Modeling Crisis (book 1)

Modeling Crisis: Chapter 8

I stood outside Alexis's door, standing on the porch. I check my outfit. I was wearing tan pants and dark brown, ankle boots and a large, flow-y, blue shirt and the shoulders were cut out.  I glance around toward the streets, I didn't need anyone following me and then bothering my best friend and her family. I ran the doorbell and took off my sunglasses. Rosalie waggles her tail, sitting down next to my feet.

"Hey Nikki!"

Charlie said smiling and opening the door for me. I stepped through the thresh hold and Charlie immediately closed and locked the door. Rosalie runs inside, I laugh at my adorable little dog.

"Hey Charlie. Where's Lexi?"

I ask while giving him a hug.  He smiled and pointed toward the kitchen and said,

"You're in for a surprise."

I chuckle nervously and make my way to the kitchen. I stick my head and look at the very messy kitchen. Toys and papers are strewn everywhere and it looks like a tornado has been through here.

"Aunty Nikki!!"

Alexis and Charlie's oldest twin, Taylor yells and runs up into my arms. Taylor has light brown, long curly hair with large eyes and a smile that's as large as her mothers. The younger twin, Amy has darker curly hair and wasn't as loud as Taylor. I look around for Amy as Taylor rest on my hip; I spot Amy squeezing the life out of my dog with a hug. Rosalie whimpers and gets away and Amy laughs and follows the runaway dog.

Lexi is trying to cook, but from I can see it looks extremely burnt and one phone call away to the fire department. I laugh, put Taylor down who goes and chases my dog with her sister, and say to Alexis,

"What on the earth are you making?"

Alexis laughs and says,

"I don't even remember. Want to order some pizza or is that too many calories for a supermodel?"

"Well as long as it isn't pepperoni then we're good."

Alexis dumps the pot into the sink and scraps off whatever else into the trash and washes her hands afterwards. She turns around and smiles and hugs me. She pulls back and grins devilishly at me.

I raise my eyebrows in suspicion and question,

"What's that face for?"

"This!"

Alexis then pulls out a magazine from the table and shoves it in my face. Sure enough there was already a printed picture on the cover of me and Jake kissing at the airport. I chuckle uncomfortably and make my way to the trash to throw it out. Alexis nearly yells before it reaches the trash,

"No! Not just yet! You're explaining!!"

"Fine."

I say reluctantly.

Alexis drags me to the couch in the living room and sits me down next to her. I sigh and start explaining from the plane ride.

"Why didn't you tell me? Nikki, you could've called me."

"Well, mostly for this reaction, I guess I didn't realize you would have time to grab a gossip magazine. Which, might I add, you know lies because we are most definitely not dating."

Charlie walks in and says,

"Hey, so what are we eating? I see you threw out your master piece."

He raises an eyebrow at his wife and they both break out into laughter. Lexi says after her laughing fit is over,

"Oh crap, I forgot to call the pizza place. Will you do it? No pepperoni, thanks."

Alexis smiles brightly, her white teeth contrasting against her chocolate skin tone. Charlie nods his head and says,

"Yeah sure. I'll pick it up. Nikki can I have the minivan keys?"

I nod my head vigorously and say,

"Oh I almost forgot, here."

I tossed my keys to Charlie who catches them with one hand. I ask,

"Hey, Charlie?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you make sure your girls don't kill my dog?"

Charlie laughs and nods and head out of the room calling the girls names.

The evening with Alexis and her family went well. Though being interrogated by Alexis for a good hour and then eating to most fatting food I've had in a while made my night a lot better.

I was driving in my car, which I had missed so much. I had agreed to let Rosalie stay the night after Taylor and Amy begged me, I had given then each forty dollars which Alexis took and put them in the cookie jar telling them they would have to save it up. Alexis smiled and mouthed a "thank you" to me.  I hugged them each good bye and made my way home at around 9:45pm.

My phone started ringing in the passenger seat. I pick it up saying, not bothering to look at the caller ID,

"Talk to me."

"Nicolette Carson!"

"Um, hello?"

"This is Lauren, who else?"

"I don't know, for a minute you sounded like my mother."

"Well have you seen the magazines yet?"

I say, confused,

"No, why?"

"Where are you?"

"Heading home. Is something wrong Lauren?"

My manager says with excitement spilling from her words,

"No, nothing's wrong! Everything is right! I don't know what you did to make up with Jake but that kiss made everything drip gold. You have an interview on Good Morning America. I'll send you the details but I know it won't be for a few days."

"Awesome but afterwards he told me I needed a breath mint so obviously it means nothing to him just as this fake relationship means nothing to me."

Disbelief colored her voice when Lauren said,

"Alright, sure kiddo. I'll send you that email. I'll meet you up in New York. Jake will be there as well."

"Wonderful."

I say and with that hang up.

I get out of my car and have valet take my car to the car park. Paparazzi are waiting outside but since it's already pretty dark outside I'm able to make inside without being spotted. I smile at the staff person at the front lobby and go to the elevator. As I'm waiting for the elevator to arrive the same staff person came up to me and asked,

"Are you Nikki Carson?"

"The one and only."

I say smiling.

The staff person produces large, white roses in the gold vase and says,

"These arrived for you about twenty minutes ago."

I mumbled thanks and grabbed the flowers. I looked around for a card and spotted one. Written in red ink it said,

                     See you in New York

                      -Jake

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*Author's Note*

Aw Jake sent Nikki flowers. I edited the first half of the chapter but stopped because edditing is boring. Sorry :P forgive me? Next upload will be around 2:30pm