One To Beat

Auri walked into the practice hall and was surprised to find it already occupied. There was one person already inside. The power suit lady. Jean. Nicolas had called her Jean. She was in another power suit. This time it was made up of a black jacket with hot pink lapels. Underneath it was a tight white shirt and black shorts of the same material as the jacket. The sleeves of the jacket were rolled up to her elbows and Auri could see a simple black bead bracelet on her wrist.

She was sitting on a chair at the base of the runway with a tablet in her hand. She was looking at something with so much focus she did not see or hear as Auri walked up to her.

As she got closer to Jean, Auri noticed that she had wireless earbuds in her ears. Jean must have seen Auri's shadow because she suddenly looked up. Her eyes were wide showing that she had been surprised but she did not startle. She clicked at the side of her tablet to turn off the screen and then with an elegant tilt of her head removed an earbud. Auri noticed that her fingernails were shiny and black and there was a delicate silver ring on both forefingers.

"You are in early," Jean said to Auri.

"I live in the building," Auri said and a curious look entered Jean's eye.

Auri did not address that look. Instead, she stayed where she was waiting. Silent.

"What is your name Again?" Jean asked her after a long considering look.

"Aurelie Engel," Auri had a small smile on her face, "But you can call me Auri."

"Aurelie," Jean said thoughtfully and then nodded.

Auri was impressed she used the French pronunciation like a native.

Auri watched as she put her tablet on the chair beside her and turned to her. Jean said nothing and just stared at Auri for a full minute. It felt like an hour to Auri. Those piercing eyes looked at her from head to toe. Auri was sure they missed nothing. It took all the will she had not to fidget and stay relaxed.

"You have good posture," Jean said finally, "You don't look like the type to easily break either."

"Thank you," Auri said a little unsure if that was the right response.

Okay," Jean said as she slapped her hands onto her thighs and got up, "It's time to get to ready for the coming show. Better start now so that you can have the basic plan before everyone comes."

Auri nodded nervously and got up too. Jean got on the catwalk and gestured for Auri to follow her. She began showing Auri what she wanted. When the other models came in minutes later Auri felt like she had gone up and down the catwalk a million times.

She did not pay the newcomers any mind as she strutted up and down with Jean shouting adjustments at her. She was working and she was afraid of what Jean would do to her if she lost her focus. She kept working her steps.

"That's enough," Jean told her when there was a decent crowd watching her, "Take a rest, Auri!"

Auri nodded and got off the catwalk. This is when she looked at her audience properly. Boys and girls were seated and watching her. She fought the urge to smile and wave awkwardly. She picked an empty seat in the second row and went towards it. She plopped her butt into it and watched as the other models were instructed to get on.

She looked around and noticed she was sitting next to two young girls. They were almost identical in looks but they had their differences. One had hair so dark it was almost black and the other had honey brown hair. They both had big brown eyes but the edges to the other's eyes were slightly upturned. They had small plum lips that were painted to be a bright red colour that went well with their Hawaiian tans. They looked like supermodels.

"Hie," Auri said when she realised, she was starring.

Both the girls looked at her at the same time like they were under the control of a single well-coordinated puppet master. They looked at her with identical blank looks. Auri wondered if that was scorn, she saw in their eyes.

"What do you want?" the dark-haired one asked.

Auri noticed that the other one went back to ignoring her.

"I'm Auri," Auri did not let the uncertainty she was feeling show in her voice.

She was proud she sounded confident and chipper. Like she did not notice the discouragement in their stances.

"Okay," the girl said and then turned so that her back was to Auri.

Auri felt her face redden.

Not a welcoming pair, she made a mental note as she tried to pretend nothing had happened.

"Siena!" Jean called out, "Pearl! Get over here!"

The two girls smiled and got up as one smooth unit. Like someone was controlling them or like they practised moving together. They went towards the runway where Jean was calling them. Jean spoke to them in a low voice. Her voice was low and her face was stern. The girls had a focused look on their faces as they listened to her.

"That pair is not the kindest," A voice said.

 Auri was startled she looked up to see that a dark-skinned girl had taken over one of the seats that the girls had vacated.

"I am Brenda Hope," she extended her hand in greeting and Auri took it.

"Aurelie Engel," Auri greeted with a smile.

She was grateful that her experience with the creepy puppet twins was not everyone's general demeanour.

"It's a good thing when they are being mean," Brenda said with a smile, "You are beautiful. And you were handpicked by Leroux himself. Also, you are being trained as the headliner. You are the one to beat right now."

"I…" Auri opened and closed her mouth like a fish.

She didn't know what to say to that. She could feel herself flush. And she wondered if she should smile.

She was the one to beat? She suddenly wondered and a small thrill of panic kissed her bones.

She squashed it down. She had no time for stupid panic. She knew that she would get a little hate. Envy and competition were just the beginning of that.

Brenda startled her out of her thoughts by chuckling. Her dark eyes were full of humour and her face was happy and open.

"The Grace twins are bitches but they are harmless," she said, "Most of us just focus on doing our best and ignoring them."

"The barracudas are harmless?" a voice said behind Auri and she turned her head.

She saw that it belonged to a young man with long black hair, olive skin and dark eyes.

How silently did the people around here walk? She felt she would lose twenty years of her life if people kept sneaking up on her.

"Beautiful harmless fishes," Brenda said.

"They do have the looks in the bag though," the man said and Auri detected a wistful tone in his voice.

He had his gaze on the girls on the runway. He was far away.

"They do," Auri said and he looked down at her.

"So do you," his eyes studied her face intently.

His voice was matter-of-fact. In the same way one would say the shy was blue or a circle was round. Auri smiled shyly. She needed to get used to being openly and plainly complimented.

"I think everyone here does," she said as she ducked her head.

"I'm Andrew Blake," he extended a hand to her.

Auri took the hand and introduced herself, "Aurelie Engel."

"Nice meeting you," Andrew told her as he let her hand go and sat down on the chair behind her.

"You too," Auri grinned and faced the runway again.

"What doesn't help you with the barracudas is getting private classes with Jean," he suddenly said.

"Private lessons with Jean?" Auri asked her brow furrowing in confusion.

It took her a beat but her eyes lit up with comprehension when she understood what he meant.

"I live in the building," she explained, "I was early so I started."

"It doesn't matter," Brenda said, "Those girls will find a reason to hate you. They have always wanted to be exclusive with French Red. You are. They are not. Reason enough to hate you."

Auri frowned at that. She understood what Brenda said. She accepted it. She looked at the stage and watched the girls walk up and down the stage. Andrew was not wrong. They were beautiful. Their long legs made beautiful lines as they walked. They had an effortless beat to each step they took. She did not have to compete with them for space on the runway. She was not here for them. She also hoped they stayed out of her way. She did not have time for them.