Model Perfect

Chapter 17: The Girlfriend

"Do you want to be my girlfriend?" Arlo asks again. It's not that I don't hear what he's asking. Instead, I don't know how to respond. Dating Arlo would end my modeling career, but so would cancer.

"Arlo, it's complicated. I want to be your girlfriend...I really do. But I literally just ended it with, Hunter yesterday. Can I have a few days to let what's happened between us sink in? I love you, Arlo. I just need time. Okay?"

"Hey, that's fine. It's good enough for me."

I need to be frank with Arlo. He needs me to speak freely and be myself.

"Arlo, I need you to remember that I did sign a contract with Model Perfect. Unfortunately, Hunter is apart of that public image. If you don't mind me faking it for the public, then I think we could make this work behind closed doors."

He pulls away from me still naked in my sheets. I almost forgot that he slept with me last night.

"He harmed you, Emma. You can't let him get away with it. You just can't."

"He gets away with whatever he likes. I'm terrified of him. Isn't it obvious. He always finds out about everything and makes me pay for it. If he doesn't squeeze my arm, he twists my wrists or pulls my hair. On occasion he'll...slap my face."

The tears fall as they may. They drop in all the places they like.

"I'll always protect you. Don't you forget that. I can take Hunter on, anytime? He's small compared to me. He doesn't need to be a reason you and I aren't together."

Arlo gets out of bed and puts his clothes on. I get one last look at his six pack before it disappears under a graphic tee.

"If Hunter doesn't stop us. Rosa and Freddie will. Freddie will remind me of my Model Perfect contract and Rosa is more worried about my public image than I am."

The truth is being together is forbidden. No matter how I look at it, being together in secret is

ution.

"I know you need time to figure this out. But we will make it work. If anyone gives you trouble, please tell me."

Arlo hands me the camera. I look down and see the confident photos that he took of me yesterday. Would he be willing to do another photo session like this one?

"I will, I promise. And Arlo, thanks for not sharing these photos with everyone. That would be pretty embarrassing. Would you be willing to do it again sometime? Another photo session like this?"

Arlo blushes and puts his hand down my shirt and turns me around into his arms. His hand grazes me chest, and the air in my lungs matches his.

"Sure, we can do another one, if you want. Although, the next time might be harder for me to be professional now that I've been inside you."

He says it so innocently that he blushes and laughs.

"I love your dimple. It's sexy," I say while turning my head around to look at him. Arlo admires us in the mirror. He puts his hand down my pants again and feels my wetness.

"Is it okay, if I touch you like this?" Unlike Hunter, Arlo asks permission. I nod and I let him finger me for a moment. He kisses my neck, and watches us together in the mirror.

I turn around and kiss Arlo. My mouth touches his almost instantly. I bite his lip a little and he moans for a moment. I know if we keep going we will end up having s*x again.

"I need to get going, Arlo. Thanks for everything this weekend." Arlo smiles and our noses brush together.

Arlo takes his hands out of my pants and tastes his fingers. He pulls his fingers out of his mouth one at a time, the way Rosa practices using a lollipop.

"Have a good day, Emma. Don't forget, I love you. We'll make this work, somehow. For now, I am fine not telling if you are."

"Sure, we can make it work in secret. We can use this class project as an excuse to see each other and to have some fun."

Arlo puts his fingers back in his mouth.

"We'll have fun alright."

My body aches for his touch. I've never craved a man, but I know this feeling of desire has awaken something in me. Hunter will never be able to fill my cup ever again, but Arlo is enough to keep me happy for a life time.

Arlo turns and walks away and prepares to head down the stairs. I fling on a sun dress so I can walk him out of the house. He opens the door and keeps walking. I run after him, and when I do I call to him.

"Arlo...wait." I jump into his arms and put my lips against his. He picks me up and spins me around. As we are kissing, my mother pulls into the driveway with an expression that says it all. The 'we need to talk' look. Knowing my mom she will tell me that being in love with Arlo is foolish. But right now I remember that I am eighteen and if I want to be with Arlo that's nobody's business but ours.

Arlo leaves and I wave goodbye after him.

My mother rolls down her window and when she does the judgmentaggers are flung in my direction.

"Who is that? He doesn't look like Hunter to me."

"That's because I dumped Hunter," I say as the pit in my stomach lowers and gets deeper and deeper. I feel like Alice from Alice in Wonderland. My life is spiraling out of control and nothing my mother says will bring me comfort.

"Did you dump Hunter for this riffraff?" I hate it when my mother is judgemental and the words are mean. Her words are like fighting dogs that have been starving for eight days. To those dogs, I must look like a Thanksgiving feast.

"No, mom. I dumped Hunter because I don't love him anymore. If you want to know the truth. He isn't nice to me."

"I don't care how nice he is or isn't to you, Emma. He is a part of your Model Perfect publicity deal. If you aren't with the Aftershock lead singer of whatever lead he is, then that's it deals off."

I don't want to model anymore. Not for Model Perfect. Its hard to feel perfect when my body is nothing but a cancerous ticking time bomb. I told Freddie not to tell my parents I had a biopsy. But maybe I should.

"I don't care about the deal anymore. My career is over anyway."

I take my mom's hand and place it against my throat. I swallow hard as a giant gulp turns into the bitter tears of a cancer patient.

"What's going on?" My mother asks.

"I had a biopsy done. I have thyroid cancer, mom. I didn't want to worry you. But I have things I need to decide about my modeling career. And that riffraff boy you so easily judged is the only person who has helped me through this. His mother died of thyroid cancer, and he has given me resources about how to deal with it. He's given me support group information."

My heart pounds as I talk about Arlo. Its satisfying to brag about Arlo. I wasn't sure if I had really fallen in love with him, until this moment. Keeping Arlo to myself makes me question if my love is real. But talking about him, proves how much he has come to mean to me in such a short time.

"Do you love him?" My mother asks.

I'm amazed she's already asking. I was expecting a lecture on Hunter and loyalty to Model Perfect. For even my mother has signed forms on my behalf to keep me in line. I am not sure they are valid anymore, now that I am eighteen.

"His name is, Arlo Finch. And yes, I would say I love him very much. Please don't tell Hunter or Freddie. I am still figuring out what Arlo and I are. And mom please don't worry about my thyroid cancer."

"You'll always be my little girl, so of course I am going to worry. But for now, just know I am not the heartless mother you claim me to be. I know Hunter is not nice, he hasn't harmed you has he?"

I lower my eyes and cover my face. It's an instant reaction, and my mother pulls me in for a hug. She walks me over to the front porch bench.

"He likes to hit me sometimes. At the Halloween party he got aggressive and Arlo found me. I'm already. Arlo is protective of me. He cares about me."

"Then you can date him for now. I won't say anything to Freddie. However, if Hunter is as bad as you say, then something needs to be done. For now, we will keep you away from him as much as possible until you've made a decision on your career and your health."

My mother goes into the house. She's gone from Cruella to a hero in a single conversation. Mothers and daughters are beings that are meant to love and kill each other at the same time. It is a lovely beautiful thing. It's nice to have my mother supporting Arlo and me. It means I don't have to keep him and secret forever, and having one person know my true feelings makes me feel a little less fake inside.