Where Have You Been?

Chapter 7- Photo shoot

"Did you bring your pointe shoes?" The director of the shoot walked over to me. 

"Yep." I smiled and held the pair up. He nodded and I walked back into the dressing room. The makeup artist patched up my makeup and then she got my first outfit out. I pulled the sports bra on and then pulled on the Adidas joggers. I looked in the mirror and smiled at the image of myself. 

I tossed my long hair over my shoulder and the hair dresser grabbed me and sat me down in a seat. They flew around me, pinning hair up, and yanking hair around. When they finally finished and walked away, I had my hair teased in a curled high ponytail. 

"Okay, Delilah, let's get you in here." Adrian, the photographer and director, called out to me. I stood and walked over to him in the Adidas outfit. "Wow." He smiled and helped me onto the boxing ring. I slipped between the ropes and leaned up against them. 

"OK." He smiled up at me. "So the idea of this first photo is you are practicing boxing, you are a champion, you are the greatest in the sport. I want fierce, I want power, and I want the pain of being hit over and over again to shine. But I also want you to be vulnerable. Give me your best. Sell me the product." He commanded. 

I nodded and took the center of the ring. I looked up at the rafters, a hardened gaze creeping up my face and eating away at the happiness from seeing Tom. I let my mind go blank and I stood still. 

"Airy. Make it look effortless." I tilted my head slightly and closed my eyes. I clenched my fists slightly. "Good!" He called. Camera shutters went off and I didn't breath. He walked around taking pictures. The huge lighting rigs made every ounce of my body glow. I smirked slightly and fixed my body so I was slightly facing the corner and brought my chin down. I sighed and closed my eyes to open them and glare into the corner. 

"Beautiful." He sighed. "Okay. Next outfit. Hurry." He yelled. 

I ran from the ring and the dressing room attacked me. I let them undress and redress me in a pair of tight shorty shorts and a tight sports bra. My abdomen was tight and my hips were fleshier than your classic model, but they pulled a beanie on my head and threw me out of the dressing room. 

"OK. Can you still bend and flex?" Adrian asked. His eyes roamed my exposed torso and I looked away from him. 

"Yeah." 

"Perfect." He purred. 

Thoughts of Tom danced through my head, and I mustered the courage to walk towards the ring. 

"How about me dangling off the edge. I can still do an over extension." I climbed up. "I think." I mumbled to myself. I wrapped my foot around the base of the post and bent my leg up to my chin. I slowly extended it until it was at a 170 degree angle. People around the room gasped as I grabbed my foot and pulled it up the rest of the way, until I was over extended at almost 200 degrees. My body bent out at an angle and my leg bowed in slightly. I released my hands and held them out. I curled my head down and looked straight into the camera. I heard the shuttering and I could sense the movement. 

"Perfect." He whispered. "Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful." 

I unfolded my body and my hip popped back in with a sickening 'pop'. 

"Ouch. Darling that had to hurt." A familiar British accent sounded from behind me. I gasped and turned to see Tom standing in the room.

"Tom?" I asked. The crew was busy walking around and Adrian was busy yelling for the next set. He extended his hand and helped me down. I accepted it and he threaded his hand through mine. 

"Surprise?" He smiled his goofy little grin and I laughed. 

"I thought you were filming?" 

"Oh, trust me I was, but Adidas contacted my agent and requested me at this shoot about two weeks ago, I didn't want to ruin the surprise for you." He smirked.