Through the Mirror

~love - lane del rey~

Chapter 3

I forgot how messy Chat's workspace is. I never really get to come over to Chat's much because she has a lot of work to do, but when I do get to come, it's always a real treat. First off, she lives in a new ultra-modern apartment complex with her older brother, no parental supervision. Her parents are rich and they're always taking crystal healing excursions to Bali or some shit like that. Yeah. It's pretty crazy.

"Welcome to my MTV crib!" Chat called out to me. Throughout her entire floor, headshots, fabric staples, sewing supplies, and random half-naked models were littered on the white couches and floor. I nodded hello to three women in sequined halter tops playing cards, but they just glared at me. After stopping at the gas station for a slushie, I was still pretty hungry. I opened Chat's fridge to find a box of popsicles and dug into it. I popped a cherry flavor in my mouth and followed Chat into her backroom. This is where she sews all of her pieces, and it's the messiest room of the house. I set my backpack next to a discarded velvet thong and plopped onto a stool around a long oak table. I spotted an unreleased catalog of her clothing line and peeked at a few pages. I instantly liked it. The theme was black, red, and white. I flipped to the men's section. Right as I was going to take a look, Chat snatched the papers from my hand.

"C'mon Mel, let me show you these designs in person! Models! Get ready!" She shouted out the door. A few minutes later, a large group of very photogenic teenagers appeared. Some of them nodded or smiled in my direction as they disappeared behind the runway curtain, but most of them gave me some chilly stares in the direction of my popsicle. Oh right. I forgot that most of the models were pretty serious and professional, so slurping on a popsicle would kind of piss them off. I bit into the cold, red ice, and chucked the stick into the trash. I looked back and was bombarded by models wearing silk scarves, thigh high boots, feathered hats, and a whole lot more I clapped and smiled in amazement. Chat has shown me almost all of her clothes collections since day one of her career, but I think this is her best yet.

"I was kind of going for an edgy yet vintage vibe, but with a Hollywood look?" Chat waved a pen back and forth, clearly proud of her work.

"When is the line going to be released? I'm dying for a set of those wings." I laughed. A few models wore large sets of angel wings along with bright red lingerie sets and bleach blond wigs.

"Pfft. You can have all of those damned wings. I've been finding feathers all over this place for months." She shook her head. She excused herself to yell at a few models who were doing shots in the living room, so this was my chance to go to the bathroom. I tiptoed over bodies, trash, and clothes to the small hallway where the door to the bathroom was located. I was about to turn the doorknob when a large... someone spilled out of it. He was a flash of coal black, cream white, and cherry red. I let out the most pathetic screech in my entire life.

"Holy shit!" Random Guy yelled. "I didn't see you there!" Random Guy patted my shoulders with an intoxicating laugh.

"Are you an angel?" I thought to myself. He sure looked like one. He was wearing the largest set of prop angel wings, had a sharp, angular face, and ice cold eyes. He was shirtless and wearing a pair of red boxer shorts. Oh boy, he was fit. His arm muscles were almost the size of my head and his abs went on for days.

"Well, I guess I look like one. I'm not sure I'm qualified to be one, though." His grin stretched across his face, forming the cutest dimples I've ever seen. Wait, wait, wait. Did I just say that angel thing out loud? Can someone please shoot me in the head?

"Uh, are you a model for, uh, Chat?" I scratched the back of my head, now extremely sweaty and extremely nervous.

"Uh, yeah. What's the name, doll?" Holy shit. Did he just call me doll? Who even is this guy?

"Melody, erm, yours?" Angel Dude towered over me, and I couldn't look away. It occurred to me that his face was very familiar. Almost too familiar.

"Xavier. How do you know about Chat? You're not a model, so who are you?" I was almost a little offended. He really couldn't see me as a model? Arrogant much.

"We're good friends, and we go to school together. I take it it's just business with you two." I came off sharp in the last statement. If he's going to be a prick, so can I. He narrowed his eyes, almost as if he was sizing me up. Jesus, this guy's attitude.

"Well, I better get going. I have a train to catch." I did not have a train to catch at all. In fact, I've never even ridden the train. I just wanted to leave, this guy's ego was suffocating me. I stormed to the front door, gave Chat a silent wave goodbye, and opened the door with the force of a very frustrated teenage girl.

"Y'know, the train left about three hours ago, right? The next one is at 8:00 at night." Xavier flashed his perfectly white teeth. He could tell I was lying, which made this whole affair a thousand times more humiliating.

"Then I'll wait for it." I turned on my heel and abruptly slammed the door.

And that was that.

hello, Backstreet is back! I've picked up this book again because I'm dying of boredom. The summer holiday is coming to a fast-approaching end, and I'm very bummed. But school is kind of good because I can see my friends and all that. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter!