BAD ACTING

ALIVE!

        I continued to audition for modeling work. The agency sent me to at least ten go-sees a week. I juggled the castings and workouts with Andrew, attempting to perfect my body. Three weeks passed and I did not book anything. I started to worry that my first jobs might be beginners luck.

        Home alone I watched TV on my bed when I got the call.

        "You booked the fall campaign for Diesel."

        "OK."

         "Cancel everything for the next four days. They need to change your hair color so tomorrow morning at five am be at the Karabel Studio. Directions and details are being e-mailed to you now."

        The following morning I woke up at four am and drove to West Hollywood. My shaggy dark blonde hair took three hours to transform to the pale white color desired by the photographer. The first shoot took place a few hours towards Palm Springs in a desert location. The female model's long hair matched mine and the photographer called us brother and sister the entire time. He never used our names.

        "Stand next to your sister, but not hold hands."

        "Sister, go change into the vest, wardrobe!"

        "Brother, close your eyes for five seconds then I need you to not blink until I say you can. Go!"

        "Look away from your brother, somebody fix her hair!"

        The next two days we shot in a studio in West Hollywood. Five am to eight pm. The day after the shoot completed I slept all day and into the night. I woke up thinking I dreamt the whole thing. I looked at my phone. Forty-five text, twenty-nine missed calls. I called Leah without checking any of the messages.

        "You're alive!"

        "Barely."

        "You OK?"

        "Yeah, can you come over?"

        "Sure."

        "Thanks"

        "You sure you're OK?"

        "Yeah! Everything is fine!"

        "I'm on my way."

        Twenty-five minutes later I heard the door open and slam shut. I ran out to the living room.

        "Oh my god, your hair!"

        "I know!"

        "I don't even recognize you!" Leah walked towards me and put her fingers through my hair, messing the bed head even more.

        "It's weird, right?"

        "It's different."

        Leah followed me into my bedroom and we sat on my bed. I packed a bowl and we passed it back and forth.

        "I just finished shooting with Diesel."

        "Shut up."

        I raised my hands framing my head, "I'm the new fall face for Diesel."

        "When? How? Oh my god, I hate you!"

        "I've been shooting for days."

        "Nobody could get ahold of you, I thought you were in one of your moods."

        "I've been shooting around the clock, it's been crazy, and I wanted to tell you first. In person."

        "How much are you getting paid?"

        "$10,000."

        Leah cupped her hands over her mouth.

        "I'm going to be on a billboard."

        We both started screaming. I jumped up and began running in place. Leah slid off the bed and grabbed me, shaking me to the floor.

        "I have to call Julia. Can I tell her?"

        "Yeah. See if she wants to come over, I have clothes for you guys. It's mens' but I can't fit in the smalls and they gave me all sizes, for everything. You might like some of the stuff."

        "Are you kidding? I want all of it!"

        Leah called Julia.

        "Yo free clothes at the wizards, get your ass over here."