A/N: OK, this took me a lot longer to write than I thought. It is also a lot longer than I had planned. I had a much harder time getting into the heads of these characters than I thought I would. I have agonised over it and rewritten half of it. Hope you like it.
Thanks to all my reviewers, especially to the Guest reviewers who I couldn't reply to individually - B, haylee and Nichols
Also, the character of Jazmin is based on a girl I work with. The interview is based on an actual conversation I have had with her that has always stuck in my memory. So I do not own that part! The rest is all me, playing with the characters of Veronica Mars (who I don't own) and the format of 'Next Top Model' (which I don't own, not the American version, the Aussie version, the Kiwi version or the English version, but I love them all!).
One Week Later
"What a dud of a party. So glad we left early. Who throws a party with their parents there, invite only members of the celibacy club and have no booze?" The blond guy looked completely confused.
"Yeah, well my parents are away filming, I have booze but what are we going to do about girls?" The boy with dark brown eyes asked as he flopped casually onto the bed in his parent's pool house.
The other guys in the room looked at him pathetically. Logan sighed to himself. All his friends, Dick, Casey, Beaver, Luke, Sean and of course Duncan were single, but could any of them actually organise a 'hook up' themselves? No. They relied on him to hook up with a girl and then they would move onto her friends.
"Look, it is the start of summer. Half the girls in Neptune have gone away. I think the celibacy club members are the only ones left." Logan answered his own question.
"Yeah, I think even that slut Veronica Mars has gone away for the summer." Dick commented as he poured himself a drink. "We could have had fun with her." He leered, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Duncan turned red, but remained silent.
Logan sat up quickly. "Yeah, but we don't want to go there do we?" To anyone even slightly observant his voice sounded questioning and unconvinced. Beaver turned his head in his direction "I mean, do we really want to get risk getting diseased?" he asked in his usual jackass voice when he noticed Beaver looking at him questionly.
"Ha, good one." Dick said as he passed a glass of liquid amber to Logan. "Hey that new model show is on. Lets watch that." He said as he grabbed the remote of the large screen TV and changed channels to 'Supermodel Search'.
The other guys made a few 'gay', 'loser' and 'pussy' comments, but these stopped once the show started and the guys got their first look at the contestants. 50 girls between the ages of 16 and 24, blonds, brunettes, red heads. It was like their dreams coming true.
"Dude!" Dick commented, his mouth dropping open and, yes, a bit of drool forming.
Voice over of host: Good Evening America. Welcome to the first episode of 'Supermodel Search'. We are searching for a new model who has that distinct 'something', that controversial or debatable beauty that defies description. What is beauty to you? Is it odd, bizarre, edgy ... or safe, clean, predictable? Or is it all of this? This show will show you all types of beauty.
50 beautiful young women were selected from all over America and flown to The Four Seasons Resort in LA to participate in a competition which will be an adventure of a lifetime. They will learn about poise, grace and elegance, how to work a runway and how to ensure that they photograph well.
50 potential new models will begin this competition, but only one will have what it takes to be crowned America's Supermodel.
While the voice over plays, the boys are greeted to scenes of various girls arriving at the resort, entering rooms and claiming beds and then a whole lot of girls in skimpy pyjamas dancing around rooms. All the boy's eyes are transfixed on the screen.
A large breasted blond appears on the screen.
"I am the next Supermodel" she states confidently.
She is replaced by a beautiful brunette. "I will be the next Supermodel." She also says with conviction.
The scene changes to show all the girls waiting in a large room talking. As the camera pans over the crowd, Logan is sure he catches a glimpse of familiar blond hair. His first thought is 'Lilly?' but he shakes his head at his own stupidity.
On the screen, a woman struts down a black runway. Dick and Sean whistle. Logan has to agree. Even though he isn't usually into brunettes, this one is HOT with capital H. Her legs are long and shapely and her breast round and perky. He wishes she was wearing a lower cut suit.
"Hello. Welcome to Supermodel Search. My name is Miranda McPherson. I will be your host and judge for the contest. We have gathered 50 beautiful future models from over America," she says, and the cameras pan over the crowd of squealing girls. "But only one will become America's New Supermodel." A few of the girls who had squealed are now looking worried.
"What is a Supermodel? A Supermodel usually refers to a fashion model that has a worldwide reputation and a background in both haute culture and commercial modelling. They are able to look good in all sorts of clothes both in photographs and on the runway, but also can sell a product and associate themselves with a specific brand or campaign. This contest will find which girl has the ability to become a future Supermodel." Miranda looks at all the girls and smiles.
"There are 50 of you, but by the end of this week, only 12 of you will enter the "Model Mansion' and only one of you will be titled America's Supermodel. I have gathered some of the best models, photographers and fashion designers to help teach you how to be the best model you can be." Miranda continues.
Logan is impressed. Unlike many people who are often on camera, she appears natural and unrehearsed.
"Let me introduce you to one of these people. Your runway coach is an ex-model who has always had a natural command over the audience in whatever fashion show they walked. They have modelled in New York, Paris, Milan, London, Sydney and Hong Kong, just to name a few places. Help me in introducing, Mr Pauly Gale." She starts clapping, standing to the side.
The camera pans over the clapping and squealing girls and focuses on the curtain at the back of the runway. It is flung back, and a tall man with blond hair, appears.
The boys start laughing. Luke laughs so much he snorts his drink out his nose which does not help the boys settle down. Logan has grown up knowing the tricks and trades of how people in Hollywood try and get attention, but this is bizarre. Pauly Gale, is wearing a billowing dark blue dress and more makeup than Aaron wears on a photo shoot. He walks down the runway and then arrogantly pauses and states "I am the best in the business, so you need to listen to what I say."
Logan pulls a face. If living with Aaron has taught him anything, it is that if you need to say you are the best, it usually means you just want that position.
"Show me how you walk down a runway." Pauly states.
A girl with an expression of pure terror appears at the end of the runway. She then stands up straighter and a look of sheer determination forms on her face. She starts to strut down the runway.
The boys whistle again.
The caption at the bottom of the screen states that she is 'Abrianna' 20 from Chicago.
They then show Abrianna commenting on how she felt. "All the girls were looking at me. I was sure I was going to fall, cry, do something wrong. I realised that people ARE going to be looking at me in this contest."
"She just worked out that people are going to be looking at her on a televised Modelling Contest? She should be glad it is not 'Are you smarter than a 5th Grader'." Beaver comments.
"OH BURN!" Dick exclaims and high fives Beaver. Beaver looks immensely proud that he impressed the others with his catty comment.
The next girl to walk is 'Madison' 16 from Neptune.
"Maddy! That's where you are!" Cries out Dick. He follows up with a frown and, "But she isn't a model."
"She thinks she is. I've been telling you for years she was delusional." Beaver replies with disgust.
All the boys watch the screen as she walks down the runway with a stupid smile on her face.
"No, No! Don't shake those hips too much; you want to be high class, not a stripper!" Pauly says.
The boys start laughing again but Dick is peeved. "She walks like a stripper, but she definitely doesn't do anything else like one". The boys laugh even harder. Logan has never been a fan of Madison, and he and Casey get up and imitate Madison's walk. They are laughing so hard they miss the next couple of girls. When Pauly starts walking, holding his body up stiff, like he has a pole running through it, but then starts moving his hips from side to side the boys loose it completely.
"OK, his walk is better than yours." Laughs Duncan at Logan and Casey.
The next girl to appear on screen stops all noise.
The boys stare as 'Veronica' 16 from Neptune appears at the end of the runway.
They watch in amazement as she struts down the runway. Logan tries to close his eyes to the sight he sees every time Veronica walks away after an encounter with him. But as normal, the tightening in his groin makes him unable to look away.
At the end she strikes a pose, one hand on her hip.
"Wow. We have attitude here! That walk won't be suitable in all situations, but for an edgy fashion house it would be fine. Not bad." Pauly says.
The other boys cannot believe it. The Veronica Mars they ignore or torment does not walk like that.
"Dudes, pinch me. That can't be Veronica Mars!" Dick exclaims. No one answers him.
Casey is trying to remember why he has been ignoring such a hot girl. Duncan is looking at the screen, trying not to have improper thoughts about his sister. Logan is trying to remind himself that Veronica is a traitor and that he definitely does NOT think she is hot.
A few more girls are shown walking, but the only one the boys take notice of after their shock is a girl named 'Krystal' 18 from Cottonwood Falls. The other girls all fade into the background. Pauly's comments are funny though.
Dick repeats one. "'Aren't Dinosaurs extinct? Then why are you walking like one?' Oh, I'm so going to repeat that one to Madison when she comes back to school."
The footage shows 'Mallory' 21 from Seattle talking about her runway walk. "I don't have any modelling experience, but I have this catwalk that is just natural. I don't do anything, it's just there."
Dick is not impressed with her looks. "Her short hair makes her look butch. OOhhh. I hope she makes out with one of the other contestants." He says making an obscene and very offensive gesture.
Sean agrees, while the rest of the guys ignore Dick, rolling their eyes.
The ad break is a welcome relief to most of them. They grab more drinks and snacks and then settle in to perv on the hot girls.
When the show comes back from the ad break, they show some of the girls being interviewed. 'Abrianna' is asked questions about growing up in Chicago. She has a heart breaking story about how her Mum was on drugs growing up and how her brother had been killed in a gang attack. Her grandmother raised her and made her realise that you can achieve your dreams.
"She's in." Luke says as they show her walking in her bikini. "She has the human interest story and looks good." The boys decide she is a '7'.
The next girl they show is an Asian looking girl. She seems shy but Beaver and Luke have conversation about how there is something that just attracts you to her. Logan wants to join in, but feels it would be 'too girly'. Ali Lee talks about her heritage, her mother is Chinese/American, and her father is a traditional Chinese father and is not happy she wants to be a model. Her mother is thrilled.
The boys give 'Ali Lee' 17 from Massachusetts a 7.
'Parker' 18 from Denver appears on screen. The boys tease Logan about her being his type, blonde and stacked. Logan smirks at them, but after Parker cries at the fact she is meeting Miranda and then gushes at how gorgeous she is, he has gone cold on her. He can just imagine how she would react meeting his parents. No thanks.
The boys give her a score of 6.5.
The footage shows more of Parker gushing. "Miranda McPherson is so beautiful. She is so flawless. She really looks like she has just jumped out of a magazine cover."
Logan quietly bumps her down even further to a 5.
The footage changes to show scenes of the girls relaxing by the pool. It shows them in their swimsuits and laughing. It shows Madison holding court in one corner.
"I mean, really, they have let all sorts of girls into the contest. We have strippers and sluts who are here thinking this is a way to achieve some sort of delusional dream. But really, who wants the next Supermodel to come from nowhere? They need to pick girls with class who will be able to fit into the social occasions a Supermodel will participate in." The other girls snigger and the snobby expressions on their faces make them look as ugly as the conversation they are having.
Logan is reminded of why he keeps saying no to Madison. She really is very unattractive when she sneers.
The next girl to be shown being interviewed is Sandeep 'Sandy' aged 20. She has really long black hair and green eyes which don't really match the idea of a typical Indian girl. She is wearing a brightly coloured sari which shows her Indian heritage even more. She explains to the judges questioning that her Father bought her Mother and elder brother out from India for a better life. She was born in America with both her parents working two jobs to help put her brother through college. She has always wanted to be a model and this contest will help her achieve this. The judges ask her if she realises that most models do not make a lot of money. She says yes, but she has learnt that the harder you work, the more you can achieve, and she will be the hardest worker in the competition.
Logan is impressed with how clever the producers have been, putting Madison's catty comment on before Sandy. Sandy's next comment shows how wrong Madison is.
"I was inspired by the fact that Miranda and her Mum at one stage lived in a women's refuge because her father was abusive. She overcame that horror and poverty to become one of the most sought after models in the industry. I decided that if Miranda could make her dreams come true then she can help make my dreams come true too."
Logan decides he needs to get more information about Miranda. The pamphlets he has been leaving around the house for Lynn are not getting through her drugged and drunken state anymore, so this new story might be another catalyst.
Logan sits there silently in thought as the boys score Sandy a 9.
The next girl is a very tall and very skinny African American. She walks in confidently in a short black mini dress. The guys are impressed. She is very striking. 'Jackie' 17 from New York explains that her mother was an ex model and her father is a baseball player who believes that signing a cheque each month counts as parenting. She is asked what she thinks of the competition.
"Honestly I don't think I have competition. I mean, yeah, some of them are cute, but I am cute too, and fierce." She answers, flicking her hair over her shoulder.
The boys are expecting her to wear a bikini as her swimsuit and are surprised when she struts in wearing a one piece. They score her an 8 but agree that if she had worn a bikini, she would have scored better.
The footage shows the judges talking about the girls.
"We have a good selection of girls here." Miranda says.
"Yeah, some serious, some not and some completely crazy!" Pauly comments.
The footage then does a montage of the obviously more crazy girls. The boys snigger at the various girls singing a variations of 'pick me; I want to be a model'.
"They know this is a modelling contest, right, not American Idol?" asks Beaver.
The girls who show off their cheerleading skills, the ones who take one look at Miranda and burst into tears and the one, who for some reason, decided to perform magic tricks, presenting Miranda with a bouquet of flowers from up her sleeve. The boys just laugh.
The show goes to another ad break.
"Well, I think Parker is the hottest interviewed so far," Duncan says as he finishes off his drink and walks over to the bar. Logan can't help but roll his eyes at Duncan's predictability at choosing the most innocent and naive girl.
"I think Sandy was HOT!" Casey states and Logan has to agree. Her exotic beauty makes her look striking and interesting.
"I don't think Madison can compete with them. She is going to be really insecure when she is kicked out of the contest. I am sooooo going to get some." Dick states, leaning back on the couch with a look of pleasure on his face.
"Eww. But, for once, make her work for the sex, not the other way around," Logan advisers.
The show comes back on with a girl, Cindy from Miami commenting on the contest.
"OMG it's like, unbelievable. I want to be America's Supermodel because I think it would be so much fun and I would be so good at it".
"Wow, she is stacked!" Dick drools. Logan looks at her.
"Wannabe actress. Pass."
The next girl looks slightly uncomfortable as she faces the judges. She has brown hair with blue streaks in it. The caption at the bottom of the screen states she is Cindy 'Mac' 16 from San Diego.
The judges ask her about her nickname. "Mac, because of two reasons. One, because of my last name (here the camera pans to the judges faces. Logan realises that for privacy issues, the show obviously can't use the girl's last names) and two, because I am good with computers, even though I don't use a Mac."
The Judges laugh and, surprisingly, both Beaver and Duncan look interested.
"You have a very interesting family situation, do you want to explain to the other judges what it is?" Miranda asks Mac.
Mac looks surprised but does, with obvious hesitation.
"I was switched at birth," she explains, and both on screen and off, gasps of surprise are heard. "At the age of four, when I accidently put my hand into the way of the chain of my Dad's bike and almost cut off some fingers and lost a lot of blood, it was discovered. I didn't have a blood group compatible with my parents (my Dad is A negative, my Mum was O positive and I was B positive). My Dad knew my Mum hadn't had an affair so they looked into it and discovered that I was switched at the hospital with a girl born the day before. They received a lot of money from the hospital, but while my parents didn't want to swap me back, they did want to spend time with their 'other' daughter and my 'other' parents wanted to spend time with me. So once a month we all have dinner together, we go on holidays together and spend the festive days together. I think it works well, except for the fact I have two Dads who are refusing to let me date until I'm 30!" She smiles into the camera, her humour on the situation charming everyone.
"Your sister?, umm..." Miranda looks uncomfortable as she tries to work out how to word the question.
"Yeah, we call each other sisters, but we are not as close as we once were. That is why I am here. Our Mums thought that me participating in something that Madison is interested in will make our relationship closer" Mac replies.
"Madison?" Dick asks, but none of the boys answers.
The footage then shows 'Madison' 16 from Neptune. She is scowling at the Judges.
"Look, OK, yes, I was taken home by another family, but really, someone must have realised that I was the obvious one to be bought up wealthy. I am dating Logan Echolls after all."
Logan stares at the screen in shock before he is pulled into action by Dick wrestles him off the couch by Dick.
"You slept with my girlfriend?" Dick screams as he tries to punch Logan.
Logan is too quick and dodges the punch. Duncan and Casey force Dick up and off Logan.
"NO! I wouldn't do that to a friend. She is delusional."He says getting up off the floor. "I have never touched her, you know what I think of her."
Beaver grabs Dick and forces him outside. The other guys, being typical guys, don't say anything and they continue to watch the show. Logan sits back down on the couch, but keeps an eye on the door, ready for anymore attacks. He feels really pissed off that Dick would think he would do that to a friend, and that Madison would lie like that.
'Carmen' 19 from Texas is halfway through her interview when Logan pulls his attention back to the screen. She is talking about how her grandmother is the one who convinced her that she was beautiful enough to be in the contest. Her grandmother is currently battling cancer and Carmen is doing this for her.
"For the longest time I didn't believe I was beautiful, I thought I was ugly. It's incredible hard when you are not comfortable in your own skin," she states and Logan decides that there must be some sort of meaning the producers want to push in that statement as they linger the camera on her and her walking in the swimsuit is longer than any of the previous girls spots.
The boys give her an 8.
The next girl, Jazmin, 19 has an interesting story that takes Logan's mind off Dick. She is Muslim. The Judges question her on how she can be in the contest.
"Look, my parents are traditional, but I am not. I am lucky that my maternal grandparents came to this country so they could give their daughters the best life they could. My grandmother has always resented that just because she was female she wasn't allowed to go to school, so she made sure that her daughters were educated. My mother married a traditional Muslim guy and now wears a hijab, but my grandmother stands up for me when I do not. As my grandmother says, why hide my beauty? I still follow some beliefs, I don't eat pork, I don't drink alcohol, or eat anything that has alcohol in it and I don't believe in sex before marriage, oh of course I still believe in the Muslim beliefs, I'm not suddenly going to start praying to Jesus." She stares directly at the judges. "I also have never met a terrorist or someone who wanted to be one. Most Muslims are very kind and caring people, we give money to charity and do not believe in fighting. A select few do, and have given all of us a bad name. So the worst thing you can do to me is call me a terrorist."
After that passionate speech, the boys can't help but join the judges in their spontaneous clapping.
They score her an 8.
The ad break starts and Logan decides he needs to leave and talk to Dick. He is surprised to see Dick sitting at the edge of the room. He starts to go over, but Beaver shakes his head. He holds up a hand to tell Logan that Dick needs more time.
He goes and pours himself another drink and then heads back to seat on the couch.
The ad break is over quickly and he watches as they show 'Mallory' 21 strutting into the room. Where most of the girls have given a typical 'model pose' she does the 'rock star' pose. The judges smile in delight. Logan decides they must have been really bored at this stage, if they are showing the interviews in the order they were filmed, but he doubts it.
She talks about how she is in a band, how everyone says she should be a model so she thought, 'what the hell?' and joined the contest. She is not Logan's type, so he agrees with the low score the others give her. He is not sure she is what Dick is calling her, but she does nothing for him.
He agrees with the score of 4.
The next girl is more Logan's type. 'Krystal' 18 from Kansas is a tally leggy blond with a wide smile. She appears a bit nervous and rambles a bit. She gets very excited when she finds out Jake, one of the judges, comes from another small town near hers. She entertains both the judges and the guys with a cheerleading routine. Logan doesn't pay attention to the words, but like the rest of the guys, his head bobs up and down with her chest movements. Her walk in her bikini makes each guy give her a score of 9.
'Sadie' 21, is interviewed next. She has a mass of curly red hair, blue eyes and very pale skin. She walks in very badly, it is like she is trying to imitate how a model should walk, but has an invisible person tied to her in a three legged race. It looks awkward. Pauly the judge is not even trying to keep the smirk off his face. The boys can't help but smirk too. It is a really bad runway walk.
Sadie is 'a free spirit' and yes, she says this adding her own finger quotations. Dick gets quite excited by the thought of what a free spirit is like. He is imagining lots of sex. Beaver crushes his dreams by shushing him and Dick hears that she is a vegan. She doesn't eat any animal products or wear any. The judges ask her if she will be ok in modelling clothes or shoes made of leather. She says she will be fine but her expression is really flat, when before she was smiling.
Logan, Duncan and Beaver bet she will not get in.
Casey, Luke and Sean bet she will because she is very striking. Dick waits and bets against Logan.
The footage shows Sadie commenting after her interview "I'm not really worried. I think I have something no other girl here does. I'm not sure what it is but it's something."
Beaver, Logan, Duncan and Casey snort with laughter. The other guys don't see what is so funny. Dick scowls at Logan and continues to sulk in the corner.
The next girl is striking. "Macy' 21 from Washington strides into the room confidently. She has long black hair, pale skin and very bright blue eyes. Logan can see why she is in the contest. Her looks are very striking. You would notice her in a crowded room. She smiles at the judges. They ask her about what she does for a living (her father is paying for her pre law degree and she hates it so has been working part time to pay for a fashion course). When the judges ask her to list designers that inspire her, instead of listing the usual suspects (Dior, Valentino, Armani) she lists Jason Wu, Michael Kors, Lela Rose, Rose Dell and Marchesa. The judges are impressed and so is Logan.
Lynn had just been raving about the Rose Dell dress she had bought for a party. She was so proud that she was one of the first celebrities to be dressed by this designer and that the dress got her onto the best dressed list, the first time in ages.
Macy looks hot in her swimsuit and is given a 9 by the guys.
The next interview keeps all the boys silent. It is Veronica and all of them shift uncomfortably in their seats. Logan stares at the screen in amazement. Veronica struts (yes struts, it reminds Logan of Lilly) into the room and stares at the judges. Logan has never seen her in that dress, but he admits to himself that she looks good. Too good. He grabs a cushion and rests it in his lap as he watches her interview.
"Veronica, can you tell us why you joined the competition?" Miranda asked.
"My best friend Lilly convinced me to. Well, she put my application in for me and then she made me promise that if we got in I would do it." Veronica's voice halted. The camera pans to her face as a tear slips down her cheek. "Lilly was killed a few months ago."
"Do you miss her?" Asked Pauly.
"Nah, she doesn't miss her best friend. What sort of question is that?" Logan thinks and Casey says out loud.
"Yes I do. She was the type of person who just embraced life. She always seemed to be moving and she could make the most tedious thing fun. The last time I saw her was at our pep squad's car wash. Lilly was bubbling all over." Veronica explains, a slight smile on her face as she remembers Lilly. "It hurts that I am doing this without her, but it hurts more that we will never do anything with her again." Her face is now filled with regret and sadness. Logan feels his throat tightening and his eyes getting moist. He knows exactly how Veronica is feeling.
"I have heard a few things about you. They don't paint you in a positive light. Do you want to comment?" Pauly asks, a slight sneer on his face.
Veronica freezes for a couple of seconds. So do the guys. The rumours have spread there?
"Madison is there." Groans Luke.
"Look, everyone, even if they had never met me, or Lilly, suddenly hates me and have made sure rumours are made and repeated. It still surprises me how people just believe and repeat those rumours without question. But I have learnt that as long as I don't let it bother me, they can't hurt."
Miranda lifts an eyebrow. "Does it bother you?"she asks.
"I would love to say no, but sometimes, from someone who I used to care about, they hit a nerve and yes, it does bother me and it hurts. But hey, no one has died from the 'slut sneeze' recently, have they?" Veronica smiles at the camera.
Pauly and Jake laugh. The boys don't. They are all feeling very sheepish. Even though no one outside of Neptune is going to know it is them who have created and spread rumours about her, the way she just handled it makes them feel very low. They can tell that her attitude will win her fans.
Miranda smiles brilliantly at Veronica. "You haven't had a good year, but I can see a fighter in you. If you keep up that determination, I can see you going far in this competition."
"But do you still want to do this? Are you just doing this to fulfil a promise to your friend? If you get in will you be taking a spot from a girl who may want it more?" Jake asks.
"I want this." She answers. "I want to eventually become a photographer. Being in this contest will help me with learning what poses, for example, will best show a piece of fashion to advantage.
Jake nods slightly and asks her "Can you name a few fashion photographers?"
"Steven Meisel, Annie Leibovitz, Steven Klein and Mario Testino are some of my favourites." Veronica rattles off.
Logan is impressed. She definitely sounds like she knows what she is talking about. When she was part of the Fab 4 she always had a camera in her hands, but he never thought she was serious about it. Lilly used to call her paparazzi, but she was always a willing model.
Can we see you in your swimsuit?" Pauly asks.
Logan sits up straighter and makes sure the cushion is in place. He wants to shut his eyes but he can't stop watching. Veronica walks in with a sultry stride. Logan feels a tightening in his groin. Her bikini is not as risqué as something Lilly would have worn, but is skimpier than what he is used to seeing Veronica in.
"Whoa! Where has she been hiding that body? She is smoking." Dick says.
The other guys agree, but Logan and Duncan are silent.
Dick stares at Logan defensively. "I give her a 9." He is obviously still annoyed about Madison.
Logan agrees with a nod before he realises what he has done.
Dick stares at him with amazement, but no one else was looking at Logan. Dick raises his eyebrows and looks at him calculating before turning to the rest of the guys.
"But Logan probably thinks she is a, what, 5?"
The other guys say they agree with what Logan says, but Logan can tell they think she is hotter than a 5. He wishes that they would make up their own minds. He knows if they are confronted by Veronica for their treatment of her, they will all make him be the bad guy, never thinking about how they had the choice to not follow his lead. She had been their friend too, and thinking back on it, none of them had voiced any concerns about what they were doing to Veronica.
The new footage on the show captures his attention. It is of the girls sitting next to a pool. Veronica is there, and the other girls look happy to see her there. He recognises Krystal, Macy and the girl who was switched at birth with Madison. The others are giggling with anticipation.
"Where is my tropical drink with the paper umbrella I was promised?" Veronica asks the girls.
The girls share a sneaky grin. "We didn't want to have you miss out." One of the other girls explains, waving her hand in the air. Instantly a guy in black moves over to the girls. He is older than any of the guys sitting in the room and instantly, all of them hate him on sight. He is extremely muscular (Luke wonders if the steroids will make him look that good) and has the typical generic looks that would make most of the girls at school swoon.
"Yes, Miss?" He asks politely. "Hey Mark, this is my friend Veronica. She would like a drink." The girl turns and asks Veronica, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.
"Yes, she looks hot. Can I bring you a drink?" he asks flirtatiously, looking Veronica up and down.
Logan clenches his jaw in anger.
"Can I get something pink with a little paper umbrella please?" She asks. Logan is not surprised when he not so subtly checks her out again, but is surprised at the venomous feelings it raises in him.
"I have just a thing for such a pretty woman," Mark flirts with Veronica.
As he moves away, Macy calls out to him. "She is only 16, so it better not be alcoholic."
"You are only 16?" he asks amazedly.
The guys can't help but chuckle at the shocked expression on his face.
"Yep, so stop trying to catch flies with your mouth," Luke comments. He is a bit annoyed that this guy is flirting with Veronica. She was Duncan's ex. It wasn't right.
"OMG! Veronica, he was so checking you out until he found out you were only 16." The girls make Veronica blush more, so much that when the footage shows Mark coming back with her drink, she doesn't make eye contact and has turned an attractive shade of pink. It reminds Logan of the blushes he and Lilly used to take great delight in producing.
"Yeah, he has flirted with all of us this afternoon. Nice eye candy but I don't think he is the smartest book on the shelf", Mac says, grinning at Veronica. "We thought you shouldn't miss out."
"Gee thanks. Now do you think he is a wannabe actor or a wannabe model like us?" Veronica asks sarcastically. This starts an involved debate between the girls.
The guys laugh. "Wannabe actor," Sean states.
"Nah, he didn't come back and do the overdone expression of shock. Wannabe model." Logan answers distractively, still trying to work out why he really hates Mark. It wasn't like he liked Veronica or anything. He just didn't want her flaunting any one in front of Duncan. He takes a quick look at Duncan. He has his now usual blank expression on his face. Logan sighs. Nothing is getting through to Zombie Duncan now.
If Logan had had a better look, he would have noticed that Duncan's fists were so tightly clenched they had turned white.
The boys watch another group of girls in the competition dancing at the resort's night club in silence.
Voice over: The girls have fun getting to know each other, but tomorrow will bring the first cut. Who will make it closer to achieving their dreams of becoming America's newest Supermodel and who will be going home heartbroken? Find out after the break.
During the break, Duncan remains seated silently staring at the TV. Dick avoids Logan's eye contact and stays away from him. Beaver talks and talks about nothing trying to disperse the tension and the others order pizzas. Logan feels like he should check how Duncan is feeling about Veronica being on the show, but he doesn't know how to approach it, so he says nothing. As the show returns from the break, he hands Duncan a drink instead.
Pauly is on the screen. "Girls, it is time for the first cut. The girls who did not make it into the next stage of the contest will have to pack immediately and will be sent home. This does not mean they are not beautiful, it just means they do not have what we are looking for this year. The girls who made it through still have a lot of work to do." The camera pans across the faces of the girls. The expressions range from hopeful, confident, nervous and terrified.
"In the room next to this one, we have set up 30 dressing tables. The girls who have made it to the next stage will find a photo of themselves taped to the mirror." He pauses.
"OK, ready steady, GO!" He quickly moves out of the way as a barrage of girls run towards the doors. It is chaos. The guys laugh at the scenes of girls falling over, running into each other, most with a look of utter panic on their faces.
The dressing tables are plain tables with white covers on them and then a mirror with lights all around it placed on top. One girl is so excited to see her picture taped on it she knocks the mirror off the table. The guys chuckle.
The show shows a quick montage of the pictures of the girls who get in. None of the guys comment on the fact that Veronica's picture is shown.
The footage changes to some of the girls who didn't get in. Many of them are crying hysterically, mascara running down their faces. Others are saying to the camera "I'll be back." Others are stomping their feet in anger. The camera focuses on one of these girls. A very angry Madison.
"I didn't get in? I have modelled already. I have appeared in three commercials. I am Logan Echolls girlfriend! I have had lots of dinners with Aaron Echolls and HE thinks I am attractive! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE NOT TO CHOOSE ME?" Her voice reaches screaming pitch, her face is red and her scowl shows exactly why she wasn't picked. She looks decidedly unattractive.
The next part shows girls who got in hugging crying girls who didn't get in. Logan is not surprised to see footage of Veronica comforting another.
Finally the girls who got in are shown celebrating, including Veronica and her friends smiling and dancing around in a circle.
"Whoa. Madison was ANGRY." Luke comments.
Dick approaches Logan. "Hey, umm, look I'm sorry for accusing you of sleeping with Madison. I mean, you saw her, she reckons she has had dinners with your Dad. You haven't taken girls home for dinner since Lil... for ages. And your Dad has been filming in London for the last few months. So, ahh, I'm sorry for accusing you for sleeping with Madison. She is obviously delusional."
"Or thought that being Logan Echolls' girlfriend would get her into the competition. Guess she was wrong," adds Beaver.
"Hey, that's OK. But I hope you are not going to let her get away with this?" Logan answers.
"Huh?" Dick grunts.
"Well, she isn't a very good girlfriend. Hell, she forgot your name! She called you Logan." Casey joins in, causing the guys to laugh.
"Well she isn't very smart," Beaver adds.
"Yeah..." Dick says unconvinced.
"Mate, she told the whole of America she is dating me. She just publically humiliated you. You can't take her back." Logan says.
"Shhh. It's back on." Dick says, turning back to the TV but Logan can tell his mind is still ticking over, pondering.
On screen the remaining girls are travelling to their first photo shoot. They show the bus pull up at the beach where Jake is waiting in the car park.
Voice over of Miranda: Jake is our shoot director. He will be coaching the girls through all their photo shoots, providing guidance and ideas.
The girls exit the bus smiling in anticipation.
"Hello girls. Congratulations on making it so far. You were chosen because you showed promise in your runway walk, you wore your swimsuits confidently and your answers to your interview questions showed that you are all interesting people. Now it is time to see if you can convey all of that into a photograph. Today you will have 25 frames to get a picture which will capture our attention and show off an outfit perfectly." Jake explains.
The girls are shown running over the sand to some tents set up for wardrobe and makeup. The next few scenes show the girls getting ready. Logan leans forward in anticipation and dread that Veronica will be one of the girls shown in her underwear but she isn't. He leans back, unsure if he is relieved or disappointed.
He has to laugh at the scenes shown of some girls arguing with the makeup artists and hairdressers about how they are should do made up. His mother had always told him that a kind and friendly word to these people was more beneficial than arguing with them. He remembers when he was younger his mother often used them to 'mind' him when he was on set. One of them, Claire, would spend the time when she was not needed, teaching him how to do 'special effects' make up. To this day, his Halloween costumes are the best because of his makeup skills. Claire is still the makeup artist his mother uses before every premier.
The girls are photographed at the water's edge. The guys are not too interested in the dresses, but it is interesting how different the girl's poses are. They show a little bit of the girls posing in front of the camera, and then they show the best photograph. Some look stiff and awkward, others look sultry and sexy and some look playful.
All the guys look on with more interest when Veronica is shown. She holds her dress out to the side and looks playful but shy. She looks innocent and it reminds Logan of the 'old' Veronica. She is then shown laughing and twirling. This is the photo they show. She looks like she is having fun, happier than any of them have seen her since Lilly died. Logan feels a small amount of guilt, before he brushes it away.
The girls who have finished their shoots are able to relax on the beach. Most of them are sun bathing but a few are building sand castles.
The next few scenes are boring in relation to anything really happening. They are filler shots of the girls having fun together. One of them all dressed up at dinner, others of them by the pool, some of them in their rooms in their pyjamas.
Voice over of Miranda: While the girls relax, the Judges' work has just started. They now need to decide which of the 30 girls will make it into the Top 12.
The footage changes to scenes of the Judges sitting at a table with 30 photos spread out in front of them.
"Ok, the competition has been really strong, but we need to choose the girls who will make our Top 12. They don't have to be the best runway walker, or have taken the best photo, but I want them to have shown promise, or that they have learnt something in the competition." Miranda tells Pauly and Jake.
They are shown picking up photos and commenting on the girls. The scene ends with Miranda looking at the other two "Well, we have made our decision. Now I need to go tell the girls."
The show goes to an ad break.
The guys start discussing who will get in. All of them agree that Sandy will get in. Duncan thinks Parker will while Beaver wants Mac to make it. No one mentions Veronica, but Luke, Casey and Beaver are hoping she will get in, while Duncan, Dick and Sean are hoping she doesn't. Logan doesn't know if he wants her to get in. If she gets in he won't see her around Neptune, but will see her on the show each week. Yeah, he could just not watch it, but he knows he will need to see what she is doing.
The show comes back on and shows the girls standing very nervously together. Some are holding hands with the girl next to her. Veronica is standing at the front of the group to the side. Many of the girls have pleading looks on their faces.
"The other Judges and I have been very impressed with the standard of potential Supermodels who have competed in this competition. We never thought it would be so difficult to pick a Top 12. To the girls who don't make it, do not think it is because you are not beautiful. You are all beautiful, inspiring girls and I am sure this is not the last time we are going to see you." Miranda tells the girls.
"To the girls who make it in, you were chosen as you showed the most promise. We believe you show natural talent and think you take directions and will learn quickly. I will now announce the girls who will be continuing on with the hope of becoming America's Newest Supermodel."
The camera pans across the girl's faces again.
"The first person who made it into our Top 12 is..."Miranda pauses for dramatic effect.
"Abrianna." The girl squeals with absolute delight, tears running down her face as she walks over to a spot on the side of the screen.
"I won't let you down, Miranda," she tells her. Miranda just smiles at her.
"The second girl in the house is...Sadie." Miranda announces.
A red haired girl squeals and struts over to where Abrianna is standing. The two girls hug each other.
"Yeah, hug each other now, you will be stabbing each other in the back soon enough." Dick comments, watching the screen closely.
"Mac." Miranda calls out.
Mac is grabbed in total shock at being picked. Krystal has to push her forwards. The boys laugh, especially when both Sadie and Abrianna try and hug her. Mac just stands there awkwardly, stiff as a pole. You can tell that she doesn't like being hugged.
"Ali Lee".
Ali Lee is the Asian girl and she just smiles shyly. The next scene shows the girls face again. Some have already started crying!
"The next girl through is... Jackie!" Miranda states.
She pumps her fist in the air. "Yes!" She walks over and stands next to Abrianna.
"And...Carmen."
They are halfway through and Veronica hasn't been called. Logan wonders if the Judges know what they are doing. Veronica is hot! He shakes his head at the thought. No, he is training himself to not notice that. She is the traitor.
"We are half way through out Top 12. The next girl in is... Mallory!" Miranda says, smiling at the girls.
"Yes!" Dick yells, pumping his fist in the air. The others look at him. "Hey she could get with any of those other girls."
"They won't be showing it though. Not in this time slot." Casey answers.
Dick falls back in disappointment. He turns his attention back to the screen.
Jazmin has just been called and has hugged everyone in sight, including Miranda.
"Wouldn't mind being hugged by her," Sean leers.
The guys agree. The next girl chosen is Parker. She bursts into tears and keeps crying, mascara dripping down her cheeks. Logan can't believe it. She got in and she is crying more than the girls who are still standing there waiting to be picked.
The next girl chosen startles the boys. "Veronica!"
"Yes!" yells Luke. The others stare at him in shock. He just grins sheepishly.
She looks as startled as they feel. The shock is written all over her face and then she grins and skips over to where the other girls are waiting. Three of the girls give her a hug.
They are shown another shot of the girls waiting. Most of the girls are now crying or holding back tears.
"Hey, Sandy is still there." Beaver points out in confusion.
"And Macy, and Krystal." Casey adds. The boys look at each other in confusion. These girls scored the most in their rankings.
Macy is called next and she plays it cool, grinning calmly.
"And the twelfth girl is..."
The show goes to a break. The boys throw whatever they can at the TV.
"Why do they do that?" groans Dick. "Just tell us already!"
"They are trying to increase the tension and anticipation." Explains Logan calmly.
"They increase the annoyance factor instead."
"Well, who do you think, Krystal or Sandy or another girl?" Beaver asks.
Dick, Casey and Luke are for Sandy, while Duncan, Sean and Logan choose Krystal.
"These are the girls they have shown the most of; it has to be one of them." Luke reasons.
The show returns and shows that most of the girls are now openly crying and all are looking at all have pleading expressions.
"And the twelfth girl is... Sandy!"
Dick, Casey and Luke high five each other.
The guys watch as a few of girls fall to the floor and start to wail. One girl is stamping her feet in anger. The rest of them are crying. The camera focuses on Krystal who is trying to smile, but is obviously devastated.
The camera focuses back on Miranda. "Girls, in this industry, heartbreak can happen quickly, but fortunes can change in the blink of an eye. Because we had such a strong group of talented girls for this contest, we decided that we couldn't just have twelve girls in the contest. One more girl impressed us so much we had to include her in the Top 12, which has now become the Top 13." Miranda announces.
The footage focuses back on the girls. They stand still and look at Miranda in hope.
"Ohhhhh." Exclaims Beaver like a girl.
"The thirteenth girl into the contest is... Krystal!"
Krystal's face lights up with absolute joy. She runs over to Veronica and a few other girls and joins them in a group hug.
The rest of the show shows a few girls who didn't make it in stating they will be back, but then shows the Top 13 celebrating.
Voice over: The Top 13 have been chosen. Join us next week as the girls settle into the Model Mansion, participate in their first challenges and face the Judges Panel for the first time as we whittle down the girls until we find 'America's newest Supermodel.'"
Dick turns the TV off. The guys sit there silently for a moment, lost in their own thoughts.
Beaver is wondering what he can say to impress the other guys in the room.
Sean is thinking about how he could the girls to date him, even without the help of Logan.
Casey is thinking that his grandmother may be interested in watching the show from her hospital bed as she will like cheering for the girl who goes to school with her grandson.
Luke is thinking that he really wants Veronica to win. If she does, maybe the other will stop their vendetta against her without him having to step in.
Duncan is thinking that he would love to have seen Veronica in that bikini when they were dating and then berating himself for having really wrong thoughts about his sister.
What Dick is thinking is gross, so we won't go there.
Logan is trying not to think. Veronica betrayed him by choosing her Father over the Fab Four. He won't think about the thrill she gives him when she fights back after one of his barbed comments. Or how sexy she walks when she has just bested him in a battle of wits. Or how good she looked in that bikini. No. He is not attracted to Veronica Mars.
"I think you are, Lovah." Lilly's voice trills in his head.
He shakes his head to get rid of his thoughts.
"Who wants another drink?" He asks. Time to get completely wasted and pass out. Then he won't be plagued by Lilly's voice or Veronica's face.
Please Review! Especially if you have an idea for how Logan and Dick can get revenge on Madison! Or if you want to put in your vote for who will be the first model out. Or if you just want to let me know how I can make this story better, please leave a review.
Love, Shel