Better Than Ice Cream
"Okay stop. Just stop." Scott sighed holding up a pale fingered hand. I stopped walking in the middle of the platform and stared down at him waiting for the purely and hurtful honesty about my performance. "It's late and your walk has improved and so has your posture, but," He paused to sigh again and shake his head. "Boy, your smile looks like broken glass."
I leaned back my head and looked up at the opal colored ceiling in frustration. My hands clenched at my sides and my teeth ground together like rocks. It was just after ten at night, I had been busting my ass all day working and practicing being a model, and I've just barely improved even with Scott's play-by-play orders. Why couldn't I nail this smile? Any other time I could smile naturally and it would be fine. Why, when it matters, can't I do it? It was just a goddamn smile!
"There's got to be a secret!" I yelled at Scott. My frustration getting the better of me. It was late, I was tired, and my stubbornness was just making its début.
"Secret?" Scott's brows rose. His eyes widening slightly at my out burst.
"Yeah. Some secret trick to this smiling on cue when one isn't freaking happy. Like looking into bright lights helps to stop crying." I said walking to the edge of the platform so I towered over the older man.
He rubbed his chin, golden stubble noticeable under his fingers as he hummed, "A secret huh."
I was about to fly off the handle when my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was probably Isabelle or Jace calling to know how much longer I would be. I ignored it as it faded to voicemail. I had already called ahead and asked Izzy to cover for me with mom. Luckily dad was still away with work, or sneaking into the house would be near impossible- he's a light sleeper whereas mom could sleep through a nuclear bombing and never know what hit her.
I stared at Scott waiting for a reply, but he was scrolling through his phone with an amused smile on his face. "Well?" I prompted when he continued to stay silent.
"Inspiration." Scott announced pocketing his phone. His eyes were on me, steady and serious, but under that was a dangerous looking wicked amusement. "You need something to focus on as you go down the runway."
I stared at him with half-lidded eyes. "What the hell are you talking about?" I asked flatly.
Suddenly, Scott was leaping onto the platform towering over me, hands clamped tightly on my shoulders keeping me from backing away from his intense closeness. "Okay Boy, listen closely." He lowered his voice. "When you're about to walk down the runway I want you to think of something that makes you happy, happier than ice cream on a hot summer day. Picture it, then wrap around you and bask in it as you strut. Put yourself in that happiness and maybe your smile will break through." He explained and it almost made normal sense. "Now start over."
Scott jumped down for the runway while I turned to head back to the beginning. I stopped at the stage front and turned to face the runway taking deep and even breaths. For a moment or two I closed my eyes picturing happy things: my first home run, the Halloween Jace and I pranked Izzy to believe demons existed, our family trip to Disneyland, the feel of the sun on a cold winter day, the smell of cooking turkey on Christmas Day. They all made me happy, but none induced a smile, but then a vision flashed behind my eyelids. It wasn't exactly a happy memory, but it made me smile despite despite how it played out afterward. It was Magnus, well just his face, hovering above mine smirking devilishly. His eyes were bright green even in the dim light in the room, and his lashes were long black and casting shadows across his cheeks. His carmel colored skin slightly flushed making the glitter on his face sparkle like fading rubies. The look in his eyes was pure amusement, but that was Magnus- a fun loving guy.
"Okay Boy start." Scott called breaking through my reverie.
I held the image as best I could as I walked down the platform. His smirk. His eyes. The warmth of his breath against my cheek. It all made me happy, happier than ice cream on a hot summer day. When I made the loop back to the stage front Scott was there beaming a hundred shades of excitement. I hope that's a good sign.
"I am a genius!" He cheered grabbing my shoulders again. Then he kissed each of my cheeks and danced off the stage phone in hand.
"Uh, so I did it right?" I asked trying not to wobble on my exhausted legs. I need a long ice bath and twelve hours of sleep, which I won't be getting due to school tomorrow.
"You did it marvelously." Scott smiled a toothy grin. He had just finished typing something on his phone and was putting it back into his suit jacket pocket. "The end pose needs work, but your walk and your face- on your face." He gushed like a teenage girl. "Beautifully perfect. I am a genius. I should have thought of it sooner." He smiled to himself while happily patting his cheek like he was congratulating himself.
We were waiting for the elevator, Scott and I, after my nearly thirteen hour long practice. I was excited to head home and sleep, the thought of calmer Andes stressful bootcamp days eased my mind. The elevator had arrived and were defending while Scott typed seriously at his phone. When the silver doors opened he stepped out first and blocked my path, one hand holding the doors open.
"Umm, excuse me." I said raising a brow.
"I can have a car take you home, but I need you to do something for me." He said sounding a lot like Magnus when he offered (threatened) me with the modeling job.
"Now what?" I huffed rolling my eyes.
Scott smirked and I became extremely suspicious. I was fairly sure I could take him, and we were in a lobby someone was bound to hear me if I screamed.
"Can you run up and fetch Magnus. He's not answering his phone and I fear work has caused him to pass out again." He said and I nearly keeled over myself.
Magnus. He wanted me to get Magnus, not to jump my teenage bones. How relieving. I mentally released a long breath.
"Yeah. That I can do." I replied stepping back away from the doors.
"Thank you very much. Top floor. Behave yourself!" He called as he moved out of the way and the doors closed.
That man needs help. I thought as I pressed the button for the top floor.
I'm about to see Magnus' office, he might even be asleep. My heart sped up in my chest and suddenly I wasn't tired anymore. I was wide awake and excited. Even though we rose to work together every day after school we didn't talk much, not even about the book project that I'm practically working on alone except for the papers Mr. Starkweather wants both of us to do. Magnus has been so busy with his fashion show he hardly speak in the English language any more, he's always on the phone or yelling at someone in French or some other crazy language that it makes my head spin. In a good way. He's so talented and has so many different sides I just want to learn more about him. His dreams. His likes. His hates. His favorite food.
The elevator came to a stop and my heart froze as the doors opened almost too slowly. I stepped out and stated wide eyes as my heart seemed to burst from chest and lay on the floor at my feet still beating a million miles a minute.
Cliffhanger!
Okay I have a guessing question for you readers and the first person to guess correctly will win A BRAND NEW CAR, just kidding, no but the winner will get to have their name (or OC character name) in this story as a fellow model of Alec's, who helps him out during the story. Just to be clear for you to win you must have an account so I can get in touoch with you, and anyone who guesses more than once will not be counted. Leave your answer in the comments plz. Have fun and there will be no big spoilers with this question :)
*This contest thing will be up until 4/19/13 until midnight when I will announce the winner and a special chapter from Magnus' view.*
Question: How does the date between Alec and Magnus go?
A) It's goes okay
B) It's a disaster
C) It is Alec's dream date
D) Magnus doesn't show
E) Alec gets sick
F) Alec doesn't go
G) Magnus purposely sabotages it
CONTEST THINGIE OVER
but guess anyway if you want
Think carefully and good luck to all ^^
Please guess
I don't want to feel stupid for putting this up.
Thank you