9 | new people

"if i knew you were gonna use all my damn sunscreen i wouldn't have gave it to you," i laughed to margie.

"sorry i just love the nutrogena one," she giggled.

"great i'll send you the link so you can order your own," i blinked.

"anyway," marg started. "i'm kinda nervous," she said. "i haven't surfed in a long time."

"oh you actually planned on surfing today?" i rose my eyebrows.

"you didn't?"

"and bust my ass?" i scoffed. "girl please. it's been way too long."

"lani the event is to literally surf for charity," she chuckled.

"yeah i was just gonna donate money since i didn't plan on surfing," i shrugged. "no harm."

"no you're getting your ass in that water," she joked.

-

we arrived to the beach for the charity surf event and found a spot with chairs and an umbrella. we set our totes down and kinda scoped out the area.

we sat down on the chairs and just people watched for awhile.

"i'm so excited to leave tomorrow," margie said. "i'm so excited for you."

"thanks bookie," i looked at her with a grin. "i'm excited but nervous. i feel like it'll be a lot of old heads, as well as new faces."

"well you're considered an old head so you shouldn't be nervous," she shrugged. "a lot of upcoming models look up to you."

"but that's exactly why i'm nervous," i said. "i feel like im gonna walk in and they'll be expecting shit from me."

"what's wrong with that?" margie furrowed her eyebrows.

"i haven't done the shit in awhile," i shook my head. "what if i trip and fall so hard that i roll down the runway and the lingerie comes off?"

she rolled her eyes. "oh here we go."

"then everyone will see me naked and laugh-"

"lei shut up," she laughed. "please."

"you know im right," i pointed.

"no babygirl," marg shook her head. "no you're not."

we got up and walked down to the water to start surfing. but all the boards were currently being used at the moment.

"here im not using mine," this girl came up behind me.

i turned around and my heart dropped.

gabi scoffed as she saw who i was. "oh."

"what?" i squinted.

"nothing," she elevator eyed me. "i just haven't seen you in forever."

"right," i slowly nodded.

"well are you gonna use my board or not?" she rose her eyebrows.

"um actually no," i started. "i didn't even plan on surfing. just wanted to watch up close."

"mhm," she rolled her eyes. "what about your friend here?"

"the friend has a name," margie started. "and nah i'm good."

"so what are you doing here?" i asked gabi. "i didn't think you cared about anyone but yourself," i folded my arms.

"haha very funny," she sarcastically grinned. "but they wanted all the surf championship winners to come so," she shrugged.

"of course," i nodded.

"plus everyone is here," she pointed out. "this is the chance for all surfers to get there little screen time on tv with the news being here."

"yeah it is packed," i shrugged. "just full of show-offs."

"speaking of show-off," she mumbled, turning around and walking away.

"wait wha-"

"hey lani," jacob said as he came up behind me.

"oh," i sighed, now realizing why gabi walked away. "what is it jake?"

"i just wanted to-"

"jacob!" margie exclaimed as she approached him.

"oh hey marg," he smiled. "long time no-"

"shut the fuck up," she cut him off.

his smile dropped. "cmon marge. let's start fresh."

"i don't like you," she elevator eyed him.

"okay well that's why i came to talk to lani and not you," he told her.

then i chimed in. "well i don't like you either so can i be excused from any-"

"lani just listen," he started, cutting me off. "i wanted to thank you for that night."

"that was weeks ago," i shrugged. "it's whatever now."

"i also wanted to apologize for the mailbox."

"it's cool," i told him. "i've ordered a new one and some men are gonna come set it up for me whenever it arrives."

"well let me pay you for it," he insisted.

i rose my eyebrows. "it's pretty expensive. i got a fancy one from this luxury website."

"how much?" he furrowed his eyebrows.

"$2500," i said. "and the instillation is a separate couple hundred."

his eyes got wide. "well give me some time and i can come up with the money since it my fau-"

"jacob i'd really like if you just left me alone," i nodded.

"just let me make this right," he begged.

i sighed.

-

"bye house," i smiled as i walked out the door. "see you soon."

margie and i went to the airport and boarded our flight to new york. once we made it there, we went to the apartment we'll be staying in while we're here.

"i've missed new york and the busyness of it," i smiled.

"same," marg agreed. "did you tell billie we made it?"

"yeah i just texted her. she said she'd call me after sound check," i nodded.

after awhile of settling in, we road to the mandatory first meeting that was being held.

i walked in to see many models. some faces were familiar, some weren't. i did however see a couple model friends of mine so i immediately got less nervous.

"welcome ladies," the woman said. "i am sasha, the talent manager. yes, i'm the one who chose most of you. so you're welcome."

i rose my eyebrows and grinned as i looked around at the other girls.

"and this is mr. marino," she pointed to a man behind her. "he's the creative director. you'll be seeing him quite often."

the man just smiled and waved at us.

"and i know he's good looking but he likes men so don't even try it," sasha continued to say, making us laugh.

"damn it," one girl mumbled.

i chuckled. "you think he's cute?" i whispered as i looked at her.

"you don't?" she rose her eyebrows.

"oh no he's very cute yes," i nodded.

she faced me. "frankie," she shook my hand.

"leilani," i smiled as i shook her hand.

"i don't live under a rock," she chuckled. "duh."

i just giggled.

"so yes mingle and get to know each other. and we'll see you guys this evening at the welcome cocktail party," sasha grinned before walking off.

"so word on the street is you ditched billie's tour to come do this," frankie rose her eyebrows at me.

"oh you gonna judge me for it to?" i folded my arms.

"oh no i think it's great," she shook her head. "never give up your dreams for anyone."

i smiled. "hmm i like you frankie."

"i'm pretty irresistible," she shrugged. "so try not to fall in love with me."

"okay," i chuckled. "i'll try my best."

"better, because i don't need your wife coming at me," she joked.

"k got it," i nodded in laughter.

"oh here get my number," she pulled her phone out. "so i can come get you for the party."

"oh you're gonna come get me?" i rose my eyebrows.

"yeah that's what friends do," she furrowed her eyebrows.

"oh," i blinked as i was caught off guard. "right okay yeah."

"k see you later girl," she said as she walked away.

i shook my head in laughter as i walked away and made it to margie.

"made a friend already?" she chuckled.

"nah the friend made me," i laughed.

-

"how's everything and everyone?" i smiled to billie through facetime.

i had my phone propped up on my bathroom counter as i did my makeup.

"everything and everyone are great," she giggled. "except me."

i furrowed my eyebrows. "what? what's wrong?"

"i miss you way too much," she poked out her lip.

"oh b," i blushed. "i miss you more. i literally cannot wait to see you again."

"when will that be?" she rose her eyebrows.

"don't you have a show in new york?" i asked.

"yeah but fuck that's months away," billie shook her head.

"oh fuck," i sighed. "yeah you're right."

"hey so what do you think about me dying my hair red?" she smirked.

"huh?" i rose my eyebrows. "your whole head?"

"no just the roots," she started. "like how the green was."

"that would honestly be so hot b," i nodded. "i might not let you go in public ever again."

she laughed. "it's just a thought though, i don't know."

"um lani!" margie yelled. "that girl from earlier is here!"

"that girl has a name," frankie said as she came prancing in. "oh your place is bigger than mine," her might kinda dropped. "not fair."

"well probably because my manager is staying with me so i needed a two bedroom apartment," i chuckled. "oh baby, this is frankie."

"oh my god," frankie said as she looked at my phone and noticed billie.

"heyyy," billie chuckled as she waved.

"heyyy," frankie smiled back. then she leaned down on the counter and got closer to my phone. "so tell me, when's the next album coming?"

"frankie," i nudged her arm as i laughed. "get out. i'll be ready in just a second."

she walked out and billie tried not to laugh. "she... seems interesting."

"she definitely is," i nodded. "she seems like just the thing i need in my life right now though."

-

frankie and i arrived to the party and immediately went to the bar.

"hi ma'am. what can i get for you?" the bartender asked me.

"something to clear my head so i'll stop missing my wife," i sighed.

"gross," frankie frowned at me.

"you don't feel my struggles," i squinted.

"i don't want to," she started. "all i wanna feel is this lemon drop martini hit my empty stomach."

"you haven't eaten?" my eyes got slightly wide. "and you're trying to drink?"

"miss rose," she chuckled. "i'm afraid you don't know me."

i just rolled my eyes.

"hi can i have an espresso martini," a guy said to the bartender from behind us.

i turned around to see that it was mr. marino.

"please explain to me why you're getting an espresso martini at 9pm," frankie rose her eyebrows at him.

"oh honey i don't sleep," he told frankie. "sleep is for straight people."

"hell yeah!" she high fived him.

i just chuckled and looked down, continuing to sip my drink.

"mrs. o'connell," he said as he elevator eyed me with the most diva attitude ever.

"hmm?" i rose my eyebrows, still sipping from my drink.

"you don't talk much do you?"

"oh uh yeah i just- um i don't know i-"

"i expect big things from you," he squinted.

"um- big things?" i got nervous.

"yeah you should be a pro at this," mr. marino started. "your walk should be flawless."

"oh of course," i cracked a smile while freaking out internally. "it is."

"i'll be the judge of that," he said before grabbing his drink and walking away.