'Celeste? Oh Celeste!'
Noah, a little startled to find only pictures and posters in Celeste's bed and not her, burst onto the balcony and gave a relieved sigh. He shook the sleeping girls shoulder, her eyes fluttering open groggily as they usualy did and lips parting in a massive yawn.
'Good morning my liege,' Noah chuckled sarcastically, eyeing her rather messy appearance. 'You have a date with the others leaders today, in approximately three hours. I suggest you start getting ready.'
Celeste stretched fingers brushing her advisors casual shirt as she did, letting her head fall back to make playful eye contact with him. 'My back hurts,' she said, slumping forward in her chair and stretching out her legs this time. 'Three hours? I can get ready in ten minutes, I could've gone back to sleep.'
'Ahh, but you see,' Noah continued nervously, having failed to inform her last night. 'This meet and greet is right before your meet and greet with the rest of the world. You will be polished up, placed on a shiny podium and presented as humanities last hope. You don't need to say anything; just look nice and wave and generally be friendly.'
Celeste sat up instantly, her eyes narrowing dangerously. Since when was it required to parade around in front of everyone else, showing off your riches? She knew just that appearance would be the basis for everyones votes and she didn't complain like she usually would've.
After a long and hot shower she was whisked away into a styling room, rather like a beauty salon in her own house. Makeup was layered onto her face so quickly that she could only catch glimpses of the makeup artists as the poked and pulled at her face. Eyebrows were plucked and eyelashes were curled and Celeste squirmed through every second of it.
Next was the hair and seated in front of the mirror, she could catch a clear view of Noah who was clutching a suit he was obviously meant to be changing into, sitting on the empty couch behind her and pulling stupid faces while she got the full treatment. After all the poking, prodding and pain she had gone through, Celeste was a little disappointed to find that it had been left down with the usual waves running through it. She could've brushed it twice and it would've had the same effect!
However, her put off mood was instantly fixed up by the sight of the dress that was being brought out by two of the the stylists. The lifted the clear plastic bag off it to reveal someone that she never could never have dreamed of in her wildest imaginations.
It was a silk, cobalt blue, strapless dress that ended mid thigh in an array of smooth folds that moved like liquid. The top half was embellished with white gold, the delicate pattern of leaves stopping where the dress fanned out around her would be waist area. A delicate pair of bright blue stilettos were there as well, to match the gorgeous dress. Celeste's eyes were wide as she reached for the hanger, gently taking the fabric in her hand and running it through her fingers.
She was lead into a change room where she slipped the dress on, revelling in the feel of the cold silk against her rather hot and flustered skin. But this was the first time she got to see herself properly, the mirrors surrounding her.
She had always thought herself as pretty in the surfer chick, beach loving kind of way. Her sunkissed skin stood out against the ocean hues and her hair fell in delicate waves down to the small of her back, just where the dress puffed out slightly. Subtle makeup made her bright blue eyes stand out even further but on further inspection, Celeste couldn't help but frown.
Her freckles, earned by years spent working under the sun had been covered up in a quick flourish of a make up brush and the tiny scar that traced from her lip to her chin from an accident as a young child had been removed with a skilled hand and the best concealer money could buy. The shoes she adorned covered her ugly, thick ankles with the same delicate pattern on her dress that tied up mid calf. All of the things that made Celeste her own person were gone and for a moment she didn't recognize herself.
But she sucked in a deep breath and opened the door, to the dressing room stepping outside much to the delight of the stylists and the astounded stare of Noah. It was flattering for sure, but did looks really matter that much? Shrugging it off, Celeste let herself be whisked away, down the stairs to where the limo awaited to take her to her next destination.
