I'm a Model Because of My Wig

Chapter 7: Negative News

YES CHAPTER SEVEN IS FINALLY OUT!!! Major writer's block and busy schedules blocked me from publishing this chapter, but it's done now!!!

This chapter is dedicated to 1RoseByAnyOtherName for a) being an AMAZING friend and Fitzphie shipper (sorry ya'll) and b) reminding and encouraging me to keep writing this chapter. THANK YOU ROSIE!!!

Now without further ado, let me present you CHAPTER SEVEN!

"Skyler ditched you, huh?" Jaden asks the next morning, coming up to me with her friend group behind her.

"That's none of your business," I say and try to make my way past her, but Jaden sticks out her arm to stop me. I glare at her. She smiles.

"Actually, it is," she says and right on cue, the bathroom door we're standing by opens and Skyler comes out. I'm about to run up to her when she steps into place right next to Jaden. My mouth hangs open as Jaden smirks triumphantly.

"Have a good day," she tells me, then turns and motions for Skyler and company to follow. I'm steaming, but as Skyler turns away, I swear she shoots me a look. A wait-and-see look. Wait-and-see for what? For Skyler to become one of Jaden's minions? No thanks.

For the rest of the day, Skyler acts like Jaden's best friend. She laughs with Jaden between classes, gets the exact same pizza as Jaden for lunch, gets in Jaden's car after school. I'm watching them pull away from the parking lot when my phone rings.

"Yes?" I ask as I hit accept without even checking the caller ID.

"AVALINA QUINN!" It's my mom. "WHY IS SKYLER BASHING YOU ON THE NEWS? WHAT DID YOU DO HER? HOW COULD YOU DAMAGE YOUR REPUTATION LIKE THIS! I JUST FIXED IT FROM YOUR DUMB MOVE OF SUBMITTING YOUR-"

"Michelle." Hannah speaks my mom's name in the background, then the line goes dead.

I'm shaking as I walk down the steps of the school and sit on the bench to wait for Hannah to pick me up. What did Skyler do? I wonder. What could Skyler have done that made my mom so mad?

Hannah pulls up in our black Mercedes a couple minutes later and steps out to where I'm sitting on the bench, head in my hands. Just like a cliche movie.

"Avaline?"

I lift my head and stand, looking over at Hannah, who's freakishly calm after all my mom's yelling over the phone.

"What happened?" I choke out. Hannah pauses, then reaches into the car and hands me at least fifteen bookmarked magazines. I drop the pile after flicking through just the first five. Each magazine is open to an article with an interview with Skyler and her somehow hinting that I'm Ava.

My hands start to sweat and I quickly climb into the Mercedes, collapsing in the back seat a sweaty mess. How could Skyler do this? Why would Skyler do this? Did yesterday's fight really make her that mad? I think back to it. No, it could've. We've been in much bigger fights before and we always forgive. And we never spill each other's secrets.

Hannah puts the car into drive and we begin the trip home in silence. Halfway there, I manage to spit out, "But why?"

Hannah pulls over and turns around.

"Why what?"

"Why did Skyler post them? She's my friend, isn't she?"

I'm starting to think I sound a little hysterical, but really, can you blame me?

"It's the business," Hannah says gently. "The modeling world is competitive, Avaline. Beauty is what people care about. Maybe she thought by making you seem less beautiful, they would revoke their contract with you and, well, assign her whatever jobs were lined up for you. She was your best friend, after all."

Was. Not is. Was. No wonder Skyler's hanging out with Jaden now. For both of them, beauty is their goal. Beauty is their mindset. They only care about beauty.

"You think she was only my friend because...because it would help her get further in the business?" I ask Hannah, starting to feel sick. Hannah lets out a long sigh as she starts the car again.

"For some things, Avaline, that's all that matters."

That's all that matters. That's all that matters. Skyler never really cared about me, did she? After all, it makes sense. Her obsession with watching my shoots. Her begging for makeup tips. Her borrowing clothes from my wardrobe. The signs were there all along. I just never saw them. A classic Harry Potter tale.

How could this have happened? Or rather, more importantly, how could I have let this happen?

"My mom's going to kill me," I groan as I lean my head back against the seat, feeling dizzy. The houses zipping by the window calm me, but only slightly.

"She's not home," Hannah says simply, not looking back. Just great. Now on top of everything, I'm going to have to face my mother without Hannah. How do I get myself into these messes?

Ahhhhhhhhh what did ya'll think? Let me know in the comments; I can't wait to hear your thoughts! 'Till the next chapter,

- writesthetic

Signing off...