The next day was a blur. Up late because of the late night, she missed the initial breakfast meal. Martin Steele looked hard at her when she showed up at 9:45, but didn't say anything. She had the feeling she would be hearing from him later.
Tom Smith studiously avoided her, not even glancing in her direction.
Thankfully, it was another day with most of the holidaymakers off the island. There was a fishing contest and they were gone most of the day, leaving April time to recoup her energy. She spent some time swimming, some time in the hot tub and even managed a nap.
The day was a lazy day. One thing she'd been grateful for was that the night before there had been no sexual activity for her – her genitals were thankful for the night off.
Cheap digital cameras where provided after breakfast, to each couple – the three single guys being paired up with Astrid, Sam and April, and they were given an assignment. "Most erotic picture". Basically, they were given the run of the island, plus the zodiacs and jet ski's, and told, "You have till 5pm, then we meet here, and all cameras are to be handed in."
That night, they would have a viewing party, and all the pictures submitted – each couple got to mark five pictures to be put in the contest – would be judged by everyone else.
It was a clever concept, and after the announcement, everyone just sat, staring at each other, wondering what to do. Some got on it immediately, excited and talking animatedly. Others sat there, dumb founded about what to do next.
Thankfully, Martin had thought ahead and provided each couple with a cheap android tablet, preloaded with some idea's of pictures they might want to try replicating.
After a brief session detailing how to use the cameras, everyone was just asked to be back by 5.
April got Sal Girodano as her other half, and as he sat down in the chair opposite her, she determined that she was seriously not interested in being anyone's muse, and immediately proposed an alternative.
"So, Tara, I guess we need to look through your wardrobe?" Sal said, smiling lazy as he looked at the camera in his hand.
"Actually Sal, I think we need to look through yours," she replied. "I think we need to do something different. You
know
everyone else is going to be taking pictures of the lady of the group. We are going to do a Mr. September thing for ours."
Sal just looked at her, then, to her surprise, he just laughed.
"Well, ten out of ten for concepts there, Tara. I highly doubt anyone is going to want to look at pictures of me, but what the hell. I'm game."
And that's what they did.
After looking through what he brought in terms of clothes, they loaded up a backpack with clothes and snacks – and most importantly, liquids - and took off on one of the Jetskis for shore - the first time April had been off the island since she arrived.
They spent almost four hours just taking pictures of Sal picking up rocks and driftwood – trying to recreate the famous picture of the male model, stripped to the waist, carrying two tires. There was no problem with replicating the sweat, that was for sure.
While they were there, April and Sal became aware of Bridget and Brad Fleischman, in the lagoon behind them. They were gamely doing their best to take some provocative poses of Bridget, and it was apparent that she wasn't thrilled about it.
As they stopped to take a drink, April and Sal could hear Brad pleading with Bridget to at least let him take a picture or two.
Listening, they could see that Bridget was beside herself – she was upset about her body and how sexy could she really be? It was one thing to put on a good face in front of everyone, but when it came to 'sexy pictures', as she put, it who would want to see those??
April looked at Sal, with a serious expression on her face. "Do you mind just waiting for a bit? I need to go...talk to them."
Sal gave her a brief smile back and said, "Sure. I completely understand. Can I help?"
April looked at him for a second, considering. "Thanks Sal – that says a lot that you'd want to. But no, I think this is something I should try myself."
He nodded and she got up, dusting herself off as she did.
Brad and Bridget were just over a dune – they obviously weren't aware of Sal and April's presence, and they were mortified when she crested the dune, waving to them.
"Heya guys!" she said brightly.
Bridget sighed, and sat down, pulling a shawl around herself. Brad just stood, watching April approach, with the expression of 'what else can go wrong' on his face.
April arrived and sat on the dunes, next to Bridget.
It was an uncomfortable situation.
"Hey. Um. So.... Yeah. Taking some pics back there. Couldn't help but hear..."
She got as far as that and Bridget suddenly turned and said, "This sucks. I hate this." And ended with a sob.
April was taken aback, but she also knew This Is What She Did. This was therapy 101. She was there, she had the tools and by god, inadvertent as it was, she was going to do something about this.
She stole a glance at Brad, who was standing, holding the camera and just staring at Bridget. It wasn't a hard stare, it was more compassionate but bewildered, all rolled into one. A classic "I want to help but don't know what to do" look.
"So, let me guess. Sexy erotic pictures and you just don't feel like you fit the bill, right? You feel too large to be erotic or for people to find you sexy. Is that it?"
Going direct was always a risk. If you got it wrong, you've just insulted the people you want to help. But this wasn't a therapy session, they wouldn't be back next week and something had to be done immediately, because of the five pm deadline – so April just went in, all guns blazing.
Bridget snuffled a sob and after a second's hesitation, nodded. A tear went down one cheek.
Brad was there, instantly on his knees in the sand, reaching out for Bridget's hands, camera dumped on the ground and forgotten about.
"That's bullshit, Honey. You ARE sexy. To me, you are the loveliest thing I've ever seen."
He sent a venomous look in April's direction.
"Don't you listen to her, Bridge. She's just full of it."
He had mistaken her intent, but that was ok. He wasn't the one she needed to build up.
"Actually Bridget, if anything, I tend to agree with your Husband," she said, matter of factly.
Bridget looked over at her, puzzled, and Brad shot her a questioning look too.
"Look, yeah, I get this has to be a hard thing right? Society denotes that we all need to be five foot nine and one hundred and twenty pounds, with 34d tits, right? And legs that won't quit and an ass you can bounce a quarter off of. That's what all the Victoria's Secret ads show us, right? I'll bet you don't feel like you could fit into that shit or look the part right?"
No one nodded or said anything, so April waited a beat and carried on.
"Well, news flash Bridget. Neither can I. Neither can your mother, or my mother, or my sister, or anyone else I know. No one can. Apart from Victoria's Secret models, and they have to spend all afternoon being made up before they can do it, too.
