Poses 1: Poses

“You love photography so much, Syd. It’ll be fun to be model.” Her mother pushed the brochure into Syd’s glass of orange juice. The cover photos was spectacular, even if she just said it was rubbish. Whomever shot for LT Studio was good enough to work for Vogue or Rolling Stone.

“Avedon didn’t model, Maplethorpe didn’t pose for the camera, and hardly anybody knows what Ritts, Leibowitz, Sainsbury, Estevez & Belloso--”

“You don’t need to name every photographer you know. I paid for the sessions.”

“Mom!”

“You know, you used to be an outgoing girl. But ever since we moved, you’ve withdrawn into a shell. Outside of track, you hardly ever go out. You’re going to be in college soon. I just want you to--”

“Mom...” Syd sighed. They’d had this discussion a dozen times. “I just want to be left alone. You don’t know what it’s like to be DLC’s daughter.”

“I’m his wife, sweetie. Everybody assume’s I’m stupid arm candy. But you can’t get taken seriously for yourself hiding. Just go and have fun.”

“Fine! But you know Austin is not going to do this.”

Syd stepped off the bus into the shadow of old warehouses with solid metal doors. The streets were clean, but there wasn’t a sign of anyone anywhere. She checked the address again for the sixth time. Why couldn’t Austin have come with her? Sure, she complained about having to take the photos for a week, but he was her boyfriend. Besides, they were going to do it for the first time after prom. Getting in her pants ought to be worth a few trips to the warehouse district.

She pushed a dirty intercom button with what looked like a torn business card taped to it.

“LT Studio,” a woman’s voice creaked out from the speaker box.

“Hi, I’m, uh, Syd, um, Dela ... Sydney Delacruz. The contest.”

“Come on up. Fourth floor, end of the hall. Sorry, the lift is out.”

Syd was a miler, so climbing four tall flights wasn’t a problem, but she wondered what kind of studio was in the middle of nowhere and didn’t even have a proper entrance. The businesses along the hall all had flat metal doors. Some had stenciled on their business names: Candyland Models, HKM Distributors, Secrets LTD, Hussy, Restrained Leather, and P0wnage Boards. Some kind of fan or machine throbbed above the roof.

The door at the end of the hall was silkscreened with a black-and-white photo of a dancer, posed with her legs folder up to--barely--hide her breast. It was gorgeous, the kind of picture Sydney wanted to take, maybe would take if she had any talent and could stand asking anybody to pose for her. When the only person you feel comfortable taking photos of is your mother, you don’t do nude shots. Her mouth twitched. She’d heard Austin’s friends say her mom was a MILF. Which was undeniably true. All she had to do was watch how Austin looked at her mom instead of her. Like the model on LT Studio’s door, her mother had big boobs. Not super big, but totally the opposite of Syd’s. Even after she took off her bra, Austin didn’t pay them any attention. He didn’t even hide staring at Emily’s boobs, even though Emily was her best friend.

Why was she here? She was, as Austin said all the time, “cute.” Which meant not sexy. Cute like a girl. She wasn’t tall. She wasn’t fashionably willowy, either. She was a runner, with strong legs and no boobs. She turned to go, but remembered the next bus wasn’t for another hour.

She knocked on the door and the woman said, “Come in.”

“Hello, Sydney.” The woman greeting her was the dancer. She was wearing a dress that showed a lot of cleavage. Syd was suddenly happy Austin wasn’t there.

“Do you go by Sydney or Syd?”

Syd blushed, realizing she had just stared at the woman’s boobs. “Um, Syd.”

“I’m Lucia. My husband Tom and I run the studio. Why don’t you come in and have a seat. Would you like a drink? We have soda or water.” She laughed, “or wine if you were a bit older.”

“Just water, ma’am.”

“Is your boyfriend parking?”

She shook her head. “Its just me. He’ll come for the photographs, but he didn’t want to rehearse.”

Lucia frowned. “That’s unfortunate. We don’t normally work with non-professionals. Boys tend to need a lot of training before a formal shoot. Can you call him?”

Syd bit her lip. Nice job, Austin. “He had practice.”

“Well, this is practice.” She crossed her arms. “Look, we don’t normally work with non-professionals. This was a favor. Is your boyfriend going to cooperate for the photos?

“Maybe? He didn’t like the idea but my mom made a big deal out of it.” Syd looked at the walls, covered with posters of glamorous models ... with large, luxurious boobs. She glanced at her tiny things.

Lucia’s mouth twisted. “You don’t sound like you want this. I thought your mom set this up for you as special treat. She said you love photography.”

“I ... I do. I just...” It was stupid that she was crying. She used to be crier, after her dad went on the road with his band and never was home. She cried a lot. But she got over that. She didn’t even want to be here and now she was crying that she had to leave.

“Do you have a tissue?”

Lucia grabbed a box from the dais. “Oh, dear. Syd, look. You’re here. Maybe we can try some shots to see if this will work. Did you bring the release? You did that, right?”

Syd nodded and wiped her eyes. She got the release her mom signed from her backpack. Her mother complained that getting prom shots should require an eleven page release, but Syd had pleaded.

Lucia took them. “And your driver’s ... you don’t have a driver’s license, do you? Proof of ID?”

Syd started to cry again as she shook her head. She didn’t care!

Lucia sighed, “Syd, you’re a trouble maker, aren’t you?” Then she laughed. “Don’t worry. Do you have a state ID of some sort? We can take a school ID, I suppose, if you don’t.”

“I have a state ID.”

Lucia disappeared with Syd’s release and the learner’s permit, leaving Syd with a portfolio full of fashion photos. Lucia and Tom were fantastic! The poses were creative and the models made Syd feel “cute. Maybe she should leave. Lucia was doing somebody a favor, probably somebody who worked with her dad. She was wasting their time. Austin didn’t want to get formal photos. Her mom would be angry, but if she got up now, she wouldn’t have to embarrass herself and she had a good excuse.

“Nervous?” Lucia came in just as Syd got to the door.

“I don’t want to waste your time.”

“Don’t be silly. Tom pointed out that I was being ridiculous. You like photography, right? So you know something about modelng even if you’ve never been in front of the camera. If Austin is a dead fish, we’ll work around him. Have you done any modeling? Maybe something with your father?”

Syd shook her head.

“Well, first, I need to teach you how to hold yourself. You look like you keep fit. Are you a cheerleader or a dancer?”

She shook her head.

“Well, you have a model’s figure, Syd. We just need to work on your posture. Lift you’re head and look at me. Don’t worry, I won’t bite.”

Syd looked her in the eye. Lucia thrust her head forward and bit the air, laughing. “Okay, maybe just a little. But I promise you’ll have fun today. I’ll walk you through the posing. Both Tom and I will be taking picture. The main thing to remember is to just be yourself. You’re not here for me or your boyfriend?--just for you. Okay?”

“Yeah. I’m just nervous. I’m really shy.”

Lucia smiled. “I figured that out. It’s okay. You’re pretty. I bet you’ll be good at this and have some fun. Is your boyfriend in school with you?”

“He is. Austin. His name is Austin.” They’d been dating for over six months now. He was a jerk half the time, looking at Emily and everybody else’s boobs, even her mom’s. Caring more about soccer games than her and making stupid jokes. But when she told him that her belly chain was as low as his hands could go, he respected that. Well, maybe not respected it. He didn’t understand how she could be a virgin at eighteen or why it was she thought their first time was a big deal. But he kept his hands above her belly chain, except for her butt. He loved her ass. If he played with her nipples a bit, maybe she would have let him go farther.

“You’ve been dating a while?” Lucia lead her through red door into a large studio. All of the windows were covered with heavy black curtains and photography lights were everywhere. Despite herself, she smiled.

Lucia leaned close to her and whispered, “it’s exciting, isn’t it? The first time in a studio?”

Syd nodded.

“First, I want you to stand in front of this wall while Tom sets up the lights. You go to Newell, right?”

Syd nodded and stood as Tom moved the lights. They were surprisingly hot, not at all like the lamps at home.

“Are you sure you don’t want a Coke or something? Maybe a Starbucks? I got a frappuccino at lunch and never touched it. It’s in the freezer.”

“No, thank you, ma’am.”

“Call me Lucia, Syd. I know you’re nervous and telling you not to be won’t help. But this can be fun. I was just like you when I first modeled and then I realized it was a blast.”

A blast, maybe, if you looked like Lucia. Or were outgoing like her dad. Everybody thought because her dad was a pop star, she’d be a party girl or at least super outgoing. But she hated attention. If she didn’t like winning so much, she’d be tempted to throw her races so she wouldn’t have to get on the podium afterwards.

“Just be comfortable. We’re going to take some shots just to get started.”

“I don’t know what to do with my hands.” Syd’s arms just hung there, floppy-like.

“You look lovely, Sydney,” Tom said from on top of a stool.

“You really are a beautiful young woman,” Lucia said. “Don’t worry about your arms right now. Just try to relax.”

Syd tried to relax, but found herself slumping. “Sydney, watch your posture,” she heard her mom’s voice say in her head.

“Try this,” Lucia said, leaving against the wall. The pose was so simple, yet elegant.

Syd mimicked it and both Lucia and Tom started shooting.

“You don’t need to force a smile, dear. You really are lovely. Just be yourself.”

Syd wasn’t sure how to be herself in front of a camera. Herself was reading on her bed or running in the woods by herself. Sometimes, even Emily or her mom was too much company. Even Austin got to be too much when he didn’t have Saturday soccer games and Sunday practices.

“Could you show me another pose?”

“Did you like that?”

Syd nodded.

Lucia had her put a foot against the wall and push her butt back. “Slide your foot out. Yes, right there. Arms back against the wall, but push your chest out.”

“Looking great Sydney,” Tom said from behind his camera.

“Look at you, so sexy, Syd. Here,” Lucia said, sliding her hand behind Syd’s back, “Let me adjust you a bit.” She guided her into position, adjusting her spine and hips.

Stood back and smiled. “God, Syd, you’re a beautiful girl. Just special. I was so silly to get caught up Austin not joining you...”

As Lucia guided her through more poses, Syd discovered it was fun!

Lucia poses her again. “Its amazing how transformed you are. You came in her a shy little girl, slumped over and not able to look me in the eye.”

Syd blushed.

“With a cute, cute blush! But now you look so grown up and confident. Look at you, Syd!”

Lucia turned her camera around and showed Syd some of the pictures. She was just dressed in a sweater and yoga pants, but she almost looked glamorous. If she had bigger boobs, she might even look sexy.

“It’s too bad that you’re sweater bunches so badly. You have such a lovely figure. I can see what sexy abs you have.” Lucia ran her hand over her belly.

Syd was breathless.

“And I love this top. It’s adorable. But it’s not very photo friendly. See?” She turned the camera to Syd again, show how wrinkled the sweater was.

Syd nodded. It was her favorite sweater, but it didn’t look right for the shoot. She smiled. She was thinking like a model.

“It’s too bad...” Lucia look to Tom. “We can’t even ask, right?”

“No. Of course not. I know how special Syd is, how great the photos, but we shouldn’t,” Tom said, peering down from his stool.

“What? Do you want me to do an advanced pose? I’m really flexible.” She slid down the wall into a full sideways splits.

Both Lucia’s and Tom’s eyes went wide.

“Wow. You didn’t even warm up. But that’s not it. I was thinking...” She looked up at Tom. He shook his head.

“Conan...” Lucia nodded.

“Conan?”

“Conan Thai. He asked us to take this job. We want to keep this conservative.”

“I know I’m not a model or anything.” She felt herself slump, then tried to regain her poise. “But I study fashion photography. Not like with a class, but my favorite book is by Avedon. I try to keep up with what people are doing. We could do something more interesting. I’d try, at least.”

“Let me think about it, Syd. We’ll do some more shots. You’re having fun with this, right?”

“I was so nervous, but now I feel ... I don’t know, I guess I do feel special. I almost feel like if Austin saw me, he’d...” She blushed, realizing how much she’d said.

“He’d...”

“Nothing. I was just thinking out loud.”

“You’re really shy, aren’t you, Syd?”

She nodded.

“But look how much you’ve opened up.” Lucia hugged her. “I’m proud of you. I’ve never seen a model accomplish so much in just an hour. It’s like the girl who walked into grew five years and is now a woman.”

“Not quite a woman.”

“What do you mean?”

Syd was suddenly aware that Lucia’s very ample boobs were pressed into her and they were still hugging.

“What are you thinking about, Syd? You got quiet there.”

“I do that a lot.”

“Were you worried you’re not a woman?”

“No.”

“Okay. Ready to do some more poses.”

Syd pointed to her boobs. “I mean, I’m not ... I’m a runner. Not special...”

“Oh, Sydney. You are so, so very lovely and beautiful. Special.”

“I’m cute, right. Extra cute.” That was Austin’s phrase.

Lucia smiled. “You are extra, extra cute. But you’re also beautiful, gorgeous, and sexy.”

Syd’s mouth twitched. Maybe beautiful, but not sexy. Not like Lucia and that fantastic cleavage. Those breasts had some weight.

“You know that’s you’re a very sexy young woman, right?” She glanced up at Tom. “Do you think we’ve ever had a sexier model?”

“Am I excluding you, dear?”

Lucia laughed. “You had better.”

“Well, then, no. Sydney, you just radiate something unique. It’s not just that you’re pretty, which you are in spades. It’s the way your passion peaks through your shyness. Like their is a secret you the camera can only catch a glimpse of. A you the rest of the world doesn’t get to see. And that is so sexy. So...” he brought both hands to his lips and kissed his fingers.

Lucia kissed her fingers as well. “Have you heard of a century flower?”

Syd shook her head.

“Once every hundred years, it shoots into the sky and shares the most glorious flower with the world, but all the rest of the time, it sits meekly in the forest. Everybody passes it by without knowing how unique and special it is. If Austin saw the girl our lenses are capturing, he’d ... Well, maybe it’s good that he doesn’t!”

Syd didn’t mean to say it, it just came out. “We’re going to do it prom night.” She blushed furiously.

Lucia and Tom looked at each other and smiled. It was like they had just said “I love you.”

“He’s special, then?”

She nodded, not quite able to look Lucia in the eyes.

“Are you ready for it?”

She nodded.

“Well, lets have a toast, then. To your special night. Tom, do we still have that sparkling cider?”

“Right away.”

Tom hoped off the ladder and jogged across the studio, returning with three champaign glasses and a bottle of something with French on the label.

“To Sydney for her big night.”

The sparkling cider wasn’t sweet like apple juice. It felt sophisticated and grown up. Like somebody who wouldn’t be a virgin in two weeks would drink.

“Darling, I hope you’ll come back after the prom. Not to tell us all the little details, but so we can capture how radiant you’ll be. You’re just so special and sexy. Being a woman is going to complete you.”

“Thank you.” Syd wasn’t sure how to respond to that kind of complement. A part of her thought it was shocked that she was sharing such intimate details with people she had only know for an hour. But she felt so relaxed with them. It was like they saw part of her that she had hidden even from herself.

She sipped her cider. She should do something special. A sexy pose. She knew exactly the one, too.

“You know that picture of you, Lucia?”

She laughed. “Of course, Syd. I know exactly which one ... of the thousands.”

Syd laughed. “I mean ... I’ll have to show you.” She pointed to the door to the reception area. “May I?”

“Of course.”

She came back with the portfolio and sat on the floor, flipping through the pages until she found the picture she’d remembered. A black-and-white photo of Lucia kneeling, knees pressed together, her hand holding up her breast, her head thrown back in ecstasy. She was naked. Syd was drawn to how big Lucia’s nipple were. Her own nipples were kind of weird. The areola got more erect than the nipple. She wondered if maybe that was part of the reason Austin didn’t like them so much. but her sweater would hide them. It would still be sexy dressed.

“Oh,” Lucia and Tom both murmured. “That’s a very sexy pose. You’re going to look almost too good.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to do that expression. And...” She pointed to her boobs, which wouldn’t have the same kind of presence.

Lucia touched Syd’s temple. “It’s all in her, darling.” She ran her fingertips over Syd’s cheek and down her throat, which gave Syd goosebumps. “You’ve got all you need.”

Tom put aside the cider and glasses, while Lucia help Syd pose.

“No, darling, push your chest out, but your shoulders back,” she said, her hand stroking Syd’s arm. “Take this hand and reach for your other ear. Yes.” Lucia adjusted Syd’s feet and hands, pushing Syd’s fingers into her breast, lifting it up and bringing the nipple forward. The very hard nipple. Her bra was a fancy one, but not one that did much to hide pokey nipples. The idea of being so exposed even with her sweater was strangely exciting.

“Now, the secret to this pose is to imagine your lover touching you. Before he took that picture, Tom touched me softly on the neck like this. Does that feel good? Does Austin do that for you?”

It felt very good and Austin would be doing it for her.

Lucia ran her finger down Syd’s back. “Tom didn’t stop at my ass. What do you think he did?”

Syd couldn’t answer. She’d imagined letting Austin do more than caress her ass many nights. Just two more weeks.

Lucia’s fingers left Syd’s ass in reality, but in her imagination, they continued on turning into Austin’s fingers. They pushed past her panties into her pussy. God, she couldn’t wait to let him make love, no, to fuck her. Fuck her wet, sloppy, slutty pussy. Her pose pressed her thighs together, but Syd pushed them together more, trying to get that feeling.

She heard the camera snap, and another and another.

She stood and buried her face in her hands. Humiliation washed over her in red waves. She’d forgotten all about the cameras.

“Bravo! Bravo!” Tom clapped. “That was magnificent. Truly special. Special special. Outstanding.”

“Hush, Tom. Give us a moment.”

Lucia pulled Syd into a hug. “Syd, darling, don’t be embarrassed. You’re a sexy woman, full of desire. That’s natural. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

“Will you delete the pictures? I’m so embarrassed,” Syd said through her sobs.

“Of course, dear. Of course. When we finish with the shoot--”

“I”m finished. I can’t. Oh, God, I’m embarrassed.”

“Don’t be. Really, be proud. Can I show you the first picture we took today? then show you the one I just took? Let’s go sit.”

Syd let Lucia guide her around the movable wall she’d been posing against. They sat on a sofa and Lucia show her the first picture on an iPad. She was stiff, boring, exactly what everybody thought Sydney Delacruz was. Lucia slipped through the album and Syd could seer herself becoming more confident. She was smiling. And even before Lucia got to the last photos, she saw that she didn’t need big boobs to be sexy.

Lucia took her hand. “Are you ready, my little century flower? This is the picture where you really blossom?

She bit her lip. She knew she must look like a slut. She was so lost in her fantasy. “I can’t.”

Lucia stroked her arm. “Sydney, before Austin took off your bra, did you think you’d ever be able to let a boy do that?”

She shook her head.