You're To Blame

Fame (4)

Chapter 11: Fame (4)

***

“Norleen, make sure you make her look good. Otherwise it would be messy…” As Jacklyn warned her the woman stood there with a discerning gaze on her face.

“Don’t worry about it at all!” Norleen replied with a careless response that made it seem like she’d never mess up even on purpose.

I was then dragged to another area of this ridiculously large house. As much as I barely had the strength within me to argue I still couldn’t help but speak against the ridiculously glow-y dress I was offered. “This, isn’t really my thing…”

“No complaining, try it on! And this one as well. We need to make sure you’re looking glamorous when walking around besides Sky.” Norleen not only ignored any and all complaints I had but also simply proceeded to shove move clothes my way. The dressing room I entered was extensive as well. It seemed like everything in this house was over the top for no apparent reason.

“Is everything you all do because of him?” I asked her curiously. Much like the rest of them I thought she’d have her own opinions about Sky, probably just as kind as the others spoke of him. Because despite the complaints they all seemed to respect him.

“Of course, who else? He pays well, he treats us kindly and all we have to do is to work the things we love working the most.” Norleen explained it to me and said like that it truly sounded like a good gig. I wasn’t too aware of it all but they seemed happy and that was enough.

“That must mean a lot to you then…” I remarked quietly through the dressing room curtains that hung at my sides. She stood on the other side of it waiting for me to come out.

Norleen’s voice sounded overly excited which surprised me a bit. “It does! And the fact I get to dress up someone so handsome on the daily makes me excited. I’ve been in love with him since the first day I met him! Ah, he’s just the most perfect man ever, isn’t he?” She asked me and to that I didn’t have too good of a response. After all I had only just met the guy, I felt strange.

“I wouldn’t say perfect… I did find him in a trash can.” I replied jokingly as I stepped out of the dressing area.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Do you think his clothes are trash? Are you trying to insult me little girl?” Suddenly Norleen’s tone changed drastically and I stepped back, she threw a new set of clothes for me, apparently the showy dress wasn’t good enough.

“No, no, no I’d never… I’m sorry…” I apologized quickly since she looked extremely angry, her behavior close to erratic.

“I’m just messing with you. Your face is so indifferent I thought you were a doll for a moment. But now you seem a bit more relaxed.” Norleen played it off saying she was never angry in the first place but I could tell she had been.

“I guess I’m just getting used to all of your characters little by little… so it’s not as awkward as it was before… I suppose.” I explained to her kindly and she shoved me back into the dressing room once more.

“Good then go try this dress now!” Norleen looked excited as before, I couldn’t really predict her behaviors anymore as it had been one thing after another.

“Alright… how does it… even put on?” I asked her while holding what looked like a string dress, it was all in white and it looked a bit too revealing for my taste.

“I’ll help you, come on take off your clothes.” Norleen said while grabbing it off my hands and starting to undress me.

“No, I can do it myself I just need to know which side is which and-” I struggled as I tried to speak with her and stepped away but she cornered me and took off my shirt.

“No need to be shy around me! I’ve seen thousands of naked men and women, your body won’t be any different than-” The moment Noreen laid eyes on my chest she paused.

“It’s awkward, could you not stare?” I asked her while feeling utterly humiliated by her at that moment. I hadn’t really liked showing myself in front of others, even in my relationships I enjoyed the lights being off so that no one could see me.

“I was just… surprised, under those baggy clothes I couldn’t tell but your proportions are almost perfect.” Norleen remarked as she carefully looked over me. As much as I wanted to run away I knew I couldn’t. Her hands traced my exposed chest and stopped at the very middle of it. “This scar though… I won’t ask you about it.” She spoke in a quiet manner. I had that scar since a long time ago, honestly even if she did as me I couldn’t respond at all.

“I don’t know what to say to that…” I said while stepping back a bit and covering myself once more.

“Did you train anything before?” Norleen asked me with a bright smile, I could tell she wanted to change the subject as soon as possible.

“I did gymnastics…” I replied to her knowing it was better than having to face her again. I took the dress and went behind the curtains to put it on, it took me a while to figure it out.

“I see, that’s why you’re so fit. You quit?” Norleen asked me curiously. Her mood and behavior jumping from one to another confused me a lot.

“Yes, it wasn’t my thing. I sometimes run though still, to keep in shape. I also watch my diet since it became a habit. It was a toxic environment though.” I admitted, I hadn’t spoken about those days to anyone before so being able to say stuff like this right now put me in a surprisingly better mood. Descpite the strange circumstances I was currently in.

“Yeah, most sports are. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve dressed over the years. All of them had to take really good care of their bodies because it’s their livelihood, you know?” Norleen spoke in such a matter of fact manner that it surprised me.

“Yeah…” I agreed as I put on the dress and showed myself to her. She didn’t like it and gave me other clothes as she spoke.

“However they’d almost always end up taking some weight loss drugs or another. Or starve themselves. Instead of doing it the proper way, they end up ruining their bodies forever.” Norleen’s overly enthusiastic tone made the words she spoke to me so much more odd. Why was she so happy when saying such dark things I wondered.

“That’s awful…” I remarked quietly, the last pair of clothes she gave me were more plain than the rest although I could tell they were from very expensive brands, the clothes didn’t look much different than the average person would wear.

“But for them it was necessary, since being a celebrity… having a good figure, all those things have a shelf life. To make it you have to constantly better yourself. The moment you stop, you’re left behind. And models, actors… tv hosts… none of them are any different when it comes to keeping up appearances…” Norleen’s explanation of course made sense, it was very strict however. Did she understand things in the industry I didn’t? Obviously but why did her words make it sound like such a dark place… I thought it was supposed to be a dream come true instead.

“I understand… then… Sky?” I asked her a bit hesitantly while changing clothes for I don’t know which time already.

“Him? Oh, he’s a bit on the selfish side as well, he doesn’t go out much and make appearances, they call him mysterious for it but he’s just quite lazy and unbothered. He actually really hates people!” Norleen continued to speak happily as she described the man. Each one of them described him in much the same way I suppose this Sky person doesn’t really keep appearances. They understood he wasn’t someone special but a regular person in a particular circumstance… So I wondered what kept them to attracted to him in the first place?