A Teaspoon Of Stardust

Weighs Down My Entire Heart

"How much are you getting, Scarlett?" He laughed, pushing the blue metal cart through Rite-Aid. "We're on a quest for a midnight snack, not feeding a small Guatemalan village."

I dropped the load in my hands into the cart on top of Luke's iced tea and various other food items.

"I can't help it! I'm hungry." I smacked his arm. "Plus, how often do you see Muncho's?"

He rolled his eyes which made me grin wider. "Fine, you can have your Muncho's. But, you have to get them first!"

All at once, Luke's large feet balanced on the low bar between the wheels, and he's going at lightning speed, zipping through aisles and racks of chips. His right foot popped out every few seconds to speed him along, and it presses down before pushing him forward. My flip flops clacked against the shiny tile as I chased behind him, desperately trying to get a hold of his flannel that flowed out back of him. Standing on part of the cart makes Luke look a foot taller than usual.

He finally stopped once we reach the make up section.

I ghosted over to the lines of foundation and eyeliner and shadows and concealer until my eyes watered from not blinking. I could use make up. I could use some covering up.

My fingers trailed along the thin, colorful bottles and tried to tell myself not to think about it. Obviously, I fail. My eyes skimmed through the pictures of perfect models with perfect faces.

"Scar?" Luke said softly. "Are you alright?"

I shook my head awake and looked at him. "I'm fine... I'm- I'm okay."

"What makes her think she looks good in that? The only way Scarlett Murry will look human is with a morph suit and a truck load of make-up." Jason had said about me, talking as if I couldn't hear him. I remember turning to Rebecca who stood next to me, waiting for her help.

"Well, he is right Scarlett. You could use a little... not Scarlett for once." She'd said. "But then... She would probably look like a clown!"

Whenever I went out shopping for groceries and the bare essentials back home, I avoided make up. It was a painful reminder of the one thing that I needed to fix me, and even with how much I had always wanted to skip a few meals to buy mascara, I couldn't. Whether it was the idea of giving into my desire or the fear of my mother finding the selfish receipt...

"What's wrong, Scarlett? Is it Evangeline?" His voice was worried.

"Luke, am I pretty?"

His eyes turned sad with confusion. "You're beautiful, Scarlett. The most beautiful girl I've ever seen."

I turned to him and gave him a quick kiss on the forehead. His face tinged red and the tips of his ears grew pink.

"Let's go." I said, walking away. A few moments of hesitation later, a flustered Luke followed. I tried to contain my happiness, but it just wasn't possible. How did he do that? How did he wipe my anxiety away like a magic eraser? It was so amazing, and comforting.

When we checked out at the register, I tried to pay for the large bill myself, but he'd shoved his money in front of me before I could.

"Luke." I whined.

"Scarlett." He mimicked.

I grabbed both of our bags and started towards his car. "Wait!"

We both turned around to see the cashier had called us for some reason. Did I forget a bag?

"You two make the cutest couple." She smiled, almost... nostalgically?

"Oh, no, ma'am we aren't-"