**These are the introduction outfits**
So tonight was the night I'd be waiting for, the fashion show was finally here. After months and months of planning, sketching, re-sketching and making the outfits; after months of stressing, worrying, shading, cutting, measuring and sewing; the night was here to show it all off.
College today was manic, Mrs Tudor said all we had to do was sign in for registration in the morning and then again after lunch but we were allowed to spend the day at home or at the college making sure everything was ready for tonight.
The media department were also making sure everything was ready on their end, they were getting part of their final grade for this show and part for the musical Georgia and Elliot were in next week. They were double checking everything was finalised for the giant screens they had put up and that the lighting, sound and music were ready to go. All the chairs were set out in the room for the audience to watch and there was the space right in front of the runway where the judges table was placed.
I'd spent the morning in college, making sure that my pod had everything it needed. I had an old desk so I'd be able to put all the accessories, make-up, hair products on there and keep all the shoes underneath. My old full length mirror which thankfully had a stand attached was in here as well as a fairly decent sized one I'd just placed on top of the desk. I'd also placed a couple of bags of haribo and case of water under the desk as well, no doubt we'd need a sugar boost and be gasping for a drink throughout the show.
I had just signed in after lunch and was currently back in my room making sure I had everything with me that I could possible need for tonight and then a few extras thrown in as well. Just in case. I didn't want any just in cases...but after the week I'd had I think I needed them.
I had humongous butterflies in my stomach, I wasn't sure if they were down to nerves or excitement. I just hoped that tonight went smoothly without any drama.
As they promised, every day this week there were messages from the xoxo group slowly revealing who I was to the whole college.
Monday's message:
*~*
Our miss goodie two shoes might have dodged the baby bullet herself but is about to become an auntie again twice over.
Xoxo I'm still watching you
*~*
Tuesday's message:
*~*
18 is a big number for our miss goodie two shoes right now.
Xoxo I'm still watching you.
*~*
Wednesday's message:
*~*
Miss goodie two shoes no longer has the perfect body, not that she did anyway, but she now has some lovely new scars to add to her un-flawless skin.
Xoxo I'm still watching you.
*~*
Thursday's message:
*~*
Our miss goodie two shoes LOVES herself a good Friday tradition.
Xoxo I'm still watching you
*~*
And today's message was:
*~*
If you're clever enough you'll be able to work out miss goodie two shoes name.
If A = 1
And B = 2
Miss goodie two shoes name = 1225491
Xoxo I'm still watching you
*~*
Today's message scared me the most, it was everywhere when I walked into college this morning, and people were actually trying to figure it out. They'd not paid much attention to the xoxo messages that came out now, but now that this one was something for them to work out, they wanted in on the action. Thank god that there are at least a couple of other Lydia's at the college, so the name reveal wasn't that much of a shock to some people who had worked it out. They were just excited that they'd worked out the riddle and that they'd used the number correctly. But thankfully no one seemed to be putting all the clues together and coming up with me.
Well they weren't yet anyway; I doubt it would take them long if they thought about it; or if they had no one had approached me about it. I just prayed that nothing happened tonight. I needed tonight to be over and done with and then they could do whatever they wanted to me. Hopefully after tonight I'd have an internship to Paris or New York for the summer along with Ayla and we'd be able to get away from all the drama that's surrounding me and my friends.
Taking a deep breath I tried to forget all about the stupid xoxo group hovering above my head like a dark, ugly cloud and concentrate on what I needed for tonight.
I was going through each outfit I had in my head, what shoes, what belts, and what accessories I needed, if I needed any at all. I had a rather large plastic box that I was placing the heels, flip-flops, flats, boots, converse and sandals I needed into. Then went the belts and the accessories that I'd put into individual bags and then into one big bag. I didn't want to end up spending unnecessary time fiddling with tangled necklaces, earrings and bracelets.
Dana and Lois were both doing their hair and make-up at home before they arrived at college tonight. It was going to be such a big help seeing as I didn't need to worry about that, obviously I told them to bring their curlers, straighteners and make-up with them to do top ups throughout the night. They'd be sweating their faces off with all the lights that will be on them walking down the runway; but having them ready before we arrived was a big help.
All of my garment bags were on one rack in my room, I was moving them onto my fold away one that was going into Ash's car when he arrived here after he finished college today. Each of my outfits were in their own garment bag and numbered so I could keep count of them. First was the bikini that Dana was modelling, I checked that everything was there and okay with it before placing it back into its bag and transferring it onto the other rack.
Next was the swimsuit that Lois was modelling, I was checking it over when my mum walked into my room. She'd booked the day and night off work so that she'd be able to come and watch my show, normally I don't mind if she has to miss things due to work but this was one thing that I needed my mum at.
"Hows everything going?" she asks sitting down at my desk.
"So far so good. I'm just double checking that I have everything piece by piece and once that's done I'm taking them downstairs and not touching them until I have to leave for the show."
"That sounds like a good idea. You need any help?"
"Sure." I smile placing the swimsuit into its garment bag and passing it to mum to place on the rack.
"I thought you were using the other swimsuit? The more racy one." She asks and I shake my head.
"I don't think that would be appropriate."
"Have you seen what your surprise dress looks like? And you think that swimsuit is too racy." She says grinning at me.
"I know...I know."
"Don't play tonight safe baby; show them what you've got." She says picking up the second swimsuit I'd made and putting it onto a hanger and into a garment bag. "Just take it with you and decide as Lois changes."
"Okay I will. Thanks mum." I smile placing it onto the rack next to the other two bags.
Next up was the wedding dress and the bridesmaid dress I'd designed. Mum sighed when I checked the wedding dress.
"I can't wait to see you and Christina is your wedding dresses." She smiles gently running her hands over the garment bag before placing it on the rack.
"I know me neither. But I think you'll be waiting a few more years for that to happen. Especially with me...maybe not for Chris and Kieron; I think that boy wants to marry her right now." I smile and she nods.
"Oh I know he does. He's already asked for mine and your dad's permission."
"What?" I gasp whilst zipping up the bag for the bridesmaid dress.
"Oh yea. He came to speak to us before the baby shower. He'd told us that his parents had given him his eighteenth birthday present early and that it was a house for him, Christina and their baby. He asked if Chris would be allowed to move in with him when the baby was born and if he asked her to marry him would we give our blessing."
"Oh my god, what did you tell him?"
"We said that we wanted to keep Christina here for the first few weeks once she has the baby, so that if she's struggling we can help and that he is more than welcome to stay over with her. They'll need all the help they can get once Ffion arrives and then once they had the baby in a routine then yes, she could move in with him."
"Well I knew about the moving in thing...but what did you say about the engagement?"
"We told him that right now wasn't the right time, and that we know he loves her and that he will always treat her right. I just know that that boy is with our Christina forever, same with your Ashton." She says smiling warmly at me. "But we told him that we won't allow her to be married before she's eighteen, after that it's her decision. But if he ever was to propose he needed to come and ask us for our permission again." she says grinning.
"You're going to put him through all that again?" I ask chuckling and she nods.
"Oh yea. I love that boy like son of my own and I know he loves my daughter to death but watching him squirm as he asked our permission was so funny. I want to see that again."
"You're evil." I laugh opening up the next garment bag.
"Just you wait till Ashton asks our permission to marry you; he has to get through your brothers as well."
"What? That's not fair." I say laughing. "Kieron didn't have to."
"Oh he did."
"They already had the talk with Ash, they can't put him through it again." I say chuckling, least it wasn't me who would be getting that talk.
"Not my words...speak to your brothers about that." She grins before pressing a kiss to my forehead.
"What was that for?" I ask smiling up at her.
"I'm so proud of you Lydia." She says smiling down proudly at me, filling my heart with warmth and love.
"Thanks mum." I reply hugging her before going back to checking my outfits.
The winter and summer casual ones were fine and were added to the rack. Next were the date outfits. Everything on them was there and were passed to my mother to place next to the casual outfits.
We were up to my surprise dresses. I thought I was the only one to have seen them but mum admitted to peeking into my room when I was making them to see what they were like.
"I didn't want anyone to see them before the show." I chuckle placing the dresses onto the rack.
"I know, but I couldn't help myself. You've really outdone yourself with everything here Lydia. I knew you were talented with your drawing, you could hold a pencil better than you could walk as a child; and after seeing everything you'd accomplished here, I'm going to miss you so much when you're away this summer."
"Mum." I whisper feeling myself tear up. "Thank you."
"You're welcome baby."
"And we don't know if I've got an internship yet."
"Oh hush, they'll be blind not to want to take you."
Pulling away from her I smiled before she opened up the first of the male outfits for tonight, I checked everything was there before adding it onto the rack. The other outfits followed. I'd put Elliot's suit onto the rack, Marcus's was hanging on my wardrobe waiting for him to come round and pick it up after. He would be wearing it as he walks into watch the show before making his surprise appearance.
"So what have you designed to wear for tonight?" mum asks and I grin bringing out what I planned to wear throughout the show.
"Oh wow this is lovely, I suppose another thing to show off to the judges." She grins and I nod.
"And then for the after show party I have two options, I can't decide on which I want to wear. One is rather fancy and the other is suited to a night out."
"Take them both and ask the girls to help you out, I'd say wear them both and do an outfit change." She laughs.
"Okay I'll just take them both with me, I'll just ask the girls once the show is finished." I say zipping both outfits up into a bag.
Everything was there; I'd packed and bagged it all. Mum helped me carry it downstairs ready for Ash to put into his car later. Well mum carried it all; she still wasn't allowing me to lift anything heavy. My stitches were still in but my bandage had been taken off by my doctor earlier in the week, he said the sire was healing nicely and to not push myself. I could still do some damage and need further surgery if I lifted the wrong thing or moved too quickly.
I sat down with a brew and turned on Gossip Girl. All I needed to do now was shower, get ready myself for tonight and wait for Marcus to turn up for his suit.
It was all hitting me now, it a couple of hours I'd be showing off my designs to people who had the potential to start my career in fashion.
I couldn't wait.
*~*~*~*
The show started at seven, and we all needed to be there between five thirty and six to make sure everything was set up and we had time to prepare our pods for the evening.
It was four o'clock now, college had finished and I was waiting for Ash and Marcus to turn up. I'd had Ash messaging me all day saying that Tina was moaning at him that he wasn't arriving with her to the show. That he was her model for the night and that he should be turning up with her and not me, the rival. I spent ages laughing at my phone whilst replying; it was his fault for being with her in the first place and not listening to me when I said what a bitch she was. If he had he wouldn't be in the position now. He wasn't arriving with her anyway, I don't care if he's her model, he's my boyfriend and that trumps model. She'd just have to stick it in her pipe and deal with it.
The doorbell rang and I knew it was Marcus, Ash never rang the doorbell.
"Hey." I smile letting Marcus into my house.
"Hey, so you got everything ready for tonight?" he asks and I nod.
"Yea, went through it all earlier with mum. Just need Ash to get here now to put it all into his car to take down after."
"Good. You excited?"
"I can't wait now. And I can't wait to see everyone's faces when you pop up." I grin and he nods.
"Me neither, it's gona be so cool. Last night when everyone had left college, Elliot showed me how the man lift worked so I knew where I had to stand and how to pop up and down safely."
"Oh brilliant. I just need to let Brad know what we have planned so that he can set off the smoke and bang."
"Do you need me to tell him or do you want to?"
"I'll do it when I get there, I need to tell him which number it will be on and when to activate."
"Okay, I hope it all runs smoothly."
"Me too." I say passing him his suit in the garment bag. "This is yours, everything is in there apart from your shoes, you've got them right?"
"Yea, I've got them." He laughs taking the bag off me. "Hope this gets me some phone numbers later."
"Oh I bet it will." I smile.
"Oh and one more thing." I say before he walks out the door.
I smack him on the arm lightly before pointing at his shocked face.
"Stop winding Ayla up. I know you guys kissed a few times when you first got here but you messed that up remember."
"Yea I know and I regret it but nothing I can do to change that now." He says rubbing his arm. "Sorry I couldn't resist when she asked last week. You know me and Elliot wouldn't switch it up on you two."
"I know. Okay, well my best friend duty is done."
"Is she single you know?" he asks and I shrug.
"I don't think so. She's being rather secretive with who she's seeing but I know there is someone."
"Okay. Was worth me asking." He smiles before opening my front door. "Thanks Lyd."
"No worries. And thanks for helping me out tonight."
"Not a problem. I usually leave the whole stage and attention thing to Ell, but for a one off I don't mind."
"Either way thank you."
"You're welcome. I'll see you there at five thirty with Elliot."
"That you will." I smile, watching him head to his car. I leave the door open as Ash pulls up into my driveway as Marcus drives off.
My hands shoot up to my mouth as Ash climbs out of his car holding a gorgeous bouquet of roses.
"These are beautiful." I say smiling at him as he walks up to me and passes me the bunch of red tipped yellow roses. Just like the ones he gave me the day he confessed to liking me more than his best friend. "I love this colour as well."
"And there are thirteen of them. Even though I know I'm no longer your secret admirer, I think that that number has worked pretty well for us with flowers." He grins and I nod before leaning up to kiss him.
"This one however is to say I love you." He says producing a single red rose from behind his back.
"Oh Ash...thank you." I smile leaning up to kiss him once more. "I love you too."
"Just wanted to give you a little something for good luck tonight. I know you're meant to give them after as a well done...but I wanted to give them to you now."
"You didn't need to get me anything but I love them thank you."
"You're welcome Lou." He grins kissing me again. "Now let's start getting you ready, you need to be there soon."
"Right. I need to go for a shower." I say turning around and running up to my room.
I grab the empty vase from under my desk and fill it up with water before placing my flowers in it, my single rose now placed in the middle of the bunch.
I stripped off as quick as I could before turning the water on in my shower, a cold breeze hit my legs when I realised Ash had followed me into my bathroom.
"And what are you doing in here?" I grin at him.
"Need help scrubbing your back?" he asks innocently and I nod.
"Most definitely."
"Well seeing as that's all I can do for another six weeks...scrubbing is all I will be doing." He sighs dramatically whilst pulling his t-shirt over his head backwards.
I was practically drooling at him; I don't know how guys can look so sexy by just pulling their top off that way.
"Well I am sorry about that, but you know I'll make it up to you when I'm all better."
"But you'll be three thousand miles away." He whispers gently moving my hair away from my face and then keeping his hands on my cheeks.
"You'll just have to come out and visit me then won't you."
"Oh I definitely will. I won't be able to go without seeing you for three months, I'd miss my best friend too much." He says sadly before pressing his lips to mine.
"God I love you so much Ash." I sigh leaning my body into him.
"I love you more Lou." He whispers kissing me again.
*~*~*~*
"Okay so you have everything here right?" Lois says and I nod.
"Everything is numbered and ready to go. You ready?" I ask her and she nods
"Just need to add some last minute curls and I'm good to go and get changed."
"Okay brilliant. I just need to run and speak to Brad about something quickly. Please stay in here and watch everything whilst I'm gone."
"Will do."
It was twenty past six and everyone was running around like headless chickens. I was pretty much ready, I just needed to change into the bikini I would be modelling in about forty minute's time.
I quickly made my way round to the side of the stage where Brad was finalising whatever he was doing for tonight.
"Hey Brad." I say walking up to him.
"Oh hey Lydia, everything okay?"
"Yea, everything's fine. I just need to ask a favour and give you a little heads up on what I've got planned for tonight." I tell him and he nods.
"Well basically what I've got planned is during song one thirty eight." I say and he looks through his list.
"Elliot modelling formal wear." He says and I nod.
"Yea. Well I've got a little surprise for everyone, I'm planning on bringing Marcus out as well." I smile and he smiles with me.
"Okay, I'm liking this. What do you need me to do?"
"Activate the man lift for the stage and for smoke and a bang to appear."
"I can do that, I have the control panel here to move the curtains, alter the lighting and music. The smoke and bang are easily added, have you set up everything for me?"
"Elliot did earlier."
"Okay so what's going to happen so I know when to do what I need to do?"
I spend the next few minutes going over what I want and what I need him to do. He's writing down all over his notes for tonight timings and buttons that go right over my head. But he knows what he's doing.
"Okay brilliant, I can do that. Thanks for making tonight a little more interesting for me."
I laugh at him before walking away, "You're welcome. And thank you."
"No problem."
Now with that out the way I just had to get changed.
When Ayla and I had arrived earlier, with Mrs Tudor walking around with us; we placed each girl's introduction costume into their pod. We brought Mrs Tudor with us so that she could see that's all we were doing, no doubt someone would moan that we'd seen something we shouldn't have or moved something.
And I was right. Me and Ayla were currently stood talking with Mrs Tudor about the judges arriving when we were interrupted by my new found enemy.
"Mrs Tudor, I'd like to report a fellow designer being inside my pod tonight." Mel says walking up to us.
"Who?" she asks. She was deadly serious on pulling us out of the show if she thought that there was sabotage going on.
"Well my guess would be her." Mel says pointing at me.
"What?" Ayla says and I roll my eyes at her.
"When?" I say pressing my hand on my hip looking at her.
"I don't know but when I arrived my USA onesie was inside my pod and I wasn't there to see who brought it in and if they looked or took anything they shouldn't have. You told us that it was instant disqualification for entering another designers pod tonight so I think Lydia should be pulled out of the show."
"You finished Melanie?" Mrs Tudor says looking at her madly.
"Yes."
"I'm not sure what has gotten into you lately but I don't like it. I've noticed your little attitude change as have other teachers. And as for you snitching on Lydia here tonight there is no need for it."
"But she was inside my pod, that's not fair that she isn't getting disqualified for it."
"I was with her when she placed your outfit into your pod."
"What?"
"I walked around with Lydia and Ayla earlier as they passed out each girls outfit for the introduction. I watched as they placed the garment bag into your pod and walk right back out."
"Why?"
"Because they didn't want anyone making up stupid stories about them like you are now and potentially ruining their night and what lies ahead for them."
"Well it still isn't fair; you should have placed the outfits in our pods. She could have seen everything."
"And what is she actually going to do with it Melanie?"
"I don't know."
"Exactly. Now you're just talking nonsense and timewasting. I need to get out there and talk to the judges, get them settled and take to my spot at the side of the stage." She says shaking her head at Mel.
"Now go get ready all of you, there isn't much time left." She says before walking off.
Mel just glared at me before walking back into her pod. "Oh and Mel before you go back to your puppet master, I've already seen all of your designs for tonight."
"You lying little bitch, I knew you'd snooped when you came in here earlier."
"Actually no."
"Are you that stupid or has hanging around with Nina just crumbled away at your brain cells." Ayla says coming to my defence as always. "You along with every girl in our class sent Lydia photos of your designs for her to place into the judges hand outs...or did you forget that already."
She didn't reply to us, she just glared at me before storming off. It was comical really how low they were stooping to try and get me out of the show tonight.
"Okay well, let's go and get ready." Ayla grins squeezing my hand.
"Let's do this."
"Together." She says and I nod.
"Always."
We walked into our separate pods to get changed, Dana and Lois were in here as well topping up what they had to before they went on stage.
Making sure that the curtain was closed I undressed and slipped into the USA bikini.
"Oh wow that looks great Lydia." Dana says turning to look at me.
"Thanks." I grin at her before adding some ruby red lipstick to my lips.
*~*~*~*
There were now ten minutes before the show started and all of us designers were stood in pairs in the order we'd be walking down the runway at the side of the stage; waiting for the music to begin, the lights to dim and the cheering to start.
*~*~*~*
Sorry for the delay in the part, but I've made it nice and long for you guys.
What do you think about what's going on?
And well we all know who's behind Mel's new attitude..
The fashion show is about to begin...anyone want to throw any predictions at me for it? haha
Thanks for all the love as always.
*~*~*~*
PS. I need a little favour off you. To all of you that have created book covers for me for JAF I have a request.
I'm planning on writing a Halloween one off story and I need a cover for it. So I'm leaving it up to you's as you created some amazing ones for JAF! Even if you haven't made one for me yet and want to give it a go for this one...go for it.
It's called 'The Costume Shop' so let your imagination run wild with it.
All it needs on the cover is the title 'The Costume Shop' and my name 'Read_Write_LoveIt'You can email it to me readwriteloveit@hotmail.com
I'll need it sent to me by Saturday, I'm posting it Saturday night...so that's your deadline.
and I'll Credit the winner!
Thanks guys!