Day 20

My phone started ringing at just after 8am. I jumped out of bed to grab it off my dresser. "Hello?" My voice was rough from just waking up. "Lace? It's Vi. Listen, there is no photo shoot for today. I thought you should know that right off. But B does need you here to relay some information. She has to start Lizzy's shoot soon and it's off sight since Jake is a 'no show' again today. So, can you kinda hurry?" Heck No! Do you know what kind of night I had! "Sure. I'll be there in about 15 minutes." I rolled my eyes toward the ceiling. "Great. I'll let B know."

 OK, so it actually took 20 minutes to get there. I walked upstairs and waited for B to finish giving Vi orders. "Make sure it's secluded. The last thing I need is paparazzi taking photos of my model with naked people. I am already getting a headache thinking about it." Vi glanced at me and winked so I knew she was aware I was listening. Was Lizzy doing a nude photo or something? The tramp had probably posed for men's mags before! I struggled out of my jealousy to hear the rest of the conversation. "...accept the invitation. Why Fel wants to see me model, I have no idea. But it will put my business in the spotlight so I'll give it a go."

"Wow, B! So you're going to be the model now? That must be exciting for you. When do you start?" B cut her eyes at Vi who was struggling not to laugh. "What?What did I say?" B just shook her head.

"I'm not exactly thrilled to be a model but Fel tempted me into agreeing to do this. So let's just drop it." O-Kay... B is not a happy camper right now. "The REASON I wanted to talk to you is that I realized I have not been keeping you up-to-date on your 'Girls' competition. As you recall, we had that big fiasco right before shooting 'Dream Guy'. Well, it showed in the photo and got you 6th. Now I was going to really nail you about that..." I opened my mouth to argue but B held up her hand. "... until something major happened on the Sims and Modeling block."

If it threw off B's stride, it must have been major."EA stepped in and deleted 'Girls' with no explanation and no warning! I was stunned and so didn't get a chance to 'discuss' that photo with you. During the scramble to reestablish you in the comp, the score for 'Girl's Night Out' came in. You got 4th in that one and I was supper proud of you for being chosen 'Crowd Favorite'." Yay, I'm not in the hot seat any more! "It also comes with a monetary reward of $1000. Great job."

Great job? I think that was an awesome achievement! But B wasn't finished. "Now your most recent assignment, the one with the wedding dress, has come in. I mean, I JUST got the fax this morning." That twinkle in B's eye means that it must have been good. "You tied for third!" I let out a whoop of joy as B continued. "And, being as I saw the competition, that is something to be excited about! So I added the 5 grand to your check bringing your total up to $6000 in prize money."

"What about 'Colours'?" I asked. I had been doing really well in that one despite it being run on a smaller scale. "Well, now that one is a Good News/Bad News type deal." Oh, no. Please don't let me get yelled at. "Ella contacted me and let me know you did win 1st in the third round." I started to get excited again but B motioned for me to wait. "But the comp is closing. It's gone bankrupt. So you'll not be receiving anything from that last win." I didn't know how to respond. First, I get yanked from 'Staged' due to a clash between B and a judge. Now my other comp has closed down. "How much longer is 'Girls' going to run?"

"You have only three more shots to do. Then 'Girls' will be over. But you can join more. I have Lizzy in Beginner's Luck Cycle 2 which is hosted by Ashpie88. And I have my eye on a couple more comps that have just opened up. What about..." For once, I cut B off, by shaking my head and waving my arms. "B, I am not sure I want to continue modeling. Let's just leave things alone right now and see how I feel when 'Girls' is over."

"You're right, Lacey. It's your life, you can choose how to live it." B handed me my check for six grand then suddenly reached out and hugged me. I was so shocked. But it was over so quickly, like she hadn't meant to show her emotions. "You have the day free so ... go do something fun." I watched as she turned toward her desk and started shuffling papers.

"So, are you really giving up modeling?" Vi's question was the same one I kept asking myself over and over in my head. "I don't know yet. This was only suppose to be a temporary thing. I really wanted to get into the medical profession but things got so ... turned around."

"I had my first taste of freedom and I ran with it. Now, I am in some deep crap and trying to figure out how I got here. What I really want to do is pretend like these past few weeks have never happened. But I can't. While you and Jacq were .. um ... getting cozy." Vi turned pink. I skipped over the part where I saw the two of them in the hot tub. "Derek asked me to do something for him. Something I'm not sure I can do. Then we went on a drive and ..." Vi suddenly looked real interested. "Where did you two go? And what did I miss?"

"Well ... we took a little stroll to these old stones ..." Vi sighed. "That is his favorite spot. Oh, my! Is Derek falling for you? He's so quiet and so much the loner. We NEVER see him with anyone." I shook my head. "I'm not really sure what's going on with us. When I figure it out, I'll let you know." I had lost my train of thought. I shook my head. "Right now, there is somewhere I have to go." Vi stepped back as I reached for the door. "Good luck, Lace." I smiled at Vi as I walked out the door.

After leaving B's, I headed straight to Country Care General Hospital. I was no longer going to procrastinate! My old dream was being resurrected!

Two Hours Later:

Changing Bed Pans! They expect me to change bed pans. Not what I was expecting. This is a big change from doing nothing but taking pictures for a living. And there was no way I could earn the same amount of money as modeling. I started to have second thoughts about accepting the job.

Those thoughts scattered when I noticed Jake talking on the phone. "Yes! Liz... I know... plans change and... Listen to me, Damn it! It has already begun. There is no going back. If you want to jump ship now that it is leaving port, too bad! I WILL come for you. Be ready." I watched him snap the phone closed. Trouble in paradise, perhaps? No time to wonder. It was show time!

"Jake? What are you doing out here? Are ... are you following me?" I made sure to put a little quiver in my voice. He smirked at me. "You flatter yourself. I was merely ... stocking up on supplies." His eyes traveled up and down my body. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up. His eyes looked darker than I remembered. "What are YOU doing here?" He asked.

"Uh...I applied for a job." He laughed in my face! "Yea, right. You wouldn't know one end of a syringe from the other. Just stick to modeling, Lace. It's about all your little brain could handle."

 I got real angry! "Just because I model, does NOT mean I'm an airhead! I know alot. Even about your stupid little plan with Beau!" Oh, no. I did NOT just say that. Did I?

Jake leaned in. "I KNEW you heard more than you were letting on. I want you to tell me what you know. And who you have told!" I could tell he was getting violent. I started to actually get scared. "Leave me alone, Jake. Derek said..."

"DEREK! You told Derek?! What the hell  is wrong with you? This could ruin everything I have worked so hard for!" The sidewalk just happened to be deserted right at that moment and Jake was coming toward me. I threw up my hands to stop him but ... it didn't stop him.

Pain flashed across my face when Jake's hand connected. I was stunned. He had actually hit me! He just looked at me for a moment then turned around and hailed a cab.

I stood there rubbing my cheek. How had things gone so wrong. I had to let Derek know I screwed up. Should I tell him what Jake had done? No, it would just cloud the issue. If what I think is true ...

... Derek was too late to stop Beau from changing Jake.