Enough (45 page)

We got lost in each others bodies. I have no idea what time we fell asleep but we had an amazing night. That reminds me…I need to pick up some birth control. If there’s going to more of this, I need to be protected.

And I hope there will
be a lot more of this.

School was just like yesterday. Everyone was nice and said good morning, the teachers went back to doing real lessons and everyone went back to their regular classes. I was never alone though because Alex is in my first two classes, Tiffany is in all my classes, Bryan is my second and third class and Liam, Zach and Sophie are in my last class.

There
was five minutes left of school until the bell rang and we’re off to the audition so the teacher gave out the homework and let everyone have the rest of the time to ourselves. Tiffany and I pulled up next to Liam, Zach and Sophie and talked about Justin. He’s starting chemo so he’s going to be in a bad place for awhile. I’m going to be in a bad place for a while too.

I got a t
ext from Taylor saying the car was outside and waiting in front of the school for us. The bell finally rang and we went to our lockers. Surprisingly, I was the slowest because everyone was leaning against the lockers waiting for me. “I’m ready.” I said.

Taylor
leaned against the limo as we walked out of school. “You guys look great.” She said holding open the door as everyone got in. “School’s not locking the gate so if you have cars here they’ll be fine.” Sophie and Zach sat on the right side, Tiffany, Liam and Bryan sat on the left and Alex, Taylor and I sat on the door seat. “You must be the boyfriend.” She leaned over and looked at Alex. “I was close to Emily when I went to Wilks.”

“How did you guys meet?”
Alex asked smiling. I locked eyes with him but Taylor spoke before I could say anything.

“At a party a few years back.” She looked over Zach and Sophie. “I missed a lot
, haven’t I?”

“Yeah.”
Sophie said nodding.

Taylor
looked around the car and said, “We always need male models too if you guys are interested. Emily sure does know how to pick the hot ones.” That got a reaction out of them. They all looked at each other and shook their heads
no
. Modeling is not their thing. But I think Alex has had some practice. I have to find out.

“W
e’re here.” Taylor said a few minutes later. The driver opened the door for us and I realized we’re in Downtown Boston. Taylor held the door of the building open and walked us over to an elevator. When we got in, she started the conversation again. “So you’re not into modeling but you’re into potential models?” She asked.

“Exactly.” Zach said.

She looked at Zach and Alex. “There’s no tension in this group?” She asked. I cleared my throat and crossed my arms.

“Everyo
ne got use to it.” Tiffany said for me.

The elevator doors opened.
“Just go through the first door on the left and I’ll let the secretary know you’re here.” Taylor said as she stuck behind with me and nodded toward Bryan. “I thought if you and Zach ever broke up, you’d be with him.” She said.

“We both missed an important detail. He’s my brother.”
I said.

“What
?” She gasped. “Well at least you got Alex.” She said smiling.

I looked over at my friends
before they disappeared in the room.

“He is great.”
I said.

T
aylor yelled over to a young woman behind a desk. “Cindy, my girls are here.” The girl nodded and Taylor led me to a room. It’s a bright white room with red chairs and a table with coffee on the side. Looks expensive. “You girls ready?” Taylor asked. I dropped my purse on the chair and waited for Sophie and Tiffany.

“We’ll be back.”
She called out over her shoulder. We walked across the hall and went into a pink room. “So your with Zach.” Taylor said to Sophie. “Who are you with?” She asked Tiffany. Taylor handed us bras and panties to change into. We each had a changing cube. A pink changing cube.

“None. I’m working on Liam.”
Tiffany said.

I took off my clothes and changed.

“He’s pretty cute.” Taylor said behind the curtain. I saw Tiffany and Sophie’s head walk out of their cubes. “C’mon Emily.”

I walked out three seconds later.

They didn’t say anything. “Just don’t look at them.” I said furrowing my brows and looking away. All my wounds are out in the open.

“Perfect.”
Taylor said. “You three have stunning bodies.” Taylor walked circles around us and adjusted anything that needed adjusting. When she got to me, she put my hair in a ponytail. “Is the tattoo real?” I nodded. “Then show it off. I told Em the show is going to use body art so the tattoo will look amazing.” Taylor walked over to a shelf with heels. Taylor handed Tiffany and Sophie a pair because they’re in flats. “I love yours. You can wear them out there.” She said to me.

Sophie and Tiffany kicked off their flats and put
them on.

“Ready?
” Taylor opened a door that was in the back of the room and waved us in. There was a long runway from wall to wall and three chairs to the side of it. “You guys go up the stairs and wait there.” We walked to where we were told and stayed huddled together.

“You two look great.” Sophie said to both of us.

“You’re not bad yourself.” Tiffany said smiling. “I get intimidated by those boobs.” Sophie and Tiffany eyed me.

“Hey, it’s not my fault–
”

“Sophie.” An older woma
n called out from one of the chairs. “You’re first.” This is fun yet nerve-wracking. I feel like we’re up to get slaughtered.

“You got th
is.” Tiffany and I said to her.

She tur
ned and walked down the runway.

When we were younger all three of us would pretend we were models and walk
down fake runways all the time. We totally have this. Tiffany went second and I was last. I have to say we did a good job but I felt like when I was walking back, all eyes were on my scars.

“Can you three
get into a straight line?” One of the women said. We stood side by side and waited for whatever was coming. “I usually don’t agree on this but you three are perfect. Taylor did a wonderful job.”

A younger woma
n sitting next to the older woman nodded and said, “I have to agree. We’ll be using body art for the show and I love how comfortable all three of you are with your bodies. If you’ll like to be part of the show, I’d love to have the three of you.” We looked at each other and held in our excitement. Fuck yes! “Taylor will give you all the information about the show and girls…” We looked over at the young woman. “Whatever you three are doing with your bodies, keep it up. You can possibly become Angels in the near future. You may now go.”

We walked down
the stairs and said thank you.

When we got back in the room
, we let out our excitement and jumped up and down. “I told you!” Taylor said hugging us.

We threw on our clothes
and headed back into the room with the guys. When we opened the door, they got quiet and looked us over. Taylor walked over to the coffee table and poured herself a cup.

“You’re looking at the
three new faces for the Victoria’s Secret show. I just need your addresses to send the final check.” We wrote them down for her and headed for the guys. Everything feels like a dream. How is this happening?

The guys congratulated us and we got to jump and down like idiots because come on, this is huge!
We spent some time doing this until Taylor walked back in the room and handed me an envelope.

“They’re giving you half no
w and half after the show. There’s a small contract that states you’ll be present during the show and if you cancel, you need to let us know, yadda yadda yadda. It’s harmless.” She said. “It’ll be in New York so I’ll take care of the flights and hotel. Is it just you guys? I can save spots. It’s in late May so prom and graduation shouldn’t get in the way. And the limo is downstairs so when you guys are ready, I can take you down.” She said taking a breath. I whistled to get everyone’s attention.

“The limo’s downstairs.”
I said.

The girls signed the contract and then we
grabbed all our things and headed down. I told Taylor it’s just us. We can’t bring our whole families, right? I don’t know how big this thing will be.

Taylor
didn’t come back to school with us. We were dropped off and left to cheer by ourselves. I texted Scarlett as soon as we got in the car. She replied with,
YES! I knew it.
I told her we’re going to be at Alex’s house for a while or maybe the night and not to worry about me. Mom already left with Garrett for New Hampshire so she and Declan would walk Gizmo any minute for me.

We got to school in less th
an five minutes.

“Thank you.” We called out
to the driver. Bryan’s car was parked next to mine and it didn’t look like anyone’s car was there.

“I picked them all up.”
Bryan said.

“
Anybody coming with us?” I asked.

“No.” Tiffany said.

“Is there something wrong with us because I always ask and nobody says yes?” I said looking around, confused.

“Em, when we’re around you two…it feels like we’re interrup
ting something special.” Bryan said.

“You act like we’re going to have sex while driving.”
I said.

“That’s wh
at it feels like.” Sophie said.

I looked at Alex and shrugged.
“Fine, follow me there.”

Alex and I got in the car
, alone. I backed out and waited for Bryan.

When we parked in Alex’s driveway
, I got a text.

Christy: Hey…remember that video I did for school???

Me: Yeah

Christy: I won…and they put it on YouTube…

Me: That’s great…right?

Christy: It is. B
ut it’s about you. I don’t want you to hate me.

Me: I’ll watch it and don’t worry
, I can’t ever hate you

I did the good thing and asked if she wants to come to
New York with us. She said no because she’s spending the summer with Mark and because she doesn’t want to be around skinny girls that might get Mark’s attention. Like that would ever happen. She is the only girl Mark sees.

As for the video she’s talking about,
Christy took photos during the summer…a lot of photos. Of me and Ty. She didn’t know we were into drugs, she just wanted to get her project for school right. It was about anything they wanted. She chose me. But after what happened, she changed it to how drugs can affect you. She implied that no one was hurt during the making of this and no real drugs were used. That’s a lie. She just didn’t want us to get arrested or worse…

I have
to see this video in order for me to move past it. I have to. Right? That would help me. See what the fuck I did and never do it again.

W
e headed up the stairs where Liam was debating whether or not to go home but I convinced him to stay. Tiffany better make her move soon. He might feel like the seventh wheel.

The lights were on and we heard noise in the kitchen.
I panicked because no one should be here. “I called the chef.” Alex said as we dropped our stuff on the couch. I pulled the envelopes out of my purse and handed the girls their checks. We opened them together and our mouths dropped.

“This is half?
!” Tiffany asked wide-eyed.

“That’s what
Taylor said.” I said. One hundred grand seems like a lot of money and if that was half then this show must really be worth it.

Sophie comes
from a family with money but this came from her. That’s what she always wanted. She wanted to do things for herself. Now she can. Wait…now that I think about, if she has money…wouldn’t see help Justin and his treatment?

Sophie was staring at me and I think she knows I was thinking it.

“We really needed this.” She said softly, holding the check.

“Soph…” Ohmygod. Is she broke?
“Are you guys okay?”

She nodded slowly. “We will be. Don’t worry, Em.” She said.
“Come on, we’re going to eat then it’s pool time.” She said smiling. I couldn’t move as I processed that. The Woods’ are struggling? I don’t know what to say. I always assumed they’d be set for life.

The girl
put their checks away and we headed into the kitchen to eat. There was a homemade pizza, spaghetti and meatballs and my favorite, crème
brûlée
.

After we finished eating we sat on the couch for a while
for the food to go down. An hour later and I got up because I couldn’t sit still. “Can I ask you guys something?” I asked. Everyone turned their attention to me. I hesitated. “I’ve been keeping secrets…about this summer.” My heart’s pounding. Don’t do this!
You can do this
. “And I think I need to see what happened to fully understand it. Do you guys want to know what happened?” Holy shit. I really asked.