Authors Note: For some chapters, you will see an image throughout the chapter. This is just an added feature I wanted to include to give you an actual visual of outfits, hairstyles, etc. Sometimes I worry that my description of things isn't good enough, so I thought doing this would be helpful.
Chapter 7: Preparations
Alicia's Point of View
One Week Later...
I can't believe I'm about to do a professional photoshoot, I thought, as I sat in a hair and makeup chair in a trailer.
I had gotten the job.
I was going to be a Paranormal Investigator on 'Ghost Adventures'!
After leaving the interview the week before, I had driven straight back home, trying to keep my emotions in check.
Zak had upset me, and had made me feel as if my paranormal experiences were nothing to get upset about. I had tried to keep telling myself that he didn't know all the details, so he couldn't judge them fully. But I kept hearing his words in my head, over and over.
"I can't have someone on the team who can't get personal or show their emotions..."
"I'm not going to be play babysitter to someone overly emotional either..."
What exactly had he wanted from me? To show my emotions, or not be overly emotional?
I told myself I'd never know.
When I had gotten home and walked into the door, Cheryl came bursting out from the living room, practically screaming her congratulatory greeting at me.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"You're going to be on TV! Congratulations!" Cheryl exclaimed excitedly, running out from the living room and running straight at me, engulfing me in a tight hug.
I stood there dumbfounded.
"Um...I appreciate the confidence Care Bear," I started, using a years old nickname for her. "But I didn't get the job," I added.
Cheryl pulled back from hugging me to look at me.
She still had a look of excitement on her face.
"Yes you did! I just got off the phone with Aaron about five minutes ago. He said the job was yours and to call him back about setting a time to go over the paperwork," Cheryl stated.
I was even more dumbfounded.
"Are you serious...?" I asked.
"Yes! Why do you look so surprised? Didn't you get a vibe from the interview?" Cheryl replied.
"Oh yeah, I got a vibe alright," I muttered, kicking my wedges off toward the closet.
Cheryl looked confused.
"Look, I don't know what happened, but Aaron said if you didn't believe me, to check your phone," Cheryl said, eagerly glancing at my purse.
I slowly took my phone out from it's pocket in my purse. I tapped the screen and saw I had a text message waiting for me. I clicked on the messenger app and read the text:
"The job is yours sweetheart, assuming you still want it. :) I left a message with your roommate to call me back. Look forward to hearing from you, Aaron. PS. Congrats and welcome to the GAC!"
I blinked.
"I got the job..." I whispered, then looked up excitedly at Cheryl, "I got the job!" I nearly screamed in excitement.
Cheryl DID scream then.
"I know!" Cheryl excitedly said, hugging me tightly.
I hugged her back tightly and we both proceeded to jump up and down like excited school girls.
Cheryl pulled back first, smacking me on the ass as she did.
"Now go call Aaron!" Cheryl exclaimed.
I laughed and dropped my purse on the table, and then ran out into the kitchen to call Aaron.
~*~*~*~*~*~
I couldn't believe it when I heard Aaron's voice confirm it over the phone.
I had felt like crying again, but only in happy tears this time.
He had apologized for Zak, briefly explaining that he had had "a rough night" the night before.
I had said I understood, but I wasn't entirely pleased to be hearing an apology from Aaron - who had done nothing wrong - instead of Zak, but I figured I'd get over it in time.
Aaron and I had booked a time for the following day for me to come back in to the office to go over the contract, nondisclosure agreement and the rest of the legal mumbo jumbo that had to be dealt with.
That following day, I had gone into the offices and we went over everything.
I also met Billy Tolley and Jay Wasley, the other two members of the crew.
They were both very nice, and congratulated me on the job, and said they couldn't wait to work with me.
Zak hadn't been there.
I tried not to take offence to it.
I knew from reading his books he often went through hell a lot of the time. I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
I also had taken time during the week to do some serious clothes shopping. I wasn't going to appear on national television wearing my "Star Wars" and super hero tees.
Besides, I wanted to blend in with the guys on investigations.
So I had bought a lot of dark clothes. Hoodies and shirts with some sort of paranormal related or abstract designs on them. Dark pants, also with designs on them or just plain black.
Basically a female version of the attire Zak Bagans is known for.
Now, a week later, there I was, about to do a promotional photoshoot and promotional video for the show.
As I sat waiting for the hair and makeup artist to finish with my hair – I couldn't quite tell what she was doing with it, as she had my chair turned to one side – I was texting back and forth with Cheryl.
As typical behaviour for her personality, she wanted to know all the details.
So I decided to tell her what I was wearing.
Firstly, I was wearing a black, lace patterned bustier. Not exactly something I'd be comfortable wearing, but it did have straps, so that made me feel more comfortable. For pants, once again black, form fitting jeans, with a lace up pattern on the outer edge of each pant leg. Then to finish it off, black, clunky heal boots, which had plenty of buckles and laces on them.
I had to admit, I felt sexy.
I had never felt like that before.
"Alright, so what do you think?" I heard, feeling my chair being turned to face the mirror.
I looked up and couldn't keep in a small gasp of shock.
My makeup was perfect.
Jennifer – the hair and makeup artist - had given me black, smokey eye makeup, but then everything else was naturally coloured. Nude lip colour, very slight blush on my cheeks. I was pale skinned, and had been all my life.
This makeup made my eyes stand out, but not in an over done way.
Then I noticed my hair.
She had pulled my hair back from my hairline, and teased it up slightly, to form a natural looking "hump" on the top of my head, and then had done a fishtail braid. On either side of my head, she had done two small French braids that lead from my temples and "disappeared" into my hair that was hanging down normally.
I felt like a rockstar - there was no other way to explain it.
"I love it, thank you so much," I replied, smiling at Jennifer.
"I wanted to make you look bad ass in a group full of men," she stated with a smirk.
I smiled more.
"I feel bad ass, thank you," I replied.
I stood up and walked over to a full length mirror that was hanging on the wall in the trailer.
Wait until Cheryl sees this, I thought, taking out my phone and taking a quick selfie of my reflection in the mirror.
Jennifer offered to take a picture of my hair from the side and back, so I let her.
I knew I could use these pictures later on for "Throwback Thursday" photos for Twitter and Instagram, since I would be on social media like the other guys were.
I thanked Jennifer again and then stepped out of the trailer.
My feet had just barely touched the ground, when I heard a "catcall" whistle.
I looked up to see Aaron walking toward me.
"Well hellllo there! Lookin' good Shorty!" Aaron exclaimed.
He had come up with the nickname "Shorty" for me, to resolve his issue of not always calling me "bro".
I felt my face flush.
"Thanks Aaron," I replied softly, starting to head toward my own trailer to put my purse and phone away.
"I have to go in and get my hair done!" Aaron exclaimed, running a hand over his head as if he had a full head of hair and I laughed.
Just as I was walking toward my trailer, I heard a door open from the trailer next to mine.
Zak's trailer.
Out he came.
His dark hair was sculpted to perfection. He was wearing a plain, black t-shirt, that fit him all to well. I was surprised he could get his muscular arms in the sleeves. He had finished the look with a pair of baggy black jeans.
Does he have to look so hot ALL the time? I thought.
Then I felt all my insecurities and anxiety kick into gear as I noticed something.
He was staring at me.
And not at all like he had during the interview.
This was the type of stare every women wants from their man.
But Zak wasn't mine.
We hadn't even talked since the interview. So I couldn't figure out why he was, still, staring at me.
I had no where to go to avoid his eyes, other than my trailer, the doorway being a few more steps away.
Despite feeling immensely shy and self conscious, I started walking toward the door to my trailer again.
I somehow managed to continue looking at him - he was still watching me.
I could feel my face growing hot.
Then, finally, after what seemed like forever, I reached the door to my trailer. I opened the door and stepped up into the personal space that was mine, letting the door close behind me.
I sat my purse and phone down on a table, and then sat down on the couch for a moment, to gather my composure.
Why did I sign up for this job again?