Heh, um… oops. Well, here we go. The first chapter—NOT the 18th.

A/N: The beginning is a bit confusing, but I'll explain everything in ch. Two. The more people who R/R, the faster I'll post. I already have the next two parts written.

Title: Modeling and all the little perks

Summery: When Max leaves Seattle, she leaves her old life in the dust. But two years later, someone from her past shows up and changes her new view entirely.

Rating: PG- I curse in here TWICE, if that offends you then I'm sorry.

Disclaimer:  Everything you recognize isn't mine, but I DO own Tasha, Colie, Sam, and Kim. Plus I own all the little charters who will pop up here. Max, Alec, and all other characters from Max's past belong to Fox, Eglee and Cameron.

Max sighed as she dug through her apartment, looking for the purse that she had, just minutes previously, placed on the countertop. She groaned in annoyance, stomping her feet as she rushed into the hallway, then up the wide marble staircase. She stopped dead in the center of the staircase, and threw her head back.

"TASHA!" she called out, her voice revealing her nervousness and annoyance. A tall black woman, one of Max's roommates, looked out over the edge of the banister from the third floor. She smiled down at Max, and whistled softly at Max outfit.

"Whadya need, honey?" she asked, clearly amused.

"My purse! I can't find it! Have you seen it?" Max whined, looking like a grumpy toddler who couldn't find her favorite toy.

Natasha laughed slightly under her breath, and began to walk down the stairs to Max. "You mean the lil black one, the mini bag with the beads on the front?" she began, running down the stairs. When Max nodded, Natasha slowed to a walk. "Max, babe, you are holding it."

Max looked down at the tiny bag hanging from her shoulder, and laughed. "Wow, I feel stupid."

"Not stupid," Natasha began, "just spacey. You been dreamin 'gain, Max?" Natasha gave Max a look, her eyes saying everything that her mouth wasn't. Max stopped laughing, and her face fell. Her eyes lost their pretended cheeriness, and she let her face go, loosening her almost unconscious mask. Her face showed the lines that revealed pain beyond her years, losses inconceivable to the average person, and the look of one whose life was spent solely fighting fate. Natasha felt the tears build up behind her eyes, as they always did whenever she saw the younger girl's hidden pain.

Natasha did what she always did-- the only thing she could do. She held out her arms, and wrapped Max in a hug, trying to comfort her soul though her body. Max's shoulders began to shake as she began to cry. Natasha led her over to one of the huge sofas in their mansion, and the two just sat there. Eventually, Max's crying subsided, although she didn't pull away. She sat in Natasha embrace, rocking back and forth, Natasha running her fingers through her hair. Finally, Natasha spoke.

"You want me to call Eric, tell 'im to have the company reschedule for ya?" she offered.

Max shook her head and sat up. "No, I need to do this today. I need a distraction. Call him and tell him I'll be late, though, cause I need to clean myself up." Max stood up, as did Natasha.

As Natasha began to walk to the phone to call their manager, Max began to walk out. As she reached the doorway, she turned around and smiled wistfully. "Thanks," she said.

[A/N: I know, this was crap. It's just setting up the story, more of a prologue than a chapter]

End part one: I HAVE THIS WHOLE THING WRITTEN, THE FASTER YOU REVIEW THE FASTER I'LL POST!