I'm For You

-5-

The invitation came on a bright Thursday morning, just as Gigi was finishing a late breakfast in her hotel suite. She was sipping coffee, gazing out at the city, when her phone buzzed with a message from her agent, Nicky. As soon as she read it, her heart skipped a beat.

"You've been invited to the Paris Fashion Week, Gigi. Dior wants you to open their show. You're leaving in two days. Congratulations!"

Paris. The word alone was enough to send a ripple of excitement through her, but it also carried weight. This was Dior, one of the most prestigious names in fashion, and she would be gone for at least two weeks, maybe more depending on follow-up shoots and meetings.

Normally, this kind of news would fill Gigi with nothing but exhilaration. Paris was her playground, and the thought of returning to the city always made her heart soar. But this time, it felt different. Her thoughts immediately drifted to Crystal. They had only just started something, something fragile and new, but undeniably real. And now she would have to leave him behind, just as their connection had started to take shape.

Gigi set her coffee down, running her fingers through her long blonde hair as she considered how to tell him. She didn't want to dampen the excitement of this opportunity, but she also didn't want to pretend it didn't matter that she'd be gone for weeks. She cared about him, more than she had anticipated, and the thought of leaving weighed on her in a way she hadn't expected.

After a few minutes of deliberation, she grabbed her phone and sent him a message.

"Hey, Crystal. Can we meet up later today? I need to talk to you about something."

She stared at the screen, her stomach churning with a mix of nerves and uncertainty. His response came quickly.

"Of course. The studio at 4?"

"Perfect. See you then."

______

Crystal had spent the morning working on the portrait of Gigi. He'd been obsessed with perfecting it over the past few days, ever since their last meeting. There was something about the way her emotions, her essence, flowed through his brush that felt right, like he was painting a truth he'd only recently discovered.

When Gigi's message came in, his heart picked up. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. There was a weight to her words that made him uneasy. His mind raced as he put down his brushes and cleaned up the studio, preparing for her visit.

By the time four o'clock rolled around, he was pacing. The studio felt more cluttered than usual, and the energy that had been filling the room just hours earlier had dissipated. He tried to push the nerves aside, telling himself it was probably nothing, but deep down, he couldn't help but worry.

When Gigi finally arrived, she looked stunning, as always, but there was a heaviness in her expression that immediately caught his attention.

"Hey" she said softly, stepping inside the studio. "Thanks for meeting me."

"Of course." Crystal replied, his voice tentative. "What's going on?"

Gigi took a deep breath, fidgeting with the sleeve of her sweater before speaking. "I've been invited to Paris Fashion Week. Dior wants me to open their show."

There was a brief pause as Crystal absorbed the news. Paris. He knew what that meant, weeks away, possibly more. It was a huge opportunity for her, and he knew she had to go. Still, a knot formed in his stomach.

"That's...incredible, Gigi." he said, trying to sound supportive despite the ache he felt inside. "Paris Fashion Week? That's huge."

"I know..." she said, her voice soft. "I'm really excited about it, but..." She hesitated, her piercing blue-grey eyes meeting his. "I'll be gone for at least two weeks, maybe longer. And I just...well, I didn't want to leave without telling you."