Within a day, the second video that I posted on YouTube of me modeling clothes had 25,000 views.

Wow, what a rush it was to go viral like that!

I almost started expecting to get recognized as I slouched around in campus in my baggy sweats, but it didn't happen.  I also quickly discovered that I had lost all desire to strap myself back into a bra anytime soon.

Furthermore, the view count on the video plateaued after four days.  By whatever mysterious means it had become popular, my second modeling video was now forgotten by the wayside.  Although I did get a very nice email from the company, thanking me for my video, saying they were proud to have me model their clothes.

"That was kinda fun.  But I'm still not gonna make any money with those kind of numbers," I told Zamora about a week after my video was posted.

"What, are you crazy, Lucy?  I have already received offers from ten different companies, asking for you to model their clothes," said Zamora.  "The more videos you do, the faster your numbers will grow."

"Oh my god, are you serious?  I can't believe these companies like my videos so much," I replied.

"I guess they see what I see," said Zamora, a playful smile on her face.  "But, they want to see more.  We need to invest in some better lighting."

"But last time we turned on every light in the place," I said.

"I know a place in town that has everything we need," said Zamora.  "One hundred and forty dollars."

"Woah!" I said.  "I've made something like twelve cents on my YouTube videos.  I don't have a hundred and forty bucks to spare."

"Lucy, open your mind, girl.  These companies want you to model their clothes, and you get to fill your wardrobe with the hottest outfits.  Your audience is already building.  You just need to invest in it," said Zamora.

"No!" I gasped.  "I can't do that to my poor parents.  I can't use the emergency card again, not for some lights.  They'll think I've gone crazy."

"Tell them you are in a photography class," said Zamora, handing me a list of lighting equipment.  

"I can't.  They'll kill me, Zamora," I said.

"Stop your silly talk at once," said Zamora.  "I have received an offer for you from a bikini company.  They will pay you one hundred dollars in addition to the free swimsuits."

"Are you serious?" I said.

"Yes.  So it is only forty dollars.  And soon, more offers will come, Lucy," said Zamora.

"Well, I really could use a new swimsuit," I said.

"Do it.  It is better to apologize later than to hesitate when it is time to act, Lucy.  You only live once, you know," said Zamora.

"Fuck it, I'm in," I said.

After Zamora left, I kept turning the decision over and over again in my mind.  

On one hand, there was no way I could ever explain to my parents that I was spending their money so that I could flounce around in revealing clothes.  But on the other hand, I felt more energized than I had in weeks.

To soothe myself, I started going through the stack of new clothes that I had in my closet, taking my time to run my hands over the fabric and admire the way that they looked.

To my parents, I was still their little girl.  But I could feel the spirit of a woman growing inside me, and I knew that modeling clothes was something that excited me.

It felt good to be myself in my own body, unafraid of what others thought of me.  It felt good to not shop at discount stores, pawing through cheap clothes.  It felt good to know I had a whole closet full of stunning outfits, and that soon, I would be the best-dressed girl on the entire campus.

As I'm sure you can guess, I bought the lights.

But what happened after we got those lights set up went far beyond anything I could have expected.