Thanks for all the positive feedback! I really appreciate it! One thing I forgot to mention last time is that they are all human! Okay, on with the story now!
Chapter Two.
BPOV
As soon as I got home I called Alice and told her the good news.
"Aaee! I knew you would get it Bells! You are, like, exactly what they need. Oh my god! Bella! We so need to celebrate this. Why don't we get Jasper and Emmett and go out tonight?"
"I would love that, Ali. But I can't. I've got to report to work tomorrow at seven. There is no way I would be on time and looking fresh if I stayed out late. Besides, I'm kinda broke." I was explaining all this to her as I dropped my book and bag in my room, if you could call it that. My apartment was so small I couldn't even keep my dog, Jake, here. He was still home in Forks with my dad.
"Well we could go out for a few drinks. I promise we will have you home by nine," Alice continued to try to convince me.
"Did you miss the part where I said I was flat broke? I swear, Alice, if I hadn't gotten that job it would have been back to waitressing at the Burger Bite with my horrible boss, James.
"No, I did not. We're celebrating! I'll buy your drinks!"
"No, Alice. Sorry, I really need to just relax tonight and stuff. Maybe tomorrow or something."
"You owe me for this, girl."
"Yeah, just like I owe you for everything else, I know."
"Okay, just making sure you have it straight. Bye, Bells."
"Bye, Ali." We hung up at the same time.
Well at least people were excited for me. I know I should have been celebrating, but the truth was I wasn't all that excited about tomorrow. Working with Edward was said to be a "nightmare" and he had made his last three clients run out of the studio threatening to sue. Edward was the best of the best, it was true, but his reputation made it hard to be excited.
Maybe I wasn't so lucky after all.
The next day…
From the time I woke up to the time they put me in front of the camera was a haze that I couldn't seem to remember. I know I got there by bus and was on time, and I know I had my makeup done by a homosexual, who told me his name was Mike, but I could not remember and details or the conversation I had with Mike. It was just one big blur of nerves and excitement.
I hadn't been booked for a job since October—two months ago. That wasn't very good, and my paycheck had run out pretty quickly. I had gotten a few quick jobs at some fast-food joints, but I could never stand the jerks that came there and at my last job, the boss, James, had tried to kill me.
It was actually a pretty scary story. I had been on friar duty that day and was flipping burgers when James came behind the counter, his face purple with rage. "Who was the fucking ass that made a mess at the soda counter? I swear, if I find you, oh, you will wish you had died!"
I, of course, had nothing to do with it, but I still felt the need to speak up. "Sir, um, maybe it was one of the customers. You can't blame us for everything."
"Hell I will, bitch! Was it you? I bet it was. It would just be something you would do, trying to get me angry and then blame a customer. Bitch!" He then ran over to where I was by the friar, scooped some burning hot oil into a cup and threw it at me.
Luckily, it mostly missed, but my hand still has a small scar where a patch hit me.
Obviously, I quit that day.
Alice had tried to get me to press charges, but I didn't have money and I really didn't want him angrier than he was. It would be just like him to finish what he had tried to do and come slit my throat during the night. I really didn't want to risk it.
Since then I had been unemployed and was borrowing money from Alice or calling my parents when I really needed it. My clothing came from Old Navy and Goodwill and I only bought food if I desperately needed it.
This job really was a gift from god. Unfortunately, it included working with the devil.
As soon as I was out of the makeup/dressing room he was yelling at me. Whether it was for being late, for not getting dressed fast enough, or for just being a girl, he found multiple reasons to scream as he snapped pictures.
I knew I was doing well though, since most of the assistants looked happy. Although maybe they were just glad I hadn't burst into tears yet. I couldn't be sure. Music pounded out of huge speakers in the corners. I couldn't make out much, but it didn't sound like they were singing in English. It took some careful listening, but I finally recognized the music as Tokio Hotel's Ich Bin Nich' Ich. (I am not I) It was a good song and Tokio Hotel also sang 1000 Oceans, my favorite song ever.
"Hey! Are you paying attention or should I tell Esme we hired a sack of potatoes? Model you lump!" Edward's melodic voice shrieked. Even with the sharp tones, though, his voice was still beautiful.
Maybe that was why he was so horrible. Edward was dubbed "Second Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine three years ago, and hadn't been taken seriously since. By screaming and yelling, he was probably just trying to make a serious reputation for himself. Unfortunately, he came off more Simon Cowell than Mike Rosenthal.
"Yes, I'm awake. Do you scream because you think it's cool or did you not get enough attention as a child?" He had snapped my last nerve and I decided to pull out the sarcasm.
"Girly, I get more attention in a day than you will get in a lifetime. Now pose!"
I did, but then I fired back. "I really hope you never get married, Edward Cullen, because that girl would commit suicide as soon as possible."
"I will never get married. Marriage is for stupid people and not-famous people. Really, do you know anything?"
"I know enough to know that everyone hates you or wants you."
"Yeah, don't you think I'm aware of that?"
"I don't know. Maybe you just fake it, you seem like kind of guy who is a good liar."
I didn't even see the camera move but it crashed into the set behind me.
"You stupid girl!"
"Wow. You just broke a camera. Do you think you'll get fired for that?"
"Esme will never do that. I'll just blame it on you."
"I will never do what?" Esme's musical voice came from behind him.
I smiled smugly as Edward turned to look at the very calm, but still angry-looking, Esme Cullen.
"Fire me."
"Really? I do not remember that being in our terms of agreement. I do clearly remember you promising not to harass our model, though."
"Only if our model is not being a complete ass!"
"Well, in my defense, he started it." I felt the need to speak up. I really didn't want to be fired for something I didn't even start.
"Is this true," Esme asked the assistants? I guess she supposed they were the only people who could give her a straight answer.
They all nodded their heads. Whew! I guess no one like a shrieking Edward.
"Well, Edward. It seems like no one else believes you. Why don't we take a break and continue shooting in a few minutes."
Edward stomped off to his chair as soon as she left the room and just sat there, glaring at me. I quickly looking around, making sure there wasn't any hot oil or anything else he could throw at me. I had faced death once from a boss, and I really didn't want to do it again so soon after the first time.
"Water?"
"Um, sure. Thanks." I took a much need gulp of water as Mike came out and retouched my makeup.
"You are doing wonderful, darling! Oh my god, I'm so glad they hired you. No one else would have put on such a show like that! And the way you talked back to Edward like that? Phenomenal!"
Yeah, he was definitely gay. "Thanks, Mike. At least someone here likes me."
"No problem. And if you ever need someone to take down Sir Screams A Lot over there, just call me!"
I looked Mike from top to bottom, taking in the metallic Converses, skinny jeans, bright blue t-shirt and perfectly gelled haired and decided that if I ever needed help against Edward Mike would be last on the list of people to call. "Right, gotcha."
"Okay, everyone. Break's over!" Edward's voice called over the music.
He picked up a new camera, checked to make sure it worked by shooting a picture of himself and used hand motions to signify that I needed to scoot over. I guess we weren't talking after that little escapade before.
For the next hour he shot picture after picture of me. I couldn't believe they wanted this many shots! I had never worked this long before and it was a little unnerving.
Finally at twelve he put down the camera. "We're done. Everyone but Miss Bella here can leave."
They all scooted out of the way as he walked closer and closer to where I was sitting on a table set.
"What was with that today? Are you trying to make me angry?"
"Maybe. Are you trying to get me fired?"
"Listen, missy. I have a job to do, and so do you. Why don't we just agree to not agree and not talk. That way no one gets hurt. Okay?"
I nodded my agreement. "No talking. That is perfectly fine with me."
"Good. Oh, you did well today. Be better tomorrow."
I couldn't help the grin that spread over my face for the second time in less than twenty-four hours. He had liked my work! I hoped that would mean I would get to keep this job for a while. I could really use the money and who knows, maybe this could be my big break!
I dropped the dress back in Wardrobe and got changed back into my sweater and jeans. It was a big step down from my last outfit and I couldn't help feel a little disappointed.
Walking into my apartment, the first thing I noticed was the 11 messages on my machine. They were all from Alice and each one got more impatient and more angry until the final one that said if I didn't call her by 1:00 she was putting a Missing Persons alert out on me.
The clock read 12:30, but Alice was known for jumping the gun so I called her. "I'm alive!" I said as soon as she picked up.
"OMG! How was it? Amazing? Terrible? Did you get down and dirty with Mr. Sexy Masen? Tell me!"
"It was awesome. Well, except for the whole fighting with Edward part. But he said I did well at the end, which means I did really great."
"Oh, Bella! That's great! Okay, you promised we would celebrate tonight, so come on over! Emmett and his new girlfriend are here, and Jasper will be here in a little bit. All this party needs is a reason to celebrate and you are the reason!"
"Okay, I'll come. Just let me shower and wash all this makeup off. I'll be there in an hour."
"Alright. See you then!"
"Bye, Ali."
"Bye, Supermodel Bella!"
I was laughing as I hung up. Alice always could get me to laugh, even after huge arguments with very sexy men.
This party was definitely what I needed, and I couldn't wait to meet Emmett's new girlfriend. He really knew how to pick fun girls.
I turned up the radio and headed to my shower.
Wow, that was long! Over 2000 words and 6 pages! Do you love me? Will you review? I really hope you do!