Chapter Thirty: Montana.

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Dedicated to @ivysinnovan for the cover at the top! Thank you💌

Short.

Chapter Thirty: "Montana."

"ANDERSON, YOU'RE UP!"  Coach yelled and I got ready quickly, heading on over to the field. I looked back for a quick second before the ref blew the whistle, Anmol giving me a nod and returned it, biting back a smile. First substitution of the game and within the first ten minutes. 

I could hear the crowd roar. HDF was always one to support sports, it didn't matter how popular they were. It was awesome. To be able to feed off that energy and feel that vibe sent adrenaline in me. Even better, I could see Sam and Maddy in the bleachers, Sam with my camera in his hands.

I grinned when the ref blew the whistle, so happy to play even though it was indoors. It was freezing outside so I couldn't feel the breeze or remember how my body would try to adjust to the cold weather, not mattering if my fingers were freezing. It didn't matter where I played it. Soccer was soccer and I loved it.

"Good job Macy." A girl said hours later in the changeroom. Everyone made their way in. I was sweaty and slightly sticky but I couldn't wipe the smile on my face.

"Thanks." I let my hair out of its ponytail when Anmol came over to me.

"You were astounding. That goal was insane. It was from out of the box Mace."

"I realize that, thanks." I laughed, untying my cleats. "But if wasn't for your long kick I definitely wouldn't have got any opportunity to get it in." 

Anmol sat next to me, taking off her cleats as well. "You should know that right now Tanya is possibly talking shit about you."

"Because I scored?"

"Because coach was thinking about putting you on the starting line up."

My jaw dropped. "Are you serious? You're joking with me right?"

"No. I overheard him." Anmol grinned.

"That-That's insane." I said perplexed. I was lucky enough to get playing time but to be a starter like some of the women who have been at HDF longer than I have is astonishing.  

"We should go out tonight to celebrate."

"As much as I would love to I can't. I have to go to the lab right after this and after that I have to rewrite some of my notes." I told her.

"Ugh, the university life. What about the weekend? Saturday?"

"I have to go to London."

"London?" Another girl asked, overhearing our conversation. It wasn't really her fault for eavesdropping. As large as the changeroom was, words bounced off the walls. "Why are you headed over there?"

"My boyfriend has a photoshoot over there and he wants me to come with him." I explained.

"If he gets new clothing can he manage to get some from the woman's side for me?"

"Seeing as you and he got into an argument over Kanye and Drake a couple days ago, I'll see if he'll budge."

"I was just stating my opinion."

"You both were." I laughed, taking a moment to calm down from the adrenaline still coursing through my body.

Someone sat down on the other side of me, making me raise both my eyebrows in surprise. I didn't say anything at first, glancing at Anmol who stared at me with the same confusion.

'Why is she beside me?' I mouthed to Anmol. Making sure that Tanya couldn't see.

'I don't know.' She mouthed back.

"Good game Macy." I heard Tanya herself say.

I turned to look at her with caution. Who knows what was going through her mind right now? "Thanks. Same to you." And I wasn't kidding. Tanya, although she was a first year here like I was, was an amazing defender.

"Anyway, tell Sam that my dad wants to talk to him sometime. He wants to discuss a deal with him."

"Um...okay."

"He may have to meet with me for more details about it. Like the where or when parts." She said that kind of smugly like it was supposed to faze me.

As much as I disliked Tanya, I wasn't really bothered. "Cool. I'll let him know."

Tanya stared at me, her eyes narrowing and her expression showing that she couldn't believe this. "You're not bothered by this?"

"Why would I be? It's good for Sam to talk to your dad even if it means talking to you," I got up, carrying my duffle bag with me. I turned a bit, giving her a tight smile for trying so hard to get to me. It didn't work. "I mean, he still hasn't gotten your name right. Last time I checked he called you Montana."

I could hear the snort from Anmol and I hid a laugh myself at Tanya fuming face. "You're never going to get on the starting lineup. Coach isn't stupid."

I remained unbothered. This was her anger and jealously speaking. I gave her a two-fingered salute, already walking away. "See you at practice Tanya."     

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This set was so busy. I knew there were about six other models along with Sam but I didn't even realize how busy this photoshoot honestly was.

He kept a tight hand in mine, pulling me along until we got to the small 'dressing' room with his name on the door. The second we were inside, he was pushed away to some chair, being shown the clothes he was going to wear throughout the day.

I watched behind the scenes quietly, listening to them tell Sam how he should stand but also looking around the huge warehouse everyone was in.

They had makeshift walls and floor for each model. Different colors like a light blue, light green, yellow, pink; aesthetic pastel colors.

Sam was in the light blue panel and was wearing white pants like everyone else but a light green shirt. He followed directions easily, occasionally shooting me random faces when no one was looking.

I laughed for the seventh time before the photographer backed up, turning around to glance at me. I had tried not to get in the way of many things, sticking near the section where the photos were making their way on the screen. His eyes went down to my camera that was around my neck. "You looking into the field?"

I shook my head. "Not really. It's just a hobby."

Sam jogged over to us, and pointed down at my camera. "She's really handy with it. You should take from advice from her."

I raised my eyebrows at how I thought that sounded rude coming from Sam's mouth but the photographer didn't look fazed, instead he shot Sam a look of annoyance, letting me know they worked together in the past. "What advice would you have for a-the shoot today?"

"Uh...well," I cleared my throat, looking around the room and at the other models taking their places in their spaces, all wearing the same pants but different designer shirts. "For starters the pictures you've been taking all day have them standing up. Make them sit down, crossed legged or with their knees up to their chest for a little bit of a change. Sam, can you demonstrate?"

"Sure." He got to his place, doing exactly as I said, sitting down and almost bringing his knees to his chest. He had his arms around them lazily and waited for more instructions.

"I mean all you're really doing I just making them lean against it and that-no offence- seems overrated and quite boring. If I were you I would get a shot from the angle of seeing their faces and a bit of their legs or if you'd want, pan out so that you can see all their section, including the whole wall and floor to make the clothing stand out against the walls. Can I show?"

The photographer looked at his camera then back at me hesitantly. I understood. I rarely let anyone touch my camera. "She has my mother as a reference. Trust me, she knows what's she's doing." Sam yelled out to the man and he gestured for me to look at the camera. It's amazing what the name Elizabeth Cahill can do in this industry.

I took the camera in my hands and moved back, farther back and past the screens were some people were surrounding, seeing the pictures uploaded onto them. Everyone watched me move to what I found a suitable position to take a picture and only gets the walls and floor that were needed.

"Okay Sam, tilt your head up as if you're looking up at the ceiling." Sam did as I asked, tilting his head up and I smiled, pressing the button.

"Okay now look directly into the camera with like...a half smile, I guess? You know what I mean."

He laughed for a second before doing as I asked, considering the camera exactly the way I wanted him to.

"Perfect, okay now look to the side as if you noticed somebody or wondering what they're doing."

He again did as I said and I took another where his tongue was poking in his cheek and once that was over, I walked over to the screen, the pictures uploading and the photographer looked down at it with me. The various shots of Sam came up and I further explained, pointing at them.

"I figured that if you did shots like this for each of them, you'll be able to fit them side by side of two pages of a magazine. Then as for close-ups-"

The man held up a hand and I stopped talking, watching him study the photos with his eyes. "I can see now why Elizabeth Cahill has given you a kind of respect. Someone get her into the same clothes as Cahill. Now."

I blinked, realizing what he just said. This guy wasn't serious. "What? I didn't agree to this."

Sam walked over to us, laying a hand on my shoulder. "She doesn't want to do this."

"Nonsense. She has height. We're going to use it to our advantage." The way he spoke made me feel like he was the one in charge here and Alexis walked over to us, confusion on her face.

Great timing.

"What's going on?" I heard her ask Sam. I glanced at her. Her makeup was perfect, her brown hair straightened but her expression showed pure and utter confusion.

"We're going to use her on some shots with you. You both seem to have great chemistry." The photographer said gesturing between Sam and I.

"What?" Alexis asked bewildered. For the first time, I had the exact same expression on our faces.

"Of course we have great chemistry. In case you haven't noticed she's my girlfriend."

"Samuel." He leveled his gaze over to Sam who rolled his eyes before glancing at me.

"Are you up to this?"

"Um-"

"That's a yes!" The man yelled, cutting me off before I even had the chance to answer. "Get her ready people! I want her back in ten!"  

I was rushed into the same dressing room Sam was in and ten minutes later I felt like I've been slightly plucked and prodded with all over my face and forced into clothing that definitely was not made for me.

I stressfully tried not to wipe my hands against the white pants. Sam glanced at me from where we were both sitting on the ground. "You okay?"

"No. I did not agree to this." I muttered.

He laughed, making me roll my eyes at how lightly he was taking this. "Hazel, c'mon this might actually be fun and it's a little out of your comfort zone."

"A little? Are you serious? This is out of my comfort zone."

"But you're out of your comfort zone with me. Does that help you out a bit?" He asked with a smile.

A little. My face must not have shown that a bit because Sam like the immature guy he could sometimes be reached out and started tickling me. I laughed immediately, trying to slap his hands away from me. "Stop."

"C'mon I want to see you smile." He grinned, his fingers moving and I swatted his hands off me, trying to push him off.

"You're so annoying, stop." I grabbed his hands only for him to lean forward and kiss me. Unknowingly I smiled into it, my laughs muffled. He rushed a strand away from my face, using his hand to cup my cheek as the rest of the noise in the area started to fade away.

Then I heard a familiar click and we pulled back at the same time. "That was perfect."

Hours later, I finally was put back in my comfortable clothes I was walking towards Sam's dressing room when I noticed Alexis walking towards my way. She talking to another one of the models during the day and I realized that if she wasn't hung up on Sam she could've gone with the one practically hanging on her arm.

She slowed to a stop in front of me, dismissing the guy. "Nolan, I'll see you in a second."

He nodded, walking away and I tuned back to Alexis only to realize that she was scowling at me. Great. "Um...hi."

"Why were you here?" She said firmly.

"Sam wanted me to come." I quipped, not really wanting to explain myself to her of all people.

"Really?"

"Yes." I said, my hands on my camera. "Are we done speaking?"

"Not quite. You want to get in this industry? You think you can be a model?" She didn't even let me answer, instead she continued talking. Oh God, someone shut her up. "That one day you'll probably end up to be a Victoria Secret Angel or something? You're tall. That's all you have going for you and you know it."

"Tall? Yes. But I'm a tall girl who plays soccer and trust me when I say I am not afraid to use parts of my abilities on you."

That was an empty threat and she knew it but her presence itself was pissing me off and I felt like one day, forget my ability to kick, I might tackle her to the ground.

"Are you threatening me?"

"I'm not sure. For the sake of my friendship with Emma, your little sister and your friendship with my boyfriend there's high chance I won't act on it."

"You think that you're massively aggressive and have so called soccer abilities is enough to intimidate me? You aren't even a starter on your soccer team at moment."

I stilled for a second. How would she... "Tanya. You're a model and Tanya's dad is in the industry. You're friends with her."

"I wouldn't say friends. But we share a mutual dislike."

"Me? Oh, yeah. Tanya doesn't like me and I don't like her. I'm fine with that. She doesn't hold much importance in my life when all she's been doing on and off the field is taunt me. You? I actually tried to be friends with you-I actually try to tolerate you but obviously, you dislike me so much because I have something you don't."

Alexis kept quiet, her eyes on the ground.

"You may not know this but Tanya shares another interest with you. She's into Sam like many girls on our campus and I abide that because I trust Sam. I don't need to explain myself to you but just know that I don't care if you're head over heels, in love with Sam. Got it? I'm glad this conversation is over. See you around."

I walked right by her and entered Sam's dressing room. He was tapping on his phone, swirling in his chair. Music was playing from his phone and I could see him mouthing the lyrics under his breath. He wore track pants and his lack of shirt was evident especially when he leaned back and glanced at me over his phone.

"You just love staring at me, don't you?" He smirked.

"Shut up." I pulled on a smile, still a little bit agitated. I put my camera on the table, walking over to him. He pulled me in, my back to his chest and his arms around me, making me see that he was playing a game. "What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to beat Caleb's score. He got a really good one and-hey, you okay?"

"What? Yeah." I answered, my eyes on the screen.

"Hazel-"

"Sam. Don't worry about it." I muttered, taking his phone so I could try to beat Caleb's score myself.

"Telling me 'don't worry about it', makes me worry about it."

"Well don't."

"Really? You know-"

"Next game? Isn't it on Monday? Score for me, would you?" I stopped the game, looking up at him.

"It's cute when you try to change the subject."

"It's cute when you think that I can't change the subject," I shot back, slouching forward so I could rest of the back of my head on his shoulder.

"How'd you like today?" He asked me.

"It was...interesting. I don't know how you do something like at least once a month. It actually seems so stressful. You have to keep looking like that for as long as you're in it and no wonder you go for a run every single morning."

It seems like he has so much pressure on his shoulders, I thought.

"It can be," Sam admitted. "You should get used to it. I mean, after today you'll be able to win Britain's Top Model."

"Not you too. First, your mother and-"

Sam laughed loudly, turning the chair to face the mirror in front of us. "If you want to do it go ahead. It would be pretty great."

"I would be pretty funny." I corrected and he continued laughing at the mere thought. "Today was fun with you though."

"Every day with me is fun." He grinned, his eyes locking with mine in the mirror. The smile on his face slipped and he held me tighter. "Opportunities are great Hazel. Anyone you get, you shouldn't give them up. Like I said, you did great today and I love the idea of the world seeing the face I love right there along with me."

I shifted and pressed my lips against his jaw. I sighed against his skin. "You always know the right things to say, don't you?"

He shrugged. "I try."

I reached for my camera, shifting upward on his lap and angling myself to look at him. "This calls for a picture."

"What are you going to caption it?"

"Status: I like being behind the camera not in front of it."

Sam chuckled and I held the camera up to my eyes, pointed towards the mirror. When I took the picture, I looked back at it and Sam was peering at the screen as well. "You like it?" I asked him.

A smile crossed his face and he kissed me. "With you? Yeah, it's perfect."


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