Years

Nerves & Runways

"You look perfect Madelyn. You know what you need to do okay?" Jenny said straightening my necklace softly.

My nerves were all over the place right now for more reasons than one. Justin was here and I was about to go on a runway in front on thousands and try not to fall on my ass. This was a bittersweet moment.

"I know, I'm just a little bit nervous." I said and looked at myself in the mirror. Bevin came up behind me and looked at my through the mirror. She laughed and smiled up at me.

"You are going to blow every other girl away on that runway! I will be sitting in the stands watching you flaunt it up there!" I gained a boost of confidence from knowing I have two people here that are supporting me; Bevin and Jenny.

"Okay! I'm ready!" I announced and Jenny smiled and clapped her hands together. The door opened and a man with a headset came inside.

"Alright," Jenny said with an exhale, "let's do this!"

Bevin, Jenny and I walked down the hallway leading to backstage. All the other girls were dressed up in colorful outfits and it was truly a sight to see. I smiled in awe and couldn't stop my eyes from wandering.

"Okay Maddie, this is your dressing room. All of your outfits are already hanging up inside just like I told you earlier." Jenny told me once more and I nodded. "You're going to do it just like you did it in rehearsal last night. You'll be great Mads!" Jenny patted my arm and Bevin gave me a tight hug.

"You'll do amazing hon!" Bevin said and she walked away with Jenny afterward.

I took a deep breath and smiled at some of the other girls who smiled at me. A blonde girl walked up to me a flashed me a smile. "You look really nervous? Are you alright?" she asked with a small smile.

I nodded and laughed softly. "Yeah just trying to mentally prepare for this." She nodded and flipped her hair over her shoulder.

"Don't worry about it. I mean yeah, at first, it's kind of overwhelming with all the lights and people but, once you're out there on that runway it all goes away. Trust me I know firsthand." She told me laughing.

"Well, thanks. I'm Madelyn by the way." I said giving her a nice smile and she returned it.

"I'm Cara. Wait...Madelyn Smith?" she asked and I nodded my head.

"Oh okay! You go on before I do! We should probably go get in the lineup; it's almost time to go!" She looped her arm around mine and led us over to the line of girls waiting for the show to officially start.

Once they started to introduce the show the audience was silent. I looked behind me and saw a man in a dark suit gesture to a man behind all the DJ equipment. Music started and the first model was signaled to start walking. She put on a big smile and turned the corner. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around and saw Cara smiling at me. "You need a signature pose for the end of the runway." She told me and I nodded before turning back around.

The girl in front of me had just turned the corner and my pulse was racing. I tried to move around to keep myself from falling over and I took a deep breath. I couldn't believe I was doing this. I never thought this would be me, but it is. I can't believe how much my life has changed. Sometimes I can't even remember who I used to be but I think that's a good thing. I've found myself through this new journey.

"Madelyn you're up." a girl holding a clipboard with a headset on her head told me and I nodded and smiled at her. I took one last deep breath and closed my eyes.

I opened them and tilted my head up and my feet started moving before I told them too. The adrenaline in my veins ran through my body pumping blood faster through my body. I saw the flashes of cameras in the crowd and the bright lights were hot. I kept a smile on my face as I walked behind the girl in front of me.