Page 36 of Hard Rock Fling
"For Cameron's concept we're going with a sort of Jekyll and Hyde theme. I'll see if I can come up with something not too cliché."
"I like it," Cameron said. "Can I have clawed nails and glow in the dark eye contacts for the Hyde side?"
"Sure. Why not."
"Sweet."
I turned to Ian and Damon. They wore jeans with matching band t-shirts, black with a silver graphic. Their hair stuck up in soft tufts, not coiffed into spikes like they preferred during concerts, but untamed, disheveled.
Unlike Cameron, whose off-stage persona had softened into something like boyish charm, The Twins looked even more devastating. No one should be that damn sexy so early in the morning. Or maybe it was the heated smirk on Ian's lips making me feel that way.
Breathe,I told myself.
"The next stage is the conflict stage. Passionate fighting, followed by passionate make up sex. That's you two." I tried not to blush at the lascivious quirk of their lips. "Damon is the fighting. He'll be wearing ripped clothing, torn and bloodied. Ian is the—" I paused to make sure my voice didn't waver. "—the sex. He'll be wearing something less harsh, something romantic but sexy. Like silk and leather."
I would never dare tell a soul, but half the reason I came up with the idea was because I wanted to see Ian dressed up in silk and leather.
"It's a cool idea, but it won't work." Damon was brisk, dismissive. "We don't want a different image. We want the same look for the both of us."
"I just thought—"
"No." His word was final.
I deflated. I'd been so sure I was on the right track. I'd have to re-think my entire idea.
I snuck a glance at Ian, expecting him to be as adamant. His lips were pressed in a thin line. Anyone else would have thought he was annoyed at the idea of two separate looks as well, like his brother.
But I didn't think that was it.
Maybe Ian liked the idea of two separate images. Maybe he didn't want to be the exact same as his brother. That would have been surprising. Everyone treated Damon and Ian like they were practically the same person.
Was Ian getting tired of it?
"What comes after the conflict stage?" Naomi asked.
I brought my thoughts back around to the present. I could dwell on Ian and his psyche later.
"Next is the break up. August, you'll be the one to represent that. You're in pain all the time. It's like you're drowning. You're choking on tears. You don't know how you're going to live with the pain, but you don't know how to show it. You don't know how to ask for help. You feel lost and alone."
August's eyes went from distant to focused within an instant, giving me a piercing stare.
He was the most professional of the bunch with a white collared dress shirt to go along with black skinny jeans. He was well respected in the industry, not only for his talent with practically every instrument known to man, but also for his genius composing. He also acted as producer for both his band and others.
He wasn't just a rock star. August was a prodigy.
This prodigy also happened to be giving me a shrewd look. I hoped he wasn't reconsidering his decision already. I tried not to be intimidated by it and continued.
"There's some cool fabric so shiny it looks wet. I'd like to make your outfit using something like that. I'd also like to have underwater shots for the music video."
"Literally drowning in tears," August murmured.
"That's the idea."
"And Noah?" he asked.
The scowl on Noah's face was nothing I hadn't seen before. I didn't take offense. It wasn't directed at me. He wore his usual spike-studded leather jacket even though it was warm inside the building. The jacket and scowl combined to give off a vibe that visibly said "fuck off."
Noah's dark eyes flickered to me before going back to stare at the wall. Cameron shifted in his seat, leaning back and putting his hands behind his head in a casual pose. His leg jerked under the table.
