A/N: Thanks for all the great reviews :) I was really worried you guys wouldn't like how I ended. And to the reviewer that was annoyed...I'M SORRY! If the reason I did isn't in this chapter, then it's in the next chapter, PROMISE! It's a really sweet gesture I wanted to happen :)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything VA characters and the idea came from DEE2389
"DiiStefano Studios, how can I help you?" asked a bubbly receptionist.
"Uh yea can I talk to Lia, please?" Desperate times call for desperate mesaures. The only good part of missing school was sleeping in for two hours, but after eating, staying home got real boring real quick. It wasn't even noon and I was about to lose my mind with nothing to do, so I figured if I was going to hide away all week why not get paid to do it.
"Why?" she asked, her bubbly tone turning snobby. Uh bitch I said please.
"Cus I want to so pass me through. She's expecting my call," I lied.
"Can you at least tell me who you are?"
"Rose Hathaway." She murmured a 'hold on' before some classic jazz tune played. Strumming my fingers against the table counter, I impatiently waited for the music to end.
"Rose?" Lia said, her voice pulling me out of my head.
"Uh yea. I was wondering if your offer from Saturday still stands."
"Of course! Oh this is perfect timing! Can you come down right now?"
"Yes!" I said, excited to have something to do and to get out of the house.
"Great! I'm planning a shoot and you're perfect for it!" she said before giving me the studio address. Jumping off my stool, I went to my room and changed into shorts and a white v-neck slightly curve hugging tank top and called for a ride.
"Hello?" Ambrose answered, sounding like he was rushing around.
"Um hey it's Rose."
"Hey Rose! Um not to be rude, but I'm kinda running late to the studio. Can I call you later?"
"Actually," I said quickly so he wouldn't hang up. "I was hoping you could give me a ride there. I kinda have a meeting with Lia."
"You're modelling with us?" he asked, trying to hide his excitement.
"Temporarily."
"That's - wait. Shouldn't you be in school."
"Shouldn't you?" I snapped back.
"Touché. But I'm home schooled by my mom, so I don't really have a set time. I learn when I learn as long I get in a certain amount of time a week."
"Oh. Well I still need a ride."
"Ok," he said after I gave him my address. "I'll be there soon."
"Oh Rose you don't know how happy your call made me! None of these models have the…wildness you have to pull this off," Lia said, pulling me with her the minute I walked through the studio doors. "They're all so poised and collected, so emotionless. Except for Jill, but she's so green it works for her. You, on the other hand, your just so raw and exotic. You have curves that no workout or diet can form. Your skin is so not white." The more I listened to her the more I wondered if these were backhanded compliments. "Oh, pardon me, that must have sounded rude. Here let me explain the shoot I'm orchestrating. I know it's almost December, and we usually do some siberian winter themed shoot, but I wanted to do something different. So I'm doing a desert summer cover. I know, I know. Why not wait until the summer, right? But this idea I have in my head can't wait! Either way, I need a model that looks exotic like a desert princess and you have what I need. These Russian models just don't have the spark and passion I saw in you. And your tanned skin works perfect with the desert theme. Don't even get me started on your hair!"
"Ok," I said, not really sure how to respond. "So what exactly do I have to do?"
"Right now? Nothing."
"Then why am I here?"
"You're still new at this. So I want you to watch the girls while we do some takes and I need Esteban to measure you to make sure your costume fits. Can you come in this week?"
"Yea, I was kinda hoping I was needed this week."
"Oh perfect! Well today we'll do measurements and observation. Tomorrow we'll do fittings…if they're ready…and have you practice facial expressions. Wednesday we'll do another fitting, or the first fitting, and have you practice body language. Thursday we'll take your solo pics, and Friday we'll do you and your prince."
"My prince?"
"Honey, do you honestly think woman look at our magazines for fashion alone? Well of course they do, but they enjoy seeing the oily, slick abs that men have. So on Friday you and Ambrose will take your those takes."
"O-ok," I said, not really sure I was ready for all this. "How long will I be here everyday?"
"That depends, but don't expect to be out past 4 or 5. And I need you here by 11, 10 would be best. Don't worry, you'll get paid on Friday."
Sweet, I thought as I nodded my head. Even though it seemed like a lot of work, it actually seemed pretty fun too. Who knows, maybe I'll make this something I keep up with. This plus track and I'll never have to worry about a calorie again. And with how demanding this shoot seems to be maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to get my mind off Saturday night and Dimitri. My body involuntarily shivered as Dimitri came into my mind, his determination to win me back sending chills down my spine, both in pleasure and in fear.
"Rose. Rose!" Lia said, waving her hand in front of me. Snapping out my haze, I zoned in on her, blinking my eyes and asking if she said anything. "We're here. At Esteban's. So he can measure you. For the photo shoot." She spoke slowly and in short sentences, as if I were to get lost easily.
"I know why we're here," I snapped. "I just thought you asked me something."
"There's the feistiness I need in my desert princess! Remember that for the shoot."
Shaking my head, I walked through the doors, entering into a library of fabrics and someone barking orders. I looked around, wide eyed at all the different materials, in different colors. I felt ignorant seeing so many colors and fabric I couldn't name or have never seen.
"Can I help you?" Esteban asked, looking me over just like he did in the fashion show.
"Esteban, this is Rose. She filled in at the show," Lia said, Esteban nodding his head in recognition. "Rosie here was sent from God himself to do the princess shoot and I need you to take her measurements."
"Hmm yes she works for it," he said, like his opinion determined if I stayed. "I can take her measurements, but what do I do when I'm done?"
"Nothing. Just send her on her merry way," She said before turning to me. "When you're done, walk back down the hallway, but instead of turning towards my office, walk the other way and you'll see the models. I'll see you tomorrow, Rose."
I didn't have a chance before Esteban pulled over to an area that had a small lift in the middle, which he told me to step on, and four mirrors on one side, showing different angles that came together. I slightly stirred under his scruinty before he pulled out a tape measure and took in my waist, hips, bust, arm length, leg length, and total height. Oh and shoe size. I felt a relief when he told me he was done and he should have something for me tomorrow. Nodding my head, I quickly left and made my way to where the models were.
"You don't know the pressure you took off of us," Kitty said as I sat with her and a few other models during their break. Watching the photo shoot was actually a lot of fun, even though the photographer was barking orders and finding something to fix every time, no matter how minuscule it was, the models always found a way to mess with him after giving him what he was looking for. They had just ended this set so they were taking a small break while they waited for the rest of the models to come for the next one. Kitty had introduced herself, her real name being Katherine but "it wasn't memorable" so her model name was Kitty, and took me to sit with some of the models I had met on Saturday.
"I doubt being some desert princess takes a load off your shoulders," I said dryly.
"No you don't even get it. When something doesn't go right for Lia we're all on eggshells following every order to the T. And it's worse when she brings outsourced help," said um I think her name was Madeline.
"Wait. I'm outsourced help."
"No you're not. You were just in the right place at the right time. Outsourced help would be a model from another company or a floater," Kitty explained. "You've never done a shoot in your life so technically you don't belong to anyone, but you did our fashion show so technically you're ours, or we'd get first dibs when you put yourself on the market. Luckily, you chose us on your own."
"Oh. I guess that makes sense. So uh is it always like this?"
"Like what? Demanding and frustrating but fun and a little cooky?" I nodded my head. "Yea. It gets better the more you're used to it. You learn what each photographer looks for so they don't have to do so many retakes, which leaves more time to goof off. So uh since you came in kinda last minute, how are you pulling off the take on Thursday?"
"Model Bootcamp," I joked, all of us laughing. "I'm watching you guys today and then tomorrow and Wednesday, I'm practicing on my own."
"Sounds fun," Kitty said sarcastically, wagging her eyebrows a bit.
"Funner than Disneyland," I said with the same tone of sarcasm.
"Have you been to the one in Paris?" Chloe, another model I met before, asked, and just like that we started talking about nothing and everything, every now and then the topic reminding them of a photo shoot, which would lead to a few advices and tips being thrown my way.
"Rose?" I head a guy say behind me. Turning around, I saw Jill and Eddie looking at me.
"Oh hey guys," I said uneasily. "Fancy meeting you here."
"Lissa said you were home sick," Jill said, giving me a pointed look as she crossed her arms.
"I…am…," I said, faking a cough in between. But I could tell they weren't buying. "Look I can't really tell you why I'm not in school, but I just needed a break. Yes I know winter break is in like two or three weeks, but it's not that kind of break."
"This doesn't have anything to do with Dimitri does it?" Jill asked.
"Why would you ask that?"
"Because after you left, he came a while after and he was looking from you."
"Wait, you little missy forgot to mention you have a boyfriend," Kitty said, eager for some gossip. "What's he like? Is he tall? Dark? Erotically handsome?"
"Kitty!" We all said.
"What?" she said innocently. "A girl's got needs, so come one Rosie what's he like?"
"First off, Dimitri's not my boyfriend, not exactly. Secondly, he's not erotically handsome…he's straight from hell hot," I said, a smirk on my lips as all the girls laughed.
"So uh not to crash the girl fest," Eddie said uncomfortably. "But are you skipping track too? I just you know thought I should know."
"I don't want to, but I really can't go to team practices."
"How about we hit these trails I go on after school and they have a gym here, I'm sure we can use it for weight training."
"Wait y'all have a gym?" I said, looking at the group. They all nodded their head. "And you didn't say anything?! Free gym would get me to sign any modeling contract."
"That's good to hear," Lia said from the doorway, making all of us jump and straighten ourselves up. "Oh relax. I just came to how you guys were doing. I'm glad your fitting in easily, Rose, and we can talk about the contract on Friday." She didn't say another word before she went and talked to the photographer. Soon after, the girls were called for the second set, and Eddie and I sat down and watched them. Eddie watching Jill, while I watched how everything worked.
"So you and Jill, huh?" I said after a while.
"Not really. She's a great girl, but she'd never notice me," he said, his voice defeated.
"Um you are at her modeling studio…" I pointed out.
"Yea, but she thinks I'm giving her rides to be a friend, not because I like her."
"Have you asked her out?" He shook his head. "Well there you go. Ask her out. I guarantee she's going to say yes!"
"How do you know?" he asked, breaking he gaze away from her and looking at me in the eye, but I looked away.
"Because it's easy to see. She's nervous, and slightly awkward, but she's a heart-on-my-sleeve kind of girl. Your problem is you think too low of yourself. For whatever reason you think she could do better, when really she's been waiting for you. She's been thinking other guys are beneath you and she's been rejecting them hoping you'd notice her," I said softly, never meeting his gaze. Neither of us said anything for the rest of the shoot, and when it ended Eddie gave me a ride home.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!" Lissa shouted the minute I walked into the house, sounding so much like a mother. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS!"
"Jesus, mom," I teased as I laid down on the couch. "Did you not see the note I left? I told you I'd be back, didn't i? Plus, did you honestly think I wouldn't get bored at home?"
"You're the one who decided to take sick leave from school for a week. That still doesn't explain where exactly you went off to. I was starting to get worried."
"Sorry," I said sincerely. "I uh went over to the modeling studio Jill works at and started prepping for a project they want me to model in."
I saw Lissa's jaw drop as she heard me. And Lissa began asking me why and how and what I was doing, which I answered before asking if there was any food. Of course, there was a lasagna waiting for me. Hungrily, I cut off a big chuck and ate it, thanking God I could eat without having to worry about my weight.
"So uh you got a call today," Lissa said suddenly from the kitchen doorway.
"Well I hope you told him what he can do with my-" I began to say, thinking it was Dimitri.
"It wasn't him," she said, cutting me off. "But he brought this by after school." She held out a single white rose, a note attached. At first I didn't want to grab it, but when Lissa walked over and placed it in front of my plate, curiosity got the best of me and I read the note.
White roses symbolize new beginnings. Roza, Saturday was the best night of my life, and waking up next to you Sunday was the best morning of my life. I hope this rose tells you how serious I am about starting over with you.
It also say "I'm thinking of you" which is ironic since until I see you again, all I'll be thinking of is you. Your beauty. Your alluring scent. Your luscious lips.
Oh and did you know one rose meant love at first sight? Remember when we first met?
Hiding from me just makes seeing you again that much better.
"Bastard," I muttered as I put the flower down.
"Why?" Lissa asked while she rummaged the cupboard. "I thought it was sweet."
"You read the note?" She looked down sheepishly in answer. "And he's playing dirty! I'm suppose to be taking a week of to figure things out and he's sending fucking roses!"
"Rose can't you just admit you have feelings for the guy?"
"No," I said stubbornly as I got up to put my dish in the washer, before taking a deep breath, my eyes never lifting up from the sink. "I…I don't know what I feel." I let out another dejected sigh, feeling Lissa's gaze on me. "I'm scared. What if he hurts me?" Whispering the last part, I wasn't even sure she heard me. But when I felt her rub her hand along my back, I knew she did.
"Rose he's not going to hurt you," she said softly.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Would he be doing this if you didn't mean something?"
"I don't know, Liss. I…just…" I let out a sigh, frustrated at not understanding my emotions. "I'm not putting my heart on my sleeve just for it to be torn. So if he wants me…and I mean really wants me not my body, then he needs to prove it by the end of the week. If by Friday…Saturday at the latest…I'm not sold then I'm moving on." Grabbing a cup with a slim, long neck, and the rose, I went to my room.
A/N: I know funner isn't a word…in standard dictionaries (so to the readers who english isn't their first language sorry if I threw a curveball :/) I tend to make words up and funner was one of those words (it's really more fun but it didn't fit with the convo) so again sorry!
SO! Do you see where I'm going with this? No? You will by next chapter :)
Leave me a review and tell me your favorite part :D and I'll post on Sunday!
Word from the wise to all those taking finals or in the last stretch of school...or you're just having a really tough, long week at work or at home:
Hakuta Matata EVERYONE!