All The Odds

Twenty-Four

"No, you don't understand. Listen to me please." Bella pleaded frantically like she did throughout the drive to "Silver Orchids Hotel" bundled into the backseat of Jenna's car and now, in front of the larger than life silver gate, her stupid friends still weren't seeing things her way.

"Get out of my car Bella, before I'm forced to drag you out by the teeth."

Said Jenna and with her stern voice came a gush of wind as she threw the backseat door open and glared threateningly at Bella, she instantly backed away from her friend even though Jenna was only as intimidating as her pink and blue spiked hair would allow.

Just her luck, Claire was sitting readily behind her to push her right back towards the door.

"I need you to understand that I can't do this photo shoot right now." She pleaded again.

"That's your nerves speaking." Claire sing-songed, shoving her back towards Jenna.

"No, its really not," Bella squealed when Jenna suddenly leaned into the car to grab both her legs.

"Take her." Claire commanded. "I didn't spend my precious afternoons being your personal cheerleader at the gym, so you could back out at the last minute."

Before Bella could point out that she spent most of that time ogling half naked and sweaty guys than doing any actual cheering, Jenna also chimed in her bit.

"And I didn't pretend to be queer so you would get the couple's discount and chicken out now."

Again she wanted to point out that it was Jenna's idea to pretend they were lesbians, so they could get the couple's membership and it merits. It paid off for the both of them too, since they paid less than they would have as an individual.

But they both succeeded in forcefully dragging her out of the car and unceremoniously dumped her on the hard ground like reality.

It was an hour ago since her so called friends literally shoved her through the endless gates of 'Silver Orchids' and left her to face the consequences of being an impulsive brat alone.

"Cut!"

Yelled Giorgio, the flamboyant director and make up artist, frustration written all over his features.

Bella's eyes automatically flew to Marie Ivy's on the laptop screen to see her also face palming herself, Bella may have come to hate the woman's gut but deep inside she still wanted to impress her former idol.

Thanks to Iverson, now it appeared she would have more luck passing a horse through the eye of the needle than accomplish that.

"Concentrate Iverson, is that too much to ask for?!" Marie shouted and Giorgio couldn't look any less done with the whole photo shoot, even the other crew members sighed in exasperation.

Iverson shrugged nonchalantly, took several steps away from Bella and went back to typing away on his phone like he'd done anytime they were asked to "cut" because they couldn't execute the simple task of acting like a happy couple.

"I don't know what you're talking about, I'm giving it my very best." He said noncommittally.

Bella felt another dull stab of his blatant dismissal of her in her chest.

Jenna and Claire might have the idea that she didn't want to come to the photo shoot because of her frail nerves but in truth, she just didn't think she was capable of facing Iverson again after what happened between her and Daniel.

Turned out she needed not have worried, he won't even notice her presence much less acknowledge it.

"Your best?!" Giorgio's screech brought her out of her reverie. "Is that a fúcking joke? You won't even look at her!"He rightly pointed out.