Rachel Amber.

A name that slowly became recognisable for her participation in magazines and modelling for popular branding and perfume companies. Thanks to the people who knew her and followed her from Arcadia Bay supported her rise to stardom.

Her schedule was very tight as a result of her agent and her other friend, Charles Fitzroy, shining the spotlight onto her. Because of this, Rachel had to adapt to her new lifestyle out of Oregon.

It never became any easier for Rachel to to contact her boyfriend regularly and remind him about how much she loved and adored him, especially for being her number one supporter and fan. Because of this, weeks quickly turned into months.

It hadn't become any easier for the Price family to keep a roof over their heads but at least they were providing an income that kept them barely stable financially. Rachel Amber was always preoccupied with her line of work as a model, which in turn prevented her from spending quality time with her boyfriend as she'd hoped.

Over halfway through the year, an issue for Rachel arose. It hadn't occurred to her that forgetting a simple thing could cause such stress and unbalanced emotions to be let loose on people around her.

Charles was one of those people who were faced with the full-blunt force of Rachel's uncontrolled outbursts.

Ever since the signs showed up, the most obvious one became quite apparent to Rachel's agent and Charles that she was experiencing her adapting into womanhood.

Rachel was indeed pregnant.

Reassurance from both Charles and her agent provided minimal support and encouragement in comparison to what Clark would say that would fully boost her confidence. But with the issue of him not being currently aware of her pregnancy, it made it difficult to explain how she needed to hear his voice, to have him figuratively cradle her in his arms and speak words of encouragement that would help her realise that she ought to not be ashamed for being a sixteen year-old pregnant model. Of course, there was also the issue of having the papers distributed to Arcadia, but Charles and Rachel's agent promised to ensure nothing was sent there that would reveal her bump.

On one of Rachel's breaks, she was in her changing room. She'd distracted herself with social media by looking through Facebook and Instagram at things posted by people she followed and things in her feed.

A notification popped up on her screen, displaying a message sent from somebody quite unexpected.

From: NATE
Hey stranger! Heard you were in the modelling gig.

A smile crept up on Rachel's face upon recognising her contactor.

To: NATE
Hey Nathan! How are you? Have you been well?

To: NATE
Yes! I'm a model now! But not right now, though. I'm waiting to be called out.

From: NATE
That's awesome. I've seen you in magazines. Lookin' hot!

To: NATE
Haha thank you! I really appreciate that.

To: NATE
How are things back home? Missing me much?

From: NATE
Things are about the same - minus Drew North being an absolute douchebag.

To: NATE
I'm glad something's changed for you, Nathan. Hang in there buddy.

As soon as Rachel logged off her phone, there was a knock at her door. The handle turned and the door clicked as a woman half-entered the room to call for Rachel's attention.

"Yes, Maria?" Rachel spoke softly.

"They're ready for you now," replied the assistant of the company Rachel was working with.

The brunette hummed in response and quickly finished doing what she was doing before she headed out of her room to complete her shoot. Using some make-up on her desk, Rachel applied it over her insecurities to match her skin tone before heading out of her room.

Rachel made her way down the hall and into a studio set up with all sorts of photography equipment. Three people were in the room, one of whom Rachel recently just saw, which was the assistant to the lead photographer, Richard R. Roberts. The other person, however, Rachel did not immediately recognise with his short brown hair and glasses.

"There's my star!" Exclaimed the sixty year-old man whose voice boomed across the room. "Oh! Where are my manners? Rachel, dear, I'd like to introduce you to an associate of mine. Meet Mark Jefferson, famous photographer for sharing and inspiring his vision globally. Mark, this is Rachel Amber. Our star and winner of the Art and Fashion competition."

The brown-haired stubbled man in a suit smiled warmly and extended one hand out to Rachel while the other held an expensive Sony Alpha a7R III camera. They both shook hands and exchanged greetings.

"You look magnificent, Rachel. I'm very pleased to hear that we'll be working together." Mark said sincerely, appreciating the brunette's figure.

Rachel beamed brightly. "I've heard of your work - you're quite the talent, Mr Jefferson."

"I feel you two will be working closely together on future projects," said Richard as he waggled his eyebrows. "A professional photographer and a professional model: what a combination! Alright! Let's get to it, shall we? Rachel, my dear, would you be so kind and do your thing?"

Doing as she was asked, Rachel made her way over to the white backdrop and faced the two men and struck poses as per Richard's and Mark's requests in order to capture that perfect essence she radiated so naturally.

Camera shutters clicked and white flashes went off every few seconds as Mark Jefferson captured photos of Rachel; some at different angles whilst maintaining that pure essence. Richard monitored both characters' performance for a quarter of an hour before he became bored and took his leave, his assistant followed suite.

"So, Rachel, what made you want to be a model?" Mark asked, breaking the awkward silence - excluding the flashes and his footsteps as he wandered side to side, flashing Rachel with his expensive, favourite camera.

The question surprised Rachel, to say the least. She was unprepared for a question like that in spite of how she thought she would.

"I used to act back in high school in drama classes. I kinda stole the spotlight on all the plays I was in and I was the teacher's favourite. In fact, it was Charles Fitzroy who saw me acting in The Tempest when he believed I would be the best candidate to with the Art and Fashion competition." Rachel explained in a soft and moony voice.

"Extraordinary..." Mark murmured to himself. "And where were you educated, pray tell?"

"Arcadia Bay. Blackwell Academy."

"Isn't that in in Oregon?"

"That's right."

Mark took a break from photographing the brunette and waved her over to a couch and a table decorated with foods and sweets.

"My, my. Now that's a place I've not been in a loooong time... in a long time. Does Raymond Wells still work there?" Mark inquired as he took a sip of a glass of water.

"As far as I'm concerned, he still is."

"Do you... have family back there that you miss?"

A frown fell on Rachel's face. It was a sore topic to bring up, in spite of the fact that she saw Joyce and Chloe like family, all the while being completely in love with Clark Price.

Her other family, however, was dead to her and vice versa. Mainly due to her relationship with her father in which she wanted to never speak to or see him again.

"Yeah. I... This is the sacrifice I've made. I'm doing this for someone I love."

"Someone you got your eyes on?"

Rachel shared minimal information about her boyfriend but openly expressed all of the qualities she adored about him. It pleased Mark to hear her speak so highly about him and that he motivated her to take up her dream job.

"Hang on... h-how old are you?" Mark interrupted politely.

"Sixteen."

"Sixteen?! You look eighteen! And you're pregnant?! That must be pretty scary to be going through this at such a young age."

It was always disheartening for Rachel to be reminded of the age of her pregnancy.

"Well... I wish you all the best in your future, Rachel. Shall we?" Mark said with sincerity and care in his voice before gesturing for them to return to work.

By doing so, Rachel resumed striking poses for Mark Jefferson, who would all the while admire Rachel and her beauty, secretly fuelling his deep, dark twisted ambition as a photographer.