ROCKETEER

Chapter 8: Barbies and Back Deals

                                                         "Numb the dark and you numb the light" 

                                                                                    - Brent Brown

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Suki led me to another studio, but this one had rack after rack of designer clothes in it, sorted by brand and color. After the jewelry selection, the number of expensive clothes didn't surprise me. There were racks of shoes too, but Suki told me most of the outfits already were paired with shoes. 

She came out of her shell as I tried on clothes, telling me about her intern position at the company. Her sudden spunk startled me, but it wasn't unwelcome, as I let her do most of the talking.

"I just graduated with my cosmetology last summer," she told me, while I tried on an oversized fur-lined jacket. "Danza Studios picked me up the day after!"

We finally got to the brand that Keigo was apparently donning in this photo shoot, and Suki all but shoved a packaged outfit in my arms, ushering me to the changing room.

I unzipped the packaging to find a bright red mini-dress. It was already matched with black pumps.

I tried it on, not really liking how tight it was on my body. However, I looked at myself in the mirror, turning this way and that. The dress was soft and somewhat comfortable, and I decided the color complemented my skin tone nicely and accentuated my hero's fit physique.

When I walked out, Suki whistled softly and made a circle around me.

"Oh, red is definitely your color," she said, making me blush.

I thanked her, and she helped me zip the dress up all the way, and I took off the heels that had miraculously been my size.

"Let's go do makeup and match jewelry, yeah?" I followed her, barefoot, back down to the studio where everyone else was.

I walked through the door and felt everyone turn their gazes towards me. I heard someone gasp, and my cheeks flushed. I kept my gaze on the floor.

Does it look bad? Everyone's probably surprised at how stupid I look. I should have agreed to this, I'm not meant to be a-

"Perfect model material! That dress will look spectacular with Hawk's outfits, darlin'!" Charnell came to greet us, taking my hand and almost dragging me across the room.

"It - it will?" I asked meekly, forcing my head up to look at her. She flashed a smile back at me.

"Of course! You're already gorgeous as it is, we just had to find a way to bring out those features!" I lifted my mouth in a half-smile, about to thank her for the compliment, but she pushed me into a director's chair, right across from Hawks. Charnell ran off, rambling about matching jewelry.

Hawks was being pampered by his makeup artist. He reclined on a pillow, and one of the girls sat beside him, feeding him bits of cheese. I watched him until he opened his eyes.

"You're finally back, huh Miss Pr-" He stopped midsentence when his eyes landed on me. They widened just a bit, and he coughed on the piece of cheese he was chewing on.

I hid my laugh behind my hand, watching him choke. The girl who was feeding him gasped and started patting his back, trying so hard to help him, looking around wildly for help.

Poor girl, she's probably just here to boost Hawks's ego too. As if he needs it.

Hawks's episode finally stopped, and I watched him watch me as he looked over my outfit.