Alex opened the bag as if it might hold a snake. His hands trembled as he reached inside, dreading whatever humiliating punishment awaited him this time. Instead of products or tools, his fingers brushed against paper. He pulled out a folded note.
"5 lipsticks and glosses!" it read.
Jade clapped her hands with delight. "Isn't that amazing?" she beamed.
Stacey pressed a hand dramatically to her cheek, pretending to wipe away a tear. "Honestly, Alex... we expected you to pick the other bag, but you surprised us. Seems you've got more fashion sense than we thought. I'm proud!"
Alex gave them a suspicious look. "Uh-huh... and why didn't you just fill the bag with the lipsticks and glosses you want me to wear?"
"Because," Jade said with a mischievous grin, "we girls love a good show!"
"And you're going to give us one," Stacey added, her tone sing-song.
Alex groaned. "Gods, no. What this time?"
"Oh, don't worry, it's not an eighth or seventh place nightmare," Jade reassured him, practically bouncing with excitement. "You just have to try out nine different lipsticks and glosses, then walk the carpet and show them off to us and to the Lady, of course."
"Nine?" Alex asked, his voice dropping into despair.
"Yes!" Jade giggled. "And they'll look so stunning you won't even be able to choose just five at the end."
Resigned, Alex followed the girls to the Lady's room. As always, she sat in her chair with a book in her lap.
"Oh, Alex! What a treat to see you again," she exclaimed, setting the book aside. "And now you're going to perform for us too? Wonderful! Girly pop!"
Before he could protest, Jade guided him to the make up table, where nine lipsticks and glosses gleamed under the lights. Her excitement was almost contagious... almost. For Alex, this was pure dread. Lipsticks were his most hated make-up product, ever since... Amy.
He swallowed, deciding to go through them in order from left to right.
The first was a creamy pastel pink, soft and simple. Jade carefully applied it to his lips before sending him down the carpet. At the end, he was told to pout and blow a kiss. Alex forced himself through it, but as he leaned forward, his eyes caught the title of the Lady's book resting on her desk: Biography of the Lady. He quickly looked away before she noticed.
"Oh yes, girl!" Stacey shouted, clapping. "Very pretty indeed," the Lady agreed with a nod.
Next came a metallic pink, then a matte red, then shimmered purples and glossy fuchsias. Some were paired with liners, others were layered with gloss. Each time, Alex had to pose differently; tilting his head, touching his chin, framing his face with his hands. The humiliation grew with every step.
Finally, Jade picked up the last tube: Pink Magical Unicorn Dual Lipstick. Alex's stomach sank just reading the name.
"Let's save the best for last," Jade whispered with excitement.
She applied the first layer, a neon pink, she carefully applied the sticky liquid that coated his lips from cupid's bow to corners. It already looked totally girly, but then she uncapped the other end: a glittery gloss with a tiny brush. With exaggerated care, she painted it on in two full layers.
When Alex turned his head in the mirror, his breath caught. The gloss shimmered like a hologram, pink at first, then shifting to purple, then blue depending on the angle. Just like those shiny postcards that change image when you tilt them.
Horrified, Alex whispered, "This can't be real..."
"Oh, it's very real," Jade teased, grinning at her handiwork.
He was sent down the carpet one last time, striking a pose with his hands pressed together under his tilted face. The girls screamed with excitement.
Afterward, the Lady leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "Well, girls... what are our favorites?"
After a brief, giggly discussion, the final five were chosen: Velvet Crimson Matte, Metallic Pink, Shimmering Plum, Fuchsia Gloss, and of course... the Pink Magical Unicorn Dual Lipstick.
"Congratulations, Alex," the Lady announced cheerfully. "Pack them into your bag. Tomorrow, you'll wear one for every hour of your five-hour school day."
Alex's got sick of the idea. Five hours. Five humiliating lip colors, in front of everyone.
Defeated, he began packing them into the bag, deliberately leaving the Unicorn lipstick behind as if by accident.
He trudged back to his room, where Ember was waiting.
Her eyes widened the moment she saw him. "Oh my god, what kind of lipstick is that?" She tilted her head left, then right, then left again, watching the colors change. "It's... kind of amazing."
"It's horrible," Alex muttered, rubbing at his mouth.
"Be honest," Ember teased, leaning in close. "If I showed up wearing this, would you like it?"
Alex stumbled over his words. "Pff—uhh—what? I... I guess? I mean... no! It's—ugh, please, just get it off already."
Ember smiled, clearly amused. "Sure, Alex. Such a shame, though."
"Yeah, well, if you like it that much, maybe you can convince the Lady to take my punishment instead."
"Too bad I can't," Ember sighed playfully. Then her voice softened, more serious now. "Come on, let's get it off. And afterward, you can tell me what really happened... because I can tell this wasn't everything."
Alex met her eyes, grateful for her warmth. Even in the middle of his nightmare, she made it feel just a little less awful.
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