i just think we should stay stuck in the moment today

i just think we should stay stuck in the moment today by ssaarah

“Hey Chloe.” I turned and smiled at  Noah, Cami’s younger brother.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, grinning at him. He rose a brow.

“When you’re done with finals and you have an invitation to an event where there’s going to be models everywhere? You go to it.” I laughed.

“How were finals?” I asked, knowing he was in med school and how proud his family was of him. He shrugged.

“No biggie.” I just shook my head.

“You’re cute and smart. How would any model resist you?” He looked back at me and grinned slowly, reminding me of how Cami had said he was still crushing on me.

“I'm more interested in the fact that you think I'm cute.” He grinned and I laughed again, happy to have someone to talk to that wasn’t judging me in the least bit.

“Super cute. But Cami told me I can’t hook up with you so….” I shrugged and grinned as he narrowed his gaze on me.

“I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to kill Cami before….” He trailed off before I noticed Tristan walking in on the other side of the room. Fuck. I had no desire to see him. Not when just a week ago his words had actually made me cry. My god I was so pathetic. “Are you okay?” I blinked back at Noah and nodded.

“I'm fine.” He was walking this way, a girl on his arm. Must be one of the other three. Like Evie she was stunning, fair skin and bright red hair but it didn’t look garish. In fact the beauty even looked a bit familiar.

“Chloe.” Tristan said, nodding towards me and then looking over at Noah who grinned at him.

“Hey I'm Noah, I'm Cami and Mila’s brother, we met at that dinner party Ben brought you to.” I tried not to snort at how much that sounded like a date and he nodded.

“Right. Um, this is Brigitte Moreau.” I blinked.

“That sounds really familiar.” I said, trying to smile at her genuinely even though she was looking at me kind of weird.”

“I'm an actress.” She said simply. “Is there a bar here?” I looked back at Tristan whos hand moved from the small of her back to his side.

“I'm Chloe Lindsell, it’s nice to meet you.” Brigitte, who had looked borderline bored until then blinked.

“You’re Chloe Lindsell?” she looked me up and down. “I thought you’d look more like a hot mess.” She smirked.

“Excuse me?”  Brigitte sighed and flashed me an overly fake smile,

"Oh nothing. No need to jump at me." I crossed my arms over my chest as I spoke to the snotty girl.

"I didn't jump at you, I was simply wondering what your problem with me was," I said in a serious tone, narrowing my eyes a little when she leaned into Tristan territorially. Like he was hers. Ha. She was sharing him for god’s sake. And? I didn’t want him.

"Did I say I had a problem with you?" Brigitte pursed her lips together and shook her head, "Right. I didn't. Well, it looks like that's settled; can we go get that drink now?" Wow. Not many people were mean to me given they thought they could get something out of me, but even the girls who wanted my job weren’t downright rude. Or acted bored. I might be a lot of things, but boring? Wasn’t one of them.  

"How about I get you a drink?" Noah asked, biting through the tension and/or just staring at the girls tits which were dangerously close to popping out of her tiny dress.  She batted her lashes at him, clearly only having a problem with me although why I still didn’t know. I hadn’t done anything to her.

 "I'd love that. Thanks sweetie."

 "Chloe? Do you want anything?" He moved his eyes back to me as I shook my head.

"No thanks," I added a smile and he turned to Tristan who also shook his head.

"Alright. Well excuse me." I watched him go before Tristan turned to me.

"Cami's brother? How old is he then, 19?" I furrowed my brow as I thought about it.

“I think he’s 21.” I replied seriously before realizing what he meant by it. “I’m not with him.” I replied seriously making his face change and fuck if I didn’t want to always be able to read his mind. On the other side? It was probably full of terrible thoughts about me so maybe not. Or worse. He didn’t think about me at all.

“So you’re here alone then?” his date asked, smirking at me. I gave her a look, taking in her outfit which looked like something I’d wear to a down town club, not an upscale party.

“I came with Karl.” I joked and saw Tristan’s lips tilt upward slightly while she looked back at me with a blank expression.

“Who?” she asked, not really caring about me at all apparently. I shook my head.

“Nevermind.” I sighed and all of a sudden wished I had asked for a drink.

“Why are we still standing here?” she asked, looking back at me as if I was s.hit on her knock off shoes.

“I was waiting for your drink to get here.” Tristan said simply. I looked over at him.

“I like Evie much better.” The red-head perked up at that one.

“Is she another one?!” she asked, raising an eye at Tristan as I laughed.

“No.” I said seriously.

"You say it like the thought hasn't passed your mind," Brigitte shot back.

"Sharing a man with two other women?" I tightened my arms over my chest as she gave the prissy bitch a small shake.  "When I'm with a man? Usually that's enough for him." Tristan shifted uncomfortably and I knew I was probably playing right into his spoiled little rich girl stereotype but it was one thing to be a bitch and it was another to be one for no fucking reason at all.

"Is your brother here tonight?" He asked, probably looking to get as far away from the girl drama as possible. But his non-girlfriend started it so he was just going to have to deal.

"Some of us have a real career and spend most of our time traveling," She said and let her breasts rest against his chest.

"Yes, I know, I've met Evie... and I hear the other ones, what did you say? A doctor?" I looked back at Tristan before glancing at her again. I was just playing her stupid game, it wasn’t as if I thought acting was any less impressive than designing, hell my dad was an actor, but I was never one to back down in a fight and this girl? Had her claws way out.

"You're a cunt," She responded loudly drawing a few eyes as I widened mine because I might be catty but I wasn’t immature enough to say something ridiculous like that.

"Brigitte," Tristan turned my head in her direction, his face one of obvious discomfort and judgment towards his date. was wincing. Her mouth fell open as his eyes narrowed on her,

"What? It's true, no?"

"Apologize," he said flatly making me laugh because I’d never in a million years think I’d see Tristan asking another woman to apologize to me.

"Do you potty train them too? Choose their outfits? Because for a Chanel party, she looked like a two cent whore." Okay….that was pushing it. But cunt? She’d asked for more.

"One cent more than you'd cost," Brigitte moved away from Tristan to face the me but in my opinion? We were already done. I could win a fight with her simple but she didn’t play fair. "No wonder you are dateless. Anyone who could buy a magazine has already seen your vagina." I glared but Tristan grabbed her arm and glared at her.

"That's enough," he ordered. "We're going." Her eyes narrowed in a flash of anger and she shook her head,

"No. I'm leaving."

"Nice meeting you," I smiled a fake yet charming smile at the girl who had pulled her arm from Tristan’s grasp, already walking away from us and grabbing the drink out of Noah’s hand as she passed. He sighed as Noah’s eyes widened, it taking him a minute to regain his composure as he returned to us.

"What the hell did I just miss?" He asked, eyes bouncing back and forth between us. I looked up at Tristan,

"Aren't you going to go chase after your date?"

"No.” He answered as I actually felt a little gratitude for him for actually sticking up for me. At least he knew there were lines that shouldn’t be crossed. Lines I wouldn’t even cross.

“Why not?” I asked, looking back at him as he ran his hand through his hair.

“I don’t think she wants me to.” I nodded.

“I’ll chase after her if you won’t” Noah replied and then looked back at me with a grin. “I have to stop hanging out with the only woman in here out of my league anyways.” He replied, winking before walking off.  I smiled a genuine smile at the back of Noah’s head before turning to Tristan.

“What?” I asked looking back at him with a raised brow.

“That boy has a thing for you.” He pointed out. I shrugged.

“It’s just a harmless crush.” He licked his lips and took a seat next to me, making me question him since I basically just lost him his date. “You don’t need to stay here.”

“I'm sorry about Brigitte.” I nodded.

“Well it’s no wonder you don’t want me.” I teased. “You’re already sleeping with me.” I laughed, hating how I was comparing myself to her but knowing it was slightly true. “Though I’d never use that word.” I added, wincing at the very thought.

“It was uncalled for.” He agreed. “You two are kind of alike.” He admitted, looking like he was just realizing it. I groaned.

“Then I really do need a therapist.” I joked, swallowing thickly at the thought of it since I wasn’t too keen on the idea.

“I feel like there’s a story behind that but I'm not sure I want to know it.” I looked back at him.

“You’re the one who said I needed to be in rehab.” I pointed out. He nodded.

“I did say that.” I let out a sigh and crossed my leg over the other as I leaned against the back of my chair.

“She didn’t really look like a two cent whore.” I said after a minute of silence. “That was an awful thing to say.” I didn’t even know why I said it, I was a spoiled definitely, a diva maybe, but I wasn’t ever intentionally mean to people I didn’t even know. “She was actually quite beautiful.”

"She is," He agreed and I felt a twinge of jealousy shoot through me. I hated that he wasn’t even remotely attracted to me, even now when I didn’t want him it was slightly infuriating. "Honestly though? I can't blame you." I lifted a brow and stared at him skeptically,

"Are you taking my side over your girlfriends?" he tensed up at the word and didn't say anything until I let out another sigh, "Your girl. Sorry."

"She was out of line and causing a scene," he said seriously. "She didn't want to come and it showed."

 "This party is exclusive... who wouldn't want to come?" I asked while he tilted his head in my direction and raised an eyebrow. "Besides you of course... but that's different since you're boring." I teased and he actually laughed and shook his head,

"I deserved that."

"And mean," I added with a smile.

"Now you're just testing me," he replied, shaking his head and then scratching the back of his neck….god even that tiny gesture was sexy….I wonder if he knew hot fucking sexy he was…"Brigitte used to model and she didn't make it very far. She's a great actress, but my guess is that she's jealous of you." I felt my eyes widen at his words,

"Of me?? Why?"

"Because you have the career she wanted... the career every girl in the industry would kill for," He admitted. I leaned into him slowly, causing a whiff of whatever it was that made him smell so good hit me. Damn.

“I thought you didn’t sleep with models.” I replied seriously, narrowing my gaze on his intense eyes.  His mouth twitched upwards.

“She wasn’t a model when I met her.” He replied, still gazing at me with that same look. I wondered if it was the same look he’d give a girl in bed…it was making me feel hot all over now and we weren’t even touching.

“Hmm.” I said back, leaning back because in all honestly? Even if I wanted to stop crushing on him I couldn’t. My body reacted to him without my minds permission and it was probably better if we were just never together.

“Hmm?” he rose a brow and I shrugged.

“Every time I decide you’re an unsavable asshole and not worth my time? You do or say something that changes my mind.” He stared at me for a second and then licked his lips.

“I'm not savable Chloe. And I am an asshole.” I tilted my head to the side as I looked back at him.

“Do you say that to all the girls? Some kind of reverse pick up line?” I teased and I saw the corners of his lips twitch again. It was a secret pleasure I had now, making him just almost smile.

“Most women aren’t as persistent.” He retorted. I shrugged.

“Most guys aren’t so immune to me.” He raised a brow and looked back at me.

“And you call me cocky.” I shrugged.

“I'm not saying I'm god’s gift to men or anything, but I know I'm good looking, though I'm not sure that’s why guys like me.”

“And why do you think they do?” Tristan asked and I turned towards him.

“You tell me.” I replied softly. “Why do you like me?”

"I'm still trying to figure that one out," he replied sincerely. I felt my eyes widen again before I caught myself and masked my feelings again since he’d hurt me enough already for me to be vulnerable with him once more.

"Are you admitting that you like me?" I asked in a soft and low tone that oozed sex rather than vulnerability.

"I'm still trying to figure that one out also,"  he grinned back and I let out a sigh as I turned in my seat.

"You're probably the most frustrating man I've ever met," I said pulled my hair over to one side and running my fingers through it lightly.

 "Is that a compliment?" he asked, still grinning that too sexy grin.

"Depends," I replied, licking my lips before I changed the subject. “I'm thirsty. Do you want to get a drink with me?"

"Are you trying to get me drunk, Chloe Lindsell?" he faked a shocked expression before smirking at me.

"Honestly? It doesn't sound like a bad idea..." I trailed off, wondering if maybe he’d find me attractive after a few too many. Not that I wanted him that way just that it would be an interesting experiment.

"I'm afraid I'll still be an asshole after a drink or two," he replied but stood anyways, offering his hand out to help me onto my feet. I bit my lip as I tried to hold back the grin and he looked at me.

“What?”

“Nothing I just think that’s the first time you’ve touched me on purpose.” I replied shaking my head. There was something seriously wrong with me. Tristan didn’t want me, he barely liked me. Still we weren’t fighting so maybe we could be at least civil to each other even if he didn’t want to be with me.

“That can’t be true.” He said shaking his head as he scrunched up his face. I reached out and poked his nose making him blink and stare back at me.

“You shouldn’t do that. You’ll get wrinkles.” I replied with a smile that got me a smile back. Damn if his smile wasn’t worth working for.

“I think I’ll survive.” He led me to the bar though he wasn’t touching me anymore where most guys would have their hand on my lower back/grab ass territory; Tristan was always more than careful with me. Scratch that. He didn’t need to be careful. He just didn’t care. I sat down on one of the bar stools and ordered a martini. He ordered a scotch.

“That’s my dad’s drink.” I commented idly, making him turn to me.

“Well then I can’t be all bad huh?” I swallowed.

“Did you treat Bridgitte the same way you treat me ? Since we’re alike and all.”  

"No," Tristan shook his head, "She wasn't like that when we met."

"You mean awful?" I asked, suddenly understanding my brothers term for me. Not that I was ever that bad.

"She's cocky," he shrugged. "A borderline diva."

"Well at least she has her looks."

"Looks only get you so far," he admitted. "That's why she left modeling. She knew her career would have a lifespan of ten years maybe."

“Well if that’s true I should look for a new career since it seems mine will be over in three years.”  Tristan shot a look at me.

“Not all girls start at 15.” He replied softly and I took a sip of my drink before continuing.

“You mean not all people have parents who get them the job right?” I asked, smiling weakly. Did people call me a cocky diva bit.ch? Yeah. But they didn’t really know me did they? And they didn’t know how much it hurt every time someone insulted me like that.

“Well…you said it not me.” He replied. I nodded.

“I guess I could have done something else with my life, became a lawyer like Ames or a doctor like Noah.” I shrugged. “But despite what everyone thinks I don’t model because it’s easy and I have an easy in and my parents want me to. My parents couldn’t care less what I did for a living, and it’s not fu.cking easy at all.”

“So then why do you do it?” he asked, looking interested, looking like me might actually be seeing me for more than just Chloe Lindsell. Not that that mattered, but it was nice. The only people who ever did that was my family. And Cami.

“Because I love it.” I said plain and simple. “And maybe because of my parents. Not in the way people think, but because I feel close to them doing what they did.”  I shook my head. “Which is ridiculous since I'm pretty sure both my parents would rather have me do something else.” I shrugged. “What about you?” He looked at me for a few silent moments before he spoke.

“What about me what?”

“Why are you a casting director? It’s not exactly something a little boy dresses up as for Halloween.” I smirked.

"I fell into it and was surprisingly good at it," he answered honestly. "Plus I found out that I couldn't be a Ninja Turtle for a living and was pretty disappointed about that." I laughed at that, really laughed since it was probably the first time I’d heard him be a real person and not a robot around me.

"Cute."

 "Cute?" he lifted a brow at me and I nodded.

"I'm picturing you as a Ninja Turtle," I admitted and grinned wide. "Which one?"

 "All of them," he grinned back at me. "Four years in a row. I was obsessed." I kept laughing and leaned my body against the counter since the bar stool was incredibly uncomfortable.

"I was usually a princess, I'm not even going to lie," I said and turned a little pink, biting down on my lip because I knew it just encouraged the stereotype of me he had in his head and I felt a little embarrassed.

"I'm not surprised," he smiled.

"What did you want to be when you were younger?" Tristan shrugged, looking lost in a thought for a while.

"I wasn't a creative kid. I wanted to be rich without having to do any work,"

“That’s very American of you.” I smirked. “I could have sworn that sexy accent was Australian.” He grinned and then I made a face of mock epiphany. “Maybe you should model!” he laughed again and my chest felt warm all over, damn him for being semi-friendly.

“I'm no good at modeling remember?” he asked, probably referring to the vogue shoot. I bit down on my lip as I remembered his body pressed up against mine.

“Oh I dunno, you might be a natural.” I swirled my finger around the outside of my glass slowly before a new one appeared and I blinked as I looked up at the bartender who winked at me.

“Does that usually work for bartenders?” Tristan asked, as he lowered his voice, leaning over so he wouldn’t hear. I laughed.

“Haven’t you heard? I put out for every guy who buys me a drink.” I winked at him and he smirked, probably because I was usually overly defensive around him, when in reality I joked a lot about myself.

“The drinks are free.” He pointed out. I widened my eyes in fake surprise.

“Well then I really am easy aren’t I?”

“Are you?” he asked, his serious tone returning as I blinked at him.

“Easy?” it was an interesting question. According to everyone? I was. I guess I even thought I was….but I was a little pickier now than I had been when I was 18. “Not anymore.” I replied finally.

“No? What changed?” I took a long sip of my drink and shrugged.

“I guess I don’t hate myself as much anymore.” I said finally, giving a half smile and then downing the rest of my drink. “For the most part anyways.” Tristan stared at me again, his eyes emotionless as usual which was frustrating as always.

“Did you always want to be a model?” he asked finally and I smiled because I wasn’t expecting the change of subject.

“Well I realized I couldn’t be a princess pretty fast.” I joked. “I think a part of me has always wanted to model. But if I wasn’t?  I’d want to be an elementary school teacher.”

"The two professions are very different." He said with a grin. Probably wondering where I’d pulled that from, but I’d always loved kids. Hell when I was a kid I thought by 24 I’d be married with babies by now. Oh childhood.

"Thank you for that Captain Obvious," I retorted, still grinning as I rolled my eyes. Did too much eye rolling get you sick? Because I was doing it a lot around Tristan.  "What? You don't believe me?!"

"Don't be offended, trust is earned," he said with a straight face, using a line I had told him only days earlier.  Didn’t he know that remembering things I’d told him was just such a turn on? I grinned wider before biting down on my lip and shaking my head,

"Touche."

"Someone told me that once," he cracked a smirk, taking a sip and finishing the rest of his drink.

"They must be smart," I leaned my chin against my palm.

"Surprisingly," he agreed with a nod, surprising me.

"And beautiful." I added, knowing I was pushing it but hey I’d never been one to shy away.  

"Very," he admitted, surprising me even more. Now don’t get me wrong I knew I was good looking. But there was a big difference between him admitting I was good looking, and voicing that I was beautiful. Very even. I felt my mouth open slightly and my eyes widen as I looked at him.  

"Was that a compliment?" I asked, letting my eyes drop down his sharp suit.

"Take it how you want," he shrugged and grinned.

“Surprisingly smart though? That was backhanded.” I added emphasizing the first word with a small smirk. Tristan’s grin widened.

“Shockingly the tabloids never pick up on your sharp wit.” He teased and I bit my lip from saying something I’d regret later.

“Do you get all of your information from tabloids? Don’t you have anything better to read?”

“I'm a busy man.” He replied. “The big headlines are enough for me. Well that and the unflattering pictures.” I winced.

“Yes a full time job and 3 girls plus a long term relationship with my brother.” I smirked, not able to resist the little tease.  “How exactly do you find time to do anything else?”

“I'm good at multitasking?” he offered, which gave me a vision of something that only my revved up libido could possibly come up with…..something about his fingers and his tongue….I swallowed and shook my head to erase the mental image that made me want to uncross my legs and lean into him.  

“Most men aren’t. You’re lucky.” I pointed out, fishing the olive out of my glass and sucking out the center before popping it into my mouth.

“Why do you do that?” he asked, nodding towards me. I blinked at him.

“Do what?”

“You sucked the center of the olive out and then just ate the olive. Why not just save a step and eat the whole thing together?” I found myself starting at him wondering the same thing myself before laughing.

“I really don’t know. I just always have.” Tristan smiled genuinely.

“And here I was worrying you were going to make some kind of innuendo about sucking.” He replied with a little bit of something I couldn’t quite read in his eyes.

“I still could if you’re interested. Or point out that you shouldn’t be so interested in my mouth….” I teased.  Tristan laughed and shook his head.

"You know, your brother warned me about you..." he trailed off, his laughter cut short as I widened my eyes. It was a sudden change of subject.  

"I'm not surprised," I tried shrugging it away, but I was a little curious. I knew the gist of it of course….sometimes I loved having a brother, sometimes I wished he was just my friend instead.

"He warned me about you too."

"And I'm sure that whatever he said was right," he responded.

“Probably not.” I replied and he blinked.

“Oh?” he asked, looking a little interested actually. I shrugged.

“What did he say about me?” I asked, knowing Ben’s speech to his friends all too well. If only I’d given my friends a speech I wouldn’t have ended up having a nephew.

“Oh no, I'm not telling you that.” He smirked, not wanting to get into trouble with his best friend.

“Let me guess….I’m awful and I don’t give up easy so don’t let yourself get seduced by me?” I questioned. He shrugged.

“Something like that…..” I ran my fingers though my long hair and sighed.

“He thinks you’ll break my heart.” I pointed out, grinning a little as I looked back at him.

“I'm not cocky enough to think I could get your heart to begin with.” He replied and I bit my lip.

“That would be flattering if you wanted it in the first place.” He looked at his drink before up at me.

“I don’t want anyone’s heart.” He said seriously, his eyes going emotionless again. I tilted my head to the side.

“Ever?” I asked softly. “Don’t get me wrong now, if you’re ever interested I'm not looking to date you….but do you never want a wife, or even a girlfriend?”

“Nope.” I took a second to drink him in. Besides the fact that he was so good looking? I saw how he was with Evie. Attentive, sweet, caring. He didn’t make any sense to me.

“Are you a good guy or a bad guy Tristan? I can’t seem to figure it out.” Tristan smirked slowly before letting out a quiet laugh, keeping an eye on me as I gave him a questioning look because I was serious.

"Do I need to be one or the other?" he asked eventually, watching as I ran my tongue across my lips slowly.

"Yes," I said after a few seconds.

"Are you a good girl or a bad girl?" he retorted, lifting his own brow and trying to keep a straight face. I uncrossed my legs and leaned closer to him,

"I think you know the answer to that question already..." He grinned but I was left thinking about it. Was I a good girl? No. God no. But what I really wanted? What was in my heart? Marriage, a family, to make my parents proud of me. That was classic good girl. Maybe I was just fooling everyone.

"True. And to answer your question? Neither,"

"Neither?" he shrugged, "Define the two and I don't fit either descriptions."

“So then you’re both. You can’t be neither.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because then you’re neutral and you’re not.” I said seriously. He laughed.

“Maybe I am!” he protested, giving me a grin that made my stomach flip. God I wish I didn’t like him so much.

“ Okay you can be neutral.” I said shaking my head. “Super boring.” Tristan looked like he was thinking hard before he spoke, leaning into me slightly.

“Neutral maybe. Boring though? I don’t think so.” Okay now he was just teasing me.

“You’re being cute right now.” I pointed out.

“Cute?” I nodded.

“Yup. But maybe I'm just used to the one word response, thinks I'm awful, professional Tristan so my bar for cute has been lowered.”