The Last Show
For the little latina herself

- Gablos
- pre-Season 1 - how Gabrielle met and fell for Carlos
- PG-13, for possible language and innuendo...this might change, might not, depending on how I continue.

Gabrielle stepped off the runway and behind the curtain, escaping to backstage, getting away from the last barrage of flashing lights and applause. Her last walk had been flawless, just like the first, second, seventh and twelfth of the night. In her mind, she was done. She didn't feel the need to join the rest of the models when they all walked out together to present the designer. She didn't feel the drive to put on a smile and applaud that designer until his ego grew another three sizes.
But she didn't get paid to feel. She got paid to look good in his clothing, and she earned her wages well. She looked fabulous, and the whole audience saw it. One man in particular had noticed her tonight, though she wouldn't know it for a few more days. To Gabrielle, it was just one more show. Little did she know it would be one of her last.

After the show, Gabrielle changed into her street clothes. Her hair and makeup would have to wait until she'd arrived home, at the apartment she shared with two of her fellow models.
"Are you eating tonight?" Gabrielle heard one of the other girls ask Veronica, her roommate.
"No," said Veronica. "I have an audition tomorrow morning, and another show tomorrow night. It'll be two saltines and a Jolly Rancher until Saturday for me."
"And don't forget the caffeine." said Greta, shaking her own bottle of No-Doz for emphasis.
Gabrielle remained quiet as she zipped up the last garment bag she was responsible for. She understood that game, she even played it once in a while. She was just glad she didn't have any jobs booked for a few weeks.
"I'll see you at home." Veronica called out when she saw Gabrielle was leaving.
"See ya." said Gabrielle, barely deigning to smile as she pulled on the heavy door that led to the parking lot.
"Gabrielle!" shouted Greta. It made Gabrielle stop and turn in the doorway. "Are you going to the party on Saturday?"
"It's going to be killer," Veronica chimed in. "So many eligible bachelors."
"With money." Greta added, as if Veronica would even have mentioned them otherwise.
"I don't know." said Gabrielle, as if she had better places to be. She shrugged, and left the desperate women behind.

Gabrielle thought about how pathetic Veronica and Greta were, always on the prowl for men with money. Gabrielle made her own money, and she was proud of it. She told herself and anyone that would listen that she didn't need a man to take care of her, and she didn't need a man to make her happy. All the men she'd ever been with or been around had either used her, abused her, or been used by her, and after a while a girl got tired of looking for that.

Gabrielle thought about it all once more as she washed off her make up and let down her hair.
I don't need a man.
Yes, that's what she told herself, and it was true. But she only had to tell herself that because deep in her heart, she still wanted one.

Gabrielle decided to go to the party after all. Not to have fun, or to meet friends, but to further her career. She was on the cusp of true stardom, she could feel it, and she was still willing to put in the work to make her childhood dream a reality.
"I don't care how short I am," she told Veronica for the thousandth time, shouting so she could be heard above the thumping techno. "I'm going to stand next to Tyra on that Victoria's Secret show runway."
Veronica rolled her eyes, in the most endearing way possible for a model, but she was soon distracted by a group of men.
"They have been staring us all night." said Veronica, mostly to Greta since Gabrielle always refused to talk about such things. "Who are they?"
"They work with money. And that's all you need to know." said Greta. She and Veronica sipped their drinks, bought for them by some other men at the party, Gabrielle was sure. Gabrielle gave the group of men a passing glance, just to say she did. They looked like the average guest at one of these parties; well dressed, attractive, and completely self-involved. They were all the same, all except for one, who Gabrielle caught looking back at her. In what Gabrielle thought was an accident, they made eye contact and Gabrielle quickly looked away so that he wouldn't think she was trying to get his attention. In reality he'd been trying to get hers.
"Have you seen any designers come in?" Gabrielle asked Greta, purposefully ignoring that group of men. "All I see are nobodies, I don't want to stand here looking pretty for...no one..."
Gabrielle slowly stopped speaking as it became obvious that Greta wasn't listening. She was staring over Gabrielle's shoulder as one of those men Gabrielle found so undesirable approached them.
"Don't turn around." Greta mouthed, though she tried to remain casual with her body language.
"Which one?" Gabrielle replied in the same hushed tone. With her back to the crowd, she couldn't see who was coming. Greta didn't have time to reply.
"Hello, ladies." said a polite, deep voice. It had just the slightest hint of an accent, and Gabrielle wondered if he wasn't from New York City.
Gabrielle turned as Veronica said hello and introduced herself. It was the man she'd made eye contact with. He was a dream - tall, dark and handsome, clean cut and professional. His hair was kept close to his head in tight black curls, and he had a healthy moustache and beard. Gabrielle usually hated facial hair, but it suited him. He smiled very softly, and the first thing Gabrielle really noticed about him was the twinkle in his eye. It made him look sincere.
"Carlos Solis." he said, and he held out his hand to Gabrielle first. It was obvious to Greta and Veronica that Gabrielle was the object of his desire. The pangs of disappointment in their hearts were matched by the rush of excitement Gabrielle was feeling, though she still tried to deny it.
"Gabrielle." she said simply, taking Carlos' hand.