A Compilation of My Soul

Ferris Wheels

 I sat next to Sandra, a pretty Latina girl with enough body glitter spray to put the Ferris wheel at this fair to shame. Her hair was done up to perfection just like her make up. And here was awkward little me in jeans and a simple pony tail with barely there make up. But I really didn't mind, we were at the fair face painting booth and doing girls' hair into princess braids. Not competing on America's Next Top Model. 

   I had finished a particularly difficult braid when I boy about my age sat in the chair across from me. He was blond, brushed into a quiff, with a surfer's tan and the most gorgeous blue eyes. He was tall, with legs longer than my attention span. He had a sweet smile, pierced by a small black ring in his lower lip. I realized in that moment I had Luke Hemmings across from me. Like, Hory Shet. 

   I quickly make the decision that he'd probably take better to a girl who doesn't know him than a screaming fan girl. So, I put on a smile that (hopefully) doesn't give away the fact that I love his band. 

  "Can you do my hair in a braid?" He asks, nearly bouncing in the chair. "Oooo! And with a ribbon?" I laugh a little.

  "Sorry, hon," I say, ruffling his hair a little, "your hair is a bit too short. " He pouts, pushing out his lower lip. Damn, that lip ring was distracting. "How about some face paint?" I suggest.

  His shoulders droop a little, "Do you really not like my face so much that you have to cover it with paint?" Now, I shake my head.

   "You know, paint only covers your face, not your eyes. And can I tell you a secret?" I beckon him with my finger to lean closer. He does and I cup my hand over his ear, like I'm going to tell him a secret. "I'm a sucker for pretty eyes." He leans back and raises his eyebrows. I lean back and nod.

  "What takes you the longest to paint?" 

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   In the end I paint him as a skull. I finish the look with a delicate spider web starting at the far back corner of his jaw, and carefully extending it to his cheek. The almost entire time I'm painting, I have to lean right next to him, so his breath warms my cheek. When I lean back to take in the full effect, I'm amazed. The blacks, whites, and greys all contrast with already beautiful blue eyes to make them even more stunning. 

   "Alright, sweetie, you're all done." I tell him, letting the regret creep into my voice. He leans forward and I feel my breath catch, but realize he's only reaching into his back pocket. He stands up and I follow suit. He hands me a $5.

   "Thanks for that, honey." With that he leans forward and kisses my cheek quickly and dashes off before I can even catch my breath. I pick up the mirror I hold up for clients to see themselves in and find exactly what I expected. A pair of black lips stain my cheek.

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   Not even half an hour later, Luke is back, his face wiped clean. He sits down ant smiles at me, melting me a little.

   "Hey, so the paint came off. Can you do it again?" I just shake my head and laugh a little as I say, "What a waste of perfectly good paint. Shame." He laughs and then I get started.