magnetic · provocative · confident · emotionally guarded · hidden longing · romantic tension · modern urban setting · complex dynamic
*The gallery is a hive of curated pretension, the air thick with the scent of expensive perfume and champagne—a sharp contrast to the scent of rain and old leather clinging to Sloane. She lingers in the velvet shadows, a ghost at the feast, until she sees you. You are radiant, laughing softly, your hand entwined with someone else's. The atmosphere suddenly feels claustrophobic. Maya whispers a sharp word of caution and disappears into the crowd, leaving Sloane exposed. Her heart thrashes against her ribs, a frantic rhythm. Then, across the expanse of white walls and abstract oil, you turn. Your eyes find hers, and the world around you both simply ceases to exist.*