Thanks for reading! Here's chapter 6! I hope you like it! By the way, I'm sorry if you were confused by the name change in the last chapter. Even though "Ana" isn't Jillian's real name, Shilo and Graverobber don't know that yet. I'm just going to go ahead and refer to her as Jillian from now in narrative from. For now, Shilo and the others will still refer her to as "Ana" so I apologize for the name confusion ahead of time.
Chapter 6
Shilo nervously tugged on her short hair on the way to the warehouse where the photoshoot would take place. She wasn't sure of what to expect and was already dreading of seeing Amber and her brothers again. She had no doubt that they would try and sabotage her in some way of getting her into trouble. Jillian noticed Shilo's troubled expression and proceeded to try and calm her down.
"Hey, relax. It's going to be okay. I promise being my assistant won't be that bad." said Jillian, trying to give Shilo a reassuring smile.
"It isn't that." Shilo replied. "I'm just worried about Amber. She hates me and I already have a feeling she's gonna make my life hell."
"Don't worry about Amber. Trust me, she'll be too wrapped in other things today. If she does try to bother you, though, I'll get her off your back."
"Really? You'd do that?"
Jillian smiled. "Of course. I didn't let her get you last time did I? It won't be a problem."
"Thanks, Ana."
Jillian inwardly cringed at that name again. "Ana". She should have been used to people calling her that by then but for some reason, hearing Shilo say it really bugged her. She desperately wanted to Shilo her real name. Hell, she wanted to be able to tell anyone her real name, to tell someone that the seemingly perfect singer they saw on stage and in GeneCo's advertisements, wasn't really her. She supposed her mother must have felt the same way. Jillian was suddenly shaken from her thoughts when she heard Shilo calling.
"Ana?"
"W-what? Sorry what was that?"
"I said I think we're here. The car stopped."
"Oh, that's right. Okay."
Shilo raised her eyebrow a bit at Jillian's strange behavior but just shrugged it off. Martin opened the car door and the two girls stepped out and into the back alley.
"We have to use the back way entrance to avoid being seen by any paparazzi." Jillian explained.
Shilo nodded in understanding. 'Good thing' she thought. She hated all of those people and their cameras. They were like a swarm of hungry mosquitoes trying to suck out information from her at the opera. She wondered if Jillian disliked them as much as she did. She seemed pretty nonchalant about it. Martin stood close behind them as Jillian opened the back door and stepped into the warehouse. Inside were dozens of GeneCo employees setting up equipment. Genterns and other workers were setting up camera in front a giant green screen. In the middle of the room Amber and Pavi were off talking to the photographer, discussing the ideas that he had for the photos.
Shilo gasped when she was suddenly grabbed from behind and covered her mouth. Jillian turned when she heard Shilo's muffled yelp and saw Luigi bring her into the corner and beckoned her to follow.
"Luigi, what's going on? What are you doing?"
"I had to grab her before anyone saw her and recognized her. " He grabbed a pink wig out off a paper bag and handed it to a confused Shilo. "Put this on."
"What's this?"
"What does it fucking look like? It's a wig. For now you'll have to wear a disguise until Amber announces your survival to the public. She wants to make it into a big stupid, press conference."
'Great.' thought Shilo 'More camera people.
"And you." said Luigi now speaking to Jillian. "You better get your ass into hair and make-up right now."
Jillian rolled her eyes at him. "Whatever you say, Luigi. C'mon, Shilo."
Shilo followed Jillian past Luigi and to another dressing room where several genterns were waiting with hairbrushes and make-up already in hand.
"Welcome, Miss Rosette. We're ready to fix you for the photo shoot now." said the head one.
"Sure." said Jillian, sitting down into a chair in front of a vanity mirror. "Let's get this over with."
The genterns proceeded to crowd all around her with toothy smiles when one of them noticed Shilo's presence.
"Who's this?"
Jillian turned. "Oh, I'm sorry. This is my new assistant, um, Camille."
"Hi." said Shilo. 'First I'm Michelle and now I'm Camille?' she thought.
"Oh, hi!" greeted a cheerful gentern.
"Ladies! I want Miss Rosette ready in 10 minutes, understand?" Amber called from behind the door.
"Understood, Miss Sweet!" they replied in unison. It was creepy.
"Um, what should I do?" asked Shilo as they began to apply make-up to Jillian's face and curl her hair.
"Oh, um, let's see." Jillian's eyes averted to the rack of outfits in the corner. "You see that clothes rack over there?"
Shilo turned and saw the rack. "Yes?"
"Bring it over here and you can help me choose an outfit."
"Oh, um, okay. " Shilo turned to retrieve the rack and then pushed it over so Jillian could see it better. "What did you have in mind?"
"You pick." smiled Jillian. "It's supposed to be an advertisement for zydrate juice I think. If that helps."
Shilo shrugged, She wasn't sure how that was supposed to help but she figured that she would try to find something tasteful. She looked through the outfits until she found she liked and took it off the rack. "What about this?" she asked, hanging up the outfit for Jillian to see. It was a black, sleeveless dress that had a v-neck with a lace design around it. The bottom of it went straight down.
"I like it." Jillian smiled. When the genterns were finished, she stood up and gently took the dress from Shilo. "Shoes?" she asked.
"Oh." Shilo grabbed a pair of closed toed heels and offered them to Jillian.
"Perfect." She went back behind a curtain to change. When she came she straightened out the bottom of her dress a little and looked to Shilo. "What do you think?"
Shilo beamed at Jillian. The dress looked awesome on her. The genterns had styled her hair into a high, curly ponytail and gave her eyes a purple, smokey effect. The pale plum color on her lips completed the look. "You look beautiful." said Shilo, feeling a slight hint of jealousy.
"Thanks, Shilo." Jillian smiled.
"I really like the dress." Shilo added to no one in particular.
"You can have it when this is over if you want." said Jillian.
"What? Oh, no. It's your dress, I couldn't take it."
"It's not really mine. It's all paid for by GeneCo so I don't care. If you want it you can have it."
"No, no. Thank you. It's fine, really." protested Shilo.
Jillian shrugged. "Okay, if you say so." She walked to the door and gestured Shilo over. "Well, here it goes."
"Y-yeah." said Shilo. She followed Jillian outside and began to adjust her wig a bit. She quietly groaned.
"What's wrong?" asked Jillian.
"It's just this stupid wig. I hate pink."
Jillian softly laughed."Don't worry,. It's only temporary."
Shilo nodded. "So...what are my duties as your assistant today."
"Hmm..for now just small things like bringing me water and what not. I haven't thought too much of what you can do but it's alright, we'll manage. Afterall, it is your first day and I wouldn't want to overwhelm you with too much work. Why, what would people say if they found out that Ana Rosette was a demanding diva? Surely it would mean that Miss Amber Sweet had no control over the diva's behavior." she smirked.
"What are you talking about?" asked Shilo, a bit confused by Jillian's sudden change of character.
Jillian shook her head and laughed. "It's nothing, nevermind."
They walked over to the green screen where Jillian was greeted by swarm of GeneCo employees who smiled at her and showered her with compliments. Shilo rolled her eyes at the people who were sucking up to her. At the same time she couldn't help but smile at how modest and graceful Jillian was being. The girl just was not a bitch. It would have been so much easier for Shilo to not like her if she were. Shilo watched as a gentern came over and handed Jillian a bottle with shiny, blue liquid inside.' That must be the zydrate juice.' she thought to heself. She watched as Jillian posed for the camera, demonstrating the bottle and flashing a smile. The Largo siblings were watching from the corner. Shilo was then suddenly a bit grossed out when Jillian took off the cap and took a sip. Living with Graverobber she knew the effects startling of zydrate and pondered if it was a good idea for Jillian to be drinking it at the particular time.
"That isn't the real stuff."
Shilo slightly jumped at the unfamiliar voice and turned her head to see a tall dark haired guy with blue eyes standing next to her. He looked to be about in his early twenties.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I'm David. I'm one of the musicians in Ana's band."
"Oh, hello. I'm..Camille. I'm Ana's new assistant."
"Nice to meet you." he said, smiling at her and extending his arm.
Shilo shyly smiled back and shook his hand. "So what brings you here David? Are you a part of the photoshoot too?"
David nodded. "I guess they wanted a group shot with the band. It's pretty cool."
Shilo nodded as they continued to watch Jillian pose for the camera.
"She's amazing isn't she?" said David, gazing at Jillian. "I don't think these group shots are even necessary. They have everything they need with her."
Shilo shrugged. "I guess so."
The photographer took a few more solo shots and then called the members of the genetic opera.
"I guess that's my cue." said David, putting on the gold mask he was carrying. "Nice meeting you."
"You too." Shilo watched as David greeted Jillian with a tight hug. Jillian smiled warmly at him. Shilo wasn't completely sure but she could have sworn she saw Pavi stiffen in the corner of the room and cross his arms at the sight. The photographer took a few shots with Jillian and the musicians. They all left for a brief moment and came back carrying their instruments. Shilo noticed that Jillian seemed to be having a lot more fun. When the pictures with the band were done, the Largo siblings stepped onto the green screen all smiles and camera ready.
"Family group shot!" said the photographer.
"Family group shot?" asked Shilo, addressing no one in particular.
"The GeneCo family." David explained standing next to Shilo again and his mask now removed. "The prestigious Largo family and their star singer." Shilo watched as the four of them were posed with their arms draped around one another as if they were a group of friends. Shilo wondered if anyone else noticed that their smiles were fake. Suddenly without warning, Jillian collasped on her knees to the ground and began coughing uncontrollably.
"Ana!" David and Shilo rushed to her side. The genterns and other GeneCo employees began to crowd around both in concern and curiosity.
"Back away, please." said Amber. "Give her some air."
"What's wrong with her?" asked Shilo, genuinely concerned as Jillian continued to cough.
"I'm fine." she protested but then let out a choked gasp that made her cough up a bit of blood. Shilo cringed at the sight and David gwer more worried.
"Someone call an ambulence!" yelled David.
"Be quiet!" said Luigi.
"She doesn't need an ambulance." She turned to Shilo. "Get her some water."
Shilo nodded and ran to go find some for Jillian. She came back with a full cup and handed it to Amber.
Amber crouched down next to her and gave her the water. "Easy, now. Breathe." she said in a calm voice as Jillian drank. The cup shook in her hand.
"Her hands are shaking!" exclaimed Shilo.
"Alrihgt, that's enough." said Pavi. He too then crouched down to pick her up.
"Please, let me help." said David but Pavi put his hand up in protest. "I will take it from here." He scooped Jillian into his arms and began to carry her back to the dressing room. Whispers of concern began to murmur throughout the room.
"No need to panic, people." said Amber. "We have it under control. Miss Rosette is just feeling a bit faint. She's going to be fine."
"Back to work now!" said Luigi. "She'll be out soon."
The employees obeyed the command and went back to their jobs without another word. Amber and Luigi then followed Pavi and Jillian back to the room. David cursed under his breath and Shilo stood in shock. 'What just happened?' she thought. She turned her head towards Jillian's dressing room, wondering if she should follow or not. "I hope she's okay." she said aloud.
Meanwhile, the Largos were watching over Jillian with the door locked. Pavi had layed Jillian on the small couch and felt her forehead. Jillian groaned and was writhing where she lay.
"She is feverish." said Pavi.
Amber let out a frustrated sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. "She's having withdrawal again."
So what do you think? Confused? Don't worry, it will be explained in the next chapter. Review, please!