Mask of A Legend (14 page)

The media pushed into them and Legend held Stephen’s hand tighter. “Don’t worry, we’re almost there,” Stephen said, while the flashes from cameras blinded her eyes. They rambled to a black door where security guards stood and Legend turned around, accidentally allowing the cameras to shoot her face. One of the guards opened the door, stared at Legend’s image and smiled toward it. They entered the doorway, and Legend’s eyes came across tons of coat-hangers that hung on racks, holding beautiful clothing on them. A man walked up to them, shook Stephen’s hand, and stared at Legend. “Hello, Justif, I’d like you to meet one of our girls. This is Legend,” Stephen said. Justif’s young face smiled at her.

“Oh, she is a cute one,” Justif said in a high pitch. “Pleased to meet you.” He then grabbed onto her right hand and kissed it. All Legend could do was look at Stephen.

“Pleased to meet you,” said Legend, pulling her hand away.

“Now, we are going to be busy, busy, busy today. You are going to be the fourth one out. Linda over here will show you your clothing,” Justif said. He pulled an older woman from behind him.

“Wait a second, why can’t she be the first girl out?” Stephen asked.

Justif looked at Legend. “Well, do you think you could do it, Legend? I mean, other designers are not like me. When I have the first girl walk out, that means she has to walk out a lot.”

Legend looked at the ground.

“Um, yeah, I guess so,” Legend replied. Linda pulled her away from them in a fast motion, placed her in a room where a single mirror stood right in front of her. Distress. Legend pivoted her chair around to face opposite the mirror after she saw her ugly reflection. She didn’t want to show Linda it, or else her true image would be discovered. “What are you going to do?” Legend asked. Linda began putting mascara upon her face. Legend tried desperately not to show her reflection to Linda, but after she put the mascara on, she tried to turn Legend’s seat around. Legend fought with the chair.

“Honey, don’t you want to see your make-up?” Linda asked, looking at the reflection of the back of Legend’s head, and realizing her blonde hair looked stringy.

“No, it’s alright, I trust you.”

Linda fixed her hair and after she was done, she threw her a long, silver, see-through gown and silver high heels. Legend put on the clothes, but saw her breasts being revealed just a little bit. Her innocent mind was wearing clothing that wasn’t accepted to her as purity, it was only accepted as neurotic. But Legend had to play the role that her mask of beauty was expected to play, and for that she allowed herself to wear the garment. “What do I do now?” Legend asked.

Linda sewed the bottom part of Legend’s gown as fast as she could. “Well, you just walk,” Linda replied. She put the needle and thread away and grabbed Legend’s hand. They walked out of the room, Linda adding, “All you have to do is walk sexy, shake your bosoms, but not that much, this is supposed to be something a woman could wear in fall. Um, remember to rock your hips, but not that much, and whatever you do, don’t fall. After you come back, I’ll hand you another dress to wear, and also tell you when to walk out again. Make sure to be proper as you walk, remember that you are trying to sell Justif’s fall line, and over all, enjoy the moment!” Legend was so confused. “Any questions?”

“No.” Linda placed Legend right next to the stage curtains. Girls started to form a line behind Legend, and the first girl who stood behind her was Dina.

Of course.

“Good luck, Legend,” Dina said. Legend became confused more. She couldn’t understand why Dina would say something nice like that.

“Um, yeah, thank you, Dina, I guess.”

Stephen ran up to her with a black tuxedo on. “Good luck, girls, you look fabulous,” Stephen said, but only staring at Legend.

“I’m nervous, Stephen,” Legend said.

“Don’t worry, your beauty will help you out a lot. Just remember that there are a lot of famous people out there, including many magazine photographers.”

“Oh, you really helped make my nerves go away.”

The lights dimmed and Stephen ran away from her with a smile. Alone, Dina asked, “So, Legend, do you like Stephen?”

“No, we’re just friends. Besides, he’s with you, I thought.” Music then filled the air.

“Yeah, he is with me.” An older woman walked up onstage and began speaking into the microphone onstage. Suddenly, once again, the fear built up in Legend’s mind. She was scared. Fear-stricken. Nervous. But she was also happy. Confusing. Legend was just about to start a career that most girls could only dream about. She thought about her past as an ugly girl, but her thoughts were interrupted when the older woman announced her name.

“Our first model is one of William Drakson’s discoveries. As you all know already, William says that this young girl is so far his best discovery. As a matter of fact, she was just discovered the other day. Everyone, put your glasses on, ’cause here is the girl, the model, called Legend,” the woman announced. Linda came up to Legend and started pushing her.

“Come on, that’s you,” Linda said. Legend took a deep breath and felt her own face. She touched it, as a smile came to her, a grin that meant the acne was gone, and the beauty was still there. She lingered past the curtains, still very nervous, afraid, delighted and full of happiness. Her face shined when she walked down the catwalk in slow motion, flashes of light pulsating against her image. The music began to get an upwards beat and the whole room watched in amazement as the most beautiful woman showed her face to them. This beauty that the spectators saw was a sort of beauty that could only go by the name of ‘Legend’. She was an angel to them, an angel that seemed like she was beautiful on the inside, as well as the out. Legend’s nerves broke away when a greater smile of happiness appeared.

“This is amazing,” she said, reaching the front of the stage and turning around. While Legend walked back to the curtains, she turned around again and watched the audience’s faces show smiles toward her. Legend proceeded to walk behind the curtains and Linda grabbed her, handing another dress to her.

“Alright, Legend, hurry up and change, you have three minutes,” Linda yelled over the music. Legend ran behind a clothing rack and started to take off her clothes. Her smile vanished into a confused grin when she noticed a noise coming from a bathroom that was directly in front of her. It was a noise of pain, a noise that caused her to see what it was. Her half-naked body stumbled into the bathroom, and she saw a beautiful dark-skinned girl, vomiting in the sink.

“Are you okay?” Legend asked. The girl looked at her with one finger in her mouth. The pressure of tears formed behind Legend’s eyes, looking at this sight. “You shouldn’t do that, it causes your lungs to deteriorate, and your teeth to rot!”

“Well, miss know-it-all, I have to if I want to stay as a model, and look like you!”

Linda came in the bathroom and saying, “Legend, this isn’t social hour, you’re up in one minute. Come on, let’s go.” Linda forcefully pulled Legend out of the bathroom.

“But that girl’s vomiting!”

She started to put on the second dress. “Legend, a lot of girls here vomit, now come on.” Linda then pulled Legend and guided her to the curtains again.

One hour passed, and so far Legend walked the ‘cat’ twenty times, and her feet were beginning to pulsate. Every time she walked down the catwalk, the audience would smile even more, her beauty shining toward them as she knew her own reflection wouldn’t make them shine at all. Her last moment before she walked down the stage again, Stephen ran up to her and grabbed her arm, putting it around his. “What are you doing? I’m up in one minute,” Legend asked. Dina stood behind them, quietly.

“I know you are, me, too. This last walk is a combination of the guys and gals, walking together as a couple.”

Linda came up to him with another guy. “Excuse me, sir, but Legend isn’t your partner, your partner is Dina,” Linda explained, taking Legend’s arm away from his. “This guy is her partner.” A tall guy grabbed Legend’s hand.

“Oh well, Justif said I’m supposed to be Legend’s partner. If you don’t believe me, ask Justif himself,” Stephen said with hesitation, grabbing Legend’s other arm and pulling the other guy’s hand away from hers. “This guy is with Dina, I’m sorry, but that’s what Justif told me and my father!”

“Don’t go anywhere, I’ll be right back,” Linda scolded. She walked away from them in search of Justif.

“So, was that a lie, or truth?” Legend asked.

“What do you think?”

Dina’s anger and jealousy built up even stronger when she heard his answer.

“Well, by the way you tried defending yourself, I would have to say a lie,” Legend replied. Dina looked down at Legend’s brown dress and noticed the end of it was lying on the floor. Hmm.

“I guess you’ll never know, I mean, since we’re friends and all,” Stephen said. Dina stepped on Legend’s dress and pressed down on it. “Are you ready to finish this modeling gig?”

“Definitely, my feet are killing me,” Legend said.

Linda ran back to Stephen, saying, “Alright, buster, Justif told me that–”

Stephen and Legend started walking past the curtains, laughing. As they walked, Dina’s foot allowed Legend’s dress to rip, causing it to rip off all the way up to her thighs. It looked like a minidress. Legend looked down at it in dread.

“My God, my dress ripped.”

They both proceed to walk in front of the curtains. The flashes from cameras began to click even more, and Stephen looked down at her thighs. “It’s alright, just make it seem like the dress is supposed to look like that. Don’t show fear, it’s your worst enemy,” Stephen said. Legend’s eyes shielded tears within them, she couldn’t help it. “Everything’s going to be alright, give them what they want. Besides, you got great legs.”

That made Legend smile. They walked down the catwalk, but Legend’s mind showed embarrassment, her mask of beauty showing pride at the same time. They walked to the front of the stage and stopped. Legend stared at Stephen’s eyes, before he could stare at hers, for the first time. He looked over at her blue pupils and said, “Welcome to super modeling, Legend!”

They walked back and waited with the other models, the presentation coming to a close. Legend cried on Stephen’s shoulder. The thought of ripping her dress, in front of hundreds of people, ran through her mind. The master of ceremonies walked out and up to the microphone on the side of the stage while Legend was still crying with sadness, embarrassment and fear. “I hope that you’ve all enjoyed Justif’s fall line of clothing. Now I would like to introduce the genius of fashion himself, Justif,” the M.C. announced. The audience began clapping. Justif came out from behind the curtains, kissed the woman on her face and the models still stood behind the curtains.

“Thank you all so much for coming. But, I couldn’t do this alone without the help of the Drakson Modeling Agency, and his beautiful male and female models. . . . But, this fall, I was introduced to a woman who was, in my case, beyond beautiful, and I feel that William Drakson did a fabulous job at discovering her,” Justif announced.

Legend lifted her head up. “He’s talking about you,” Stephen said.

Dina walked up to Legend. “Legend, I’m sorry for stepping on your dress, I didn’t realize I was doing it.”

Legend dried her tears away with Stephen’s arm. “It’s okay, Dina, I know you didn’t.”

Dina walked up to Stephen. “Remember, Stephen, we have dinner plans tonight,” Dina reminded. Stephen turned to her. Legend got up from her seat and felt that she didn’t belong in such a private conversation, between her new friend and her worst enemy.

“I know, Dina, we’ve already talked about this before.” Stephen then got up from his seat and walked up to Legend. “Hey, are you mad at me or something?”

“No, I just figured it wasn’t any of my business to hear that. I’m not mad at you, why would I be?” Legend asked.

What gives?

As they talked, Justif was in the middle of his speech. “This young girl is highly attractive, and personally I feel she’s going to be the next superstar model. Before I introduce the rest of the models, I would like to introduce her. She was only discovered a little bit ago, so most of you are not familiar with her name. I know this young girl was already introduced before, but her name is so beautiful, and she is so beautiful, that I would like to take the privilege of introducing her again. Come on, Legend, the audience wants to see you again,” Justif announced. Fear took over Legend’s eyes.

“What should I do? I can’t go out there looking like this. I mean, my dress is ripped.” Legend was frantic and Stephen grabbed her hand.

“Listen, this is your moment. As a matter of fact, this is your first moment out of many that you’ll have in the near future. Seize it,” Stephen said. Legend looked up at the curtain, slowly walked out of it, and stepped her feet on the stage, the audience clapping hysterically. She walked up to Justif and he gave her a gentle kiss on the hand.

“You are stunning,” Justif whispered. He walked back to the microphone. “And now, I would like to introduce the rest of the models, beginning with the lead male model, Stephen Drakson,” Justif added. Stephen walked out and stood next to Legend. After he introduced all the models, taking about ten minutes, he said, “Thank you, and goodnight!”

They all packed up, went back to the hotel and the tiredness set in Legend’s mind. The next day was the same; she got to walk out first, and she was introduced by Justif first. A total of four days passed, and the London trip was over with. Legend packed up her only dress she had, the dress that Stephen gave her, and walked to the limo where Dina, Stephen and William were.