SHADES of GREEN ↬ m. wheeler

VI. LIPGLOSS

CHAPTER SIX
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❝LIPGLOSS❞

　
　

MONDAY MORNING, JADE awoke extra early. It was not a matter of choice; something she could not quite place kept her on edge, even in the midst of unconsciousness. Her dreams were strange visions, and although she forgot all of it the moment she awoke, it left her with an empty, clueless feeling in her chest, as if there was an ultimate truth she did not know but was on the edge of.

　Outside the stars had begun to fade, dull diamond-chips in the paling sky. Jade hopped into the shower and did not finish until the sun had risen. Somewhere along that time, her mother had popped in to say goodbye.

　Once finished with the shower, Jade decided to prepare for school and go early. She refused to take the bus, and the walk would not be a pleasant one—better to end it quickly. Since Saturday, the weather had dropped even lower than it had been before. She hated to imagine what the weather would be like when winter actually came. It wasn't even December yet (although it would be the next day).

　Jade dressed in jeans and an oversized long-sleeved shirt—a dark shade of green to match her eyes that day—, jeans, and, because they would actually match her outfit today, her forest green Converse. Large silver hoop earrings tangled with her tight curls. A thin layer of lipgloss shimmered on her full lips—which she instantly wiped away.

　She stared into the mirror, trying, for once, to look pretty. She was not strictly insecure; she just never tried to look girly or attractive. Others' opinions simply meant nothing to her. But there was a part of her that wanted to impress Mike Wheeler....

　With a sigh, Jade reapplied the lipgloss, but rubbed it thin. Before she could do anything else, there was a knock at the bathroom door. Jade felt her stomach drop and her chest contract—but only momentarily. A familiar voice, deep and smooth, said, "It's me."

　On a breath of relief, Jade's stomach rose to its rightful place, and the numbness of her skin faded. She pulled the door open, glad to see the man standing before her. He towered over her, even still—of course, she had been five feet tall since the fourth grade. Nothing would have changed.

　"Hey, Daddy," Jade grinned, walking into the man. He wrapped his large arms around her, pulled her tight. The fabric of his green flannel felt stiff and cold, but Jade didn't mind.

　"Hi, baby." The man pressed a kiss to his daughter's curly head. "Sorry I didn't come yesterday."

　"It's okay."

　"Getting ready for school?" He pulled her away by the shoulders, to look down into her face. His thick brows pulled together. "Are you wearing makeup?" He brushed a light, cold thumb over her lower lip. "You're too pretty for makeup, honey. What, do you have a boyfriend?"

　"No!" Jade gasped, much too quickly. She cleared her throat, and amended, "No. I just felt like trying a little bit today. It's just a little bit of lipgloss, Dad."

　A light smile tugged at the man's lips, and he turned to look around Jade's room. He moved to sit down on her bed, looking around at the deep green and silver covers and pillows.

　"You're sixteen," he said. "You're getting to the age where...you know...you grow up." His tone was so convincingly dismal, Jade simply could not hold back her laughter. "And you're laughing, but it's true. It breaks my heart to see you grow up. But it does feel wonderful to see you grow into a beautiful woman. You look just like your mother, you know that?"