8. Looking Under the Surface
Aleron Burke was extremely handsome. Dark hair, ice-blue eyes, chiseled features and a body to die for. Miki only had time for a quick hello before she got whisked away to wardrobe. They were shooting an ad for a new seaweed skin lotion. It was an extremely edgy ad, but Thomas liked shooting that way.
Miki felt incredibly thankful to Godzilla for letting her recover. This photoshoot involved water and no way to walk, so if she got sick to her stomach there would've been no escape. She would have puked right in front of Aleron. It only took her two days to get better. Godzilla insisted she rested for three just to be sure.
Wardrobe personnel helped Miki climb into the heavy, uncomfortable red and orange mermaid fins. She had no qualms about being topless while the hair stylist teased her hair into soft waves. Somebody gave her flesh-toned pieces of latex to cover her nipples and then glued real clam shells onto the latex. The makeup artist barely put any makeup on Miki's face. Just some foundation, mascara and deep red lipstick. Wardrobe people put expensive pearl necklaces, earrings and bracelets on her body. Then Miki let two strong men carry her out to sit on the beach. When she was in position, the makeup artist plucked a piece of seaweed from the water and draped it over her shoulder. She splashed around to get herself wet.
"I'm already liking this shoot," Aleron grinned as he walked into the surf. His French accent was heavy. "You're gorgeous."
Miki laughed and waved to him, "Thanks."
Thomas gave his camera a final check. He was a tall, balding African American man in his early thirties. Miki saw him like a funny uncle who brings treats every time he visits. She felt completely at ease in front of his camera. Especially since he loved to tell jokes that made her laugh.
"Okay, here's the story we're telling," Thomas began in his rich voice, "Miki, you're a beautiful mermaid with the most perfect, soft skin. You're so perfect that Al here can't resist the urge to touch you and feel how soft you are. This is a very intimate shoot. Are we ready?"
Somebody measured the light near Miki. She was grateful to have the sun behind her.
"We're ready!"
On cue, Aleron got himself all wet and sat down in the sand next to Miki. His bangs were falling in his eyes, but he pushed them back and reached out. Miki felt herself stiffen a little when he touched her. It made her suddenly uncomfortable. She was so used to Godzilla's rough hide that smooth human skin seemed almost alien.
Get yourself together!
she berated herself as she forced her body and face to relax. Off to the side, Thomas turned on his boom box. He always worked with music. Miki felt her eyes brighten when Godzilla's beautiful voice floated across the beach. It almost made her laugh...months ago she would have thought that voice belonged to someone who looked like Aleron."Beautiful, Miki! Al, lean in a bit more-great!" Thomas's shutter clicked as Aleron ran his hand down Miki's arm. Miki slid her hand across Aleron's cheek and leaned in as if to kiss him. "Perfect! Oh you two are hot!" Thomas commented. He moved in closer, then backed up and tilted his camera for a better angle. "Turn a little this way, Miki. Gorgeous...you're a natural. Al, you can't get enough of the mermaid's soft skin."
Aleron responded to Thomas's advice by putting his hands on Miki's shoulders and running them over her back. Miki told herself she had to just let go. She sighed and turned around, resting her back on Aleron's chest and placing his hand her stomach. Then she tilted her head back to lengthen her neck, cupped his cheek with her palm and parted her lips as if to kiss him. Aleron caught her plan and went along with it like a good male model should. He used his other hand to gently caress her cheek. His eyes had a hungry look in them. Miki felt something poke at the base of her spine and realized he was enjoying this a little too much.
"Hot! Yeah! That's what I want!" Thomas called. "Stretch those fins this way, Miki. Great job! Oh, hot, hot, hot! Fall into her eyes, Al. Miki, smile a little-excellent. You got it! Oh! I caught that wave!"
Miki felt Aleron's hands all over her, moving dangerously close to her breasts. Thankfully, the shoot wrapped before he could get too intimate. She was glad when the assistants got her behind the curtain and helped her remove the fake fins. While she was dressing, Thomas peeked around the curtain. "Hey, how are you feeling?"
"Hey," Miki pulled on a robe and reached inside to peel the latex off her chest. She winced as the material pulled painfully on the sensitive skin. "Better now, thanks." Her heavy Japanese accent made her a little uncomfortable. She spoke fluent English, though, but people sometimes had trouble understanding her.
Thomas glanced over his shoulder and came all the way around the curtain. He took off his sunglasses to regard Miki with his brown eyes. "G's check came today. I, heh, almost don't want to cash it. It's like having his autograph."
"You like his music? I didn't know you were a fan."
"He's different." He said. "You seem to know him. What's he look like? Why doesn't he ever show his face?"
His questions caught her by surprise. She answered, "He's nice...he's a good friend of mine. He-doesn't want people to see him because it's his voice he wants to share, not what he looks like. And come to think of it he's right. We focus so much on appearances."
"Beauty and sex are what sells." Thomas shrugged. "You make it sound like G is butt ugly or something."
"His voice is beautiful. He's a great person." Miki found the conversation turning sour. She wanted to tell Thomas to look up pictures of Godzilla on the internet and he'd have all the pics of G he could ever want. "And those are what make him...beautiful...to me."
"You've changed, Miki," said Thomas with a dubious look in his eyes. He mopped sweat off his face with a hankie from his pocket. "A year ago, you used to laugh at people who were unattractive or fat."
"That was two years ago, not one. I was sixteen and in high school, a place where you have to be perfect or nobody likes you." She rolled her eyes. "I guess you could say I grew up a little since then."
"I see. Well...you seemed to have such good chemistry with Aleron. He wants to take you out to lunch after you're done cleaning up here."
Miki jerked her head around to look at Thomas. Well, Aleron was very good-looking. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to get to know him a little better. She'd seen his portfolio and he took amazing pictures. In some ways it tickled her that she was chosen out of six other girls to be photographed with him.
"I guess I better hurry up and get dressed, then. Thanks, Thomas."
Thomas disappeared without a word. Miki let her breath puff out her cheeks as she sighed. People were just so shallow! Or maybe she was seeing the world with new eyes. She couldn't be sure, and it was too much to ponder in a place like a photoshoot set. With another sigh, she hopped off her chair and reached for her clothes.
.o
It was cool in the recording studio. Godzilla always kept the temperature low to maintain a steady level of alertness. At that very moment he was singing the waltz poem he recently wrote. He'd titled it So She Dances, and the emotions he felt for Miki came flooding out with each note he sang. There even came a point where he completely forgot he was recording a song. Godzilla slipped into a vivid daydream-him and Miki on a dance floor, swirling through fog under bright lights. He dipped her, making her smile. Then she straightened and slowly met him in a fiery kiss that set his bones ablaze.
"When I close my eyes I can see-the spotlights are bright on you and me. We've got the floor, and you're in my arms...how could I ask for more?" Godzilla smiled as he floated down to reality once again. "So she dances in and out of the crowd like a glance. This romance is from afar, calling me silently. I can't keep on watching forever. And I'm givin' up this view just to tell her..."
The music stopped and he opened his eyes to find Miki sitting on a stool outside the recording booth with headphones on. He always kept a set connected to inside so she could listen whenever she wanted. She smiled half-heartedly at him and mouthed, 'Great song!'.
Godzilla grinned sheepishly back as he stepped out of the recording booth. "I'll talk in a minute. Bathroom first, I'm going to bust...damn coffee."
"Been there. I'll wait." Miki said. Something about her tone was troubled.
He hurried to take care of his bladder, washed his hands and opened the bathroom door. Miki was right there, which made him leap a mile. "Good thing I already went!"
"Sorry," she blushed. "I thought you went upstairs." Her eyes dropped and she leaned on the wall with a heavy sigh.
"Are you okay?" Godzilla leaned forward a little, trying to meet her eyes, but she was looking at the floor. "Did the photoshoot suck?"
"It's the guy I shot with. Aleron Burke. Or Aleron Blockhead is more like it. He was a jerk!" Miki's brown eyes flared angrily when she finally met Godzilla's gaze. "All he talked about was himself. He thinks he's God's gift to women. And when I told him he had an ugly personality, he got mad at me! He said there are many women who wanted to be in my position-on a date with him-and that I should feel grateful that he asked me out! Can you believe the nerve of that...that...asshole?" She snarled, "Then he started in on how he thinks you're ugly and that's why you don't allow photographs. I said 'G is more of a man than you'll ever be, you monster!' and I walked out on him. And this is after he tried to feel me up during the shoot! He was practically asking me to his bed all through the date! That...that arrogant bastard!"
Godzilla just stood back and watched Miki rant. The way she would jab her finger at the floor was rather cute. Anger brought more color to her face as well. However, her words struck a deep chord in him. She had walked out on a date with a handsome model, a model who behaved a lot like he used to in the past, to come talk to him.
"I hated him when he insulted you." Miki finally came to an end to her rant. "I hated him even more when, as I was leaving, he said I wasn't that pretty and was probably a terrible lay anyway. So typical, he says nasty things to make himself feel better. Well screw him! He probably doesn't have much in the way of manhood anyhow, considering the huge truck he drives!"
At that, Godzilla burst out laughing. Miki joined in a few seconds later and they collapsed together onto the couch, clinging to each other.
"Not much in the way of manhood!" Godzilla gasped between laughter fits, "That's a good one, Miki!"
Miki gained control of her mirth. "Thanks. And you have coffee breath. How much did you drink? Were you up all night recording?"
"A whole pot and yes."
"Augh! That means you're going to crash at about five and sleep until noon tomorrow afternoon." She propped herself up on her elbow and her face grew serious. "I really do hate it when people insult you, Godzilla."
"I get a lot of flack for refusing to appear in public." He shrugged one shoulder and met her eyes. "And I hate to break it to you, but I am ugly as hell. My face scares people. My face and the things I do to cities are all people can see."
Miki started to laugh. She shook her head at Godzilla's questioning look. "It's just..." she wiped her eyes, "...people see that I'm a model and think that means I'm brainless and shove my finger down my throat every time I eat. Isn't it funny how people expect certain things from somebody just by judging their looks? Oh, fat people must eat a lot. Oh, that crippled person is probably retarded. Oh, she's a blonde, so she's stupid. Oh, he's Middle-Eastern, so he's probably a terrorist. It's sad!"
Godzilla flashed back to the old beggar on his porch and the sight of his hands morphing into ugly claws. The image faded as quickly as it came. He slowly nodded his head. "Yes, it is...and you could ruin everything if you misjudge the wrong person."
He felt Miki take his hand and squeeze it. Her touch sent electricity through his pulse. She said, "It's so strange with you. I just don't notice what you look like anymore. I see you, yes, but I don't notice your looks as much as I used to." Her lips curled up in a half smile that made his heart skip a few beats. "And what I see isn't hideous at all. Not to me, anyway. And it annoys me that I can't make the rest of the world see what I see when I look at you."
Heat raced to his face. He swallowed. "How can you look at me and not see a monster? I...don't understand."
Miki replied, "It's all in your eyes. They say a lot. You're somebody who's been alone for so long and hurt by how much the world hates you." She started to blush, which he found extremely attractive. "I think your eyes are kind of pretty. They remind me of the moon."
The pace of his heart doubled again. Miki's words left his tongue dry. He didn't know what to say back to her. He opened his mouth to say something lame, but she stopped him by putting a finger on his lips. "You don't have to say anything," she said. "Godzilla, I want you to take those pictures of me."
"You...w-what?"
"Those art photos," she explained, standing up. "I'm tired of having my picture taken by men who think I'm 'marketable'. I want to feel beautiful and sexy instead of just looking it. And-I think it would be an honor to be on the cover of my favorite singer's next album." She added the last part with a wide grin that lit up her face.
Godzilla could not resist grinning back at her. "I haven't done real photography in a long time. I might be rusty."
"It'll be fine," said Miki. She leaned forward suddenly and for one heart-stopping second Godzilla thought she was about to kiss his mouth. Her face moved past his snout and she pressed her soft lips gently to his cheek. The smell of peaches flooded his nose. It took everything in his power not to grab her and kiss her mouth. She whispered in his ear, "Any time you want to do this is fine."
Miki slipped off the couch and bounded up the stairs. Godzilla pulled his brain back into gear just as her feet disappeared from view. He shouted up the stairway, "Is tonight okay?"
"Sure!"
He waited for Miki to come out of her room, close the bathroom door and start the shower. Only then did he bolt for his bedroom closet, where he kept his photography equipment. He did recently buy a really, super-new digital camera online before it went into mass production, and this was the first opportunity he had to use it.
