Chapter 30
‘One way or another’ was the first song in Evan’s playlist, and when he heard the melody, he immediately felt a little bit more at ease.
‘Okay, move your arms a little to the right. Up, left, left hand reached out, one hand in your hair, yeah, wonderful.’
Snap.
Click. Click. Click.
Snap.
‘Can you arch your back a little?’
‘Uh, what?’
‘Arch your back, Edward.’
Snap.
Click. Click.
‘No, this is not working.’
The photographer tutted at him and moved to face Jonathan. They exchanged a few whispers, and then the photographer turned to one of the other people in the room, who hadn’t done anything yet.
‘Get this boy a white blouse that’s a little opaque. I need something more to work with,’ the photographer ordered, moving his hand around in the air, just before five apparent stylists ran away and started rummaging through stuff.
Evan frowned at Regulus, who had a grim look on his face. James was watching the photographer with interest, and confusion. Barty was gone.
When Evan was all changed, the photographer frowned.
‘I believe I asked for an opaque blouse. Do you call this opaque?!’ the photographer yelled, though Evan was sure you could see his stomach right through the blouse. ‘You’re fired. Go on and lay back down, Evan.’
Even the bloody photographer knew his name.
‘Can you lay on your side and look at the camera? Hands up, both in your hair, eyes closed and mouth slightly parted.’
Click. Click. Click.
Snap. Snap.
‘Hmm… It’s still missing something. Let’s lose the blouse completely, see if that’s better,’ the photographer said, to the shock of Evan. He said up and stared at him. ‘I’m sorry, what? I’m still a kid, you know?’
‘Rain on your parade’ from Duffystarted playing in the background.
‘A kid who gets around often enough. We need to have some spice to back up the story, Evan. That’s just how it works,’ the photographer shrugged, before moving his hands in Evan’s direction. Two girls walked towards him and within seconds, he was shirtless. He shared a panicked look with Regulus and James.
A kid who gets around often enough? What was that supposed to mean?
‘Father?’ Evan asked, looking at his father’s shoes. ‘Yes?’
‘Is the story about my sexual life?’
A silence followed after Evan uttered the words, and that told him enough.
Evan nodded, and bit his lip to keep tears from falling.
‘I need to go to the toilet,’ he muttered, before he bolted away and into the bathroom.
He was going to be sick.
He threw up once, twice, until his entire breakfast and lunch and probably dinner from the night before were out of his stomach.
He was a kid.
How was this fair?
A knock on the door.
Evan wiped his tears and opened it. ‘Yeah?’ he asked, but right after he was grabbed by his ear and pulled out of the bathroom. He winced, but kept quiet, because he knew it would get worse if he made a sound. ‘Listen to me, Evan. You will do this shoot, and you will make sure it looks good. This is your life. You should be happy that I made you gay. I’m giving you freedom with this shoot that no other model gets,’ his father hissed, before throwing Evan down at the floor.
He didn’t know what hurt more. The fact that his father pulled his ear, or the fact that his father did know his name, but chose to ignore it.
‘I… You made me gay?’ Evan asked, baffled. ‘Yes. Now, don’t act so surprised. You will marry a girl in the end, but currently it’s good press to be a gay model,’ his father said, which in other words meant ‘I’m selling you out to the highest bidder and currently that is being gay and a whore’.
Evan nodded slowly. His father huffed and walked towards the door. ‘Father?’ Evan softly asked. He was pretty sure his father was going to ignore him anyways, so what did it matter?
‘Yes?’
Evan blinked for a second before taking a deep breath in. ‘How come you have the power over me? I mean, am I not old enough to have my own life?’ Evan asked. It was soft, careful, nearly a whisper. Evan knew he was walking on thin ice.
‘Because, Ethan, you’re just a boy, and I’m kind of the man,’ his father said smugly. He raised his chin. ‘Come on now, you’re wasting our time.’
Evan, still baffled from his father, only nodded and followed him out.
When he walked out and past Regulus and James, he saw that Barty had returned, and he was sitting on the couch. His eyes fell on Evan’s face first, then lowered, and he frowned. ‘Ev, where’s-’ ‘Move, boy. You’re in my seat,’ Jonathan said lightly, before moving his hand and expecting Barty to move.
Barty pulled a face, but stood up to stand beside Regulus and James.
‘Welcome back, Evan. Can you please take the last position again?’
Snap.
Click. Click. Click.
‘Okay, this is a great cover, but we need something more for the article photo. Something in the background,’ the photographer muttered to himself. He looked around the room, just as the song ‘maneater’ from Daryl Hall and John Oates started.
‘Yes! That’s it! We need bodies. Lots of them. I want you on top of them, Evan. It fits perfectly,’ the photographer said, clasping his hands proudly. Evan gave Regulus and James a panicked look. ‘Oh, they’re just perfect! Different physics and skin colours! They’ll contrast very nicely with you,’ the photographer said.
‘Wow, okay, hold on. I don’t really want to be in a magazine?’ James said, though it came out as a question. ‘Your face won’t be visible. You’ll be background,’ the photographer said, snapping his finger, which alerted his stylist to walk up to Regulus and James. ‘No. Hey! Get your hands off of my body before I snap your fingers,’ Regulus snapped, giving one of the stylists and icy glare.
‘You can’t just do this,’ Regulus hissed, now glaring at the photographer. ‘Well, I can. Do you want me to call your parents, Regulus?’ Jonathan said, smirking at Regulus who’s cheeks suddenly went a shade paler.
Regulus shook his head and let the stylists do their jobs. They must’ve enjoyed getting to undress so many people. James gave in quickly after that. His lame excuse being ‘if Regulus is okay with it, I’m too,’ though everybody knew Regulus wasn’t okay with it.
As Regulus and James were ushered inside of the frame, the photographer frowned.
‘I need a bed. They need to be in bed,’ he said, looking around. ‘Use the big room,’ Jonathan said dismissively. Evan’s eyes flew towards Regulus in slight shock. ‘Father, I sleep in the big room,’ he said, still looking at Regulus who was sharing the same concern as Evan seemed to have.
‘So?’ he said, while scrolling on his phone. ‘That’s even more perfect! So personal!’ the photographer said before ushering the three boys away. ‘We need fifteen minutes to relocate, you can take a break,’ the photographer said.
Evan sighed in relief. ‘Can I put on a shirt?’ he asked, but he got no answer. When he moved to grab a shirt, though, he was stopped by two young girls. ‘Oh, no you can’t put on these clothes,’ one of them said, grabbing the shirt and holding it towards her chest. Evan frowned. ‘But… But that’s my shirt?’ he asked, confused. The girl smiled brightly at him before diverting her eyes downwards and nodding.
He blinked in surprise and stepped back slowly. ‘Okay, this is very weird… Maybe you should uh, take a break?’ Evan proposed, trying to divert his eyes, but failing when the other girl reached out to touch his shoulder. His eyes widened in alarm and he tried to step back, but he bumped into the couch.
‘Are you asking us to take a break… with you?’ she asked, her eyes gleaming dangerously while she slowly lowered her hand. ‘No! Uh, I mean, not necessarily, no,’ Evan said, grabbing her hand and ducking underneath her arm to walk away.
‘Uh uh! Not so fast, pretty boy,’ the other girl said, while putting down his shirt on the couch and grabbing both of his arms. ‘Okay, I’m very uncomfortable, please let go of me,’ he said, inching away, but only hitting the other girl who was now behind him.
‘Well, you have to realise how special something like this is for girls like us,’ she whispered in his ear, making his ears ring in alarm. Too close.
Someone cleared their throat from behind them. Evan turned his head and saw James, arms crossed, staring down at the two girls.
‘I think he made it clear that he didn’t want this,’ James said in a stern voice. The two girls shared a look. ‘Well…’ ‘he didn’t say no, so…’ they said, but James didn’t seem impressed. ‘He told you to please let go of him, didn’t he? Sounds like a no to me. Pack up your stuff, Regulus is talking to your boss and she’ll have a harsh word with you about behaviour like this on the workfloor. Now scram,’ James ordered, darkening his eyes one more time before the girls hurried away.
Evan took a deep breath in. ‘Thank you, James. Really. Not sure I’d like the next thing they’d do,’ Evan said, shuddering while thinking about it. ‘The fact that they know I’m gay according to my dad and still act like this.’
‘It’s not about you being gay or not, it’s just disgusting behaviour. Especially because they are working with you,’ James said through his teeth in irritation.
Evan shrugged. ‘Yeah, it sucks. Let’s just go outside for a bit, yeah?’ he asked, turning around to grab his shirt, but seeing that the girls took it with them anyways. He groaned and turned around. ‘Without a shirt,’ he added, before marching towards the big, glass doors and opening them for him and James to walk through.
He was surprised that James got so protective on his behalf.
It felt safe.
Like confiding in a good friend about your horrible past.
Like coming home and smelling something delicious on the stove.
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Barty went into instant panic mode when Evan stepped outside with James right behind him.
Both of them had a lack of coverage on the top parts of their bodies and, judging by Regulus’ big eyes and tense jaw, Regulus was panicking too.
When Barty finally managed to peel his eyes away from Evan’s chest, up to his eyes, he met angry brown eyes. ‘You left. Without saying a word.’ It was more a statement than a question, so Barty just shrugged. ‘You seemed busy. I was hot.’
Evan huffed out the word ‘hot’ and looked at the half smoked cigarette between his fingers. Barty looked at it too, brought it to his lips slowly, and looked back up at Evan.
Or rather, looked up to see Evan walk away, his back muscles catching the sunlight perfectly from Barty’s pov. Barty heard Evan sigh in deeply and saw his body tense before relaxing, his muscles flexing with his tenseness and giving Barty the distinct urge to bite them.
Barty knew Evan must take pleasure in this torture, because he did it again, before sitting down and grabbing his phone.
‘Pathetic. Both of you are pathetic, sweet mother of Jesus,’ Regulus said, tutting at Barty who rolled his eyes. ‘You are not one to talk mister ‘I panic the moment I see a single hair that is brown, because what if it’s James’?’’ Barty huffed, which made Regulus frown. ‘What are you trying to say, again?’ he asked, which made Barty frown.
‘You panic at everything because you think it’s all about James, even though it’s almost always not about him,’ Barty said, a little too loud. Regulus gave him a firm kick before James turned around and frowned at them. He muttered something to Evan, who waved one hand in the air loosely before going back to scrolling on his phone.
Barty knew he must’ve said something while gesturing in the air. He wondered what Evan said. Was it about him? Probably right? Because what else would Evan be talking about? Was he declaring his love for Barty? No, he’d use a bigger gesture if he did that. Was he planning to- ‘OW! Regulus!’ Barty hissed, pulling his leg away from Regulus’ feet.
He kicked damn hard.
‘What was that for?’ Barty hissed, a little softer than before, because James was looking at them again, and talking to Evan while doing so. He could see James mouthing ‘Both are looking at me now’ before glancing at Evan.
‘I’m trying to talk to you, you arse,’ Regulus hissed before Barty muttered ‘oh’, and rubbed his leg. Just when Barty opened his mouth to speak, the door slid open and someone called for them to go back inside.
Regulus glared at the door until it was slid closed again, and then glared at Barty. ‘You know, you could take my position too,’ he said, not really a suggestion but more of a threat. Barty huffed. ‘Yeah, no thank you.’
‘Come on, Reg,’ James said, before catching himself and finishing with ‘-ulus’ before his cheeks flushed. He ducked his head and speedily walked inside right behind Evan, who’s pale cheeks were a pale contrast to James’ blazing red ones.
‘Yeah, go on, Reg. Lay in the bed half naked with your boyfriend!’ Barty said teasingly. Regulus pushed him over, after which he tumbled to the floor. He was still laughing, though. ‘Ex boyfriend, Barty. And I’m not really excited for the shoot.’
Regulus glared at him one last time before he walked inside, leaving Barty on the floor.
Barty frowned and sprung up, shocked. He hobbled after Regulus in quick tempo. ‘Wait! Regulus, come on!’ Barty said, before he met Regulus’ angry eyes. He looked around the room and was met with dark, furious eyes from Evan and embarrassed eyes from… Evan?
‘Who are you, young man?’
Barty frowned and looked at the dude who he presumed was the photographer. He smiled a cheeky smile, but was interrupted in his attempt to answer by an angry Evan. ‘This is Bartemius Crouch Jr. Son of, yes.’
Ohh.
Angry Evan was Evan’s father.
Right, that sounded so obvious.
‘Barty, can you please stop embarrassing me? This is really weird,’ Evan said softly, crossing his arms over his body as if to protect himself.
‘Oh. Right. Uhm… Sorry,’ Barty said, ducking his head a little and walking towards the door. ‘No, hold on a second. Jonah, think with me. Two bodies is almost empty, right? How about we throw in a third boy. One whose face is partly shown? It’ll make people talk,’ the photographer said.
Barty turned around in shock. ‘What?’ he said, just as Evan muttered ‘Mon Dieu,’ and shook his head. ‘Father, is this really necessary? I think there’ll be enough talk as is, don’t you?’ Evan tried, but his father held up his hand in Evan’s direction, silencing him roughly.
‘I think that’s a good idea. Girls, make him ready please,’ Jonathan said before Barty was guided away by three girls who started pulling on his clothes and hair.
Barty looked at Evan and Regulus while his makeup was getting done. They were talking in hushed tones while James was typing something on his phone.
If only he didn’t come inside.
Then he wouldn’t be in this position.
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‘I’m sorry, you want him to… what?’ Evan yelled out in shock before his father shot him a glare.
‘It’s not up for discussion, Elias. Now lay down and put on a pretty face,’ Jonathan snapped before Evan did just that and tried not to wince. He could feel Regulus’ heavy heartbeat underneath his head and the warmth radiating from James’ back.
Barty glanced at him unsure, but he slowly lowered himself on the bed. Evan couldn’t take his eyes off of Barty, now matter how hard he tried. He hated him so much. But the line between love and hate had long been blurred between them, and Evan had given up on understanding it.
‘Okay, let’s try some poses. Evan, move your…’ the photographer’s words became one blur as Evan moved his arms up and Barty laid down his head right besides Evan’s chest. He could feel Barty’s hair tickle his bare skin.
He wanted to do something about it. He wanted to pull it until Barty was face to face with him and kiss him senseless. Pull his hair some more and maybe kiss him some more.
No. Stop it.
Baryt looked up at him with innocent blue eyes. Evan faintly heard ‘The chain’ from Fleetwood Mac playing in the background, but it was overshadowed by the photographer’s praises. ‘Yes, Evan, great idea. Grab his hair like you’re pulling his face up. Act carelessly, it’s just a camera.’
And millions of people.
Wait.
Evan looked down and saw he had grabbed Barty’s hair, which was also why Barty was looking at him. He seemed to ask him something with his eyes, but Evan never was the best communicator, let alone with his eyes.
He gave a confused look to Barty, who raised an eyebrow and tried to hide a small smirk.
Oh god.
Slowly but surely, Barty lowered his head until his lips met Evan’s chest and he softly pressed, until Evan was sure Barty heard his breath hitch. Evan shot up and coughed in shock, instantly letting go of Barty and pushing him away.
‘Father, I want to model with famous models. Please?’ he begged, but his father only looked mad. His nose twitched and Evan’s eyes filled themselves with tears he couldn’t quite control, so he just closed his eyes. ‘Lay down, Ezra. We’re almost done here,’ Jonathan said, not waiting for Evan to answer before sitting back down and grabbing his phone.
Evan laid back down and whispered ‘stop that’ to Barty, before he heard Regulus whisper ‘what’s wrong?’ and he shook his head. ‘Barty’s just being an arse. It’s fine,’ Evan muttered, before moving around to show his jawline and look up towards his bathroom door.
Barty took the opportunity to let his fingers trace his stomach and Evan tried desperately to not move again as he heard the photographer mutter things to them. ‘Barty, stop that,’ Evan hissed at him, but he just looked up innocently.
‘Why? I know you like it,’ Barty spoke softly, almost seductively. ‘I-’ Evan took a short breath. ‘Not from you.’
Barty blinked twice at him. ‘Tell me to stop again and I will. I certainly wouldn’t want to cross your boundaries…’ Barty trailed off, before carefully pressing his lips against Evan’s ribs and watching as Evan closed his eyes and tried to calm his mind. He really should’ve told Barty to stop.
He really, really should’ve.
But then the photographer noticed it, and ordered Barty to go on, because it was ‘giving the shoot the final bit of life it needed’ and then Barty was peppering kisses all over his chest. His stomach, his ribs, then his shoulders. Evan’s face was red and he knew his breathing was unsteady, but the photographer saw no mercy.
Regulus hissed ‘fucking asshole’ at Barty, but he only grinned at him and then slowly ducked his head to kiss the inside of Evan’s neck, right at that one spot that made Evan’s cheeks gow ablaze and his eyes close to keep himself from doing or saying anything.
Stay strong, Evan.
Almost done.
Almost.
‘YES! Yes, you keep doing that! I need shots of this, this is a masterpiece!’
Oh fuck.
Evan grabbed Barty’s hair again, but this time to pull at it and stop Barty from putting too much pressure on Evan’s soft spot. ‘You and I are going to have a talk about this when we’re done,’ Evan hissed so violently at Barty, that he swallowed and gave a soft nod.
Killing Barty seemed like a reasonable option right at that moment.
A reasonable option for a reasonable person.