Chapter Text
February 1999
It’s a normal day at the studio for Bradley, she had to travel to New York to do a modeling job, it’s not how she hoped her life would turn out to be, but she’s distracting herself from her marriage, if you can call it that. It’s not that the sex it’s not good, the problem is there’s no sex at all. Being born in a conservative family, she had one task: Be a virgin until marriage, and she fulfilled it, the problem is she has been married for almost 3 years and she still is.
So here she is, doing a modeling job, and getting away from her married life in Florida. It’s not that she doesn’t like this job, it’s just that she always dreamt of doing something else, something that mattered or at least that made her happy. She studied social communications because she thought that would be a great start to get an actual purpose in life, not that’s she’s actually using it but at least she did something for herself.
The photographer is telling her to move to the center, so he can get a better shot. However the dress she’s obligated to wear is uncomfortable and it’s hard for her to walk, so she’s concentrated in not falling, and to top it all off, other models are pushing her because she’s at the center surrounded by women posing; so she doesn’t see a woman shorter than her trying to get out, this woman is not wearing heels or in a dress so she can’t be a model, so she just ignored her and let her get through annoyed.
When the shooting is over and she’s finally out of her dress, and in her clothes, the producer of the studio calls her to have a lunch with some executives that want to meet her. So she just goes to the restaurant in her clothes and the makeup she had before, at least she didn’t take it off.
When they arrived at the restaurant, she was astonished, it was absolutely beautiful and fancy, it’s not that she hadn’t gone to restaurants this fancy before, but nothing like this one. She’s been introduced to everyone, and sits down to continue the show.
She’s finishing her meal, when suddenly the woman from before, appears out of nowhere and introduces herself as Laura Peterson, a journalist of the network, so after a while, Bradley feels a little weird because this woman can’t stop staring and flirting with her. It’s not that she has not been hit on, it’s the fact that it’s a woman, and she’s actually liking it. So she makes up an excuse and says she needs to get back to the studio for another shooting.
Bradley arrives at the studio and her heart can’t beat any faster, this can’t be normal, can it? Maybe is the lack of sexual life that has her freaking out about this woman, it has to be, she loves her husband and in the beginning of their relationship she was really attracted to him, so yes she decides to calm down and just get back to her life in Florida where she is kind of happy.
She’s waiting patiently in her dressing room because she wasn’t needed for another 3 hours, but she had to get out of the restaurant; when there’s a knock on the door, she hopes with all her being it isn’t Laura. She opens the door and finds an assistant carrying a tray with a glass full of ice cream, she panics but doesn’t let him know, so she gets it inside and reads the note that was left there: You said earlier that the meal was never complete if you didn’t have dessert, so here’s a little gift. Love, Laura.
She sat in her chair completely shocked, and decides to eat it because who can say no to ice cream? When she finishes, and is finally called to do the last shooting of the day, she happily goes and doesn’t complains at all. The shooting ends and she’s finally out of those clothes and into her own, she sees the producer from before, and goes to talk to her.
“Hey Mia” Bradley says.
“Oh, hey Bradley, you did great job today.” Mia says smiling at her.
“Thank you” She’s a little embarrassed so she eyes the floor.
“Actually I wanted to ask you something, hoping you would say yes”
“Oh, sure, I mean you can ask” she smiles hoping to encourage the producer.
“Okay, here it goes, I know you live in Miami, but I have another modeling job here, and I was wondering if you could stay here for a couple weeks, maybe a month to do it.” The producer looked at her with pleading eyes for a moment.
Bradley thinks about it. “I mean, I would need to discuss it with my husband, because I was supposed to leave tomorrow, but I’ll consider it, thank you for trusting me and for this opportunity.
“You are welcome here always” She gives her a smiles and moves to leave the studio but Bradley stops her.
“Mm Mia, I was wondering if maybe you have Laura’s number…?” She immediately looks to the floor embarrassed for asking. Mia eyes her a littles suspicious but gives to her anyways.
“It’s just that she sent me something earlier and I wanted to thank her” Bradley tries to justify.
Mia smiles. “Don’t worry about it, I get it”. She winks and leaves
Bradley stays there shocked and a little confused, what did she mean by that? Does everyone ask for Laura’s number? She decides it’s best to ignore that little voice in her head, and just go home to her grandma’s house.
When she gets there, takes a shower and changes, decides it’s time to call Laura, it’s 10 PM but Laura doesn’t look like someone who sleeps early anyway. After 15 minutes she finally presses the button in the heavy phone nailed to the wall, it rings once, then twice, before she answers.
“Oh, Hi Laura, It’s Bradley Jackson, I don’t know if you remember me… but we met today at the restaurant.”
“Hi Bradley, How could I forget you?” Laura says smiling.
Bradley blushes and thinks what is happening? Why am I blushing?, she waits for a moment before answering “mm I was calling to thank you for the dessert you sent to my dressing room, it was really thoughtful, and I truly appreciate it.”
“It was my pleasure, meeting you made my day… but I’m a little curious, how did you get my phone number?” Bradley froze, how could she answer that without seeming like a stalker?
She decided it was best to tell the truth, that women made her want to answer everything truthfully, and that scared her a bit. “Oh, I was talking to Mia, the producer, and I thought I wanted to thank you for the gift, so I asked for your number, I hope it wasn't out of line.
Laura answered rapidly "No no, it wasn't, don't worry, I was just curious, I'm sorry if the question made you uncomfortable."
Bradley thought for a moment "Well, I... called to thank you, so..."
"Wait... What are you doing now?" Laura asked.
"What?" Bradley asked confused.
"I mean... are you doing something now, because I would love to invite you to dinner or... a drink, whatever you want." Laura was nervous, but she didn't let it show, or so she thought.
Bradley waited for a moment "I... yes, I would like that. But isn't it like ten thirty?" She said looking outside the window.
"Oh, yeah but something must be open. So, could you give me the address? I'll pick you up, or if you prefer meeting there, it would be alright too." Laura said hoping Bradley wouldn't change her mind.
"Actually I'm staying with my grandma now, because I don't live here, she lives a bit far away, I hope it isn't a problem" Bradley was a little embarrassed for staying with her grandma but why would she stay in a hotel if she could spend time with her.
"No no, don't worry, I know the city pretty well, so... I can pick you up if you want?"
"Perfect, thank you, do you have pen and paper..."
When the call ended, Bradley found herself feeling nervous but in a good way, she hadn't felt like that in a long time, maybe ever, but she wasn't going to get into that now. She had to get ready for her... date? No, it couldn't be a date, she's married and the other person is a woman so, no it can't be a date, she can't let herself feel hope, that wouldn't be fair to her husband or Laura. So the plan is: get ready, dress nice but not too nice, have a good time, don't flirt, and if she makes a move let her know you are married and that you are looking for a friendship.
What Bradley didn't know is that she's the one that is going to throw the plan to the trash.