The Daughters

Chapter 14

*Vicky*

I gritted my teeth nervously and wiped my sweaty palms. Today was my first photo shoot with Johnny, and I was freaking out. Luckily Mum was sitting beside me, her arm protectively around my shoulder. We were both in the waiting room outside the photo studio.

"Do you need any water, Vicky?" she asked. "Anything I can get for you?"

I shook my head. "No thanks," I replied. Shivers of anxiety ran through my body and my legs started trembling. Uh oh, I can't be that nervous. Models aren't suppose to be nervous! They're suppose to be confident and beautiful. Just like my mum.

What if I messed up the photo shoot? Oh gosh, what if I disappointed Johnny? What if I wasn't the right 'material'?!

"Relax sweetie," Mama Tommo said. She seemed to sense my distress. "They're going to love you. The photographers in Paris liked you, didn't they?"

"I guess," I mumbled, patting my palms on my jeans again. I took a deep breath and shook my arms to calm myself down. I can do this...maybe....

The door to the photo studio opened. "Vicky Tomlinson!" a tall pretty woman with straight purple hair called. "I'm Adrienne, one of the assistants. Come, Mr. Hartman's waiting for you."

As I followed Adrienne inside, I looked back at my mum and she gave me an encouraging smile. I entered the photo studio and a gasp escaped from my mouth. It was huge, bigger than the studios in Paris. Several racks of clothes were lined along one of the black walls, while vanity tables were on the other side. In the center, surrounded by many lights and many people, was Johnny.

"Vicky darling!' he sang when he saw me. Waving his assistants away irritably, Johnhy pranced towards Adrienne and I. He was dressed in pure white, and his bowlcut hair - excuse me, wig - was covered with a white beanie. "How are you today, beautiful?"

"Okay," I replied, accepting his hug. He smelled like roasted almonds. "I'm just a little nervous today."

"Don't be," Johnny firmly said. "You're going to be brilliant. Before we start, let's go over the photos, mmkay. We're doing an ad for a perfume, and it's going to be featured in next month."

I nodded. "Great," I answered. "Where's the perfume then?"

Johnny clapped his hands and a tiny assistant of his hurried carried a crystal bottle full of pink liquid inside. "This perfume, my lovely dear, is called Papillon," he said. "Surely you know what papillon means?"

"Of course," I said, examining the jeweled butterfly on the top of the bottle. "It means butterfly in French."

"Good!" Johnny excitedly exclaimed. "And I've already had the set prepared for you. Adrienne's going to show you your dress for the picture."

Adrienne led me to the clothing rack and presented me with a light pinkish blue dress. I rubbed a bit of the silky material between my fingers and headed into one of the stalls to change into the dress.

The cool silk slid against my skin as I slipped the dress on. I smiled at my reflection. The blue in the dress matched my eyes. I started to zip the side when it stopped midway. I frowned and tugged harder. The zipper stubbornly refused to close.

"Um, Adrienne?" I hesitatingly called through the curtain. "The dress...doesn't fit. Do you have another size?"

Adrienne and Johnny gasped. "No," they replied. "Take it off, Vicky."

I dutifully hung the dress on its hanger after putting my clothes back on and when I came out I saw Johnny groaning dramatically.

"This is not possible," he cried. "Vicky, if you can't fit in that dress, we're going to have to do it next week."

"Why didn't you measure me before?" I asked, swiping a donut from a passing tray. "I mean, I can't fit into a two."

Johnny stared at the chocolate donut in my hand with a horrified look on his face. "Adrienne!" he yelped. "Get rid of it!"

Get rid of what?

Adrienne rushed to me with a small garbage bag and snatched the donut from me. She dropped it into the bag and neatly knotted the bag. I blinked.

"Um, what just happened?" I said confusingly. "Did you just steal my donut?"

Johnny glared angrily at me. "I know why the dress doesn't fit," he accusingly said. "You've been eating too much."

"Are you saying I'm fat?" I demanded, feeling slightly stung by his tone. "What's wrong with eating a donut? I only eat it once in a while."

"Models do NOT eat donuts or sugary stuff!" Johnny shrieked. "Adrienne, take note of this. We need to cut her diet."

Everyone in the studio was looking at us. Adrienne nodded critically and began to type on her iPad. Johnny circled me like a hawk and poked at my sides. I squeaked and inched away from him. Johnny shook his head.

"A bit pudgy on the side," he murmured darkly. "Vicky, by next week, I want to see you fit into a two!"

"What?!" I cried. "You can't honestly expect me to -"

He held a hand to my face. "Get out," Johnny snapped. "I will not work with you until you do as I say. I'm disappointed, Vicky. I thought you were better than this."

Before I knew it, I was pushed out into the waiting room. The door to the photo studio slammed behind me and I could hear Johnny complaining. I looked down at my body and I suddenly felt ashamed of myself. I had failed my mum. This was my first photo shoot and I was already messing up. I wasn't fired, but it was still a bit humiliating. The world famous photographer called me fat. Tears prickled in my eyes.

Fine, I'll show them.

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A/N

I'm sorry I haven't been able to update in a while, I've been busy with school and dance :/

This chapter probably didn't make much sense. I'm also sorry for giving you a crappy chapter but I had a HUGE writer's block on it -___- at least you know what's up ahead for Vicky.

On the bright side, The Daughters are almost up to a 150 votes! Woohoo :D thank you everyone who has been voting for the past few chapters!!!

Before I end this note, I hope my readers and their families in the East Coast are alright! Hurricane Sandy was pretty devastating :( but we'll overcome this terrible obstacle!