I break into a laugh, but then Sire throws something at her before telling her not to be an asshole, and I only laugh harder.
“You don’t have to finish it, Sage, but you’ll be fine if you do, and we know you can.” Sire gives me an encouraging smile, and I nod in response. We all get lost in another conversation, and I’m grateful no one pushes me, but I eat more, and when I finish my plate, I get a group hug. Even Lis and Hazel join, which theynever do willingly. They all squeeze me a bit tighter, and I’m reminded of how grateful I am for all of them.
Before I know it, I need to meet up with my team and get ready for the show. I hug everyone goodbye, and they head to where the event is taking place.
My hair is already ready, so we do my makeup, and my nerves start to settle in.
“You’re going to be great.” Cara voices, and I nod in response before pulling in a deep breath. “Someone put her playlist on.”
A smile touches my lips and I love how well she knows me. Someone puts my pre-show playlist on and I think of the worst-case scenario speech August gave me. I keep telling myself that ifthatdoesn’t happen, it was a great show.
“Okay,” Cara says after a few songs before putting my setting spray on. “Are you ready?”
“No?” I laugh nervously, and someone is knocking on the door. Angie lets them in, and when I see it’s someone with a headset and clipboard I know I have to go soon.
“Mr. Moore wants you dressed.”
I nod in response, and my outfit crew starts rushing around to get all of my things.This is it.
I get in my first outfit, and I’m sure I dissociate as they work my jewelry and shoes on because I’m suddenly walking backstage with the other girls.
“There she is!”
I look up at the sound of Jess’s voice, and after all this time, I’m still a little shocked that I’m friends with her. She’s Vincent’s best model, and the second time I modeled for him, I was shocked she even knew my name, but since I came to Italy, she’s been by my side the entire time.
“I think Vincent is favoring you.” She crosses her arms playfully as she shakes her head and looks down at my dress. She laughs softly and pulls me over to take a picture with me.
“Hey, I want in!” Allie rushes over, and I wrap my arms around them as we pose for a picture.
I turn at the sound of a gasp and go still. “Have we been… replaced?”
I break into a laugh and rush over to Quinn and Coral for a hug. “Oh my God! What are you guys doing here?!” When I see the rest of The Eight behind them, I physically have to hold back a scream so the Moore Girls don’t think I’m completely insane.
“Oh myGod!” They break into a laugh before joining in on our hug. “You guys are going to make me cry!”
“Don’t!” They all yell in sync before bursting into a laugh. “You know we wouldn’t miss this for the world, Loana.” Royal voices, and I pull her in for another hug. I love my girls.
“I’m sorry,” We turn at the sound of Jess’s voice. “We need a video, like right now.”
I laugh softly, and all of us do an outfit check. We’re literally all wearing Vincent, but Jess was right, and it came out so cute.
“We’re on in twenty! Essential personnel only!” The girls say goodbye, and I feel ten times better about going out there.
Liam
“There she is!” A girlfrom beside me whispers to the girl she's with, and it’s as if the entire world stops when Sage walks on stage. She modeled a few different outfits tonight, and everytime she came out I was somehow more amazed by the way she so gracefully walks the stage like she owns theworld.
She lines up with a few of the other new girls, but Sage has my undivided attention. She stands in the middle, and they clearly saved the best for last because she’s stunning. I can’t tell if it’s just the lighting and the material of her dress, but she physically shines, and I think it solely has to do with her smile.
This is the same dress they fucked up, and she thought she looked horrible when it didn’t fit her, but it certainly fits her like a glove now, and I can’t see how she’d ever think she’d look anything resembling bad.
I find myself standing as I applaud her, and after a beat, a few people around me stand with me. Before I know it my entire section is standing as Sage walks down the stage one last time, and then the entire stadium rises for her. As she walks back up the stage, she glances at the crowd, and she keeps her face stone cold, but I can see the shock in her eyes as the crowd gives her a standing ovation before the show even ends.
The other girls disappeared sometime between the time I was watching Sage and when she disappears last, the lights go out, and the crowd is still roaring for her.
“Yeah, Sage!”
I glance at the front of the stage, and when a few people start cheering her name, I have no doubt in my mind that those are her siblings up there.
