Catwalk. Part 21

"And see-" I point my finger at her. "That's one thing about fashion that makes me want to scream and pull my hair out. Stick-thin models. Stick-thin models. Seriously, if we interview any stick girls in Paris, I might not be able to control myself from asking them about their health and eating habits." I kind of chuckle. "Or maybe I'll just bring in a bunch of croissants and pastries and sit there and noisily pig out in front of them." Seriously, if we interview any stick girls in Paris, I might not be able to control myself from asking them about their health and eating habits." I kind of chuckle. "Or maybe I'll just bring in a bunch of croissants and pastries and sit there and noisily pig out in front of them."

Paige presses her lips together with a slightly creased brow. "You know, Erin, that's an interesting angle. The skinny trend had really been changing a couple years ago. Several designers even banned overly thin models from their runways. Now that I think about it, though, it seems like some of them went back to their old ways. Especially internationally. You know, maybe we should do a show that specifically addresses this issue."

"Seriously?"

She nods eagerly as she picks up her cell phone. "I'm going to call Fran right now and see what she thinks."

"What about dinner? Is there something I can do?"

"You could run and get some flowers. Something Parisian-looking, like you picked it up from a street vendor, okay?"

"What about Jon?" I ask. Jon and Mom have been engaged for a couple of months, but already he feels like family.

"Don't worry. I already invited him. He even offered to pick up dinner on his way over. We're aiming to eat at eight. Is that okay?" She's got the phone to her ear now.

"Sure."

As Paige begins explaining to Fran about my anorexic models story idea, even giving me credit for thinking of this angle, I grab my bag and head down to my Jeep, trying to remember where the closest florist shop is located. The only one I can think of is a few miles down the freeway and it's commuter traffic time now. Still, it's the least I can do, considering Paige has already put this Parisian dinner plan together for Mom. I'm impressed that she cared enough to go to this trouble. My sister used to be a lot more self-centered and selfish. But I can tell she's changing. And that's pretty cool.

It hasn't always been easy being Paige Forrester's little sister. It's even harder playing Camera Girl, Fashion Flop, or even Jiminy Cricket, as our producer, Helen Hudson, likes to call me, since a big part of my job is keeping Paige out of trouble. But sometimes it can be kind of fun, and I am actually looking forward to Paris.

Yet, at the same time, I wonder just how needed I'll be on our reality show now. Because, to everyone's surprise, Paige has really grown up a lot in the past couple months. She's taking life more seriously, taking responsibility for more things both at work and at home, and actually thinking about others. I realize it's greatly due to Mia Renwick's tragic death on Oscar night. Talk about a tough wake-up call for everyone. For a few horrid hours, we actually thought it was Paige who'd been killed in the car wreck. That's a night I never want to relive.

Paige had gone to a party with Benjamin after the Oscars, but when they were leaving and she found out he'd been drinking, she refused to ride with him and called a cab. Then Mia made the fatal mistake of getting into Benjamin's car. Now Benjamin has been charged with vehicular homicide but, according to Benjamin, both he and Mia had been drinking. He claims Mia actually caused the accident when she lost her temper and physically laid into him while he was driving in the Hollywood hills, even grabbing and twisting the wheel right before the accident occurred. Benjamin says that Mia was still enraged over their breakup several weeks earlier. Apparently the evidence is starting to support Benjamin's side of the story too, because witnesses reported Mia was acting hostile when she and Ben left together, and her blood-alcohol level in the toxicology reports was very high. Ben's blood alcohol, however, was under the legal limit when the police arrived and administered the Breathalyzer. Also, according to Paige, the police said the skid marks at the scene of the accident match his story-it appears someone changed the direction of the vehicle very suddenly.

Even so, I still think Benjamin's guilty. I realize I'm probably more judgmental than most when it comes to drinking and driving, but I think anyone who gets behind the wheel after consuming alcohol should be locked up for a while. Really, what could it hurt?

And I'm not sorry that Paige is keeping her distance from Benjamin now. Oh, she talks to him on the phone sometimes. I call them mercy chats. Mostly she's worried that he's feeling depressed. Hey, he should be depressed. A young woman is dead because of him. He can claim it's Mia's fault, but he was the one driving that night. It's not like I hate him or anything. I really don't. In fact, I pray for him every day. I just don't think he should get off too easily. That's all I'm saying.

Thinking all this, and because I'm stuck in traffic that's not budging an inch, I decide to give Blake a quick call, since I know he met with Benjamin this morning. They've actually been doing a Bible study together. I'm not sure if Benjamin is taking it seriously or just hopes that it will improve his bad boy image, but it sure won't hurt him to hear some truth either.

"Old Ben was pretty b.u.mmed today," Blake tells me. "Mia's parents have launched what feels like a full-blown smear campaign. They're talking to publicists and any press that will listen, trying to make Benjamin out to be a murderer who's about to get off scot-free."

"That's not so far from the truth."

"But Erin, they're even comparing him to OJ Simpson. It's like they want him ruined forever. It might even crush his movie deal."

I feel my fingers tightening on the steering wheel, which is pointless since the car isn't even moving. I let go and take in a deep breath. "Okay, I'll admit the OJ thing seems harsh. But it's true that some celebrities beat the rap simply because of their names. It irks me when I see one going off on his merry way like, no big deal. That's just not fair. Maybe losing the movie deal is for the best."

"What about what Jesus said about not throwing stones?" he asks me.

I consider this. "Yeah, I know...and you're right. But I still think Benjamin should a.s.sume some blame for-"

"He knows that he's partly to blame and he wants to admit it. But his attorney is counseling him to continue proclaiming his innocence."

"See, and that bugs me. Maybe if Benjamin took some responsibility for the accident, Mia's parents would let up on him."

"Maybe..." Blake sounds discouraged.

"I'm sorry, Blake, I don't mean to get on my soapbox. Sorry I sound so negative. I know it's not fair for me to take it out on poor Ben. I really do feel sorry for him and it's cool that you're spending time with him." I peer down the freeway with four lanes of immobile traffic as far as I can see. "It doesn't help that I'm stuck on I5, and you know how aggravated I get. Patience is not my strong suit."

"Where you headed anyway?"

"I was supposed to pick up some flowers for my mom. Paige is giving her an authentic Parisian dinner tonight."

He laughs. "To make up for leaving her home?"

"Yeah, and we have to watch To Catch a Thief To Catch a Thief with her too, since it's a film that's set on the Mediterranean." with her too, since it's a film that's set on the Mediterranean."

"Man, how many French movies have you girls watched already?"

"Too many." To pa.s.s the time, I actually start to list the films. "I really liked Amelie Amelie," I admit. "And La Vie en Rose La Vie en Rose was amazing, but it was kind of a downer too. Paige's all-time favorite is still was amazing, but it was kind of a downer too. Paige's all-time favorite is still Funny Face. Funny Face. And any other film with her favorite fashion icon-Ms. Hepburn. We watched And any other film with her favorite fashion icon-Ms. Hepburn. We watched Charade Charade and even and even Sabrina Sabrina, which is only partially set in Paris." I notice some of the brake lights flashing and I realize that cars are starting to move. "I better hang up," I say quickly. "Thanks for keeping me company in the traffic jam. Please don't take what I said about Benjamin too seriously. I really do care about him."

"I know you do. And if it's any comfort, I agree with a lot of what you said. But Benjamin needs friends more than accusers right now."

"I'll keep that in mind." I say good-bye and hang up as I put the Jeep into gear. After snarking and going on about DUIs, I'm fully aware that driving while talking or texting on the phone or while doing a lot of other distracting things, like eating, is just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. After all, I've given Paige that same lecture more than once when I've caught her putting on mascara or lip gloss while she's driving. Although I'll admit I haven't noticed her doing it lately.

Once again I'm reminded that my role on our show might be more expendable than I realized. It might be written out even sooner than I expected. Perhaps it's right around the corner. Because I'm fully aware that On the Runway On the Runway does not need Camera Girl to make it a success-Paige Forrester is what makes the show so popular. Sometimes, like right now, I worry that I'm just an unnecessary distraction. Extra baggage. Another expense. Really, the show would be perfectly fine without me. does not need Camera Girl to make it a success-Paige Forrester is what makes the show so popular. Sometimes, like right now, I worry that I'm just an unnecessary distraction. Extra baggage. Another expense. Really, the show would be perfectly fine without me.

And here's what's really weird, especially when I remember how much I whined about being hijacked into reality TV back in the beginning. The truth is that I would not be perfectly fine without the show. I would not be perfectly fine without the show. I really like being part of it. I'm actually learning a lot about film and production-much more than I ever would've learned by now in film cla.s.ses. And I love being with Paige. I don't even mind being called Camera Girl or even Jiminy Cricket that much. What I do mind is not being needed anymore. That seriously worries me. I really like being part of it. I'm actually learning a lot about film and production-much more than I ever would've learned by now in film cla.s.ses. And I love being with Paige. I don't even mind being called Camera Girl or even Jiminy Cricket that much. What I do mind is not being needed anymore. That seriously worries me.

Other books by Melody Carlson

ON THE RUNWAY SERIES.

Premiere (Book One) (Book One)

CARTER HOUSE GIRLS SERIES.

Mixed Bags (Book One) (Book One)

Stealing Bradford (Book Two) (Book Two)

Homecoming Queen (Book Three) (Book Three)

Viva Vermont! (Book Four) (Book Four)

Lost in Las Vegas (Book Five) (Book Five)

New York Debut (Book Six) (Book Six)

Spring Breakdown (Book Seven) (Book Seven)

Last Dance (Book Eight) (Book Eight)

BOOKS FOR TEENS.

The Secret Life of Samantha McGregor series

Diary of a Teenage Girl series

TrueColors series

Notes from a Spinning Planet series

Degrees series

Piercing Proverbs

By Design series

WOMEN'S FICTION

These Boots Weren't Made for Walking

On This Day

An Irish Christmas

The Christmas Bus

Crystal Lies

Finding Alice

Three Days