Played By Strings Of Fate

8th String - It's Hard Being In Love With Your Best Friend

True to Clark's words, a guy emerged from a door behind the counter. When we made eye contact, he squealed.

Yes, squealed.

"You must be Jade." he exclaimed happily, skipping towards my direction, "I'm Kiel." he took my hand in his and shook it like there was no tomorrow.

I stared blankly at him. Not once did I imagine a guy named Kiel to be like this. He was very good-looking. Even more good-looking than the whole male population at my sixth-form.

"You're gay?" I clamped a hand over my mouth immediately when the question I've been holding captive inside my head escaped. He laughed, "Sorry..." I mumbled, casting my eyes downward.

"No need to apologise." he gave my back a pat, "And to answer your question, no. I'm not gay." As he said that, I noticed a change in his tone. It was more...natural?

I looked up at him and found him smiling brightly at me. My eyebrows furrowed, "You're not?"

He shook his head. He pressed his index finger to his lips as if telling me to keep his secret. I tilted my head in confusion.

"How can you not be gay?" I wondered out loud, my eyes scanning his whole figure.

He winked at me before skipping back to the door where he came from, "Come along my dear." he called after me.

After a minute of staring at the wall, I complied.

"Woah…" is what left my lips once I entered what I assumed was the storage room. Though it felt more like a walk-in closet to me, "Is it just me or is this place more organised than the main shop?" I whispered to myself.

But apparently, Kiel heard because a laugh came from him, "It is. It's because the real magic happens here. Outside is just for show."

I walked to where he is, "Did you make all these?" I asked, glancing around the area with awestruck eyes.

"Not all. I've sewn a few," he explained, "But I designed all of them." I stared back at him with wide eyes. His eyebrows scrunched up, "What's wrong?"

"Don't you ever run out of ideas?" I questioned, a disbelieving tone in my voice.

Jesse had told me that Kiel owned shops around Europe. If this shop here in Staffordshire, a small town, has these many dresses, and he's only getting started, what more are his already successful shops?

He smiled at me, "No. London gives me inspiration every day."

"This is just London?" I gasped. He nodded.

Boy. This guy is one talented bloke. I wonder if Clark gets inspiration every day. He's a songwriter so who knows how many he’s already penned down? Anyway, why am I thinking about him? I’m in the presence of a fashion genius and my mind's drifting off to a baboon? This fancying-my-best-friend-which-would-never-give-me-a-second-look thing is really ruining things for me.

"I think jade would be the perfect colour for you." Kiel mused, smiling at his own pun.

I rolled my eyes, a smile making its way to my lips.

It's quite true. Jade compliments my blue eyes. At least, that's what Leslie tells me.

I followed Kiel to a row of dresses ranging from blue to green. My jaw went agape at the beautiful shades. Dang. This guy really knows what he's doing.

I focused on his physical attributes and for the first time, I noticed how well-groomed he was. He has zero pimples! Does he ever get them? Man. This guy has greater skin than I do. How is he gay and not gay at the same time? His movements earlier made him seem gay, but he told me he wasn't. Also, his style in clothing is really making things harder for me to understand.