How to be a Model

Chapter Five

The shoot went surprisingly well. The director of the shoot was Madeline Hank, who is notoriously uptight. I was a little concerned that Blaire would, well, be... herself. Thankfully she behaved herself. Frankly, I was quite surprised that she would let Madeline yank her into this and that position, or that she would stay sculpted in the same position for a long period of time. But, other than shooting me taunting and mocking glances, Blaire kept silent and did what Madeline asked of her. She was surprisingly good. Most people watching the two of us model would think that Blaire had been modelling for years. I could tell that Coco was impressed; she stood watching Blaire, her eyes narrowed, her expression thoughtful and calculating. I hid a grin, knowing that she was considering if she should take Blaire on as a client. That conversation would be an interesting one to listen in on. The shots that were taken were meant to contrast Blaire and I; her in scarlet red, and me in sparkling white. Fire and ice was the title of the article being done on our reunion, and I am told it will reflect on the differences between our two personalities and the love that draws us together as sisters. Yeah, right. Although it wouldn't be true, I had to admit that this was a clever angle to come at from in terms of publicity. The two sisters who are as different as can be are drawn to the same career; modelling. Coco and I had been on the phone constantly over the last few days coming up with this angle. Now we just had to get Blaire on board. Our final shot was the two of us standing facing the camera with two metres gap between us, looking at each other, one hand on the hip facing away. It was a shot that made us look like we were sizing one another up, bringing out the contrast between her fire and my ice, her brunette and my blonde.

"That's it, we've got the shot!" Madeline said, her eyes glowing with approval at the two of us. I turned to face Coco, who looked like her birthday had come early. Grinning from ear to ear, she fell in step with the two of us as we were whisked back to the curtained off changing area. The shoot assistants removed the gowns from us, and I quickly pulled my silk shirt and dress pants on. Blaire glanced up at me as she zipped her jeans.

"So, that's a shoot?" she questioned. I nodded in reply. What exactly did she want me say?

"How many do you usually do a day?" Blaire asked me. I looked at her sharply, surprised that she cared to know anything about modelling, let alone me.

"Uh... one or two usually," I replied. "It depends on what Coco and Jenna decide."

I was tempted to ask her what she thought of the shoot, but refrained. Blaire looked thoughtful, but whatever she was thinking, she didn't seem to want to share it. We exited the changing area to find Coco waiting for us, tapping away on her smartphone. Glancing up, her eyes lit with ambition.

"That was good," she addressed us. Good was an understatement. I looked at Coco quizzically; she wasn't one for under exaggerating. Looking Blaire over, she pursed her lips. "How about we go out to lunch to celebrate?"

I smiled. Coco was perceptive. She didn't want to push Blaire away by being forward, so she was being cautious, not showing how impressed she was by Blaire. Which was a good move, considering Blaire had nothing but contempt for the modelling and fashion industry, and would likely scoff at the idea of becoming a model as a career. Coco was shrewd. She would bide her time, waiting, watching, and learning as much as she could about Blaire before she did anything. Unsurprisingly, Blaire didn't seem too enthused about lunch, not even when Coco suggested we dine at Silvia's, a brand new, five star restaurant. But Coco insisted.

"We'll go home and change, then meet you there," I said to Coco, ushering a disgusted Blaire towards the reception of the studio. The limo ride back to my apartment was a quiet one. I busied myself considering Jesse's words at the shoot. Last time I saw you... He remembered one of our previous conversations. I couldn't seem to wrap my mind around the fact. What did it mean? Did he have some kind of interest in me, or did he just have a good memory? Blaire sat across from me in the limo, picking at her fingernails, a thoroughly disgusted expression on her face. I studied her for a moment. With her newly-auburn hair curling wispily around her face and her green-blue eyes highlighted with mascara, even her expression of repugnance didn't disguise her hotness. She glanced up and locked eyes with me.