Chapter 52 Audrey

I stood in the middle of our cramped studio, surrounded by a whirlwind of fabric scraps, half-finished designs, and the frantic energy of my friends. The fashion show was only days away, and we were all feeling the pressure.

"Okay, let's go over the checklist one more time," I said, tapping my pen against my clipboard. "Are the outfits all together?"

"Check!" Tina called from behind a rack of clothes.

"What about the accessories?" I called out.

"I'm just putting the finishing touches on the earrings for the second outfit," Avis said as she waved a handful of glittering jewelry in my direction.

"And the makeup and hairstyles are all decided?"

"All set," Betty confirmed, gesturing to her overflowing makeup case and her sketches.

I was about to ask about the models when my phone buzzed as if on cue. Frowning, I pulled it out and saw an email notification. As I read the message, my heart sank.

"Guys," I said, my voice so **e it was hardly more than a whisper. "We have a problem."

Gavin looked up from where he was adjusting a hemline of a dress. "What's wrong?"

I swallowed hard and held my phone up. "The models just canceled on us. They both got strep throat, and they can't make it to the show."

For a moment, there was nothing but stunned silence. Then, chaos erupted.

""What?!" Tina shrieked.

"How could they do this to us?" Avis wailed.

"We're doomed," Gavin groaned, dramatically flopping onto a nearby chair.

I felt like I was going to be sick. I should have known that hiring siblings as models was too risky, because if one of them got sick, then the other would, too. And now, all of our hard work, all those late nights... it was all going to be for nothing if we couldn't find models in time for the show.

all turned to look at her. "I have an idea," she said, raising her hands in a placating gesture. "Why don't we model

for a moment. "That... could actually work," I admitted,

Gavin asked,

shrugged. "We know the clothes better than anyone. And it's not like we have

exchanged glances. It was risky since none of us had any real modeling experience, but Betty

said, taking a deep breath and setting down my clipboard. "Let's give it a try.

some test runs.

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studio turned into an impromptu runway We took turns trying on different outfits and strutting up and down the length of the studio floor, critiquing each other's walks and poses. "Work

+5

looks amazing on you," I commented as Betty struck a power pose at the end of

stepped out in a sleek evening gown. channel my inner supermodel, but I couldn't help but giggle as

I did

my

best to

to show off, we huddled together to make

our female model," I said, and the others nodded

eyes widened. "Me?

was perfect, and you look fantastic

but then her smile faltered. "Wait, what about a male model? We still need

immediately threw up his hands. "Oh no, not me. I'm not cut out

on, Gavin," I pleaded. "Just

dress him in one of our men's outfits. As he awkwardly shuffled down our makeshift runway, his long limbs flailing, we tried our best to stifle our laughter and put on our best encouraging

biting my lip to keep from grinning. "Maybe

Gavin grumbled, tugging at

again. We were so close, but without a male

new drawing tablet. "I can make recruitment posters and hang them around campus. Maybe we'll find someone

minutes, I had prepared an eye-catching poster asking for

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