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Layla (Next Day- Runway Show)

"Hugo... Where's Hugo? Have you guys seen Hugo?" dad yells from the top of his lungs frantically. I was doing Ingrid's hair while she fixed her shoe. The runway was starting in just minutes.

The whole place was swarming with models, stylists, make-up artists; you name it. I felt giddy myself; I haven't been to one of these things in so long. The curtain moves a little, exposing the outside. The house was pact, and I could see the security guards trying to keep the paparazzi out of place.

I move my head around and smile as I see Danny sitting up front, right at the end of the runway. God- he looked handsome. He wore a navy buttoned-up with a light gray suit. It fit him perfectly, making his gray eyes pop even more. It was as if he sensed my staring and turned, smiling and winking at me, making me blush. I smiled, bit my lip, and lowered my head to hide my blushing.

"Layla, baby. Have you seen Hugo?" dad asked, making me turn. "Ahh, no, dad. Have you tried maybe the other fitting area?" I said as he grunted. "What's going on? Who's yelling for me?" Hugo came speed walking, dresses on hand. "Me!" dad answered, making Hugo sigh in frustration.

"Felix, mas vale que sea importance!" he said in Spanish, placing his hands on his hips. (this better be important)

"It is. One of the girls ate the shellfish on the appetizer table; she had hives all over. I had to get one of the guards to rush her to the hospital, but we are one girl down." he says, throwing his hands in frustration.

"What? No... Felix, how can you do this to me? I just told Carol to go home; she sprinted her ankle trying on a pair of shoes. Hay Dios mio, que Vamos hacer?" (oh, God, what are we going to do?" he says, lifting his head heavenward.

"Daddy, we're ready to start. What's....what's this? Why are you two looking so deflated?" Karly says, pointing to dad and Hugo. Meanwhile, I continued to style Ingrid's hair. I placed a bit of spray to keep her curls in place, and done!

Sasha was arguing with the girl doing her makeup- swatting her hand and snatching the lipstick from her hand to apply it herself.

"We are two models down. That's right, dresses total. How will we be able to get this show on the run? Even if I give the girls one of their dresses, it will still throw off the show's schedule! We have to get at least one new model asap." Hugo answers, making my sister hiss.

"Oh... This is not good," she answers, making dad pinch the curve of his nose. "Unless-" Karly says as I turn to put my stuff away. Ingrid was my last model to style, so I was happy to go and take a seat next to my hubby.

Hugo clears his throat. I was smiling, content with my work, and not a damn thing could happen to stop me from taking a test next to-

"Mmmh---hhmmmm!" I hear someone sarcastically clearing their throat and making me turn slowly. "Yyyeeeeesssss!" I say, hoping for the love of God they did not ask me to walk.

"Ladybug...." Hugo says, making his big puppy eyes. Karly throws her hand over my shoulders, pulling me against her. "Sister dear. Have I told you how beautiful... Intelligent, amazing you are!?" she says, making me roll my eyes.

"Nope... Not going to happen! No way!" I say, pushing off her hand. "Oh, come on, baby! You used to love doing runways. Please, baby... Just this once. We need you!"

I whine, closing my eyes, "Daddy, please don't make me do this." I beg like a five-year, not wanting to go into their first day of kindergarten.

"Please, baby. Just this once, I promise... We really need you out there."

"You're our only hope right now, Lay. Please, sis?"

"Yes, ladybug. Do it for us, Please?" I sighed, closing my eyes. I just knew I would regret this. "I swear to God, if I fall on my face, you will all pay for my hospital bill," I say, making my sister squeal.

She throws her hands around me, making me stumble back, grunting. "Ok, ok. Let's get the show started." Hugo says, slapping his hands.

The girls begin to sprint to their positions, and Hugo hugs me tightly. "Thanks, sweety. You have no idea how much this means to me. To all of us, especially that man of yours out there." he says, averting his eyes toward Danny.

"Thank you, baby. I knew we could count on you. I'll see you out there. Time to shine, baby!" He says, kissing the top of my head and winking as he leaves. "Alright, in position, ladies. Dj- start the music!" he says, swirling his finger in the air and walking away toward the audience.

I sigh as I quickly put the first dress in and run to the back of the line. One girl after another makes their way out, and just as I'm ready to enter, Sasha walks back in, and her smile fades, looking at me with one of the runway dresses and ready to go. I smile, winking at her as her face fills with anger.

I make my way and see Danny looking around the audience for me, unaware I'm about to step in. Gasps are heard, and I can see many whispering around them in awe. The last time I stepped on a runway was when I was nineteen—one season before the Danny and Me incident.

I walk with my head held high, but if I told you I wasn't nervous, I'd be lying. I was shaking from the nervousness. The flashlights blinded me, and for a second, my heel got stuck on the dress, making my foot stuck, but... I nailed it. Dad nudged Danny on the elbow, making him turn as I came to the front.

His disappointed face turned into a huge surprised look, and his eyes glistened. My heart pumped at a million per second, and at that moment- it was as if no one existed. My nervousness went away. I smiled from ear to ear. His lips pulled to a gigawatt smile, lowering his head for a second, and he winked at me.

I stopped before him, placed my hand on my hip, and posed, allowing the photographers to snap pictures. Then I turned on my heel, looked back, and winked at Danny, causing him to blush as I walked away. One dressed down, then two, three, and so on until I got to six since my sister took two off my hand to fill for the second girl.

I made my way to the stage to run my last dress, and Hugo mounted the runway on the opposite side, walking beside me as everyone began to cheer. Photographers snapped double away, and everyone stood, giving him an ovation. He grabbed my hand at the end of the runway, squeezing it lightly. I turned to smile at him, and he blushed, vowing his head slightly.

"Thanks, ladybug. I owe you one," he says, cupping my head and kissing my temple. Danny clapped away; his smile- was honestly all I needed.

He couldn't contain himself; he went on stage, pulling me by my waist and claiming my lips. My heart skipped, and my stomach fluttered as I indulged the moment, savoring his lips. "You looked beautiful up here, baby," he says in my ear, making me blush.

"Thank you."

"The runway surely missed you," he says as we look at the audience. They cheered, clapped, and snapped pictures of seeing me back after five years. But believe me, this was a one-time thing. I don't think I'm ready for this... At least not yet.

I gulped as I engulf in a strange feeling. Toward the back, I see a figure staring at me with intense eyes. My heart feels like it's going to pop out of my chest. I was uncertain of who it was, but for the love of God... I hope it wasn't who I think it was.

Danny wraps his hands around my waist, standing behind me. He kisses my neck, making me feel a shiver. I shrugged it off, smiling at Danny and kissing his lips. Maybe I was just over my head. Surely it was all the stress of the day.

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