Frozen in time

Chapter five

Alice.

It's ok. I know Sophie is a card-carrying bugger, but she's my friend. And I don't want her parents to take her away forever. It's as if a part of my life and Clara's life were suddenly ripped from us. She likes it here, we know that. And she has a life, she has her friends here. Why then does that gentleman of money and legal cases want to take her away?! She can't go. She simply CANNOT.

Yesterday at school, Eliza and I whispered during PE class that we had to come up with a plan to stop Sophie's parents from taking her. We did it during this class, because it's the only class Sophie is allowed not to attend, because her parents don't want her to end up getting hit in the eye during volleyball or something. If that happened, for them, her supermodel career would be over for good. And we both don't want Sophie to hear this, because she's already said that her parents don't want to hear discussions about it, and that anything we do would only make things worse. But friends sometimes stop listening to each other, just to be able to help her. After all, friends help, and they DON'T listen.

Anyway, I had the idea of ​​organizing a march against the case in front of the Castrynes' house, complete with posters, ink, loud music and shirtless boys shouting: Save Sophie! Except Eliza said Mr. Albert could at the very least kick us out, or put us all in prison. So she said that we could just talk to them, friendly and say how important Sophie is to a lot of people here, and promise on our knees that we'll do our best so she never gets into trouble again. Okay, I confess it's a good idea, aside from talking to Mr. Albert, because I'm terrified of Sophie's dad. I've only been to her house about twenty times in all our years of friendship, and nineteen of those times, Mr. Dr. Albert wasn't there. The only time I saw him was at Sophie's birthday party, I think seven years old, I remember like it was yesterday...

It was August, and it was summer, but it was raining heavily that day. Sophie's birthdays were usually celebrated at a very expensive private club, rented just for her party, but this year was different. She wanted a party with just her family and intimate friends at her house. We spent the whole day eating brigadeiro, drinking soda and singing Xuxa just for bass players in Karaoke. The three of us were dressed as princesses, Sophie made me and Eliza wear dresses with those skirts that look like wedding cakes, and wreaths.

The lights were off...through the window I could see lightning, thunder and raindrops falling...everyone was happy...Sophie's big pink cake had seven candles lit and ready to be blown out... But when the three of us bent over the table to blow out the fire, Mr. Albert dropped the camera to the floor, gave a loud ''no!'' scream, and ran to pick Sophie up before she blew. the candle.

The three of us ended up falling to the floor, taking all the sweets from the table with us. In the end we found out that he swore he saw the end of Sophie's bow tie touching the candle, and catching fire. But there was no fire. And he ended up ruining his daughter's birthday. Sophie doesn't like to talk about this day, because she preferred to forget, but I've been afraid of her father ever since. I only like Ms. Samantha because she always gives us dozens of beauty products for Christmas and because she is an easy person to give.

But Eliza said we need to talk to both her mom and dad, so I said fine. But first I'll warm up in case we have to run out of there, if her father decides to get a g*n or something and tell us to get out of there. I know he would never do that because he's a law enforcement guy and stuff, but...who knows?

Today is the day to go to art class with my mother, and now that Biel has agreed to go with me, he will have to suffer a little too.

When I finish getting ready, I text him.

''Biel, I'm ready. Waits for me on the corner of the art school where I'm already going with my mother.''

And he answers me:

''Actually, I've been here for three minutes and if you don't come soon, this old lady who is waiting for the bus to pass will end up asking me to date. And you know... I don't like to disappoint the elderly.''

As I burst out laughing, I check my hair one more time in the mirror and open the door to find my mom and my three brothers, all dressed up and looking at me with faces like: Are you ready?

- Don't tell me the brats...?

- Oh, they'll go with us if that's what you were going to say. - my mother says. - Is ready?

'Yes,' I say, even though my whole plan to stand in a corner of the art room talking bad about Biel's drawing while trying to play a Picasso was going down the drain. And all this because my brothers won't leave me alone. Of that, I'm sure.

- Well then what are we waiting for? Let's paint! - she says, and my brothers run screaming in an irritating chorus of children: Eeeeh!

Today, teacher Diana said that we are going to take advantage of the sunny afternoon and the beautiful green of the park to be inspired by the outdoors. And then the other five women in their thirties - probably married with kids, but who had nothing better to do than participate in a silly art class where everyone paints any nonsense and can go out saying ''I am painter in his spare time'', when someone asks him ''what else do you do, besides taking care of the house?'' - they headed to the park with their blank screens, paints and brushes.

Gabriel and I sat as far away from my mother and brothers as possible, near a coconut tree and a fountain.

- Want to bet she's going to ask us to draw the sun? I say softly to Gabriel as I watch the teacher settle in and help the other women with their papers.

- I think it might be that tree over there. - he laughs and so do I.

"Very good folks," Professor Diana begins, looking at her students (and my siblings) intently. - Today I want you to paint something special. Paint something that comes from your heart. Open your minds and get inspired by nature... think about how all this is beautiful, how all this was made by just one being who is God... if he did, why can't we paint?

I had forgotten how weird Professor Diana was. She talks a lot about nature and God's creations... I wonder if she's a hippie or something. And not to mention that she speaks really slow... makes it sound like a four-word sentence is eight, I think, or she either does a lot of yoga and takes laxatives to sleep, or she smokes some kind of d**g like cocaine. I swear it does.

- Let your minds float and take you to another universe. A universe where only nature and what is natural exist.

I think I have an idea what to draw.

When I give one last brush of green paint to my most beautiful and amazing sheet, I look to my side to try one more time to see Gabriel's drawing, but he turns the sheet over.

- No. It's not ready yet. - he looks at me and smiles, while taking some blue paint.

- What are you drawing?

- Calm. You will already know. - He gives me one more glowing look and then looks at his drawing. - And ready.

He rotates his drawing for me to see, and I'm surprised. He drew ME. Serious. He drew me sitting on a rock in the middle of a huge forest, and I'm still digging through a notebook. And it's a beautiful design, full of details and vibrant colors... I'm so... similar to myself, and wearing the same blue blouse and denim shorts that I'm wearing now, - how come...? - The only thing that intrigues me is that I have a sad expression on my face, focused only on my computer, even though I am in the middle of a beautiful and big forest, with birds and a river. HOW DID he do it all in thirty minutes? My jaw drops.

- That's me?

- Of course it is. - he laughs. - And then? Did you like it?

- I loved. - I widen my eyes to see the drawing up close, in the signature he wrote:

''Artist: Gabriel, muse: Alice, the most beautiful girl in the universe.''

I blush when I read this. Serious. Like...I shouldn't, under the circumstances, but I was embarrassed.

- Thank you for the compliment. - smile. - Why didn't you tell me you're an artist?

- I'm not one. I can only draw you.

I blush even more. Only he starts to laugh.

- Because I see your face so many times, I've memorized the details. he says, and I get a hint of annoyance that he spoiled the compliment. - What did you draw?

- Hmm... I drew the most natural thing in the world... - I turn my screen to him. - A leaf!

When he sees my drawing he doesn't hold back, and starts to laugh.

- Whoa. How creative.

I give him tongue. But for real. ME. I AM. UPSET.

- Let's see what the two drew... - The teacher approaches me, before I even notice her, and looks thoughtfully at my drawing, with her fingers on her chin, as if it were something very difficult to decipher. - Interesting... - she leaves saying, and looks at Gabriel's drawing. - Check this out... This is a real work of art. You can feel the emotions... it's as if the girl doesn't know what's beautiful out there.

I look at her indignantly. Doesn't she know this girl is me? Then I look at Gabriel, and he shrugs.

- Very well class. Congratulations to everyone today! - the teacher says, and we all applaud. I don't know exactly what, or who. But we all applaud.

I look at my mom, and she's beaming in front of her drawing. My brothers have already painted any scribble on their canvas, and now they're running around everyone with brushes and paints in their hands. And when I see that Leo and Leandro are holding the ink up for Carlinhos to pick up, I predict that something really bad is about to happen to me. Leandro runs with a pot of yellow paint towards me, and I see everything in slow motion: my mother calling them, and the teacher going to get the paints... Carlinhos gets in front of him and he trips... the paint fly away... and guess where she ended up?

Exactly. In my head.

They are laughing at me. But I don't find anything funny. I'm soaked in yellow paint, and looking like a fool. Even Gabriel is trying to hide his laughter, but he can't.

I can't wait for the next class.

***

Eliza.

Everything is fine. Everything is fine. - I say to myself as I go to Dr. Roberto's office.

Yesterday, when I came to work, I asked Carol about her escape, to go out with her boyfriend. She told me that everything went well, that when she came back, Nurse Silveria asked if everything was ok with her and left. According to her, no one in the hospital suspected anything. So I got calmer. Only today when I came to work, Ms. G said my boss was calling me urgently in his office. I froze right away, like... this job is my life!

I had forgotten that hospitals also had security cameras, and that maybe Ms. Silveria suspected that Carol had gone out on Saturday, and she told Dr. Roberto. My God, I'm going to lose my job. I don't want to lose this job for several reasons, one of them is that it's important for starting a great career as a doctor. I still dream of being one of the best doctors in the state, if not the country. But also, he is helping me to achieve my other dream which is to travel to the United States. And if I lose my job now, how am I going to get money for the tickets?

And I just got the job. I barely have the experience I wanted to have, I need to learn more things before entering college. He has to understand. I'm going to ask...no, I'm going to beg him not to fire me from this job. Shouldn't he be that hard? Or should it...? I remembered that Eduardo once told me that he was a very dedicated and serious doctor, and that if there was a stone preventing his work, he would take it out of the way. My God! I feel like that rock now.

But I'm competent, I work hard, I do everything I'm asked to do. He can't fire me like that, just because I let a girl have the moments with her boyfriend I always wanted to have. And besides, Carol is back, safe and sound. She's fine, and it's not like she had an accident, or had a seizure. He has to understand. My God. I'm in a cold sweat and trying not to cry. Why did I go to be like this? Never say no to people. Never fail to do something for someone else. This is killing me.

I take a deep breath before pushing open the white door with the little ''Dr. Roberto, chief surgeon''. He is sitting in a big black swivel chair. It's not like I've never entered his room, nor have I ever seen him. But it doesn't hurt to notice how big and comfortable it is, with sofas, a table with a computer, and papers, and a mini bar with juices and ice water (which we interns don't have), and that for a man of thirty years old, he's very handsome. I know where Eduardo's beautiful eyes, that silky hair and the shape of Eduardo's face came from. As I close the door behind me, he motions for me to take a seat in the front chair.

Oh my... he's so serious. And I'm shaking.

- Hi, Maria Eliza. - he says. And I wonder if that's how a resignation conversation starts. Because if it is, I'm lost. - Everything is fine?

- Yes, thank you.

"You..." He frowns slightly. -She looks nervous. Do you want to take something?

No. No. NO. I just want my job. - I cry mentally.

- No, thank you. I'm fine.

- Well... I know you're a good friend of my son Eduardo.

Friend? Hmm, what does he mean by that? Did he not approve of our relationship?

- Yes I am. I swallow dry, and clasp my hands in my lap.

- So, you should know that he will travel next month.

- I do know... sir.

Where does he want to go with this? Like... what does Edu have to do with my firing?

- Well... I called you to my office to make you a proposal.

- Proposal? - I frown. What?!

- IT'S. I was wondering if you'd like to take his place while he's gone...you know? He's a very important intern and when he leaves there won't be anyone to replace him. But you are an exemplary employee, and from what I have heard about you, I see that you do your duties very well. So it's the only one with the capacity for that. So... what do you think? Can you work for two people? Of course, your salary will also double.

The double?! Wonder if I can make it? I think I'll spend all day working and solving problems. But I'll earn double and I'll finally be able to save money for tickets to New York. It's great to have more money. But I'm going to sleep late, get tired and probably run out. Can I do this...? Wonder if I can make it?

- It is clear. - I say, with more certainty than I would like. - Of course I can.

- Excellent. - Dr. Ricardo smiles, satisfied. And ual... his smile is identical to Eduardo's. - You start tomorrow. You can prepare yourself.

I just found out that a huge twenty-story building came out of my back. I REALLY thought I was going to spend the night crying in my room, drinking hot chocolate, and hearing my mother say, ''Calm down my daughter, he wasn't for you... soon there will be another one'', as if I'm done with a boyfriend. Only I was PROMOTED.

I'm so happy I can't even think of something to celebrate.

***

Sophie.

- Is ready? I'll drop by to pick you up in fifteen minutes. - Enrique tells me by cell phone, stubborn.

- Rick, I already told you that Catito can pick me up here at home. If you come, my dad might end up forbidding me to see it at once! - I scream, for the hundredth time.

After I tried to run away from home, my dad found out it was to see my boyfriend. And he didn't let it go. He went to the poor man's house and recited the ''ten commandments'' to him. Enrique said that my father just said the ''right'', that I couldn't go out at that time, that I could have gotten hurt and blah blah blah... but I know - because I know Mr. Albert so well , - that he threatened to end our relationship if that happened one more time. And Enrique is very brave for challenging my father like that. Because after all, he still insists on showing up around here.

- It's ok. But I'll go to the agency and wait for you there. We need to talk in person and I won't let it pass today. - he says, and hangs up.

What?! I think it's the first time he's been the one who hangs up on our calls. Did he... Oh no, it's not possible. Does Rick want to break up with me? Am I sad about this? I am very sad. I thought he liked me. I mean...we've been together for a while now, and why just now, does he want to break up with me?

I think I can get an idea of ​​''why''.

Someone knocks on my bedroom door, and when I open it, I bump into Joane's replacement. What's her name again...? Oh, it seems to be...

- Hey?

- Enika. - she corrects. And I do not like this.

She is tall, blond and has a very hard expression on her face. If she put a huge wart on her face, puckered her eyebrows, and dyed her hair I could swear she's Nanny McPhee from the movies herself, before she raises the kids and goes back to being pretty. Am I so bad that my dad pays a witch to take care of me?

- Your parents told me that before you leave, it's for me to make sure what time you intend to return, where you are going, and with whom...

- What the hell is this...? - I say, indignant.

How can they do this to me? Put a nasty sergeant on my foot?

- My mom knows I'm going to work. That I go with Catito every day to the agency, and come back at seven. Why are they doing this?

- Because they care about you.

- Well, for me, that's called obsession! - I take my cell phone, my purse, and pass by the lady sergeant.

- Don't you want to eat anything before you go miss?

- Eat what?! cucumber and olive oil salad? No thank you.

I run down the stairs. I know I shouldn't treat employees that way, but it's all my parents' fault. If they weren't so overprotective, maybe I wouldn't think everyone around me was smothering me.

As soon as the gate opens, I run to get into Catito's car, who is waiting for me in front of my house. I want to get out of here as soon as possible. I close the door, and check my lip gloss in the mirror.

- Did you bring the parade? - I say, looking at my side.

- It is clear. - Catito gives me a knowing smile, and reaches for a package from the back seat of the car. He gives it to me, and accelerates the car. - It's all there. Have fun, but not so much. You still have some pictures to take at the agency today and I don't want you to get high.

- Serious? I thought it would be tomorrow.

- No. They postponed it to today because they hired a new photographer. He came straight from New York to the agency and they want some models to test his ability. It must be a very scandalous bofe, because the girls don't stop talking about him for a second. - he smiled.

Hmm... cat photographer. I think this reminds me of someone. The memory makes me smile.

- And how was it with dracula?

- Oh, don't even talk to me about my father now. Can you believe he put a babysitter on my foot?!

- Do not play!

- I swear! She wants to know everything I do.

- You mean that in addition to wanting to ban your dating, send you to another country, the old man wants to spy on you?

'Yes.' I look forward to where hundreds of cars are parked on the busy avenue, waiting for the light to turn. - I just can't take it anymore.

- I feel sorry for you friend.

- I know. I look at him, and lean in to kiss his face. - And thank you. But I still think something bad is going to happen to me today.

- Swear?! - he says, amazed. - And what can be worse with you, Sophie?

- I think Rick will break up with me.

- No! - he puts a hand full of silver and gold rings over his mouth. - Why would he do that?

- I do not know. I won't know until I get to the agency, where he'll be waiting for me. But in the meantime, I still have my babies...

I open the package and smile when I know it's all here: my chocolate truffles, my cheese Cheetos, the milk chocolate bars, and my Fini sweets. I asked Catito to buy everything and leave it in his car, as I spend most of my day in this car, - because I hate riding in my parents' cars, with that bald driver named Greg, he goes twenty kilometers per hour on a track of sixty! - for me to eat during our travels. It's our own secret, and he promised me he wouldn't tell anyone, least of all my parents. Because if they figure this out, I'm going to have to run to Milan to slim down the calories I gained eating this. REALLY.

When Catito and I get out of the car in the agency's closed parking lot, we bump into Enrique standing next to his red SUV, wearing dark jeans and a full-sleeved V-neck blouse. He looks a little distressed when see me. It wasn't the expression I was hoping for, considering we haven't seen each other in person in four days. I walk in my ankle boot with heels over to him, and Catito follows me.

"Hi," I say, a little confused.

"Hi," he says, pulling away from the car.

What?! Didn't he come to kiss me?! FOR CERTAINLY, he will break up with me. I can't explain it, but I shivered at the idea. The weather freezes right now.

- Hi? - Catito saves me, and jumps between the two of us. - All right? - he kisses Rick's cheeks, who replies with a ''hi'' a bit flustered.

- It's okay, thank you Charles.

- What?! - Catito looks at him, irritated. - No one has called me that since the flood, my angel. You know what... let's go in to talk in a more comfortable environment with air conditioning and cold water, because this heat is from hell...

Rick and I laughed when I saw Catito fanning himself with his hands, but that didn't melt the ice between us. We enter the elevator in the parking lot, in a disturbing silence. And when we walk into the agency, he looks everywhere except for me.

The Way Models agency occupies the entire building. It's not very big, it only has about ten floors, but it's the seat of the country, and it sells a little more than twenty models (only on this base). The floor I'm on is the seventh floor, where Joe's office is, my boss/agent/sponsor/manager, and where most things happen. It consists of a large bright space, the walls painted white, with giant photo frames of some of the famous models who started their careers here, and dozens of others, including some of mine. It has tall windows with panoramic views of the city, and computer desks for the agency's attendants and telephone operators.

- Sophie! - someone yells in the middle of the hallway, as soon as I cross the hall.

I look over to see Priscilla running towards me. She's also a model, and her body is exactly my measurements, except she's all blonde and blue eyes. It's the first friendship I made at the agency, after Catito, of course.

- What's it?

- I'm glad you came. - She says, breathing between the words. - Joe's waiting for you in his office. He said it's super important, and you've yet to meet our new photographer.

- And where is he?

- I'll look for him... - she starts to speak.

- You don't have to. I'm fine here. - A soft and rustic voice at the same time echoed in my ears, and my nerves jumped.

I swallow the dry, and brace my feet to keep from falling, when I look across Priscilla and see him. The photographer. The most beautiful photographer in the world that I NEVER thought I would see again in my life, is right here, two steps away from mm. I look at everyone around me, thinking this could be some crazy prank. But Priscila is just pleased to find him very quickly, Catito is shocking pink and radiant, probably also surprised to be in front of so much beauty and beauty, and Rick is just frowning slightly as he catches me looking at Thiago .

- Hi - he approaches, giving a seductive smile, and blinding, - It's good to see you again Sophie. - He extends his hand to me.

I look at him, and blink twice. But I squeeze his hand, and I see with gratitude his smile widening. He gets serious and quickly composes himself, but gives me a strange look, of someone who lusts after something precious from his friend and lightly bites his own lower lip after discreetly running his tongue over it, a gesture that makes me breathe hard, and ask me if anyone is watching it all.

- Hmmm, yeah... it's good to see you too... Thiago. - I stammer, and without realizing it, I'm still staring at him.

Priscilla pulls me out of my trance when she grabs my arm.

- Well, since you two already know each other. Why don't you walk me to Joe's office? He is waiting for you. - she pulls me. - Excuse me boys. Sophie will be back in a few minutes to continue the party.

I let her lead me down the hall. But I look back once more to see the guy with his hands in the pockets of his brown leather jacket as she dries me with a piercing look. Then I look at Enrique, who is jaw-dropping, looking at me. Oh no, did he see my reaction? Did everyone see it? I do not know!

MY GOD! My little sky god. Why do these weird things only happen to me? I'm feeling embarrassed, embarrassed, scared, confused, guilty, and dozens of other things right now. And I still feel like there's more to come.

I take a deep breath and blink my eyes deeply.

Is it just me, or are those sweets I ate making me see white, green, and blue lights?

What's happening to me?!

Shit! I want to throw up.