27. A Walk in Her Shoes

Stassi

S tassi was nervous when they arrived at the photoshoot. This was the first time anyone had wanted to come to see what her job was like, so it worried her that Sage would walk away thinking that she was right to not trusts models. She also noticed that ever since Sage arrived at Stassi’s apartment, she was quiet. Stassi had to remind herself that Sage was most likely just apprehensive herself.

“This is the studio.” Stassi waved her arms around and turned to face Sage. “This is where the magic happens, or so they say.” She nervously giggled. She had no makeup on, and her hair was up in a clip. It was another thing that caused turmoil within Stassi. She didn’t know how Sage would react to the barefaced look. To her surprise, she had greeted her with a kiss and a smile, so it wasn’t too awkward for their first encounter.

“And you are…” A woman with a clipboard came hurrying over to Stassi.

“Stassi.”

“Perfect. You’re wanted in hair and makeup.” The woman glanced over at Sage. “You can just hang out. Do what you want to do.” She grabbed Stassi’s hand, and Stassi glanced over her shoulder and stared at Sage.

Sorry, she mouthed. She should have given Sage more warning when it came to how things worked. She just hoped that she didn’t fall asleep as sometimes hair and makeup could be one of the longest aspects of a photoshoot. She encountered other women and many kids. She was whisked into the excitement, quickly forgetting that Sage was left to herself.

Two hours later, she was all dolled up and, in a robe, told which dressing room she could wait in. She grabbed the same woman that had initially pulled her to the side. “Excuse me. You know that woman that came here with me, will you ask her to come to the room?”

“I’m sorry, but I have been rushing around here all morning, and do you think I could possibly remember everyone that was here?”

Stassi sighed. “I understand, but if you have remember her. She’s probably sitting by the front door or something. She’ll look out of place. Just I really would love if you could get her for me. Since I’m dressed like this, I really don’t…well, you know.” She gave a genuine smile, hoping that the woman would budge. The woman shrugged and walked off.

“How rude,” Stassi mumbled. She checked up and down the hallway. The hallway was empty. She shrugged and hurried down the corridor until she reached the opening where people were gathered around with the cameras. She finally spotted Sage and was relieved when she looked up and met her gaze. Stassi motioned for her to come over to her and Sage did but seemed to with such reluctance.

“Thought I lost you,” Sage replied. Her words barely came out above a whisper.

“Sorry about that.” Stassi led the way back down the corridor to the dressing room. “I tried to get them to go and get you and well, it was a feat that I failed miserably.” Stassi closed her door and grinned. “How do I look?”

Sage gave a semi-smile and nodded. She then glanced around the room. “So, what happens now?”

“Well, my agent Kelly will come in at any moment. Then wardrobe will bring in my outfits and they’ll devise a plan. Could take several hours, though.” Stassi leaned back against the vanity. “If you hadn’t noticed, there’s at least fifty other models that are going through the same thing.”

“Overkill,” Sage mumbled.

Stassi frowned. “What was that?”

Sage shook her head. “Didn’t realize what it took to do a photoshoot.”

Stassi nodded. “Yeah, it’s a lot, but the end is usually worth it.” When Sage didn’t acknowledge that, Stassi smiled. “So, you and Lena…how long have you been friends? Where did you meet…hospital, I assume?”

“You would think,” Sage began. “We actually met and became friends in Biology class at the University. Then we sort of drifted apart, until fate brought us back to the same hospital.”

“Wow. Impressive. She seems like a great woman.”

Sage nodded. “She is. I’m lucky to call her my friend.”

The conversation died and Stassi considered another path to bring Sage out of her shell. If Sage didn’t want to converse about the modeling, then she would keep the conversation on her and the hospital. It should have been an easy task, but Stassi faltered. There was a knock on the door and that thirty seconds was a beacon.

“I’m decent,” Stassi hollered out.

Kelly opened the door and peered inside. She came in and gave air kisses in Stassi’s direction, then heaved a sigh. “I have been roaming the halls looking for someone that could point me in your direction. It is a nuthouse out there.”

“That’s what I was saying. It’s been a while since I’ve seen so many models in one place.” Stassi opened her mouth again to introduce Sage, when Kelly looked in her direction.

“Hon, will you get me a green juice? I’m literally dying. And if I don’t have my pick-me-up, ain’t nobody happy.”

Sage’s jaw dropped, and Stassi took a step closer to her. “Kelly, you have it wrong. This is Sage. She’s with me.”

Kelly gave a nod, then looked down at her phone. “I wasn’t going to pass judgment Stassi. If you hired an assistant, then kudos to you.” She looked up and gave a fake smile. “My juice and all will be right with the world.”

“Kelly!” Stassi hollered. “She’s not my assistant. She’s my girlfriend.”

Kelly looked up, eyes wide. “Oh, didn’t see that coming.” She tossed up her hands.

Stassi glanced over at Sage, and Sage had her eyes directed on her. There wasn’t one hint of a smile and that startled Stassi. She bit her tongue and turned back to Kelly.

“I’ll get someone to get you your juice,” she mumbled. She reached for the phone that every dressing room came equipped with. One that you use if you need anything. Pushing a button connects you to the main desk.

“This is Margot,” the woman answered.

“Hello, is there someone that could bring a green juice to dressing room 32. I would appreciate it.”

“On its way, Ms. Hewitt.” She hung up the line and turned to Kelly.

“It will be here soon.” She turned to Sage, who looked down at the floor, and Stassi mentally sighed. The morning wasn’t going as she had hoped. A few short minutes later, there was a knock on the door, and Kelly’s juice had arrived. Stassi turned to Sage. “Did you want anything?”

“No, I’m good. Thanks, though,” The door closed, and Kelly looked up from her phone and took a drink from her juice.

“They want you on the set in fifteen minutes.”

Stassi looked around the room. “I don’t have my outfits yet.”

Kelly grimaced. “Never fails. I’ll take care of that.” She called a number and took another drink from her juice. “Stassi is waiting on her outfits. How do we expect her to be ready in fifteen minutes? Do I have to do this all by myself? Fine.” She hung up the call, then turned to Stassi. “Give me a minute. There was a mess up. I’ll take care of it.” She left the room, and Stassi turned to Sage.

“She seems like a lovely woman,” Sage said, the sarcasm evident on her voice.

“She’s really not that bad. It’s just on photoshoot days, she can be a bit diva-like.” Sage nodded, and then they stood there, awkwardly. “Are you alright?”

Sage shrugged, then looked away as the door swung open, and Kelly reappeared. She had a clothing rack with outfits trailing behind her. “Five minutes.”

“It’s showtime.” Stassi glanced over at Sage. Sage looked like she was gonna be sick. Stassi frowned. Something was clearly bothering her, and Stassi would have to make sure she got down to the bottom of it.

They got through the photoshoot despite it taking the whole day—not the quick couple hours that Kelly had originally suggested. Stassi enjoyed it, though. It was nice having Sage there, even though it was clear Sage wasn’t enjoying herself. In fact, there were many times when Sage just kept to herself, barely making eye contact with Stassi, let alone talking with her.

They got sandwiches from catering provided by the studio, and Stassi was glad that Sage was allowed to partake in that, otherwise she would have been forced to go out and Stassi was already worried that Sage was going to say that she regretted coming to the photoshoot.

When they got back to Stassi’s apartment, it was time to really get to the bottom of what was troubling Sage. Or so she hoped.

“I think I’ll head on home,” Sage replied, standing just to the side of her car.

“Huh?” Stassi asked. “I thought you were staying overnight. Or, at least, I thought that was the plan.”

“It was, but…” Sage’s words trailed off and Stassi heard a sigh. “Plans tend to change.”

“Sage, I know something is bothering you. Can we please just talk about it? I don’t want you running home, leaving us in an awkward place. Please.”

Sage shifted from one foot to the other, but finally nodded and followed Stassi up to her apartment building. Stassi was relieved that she had convinced Sage to stick around because there was one thing she was certain about and going away upset about anything would be the first nail in their coffin.

“I can put on some coffee. We can order in Chinese. Does that sound okay?”

Sage shrugged. “I suppose.” She dropped her gaze to the foyer floor and Stassi had the urge to pull her into her arms and just say she wanted to have everything out there. Instead, she went to the kitchen and grabbed the Chinese menu for delivery. She handed it over to Sage and turned to make the coffee. As Sage looked in the menu, Stassi kept her back to her. Her coffee wasn’t anything fancy, but it would do the trick, something to keep them occupied as they were waiting on their food.

“I was out of my element,” Sage replied, softly. Stassi turned to face her, and Sage had taken a seat on one of the bar stools. “That was part of my problem. I felt uneasy all day. I was mistaken for an assistant. You were rushing around like you grew up on this.”

“Well, I kind of did,” Stassi stated.

“I know, but it was all new to me and I just didn’t expect it to be like that.” She pushed the menu away and looked up. “I didn’t expect today to go like this. I had plans and none of it worked out, so I guess I just felt on edge.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”

Sage nodded. “And that’s sort of the problem.” Stassi’s mouth dropped. “That came out wrong. I wanted to come today to see your world and there’s part of me that is glad that I did, because I got to see something that was far more intense than I expected. And, I must admit, you were great. You totally seemed to be in your element and if that makes you happy, then I’m happy.”

“Are you?” Stassi asked, frowning.

“Yes.” Sage quickly nodded. “I just know that putting myself in that situation isn’t going to work for me.” Sage put a smile on. “And that’s okay. We can have different lives, as far as that goes.” Stassi considered that, still frustrated by how the wording was coming across. “Now, I’m famished. Go ahead and order what you want and just make it two. I’m going to go use the restroom.” She got up from the stool and glanced over her shoulder. “Which is…”

“Down the hall and to the right. Third door. Sage left the kitchen, with Stassi staring at the menu. Maybe it was alright that they had two different lives when it came to certain likes and dislikes. They always say opposites attract. She pulled up the phone number for Chinese Paradise and waited for the phone to be answered.

“Chinese Paradise, what can I get for you?”

Stassi rattled off her order, followed by the address and waited for the man to come back with her total. She disconnected the call as she heard the footsteps coming down the hall. A message dinged on her phone, and she saw Ariel’s name.

Ariel

How was the photoshoot?

Stassi

Not sure. I thought great, but I think Sage just really doesn’t know how to fit into this world. That makes me sad.

Ariel

Give her time. It’s new to her, right? But I’m starting to see this great girl, Natalia, and we wanted to invite you two to brunch tomorrow. I would love to meet Sage and really want you to meet Natalia.

Stassi looked up as Sage reclaimed her seat at the counter. “So, my friend Ariel has a new girlfriend, and she would like us to go to brunch tomorrow. No pressure, but if you’re up for it, I thought it could be fun. I haven’t responded, so it’s truly your decision.”

Sage considered it and there was a moment when Stassi felt like maybe Sage would disregard Stassi and say it wasn’t happening. However, Sage finally nodded. “If you want to, sounds like fun.”

Stassi

Yep, sounds good. Text me place and time and we’ll be there.

“The food has been ordered and should be here in twenty minutes. Want to go find us a movie to watch?”

“Sure.” Stassi and Sage headed into the living room and had just reached the cabinet of movies, when Sage cleared her throat. “Girlfriend, huh?”

Stassi turned and her cheeks felt warm as she stared at Sage. “I, well I really wasn’t sure what to say and didn’t think Kelly believing you were my assistant was really going to work for me. Or you.” She shrugged. “I guess I should have come up with something better to say.”

“It’s fine.” Sage knelt at the cabinet and Stassi stood back and watched her. There wasn’t one sign that secured Stassi’s feelings on the remark, but at least it wasn’t something that started another fight. Maybe brunch with friends was just what they needed.