Love is the New Black

by Chrissie Keighery

  Despite the cold temperatures, Kara had been posing on her knees at the shoreline for ages. She was very professional. Piper could only imagine how freezing the water that splashed over her might have been. Finally, the photographer was ready to move on to another shot.

  A male model walked into the frame. He was naked from the waist up and a little bit too beefed up for Piper’s taste. But when he sat on the shore, and Kara lay with her head on his lap, the tender look on his face made him more likable. A lock of blonde hair fell over one eye as he gazed down at her. The photographer walked all around them, snapping away.

  Piper felt a frown form on her face. It was weird. As well as looking incredibly striking together, they looked totally, convincingly in love. This was highly unlikely, since Kara had told her she’d never worked with any of these male models. Piper’s eyes were glued to the pair as Kara lifted her lips to meet his. The smouldering, lusty gaze she directed at him made her look hotter than ever. No cheesy Blue Steel for Kara Kingston, Piper thought. It was probably part of the reason Kara was so successful.

  ‘Jesus, how loooong are they taking? Like, hello, we’re waiting.’ To Piper’s right, three models were talking as they waited for their shoot. Two of them, who called themselves Petal and Xena, were uber thin and angular, and had dark hair that cascaded over their shoulders. They wore matching Aztec-print swimwear, one in a bikini and the other in a one-piece. Piper recognised the third model as the one she’d seen batting her false eyelashes for the make-up artist. She had introduced herself as Georgie, and she wore a different, but equally gorgeous, red gingham bikini. She was blonde, with big boobs and a tiny waist. Piper stood apart from them, but could clearly hear their conversation.

  ‘Do you think Kara Kingston is skinnier than me?’ Xena said. ‘Particularly in the waist. Look at my waist and then at hers.’

  ‘I think you’re about the same,’ Petal responded. ‘But I totally think your legs are longer. It’s just that she’s had sooo much practice with lingerie because of being a Victoria’s Secret Angel, and that’s practically the same thing as swimwear, so she’s cut all the angles.’

  ‘Actually, you’re skinner than usual,’ Xena chimed in, her eyes narrowing in an accusatory way. ‘Petal, did you do the whole Adriana Lima thing to prepare for this?’

  ‘What’s the Adriana Lima thing?’ asked Georgie.

  Xena laughed. ‘Been under a rock much?’ She shook her head in disbelief at Georgie’s naivety.

  Piper, who shared that particular brand of naivety, moved a little closer so she wouldn’t miss anything.

  ‘A month and a half before a Victoria’s Secret show, Adriana works out twice a day. She only eats lean protein, green vegetables and protein shakes. Plus, she drinks four and a half litres of water per day,’ said Xena.

  ‘Then,’ Petal said, taking over the explanation, ‘nine days before the parade, she quits eating altogether, and just has the shakes.’ She sounded completely reverential, as though she was telling a very serious tale of life or death.

  ‘Twelve hours before she goes down that runway,’ Xena continued, ‘she stops drinking. Even water is a no no.’

  ‘Wow,’ Georgie breathed, ‘that’s really …’

  ‘Inspirational,’ Petal finished for her. ‘I did do some Adriana,’ she said, turning to Xena, ‘but the no water thing broke me.’

  Piper blew out a breath. She didn’t share the opinion that starving yourself was an admirable thing, and it looked to her like Georgie was with her. She was about to move away when Xena resumed her examination of Kara Kingston. This time, it wasn’t only her body that was under inspection.

  ‘KK might not be as skinny as Adriana, but she still has it all,’ Xena said with a pout. ‘She’s an Angel and she’s dating Mason Wakefield.’ She pointed towards the pier where Mason was watching the shoot with a few others. ‘Check him out, he’s gorgeous.’

  As she looked over to the pier, Piper’s stomach lurched. Having been ready to shift away just a moment ago, Piper now found that she was rooted to the spot. Moving just didn’t seem possible. Not while someone was talking about Mason Wakefield, even if it was the Aztec bimbos.

  ‘You know, most guys wouldn’t be so cruisy about their girlfriend doing that,’ Petal said. ‘They’d be too jealous. At least, they wouldn’t want to watch it.’ On the shoreline now, the beefy model carried Kara into the sea as though stepping over the threshold with his bride.

  Piper imagined how Dylan would react to seeing her in a photo shoot like that. Not that it would ever happen, but, if it did, she doubted that Dyl would stick around to observe.

  ‘Actually,’ Xena said, no doubt ready to share another deep insight, ‘I’ve heard loads of people say their relationship is a scam. Like, she was supposedly still going out with him while he was away at Harvard? Apparently, they didn’t even see each other for two whole years. As if either of them could stay faithful for that long.’

  ‘Ooh, seriously?’ said Petal. ‘God, if it’s true, that means Mason Wakefield might be available. Stand aside, ladies.’ She looked over to where Kara was now finishing up. ‘I reckon I could follow that up. She’s not all that when you see her in person. There’s just something a bit off about her proportions, if you ask me.’

  ‘Well, I haven’t heard that rumour, and I actually follow what’s going on with them,’ said Georgie. ‘And I think Kara Kingston is stunning. She’s my absolute hero. I met her earlier and got her autograph and she was lovely to me.’

  The other two stared at her scathingly.

  ‘Um … that’s what I think, anyway,’ she finished. Piper could see Georgie’s relief when one of the photographers walked up to her.

  ‘Georgie, you’re up now,’ he said.

  ‘Thanks,’ she said, with a nod. She turned back to the others. ‘Okay, bye, girls. Good luck with your shoot.’

  As soon as Georgie got out of earshot, Piper could practically see them itching to bitch about her.

  ‘She’s quite pretty,’ said Xena, ‘if you like those kind of flat noses.’

  Piper would have liked to create two flat noses with her fist. Not that she’d ever actually do it, but it was satisfying at least to imagine doing it. Those girls were toxic.

  The sun had started to set by the time the shoot ended. Mr Bojangles had made a big show of presenting caftans to each of the participating models. He didn’t seem to notice that all of them were freezing, and much more desperate to finish up and get warm than to line up and receive his gift.

  ‘Can I get you a coffee, Kara?’ Piper asked when it was over. She wrapped Kara in her fluffy dressing gown. Most people were getting ready to leave after the long day.

  ‘Mmm, yes, an espresso, please,’ Kara said between chattering teeth. She gave Piper one of her famous grins.

  When Piper returned with the coffee, Xena, Petal and Georgie were gathered around Kara.

  ‘Oh my God, Kara, you were amazing out there.’ It was Xena gushing. She and Petal were barely covered up. Their red silk robes couldn’t have been warm, but they did give the photographers a bonus eyeful as they packed their equipment. Piper could tell Xena and Petal were enjoying the effect they were having on the photographer’s assistant. The poor guy bumped into the door and had to re-route.

  ‘I always say to my sister, Petal,’ Xena continued. ‘I say, you watch Kara Kingston and see how she does it.’

  Piper watched as Petal nodded eagerly.

  ‘Yes, that’s what Xena tells me,’ she agreed, motioning to her sister. ‘Because we both admire you so much, Kara.’

  Piper restrained an eye roll. Petal and Xena. Their names sounded as fake as the compliments coming from their constantly pouting lips. Piper leant over Georgie’s shoulder and handed Kara her espresso.

  ‘Oh, I’ll have a decaf latte,’ Petal said with a flick of her hand, barely even glancing at Piper.

  ‘A soy flat white for me. Extra hot,’ Xena added.

  ‘Actually, girls,’ Kara said, ‘
that’s not Piper’s job. She’s my PA today.’

  Petal and Xena did a double take, checking out the room as if searching for their own PAs. When they looked back at Kara, their smiles were still stuck on.

  ‘Oh sure, I’ll go get our PAs to fetch us some coffee. We so hope to work with you again, Kara,’ Xena said, completely ignoring Georgie and Piper. She opened her robe even more and walked away with Petal in tow.

  ‘You want to know something funny?’ Georgie said, moving into the gap that Petal had left. ‘I saw their folios because we’re with the same agency. Their names are Jane and Jenny.’ She screwed up her button nose. ‘Jane and Jenny Smythe, actually.’

  Piper bit her lip to stop from smiling. ‘Maybe they have two names?’ she suggested. ‘Why not? They’re definitely two-faced.’

  ‘Ah,’ Kara said. ‘I thought I was just being paranoid, but when we were getting changed, those two seemed to be really assessing me. They actually gave me a shiver up and down my spine.’

  ‘Well, that would be your instincts working,’ Piper said.

  Georgie leant in towards Piper and Kara. ‘I’ve tried to be friends with them. But there always seems to be, I don’t know, some kind of sting to them. It’s like, what they say on the surface is okay, but somehow it always makes me feel like crap.’

  Kara and Piper glanced at each other, exchanging a meaningful look.

  ‘I’d say it might be best to forget about making friends with those girls,’ Piper suggested.

  Georgie shrugged. ‘Yeah, I know it. I just … well …’ Georgie paused. ‘I only just came here from the country and I don’t really know anyone yet. I’m living in a share house with other models, and that’s okay, but they’re all really busy and we hardly ever get to hang out. It’s kind of … lonely. Don’t get me wrong, I know how lucky I am to get to do stuff like this. But my family are all back in Wagga Wagga and I kind of miss them and …’ Georgie stopped midsentence. ‘I am so sorry,’ she said. ‘Gosh, here I am just talking away about myself.’

  Kara reached out and touched Georgie on the shoulder. ‘I was the same,’ she reassured her. ‘How old are you, Georgie?’

  ‘Sixteen,’ Georgie replied.

  ‘I was young when I came to Melbourne, too. I was only fourteen. It’s not all easy, is it?’

  Georgie’s lip started to quiver. ‘It is hard sometimes,’ she said. ‘Just trying to be everything the agency wants me to be.’ Georgie sighed, but Piper could tell she was getting some relief from sharing her story.

  ‘My agent, Dominic, is trying to teach me how to walk better, you know, catwalk style,’ she said softly. ‘He’s also getting me to work on my speaking voice, because he reckons my elocution is pretty bad and I need to work on that in case I get any speaking parts in ads or whatever. Which is fine. Except that sometimes I just feel a bit like he’s trying to fix everything about me, like everything about me needs fixing, if you know what I mean.’

  Kara threw her hands in the air. ‘Tell me about it,’ she said. ‘I’ve been at this job for eight years and my agent is onto me for just about everything. She’s really harsh. But the thing is, she gets results. Dominic has that kind of reputation, too. You just have to tough it out, Georgie.’

  As Georgie took in Kara’s words, Piper thought about her introduction to Kara’s agent, Anita. The result was an involuntary shiver down her back. Harsh was an understatement when it came to Anita. In fact, if Piper lined Anita and Vivian up for a catfight, she wasn’t sure who would win.

  ‘What about you?’ Georgie said to Piper. ‘Who’s your agent?’

  Piper choked back a giggle. Georgie and Kara towered over her. She felt more like a hobbit than a model in their company.

  ‘I’m not a model,’ she said, ‘though big thanks for asking. But I can relate. My boss is pretty full on. With Vivian, you have to hang onto your self-esteem with an iron grip or it’ll be gone for good. She does this a lot.’ Piper clicked her fingers in Georgie’s face to demonstrate Vivian’s attitude. ‘You. Coffee. Now. And don’t get ahead of yourself.’

  Georgie gasped. ‘That’s pretty wrong.’

  ‘See, we’re all survivors,’ Kara said with a smirk. ‘We should go on one of those reality shows where you have to put your hand in a fish tank full of scorpions.’

  ‘Too easy,’ Piper joked back, ‘compared to hearing whatever comes out of Vivian’s collagened lips.’

  ‘I’ve met Vivian,’ Kara said, ‘and her collagened lips are sweetness and light compared to Anita’s frozen face. What does Dominic look like, Georgie?

  Georgie covered her mouth with her hands. Then she burst out laughing. ‘I don’t know!’ she admitted. ‘He had this massive microdermabrasion just before I arrived in Melbourne and he’s covered in bandages. All I’ve seen of him is his mouth.’

  It could have partly been the exhaustion from a massive day, but all three girls completely cracked up.

  ‘You know,’ Kara said, wiping away tears of laughter, ‘I don’t think normal people would even find that funny. It’s probably got something to do with all of us being simple country folk.’ She chuckled again, as she checked her phone. ‘Oh. Mason had to go a while back, and he’s asked me to get you home, Piper. How about we all go back to my place? We can have our own little shindig.’

  ‘Cheers!’ Kara said, holding her glass of champagne aloft.

  Piper, sitting across from Kara and Georgie in the spacious limosine, followed suit and the three girls clinked their glasses.

  ‘It was a big day,’ Kara said, sitting back and sighing, ‘but I bet they got some good shots. Alistair – you know, the head photographer – told me you’re a natural, Georgie.’

  Georgie beamed. ‘I can’t believe it,’ she said. ‘If any of my photos make it into Aspire I will be rapt.’

  Piper let her mind drift as Kara and Georgie chatted away. Travelling in the black limousine made her think about the other amazing car she’d travelled in earlier today. With Kara’s boyfriend.

  ‘Yeah,’ Georgie said, as Piper tuned in again, ‘that’s what my boyfriend doesn’t get. Sean has pre-ordered twenty copies of Aspire from the local newsagent and he’s going around telling everyone that I’m going to be in it. But, like you said, there’s no guarantees. The photographers took a zillion snaps of so many models today and it’s impossible to tell which ones will be chosen … and I’ve tried to explain that to him. But Sean’s like, As if they wouldn’t use a picture of you, Georgie. It’s really sweet, the way he believes in me …’ Georgie’s chatter faded. ‘I miss him,’ she said softly. ‘Is Mason like that, Kara?’

  Kara cleared her throat. ‘It’s complicated,’ she said. ‘What about you, Piper? Do you have someone special in your life?’

  She handballed that one, Piper thought. Maybe she is still pissed with Mason, deep down?

  ‘Yep,’ Piper answered. ‘Dylan’s a surfer and he’s gorgeous and I miss him too. Hopefully he’s coming down soon.’

  Saying Dylan’s name out loud made her mind feel clearer. She was glad he wasn’t tricky like Mason Wakefield.

  Kara’s mobile made a boing-boing noise.

  ‘Anita,’ she said, pulling back the skin of both cheeks tightly to mime Anita’s botoxed face as she answered the call.

  Though Piper couldn’t make out Anita’s actual words, her voice on the other end of the phone was as sharp as her manner.

  ‘The shoot went well,’ Kara responded. ‘I’m a little tired though, so it’s good that I’ve got the next two days off.’

  Kara screwed up her face as Anita spoke again.

  ‘Seriously Anita,’ she said softly, ‘I just –’ But she was cut off. ‘Yes, I know she’s a great personal trainer. It’s just that I had plans … Yes, I understand, Anita. I’ll be ready at six tomorrow morning.’

  ‘Eeek, that’s pretty full on after today,’ Georgie said, after Kara had hung up. ‘I’m definitely planning a sleep-in.’

  ‘Yeah, I’m knackered and I wasn’t even pos
ing,’ Piper agreed.

  The phone call had sucked the energy from Kara. The colour had drained from her cheeks. She took in a huge breath, as though bracing herself. ‘Oh well, I just have to take my own advice: tough it out,’ she said.

  Just then, the limo turned off the road and into a driveway. Kara fished around in her handbag, and pressed a button on a remote she found in there. The giant, latticed iron gates opened.

  The house was a perfect square of pure white tiles and glass. A rectangular pool jutted out, impossibly blue and still, at the side.

  ‘Oh my god,’ Georgie giggled. ‘So, this is what it’s like when you’ve really made it.’

  Kara just smiled as she got out of the limousine and ushered Georgie and Piper out. She poked her head into the driver’s side window and said goodnight to the driver, then she walked up the steps and opened the front door.

  The house was as beautiful and stylish inside as it was on the outside. Piper looked around the lounge room. Everything was black or white. The black leather couch was like something from outer space – Piper guessed at least twenty people could sit on it. The white tiled floor was so clean it glistened. The only colour in the room came from two framed photos on Kara’s mantelpiece. Piper gravitated towards them.

  ‘My family,’ said Kara as Piper looked at the first photo. ‘Mum, Dad and my brother, Russell.’

  Piper peered at the picture eagerly, wanting to see what tribe of glamazons Kara came from. They looked, well … ordinary. Kara’s mum was blonde, round-faced and pale – not at all like her dark, exotic daughter with the pronounced cheekbones. Her dad and brother looked like farmers. They were big burly blokes in plain T-shirts and work pants. It was only in her dad’s olive skin that Piper saw any trace of Kara.

  ‘We don’t talk much at the moment,’ Kara said. ‘There’s a lot they don’t get about my life.’

  Piper wasn’t sure whether Kara sounded sad or resigned. ‘I guess your lifestyle is pretty different to theirs,’ she said. ‘Modelling can be fast-paced, I suppose, with parties and stuff.’