Chapter 6

                                    

                                          
 The next week, I was back in Lara's office. It was my morning off and Lara had called a few days ago to request me to come to her office. As usual, she didn't bother telling me why we were meeting up. So here I sat, on her soft suede chair, and wondered if the agency was planning on revoking the offer of representing me.
                          
 Think happy thoughts. Happy thoughts...
                          
 "Lara," I blurted. She looked up from the papers she was scanning through and raised her eyebrows. She'd spoken approximately two words since I'd entered the office, and that had been a good ten minutes ago. "Does the agency no longer want to represent me? Do you no longer want to represent me?"
                          
 "Taylor," She mimicked my nervous and squeaky tone. "Are you going to let me get on with my work or ask useless questions?"
                          
 I snapped my jaw shut and made plans to glue it shut when I got home.
                          
 She sighed and shuffled her papers. "When we sign a new model, Taylor, we usually go through some necessary steps before sending her out on go-sees."
                          
 I stared back at her and wondered where this was going.
                          
 "Okay," I said slowly when I realized she was waiting for an answer.
                          
 "The main thing we need to work on," she continued, "is your look."
                          
 "My look," I repeated.
                          
 "Yes," Lara put the papers back in her folder and put the folder inside a briefcase. She then grabbed a structured purse and hooked it over shoulder all the while maintaining a firm grip on the briefcase. "Let's go," She said and promptly exited the office.
                          
 I sat there another second, confused at her sudden exit, and then leapt up from my chair and scuttled after her, nearly twisting an ankle in my ridiculous wedges.
                          
 As I caught up with her she told me, "We are making a quick trip downtown. You don't mind, right?"
                          
 "Uh," I stalled. "Of course not." I still had a couple of hours before I had to be at work. "Can I ask where we're going?"
                          
 "A salon." She said.
                          
 "What?" I said. "Why?"
                          
 "Do you object?" We had exited their office building and were now on the busy street. I pushed past the hordes of people and tried to keep up with Lara, all the while teetering in my shoes. I glanced at her and wondered how she managed to keep her footwork so steady when the city pavements were filled with so many cracks and dents. 
                          
 "Uh, no," I said. "Of course not." Another glance at her showed me she wore flats. 
                          
 "Good," Lara fluffed up her hair. "I assume you don't mind walking. It's only about ten minutes away from here. And after all, you do have to stay in shape."
                          
 I opened my mouth to answer but this time she wasn't looking for an answer.
                          
 "And I don't want any discreet mentions that you don't like your look, either." The crosswalk signal turned red but Lara just jogged across the street, forcing me to follow her, feeling like my death could come at any second and forcing the rest of the traffic to honk at us. "Oh hush," She said to the traffic. "Like you're not running to make it somewhere,"
                          
 "Lara," I gasped. My feet ached and I could feel blisters popping up everywhere. Four inch wedges were not advisable for city walking. Or, um, running. "How much further is it? Not to whine or anything, but my feet are killing."
                          
 She pointedly looked down at my feet and clucked. "Always keep a pair of rolled up flats in your bag. They'll save your life when you have to sprint halfway across town to make it on time to an interview. When you arrive, quickly slip on your heels."