The Witch's Ichor

Zoe's First Foray [21]

Zoe groans as her alarm clock goes off. She slowly climbs out of bed, and looks over at her closet mirror. She has dark circles under her eyes. Her hair is a complete mess. Zoe looks around her room, and realizes she doesn't have any of the stuff she needs to get ready!

Maybe Mom can help?

The smell of breakfast tempts Zoe, but she's far more worried about her appearance. She rushes downstairs to see her mother pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"Mom, I need your help! I can't let Theo see me like this!" Zoe exclaims.

Zoe's mother turns around to see Zoe flipping out. She slowly sips her coffee, and sighs.

"Honey that's basically how you always look when you're going to school." Zoe's mother reminds her.

"Mom! I have eye bags, Theo will think I'm a slob if show up to school like this!" Zoe whines.

Zoe's mother sets her coffee down on the counter. She walks over to Zoe and takes her hand. Zoe obediently follows her mother upstairs. They enter the master bedroom, and then the master bathroom. Zoe's mother starts rifling through her makeup.

"You're lucky our skin tones are so similar." Zoe's mother comments.

Zoe nods sheepishly as her mother gently brushes her hair out of her face. Within a few minutes she's looking much neater. Zoe's mother squirts some foundation onto a blender. The all too familiar sensation of gel-like foundation being applied tickles Zoe's face. She smiles.

"No smiling, silly. Stay still." Zoe's mother chides.

Zoe quickly schools her expression. Her mother works even faster than Tracy did. The blush and foundation take half the time, and she makes applying eyeliner look as easy as tracing lines on paper. The mascara and lip gloss finish Zoe's look. She starts to turn toward the mirror-

"Young lady you'd better let me apply the setting spray, or your makeup will smudge." Zoe's mother warns.

Zoe whirls back around and straightens up. She closes her eyes. Zoe's mother carefully spritzes her face with the setting spray. They let it dry for a few brief moments.

"Okay, you should be good now." Zoe's mother says.

The girl staring back at her brings a blush to Zoe's face. Zoe's mother quickly gives Zoe a kiss on the top of her head. Zoe smiles and quickly hugs her mother.

"I gotta get to work. You and Theo have a good date!" Zoe's mother calls over her shoulder.

"Mom! I-It's not a date!" Zoe protests.

Zoe stares at herself a little longer before making her way downstairs. She quickly gets her things together, and grabs a piece of toast. Unaware of the trope, Zoe runs off to school with the toast hanging from her mouth.

~

Theo's eyes wander across the other high schoolers walking through the courtyard. He's trying to distract himself with a worksheet, but it's not working. Jamison is leaning against the wall beside Theo. Derek sitting on the other side of Theo, pouting like a child.

"Why does he get to be first, anyways?" Derek sulks.

"Because he's the skinny nerd, Derek." Jamison replies.

Derek huffs softly. His eyes scan Theo's outfit. The smaller boy may look a little uptight, but he isn't unattractive. Derek glares at the back of Theo's head.

"Looks cute enough to be last to me..." Derek mumbles.

Jamison chuckles upon hearing Derek's comment. Theo is so engrossed in seeking out Zoe that he fails to hear Derek's words.