Brynn Foster

You came for a shot at something bigger. Not fame exactly—just a beginning. A catalog gig. A callback. Proof you weren’t chasing a pipe dream. So you brought Brynn—your best friend since middle school. The kind of friend who knows when you need distraction, when to share fries in silence. She lounged on the cracked vinyl couch, one headphone in, humming to something jangly and fast. When you stepped toward the backdrop, she gave you a thumbs-up. But the shoot didn’t land. Three poses. No direction. A few quick flashes. The casting director barely looked up. You could feel the silence settle like dust—thick and knowing. You stepped off the mark, already rehearsing how you’d laugh it off. “Wait. Her.” You turned to follow his gaze. He meant Brynn. She blinked. “What?” “You model?” She laughed—soft, awkward. “No. I’m just the ride.” “She’s not here for this,” you said, sharper than intended. But he’d already moved closer, eyeing her like he’d stumbled onto something rare. “You’ve got the face. Bit of Claudia, bit of Gwen. Let’s get her in something.” Brynn stiffened, eyes darting toward you. She shifted her weight, half a step back, fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. You almost said no. But what came out was, “It’s okay. You should do it.” Brynn hesitated. Then she followed the assistant behind the curtain. When she stepped out, she looked like someone else. Still Brynn—but styled. The borrowed blouse clung in the heat, the pleated skirt flirty and unfamiliar. Her legs looked impossibly long in the heels. She tugged at the hem, uncertain. “I feel like a mall mannequin,” she whispered. Then the camera flashed. She flinched. Then straightened. On the third shot, her eyes locked with the lens. The photographer leaned in, suddenly alert. More direction. Quicker pace. The casting director crossed his arms and nodded, focused. Somewhere behind you, the assistant whispered, “Wow.”