The Division

42

TW: Mentions of suicide.

With steady hands, I put on Simone's glossy pink lip oil. It's not something I usually do but, I had a date and, didn't want to have cracked lips in case something happened because from my very brief and limited experiences with the opposite sex, it seems boys enjoy kissing you with no warning. Maybe it's like that with everyone? I wouldn't know. Like I said, I'm new to this boy thing.

Pulling open the drawer, I searched for Simone's mascara making a mess as I sorted through her makeup. She doesn't wear much but, has a lot because of Aunt Cecilia. I stared at the mascara in hand wondering if it was actually mascara I was holding. 

I needed Michelle.

Hesitantly, I opened the bottle and sniffed the liquid coating a small brush inside. Then, I read the bottle before sniffing again. This thing did actually look like it was for lashes so, I put it on blindly with trembling hands scared the liquid would enter my other eye leaving me permanently blind.

Of course, that didn't happen. If it did, I wouldn't be here writing this.

My lashes looked longer when I glanced at my reflection in the mirror again so, I was satisfied with the result. This small makeup thing wasn't easy though. I messed up a few times before actually getting some things right like the blush I may have wasted and broken.

It wasn't my fault though! How was I supposed to know you didn't pound it before application!?

Glancing at the mirror again, I took in another shaky breath giving myself some internal pep talk. This is your first date, Gwen. Don't mess up.

"Where are you off to." Simone queried me with a raised eyebrow. She was sprawled out on the couch watching a Disney movie with some of Aunt Cecilia's chocolates in hand munching on the candy before chewing loudly. "Wait...Is that my lip oil and, mascara!? AND BLUSH!?"

"Yeah." I confirmed her suspicions. "Sorry I didn't ask for it. It was kind of an emergency." I fiddled with my fingers.

"What emergency?"

My reply was cut short by a vibration in my left pocket from a notification on my phone. I took the device out and, read the texts from Tristan displayed on the small screen.

'I'm waiting outside. Are you ready?'

'Yh sorry. I'll be there soon.' I quickly texted back.

"I'm going out with Michelle and, Jay. Didn't I tell you? Besides, I thought your mom told you not to eat those chocolates?" I explained and, pointed at the cocoa candies using my other hand to put my phone back in my pocket.

"Shh." My cousin placed her index finger on her lips. "She won't know. Stop changing the subject. Where are you actually going to?"

"I'm going out with Michelle and Jay." My tone grew louder and firmer when I talked to her, rising slowly in pitch. "I'll see you later." I walked towards the door but, Simone stopped me.

"Hey." She brought my steps to a halt when she got up for on the couch and brushed some crumbs off her orange shirt. "Cut the cap. I know you're going out with Tristan."

"Who told you that?" I asked.

"Arielle."

The fuck?

"I would've told my mom this morning," My cousin continued, brushing some stray curls out of her face. "But, I wanted to talk to you privately about this situation. Cousin to cousin. Sister to sister. You know."

"What is there to say?" I shrugged and, shoved my hands into my pockets. "I'm just going out with Tristan. It isn't a big deal."

"It is to me." Retorted Simone. "I don't think you should go out with him."