Emma Rhodes is a senior at Davis high school. With her ever-growing popularity, it is no wonder why Emma wants to keep dating her sexy boyfriend of three years, Hunter Bates. When the school year begins, Emma finds herself becoming a model for a photography class assignment. Arlo Finch, a lead photographer for the yearbook committee, is paired up with Emma Rhodes. As the two work together to get their assignment done, worlds collide and Emma and Arlo will soon decide if being together is worth the risk before the world decides it for them. One night Arlo discovers that Hunter hits Emma. When things get out of hand at a Haunted House, Emma makes a decision that could change her life forever while discovering a hidden mystery in the process.
view more"Emma, why do you always look so fat," Hunter asks while handing me another bikini to try on?
I head back into the changing room. The bathing suit I am wearing is the only one I like. It's light blue with palm leaves blanketed throughout its pattern.My hands touch the silky palm leaf fabric and stretch the elastic band near my waistline. Surely, Hunter can't mean this looks bad on me? Can he? I must have heard him wrong. He used to tell me how pretty I was on all of our dates.Pretty is a word that Hunter used to describe all the females in his life. All the ones he thinks are hot anyways. Two years ago, I was 'pretty' to him. Now I am this plump someone. I can't help that my thyroid has gone in another direction.Hunter is the least to give a shit about my thyroid and its toll on my emotions, weight, depression, and the like. To Hunter, I'm now the 'fat girl' he tells me what to wear and how to dress. It's not his most positive character trait, I can assure you.I watch Hunter impatiently through the crack of the changing room. He texts on his phone loudly and taps his foot like a bull preparing for the next stampede. His patience with me is wearing thin these days.He's only an asshole after he smokes a pack of cigarettes. Today, he's smoked half a box, and I hate him for it.My best friend, Rosa Higgins, will always remind me how lucky I am that Hunter puts up with me and my 'girly shit problems.' Hypothyroidism isn't a girly shit problem. It's a gland issue. It's an issue that might require surgery in a few years and lots of therapy.I can't afford therapy or surgery right now. Not with my 90k followers watching my every move. My followers know who I am. The popular girl dating Hunter. The girl with a model career in high school. Hunter calls me fat, and my agent says I don't eat enough.Freddie, my agent, nicknamed Red by his lady friends, is understanding of my thyroid issues. Hunter thinks it's a made-up issue. A scar on my neck could ruin my life and my model career.The magazine that sponsors me as their poster child is called Model Perfect. They get my image, and I get their merchandise. They sponsor my college fund and own me. I'm only in it for the college money.What I really want to study is photography. I want to be behind the lens, take the pictures, and figure out the lighting. But instead, I'm the one posing and looking ridiculous on social media. Of course, I don't look ridiculous to everyone, only myself. It's a harsh reality that I don't like who I am in those pictures. It feels forced somehow, but with the pressure from my parents, social media, agent, and boyfriend, my only choice is to be perfect and nothing else.Perfect is exhausting. I want a vacation away from Hunter, Freddie, and Model Perfect. Although I'm grateful for this opportunity, I want a break from posting updates about which make-up to wear. My life needs a curtain for a day that I can pull back from and cry behind.I collect myself in the changing room. The next bathing suit I try out is navy blue with yellow stars. I know Hunter will like this. He loves planets and all things Star Trek and Star Wars. He's a nerd about them."Now, we're talking. That bathing suit looks dope. Finally, something that doesn't hurt my eyes while looking at it."His snarky comment is still a blow to my ego. A moment ago, I was fat in a palm leaf pattern, and now because I am a 'galaxy girl,' I am suddenly hot again. This is the last time I will ever go shopping with Hunter for a bathing suit."Glad you like it. I am sure Freddie will approve too. So what are we doing this weekend anyway," I ask, hoping it won't be another party at someone I don't know's house?"Well, there's this party on Lincoln-Way East. It's going to be awesome. Are you down?""No, Hunter, I am not down to watch you play beer pong again. Can't you take me on a date for once? Or am I just a piece of ass for you to look at?"I go back into the changing room and slam the door. Figures the dumbass can't even take a hint that girls like dates once in a while. It's not asking too much, in my opinion."Emma, can we talk about this? Then, maybe, we can go on a date to the beach all day Saturday and go to the party that night?"This is Hunter trying to compromise. It's normal for him to try to please me. He's not a complete asshole, but he has changed since I've gotten to know him over the past few years. Or maybe he's always been this way.I put my sundress and sunglasses over my head and come out of the changing room."Fine. A beach date sounds good. I will bring sushi to the beach and your favorite drink, Mountain Dew."I don't know why he likes Mountain Dew. It tastes like battery acid to me."Be sure to wear your new suit as well. It might make all the other beachgoers jealous."Hunter pulls me in for a kiss and tastes a little like cigarettes and ashes. It's like kissing a dragon some days. I go into his shorts and remove the cigarettes."I don't want you smoking until the party, deal," I ask while sticking the cigarettes into my purse?"Whatever you say, Emma."I stand on my tiptoes, and my live stream video begins to play."Hello, everyone. It's me, Emma, streaming live from the Model Perfect headquarters. I'm with Hunter today, and he has some amazing news to tell you.""News? What news. Oh, right! This Sunday, my band, Aftershock, will be hosting auditions for a new lead guitarist. Auditions start at two and end at six. So be there or be square. Also, my girl Emma will be there signing autographs. Bring your own food. We hope to see you all there! And see you later." The camera is still rolling as Hunter kisses me. Hearts and smiley faces like and comment on our live stream. It's exhausting to keep up appearances. But in a world of perfect, that's how it is. Every step matters and every strand of hair needs to know its place. I stop the live stream, and the dream life comes to an end.I wish I were the girl I pretend to be. If I were truly perfect, then the rest of my life would be a cakewalk."They really love you, don't they? I love that we are who everyone else wants to be," Hunter whispers to me as he takes my hand.A loud clap echoes throughout the Model Perfect changing room. The dim lights are turned on, and Freddie comes walking toward me."That was brilliant as always, Emma. It's good to see you, Hunter. I need to talk to Emma in private.""Yeah, sure, I was just on my way out." Hunter lets go of my hand, and I can tell by Freddie's eyebrow twitch that bad news is coming."The doctor called today. They found a tumor in your thyroid.""What does that mean, Freddie?""It means a possible surgery is in your future. It means your life is going in a different direction. To be a model at Model Perfect, you need to be well...perfect. You can't keep ignoring your health issues. You can keep the tumor in your thyroid, and they can monitor it. But after a while, it will need to come out, which means surgery. A surgery means scars, and scars aren't exactly in your modeling contract, sweetie. It's my job to let you know as your agent. But something will have to give. If it is cancer, you might need to consider an alternative career. I'll support whatever you decide, of course. It doesn't need to be decided right now. I've notified your parents as well. But don't worry, we can just keep a close eye on it in the meantime."I touch my neck and know he's right. A lump has been growing in my throat, and for someone who is eighteen, the last thing I want is for my modeling career to end when it's just begun."Thanks for letting me know. I will think about it. I need to start getting ready for my senior year."I hug Freddie. He's been like an older brother to me and has been kinder than Hunter. But, on the other hand, Freddie despises Hunter and has made a point of telling me so on occasion."Well, let me know what you decide to do." I grab my purse and smile at Freddie. I don't know what to do, all I know is it's senior year in a week, and everyone expects me to be perfect no matter what a doctor says.Today is the day of my surgery. I am not scared anymore because all of them are beside me. They helped me have something to look forward to. We all have a bright future ahead of us. Nurse Waters is right if I get this surgery over and done with I can go on to live the best years of my life. Being starving is not my favorite part. I understand why I need to fast before surgery. But despite their reasoning it still sucks, I could go for some hash browns right about now. Freddie picks me up for surgery. My mother is with us. She has been working a lot lately, but not today. Today I am her little girl getting surgery. She holds my hand the entire car ride and sits with me in the waiting room. They have me fill out paper work and hand Freddie a buzzer like they do at restaurants when your table is ready. The buzzer goes off thirty minutes later. Arlo runs into the waiting room with a bouquet of roses. "I am going back with you. I will never leave you." I kiss Arlo. I smell the roses an
Hospitals... I've been thinking of nothing else for the past week. Hospitals are covered in many layers of floors with busy nurses, humming janitors, crying babies, and focused doctors. I haven't been in a hospital since the day my grandma parted this world. She left us behind when the lung cancer took her up above to be with my grandpa. I've been watching YouTube videos of thyroid surgeries being performed. The videos aren't helping and have made me even more anxious for my procedure to be over with. Another torture that hospitals bless their patients with is the unknown, I'm expected to starve myself for years prior to my surgery okay more like hours, but still. Then I am expected to call the day before to find out my arrival time just to check into the hospital. The anxiety levels from hearing this and reading this make my nostrils flare. My tension migraines have returned in the temples of my head.Everyone has told me to slow down and take it easy. But that's just not possible f
Hunter Bates, the lead singer of Aftershock, has been taken into custody. He snuck into Emma Rhodes' house and began choking her. He is being charged with attempted murder. There are other models from Model Perfect coming forward with accusations against Hunter Bates. The police have opened up several investigations into the private life of Hunter Bates, who will soon be facing many years in person. I turn the television off. It's nice to hear the journalists tell the truth for once. For once my story has been turned around for a positive outcome. The part with Hunter Bates in it can end, and I can face the surgery with an open mind. The day Hunter attempted to kill me, his weight was around my neck. Since the moment he grabbed my tumor and started to squeeze, I have desperately wanted to get this tumor out. The pressure he placed against it, burns within my trachea. It's been harder to swallow since then and challenging to talk. I've been avoiding talking since the vibrations in
The Winter Paris Competition is over and I can finally relax. With Tanya Pennington named the winner, I can finish out the remainder of my Model Perfect contract and be away from the spotlight. All eyes are on Tanya Pennington and her girlfriend, Lucia Perez. Tanya is the first lesbian to become a model girl winner for Model Perfect. All social media platforms are buzzing with the news. As for me, I am glad it's all turning out the way it needs to. Freddie drops me off at my house. The exhaustion from today is written all over my face. "I'm glad you didn't throw the competition. You could have. You almost did. What made you return to my office that day?" "Tanya did. She wanted to win against me fair and square and she did. Now that that's over and done with, what does Model Perfect want from me. The CEO and everyone else on staff knows about my thyroid surgery now. Can I finish out the remainder of my contract?" Freddie smiles from head to toe. He gives me a large nod. "Yes,
The Winter Paris Collection Competition is back on, and Freddie is letting me compete. I re-read my contract, and it turns out I have six months left to go until it gets renewed. I am not sure I am looking for renewal at this time, or ever. Given their track record with me, I need to find a new career or new modeling agency that is willing to take me on. Rosa spent the night at my house, Freddie got her approved to model for the day. Rosa, Tanya, and I are all going to be sporting slutty Christmas dresses and Santa hats. It’s the time of the year when models get perks for modeling during the wondrous Christmas season. “Emma, Freddie told me what happened. Did you really try to quit being a model at Model Perfect? Listen it isn't up to me, but I think you should stay until graduation." "Don't worry. I will be staying for a little while longer. But the truth is I need to quit and get this surgery taken care of. Even Tanya Pennington knows about it now." Rosa chokes on her morning
As I storm out of Freddie’s office, golden locks of white hair flip in my face, Tanya Pennington startles me. I haven’t seen or heard from her since the night of Jeremiah’s house party. That’s not to say I haven’t been keeping my tabs on her, I have. I have been stalking her social media platforms in search of anything she might have used against me. But I have also been digging to find out if Hunter’s claims on Halloween night have any merit. Which so far it appears that they don’t Tanya smiles at me, like she is about to say something crass as her smile twists into the edges of her perfectly high cheek bones. That’s the thing about Tanya, if anyone were to be stalking her she would look good no matter what. Her make-up is rumored to be tattooed to her face. That’s what her followers brag about her eyeliner anyway. “I overheard what you said to Freddie, are you sure you want to quit? You’d practically be handing your job over to me…You give up to easily you know that? What fun is i
It’s Monday, after school and I find myself in the familiar company walls of Model Perfect. Freddie’s office lies at the end of the hallway. I knock on his door. “Freddie, do you have a moment? I would like the chat with you.” He signals for me to sit down and close the door behind me. “I wanted to talk with you about the Paris Winter Collection. Can I still be in it?” Freddie puts down the newspaper that he has been reading. An article about me is on the front page, I can’t imagine what there is to report on me unless someone found out about Arlo or my cancer. “Yes, of course you can still be in it. Is that why you came in here?” “Ummm well, how was your date with Rosa?” Freddie rolls his eyes. It’s amazing to me how different a person can be when they are asked to transform into a professional. Out of the office and away from Model Perfect, Freddie is this reserved person who knows how to laugh and smile. But here behind the walls of Big Brother, who watches his every move, h
Being away from school and the buzz of drama is what I have needed for the longest time. I have been ignoring my social media platforms, my fans have expressed concerns over videos of the alleged depressed model. Perhaps it’s true, maybe I am depressed in the small corners of the mind. I try to be active and productive during my depression, doing things like art, photography, and yoga get my mind flowing. The three prescribed days off from school are perfect for reflection. There are pros and cons to my life. If I have thyroid surgery, I don’t have to deal with cancer and an ever-growing tumor that makes it impossible to swallow. Every swallow of food is struggle, I have to eat soft foods to make it easier on myself. My hand finds my lump again, and this time it hurts when I touch it. It’s the pain of cancer lingering in the ticking time bomb in my body. Cancer is everywhere. Nurse Water’s sister died of cancer and Arlo’s mother. There must be something in the food we eat or the dri
The Winter Paris Collection competition is around the corner, and I am not prepared for it at all. It is hard to model these days, my energy levels are haywire. I can hardly focus in class, I fell asleep in math class the other day. The doctor says it could be my thyroid hormone levels becoming fuzzier and harder to predict. His words weren’t exactly that, but that was the overlaying message. It’s scary to be out of control. It’s a hurricane that I am not ready for. It’s been weeks, and I still haven’t decided to fully commit to surgery. It would mean goodbye Model Perfect, and I am not sure I am ready to say goodbye to them just yet. Arlo is concerned for me and has even put pressure on me to consider my health over my career. It’s a balancing act and I don’t like which way to go. I feel like a tightrope walker, at any moment I could fall in the net below if a decision is not made for me. My life is a balancing act, that I am too exhausted to recover from. I fall in all directions,
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