absolutely wonderful [joshler]

onze

"ty?" my mother's voice calls out from behind my locked bedroom door. "how are you doing?"

"great," i grumble.

"do you want to talk about it?"

"no."

she sighs. "come on, tyler, you can't hide in there forever. we need to go pick up your new medicine. i've also got a surprise planned for you, and i think you're going to like it."

"surprise?" i echo. my mother never uses the word "surprise," probably because she's afraid of medical surprises and such.

"yes, dear, and you have to move around and do something with your life to get it."

i groan. i can't let her see the giant bruise on my face, no matter what. "that's a dealbreaker."

"fine. i'll drive over to the hospital and go get your medicine for you, but when i come back, you better be ready to go. we are not flaking today." i hear her walk away from my door and i sigh in relief. what on earth is the big surprise? am i having a secret funeral or something?

when i know she's gone, my hunger drives me downstairs and into the kitchen. i'm startled a bit when i see jenna, my mother's go-to babysitter, sitting down at the kitchen table, and she looks just as startled as i am.

"god, tyler, what happened to your face?" she asks. "does your mom know?"

i shake my head. "it's nothing."

"either way, that's going to become a problem, cause you guys are going out and about." jenna reaches for her purse and pulls out a bag. "here. let me cover it up for you."

i sit down next to her and close my eyes as she takes out a brush and applies stuff to my face. i don't know what it is, blush or something. whatever it is, it sparks madison's interest and she comes trotting over.

"what're you doing to ty, jenna?" she asks.

"making him beautiful. do you want to help?"

oh god, jenna. please let madison say no, please let madison say no-

"yes!" she exclaims. madison hops up on one of the chairs and takes the brush from jenna, jabbing it in my eye.

"hey," i grumble. "watch it."

"be careful, sweetie," jenna says, guiding madison's hand. "tyler hurts right now, and we don't want him to hurt more, right?"

"right!" she's a little more careful this time, but she still applies a little too much pressure for it to be comfortable. what am i expecting, a seven year old beauty guru? hardly.

"all done," jenna chirps, setting the brush down on the table. "but i think we should give him a surprise, don't you?"

i open my eyes to see madison nod eagerly.

"uh uh, mister, keep your eyes closed. it's a secret," madison giggles.

sighing, i close my eyes again and wait to be "beautified."

it's not long before something touches my lips. great. lipstick. it's sloppily applied by madison, and when she's done, she kisses the air like i'm some sort of masterpiece.

jenna hands me a mirror and lets me look at myself. shortly put, i'm hideous, but at least the bruise is covered up. nonetheless, i pretend to love it for madison.

"aw, thank you. i can't wait to go out and humiliate myself in public."

madison giggles again. "my turn, my turn!"

"okay, sugar. meet me in the bathroom and we'll get started, yeah?"

madison nods, leaping off the chair and racing upstairs.

"precious little thing, isn't she?" jenna speculates.

precious? i don't think so.

"she loves starting rumors. she's gonna be one of those popular girls in high school, for sure."

jenan laughs. "she was telling me earlier that you've got this new boytoy."

my face flushes red, something i know the makeup can't hide. "it's not like that."

"he better be treating you right, tyler. if he isn't taking you out on dates every friday night, he's doing it wrong."

"he's great," i smile, looking down at my hands. "he's doing everything right."

"well, i'm glad," she says, patting my shoulder. "don't forget to put me on the wedding list." with that, jenna gets up and leaves, climbing up the stairs and giving madison her makeup session. jenna's the best. she's in her third year of college and seems to have her entire life planned out. she also has plans to steal madison away from us because she absolutely adores her. i seem to be the only one who wouldn't mind that.

i hear footsteps and turn my head to see jay come into the kitchen. he takes one look at my face, raises his eyebrows, and turns back the way he came. i'm no james charles, but he could have at least given my makeup some feedback.

all jokes aside, i'm going to have to wash this off.