Spotlight on Nobody

- 26 -

~ 10,000 Emerald Pools by BØRNS ~

"For the love of God Nell, close your eyes," Yuri, the makeup artists in charge of my look today, says in an exasperated tone. Turns out, I'm not completely used to this like her other clients are. If she doesn't touch my face with some sort of brush every five seconds, I can't help but open my eyes to see what's taking her so long. Unfortunately, every time I open my eyes, I'm met with a brush chock full of eyeshadow careening towards my face. What can I say, I don't have the best timing.

Yuri has been at work for some 45 minutes already, and my hair has been under the able hands of a lovely Romanian man named M – literally just M, I asked – for even longer. M stands at a staggering 6'7" – again, I asked – and has to stoop over to reach my head, despite the raised chair I'm sitting in. He's dressed casually in a bleached black tee and black jeans and has the only head of hair that can compete with Leo's. Yuri, on the other hand, is a short woman covered in tattoos and impeccably dressed in a three-piece cream-colored suit, a bold choice for a woman who literally works with pigments all day. Meanwhile, I'm in an odd button up smock Yuri gave me when she arrived; something I can take off easily without ruining any of their hard work on my upper half.

The stunning penthouse suite I have unbelievably called home the past three days was utterly transformed when I woke up this morning. The furniture in the living room has been removed, and instead three large tables hold all the products Yuri, M and the rest of Leo's team has brought with them. A clothing rack sits in the corner, holding two bags, presumably my dress and Leo's suit.

I feel a wet mist hit my face and let out a shriek, Leo's deep laugh following directly after.

"What the fuck was that?" I ask, daring to open my eyes once I'm sure I won't be sprayed anymore.

"It's setting spray!" Yuri laughs. "Where did you find this girl?" she jokingly asks Leo.

"I found her hiding in my green room," he says with a serious expression. I lunge out of my chair to slap him, but I'm held firmly in place by M who is doing the finishing touches on my hair.

"Sit," Yuri says to Leo, motioning to the chair next to me.

"Oh, this is too good," I laugh. "You wear makeup?"

"Yes, my masculinity is not so fragile that I refuse to look my best." Leo raises his chin proudly.

"You're saying it's possible to look better than you already do?" I flirt sweetly. I'm feeling rather lovey-dovey today. Maybe it's the fact that he's taking me to the Met Gala, or that I've spent the whole morning getting pampered, or that we spent all day together yesterday binging Stranger Things – Leo has never seen it! – but I'm feeling really attached, more than I was two days ago. I'll let it scare me tomorrow, I think. Today, I'm going to enjoy dating Leo Griffiths.

He reaches over and takes my hand, giving it a squeeze. "I'd kiss you right now, but - "

"Lipstick," I finish for him with a laugh.

I stare unabashedly at his face as Yuri does his makeup; it really does look like it was carved by some ancient sculptor, chiseled from a smooth marble block. His lashes put my falsies to shame, fanned out like a curtain revealing the show stopper: his eyes. Meanwhile, M has moved on to Leo's head, artistically tousling his hair. It's all over within 20 minutes, less than half the time they took on me; probably because I need a lot more work to be made beautiful.

"What, no eyeshadow?" Leo pouts.

Right as I'm about to beg Yuri to coat his eyelids with glitter, my phone rings and "Mama" flashes across the screen. I have a feeling I know where this is going.