In Sync - ReynaBooks (short story)

Chapter 1 - Glitter girl

"You'd think after all these years, I'd be better at finding parking."

That was my first thought as I circled the dusty festival lot for the third time, dodging a group of flower-crowned girls who looked like they stepped out of a 70s time warp. The music festival buzzed with life even out here, where the thumping bass of a distant stage shook the ground beneath my feet. I could feel the excitement rising, like a fizzy drink shaken just a little too much, ready to burst out of the bottle.

Finally, I spotted a tiny space squeezed between a van plastered with psychedelic stickers and a camper that looked older than I am. I maneuvered my car into the spot, narrowly avoiding crushing a stray hula hoop that had rolled into the road. As I stepped out, camera in hand, the hot sun kissed my skin, and a breeze carried the scent of something sweet – cotton candy? Fried dough? Probably both.

I slung my camera bag over my shoulder and started weaving my way through the growing sea of festival-goers, all of them dressed in a rainbow of colors and styles. Every step took me deeper into the heart of the festival, where the air was thick with excitement and the constant pulse of music vibrated in my chest.

I needed to find the staff tent to check in and figure out where I'd be stationed for the weekend, but the map on my phone was more of a suggestion than a guide, and the signs weren't exactly helpful either.

As I turned a corner near a stand selling handmade jewelry, I spotted a girl sitting cross-legged on the grass, carefully applying glitter to her cheeks with the precision of an artist. She was beautiful. Long, wild curls cascading over her shoulders, and a confident, almost mischievous smile playing on her lips as she looked up and met my eyes.

"Hey," I called out, a little awkwardly. "Do you know where the staff tent is? I'm supposed to check in, but I think I'm hopelessly lost."

She looked up at me, eyes sparkling with amusement. "Lost already, huh? The festival just started," she said, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.

"Yeah, well," I shrugged, trying to play it cool.

She stood up, dusting off her shorts, and tossed her glitter jar into the air before catching it with a flourish. "Lucky for you, I'm a professional festival guide. At least, I've been to this thing enough times to know where they stash the staff."

"Oh, thank God," I said with exaggerated relief. "I was about five minutes away from setting up camp and hoping someone would find me."

She laughed, a sound that somehow made me feel like I'd just won a small victory. "Well, we can't have that, can we? But before I lead you to salvation, there's something we need to take care of first."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what would that be?"

She stepped closer, holding up the jar of glitter like it was a sacred relic. "Festival rule number one: No one goes glitterless. And you, my dear lost photographer, are severely lacking in sparkle."

I opened my mouth to protest, but she was already unscrewing the lid, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Wait, seriously? Glitter?"

She grinned, nodding emphatically. "Trust me, it's practically a rite of passage. Plus, it'll make you look more like you belong here and less like you wandered in from a documentary about serious artists."

"Okay, okay," I said, raising my hands in mock surrender. "If glitter is what it takes to fit in, then glitter me up."

"That's the spirit," she said, stepping even closer. "Now, hold still. I'm an expert at this."

I couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious as she leaned in, her fingers gently brushing my cheek as she applied the glitter. "So, do you moonlight as a festival beautician, or is this just something you do for fun?"