Never Too Soon

A Point to Prove

POV: Harper

"We'll help you until Max gets here." Gigi peaked her head in before stepping in with her younger sister in tow.

"She won't hesitate to stab a bitch with her heel again if she needs to." Bella added while closing the door behind herself.

"I told you that I didn't do that." Gigi tried to lighten the mood, but after seeing Lauren throw a girl to the floor like she was a rag doll scared me. I knew she was strong, but that was a different level.

"How does Max have this planned?" Bella looked over the notes on the vanity while Gigi helped me adjust the piece of clothing that was somehow all connected together. "We need to take her hair out of the bun so he can style it flat."

They found the shoes that were labeled for this outfit and assisted me with getting them on. The elaborate material was far from the usual set of high heels I had become accustomed to.

Between the two of them, I was almost ready to walk before Max came in.

"You girls are life savers." Max let out a sigh of relief when he saw that I was ready aside from my hair.

"Let us know if you need us." Bella gave us a small smile.

"Where is Lauren?" I asked with a shaky breath. I couldn't tell if I wanted to run to her and thank her, or continue to avoid her.

"I sent her back to her seat once she calmed down enough." Max answered in a sigh.

"Does she always snap so easily?" I needed to know what I was getting myself into no matter how much I liked to be blind to red flags or the color red in general.

"Lauren has some... anger issues that are a result of trauma." Max was more than vague with his answer while he flat ironed my hair that had so much product in it it almost looked black.

I nodded my head and tried to process what he had said.

"She would never hurt you, Harper. I know my best friend. Once she cares about someone she wouldn't lay a finger on them if her life depended on it. She accidentally hit me so hard that I fell to the floor, and she got so worked up that she got sick. It was purely accidental. She was carrying her table into her dinning room, and I got clocked by it because I wasn't paying attention, and she blamed herself for a week. That woman would never hurt you." Max found a way to ease my nerves.

I believed in facts more than theories, so the past history eased my nerves enough for me to at least nod my head.

"Now you have a world to take over. You'll be by yourself this time, but both Lauren and I will be at the end of the runway waiting for you. This time you need to pose for ten seconds in three or more poses, preferably four. If you do more than four you look too fidgety." Max squeezed my shoulder before walking out of the room with me.

"Damn, sweets. You look hot as hell." Gigi giggled as I walked back out into the backstage room.

I gave her a polite smile as my eyes drifted over to Olivia who sported an ice pack on her chin where Lauren's strong hand had gripped a few moments prior.

A nasty glare was sent my way as I made my way up the steps.

"You walk in three minutes. Are you ready?" Max asked me after looking at the backstage timer.

"Ready as I'll ever be." I gave him a small smile.

"I'd hug you, but I don't want to risk messing up your fit. Don't let the recent events ruin your mood. Prove to Olivia that you aren't just some seventeen-year-old that was picked out of bias. Lauren agreed to go with you because she could see the natural talent and power that your beauty holds. It was my idea to assign you as the final walker, and I don't regret it. I'm betting on you, baby doll." Max kissed the top of my head, fixed my hair, and walked out of the stage wing to go join Lauren at the end of the runway.