"Lily Starrling, would you be so kind as to don this charming beanie and position yourself outside 'Starrling Lilly'?" Ashlyn handed her a delightfully cute and exquisitely feminine beanie, adorned with two black pom-poms on either side of the top. With a graceful continuation, she instructed, "Assume a pose that depicts you bending your knees and presenting a gift to Starrling Eliza. Starrling Eliza, I kindly request that you also put on a beanie and strike a pose as if you were receiving the most remarkable gift in the world. Starrling Larisa, can you hold this?" She shuffled through her bag and pulled out the perfume bottle from earlier, the one she used when the smelly guy Lucid was around. She passed the perfume bottle to Larisa, and it nearly slipped through her hands, almost smashing on the floor. Like magic, Larisa quickly grabbed it using some ghostly energy and held it up.
Ashlyn saying the word "Starrling" repeatedly confused my little brain. I had to admit, Starrling Lilly was a beautiful floral boutique, and it was an honour to stand outside. It just made it very confusing to have the same name as the store.
"So, Starrling Larisa, I know they won't be able to see you when they take the photo, but that's great. I just want you to hold the bottle of perfume in front of 'Starrling Lily'."
Eliza's interruption sliced through, articulating precisely the thoughts I had been itching to voice. "Um, do you think you could maybe stop using the 'Starrling' word so much? It's kind of getting confusing for me... and, well, for all of us trying to follow along."
I nodded slightly, completely agreeing. She had said exactly what I was thinking.
"Alright then, let's proceed, shall we, girls?" Ashlyn inquired, her tone tinged with a palpable desire to propel us forward. "Larisa, my dear, would you be so kind as to grace us by holding this exquisite perfume bottle just in front of Lily?" Ashlyn's countenance registered a subtle distaste when my name was uttered, yet she persisted. "In the photograph, it will convey the image of Lily presenting a bottle of magical perfume to Eliza—a vial that hovers gracefully above her hands, an object of desire for all."
Without a moment's thought, Larisa blurted out, "So no need for CGI like with your hair! Yay!"
"My hair... CGI... Huh? Wait, my hair... CGI... W H A T?"
"Harrumph!" Eliza interjected. "Didn't we already establish that her hair is real? You even said so yourself. Jeez."
"But all this talk about Dinglebarries, VR, and ghosts has me mixed up again," said a confused Larisa.
"My dear StarrGazers, I must emphasise that my hair is unequivocally one hundred percent real! The colour is all-natural, and I don't use any hair extensions. The manner in which I maintain the impeccable appearance of my locks is rather straightforward. I make sure to drink plenty of water, get enough sleep, and use coconut oil for care. That's pretty much my secret sauce! There are no big mysteries here. But hey, if you want to see more of my non-CGI hair, I would be delighted to arrange a demonstration of such later on."
We all stood there, baffled. I was sure these two were thinking the same thing as I was. Yet, this time, I was the one to initiate and ask, "You can show more of your non-CGI hair later on? Is that... ummm, a threat or, uh, a chat-up line?"
Eliza shouted, "It's neither! Get your mind out of the gutter! And don't ask her such questions!"
Evidently, she wasn't thinking what I was thinking, but maybe Larisa was.
"Are you quite finished?!" Ashlyn exclaimed, her foot tapping impatiently as she adjusted the exposure settings on her phone's camera. "Hold the poses you have right now. They're perfect. Let me capture the flowers from the floral boutique outside to add a touch of perfection." With that, Ashlyn snapped away, capturing numerous photos.
"Now, could you show a range of emotions? Surprise, happiness, and awe," she suggested.
"Do I really have to be on both knees for this pose? My knees are throbbing with pain," I voiced my concern. "It almost feels like I'm proposing to Eliza for marriage. At least I'm on two knees and not one, so it's less awkward."
"Shh, hush!" Ashlyn interrupted. "You just don't grasp the nuances of art."
I didn't want to argue with her.
"And, Lily, try not to fart."
What on earth?! Did Ashlyn actually say that?! That was definitely not something I would have expected her to say. I could understand how certain yoga poses might help relax the bowels and release gas, but the pose she had me doing was causing nothing but pain for my poor knees, and it didn't feel relaxing at all. "Alright, this set of photos is done," Ashlyn stated proudly.
"This set?!! So, are we doing more?" I moaned, frustrated.
Relief washed over me as I rose from my knees and stood, feeling the blood flow returning and the cramps subsiding. There was a persistent question burning in my mind—one I had to ask Ashlyn: "What exactly are these photos for again?"
"These photos, my little Starr Seeker, are going to be everywhere to promote 'Whimsical Mist,' a new perfume they want me to endorse. These pictures will appear everywhere, from skyscraper banners, billboard banners, and tube posters to social media posts, magazine spreads, and even eBunnee adverts."
I couldn't help but feel excited. Wow! My picture was going to be everywhere, and so would Eliza's. And Larisa was also in the photos, technically. I was quite curious as to why Ashlyn wasn't in the photos at all, so I asked, "You're endorsing it, yet we're in the photos, and you aren't?"
"I must admit, this perfume falls a tad below my personal preferences in terms of class and sophistication. I daresay it finds its niche as an impeccable choice for the likes of you two. It rather impeccably complements your sensibilities, though it wouldn't quite meet the refined standards I hold dear."
A charming response, indeed. -_-
Eliza said, "Ashlyn, I think it's very classy, and I'm delighted that you've given us this opportunity to promote it for you."
"Yes, my Eliza-queen, it's quite classy for people such as yourself," Ashlyn nodded without really acknowledging what she had just said. She was busy preparing whatever set of photos she wanted to do next.
While Ashlyn was occupied, I took the opportunity to approach Eliza and enthusiastically asked, "Guess what? We're going to grace billboard banners, just like Kassy! There's a chance we might even share the spotlight with her. This whole experience fostered a strong sense of connection, making me feel like we're on par with her, equals in every sense."
"Lilly-poo, you've truly hit the nail on the foot, or however the saying goes. It never occurred to me to view it from that angle. And you're absolutely right; Ashlyn deserves a tonne of credit for presenting us with such an amazing opportunity."
Ashlyn stopped what she was doing and looked at us both, saying, "Would you two stop talking about Kassy? I loathe her intensely."
Awwwww... It slipped my mind that Ash wasn't a fan of Kassy. With her numerous catchy and danceable songs, as well as an extensive catalogue of diverse styles, there's something to appeal to everyone, I believe. I proposed, "Perhaps giving some of her more obscure songs a chance could turn you into a fan. She has some really cool hidden gems, like a pseudo-rap song where she raps about a nose hair she once had."
"I am not interested," she said. She sensed my disappointment and added a touch of friendliness, saying, "I happen to be a musician, in case you weren't aware."
"Y-y-you are?! Are you?!" Eliza asked in shock.
All three of us were surprised, and Larisa looked very intrigued and excited. If Eliza doesn't know she is a musician when she is her so-called best friend, she can't truly be known for her music.
"Indeed, I am," she said. She held out her phone, displaying an album cover titled "Jess's and Ashlyn's Bubble Party." The cover features a picture of Ashlyn at Estresey Academy with her shades in her hands.
Oh, it's that picture again! Jess already shared it with me during the Zeal Mastery Class. Should I mention that I'm actually in the background, essentially making me a part of the album artwork too? It was likely wiser not to bring this up with her.
"Look, there you are in the picture," Larisa said to me, her voice a hushed thrill in my ear.
"Shush!" I responded.
So, in one day, I transformed into a fashion icon by wearing a fox towel. I became a perfume model, and now I was making my mark on my album cover by gracing the album art. Maybe I'm the true protagonist in this story. I couldn't help but feel very proud.
"But shouldn't you let her know that you're in the background of the picture?" Larisa's voice tickled my ear again.
Ashlyn glanced at me, her expression holding a hint of suspicion. I was not sure if she caught Larisa's words, but her gaze made me feel like I was hiding something. So, I mustered the most casual question I could think of, hoping it aligned with whatever she was imagining we were talking about. "Given that the album is titled 'Jess and Ashlyn's Bubble Party,' how about capturing a new photo of you two in a bubble bath together? It would truly match the title, don't you think?"
"Lily, you seem quite sheltered, you interstellar klutz. Let's clarify: a bubble party is merely a musical event where machines blow an abundance of bubbles, and that's all there is to it. So, kindly refrain from those sly comments insinuating we should share a bubble bath together. I would only do that if the bubble bath company asked me to sponsor them, and only then would I consider it."
Eliza wanted to say something innocuous and cheerful to break the awkward topic. "That picture was only taken today, but the album has already been released? How?"
"Yes, Eliza Starrling, the world of eBunnee moves fast. Jess sent this album to my eBunnee page just a few hours after the picture of me was taken."
I asked, "Did you play a significant role in the creation of this music? I'm asking because you're featured on the cover, and it got me wondering."
"I put in just as much work into it as, you know," Ashlyn's words took an unexpected turn. "I feel my contribution to the creation of the music with Jess matches up to the level of Kassy's oh-so-precious input into her own music... or, should I say, her lack thereof?"
Was that a subtle dig at Kassy or something? Her words caught me by surprise, so I asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Lillian fixed a sad and confused gaze on Ashlyn. Ashlyn then commented, "Don't pretend you're in the dark about this. We both know that the folks behind the scenes are the ones churning out all the chart-topping music. All the DJs play her songs, pretending to do things with the faders and moving around as if they have ants in their pants."
I simply disliked any negativity directed at Kassy. It felt like a personal attack whenever someone insulted her or said anything bad about her. I shared an emotional connection with her and understood her on a deep level. I understood that Ashlyn might be expressing these words out of petty jealousy. I'd heard comments from haters online about Kassy being phoney and whatnot; it was something every popular musician faces.
But I also knew that the positive feedback from the fans far outweighed the negativity. Trying to keep my composure and remain polite, I responded, "That's not true at all. Kassy writes all her music and handles everything herself. Every song feels like a lifeline, like someone out there finally understands what I'm going through. I'd often daydreamed about meeting her someday and pouring my heart out about how much her music resonates with me. I just want to shake her hand and thank her."
I couldn't help but wonder why she had referred to me as "lost." I was fully aware that Kassy had been missing for a month. She was a human being, and Ashlyn didn't seem to lack compassion or care for her in the slightest. I found myself saying, "I'm not lost. I-I know... there's a real... real chance she might not even be alive anymore," I managed, my voice breaking as tears streamed down my cheeks. The weight of those words bore down on me, and I fought to rein in my shuddering emotions, feeling utterly overwhelmed.
Ashlyn immediately regretted her previous words, recognising the unnecessary bitterness they carried. Wanting to comfort Lillian, she opened up, "It's interesting... We share the same management team, and coincidentally, she managed to secure some of those job opportunities that were originally for me. It's not that I have any ill feelings for her. It's just that she's become sort of a friendly competitor."
Lillian remained discontent, paying no heed to her statement. She was merely convinced that Ashlyn was lying and fabricating falsehoods.
Eliza inquired, "Ashlyn-kins, why haven't you ever mentioned that you share the same management as Kassy? Have you two crossed paths? Surely, your management team must have some information about her whereabouts or
S O M E T H I N G!"