Confessions of a High School Supermodel

Chapter 7

7

The next week at school dragged on unbearably slowly.  Maddie hoped that Sawyer might talk to her, or at least acknowledge her in some way (a wave, a nod, a glance even!) but he didn’t do anything out of the ordinary.  She tried to catch his eye a couple times walking around school, but he hadn’t seemed to spot her.  Maddie had the feeling she could run through the school naked with a “Hey Sawyer!” banner and he still wouldn’t notice.  (Well, actually, THAT he probably would notice…)  He still held hands with Sundance between classes and ate lunch with her and Livia and all their friends, the same as usual. 

The only really new thing that had happened that week was that Sundance and her friends had decided to start a Yoga Club at school.  Maddie privately believed it had more to do with showing off and looking sexy than actual fitness.  All the boys would crowd around as they would stretch and check them out.  Maddie was disappointed to see that Sawyer was one of them. 

The girls would roll out their yoga mats, and stretch themselves into all kinds of positions, sticking their butts way out (extended puppy pose), getting down on all fours (cat cow pose), and lying on their backs with their legs high in the air (viparita karani pose). 

Sundance had ordered matching tank tops for all the girls with the slogan across the chest, “A little hard work for a little hard butt!”  Maddie noted with some interest that every girl in Yoga Club wore a matching pair of hot pink Victoria’s Secret yoga pants.  She wondered if they’d be shopping at Pinkette once it hit stores. 

Maybe it was the sight of all those Victoria’s Secret clad butts wiggling high in the air, or maybe it was the frustration of spending an evening with someone who couldn’t even get her name right, but something had made Maddie decide it was time to stop waiting around.  She finally felt like she had nothing to lose, and that was what spurred her into action.

Maddie recalled how she had finally managed to pluck up the courage to call Ann Sterling on the phone. 

It had taken Maddie nearly an hour and many One Direction songs to work up the nerve to dial the numbers.  Do it, do it, do it! she scolded herself.  It would have been easier to just let it go and forget about the woman in the mall, but she knew a part of her would always regret it if she didn’t at least try.  Even when she picked up the phone and dialed it, her fingers were shaking. 

“Hello, you’ve reached Ann Sterling’s office.”

“Hi? Uh, Ann?  I mean, Ms. Sterling.  This is Maddie, I uh met you the other day at---“

“Hold on.  This is Ms. Sterling’s secretary.  Who may I ask is calling?”

“M-Maddie Fox.”

“Hello Miss Fox.  I’ll put you through in a second.  Please hold for Ms. Sterling.”

A second later, Maddie heard a beep, and a familiar voice appeared on the other end.

“Hi, Maddie!  I’m happy to hear from you!  I was hoping you’d call!”

Ann Sterling had surprisingly been very kind to Maddie.  She explained that Victoria’s Secret had been trying to find a girl to front their new Pinkette line, but they hadn’t found anyone quite right yet, so they were still testing girls.

Ann chatted candidly with her about what the company was seeking in a model for Pinkette.  “We’re looking for someone with a look that other girls can relate to.  Victoria’s Secret doesn’t like to employ generic, cookie cutter beauties.  Consumers today are bored with the standard faces anyone with enough money can go out and buy from a plastic surgeon’s office.  All of our models have some kind of edge to them, something unique or exotic that makes them stand out.” 

“And you want ME to come in for a test shoot?” Maddie asked incredulously.

“I’ll admit, it’s a little bit unorthodox to find a girl who’s not already an established model, but that’s also part of your appeal,” Ann spoke brightly. 

 Ann asked to speak to Maddie’s mom.  The two women set up an appointment the following week for Maddie to come in for a test photoshoot. 

Maddie’s mom had been extremely surprised to hear about this recent turn of events. 

“I guess I can take you if you really want to.  The studio is so far out of the way though.”

“But the photoshoot is on the weekend!” Maddie protested, hopping from foot to foot.  “Please, mom!”

Mrs. Fox looked at her daughter skeptically.  “Just as long as it’s only for one afternoon.  But I mean, do you really want to sit around some studio all day long?” she wrinkled her nose. 

Maddie nodded fervently.  “It’ll be fun mom!  It’ll be like getting a whole makeover.  I need a new haircut anyway- this would be like getting one for free!  You wouldn’t have to pay for it.” 

Mentioning a freebie was sure to get her mom’s attention.

“It could be fun for you I suppose,” her mother voiced reluctantly.  “Maybe we’ll get some nice photos out of it.  But I don’t like the idea of you dressing really sexy.  And in front of all those people!  There better not be any men on set!” she frowned.   “And I’ll need to bring your little sister, of course.  I wonder if they’ll do her hair too?”

“Thanks mom!”  Maddie was so excited she jumped up and gave her mother a big hug.  She’s letting you go to the photoshoot!  But don’t get your hopes up about anything else, Maddie told herself firmly.

Maddie tried to make the week pass more quickly by rereading the entire Hunger Games series.  Every day when she wasn’t doing homework or studying for a test, she was reading those books.  At lunch time, she would either go to the school library and read, or find a spot on the grass far away, where no one would see her.  Anyway, it had really helped take her mind off the photoshoot, which was rapidly approaching.  

Getting lost in the story of Katniss, Peeta, the Capitol, and District Twelve had felt like it made the week pass by a bit more quickly.  By Friday, Maddie was now midway through the third and final book in the series, which unfortunately hadn’t been as good as the first two and which she always had to force herself to get to the end of.  So it was probably a good thing that she finally had her photoshoot to attend.

The following Saturday, Maddie watched the clock beside her bed tick from 6:59am to 7:00am and thought about what lay ahead of her that day.  She doubted she had slept for even five minutes all night.  I hope I don’t have dark circles under my eyes, she briefly worried.  They can cover that up with concealer right?  Today was THE DAY.  The day of her photoshoot. 

Weekly Stats

Oreos eaten this past week: 14

Hours at the gym: 0

Times Sawyer said “Hi” to me at school: 0

Times Sawyer called me “Mandy:” 3

Boys Kissed: 0 (unless Honeydew counts)

Chances of me becoming a Victoria’s Secret model: ???