2 - The Different Shade of Blue (1)
After the show ended, the backstage looked disastrous. The clothes from the first session were piled next to an equally messy row of dressers. The murmurs of the guests at the front, who were gradually making their way to the next room for refreshment, masked the screams of the bustling staff behind while clearing the battlefield as fast as possible. Despite all the excitement, in a far corner of the room, Alice's tiny body was wrapped in a pair of arms that hugged her tightly after she was released from the arms of all the staff and models who were cheering for today's success.
"The Seer Collection looks amazing! Just like the person who made it." Alice chuckled as she removed her arms from the embrace of a beautiful brown-haired woman. Her hand remained on the woman's arm as if Alice didn't want to let go of her warmth yet.
"Thank you, Esme, for coming here and-"
"And miss seeing your collection on stage? Bullshit, Alice. You know I came to your first solo fashion show even though I'm on the other side of the world!" Esme's voice held so much affection that touched Alice's heart. Alice struggled to keep her eyes on Esme amidst her blurred vision.
A pair of pale blue stared at the brown one. Brown eyes that match her long hair. The same pair of brown eyes when she first looked at eighteen-year-old Alice, sitting at the train station with a tear-stained cheek and a backpack filled with all the remnants of her dream that could be saved, warmly in the cold January wind. Esme Platt, the first woman or rather the first human to notice Alice's existence, stretched out her hand to offer a warm place to stay before she asked Alice's name. Even today, Esme's hands and eyes still radiate the same warmth as a home that Alice never had.
"But, really, thank you," Alice squeezed Esme's hand, hoping the pressure she gave could describe all her gratitude for the woman standing in front of her. "I will never accomplish all of this if not because of your support, Esme."
Esme gently stroked Alice's cheek. "You're going to ruin my makeup before the after-party begins".
Staring into each other's watery eyes, they chuckled and hugged each other again before letting their arms fall to the other side to continue their chat. Esme kept asking about some of the designs that caught her eye, making a few comments here and there, as well as asking how Alice was doing before cut off by the sound of heels being violently trodden at them.
"Mrs. Brandon! There you are!"
The voice Alice had avoided since returning from the catwalk, to bow and receive applause for her hard work, appeared right behind her. Alice's previously excited mood turned sour when she looked at the clipboard held by her personal assistant. Too focused on feeling tired, Alice missed Esme's shocked face as she stared at the designer's personal assistance's feet.
"Nice high heels, Bella," Esme glanced at Bella's feet, who usually wore sneakers but was fitted with five-inch high heels tonight, before staring at Bella's face with a seductive grin. "It looks sexy, dear. Perhaps you were trying to get someone's attention, hm?" Esme knew the woman in front of her was so clumsy that she always refused to add height to her shoes, seeing this miracle, Esme just stared at Alice who nodded firmly with a proud smile. We will talk about this later.
"Hello to you too, Esme," Bella said politely, though she rolled her eyes at the mention of heels at least seven times today. Cleared her throat to hide the heat on her cheeks for the last comment, Bella started staring at the clipboard she was holding.
"All the VIP photographers are waiting to take your photo with the models in the back-" Her index finger points to space where models gather before the event. "-And after that, there were interviews with local TV, magazines, and blogger in the meeting room in 20 minutes." Now her finger move points to the black door beside the refreshment room.
When Bella's eyes look up from the clipboard, she found Esme trying to hold her laugh while Alice covers her face with her hand and makes a strange voice with her throat.
"Oh God, I thought this mess was over after the runaway finished!" Alice searches for those warm brown eyes and tries to make her own eyes rounder, puppy-like eyes, to secretly ask for help, but all she gets is a nudge on her ribs and a cracked laugh from Esme.
"See you at the bar, dear!" Esme said with a twinkle in her eye.
Before she could protest, Bella's arm grabbed Alice's elbow and dragged her towards the gathered crowd. Several photographers turned towards Alice as she shouted before Esme's figure reached the refreshment room.
"Esme! I want to see that mysterious man you mention before!"
With the final wave of her delicate hand, Esme left her with a flashing camera light.
…oOo…
The splash of cold water removed the makeup she had been wearing for nearly six hours. Her knuckles turned white from holding the sink firmly. The blank gaze reflected in this empty restroom mirror didn't look like the woman who had been standing on the podium, with dozens of microphones or voice recorders lined up and made a calm voice while answering reporters' questions in turns, but this mirror saw someone who was haunted by her past.
No, it is not him, Alice.
The interview went well before the reporters turned their questions into asking about Alice's private lives. Alice knew this would come, especially because she was disappearing from a fashion show several months ago which she had not revealed to the public yet, but she was apparently not ready to hear that sentence spoken aloud. Especially with someone similar to him.
I-It's just a coincidence... yes, coincidence!
Another splash of cold water. Another shudder and panting. Another attempt to get rid of the blonde lock with the same pair of blue eyes again in the back of her eyes. Alice shut her eyes tightly.
You are safe.
The monster is gone to where he belongs.
No one can hurt you again, Alice.
The voice in Alice's head repeats those words like a mantra before grater her courage to looking up into her reflection. With swift motions like a robot, Alice wipes her wet face before opening her handbag and pour all her makeup product on the sink, her small fingers slowly re-polish her face to dismiss of haunted trace in her eyes.
Everything will be fine.
Taking one last breath before exiting the hideout called the restroom, Alice forced her face to look joyful as she stepped out of the door, but sometimes the universe gives you lemons at the most unexpected times and that's how Alice's small body collides with a tall and stiff object. Luckily the firm grip that held her waist was better than a kiss from the cold tile and embarrassing memory.
Shit, I said it too fast.
Alice's palm felt something smooth with a familiar texture. Is this cloth? But before her brain found the kind of cloth she was looking for, Alice smelled a vanilla musk scent that was masculine yet soft. Hmm, this smells good. There was a vibration on her cheek from the object she hit. Slowly opened her eyes, Alice found a stain of her makeup smudge on the white cloth. From the multiple blemishes, Alice's pale blue eyes widened as she saw the shape of her red lipstick drawn intact on the white sheet in front of her face.
Still too focused on God know what she had done, Alice's ears heard the voice of the man who was the reason she was been hiding in the first place. But this time, the man's voice sounded more relaxed with a hint of laughter which made Alice's palm, which was unconsciously clutching the chest of one of the journalists from the previous interview, tremble.
"Thank you, I'm glad you like my perfume."
Alice's head turned to the source of the voice that had a pair of dark blue eyes as he stared at her with a lopsided smile. If Alice could see her reflection in those eyes, she was sure that her pale blue eyes would drain all its color and looks gray from the shock of seeing the same trait of the monster haunting her in this man. Not only his sharp eyes, but his long blonde hair made Alice's spine shiver.
Feeling the pattern of the man's hand on her waist, Alice retreated from their embrace which was too close and was sure to make her die in panic.
"I-I'm sorry ... Oh my God, I said it out loud, didn't I? ... I-I don't know where I went and this-," Alice's finger pointed at the white shirt stained with her lip marks. She kept her eyes low and see nothing but the tall figure before her. "-I'm really, really sorry for ruining your shirt, sir." Alice glanced at him for a moment before increasing the distance between them but was stopped by the hand that touched her arm.
"Oh, this? Don't think about it, I was walking to the restroom after all. You see, someone already ruins my shirt with spilled coffee at the refreshment room." If he was really bothered by Alice's babbling, this man really didn't show the slightest feeling of discomfort as he spoke casually to her while showing his left sleeve which was decorated with several brown abstract circles, and his right holding his neatly folded coat.
Even though he looks genuine to her, Alice's rueful eyes keep glancing at their intertwined hands but not making move to let it go.
"How about this-" the man said after a long pause and Alice finally brave herself to stare at his face. "-since I meet you here alone, I want to apologize for my question from the interview." His eyebrows lifted along with the eyes of the young designer before him that grew even bigger.
Alice zoned out of the presence of this tall figure and felt her body fly back into the meeting room as this man sat in the back row and asked a question that stuttered her for whole five minutes before her personal bodyguard stepped into the mediator to ignore such questions. Thanks to the bodyguard also, the interview was completed ahead of schedule and gave her time to run away and hide in the restroom. Sadly her plan is failed because she still met with him. And much worst, alone.
A cleared throat brings her back to standing in front of the restroom and holding a mysterious man's hand that looks like someone she really wishes she can erase her memory from. More like, what he does to her. Shaking her head a little, Alice stares at his face again with no fear.
Glancing from her eyelash, Alice made a mental note about how different this man with the monster she knows. They both have blue eyes, but his dark one looks sharp without the frightening feeling the monster has for her. They both have long blond hair, but he just past his chin with a nice wave while the monster has it till his shoulder and ties it with a ponytail. They both tall, but he has a calm aura, and the monster does not. The most different thing is, this man smells nice.
"I-I know people's will curious about my private lives is, but it just an interview, so no need to apologize, Mr…?" Ask Alice when she realizes she doesn't see any nametag on his shirt. He smiles at her and before opening his mouth, someone yells from their back.
"Mrs. Brandon!"
Alice tries not to roll her eyes when she glances at her personal bodyguard figure that getting close by with his long leg.
"Sorry to interrupt, but we're all ready to leave, Mrs. Brandon."
The tall man with black hair tied in a bun looked at the blonde one suspiciously where their hands were intertwined. Feeling startled, Alice let go of her hand and approached her bodyguard, hoping he wouldn't make a fuss.
"W-wait a minute, Jack."
Alice stopped Jack's hand that almost dragged her from this man and frantically checked the contents of her bag, looking for the item she was thinking of, while the men look at her puzzled before her hand extracted the small rectangular paper and give it to the blonde man.
"Here, contact me if you change your mind to let me help replace that ruining clothes." Their thumbs brushed a little and Alice's cheeks feel hot when she sees his smiles at her again.
"Thank you, but you know I'm a journalist after all." The mischief glimpse in his eyes surprisingly felt playful to her to let her guard down and chuckle with him.
"Is not kinda creepy, isn't it?" They laugh again and before the man can reply, Jack cleared his throat.
"O ah, yeah! Sorry, Jack- " Alice naturally hooked her arm to Jack's, but their swift friendly motions can make someone's eyes look darker. "-and sorry again for ruining your shirt, um…, sir."
Her pale blue eyes look into the man's dark blue one, holding their gaze long enough as if not want to break any sort of magic between them until the know-it-best-for-her bodyguard pulls her away from his liking and makes his kind smile turns into a scold in instant.
The piercing blue eyes that look darker and darker every step she goes away now look like the reflection of the night skies outside. He stays rotten in his place until the tan-skin man and his girl disappeared from his sight. Unaware of the breath he was holding, this blonde man exhaled his breath, which then slowly let out a small laugh that sounds like a sniff at first, then turned into a big laugh like a madman.
He is not afraid to be caught acting strangely because he knows that almost everyone, especially the reporter and journalists, has left this building an hour ago. In fact, he himself sent his team home first after seeing the young designer run away from the meeting room. He stays longer hoping that his plan would work out perfectly and sure enough, he managed to meet even touch her smooth skin and breathe the same oxygen as her in the same room.
"My sweet, darlin'-"
Pocketing the name card into his pant, not because he doesn't need it or because he already memorizes all her address, just simply to secure something she gives to him. The butterflies feeling in his pit of the stomach make him drew his index and middle finger to his mouth, kiss it slowly, and put it on the red lips marks that embroider in his shirt. This is more than he plans.
"-Congratulation on your show, love."
His left hand patted the coat pocket that was folded on his right. Feeling the thin items, he smiled before walking back towards the car park, away from the restroom, and going to his next location because God knows his plans are still running for his girl.
…oOo…
Author note: Thank you for your review! I am over the moon reading all your sweet comments for this story! I hope I can do better for the next chapter. Speaking of chapters, I thought to introduce everyone in Alice's circle in this chapter, but it's too long so I need to break it into two parts because I rarely write one chapter more than 2K words.
For now, I will focus on Alice's past first because I have a complicated background for her that I need to break piece by piece, so this roller coaster will move slowly. For Jasper, well… I promise that he good to Alice /wink/
[Cross-posted on Wattpad]