Not The Same Girls
Country: Aurivelle
City: Auremont
Alvara
(The Day of the Runway)
I woke slowly the next morning, my body heavy from barely a few hours of sleep.
I hadn’t been able to rest.
Every time I closed my eyes, reality hit me all over again…I was here. At this level. It felt unreal… like something fragile that could disappear if I breathed too hard.
Just months ago, I had been somewhere else entirely.
With Adrian.
Living in fear.
Now… Everything was different.
I sat up and let my gaze drift around the room…the same room that had become my safe place for six months.
For a moment, I just stood there, taking it in.
Then I moved.
I brushed quickly and changed into something comfortable…a cream oversized hoodie, beige jogger pants, and brown fuzzy slippers.
I pulled my hair into a low ponytail and added simple stud earrings.
Nothing fancy. Just… me.
I stepped out, heading toward Isabella’s room, but stopped when I saw her coming toward me.
We both paused.
Then we looked at each other properly.
Same outfit.
For a second, there was silence…
Then we burst out laughing at the exact same time.
“Well… it is what it is,” I said, still laughing.
“Honestly,” she replied, shaking her head.
“Let’s go. We should’ve done this earlier, but we still have time.”
We walked to the refectory together, the familiar buzz of voices already filling the space.
Students were gathered in clusters, the air charged with anticipation.
We made our way to our usual spot and sat down.
Not long after, breakfast arrived.
Isabella stared at the food like she was memorizing it.
“Oh God… I’m going to miss this food so much.”
I smiled.
“You say that like you don’t eat at home.”
She gave me a look.
“Not this kind of food, Alvara.”
I laughed softly.
“Well… that’s true.”
Then my expression softened slightly.
“But we’re not going back to that life again. Remember our plan? We’re only going to Cressford to bring our families here…to Auremont. We’re not going back as the same girls who left.”
I held her gaze.
“Things have changed.”
She nodded slowly… but I saw it.
The doubt.
“What if we don’t make the top three?” she asked quietly, her mood dipping.
“We will,” I said without hesitation.
And she smiled.
“Your confidence is something else.”
I shrugged lightly.
“Well… if we don’t…which we will…but if we don’t, the card Mrs. Hawthorne gave me is enough to get us a really good place here.”
She blinked.
“Us?”
I frowned slightly.
“Of course “ us”. You don’t think I’m leaving you in Cressford, do you?”
She didn’t answer.
Instead, her eyes filled.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
She wiped it quickly… but more followed.
“Hey… what are you doing?” I asked softly, reaching for her hand.
“Today is supposed to be a happy day. We cried enough yesterday.”
“It’s just…” she started, her voice breaking.
“Isabella,” I said gently, squeezing her hand.
“You’re the sister I never had. You’ve become family to me. I would never trade you for anything.”
Her lips trembled.
“Thank you, Alvara… I still don’t know what I did to deserve you… or any of this.”
I shook my head softly.
“You did more than enough. More than you even realize.”
For a moment, we just looked at each other.
Then I nudged her lightly.
“Come on. Let’s eat. We have a long…happy…day ahead of us. We’ve been waiting for this since the moment we stepped into this institute. Let’s not ruin it with too many emotions.”
She nodded, taking a steady breath.
We ate quietly after that… not because there was nothing to say, but because everything that mattered had already been said.
When we were done, we stood and went our separate ways to get ready.
Back in my room, I opened my wardrobe and carefully picked out my outfit, laying each piece neatly on the bed.
For a second, I just stared at it.
This was it.
Then I turned and walked into the bathroom, letting the water wash over me as I tried to steady the storm building inside my chest.
Today… everything changes.
I stood in front of the mirror, heart already racing even though the show was still hours away.
First came the trousers. I slipped into the flowing ivory wide-leg pair, loving how they moved with me…elegant but comfortable enough for running backstage.
Next, the olive-green top. I adjusted it carefully, making sure the oversized white bow sat perfectly on my right shoulder and the scalloped hem sat smooth against my waist.
Jewelry was quick. I fastened the bold gold geometric earrings, added my sleek gold watch, and slipped on the nude pointed heels.
A structured beige bag completed everything. Simple, but intentional.
Hair took the longest. I brushed everything back into a deep side part, then gathered it into a sleek low ponytail.
A little shine serum gave it that expensive glow under the lights.
Makeup was my quiet ritual. I blended a luminous base over my skin, added soft bronzer and a peachy blush.
For my eyes, I swept on warm olive and bronze shadows, drew a sharp winged liner, and finished with plenty of mascara.
A warm rose-brown lipstick brought it all together.
I stepped back and looked at myself. The green popped against my skin, the white bow made its statement, and I looked like a designer…not just another student.
Taking a deep breath, I whispered to my reflection, “You’ve got this.”
Then I grabbed my bag and headed out to Isabella's room.
I stepped out of my room and made my way down the corridor to Isabella’s.
My heels clicked softly against the floor, each step echoing louder than it should have.
Or maybe it was just my heart.
I stopped at her door and knocked once.
“Come in,” she called.
I pushed the door open…
And froze.
Isabella stood in the middle of the room, adjusting the sleeve of her outfit.
For a second, I just stared.
She looked… unreal.
Effortless. Polished. Like she had already stepped into the world we were about to enter.
Her eyes lifted…and she stopped too.
We both just stood there, staring at each other.
Then…
“Alvara…” she breathed.
“You look…”
“Don’t,” I said quickly, already laughing nervously. “You look better.”
She scoffed, walking toward me. “Please. Look at you.”
Her eyes moved over my outfit, taking in every detail.
“The green… that bow…” she shook her head slightly. “You look like you belong on that runway.”
I smiled, feeling my nerves twist tighter.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I said, raising a brow.
She grinned. “I know.”
I rolled my eyes, but the smile didn’t leave my face.
For a moment, the nerves faded.
It was just us again.
“Are you ready?” she asked softly.
I exhaled. “No.”
She nodded. “Same.”
A small pause.
Then she smiled. “Let’s go anyway.”
The walk to the Atelier felt different today.
Heavier.
Final.
People moved faster.
Everything felt… charged.
When we stepped inside the Atelier collection, it was already alive with movement.
Designers.
Models.
Assistants.
Everyone in motion.
Focused.
My designs were exactly where we left them.
Neat.
Untouched.
Waiting.
“This is it,” Isabella murmured beside me.
I nodded slowly.
No turning back now.
My models were already there.
Three of them.
Standing near my section, dressed in robes, their hair and makeup halfway done.
They turned when they saw me.
“Good afternoon,” one of them said with a small smile.
I nodded, trying to steady myself. “Hi… let’s get started.”
The words felt strange.
Like I had stepped into a role I wasn’t fully used to yet.
But there was no time to hesitate.
I reached for the first piece.
Carefully.
Respectfully.
Like it mattered.
Because it did.
We worked through each look…
Zippers pulled up.
Fabric adjusted.
Small details fixed.
I stepped back after the first model was dressed.
And my breath caught.
It looked different on her.
Alive.
What had been just fabric… sketches… ideas…
Now moved.
Now existed.
“Is this okay?” she asked.
I nodded quickly. “Yes… yes, it’s perfect.”
My voice came out softer than I expected.
Beside me, Isabella was going through the same thing.
I glanced over.
And saw her staring at one of her models like she couldn’t believe it either.
She looked at me.
I looked at her.
And we both smiled.
That kind of smile that didn’t need words.
Time moved faster after that.
Final checks.
Last adjustments.
Quiet instructions.
Then the call came.
“Ten minutes to start!”
Everything shifted instantly.
The air tightened.
Models lined up.
Heels clicked against the floor.
Voices dropped to whispers.
I stood just behind them, my hands clasped together.
My heart was racing now.
Loud.
Too loud.
“This is actually happening,” Isabella whispered beside me.
I nodded, eyes fixed ahead. “Yeah.”
No more rehearsals.
No more preparation.
Just… this.
The lights dimmed slightly.
The music started.
Low at first.
Then rising.
The kind that settled into your chest.
A voice called out the first name.
The first model stepped forward…
And disappeared onto the runway.
Everything slowed.
One by one, they went.
Each step taking them further away from us…
And into the world.
“Alvara,” someone called.
My head snapped up.
“It’s your turn.”
My chest tightened.
I turned to my first model.
Adjusted her outfit one last time, even though it didn’t need it.
My hands lingered for a second.
Then I stepped back.
She looked at me.
I nodded.
“You’ve got this.”
She smiled.
Then she turned…
And walked out.
I stood there, frozen.
Listening.
Waiting.
For the reaction I couldn’t see.
For the moment everything changed.
Beside me, Isabella reached for my hand.
I held onto hers tightly.
And together…
We waited.