The Kind of Hoax That Leaves a Lump in Your Throat

The next time I saw josh was the following Tuesday so we’d had a little less than a week apart. I knew it was for the best, or that what josh had told me, but I just wasn’t feeling it right now. I tired to distract myself but I was just thankful that work would be starting again and I would have something to do with my time.

I woke up on the Tuesday and was greeted with a very sickly looking Coral.

“Are you alright?” I asked, putting my hand on her am and she just nodded and placed a hand on her stomach.

“I feel a little sick”

“Maybe its nerves?” I said. Coral had a big shoot today for the autumn range for Top Shop meaning her face would be plastered everywhere. Now I don’t know about you but I think that would make me feel a tad nervous.

“Maybe, ive been like it for a few days but never this bad though” she sighed before shaking her head lightly and walking downstairs. I quickly got dress and followed her down and we sat and waited for Zahra to get ready.

We arrived at work shortly after and Zahra checked the books whilst I got coral a drink. When I came back out she was sitting with Sonnie, hear head on his shoulder whilst he rubbed her back. I set her glass down and then made my way back to my desk.

“Anyone else in today?”

“Tom should be here soon”

“Any idea that’s he’s bringing?”

“No it doesn’t say” Zahra huffed and then set the book back on the desk. Within the next few minutes the photographers and assistants for corals shoot came barging through. I held the door open as they made several trips and on the last one I made sure they didn’t need anything else and made my way back to the reception.

Tom was walking in then and I felt my heart move to my throat. Josh was there, looking as beautiful as ever and my heart clutched when he looked over at the desk and his face dropped when I wasn’t sitting there.

The boys all huddled around the desk making jokes with Zahra but josh hung back and played with his phone. I started to make my way over and josh’s head snapped up and a small smile spread to his lips, which mine soon mirrored. We met halfway and josh stuck his hand out to me.

“Josh franceschi” he said and his smile grew even wider. I was about to ask him what the hell he was doing when I remembered he said when we next saw each other we’d start again and pretend like we’d never met before. I smiled back and placed my hand in his; ignoring the fact my heart rate increased from his touch, and shook it lightly.

“Violet Simmons” I said back and the smile on his face grew if it were possible. We reluctantly pulled away and he shook his head lightly.

“Okay that was strange let’s not pretend like we don’t know each other yeah?”

“Sounds good to me” I replied. I honestly wasn’t even listening to what he was saying; I just wanted to hear his voice, the one I’d missed so much these last few days.

“So how have you been?” he asked, almost shyly.

“Ive been good” I replied. Honestly? I’d been better than I thought I would have been. I’d managed to get a full 8 hours each night but I didn’t want josh to think I didn’t need him. “You know it’s been… different, but ive been okay”

“That’s good to hear” he said, and he sounded like he meant it.

“What about you, how’s Dan’s place?”

“It’s a lot messier” he joked, “Well it has been since ive been there. But yeah ive been alright” he smiled and nodded lightly.

This was nice. It wasn’t as awkward as I’d been thinking it would be and josh seemed happy enough. But he’d forgotten that I could still read him. He had small black bags under his eyes and he looked like he needed a good shave. His clothes were baggy and his eyebrows seemed to be constantly bunched.

Then again I guess I didn’t look that much better. I’d put hardly any make up on and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d brushed my hair. My nail varnish was chipped and I hadn’t really been eating that well so my clothes were slightly baggy.

What a sorry pair we made.

“You ready josh?” tom called and josh nodded and the rest of them made their way over to the stairs.

“So I’ll see you later?” he asked and I nodded. With that he smiled once more and then turned to follow the rest of them. I sat down in my place and as soon as they were all out of sight I buried my head in my hands and groaned lightly.

“You alright love?” Zahra asked sympathetically and placed an arm around my shoulders.

“Yeah, I just miss him.” I admitted and I felt her nod beside me. “Like it’s all well and good that we’re talking and it wasn’t awkward but it’s not the same”

“I know, it will be soon though”

I took one more deep breath and sat up properly. Nothing else really happened until about half twelve when tom and the boys broke for lunch. They were hanging around in the reception waiting for tom who was grabbing something from upstairs when coral burst through the door of the studio downstairs.

She looked awfully pale and she was clutching her stomach like she was in a serious amount of pain. I jumped up and made my way over to her and she held onto one of my shoulders.

“Coral, what’s wrong?” I asked, but her eyes couldn’t seem to focus on me. An assistant came running out next to make sure she was ok but coral didn’t seem to want to answer anyone. “Coral, you’re scaring me, speak” I pleaded, but her knees gave way and she tumbled backwards. Thankfully dan was standing not too far behind and he caught her and then lightly placed her on the floor.

I knelt down next to her and brushed the hair out of her eyes. I could see everyone starting to crowd around but I told them to give her some air.

“She’s not anorexic is she?” the assistant suddenly asked from above us and I shook my head furiously, just the other day she was complaining about how her jeans felt a little bit tight.

I looked back at coral and she was now opening her eyes a little bit.

“Where’s Sonnie?” I asked the assistant and she looked at me like I’d spoken to her in French.

“Sonnie?”

“Yeah um, he was with coral, light brown hair, blue eyes, about that tall” I said pointing to max, but she still didn’t look like she had any idea. “Corals boyfriend?”

“Oh him” she exclaimed. How coral worked with these people I will never know. “He left a while ago” I sighed and looked back at coral who now had her eyes fully open.

“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice husky, and I menouvered her so that her head was resting in my lap.

“You fainted” I said quietly and she nodded lightly.

Tom came down then and ushered the boys out saying they would be back later and I was thankful that the reception was now empty. I sat coral up slowly and then took her over to one of the sofas and handed her a bottle of water that Zahra had given me.

She sipped it slowly and I noticed the colour now returning to her cheeks.

“Im really sorry, I’ll be back to finish in a few minutes” she told the assistant and she nodded before going back inside.

“You sure that’s a good idea?” I asked from in front of her and she nodded defiantly.

“If I don’t finish the shoot I don’t get paid, simple as. I need to do this”

“Ok, but promise me one thing. You make sure you book a doctors appointment and get whatever going on right now sorted okay? Or I’ll make sure you don’t get another shoot” I winked and she smiled lightly.

“Yes mum” she sighed and stood up before making her way back into the studio.

The boys came back and finished their shoot and when coral was done I made her make an appoint in front of me so I knew that she’s made one and then I made her ring Sonnie so that he could walk her home.

The fact he was so worried made me smile and he kept asking her every five minutes if she was ok. I could tell she was starting to get a little annoyed at him but she couldn’t really do anything.

I left the same time dan, josh and tom did, and as dan was helping tom move some stuff, josh came over to me and placed his hand on my arm.

“I thought you did really good today, if that was me I would have freaked out” he said with a warm smile.

“It was nothing” I joked and he smiled even wider.

“Same old violet huh?” he said before nodding and placing his arms around me, holding me tight for a few seconds and then letting go before getting in the car. Tom shouted over the car a quick goodbye and I quickly grabbed dan and pulled him to the side before he got in.

“You aright? What’s up?” he asked.

“Is josh…?” I trailed off not knowing what word I was looking for. Dan seemed to understand and nodded lightly.

“He’s quiet, but he seems ok enough. I know he misses you like hell but I know how much he wants this to work so he’s putting up with it” I nodded and looked to the floor and suddenly dan pulled me into his arms. “What about you, are you…?” he said with a slight mocking tone to his voice. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Im fine” I said and we pulled apart. “Thank you for taking him in, I’m glad he’s got someone like you”

“Don’t mention it. I’ll see you around yeah?” and I nodded before he got back into the car. I waved them off and made my way back home.

I was feeling a little better about everything now and knowing that josh was doing about as well as I was made me feel happier. All that needed to happen now was for time to hurry up.