On Tour

After the photo shooting, Karma was almost ready to call it a day. They were tiring her out with all the changing, all the different poses, and all their impatience when she didn't get their pose right immediately.

She didn't even get to look at the pictures. "Buy the latest issue," that Nia girl who'd been constantly nagging at her and her shape simply said. Bitch.

"Do we really have to go to this new meeting?" Karma panted, hoping Trey would say no. She already saw herself drifting to sleep on the plane, then taking another nap, preferably with Matt, before the show.

"Oh yeah, definitely," Trey replied much to her dismay, and Karma didn't even bother to ask what was so important about a girl who wanted to explain her how being famous worked. I mean, I'll see, right?

She closed her eyes for five seconds and drifted into a light slumber. Much too soon for her likes, the cab arrived at another large gray building and another super skinny assistant in incredibly high heels fetched them from the entrance.

This time, she was gray blond, the newest trend. "I'm Ivana," she said with a thick eastern european accent, "I lead you to Miss Elsa now." Karma didn't even bother to speak with her during their walk, knowing that she was one of many customers. They finally arrived at a large glass door.

"Elsa van Goodenberg. Publicity and Digital Marketing Coach" a golden sign spelled. It reminded Karma of those signs the principals in the old high school movies had on their desks.

Elsa van Goodenberg was a sickly thin woman with never ending legs in her mid-fifties. She wore her dark brown hair in a perm and had large plastic pink glasses and matching earrings.
Her outfit was so bright Karma thought she needed sunglasses. A green skirt with purple tights and a yellow sleeveless pullover over - finally something neutral! - a white blouse.

"Oh dear," she said as her eyes traveled over Karma's body. She then scribbled some note in her tiny book before getting up and putting a fake smile on her face.

"I'm Elsa, nice to meet you." Her face is gonna freeze any second. God, I'm never ever gonna do botox. Goood why do I have to be here?

"Karma Strikes," she introduced herself, "and my manager, Trey DeLargio." Elsa's fake smile slowly faded. "Sit," she commanded.
"First of all, and this is stating the obvious. This is not the shape we want to be in," Elsa said, pointing at Karma. Why are all these people picking at my size today?

"What's wrong with it?"
Elsa laughed. It sounded shriek. Karma thought her eardrums were going to burst.
"What's wrong with your size? Darling, you might be in a good shape for being in a half-known metal band. But there's more out there. You're too fat for the industry. Plain and simple."

Karma clenched her fists. "I'm not..." she protested, but Trey cut her off. "Look, Karma. Have a look at all the models, you think you can compare?" Asshole very much?

"What if I don't even want to be a model?" Elsa leaned forward and pinched Karma's stomach. "Squishy, see?" She swallowed. Am I really that disgusting? Karma looked down her body. For the first time in years she actually saw her fat.

"Nowadays a star has to do a little bit of everything. Of course you're gonna model," Trey said coolly, "I already have you signed up for four modeling events in a month when your European tour is over."

Wait, what? Before Karma could process what he said, let alone say anything, Elsa added, "until then, you're going to get up hungry from every single table you sit at."

Wait, no? "Sorry guys, I'm not," she heard herself protest weakly. Actually, losing a few pounds would actually be pretty hot. How... how can Matt even touch something like me? Her heart jumped at his thought. Matt. My Matt.

"You will," Elsa said in a tone that would not tolerate any objections, not that Karma had any anymore. Not now. "My colleague Tamara prepared a meal plan for you. Wherever you are, that's what you're gonna ask for. If they don't have it, you don't eat anything."

Karma felt overwhelmed.
"Nothing ever came so easy, Karma," Trey added, "You're in a great situation. Practically famous over night. Most people have done all that even before getting where you are now. You've been incredibly blessed. Now did you think it could go on this way? Never working for it? That's not how it goes," he laughed and then thanked Elsa. Dude, I thought you were on my side.

In the next couple of hours, Elsa taught her how to stand, how to walk, and Karma felt like a newborn. All she wanted to do was to lay down in a fetal position and cry.

Elsa made her watch herself in the mirror as she walked. She understood it now. She felt fat. She looked at herself and all she saw were her flaws. Everything she hated about herself. And she was foolish to believe she ever was sexy. Elsa told her how to answer questions, how to smile, how to wave. It was tiring her out.

Karma was rushed back to the airport and slept through the entire flight and the cab ride to the venue. When she arrived, she downed three cups of cold coffee and did her vocal warm up.
"Hey K, I saved you some of my taco bell," Jimmy said and offered her the bag. It smelled delicious. Not as good as skinny feels, Elsa's voice sounded in her mind.

"I'm not hungry," Karma heard herself say robotically. "Well, kay," he replied and started eating it. Ughhhh, I want some... Karma ignored the roaring of her stomach. For the next two hours, she simply functioned.

The concert was great. Karma operated on auto pilot, but no-one seemed to notice even though she felt like all eyes were on her. More upright, she told herself as she sang. More upright. Elsa's voice was in her head.

After a hot shower, they arrived at the hotel and Karma was surprised her luggage was actually there, sitting in her room. A minute later, Matt knocked.

"Hey there," he whispered before pulling her into a deep kiss. "You were amazing tonight," she complimented him. He really was. Somehow, those last couple of vocal lessons with Ron really set him on fire. It was as if he could hit every fucking note in the universe, something Karma was definitely jealous of. She was in a good vocal shape, no question. But Matt? Just... on fire.

"Well," he said as he let his hands glide down her curves. Ew, Karma thought, he's touching all of my fat... Suddenly, she felt so very uncomfortable under his touch. "There's something else I've been told I'm amazing at," he grinned before placing his lips on her neck.

Karma tensed up. She was tired, and she was fat, and she felt so disgusting. "Matt,..." she murmured. "Yeah," he whispered, tracing the shell of her ear with his tongue.

"Not tonight."

Notes

Hope y'all enjoyed my update :) What do you think is gonna happen next? Is she pushing her solo career? Is it dangerous for their relationship?

love
seventhtrumpet