Hollow

Ch.9 Moxie

*****TW: This chapter contains topics such as insecurities and homophobia*****

Sat. 8/5

"I miss this." -Rubi

"Me too." -Quinn

The two finally reunited this week. Rubi was gifted some makeup for her birthday, so she brought them today to try them out. Quinn found a picnic blanket in her closet, so now they don't have to sit on the dirt.

"I don't think my foundation will match your skin tone, so I'm just going to do your eyes. Is that okay?" -Rubi

"Mhmm." -Quinn

Quinn sets her glasses off to the side. She closes her eyes while Rubi pats moisturizer onto her face. It smells like mint.

"Do you wear sunscreen?" -Rubi

"No." -Quinn

"You really should since we're outside a lot." -Rubi

"I get too oily with sunscreen on." -Quinn

"Some sunscreens aren't greasy." -Rubi

Rubi is concerned that Quinn is going to get skin cancer one day, but she also loves Quinn's freckles. She thinks they make Quinn look perfectly sunkissed and even more pretty than she already is.

"Are my pores bad?" -Quinn

"No, your skin is really clear. My skin always breaks out around my period." -Rubi

"Acne is normal, though." -Quinn

"Yeah, except sometimes I get those really big pimples that hurt." -Rubi

"Oh, those ones are the worst. I hate them." -Quinn

Rubi scans her makeup bag for liquid black eyeliner.

"Stay really still, okay?" -Rubi

The thought of Rubi so close to her face makes Quinn's blush. Rubi is so gentle that Quinn almost falls asleep. Rubi thinks she made the eyeliner wings uneven.

"Okay. It's not perfect but what do you think?" -Rubi

Rubi holds out a little handheld mirror for Quinn to see. Quinn rarely feels pretty, but she does right now. She feels confident with this look. She thinks about how multi-talented Rubi is.

"Damn! How are you good at everything?! You should be a makeup artist." -Quinn

"Oh, thank you. I don't know about all that, though." -Rubi

Rubi is flustered. She wonders if Quinn just says those things because she doesn't want to hurt her feelings.

"Let me do your makeup now." -Quinn

"Okay." -Rubi

They switch positions, and Quinn brushes out Rubi's eyebrows with some tinted gel. Their closeness makes Rubi smile.

"What?" -Quinn

"Nothing. You're just really beautiful." -Rubi

Quinn feels like she is malfunctioning now. Rubi thinks she is beautiful. Rubi, the girl who is perfect, thinks she is beautiful. She must be lying.

"Well, you're literally a goddess." -Quinn

"Why, thank you." -Rubi

Rubi struggles with body image issues, but she's been working on accepting more compliments instead of pushing them away. Quinn dabs a little highlighter onto the tip of Rubi's nose and her cupid's bow.