Lauren's P.O.V

I was at a modeling session I got set up by my agent, Jesy Nelson.
She told me that my face and my height was perfect for modeling.

They were done doing my make-up so I went out to the set. It was jungle themed. I had a wreath on my head and a dark green tank top with short shorts and converse.

"Alright Lauren, I want fierce for this photoshoot okay?" said Tori, the photographer.

She took like a hundred pictures and then told me it was a wrap. Jesy came up to me telling me I looked amazing in the photos.

"You looked amazing darling. You are going to look so gorgeous on the runway in a few weeks. You really are improving."

"Thanks Jesy. Hey, is that Normani Kordei?"

"Sure is. One of the most famous models to come from my company. "

"She's so gorgeous."

I just stared at her as she drank her water. I felt like I was in a trance. Her brown skin was glowing and not a hair on her head was out of place.

She chuckled at me when she saw me staring at her. I felt my face grow hot and I looked down at my feet. Jesy tapped my shoulder and said she was going to go to her office. I said okay but kept looking at my feet. I felt a hand lift my chin up and it was her.

"Don't you have any pride?" she asked me.

"I....I....yes," I stammered.

She chuckled and shook her head at me before heading for the bathroom.

She clicked away in her heels towards the bathroom. I shook my head and went the same way to the dressing room. She had so much grace and skill when it came to this craft. Maybe she can give me some pointers. I changed my direction and went into the bathroom. I heard someone in there vomiting and I walked in.

"Ugh! Who is that!?"

Normani?

"Normani are you okay?"

The toilet flushed and she stumbled out of the bathroom stall holding her stomach.

"Well that made me a bit light headed."

"You have a stomach ache or something?"

She chuckled and then burst into an all out laugh. I was confused. Why the hell was she laughing?

"You have to do certain things in this business to stay beautiful. I cant gain weight. They'll fire me! Dont you see? These people dont care about our well being. They care about sales and money. If I were you, I would find a new career."

She stumbled out of the bathroom and I walked out behind her. She walked back into the room and other models were there now. One was doing her make up. The other snorted white stuff into her nose. The other was eating what looked like cotton dipped in caramel.

"You see, this is your second shoot. You stay here for another, you'll end up killing yourself to be pretty," Mani said as she sat down and lit a cigarette.

I shook my head and turned to run. I ran out of the room anf past the bathroom where I heard another person throwing up. I covered my ears and ran. I just ran.

"Lauren! Where ya-"

I pushed Jesy out of the way and ran out of the front doors into the cool, cloudy  September day.

I sprinted for my house which was on the other side of town. I collapsed when I got to the park. I was too tired to run anymore. I sat on a bench and cried. I heard the sky start to rumble. Raindrops fell on me and around me as I sat at that bench thinking about what Normani said. Before I left the room, she mouthed the word, "run."

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Paz. ✌