A Star at Mode

Chapter Four

"Are you hungry?"

"No."

"Are you thirsty?"

"No."

"At least you must be thirsty."

"No!" Ian snapped. He was tired of Betty following him around, asking if he needed anything. Something crazy must've gotten into her head because before, she was completely disinterested with him. Now, she was attacking him with crazy questions like "do want me to tie your shoe for you?"

"Let me get you some water," Betty pleaded.

Ian paused before answering, "Fine." At least she wouldn't be annoying him anymore. Just as he had expected, Betty raced off as soon as she heard his reply. Ian hurried over to Daniel. "Are we ready?" he asked.

"Oooh! Let me see!" Marc seemed to pop out of nowhere when he tapped on Ian's shoulder. He made a circling motion with his wrist as if he wanted Ian to spin around in his new outfit.

Ian modelled the outfit with a smirk.

"Very nice, very nice. I like the traditional--"

"Marc?"

"Yes, Wilhelmina?" Marc soon rushed to the other side of the shoot.

Ian took a slow, deep breath in to escape all the chaos. Then, he looked Daniel in the eye once more and asked, "Are we ready?"

"The photographers are just about ready. We're waiting on the rest of the models."

The theme of this issue was international looks. Representing the Scots on the front page would be, the inevitable, Ian McCallen. Once inside, the magazine would feature other countries' traditional outfits with a modern twist. The models on the cover story pages with Ian were supposed to be wearing torn, tartan dresses with black leggings, riveted jewellery and motorcycle boots. Their look was to be completed with smoky eye shadow and dark eyeliner. Ian replied, "I can't wait to see them." He had practically invented their look himself. At least, that's what Wilhelmina had told him.

"Yeah," Daniel replied. His eyebrows rose as he saw something behind Ian.

Next, there was a tap on Ian's shoulder. He turned round, only to see Betty there with a delightful grin. "I forgot, Mr. McCallen. Do Europeans drink their water with ice or no ice?"

Ian stared at her as if she were the stupidest thing in the world. "Em… no ice?" he responded as if he were on a game show.

"Thanks," Betty clasped her hands together. "What ever will make you feel the most at home!" She cheerfully raced off again.

Ian turned to see six or seven models filing out of their dressing room. A wild smirk lit up his face. He turned to Daniel and restrained from clapping his hands. "They look absolutely fantastic."

Daniel nodded. "Alright everybody! Places!"

As the models and Ian headed towards their places, Christina walked out with her hands on her hips. She stood beside Daniel and nodded at her job well done, "He looks… amazing." She marvelled at him for a minute and then turned to Daniel, "Have you seen Betty?"

"Went to get water or something," Daniel muttered as he checked a few things off of his paper.

"Hmm…" Christina said. She smiled at the fact that she now had the option of standing next to Daniel since she was in charge of something at the shoot.

Suddenly and out of nowhere, Betty came rushing out onto the set. Her heels clicked against the hard floor as she shuffled over to Ian with a mug in her hand. "I thought water is so plain and…" Betty took turns watching Ian and watching the mug. "You're not a 'plain' kind of guy… so I--" Dressing up for today's occasion was bad idea. Betty's long, floral print skirt got caught under her heels causing her to stumble over her own feet and spill the hot liquid inside the mug all over Ian's outfit.

"Ahhh!" Ian screeched as he looked down at his black t-shirt and kilt which were now stinging with heat.

Betty clumsily brought herself back so she was standing straight and looked at the green mug in her hand. It was completely empty. "--got you coffee," she finished awkwardly.

"Please," Christina said as she stood next to a shirtless Ian McCallen. His black t-shirt was in her hands which were trying furiously to scrub the coffee stain out. "Please excuse Betty. I have a feeling she was just trying to make you feel at home."

"Yeah," Ian laughed.

Christina took a deep breath in as she turned off the water. "I'm gonna try a different soap," she said as she hurried for the cabinet. She returned to the sink with dish soap and took another deep breath in.

"Something wrong?" Ian asked as he leaned close to her.

Christina thought for a moment as she scrubbed at the stain. "Y-you're not wearing a top," she said. "…Or underwear," she muttered under her breath.

"Would you like me to get dressed for you?" Ian asked as he backed away.

"No, no," Christina said too quickly. "It's just a bit… intimidating."

"You find me intimidating?" Ian flirted.

"Well no… just… no," Christina smiled. She focused on the stained t-shirt and tried not to look up at the nearly naked hottie next to her. She scrubbed harder.

Ian took the soaking t-shirt out of her hands and placed it on the counter. "You shouldn't be doing this," he said. Just when Christina thought he was going to take the bottle of soap and scrub the stain himself, Ian added, "Don't you have an assistant to do this for you?"

"Some people just aren't that lucky I suppose," Christina smiled.

Ian reached out and took Christina's palms. "Let me see your hands," he said. "Yes. No one has the right to ruin beautiful hands like yours with silly labour." Christina felt like she couldn't breathe. The air was getting hotter, her forehead was sweating and Ian McCallen was holding her hands. "They should get you an assistant," Ian nodded.

"Th-thanks," Christina felt the butterflies rise in her stomach.

Ian's enchanting smile grew across his face. His eyelashes fluttered and he leaned in towards Christina's lips. The two of them were millimetres away from each other when a voice rang in the doorway, "Christina? How's that stain coming--oh."

Betty's face flushed with embarrassment as the two of them turned around quickly and slapped their arms at their side. "Sorry, guys. I didn't know--"

"Betty, Betty," Christina fake smile shinned. "How--"

"How's everything going?" Daniel appeared at Betty's side.

Christina scoffed at the ground as Ian turned back to the sink and got the t-shirt. "Almost out," he showed Daniel.

Betty watched the dark, upset look that crawled over her friend's face. She hadn't meant to ruin "a moment" but she hadn't even known which room Christina was in. This room was just a lucky guess. Why did she always have to mess things up?

I'd have to say this is one of my favourite chapter so far! Ian and Christina are sooo cute! And poor Betty... so anyway--what's with the repeats of Ugly Betty? When will the real show be back on?