Pia linked my arm. ‘When you fall in love, it’s going to be MAGnificent!’
‘Yeah, right. Whatever.’
‘When you meet the right one, it will be the love story to end all love stories. They will make movies out of it. It will be legend. You will be the modern Romeo and Juliet, Tarzan and Jane, er . . . Shrek and Princess Fiona. You will go together like the sun and the moon, er . . . bangers and mash, fish and chips.’
‘You can shut up now, Pia.’
‘OK,’ she said and went back to her texting.
I went up to Alisha’s the next morning at the allotted time. Pia opened the door. She was wearing all black, even a black beret on the side of her head.
‘Very French,’ I said as I stepped inside.
‘Very photographer’s assistant actually. Everyone’s waiting for you in the living room.’
‘Everyone?’
‘Oui oui, my dahlink droopy drawers. I am Pia, la greatest stylist in la vorld. And I have not vasted ze time getting things organised. Now, come, come.’
‘Are you doing a French or a Russian accent?’
‘Cheek. Both,’ said Pia. ‘I like to embrace all ze nations. Anyway, come in. I have les assistants waiting to shoot.’
‘Assistants? Shoot?’ I asked. I so hoped that she wasn’t harping on about the modelling competition. I wasn’t in the mood. I couldn’t help it but I was feeling totally unenthusiastic about that and everything. I was fifteen, never had had a proper relationship and it was getting me down. I so wanted a boyfriend and not to be constantly on an emotional roller-coaster, not knowing where I stood or how to be, saying the wrong thing then up half the night worrying about it like I had after I’d asked JJ if he was gay. ‘I’m sorry, Pia, just I’m feeling low today. I’m beginning to feel that no-one will ever want to go out with me. Maybe I’m not boyfriend material. Maybe my destiny lies elsewhere. Maybe I am supposed to be a nun and that is what life is trying to tell me so if you’re still on about the modelling competition, you can drop it now. It’s not going to happen.’
Pia yawned. ‘Blah blah blah blah blah.’
‘So much for the sympathy. You’re supposed to be my mate.’
‘I am but you do go on sometimes, like a CD that’s got stuck. You have to move on, baby.’
I felt like I was going to cry. Must be my period, I thought. PMT, periods, post-periods. It’s hard being a girl and a slave to hormones sometimes. Pia could usually talk me out of any mood but this morning, I was feeling like a wet wimp. I turned to leave but Pia got that I was genuinely down. She caught my arm. ‘Life is not telling you to shut yourself away and give up. Life is telling you to stop being so miserable and to listen to your friend Pia who is wiser than you,’ she replied. ‘Seriously, Jess, I want this modelling thing to happen for you. I knew that you’d take the fact that Alexei fancies Flo personally, like a rejection but it wasn’t like that. You saw what happened and it will happen for you one day.’ She began to sing or rather warble. ‘Soooome day your pri-in-ince will come.’
‘Now who’s like a CD that got stuck?’ I put my fingers in my ears. ‘If I agree to do a few shots, will you stop singing?’
Pia laughed. ‘If that’s what it takes. Yes. See, I’m not going to let you get into a downer about yourself so you’re going to enter the competition and see for once and for all what a gorgeous babe you are.’
I went cross-eyed and stuck my tongue out.
‘And you’ll go a long way with a look like that,’ said Pia.
I sighed. It was no use. She could be a right bossy-boots some days. She opened the door to the living room and there was the whole gang: Alisha, JJ, Meg, Flo, Henry, Charlie, even Alexei. It looked like they’d been there a while by the look of the table in front of them and the remnants of a breakfast of croissants, honey and jam.
‘So you’re in on this too?’ I asked Charlie when he gave me a cheeky grin. ‘What’s going on?’
‘We’ve been planning today’s shoot,’ said Flo.
‘Shoot?’
Alisha came forward, linked my arm and pulled me towards the door. ‘Today, you and Flo are our supermodels and we are—’
‘Your slaves,’ said Henry and he got up and bowed. Like Pia, he was also dressed in black. He’d even pencilled in a black moustache with curly ends.
‘But—’ I objected. Seeing them all draped together on the sofa, they were the ones who looked like models from a magazine. They looked so relaxed with each other. Henry with his dark brooding looks; Alexei next to him, blond and beautiful and totally at home despite the fact he’d only just met everyone; Charlie, tall with his fine features and floppy hair. Meg sweet and blonde; Flo tall and dreamy-eyed; JJ tall, classically handsome; and Alisha with her glossy shoulder-length hair and perfect figure.
‘Come on, Jess,’ said Pia. ‘Flo’s up for it. It will be fun. Henry’s going to take the pics, JJ’s going to do the lighting, Alexei is going to art direct and as Alisha is roughly the same height, she’s going to style and has very kindly offered to lend her clothes.’
‘I’ve already picked out a few looks,’ Alisha said. ‘They’re laid out on the bed upstairs.’
‘I’m going to do make-up,’ said Meg. ‘And JJ’s going to take orders for refreshments and be our runner.’
‘Yep, I’m all yours,’ said JJ and he gave me a look that made my toes curl. I immediately felt myself beginning to perk up.
‘Come on, Jess,’ said Alisha. ‘Mum and Dad are gone for the day. I’ve always wanted to be a stylist and this place gets great light even at this time of year.’
I had to admit the Lewises’ apartment was the perfect location to do a photo shoot. It looked just like an interior from a glossy design magazine and the neutral shades of earth and stone that Mrs Lewis had chosen gave an air that was elegant and expensive.
‘And I’m going to provide some perfect background music to get you in the mood,’ said Charlie and he began to strum on his guitar.
I looked around. Everyone was focused on me. I couldn’t cop out now. Plus a chance to try on some of Alisha’s clothes was very tempting. Her wardrobe was awesome. ‘OK. OK but—’
‘No buts,’ said Pia and she clapped her hands. ‘Hair and make-up, take Jess and Flo upstairs.’
I followed them up to Alisha’s dressing room where they’d laid out make-up on her dressing table. Pia and Meg soon got busy applying gloss and a little shadow for a natural look and Alisha fussed around bringing out accessories. The rest of the morning flew by. We started with casual shots in the living room and out on the terrace with the park behind us. Luckily it was a bright cloudless day so we didn’t freeze to death out there. The boys were careful to use different backgrounds for Flo and me so that it didn’t look as if we were in the same place. No problem with that as the apartment is vast. For the outside shots, Alisha produced an amazing selection of sunglasses to try: Prada, Chanel, Gucci, seemed she had a pair by every designer there was. I chose a dark brown pair by Armani. I kept my jeans on, Meg gave me a pale green T-shirt and Alisha added a fab leather belt and a pair of high-heeled brown suede Manolo Blahnik boots just like the ones I’d seen Beyonce wearing on TV. I was in fashion heaven.
‘OK. Jess, put your shoulders back, chin down, head a little this way,’ Henry instructed from behind the video camera as I draped myself over a life-size Balinese statue in the hall. ‘Give me a nice pout. That’s it. Pretend you’re a star.’
‘You are a star,’ said Alisha. ‘Now act like one. You’re already a model and you’re playing a part. You’re a supermodel who only gets out of bed for a million a day. You got it, so flaunt it.’
I did as I was instructed and flaunted, strutted and posed like a professional – or at least my idea of one. It was fun being the centre of attention and my runner, JJ, got me what I wanted while all around, the others also got into their role as part of the supermodel team.
After a short break for lunch, JJ suggested that we did swimwear.
‘We could do the shots around the infinity pool out on the terrace,’ he said.
‘But it will be cold in just our cossies,’ Flo objected.
‘The water’s as warm as in the Caribbean,’ said Alisha. ‘There’s underfloor heating under the tiles around the pool, the water’s body temperature, even the loungers are heated. You’ll be warm as toast out there.’
Once again, I was reminded why the apartments cost millions. It wasn’t just the spectacular views over Hyde Park or the location in the heart of Knightsbridge, it was all the hidden extras that delivered a luxurious lifestyle: summer swimming in winter, perfect climate control in every room, subtle lighting in the evening, sound systems in every room operated by the flick of a hidden switch. Everything designed for maximum comfort.
For the pool shots, I chose a turquoise bikini and Flo a red one. Alisha gave us silk sarongs to match. Meg pulled our hair back, and applied bright red lipstick. I wore big black Chanel glasses, Flo a tres chic Gucci pair.
Alisha sprayed us with some French perfume I’d never heard of. 24 Faubourg. It smelt exquisite. ‘To really get in the mood,’ she said as she sprayed it over Meg and Pia too.
At last JJ can see me looking more glam, I thought as we wafted out to the pool area. JJ and Henry were already out there. Every time I glanced over at JJ, he was watching me. My earlier mood had disappeared completely. It felt great.
‘I feel like I’m on holiday in some exotic location,’ I said as I lay back on the heated lounger and Alexei handed me a pink drink in a cocktail glass to use as a prop.
‘They help,’ said Flo. She pointed to the six perfectly potted palm trees lining the top of the pool. ‘Coconut anyone?’
The evening party dress shots were the best fun. Alisha let us choose our own dresses from her collection. Her wardrobe is the size of a double bedroom and is wall to wall full of colour co-ordinated clothes and shoe racks, with a floor-to-ceiling mirror at one end. We were spoilt for choice. There were designers I knew but many American ones who were new to me. This isn’t like we’re doing it for a competition, I thought, it feels like the dressing-up games I’ve played with Pia since we were little.
‘Try whatever you like,’ said Alisha with a grin. ‘Try looks that you wouldn’t normally as some things look better on than on the hanger.’ She grabbed an armful and threw them over a chair.
In the end, we tried on just about everything and Meg and Pia couldn’t resist and tried things on too even though they were way too long for them. Not to be left out, Alisha joined in as well.
‘I’d forgotten I had this,’ she said as she picked out a white chiffon party dress which looked like the perfect prom dress.
‘And Alexei seems to be having a good time,’ said Pia as she handed me a Versace gold silk dress to try. ‘He fits right in.’
I nodded. ‘Has he asked you out yet, Flo?’
‘He asked me to see a movie tonight,’ she said with a shy smile.
‘Where are you going to go? Odeon?’ I asked.
‘There’s a home cinema in his apartment,’ she said as she slipped into a halter-neck long pale blue dress. ‘Cool, huh?’
The dress looked divine. Floaty was so Flo’s style.
Of course, I thought as Alisha began to make up my eyes in smokey greys. A home cinema. Alexei, JJ and Alisha might be the same age as us but their lifestyles were on another planet with their home cinemas, private heated pools and chauffeured limos. Even something as simple as a glass of juice was hand-squeezed to order by the housekeeper and probably made from fruits flown in that morning from the other side of the world. Today though, it didn’t seem to matter that my background was poorer. We were just a bunch of teens hanging out having a super-brilliant time.
In the end, I settled for a Stella McCartney short royal blue dress which fitted me perfectly and Flo went for the pale blue one, and our make-up girls finished their magic.
‘You look stunning,’ said Flo when we were ready.
‘And so do you,’ I said. I felt amazing, a million dollars, which I was probably wearing when Alisha added a silver necklace and charm bracelet and dove grey Jimmy Choo strappy heels.
‘The party dress shots are going to be in the hall for you, Flo. I want you to act as if you’ve just arrived and you’re saying hi to a bunch of guests,’ said Henry when we went down. Alexei couldn’t take his eyes off her and she smiled back at him. Pia had been right. They would look great together. ‘And Jess, I want you to stand at the bar in the kitchen, look to your side as if you’ve just seen someone come in that you fancy. Mouth closed, show it in your eyes. OK, I’ll start with you, Jess. I’ll start in close-up on you, best pouty look, then I’ll pan across to Flo.’
I had to laugh. Henry was in his element.
We took our places while Henry and JJ fiddled with the lights. Alexei got busy in the kitchen, dressing the room with glasses and bottles so it looked like a party.
‘See how JJ’s looking at you,’ whispered Pia as I took my place at the bar. ‘That boy is into you big time.
I glanced over at him. He met my eyes. He didn’t smile. His look was intense and I felt it right down in the pit of my tummy.
‘You look lovely, Jess,’ he said.
I indicated the four-inch heels I was wearing. ‘Thanks. I just hope I can keep standing and not fall over. Model splattered on the floor is probably not the look they’re after.’
‘OK, action,’ called Henry. He’d told me to look up as if someone I fancied had just walked in. I looked over at JJ. He was still watching me.
‘Great,’ said Henry. ‘That’s the look!’
I laughed and JJ’s eyes twinkled. The day was getting better and better.
After my shots, I went to watch Flo. She did her entrance then Alexei asked her to go into the living room and lie back on the sofa. She did as she was told and Alexei placed a cushion behind her then directed her to fling her arm behind her head. I glanced over at Pia and smiled. Alexei looked as if he’d like to jump on top of Flo. Pia smiled back. She knew what I was thinking – that major love chemistry was happening in this place today. I glanced over at the others. I hoped that Meg, Alisha and Charlie didn’t feel left out.
‘Oh, get a room,’ said Pia as Alexei arranged Flo’s hair out in a fan on the cushion behind her. JJ caught my eye as everyone laughed and it felt as if we were sharing a private joke.
Flo looked so happy and I felt glad for her. I couldn’t be jealous, especially not after the way that JJ had been looking at me all day. I wondered how Charlie was feeling seeing Flo and Alexei together. Flo’d liked Charlie for ages but he always made out that he wasn’t interested in girls and that had knocked her confidence. It was great to see her getting the attention she deserved. I glanced over at Charlie who was watching the scene along with the rest of us. He had a hard look on his face. I knew that look. It was one he put on when he didn’t want anyone to know what he was feeling. Maybe he wasn’t as disinterested as he’d appeared.
When we were done, Henry, Charlie and Pia went off to edit, Alexei took Meg and Flo up to his apartment and I was left alone with Alisha and JJ.
Alisha soon made herself scarce. ‘Er . . . think I’ll go and do some emails,’ she said and headed for her room.
JJ opened the tall glass door to the terrace and beckoned me to follow him out onto there. ‘You looked great today,’ he said.
I leant up against the wall. ‘Thank you.’
‘And Jess . . . about the other day?’
‘Oh, yes, er . . . I—’
‘About me being gay?’
‘Oh that, yes, I—’ I was about to apologise. I had a whole speech planned but before I could start, JJ stepped towards me, slipped one hand around my waist and pulled me to him. With his other hand, he stroked my cheek and looked into my eyes. Wuhoo! Gulp. I felt a rush, sweet and intense, go through me. He leant forward and brushed my lips gently with his. He pulled back to check my reaction then leant forward again and kissed me, this time, n
ot so gently.
Alisha had been right earlier. It was toasty warm out on the terrace.
6
Kudos
‘The dance. Alisha was so right,’ I said to Pia in break at school a few days later. ‘Show you’re interested in a boy and he steps back, act like you’re disinterested and he steps forward.’
I hadn’t been acting either. Since JJ had kissed me, I hadn’t even thought about Tom. I’d seen him about school but was so not interested. He could play his games, I didn’t care. I had someone who liked me and wasn’t messing me around and he’d promised that when he was back from LA at the end of March, he’d like to take me out. It felt so nice to have a boy be straight, not be all maybe I’m into you, maybe not like Tom, like he was keeping his options open in case he got a better offer. JJ just came out with it – Jess, I’m into you. It felt great. However, I hesitated about telling him how much I liked him too in case he thought I was a pushover. I kept reminding myself that boys like a challenge. He’d sent me a text the day after the photo shoot saying how much he’d enjoyed it and instead of replying straight away, I’d waited twenty-four hours then wrote back, ditto. Cool. Casual. That was me. Curiously though, my new indifference seemed to be having an effect on Tom and on Friday night after school, he was waiting outside by the bus stop for me. He was looking very cute with his leather jacket turned up against the cold, a long grey scarf wrapped around his neck, and his hair which was slightly wet from the damp air was slicked back from his face.
‘Hey, Hall. Have you heard from the modelling competition yet?’ he asked.
I shook my head. ‘Ah, so you heard about that?’
He nodded. It wasn’t surprising. It had soon got round school that Flo and I had entered. The competition was the talk of every break and lunchtime: who’d gone in for it – quite a few from our school apparently. Who the favourites were. All the entrants said that it was for fun. We were all being so cool about it, like, no, we hadn’t heard. Hahaha, what a laugh. I got the feeling, though, that there was a part in all of us that secretly hoped, laugh or not, that we might get through. There’s certainly a part of me that does. No denying. Last Saturday had been fun, fun, fun, and it was obvious that it had given Flo and I kudos at school, like we were just that bit more interesting than we were previously.
Catwalk Queen Page 4
