I hear two sets of voices as I walk up the stairs, and it sounds like Liam and someone else.
“Just let me see!”
I round the corner and see a boy I don’t recognize reaching for something in Liam’s hands. He isn't that much shorter, but Liam pushes his arm away and keeps the camera back.
“Fuck. Off,” Liam bites out.
I stifle a laugh as Liam shoves him away.
“She will drop dead if something happens to this camera.” Liam shoves him again. “Get your grimy handsoff.”
Liam storms away but stops short with a frown that softens as his eyes meet mine.
“Good morning!” I walk over to them, and Jordan looks up from the couch before looking between all of us. I glance over to the guy they’re with, and his cheeks slightly blush. “I don’t think we've met?”
He doesn’t answer, and Jordan rises to his feet. “This is the friend I asked if I could bring along?” He shoves his friend, making him take a step towards me.
“Moon,” is all he says, and I give him a small smile.
He shakes his head softly before taking a step back. “I meant my name is Moon.” He laughs softly, and I tell him it’s nice to meet him before walking over to the couch.
“I’m actually glad some of you got here early.” I pull out my iPad, and the boys walk over to me. “I was working with one of the other contestants, and I think we should make a slight change in–”
“Again?” Liam mumbles, and when I look up at him, he’s shaking his head at something. “I’m going to be stuck here all year.” He sinks into the end of the couch with a groan, and I stifle a laugh before pulling up the pictures from Royal’s photo shoot.
“What do you think about changing our third section to something like this?” I turn the iPad to them.
“Shit,” Jordan mumbles under his breath, and I glance down at the iPad again.
“Is that a no?” I swipe for the pictures of me before turning the iPad back to them, and Moon suddenly looks everywhere but the iPad. “What?”
“Nothing.” Jordan shrugs. “All of my teammates would appreciate the change.” He chuckles before sitting back on the couch.
Whenmyteam trickles in, we get started on my hair and makeup. I voice my idea to them and they also agree. Since we’re doing five sections and outfits, I think it won’t be too similar to Royal’s since only one section would be more sexual rather than all of them like hers.
“When do you think you’ll be done shooting the video?” Annet, my hair stylist, continues to curl my hair, and I let out a breath at the reminder.
“With the way I schedule it, the last part should be filmed during the last week.”
She reminds me how that doesn’t leave a lot of room for editing and reshooting in case we have hiccups, but at this point, we’d have to wing it if there were any more mistakes.
“Did you see Mr. Moore’s interview last night?”
I slightly sit up in my seat as Cara, my main makeup artist, walks over with her phone.
Annet lets out a breath at the sight of Vincent Moore. “God, that man is too fine for his own good.”
He totally is, but I don't voice my agreement, and instead, I focus on the interview.
“In regards to your post about your excitement with The Core Eight’s friendly annual contests, whose piece are you most excited to see?”
I watch intensely as he sits there with his usual glare.
“All eight of the ladies come up with very creative pieces each year, and I enjoy seeing their improvement every year, but my eyes are on Sage Loana and Quincy Lock.”
My jaw drops before I let out a squeal. “Oh my god!” I quickly grab my phone before calling Quinn. She answers immediately, and before I say anything, my jaw drops. “You look beautiful!” I feel my eyes water as I take her in. Quinn has vitiligo but has been using makeup to cover it up, at least until now. She was in a horrible relationship with someone who made her feel ashamed of how she looked, but she stands here now, so sure of herself.
“Please don't make me cry.” She lets out a soft laugh as she nervously plays with her curls.
