“Any man in your life?” I asked.
“A few but I really only have my eyes set on one.” She winked. I wondered if she’d been with Axel again, like I had but I wouldn’t dare ask, fearing the response I might get. God, I hoped she wasn’t seeing him.
“I’m ready, ‘ho’.” Jackie announced, coming into my room.
“Let’s get this show on the road,” Ash said, bouncing off of my bed, ready to get her night started with Jackie. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach that things weren’t over between Ashley and Axel and it made my stomach turn.
THE SMALL ARGUMENT BETWEEN HUNTER and I had blown over by Monday and he acted like the conversation had never happened, to my luck.
“So, I was thinking Saturday, there’s this huge event at the Lounge Bar for Valentine’s Day and we could go together,” Hunter told me. A bar for Valentine’s Day? It didn’t sound very romantic to me but hey, it would be better than last year with Chris. All we’d done was chill in his room and I’d watched as he played his video games. So much fun. NOT!
“Sounds like fun,” I lied. What I really wanted was some intimacy, hopefully that would come after the drinks.
“Great, everyone will be there, it’s going to be a blast,” he said excitedly.
“Cool,” I muttered, not too enthusiastically.
“You guys are going to the Lounge for Valentine’s Day?” Anne asked, sitting down with us.
“Yeah.” Hunter grinned.
“Awesome, Jenny and I will be there. Everyone will be there.” Anne smiled brightly.
“See.” Hunter smirked. I merely nodded, at least I’d get to see my friend and have that to look forward to.
“Oh, you me and Jenny should all get ready together!” Anne exclaimed. “And then Hunter can pick us up.”
“I’m actually planning on drinking but I can meet you ladies there and we can split a ride back together,” Hunter offered.
“Sounds like a date.” Anne grinned and Hunter winked at me. I nodded, lost in their enthusiasm.
Both Jenny and Anne had been thrilled by the idea of having Jackie do their makeup, so Jackie was coming to Jenny’s apartment before she continued on to the rest of her clients for the night.
“Lee, you are not going out like that,” Jackie tsked, as she took in my appearance. She’d beautifully applied makeup to both Jenny and Anne and they looked utterly amazing. They looked at me disapprovingly. Jenny had gone with gold and orange on her eyes and bright red lips, whereas Anne had gone with a dark smoky eye and shiny nude lips. They were both gorgeous. I looked at myself with my natural low-key makeup and soft pink lips and felt pretty comfortable.
“What’s wrong with this?” I asked pointing at my face.
“Everything!” Jackie exclaimed, “If you were just going to school, I’d say fine but you’re going out on Valentine’s Day, at least try to put a little effort in!” she chided. Jackie motioned for me to sit in the empty chair in front of her and I did as she asked. “I only have fifteen minutes and then I have to run to my next client, so this will have to be fast,” she warned, I merely nodded my head.
I didn’t ask her any questions as she went to work and started pulling out a huge eyeshadow palette, bronzer, blush, and contours. I trusted her and knew she would do a good job and make me look gorgeous. I had no idea what to expect and sat silently as she worked her magic.
“You’re so lucky you got long lashes, I’ve always been jealous,” she admitted, as she layered on some mascara. I had never thought she’d been jealous of any part of me and it came as a surprise to me. “I got Dad’s short, stubby, little lashes.”
“Thanks.” I smiled, still a little shocked.
“Okay Little One, you’re done.” She grinned and held up a mirror, for me to see her handiwork. “And perfect timing, I got to run,” she said, hastily packing up her things and getting up. I stared at my reflection in the mirror in disbelief, I didn’t even look like me, I looked like one of those magazine cover fashion models.
“Oh my God Jackie, I look amazing!” I exclaimed in utter shock. “Thank you so much!” I continued, still feeling surreal.
“Yeah, thank you,” Jenny and Anne said in unison.
“Anytime girls. You have my business card.” She smiled as she left to get to the rest of her clients.
“We all look amazing!” I gushed, l admiring us in the mirror. We also, all looked completely different from each other. Jenny and Anne had chosen their own makeup looks but Jackie had picked out mine herself. Jackie had used pinks for me and had given me a pink smoky eye, that was accentuated with a black winged eyeliner and thick black eyelashes, giving me a very sweet and romantic look. She also contoured my face even more, defining my features and used bronzer to warm up my face and just a bit of blush to make me look rosy. My lips were like bubble gum, a soft pink and ultra-glossy. I’d never looked so good.
I put on a light pink, sweetheart fit and flare strapless dress and a pair of dusty rose strappy heels. Then I added some pearl studs in my ears and soft beachy waves in my hair and I was ready. We
