The next afternoon, Erika arrived at the events place where the fashion show was held and was greeted by staff and some model friends whom she worked with before.

So before getting prep for it, she was in the ramp with the other models for rehearsal to be directed at the spot where they started and where it ended.

She was in queue somewhere in the middle, waiting for her turn and watching the models before her catwalked with confidence. Once it was her turn, Erika gave that same level of confidence in the ramp as she walked around.

"Amazing job, I want that same energy on the real thing," the director said to her. "Next!"

About an hour of catwalk practice, the models were getting their hair and makeup done before putting on fashion designer's creation. A stylists looked around the dressing room that was in chaos of preparation, "Where's your kid?" he asked while braiding her hair.

"Oh, he's back in the hotel," the young mother answered.

"With a sitter?"

"No."

His reaction could be seen through the vanity. "You left your eight-year-old son alone in a hotel room?"

"Of course not, my dog is there to look after him," Erika scoffed as if she was not realizing what was wrong with that. "I'm kidding, my dad is there to keep an eye on him. Geez, I know better than to leave him alone."

"That's a relief. I know I have said this before, but I love his soft curly hair. Maybe you should consider making him a child model."

"If he wants to, but all he wants to do is to play soccer. His team just won, by the way."

"Oh, that's so great. Anyway, let's fix that eye brows."

Erika never liked the plucking, then took deep breath. "Oh, God. Fine, let's get this over with," she sighed.

Afterwards, they were all dressed with these spring/summer collection clothings since the fashion show was about to start. There were people coming like the celebrities, reportors, critics and potential clients.

Erika wore a bralette and a flowy satin ballgown skirt with a pair of wedges, and tropical style make-up. She was posing for the camera for a solo shoot of each designs for portfolio, then did it with other models as a group.

Finally, it was time for the fashion show. Being a runway model was not all walk, but had to show attitude and that was what Erika had to portray with her walk and expression in her face.

She had to look straight ahead without making eye contact with those people watching her and the outfit she wore. After that, Erika striked a pose, then continued walking backstage.

Once it was over, all the models were called to the ramp to see all the collection with the fashion designer front and center, then took a bow in the end.

They all went backstage, applauding their success that no one fell on their face. As fun as it looked to stay for a little while for a glass of champagne to celebrate a successful fashion show, Erika was ready to leave to be with her son.

Later in the evening, she was back in the hotel and went straight to her room first. The young mother saw her son and her father spending time together by playing iPad games by the couch. "I'm back," she chimed.

"Mommy!" Thirdy beamed.

"Hey, Dad. Hey, Bubba. You guys seem to have fun tonight."

"Well, nothing like a classic Mario kart game to make it fun. He just beats me in race."

"Oh, just like I did when I was his age," Erika laughed. "Anyway, thanks for keeping an eye on him."

Collins stood up from the sofa. "Anything to be with my grandson. So how was the fashion show?"

"Great, dad. No falling this time."

"Well, I have to go. Your brother needs me in his car shop."

The young mother gave her father a hug before he left. "Alright, dad. I still have to pack before checking out tomorrow. Thanks again. Let's meet again soon."

"Just let me know, and I will make time. Bye, honey. Bye, Bubba."

"Bye, Coco."

Once Collins was gone, Erika turned to her son then went to get the hotel's landline. "You hungry?"

"Yeah," her son nodded. "Can we have buffalo wings?"

"You got it, and..."

"ICE CREAM SUNDAE!!" the mother and son exclaimed at the same time.

Later, after the fun of eating Thirdy's two favorite food in the world, it was time for him to sleep. Erika was beside him, stroking his hair and watched him make little snores.

Then there was the loud snores came from Crumbs since he was sleeping on the same bed as them. Those sounds made the young mother laugh just hearing it.

The next day, it was time for them to leave, so they went down to the lobby. "Bubba, you and Crumbs stay here and wait for me," she said to her him. "Do not go anywhere."

"Okay, mom," Thirdy replied by nodding his head and sat at the lounging area.

Erika went to the front desk to return the room key and pay for the bills. However, it was taking long. She was willing to wait, until her phone rang because her mother agent was calling her.

"Hello?... Yeah, I am about to check out, but I think the hotel is understaff," Erika said to her mother agent. "Don't worry, I will be in the photoshoot early. I just have to drive my son to his friend's house first, then I will go straight to the studio."

Few minutes passed, the little boy decided to go to his mother, "Mom, I need to go to the bathroom," he told her. Even doing the 'I need to pee' dance.

The young mother was busy with her phone call, yet she stopped to talk to her child for a second. "Alright, but get back here right away, okay?"

"Got it." Afterwards, the kid rushed to the restroom.

Erika went back to update her mother agent. She was too preoccupied that she didn't notice that there were more incoming guests entering the hotel.

----

It was not any other hotel guests. They were the Super Tundra players. There were fans became riled up seeing them and wanting autographs. The real fans recognized them right away without the their soccer jersey or tracksuit.

From all those noise, Erika was clueless to know what was happening in the lobby. Not aware that there were a team of super league soccer players were in close quarter with her, even though she wouldn't know that it was them since they were new players. Except, when an old face coming in.

The team's star striker and the most popular player in the super league, Duke Shay, signing autographs to any fan asking for it. Then after some few selfies, they relax in the lounge while their coach head to the reception to ask for their hotel keys.

"So what's it like being back in your hometown?" the team captain asked.

"It's awesome. I can't believe I'm back here," Shay expressed because he had not been back to Haymoore since he went back just to get his high school transcript years ago. "Anyway, I need to go to the restroom. It was a long flight."

Once he got inside, his phone buzzed so he took it out to see that it was a text message that he needed to reply. That was when Thirdy came out of the stalls and saw him standing there by the sink.

It took the eight-year-old boy two seconds to recognize his idol. "Duke Shay?" he blurted.

It got Shay's attention right away as he darted his head towards his young fan who dashed at him with that big brown eyes staring back at him. The soccer star gave him a smile, "Hey there," he responded.

"You're Duke Shay."

"Yeah, I am. What's your name, ace?"

"Thirdy. I'm your biggest fan," the kid answered. "Wow! You're here."

"Yup, in the flesh. Do you play soccer too, Thirdy?" Shay asked as he bent down to the boy's level since he liked kids anyway.

"Yup, my team is called Little Bulldogs. We won a game yesterday."

"Really? Great job, little man. Keep that up and maybe you'll become a Super Tundra when you grow up."

"Okay," Thirdy nodded. "Can you sign my ball?"

"Sure," Shay replied.

The boy took a marker from his backpack and his soccer ball, then handed it to his idol. "Here you go."

"Alright." The soccer star gladly signed it and even wrote a little message at the side, then returned it to Thirdy.

"Wow! Thanks."

"You're welcome, ace." Shay patted the kid's curly hair. He stopped after a second and happened to take notice about his eyes. It was familiar to him, not only that it had the same color, but shape as well.

Suddenly there was a knock on the bathroom door that startled them a bit. "Bubba, are you still there? We have to go," Thirdy's mother calling to him. "Is everything okay in there?"

"Coming! That's my mom. Thanks again for signing my ball," the boy said to his idol as he headed out the door.

"Sure thing," Shay replied with a wink in his eye. "Bye, Thirdy. Nice to meet you."

"You too, Duke Shay."

Watching the kid ran out the door, Shay could not help find him adorable and admiring that Thirdy looked up at him.

----

Erika stood outside the restroom with her dog, feeling a bit anxious that his son took longer than he should. Although, Thirdy did came out, "Bubba, what took you so long?" she asked. "I got worried."

"I'm sorry, mom," Thirdy apologized.

"It's fine."

"By the way, I saw..."

Suddenly, a staff appeared. "Excuse me, ma'am, your car is outside the main entrance," he informed.

"Oh, right," Erika replied, then turned to her son. "Come on, Bubba, it's time to go now. I still have to drive you and Crumbs at Ben's house while mommy goes to work."

"Okay, mom." Thirdy took his mother's hand and they all walked out of the hotel.