Too Soon

I zipped open my case and pulled out a pair of skinny jeans and a vest. I slipped them on and went over to the mirror on the dressing table. I brushed my hair off of my face and put it back in a bun. I didn’t put any make up on, they’d be doing it for me at the shoot. I grabbed my bag and hotel keys then walked out.
I headed downstairs and walked through the hotel lobby. Once I walked out onto the street I got out my phone. The location for the shoot was only a few blocks away but I didn’t want to get lost. I started walking like I knew where I was going. I hate getting stares because people know you don’t belong here.
I turned into a building and pressed the buzzer by the door. “Yes?” a voice asked.
“I’m here for the shoot,” I said and they buzzed me in.
I walked inside and went up in the lift. I walked through into an office floor and they directed me through a door. Inside was a large room made up of several sets, hair and make up stations and a team working with two models.
“Am I late?” I asked as I walked over. The photographer recognised me and wrapped me up into a hug.
“On time, Gemma,” he grinned. I’ve worked with Ryan loads of times, we actually see each other out of work. That’s how he knows me by Gemma.
“How are you?” I asked.
“Awesome. You’re over with hair first,” he informed me and I walked over. I sat down and a woman came over.
“Vienna, right?” she asked.
“Yeah,”
“I’m Chloe,”
“What are we doing?” I asked and took my hair out.
“Apparently rollers with a few barrels,”
“No victory rolls?”
“No, thank God,” Chloe laughed.
She started to spray my hair and sectioned it. As she started putting sections into rollers another woman came over.
“Hi Sacha,” Chloe greeted her.
“Hey, let’s start your make up,” she said and opened a huge make up bag.
I sat still as Chloe sprayed my rollers and Sacha started priming my face. I always just sit and relax while they do their job.
When my hair was perfectly rolled and my make up was finished, complete with cherry red lips I was led behind a curtain. I took my first outfit and changed. It was a black vintage looking bodice with matching underwear, suspenders and thin black stockings. I put on the shoes I’d been given and walked out on set.
“Over here!” Ryan called. I walked onto a bedroom set and stood in front of Ryan. One thing you can’t be in this job is self conscious. “First we’re doing a shot of you alone on the bed and around that set. Then we’ll have the other girls with you. You know what you’re doing,” he said.
I smiled and went over to the bed. I sat on the edge to start with and reclined back a little. Ryan started shooting and I changed position. I knew what I was doing by now.

Once the shoot was finished I changed back into my clothes. I got my stuff together and said bye to the team. As I got out onto the street I got some strange looks. My hair was still perfect and my make up dramatic and bold.
I stopped off at a Starbucks and waited in line. “What can I get you?” a man behind the counter asked.
“Just latte, please,”
“Name?”
“Gemma,” I replied. I paid him and stood to the side. Once I got my coffee I went back out onto the street.
I started walking and felt someone brush past me. I saw them out of the corner of my eye and carried on walking. The person stopped and I felt them grab my wrist. I went to pull away but saw Austin looking down on me.
“Gemma?” he asked.
“Yeah, hi,” I grinned.
“How’re you? What are you doing here?”
“I’m great. I’ve had work over here,” I explained.
“That’s why you look so done up?” he teased.
“Yeah, I’ve just had a shoot,”
“You look cute,” he commented.
“Thanks. How come you’re here?”
“Warped is kicking off tomorrow,”
“Duh. Obviously,” I laughed.
“Have you got tickets?”
“No, I came out kind of last minute,”
“Shame,”
“I know. My viewers would die for Warped stuff,” I shrugged.
“How long you here for?” Austin asked.
“All week,” I replied.
“We should go out for a drink tonight,”
“Should we?” I teased.
“Yeah. Listen, I’m meeting a friend now. But I’ll call you in an hour or something,”
“Great,” I replied.
“See you later,” he said and leant down to hug me. I hugged him back and we broke away. Austin waved to me and I turned to walk inside a nearby shop.

Notes

Hey! What did you think? Your first taste of a shoot for Gemma . . . or Vienna. Whichever you prefer :p they've met again. What will happen? :)