Model to Holywood

"Okay, Ryan, I'll be careful!"

Rachel hung up the phone, walked back to the campfire, and let out a soft sigh.

Luca scratched his head, wanting to say something but unsure of what to say.

*Ring, ring, ring* 

His phone rang again. It was Director Mark calling, asking where he was staying tonight and when he would be back. He wanted to invite him for drinks.

But the rain outside was still pouring, and his clothes weren't dry yet—how could he rush back in this weather? 

After chatting briefly, he hung up the phone.

The two sat silently, staring at the fire, listening to the rain and thunder outside, waiting for the storm to pass so they could leave.

Luca stared into the fire, feeling like his whole body was burning. He scratched his head and suddenly stood up.

"Rachel, do you want some watermelon?"

"What?"

Rachel asked in surprise.

"Wait here. I'll go grab one!"

Luca quickly walked to the door and opened it. He needed to cool down, or he feared he might lose control and do something reckless.

"Don't go, it's still thundering outside!"

Rachel stood up and called after him.

"I'll be careful."

Luca rushed into the downpour. When the cold rain hit his body, he felt like he heard a *sizzle*, as if the flames inside him were extinguished.

"Watch out! You're going to catch a cold!"

Rachel shouted from the doorway.

"I'll be fine!"

Luca walked quickly toward the watermelon patch, crouching down to knock on the melons. The heavy rain hit his back, creating a misty spray.

*Crack!* 

A flash of lightning illuminated the mountain peak and the watermelon patch.

Rachel was startled and yelled, "Idiot, just pick any one! They're all ripe!"

"I know!"

Luca wanted to check a few more, but with the thunder and lightning, he wasn't keen on risking getting struck. He grabbed one that looked decent and headed back to the shed.

"Rachel, do you think this watermelon is ripe?"

"I'm not guessing."

Rachel rolled her eyes at him, then grabbed a half-dry T-shirt and helped him wipe his back and chest. The rain made his muscles look even more defined.

"Thanks, Rachel."

Luca took the T-shirt and dried his hair and face. Now, he was soaked from head to toe.

After drying off, he took the watermelon to the fire, cracked it open with his hands. It was ripe, but it didn't look as appealing as the last one.

"Haha, is this what you got after all that effort?"

Rachel teased.

Luca pointed to the sky. "The thunder was too loud; I couldn't hear the knocking. I misjudged, but it's still about seventy percent ripe, good enough to eat."

"So, your trick doesn't work when it's raining?"

Rachel laughed.

Luca smiled, handing her half.

The two of them sat by the fire, munching on the watermelon. It tasted good—sweet and juicy—but the melon was small and had a thick rind. They finished it in just a few bites.

"Haha, Luca, you eat watermelon like a bear eating corn."

Rachel teased.

"You're no different."

Luca wiped a black watermelon seed from the corner of her mouth.

Rachel chuckled and handed him the other half of the watermelon.

"I've got too much; you can have it."

"Alright."

*Ring, ring, ring* 

Just as they were eating, Luca's phone rang again.

"Luca, where are you?"

Kate asked on the other end of the line.

Luca smirked. "Kate, you won't believe it, but I'm sitting in a watermelon shed near Toronto, eating watermelon by a fire while it's thundering and pouring rain outside. Listen, that's the sound of thunder!"

"Wow, really? That sounds so vivid. Are you alone?"

Kate asked curiously.

Luca glanced at Rachel. "No, there's someone else with me. But I can't tell you who."

"Jerk! The next time I see you, I'm going to punch you!"

Kate shouted angrily over the phone.

*Pfft* 

Hearing Kate's angry voice, Rachel covered her mouth and laughed.

"Haha, I heard that. It's a woman, right?"

Kate laughed. "Knowing your habits, you wouldn't casually meet a woman, so it must be someone you're familiar with. You don't know many women in Canada except for the three in the crew—Rachel, Amanda, and Lindsay. It must be one of them, right?"

Luca scratched his head, feeling a bit helpless. That's the problem with revealing too much.

"Kate, do you have something important to say? If so, say it quickly; I'm still eating watermelon."

"Alright, I won't interrupt your watermelon time. I just called to say goodnight and hope you have an unforgettable evening."

Kate sighed softly.

Luca stared at his phone for a moment. "Goodnight."

"You and your sister get along so well!"

Rachel remarked.

"Yeah, we're pretty close."

Luca shrugged and put his phone down.

"But why did you suddenly get all gloomy?"

Rachel blinked, her eyes bright and piercing.

"It's nothing."

Luca shook his head, but then something shiny in the hay caught his eye. He smiled softly. "Rachel, want some whiskey?"

"Where's the whiskey?"

"Right here."

Luca pushed aside some dry hay in the corner, revealing a bottle of Johnnie Walker whiskey. It was new and unopened.

He unscrewed the cap, took a whiff, and then a swig. The fresh vanilla scent and unique smoky flavor were familiar to him.

"Rachel, want some?"

He sat on the haystack, handing the bottle to her.

Rachel looked at the bottle, then at him, hesitated for a moment, and took a sip.

*Cough, cough*

"This brand of whiskey is strong—better suited for men. You should drink a little at a time."

Luca laughed.

"You could've said that earlier!"

"I did it on purpose."

"You jerk!"

Rachel gave him a playful glare, handed the bottle back, and sat beside him on the haystack.

The two leaned against the wall, passing the bottle back and forth, each taking a drink.

"Rachel, do you know why I'm feeling down?"

Luca said, his breath heavy with alcohol.

"Why?"

Rachel leaned against his shoulder, snatching the bottle to take another sip.

"Kate—Kate's got a boyfriend."

Luca took the bottle back and downed a large gulp, coughing violently afterward.

"She has a boyfriend?"

Rachel scratched her cheek. After drinking the strong whiskey, her face flushed.

"Kate found a boyfriend, and you're upset about it? Haha, I know why."

Rachel clapped her hands, laughing drunkenly. "You're a sister complex, aren't you?"

"No, I'm not!"

Luca waved his hand, denying it.

"You must be! Otherwise, why would you be upset about your sister's boyfriend? You've been brooding for days."

Rachel giggled.

"It's not that. Kate has terrible taste in men. I'm just worried about her."

"Is that so? Her last boyfriend was Leonardo DiCaprio. By the way, I heard you were the one who broke them up. Haha, you really are a sister complex."

Rachel waved the bottle around.

"Fine, I am a sister complex."

Luca took the bottle and drank another big gulp, now more than half the bottle was gone.

"Haha, what's wrong with that? I'm a brother complex!"

Rachel grabbed the bottle and shouted.

"Brother complex? You mean Ryan? He's two years younger than you."

"No, I have a twin brother, Louis!"

"A twin? Wow, that's so cool! I'd love to meet him someday."

"You can't."

Rachel shook her head, gulping down more whiskey. Her face turned even redder, and tears started to flow.

"Rachel, are you okay?"

Luca sensed something was wrong and patted her back.

"I'm fine. I was just thinking about Louis. I'm older by half an hour. We used to look exactly the same when we were kids, but as we grew up, we became different. We did everything together, went to school, ate, and even slept together. I thought of him in everything I did. But when we were nineteen, he..."

Rachel put down the empty bottle and lowered her head, her tears dripping onto the dry hay.

Luca sighed softly, put his arm around her shoulder, and patted her gently.

"I'm sorry, Rachel."

"It's okay. It's been a long time."

Rachel suddenly lifted her head and smiled through her tears. "You know, being a sister complex or a brother complex is a blessing—at least your family is still around, right?"

Luca paused and smiled. "Rachel, thank you. You're right. As long as Kate is happy, I shouldn't be making her upset."

"Exactly. But you're still allowed to feel down. When Louis got a girlfriend, I was furious too."

Rachel paused for a moment, then suddenly asked with a mischievous smile, "Have you ever slept with Kate?"

"What?"

Luca shook his head repeatedly. "No way!"

"Why not? I gave Louis my first time."

Luca froze for a moment. "That's... pretty wild!"

"Yeah, it was. We were drunk, and it just happened. 

I've never told anyone about it, not even Ryan. Can you keep it a secret?"

"I swear!"

"I trust you!"

Rachel blinked, and Luca stared at her.

The fire danced in their eyes.

Suddenly, Rachel leaned in, cupped his face, and kissed him passionately.

"Rachel..."

"Don't say anything."

Rachel wrapped her arms around his neck and said softly, "Come on, you can pretend I'm Kate."

"K-Kate?"

"Mm-hmm~"

(End of chapter)