The model smiled knowingly. "So you're one of those guys, huh."

Neil took the cigarette fake-angrily, taking a puff just for the hell of it. He inhaled, and let a big, long puff of smoke out, making sure it got in the male model's face. The model pinched the cigarette back playfully.

"Wanna get me some veneers too, then?"

"You'll need them, if you keep smoking." Neil chastised.

The model smiled at Neil. Neil couldn't help but notice his perfectly aligned pearly white teeth, contrasting smoothly against his brown skin.

"I think my teeth will be okay for now."

Neil rolled his eyes. It was rare to meet someone with an ego equivalent to his own, but he had to admit… he kind of liked it.

"What was your name again, anyway?" Neil asked. They'd been shooting on the same scene since 6am, but Neil had to play it cool. That, and he'd been a little too focused on perfecting his hair to listen to anyone else's name.

"Changez."

"Ch… change… e-z?" Neil asked. The model laughed.

"Close enough."

"So… you're not from here, then?"

Changez rolled his eyes. "I was born in Canada."

"Oh." Neil paused awkwardly. "Right."

"But both my parents are Pakistani, if that's what you're asking."

Neil nodded. They sat in silence for a moment, Changez puffing away at his cigarette.


Something had changed after the cigarette. Perhaps it was Neil's imagination, but Changez seemed to be flexing those obscenely toned back muscles in Neil's direction a little more than necessary during the rest of the shoot. For the first time, Changez was the one trying to catch Neil's eye, and Neil was the one who found himself looking awkwardly away, realising he had been gazing a little too long. That never happened. People always stared at Neil, not the other way around. It was as if the universe had tipped on its axis, and everything was just a little off kilter.

"You're coming to the afterparty, right?" Changez asked Neil, as they stood in the changing room, putting their normal clothes back on.

"Oh, of course." Neil answered pompously.

"I'll see you there, then." Changez winked. "Don't bring a friend, okay?"

Neil paused.

"Uh, Ch-changa…"

Changez stopped at the door, and sighed. "Changez. It's Changez."

"Uh, yeah…"

"You don't know where it is, do you?" Changez teased. Neil realised it now: Changez knew Neil didn't know. He just wanted to humiliate him. Neil's blood boiled. Stupid, hot, smart model.

"There isn't an afterparty at all, is there?" Neil asked crankily. Those perfect teeth broke into a teasing smile from Changez.

"Well, not officially. But for you, there might be one at my place tonight. If you're available, of course." Changez winked, and Neil's blood boiled over altogether.

Stupid, hot, ever-so-perfect model.