It was morning, and the young mother waved goodbye to her son as he left for school. After that, she went inside to clean up a bit before leaving for her job.

While doing the dishes, her phone rang, so she picked it up. "Hello," she answered.

"Hey! It's me," Chris chimed.

"Hey! What's up?"

"Are you free this Saturday to have lunch together?"

Erika began thinking if she was available. "Yeah, Thirdy is going to a friend's house anyway."

"Wonderful," Chris squealed. "So, what's up with you?"

"Just doing the dishes and leave some food for Crumbs before going to work."

"I mean, how's working with the ex-boyfriend?"

"Oh! It's delightful," Erika replied sarcastically.

"Is it that bad?" Chris asked.

"A little bit. He's not making my job difficult intentionally."

"Alright, but he's still making it difficult for you... How?"

"It's kinda hard to explain. He's still the Shay I know. He even remembers that I'm allergic to sesame," Erika explained. She even realized that her ex had been nothing but warm towards her.

"That's nice," her best friend remarked in a vague way. "Right?"

"Yeah, I guess. I felt bad for snapping at him yesterday."

"Wait. What? You snapped at him? What did he do?"

"It's nothing actually," Erika sighed. "He came at me and asked me why I started modeling, then I accidentally told him that I didn't get to study in Eliard. So, he asked why, and I got all defensive."

"Oh! I see," Chris comprehended. "He got to the personal part. It's okay. Don't beat yourself up from that."

"Yeah, but he didn't know, and I blew up on him."

"True. Still, you can't blame yourself with that, even though he doesn't know. But okay, I guess it wouldn't to, you know, be patient when you're with him because he doesn't know what happened to you."

"You're right, Shay had no idea," Erika replied. "Anyway, I have to go. I still have to feed Crumbs. Let's talk again later."

"Alright, bye, E." Chris ended the call.

Later, Erika arrived in the set with the two other models. She spotted Shay with his teammates playing a little of past the ball until he looked at her way that it made her red-faced.

Regardless, Shay just put on a gentle smile and waved at her that it made her at ease because no matter what she did, he couldn't get mad at her. So, Erika waved back at him, then went straight to the dressing room.

The photoshoot was about to start, and Erika was the first to come out after changing into the outfit from the collection. "Erika," the photographer called her. "Let's start with you. Get in there."

"Okay," she said as she hurried to get in front of the camera. Erika started posing while the photographer told her what to do.

Everyone watched her, especially Shay, which made her giddy inside and somehow motivated her, as well.

"That's it. Looking great," the photographer commented as he was just clicking away with his camera. "Keep that pose. Excellent."

Some minutes passed, and Erika was done. It was a hot day, and they were in an outdoor soccer field. She could feel sweat in her armpits, so she went to the snack area to get bottled water.

Suddenly, someone handed it to her. "Thirsty?" the person said.

Erika looked up, and it was none other than her ex, Shay, with that smile that made her melt. "For me?" she asked.

"Yup, take it."

"Thanks." The young lady took the bottle from him. "You haven't touched this, have you?"

"Of course not," Shay chuckled. "It's still sealed."

"Again, thanks. It's so hot today. Don't you need this?

"I brought a tumbler with me."

"Prepared as always." Erika opened the cap and drank the water. After that, she fanned herself with her hand. "Whew..."

"You okay?" Shay asked.

"I'm fine, I'm just feeling tired."

"Oh, well, you better sit down then."

"No, that's alright," Erika assured him. "I guess I have to buy iced-coffee before going to my next photoshoot."

Then, the two became quiet with one another, and at that moment, both of them thought that it was their chance to apologize with each other from what happened the previous day. "I..." the two uttered at the same time.

"Sorry, you go first," Shay offered.

"It's alright, you go first," Erika insisted.

"Okay, I..." They both said in unison once again.

They paused to wait, who would go first, until Shay he would do it. "I..." he uttered.

"Erika." A staff walked up to her. "Sorry for interrupting, but I have something to discuss with you for your next shoot."

"Okay," Erika replied, as she was being pulled away. She stopped for a second and turned to her ex. "Let's talk later."

Shay just nodded in response. "Sure."

However, it was not over after Erika spoke with the staff because there was a phone call that she had to make for next client, and then after that, there were more people took her to the side to talk to her.

Meanwhile, Shay just stayed with his teammates because he was willing to wait for her no matter how long.

It took about more than an hour until the shoot ended for the day that the two didn't get to talk. Although, since it ended, the soccer player tried to chase Erika again because she was about to leave.

But then, the director called out to them. All of them. "Models! Gentlemen!" he said to get their attention. "We have something to discuss before you all go."

So they gathered around him. "What is it?" one of the Super Tundra players asked.

"We are going to have assigned two people to shoot together tomorrow to show the other designs," the director explained. "One male and one female."

"Oh, my God," Mira whispered as she grinned to the other two models. "That's so cool."

"Yeah..." Erika stammered. However, she was the only one who didn't share the same feeling of excitement and hoping she would partnered with any of the two players, but not with her ex.

"I'm going to make this quick since you all have places to be. Dave Garrick, you'll be with Mira. Lucas Moreno, you'll be with Ida here. And last but not least, Duke Shay, you'll be partnered up with Erika."

The ex-couple were stumped that they were going to work very closely with each other. Although, Shay was thrilled. "Me... with her?" he questioned, wanting to make sure that he heard it right.

"That's right," the director confirmed. "Listen. We are aware that you two personally know each other, and we don't usually assign partners because of it, but for this, we had to make an exception because we think you two look perfect together. For the shoot, I mean. I hope that's not a problem."

"I have none."

Even though Erika did have some mixed feelings, she still kept quiet because she didn't want to make an issue about it since it was just work. "Me, too," she claimed.

"Wonderful!" The director sighed in relief. "Now, that's settled. You are all free to go. Thank you."

Once that was done, the models were on their way to the other exit to wait for their ride there. Two of them could not hide their happiness, knowing who their partners were for the photoshoot. "I can't believe I got Westley," Mira beamed. "He is fine."

"Lucky you, then," said the other model, Ida.

"What about you, Erika? Do you think you're gonna be okay working with your ex?"

"Uhm..." Erika stammered.

"Erika." Shay approached his ex-girlfriend yet again. "Can we talk? I know you have to go, but it's just for five minutes."

"Oh, right, I almost forgot about that. Sure."

"We'll just be outside," Mira told her, and then she and Ida walked away together so that the two could talk in private.

"You're okay, right? That you and I are partners?" Shay asked.

Trying not to look unbothered, Erika just plastered a smile on her face. "It's just part of the job," she replied. "Is that what you want to talk about?"

However, that did not answer his question. "No. Actually, I want to say I'm sorry. I didn't mean to piss you off yesterday. I was just surprised, that's all. But yeah... it's none of my business."

Erika felt the sincerity in his voice. "Still. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped at you."

"No worries, you don't have to apologize. I shouldn't have pushed you to answer when you don't want to."

"The thing is... A lot had happened after graduation, and then... Trevor died," Erika explained without the dark detail in it. "It was too much. I just don't like to talk about it, and I couldn't help but get ticked off whenever I get asked because I want to forget, you know."

"I get it. Maybe I should've been there for you. Maybe to help you out with whatever you were going through," Shay responded as he sympathized his ex.

"Shay, it's okay. It's over. My life is great now. I chi... I mean, I have a career that I'm happy with."

Seeing his old girlfriend doing so well made the soccer player feel contented about how she was doing in her life. "I'm glad, and I'm happy for you. Anyway, that's all I have to say. I guess you have to go now."

"Hmm? Oh! Yeah... I do."

Shay had a grin on his face. "Okay, I guess we're good then. You and me?"

"Yup." Erika nodded and smiled. "We are."

"Great. Well, I'll see you later, partner."

"You, too, partner." They laughed it off for a few seconds rightafter as they walked away from one another to get to their respective rides.

Erika felt a part of a weight was lifted from her shoulder that her past was finally left alone by her ex-boyfriend. Furthermore, she noticed something about Shay that made her comfortable with him, even just a little.

And as for Shay, he felt the same way. Furthermore, it felt like he earned his ex's trust, and it made his day knowing that he could be close to her again. Maybe not like when they were in high school, but at least it was a good step for them to be on good terms.

Outside the old stadium, Erika walked out to the front. She was beaming inside and out that her fellow models noticed it. "Someone looks happy," Mira teased. "Let me guess, you two kiss and make-up?"

"Not exactly," Erika replied sarcastically. "We just talked it out. That's all."

"Oh, okay, although I have to agree with the director. You and him look perfect together."

"He didn't mean it that way."

"Pfft... Sure."

A minute after, their van came to pick them up for their next scheduled shoot.