Tragic Smile

Vulnerable (5)

I sat at my dressing table the next morning. I rubbed my clean tired face, I barely slept last night. I was so nervous about coffee this morning.

I didn't have long to get ready so I had to be quick.

I looked horrible. I pulled my hair up to a messy bun on top of my head, I pulled a few strands loose around my face and sighed. I just didn't look anything special. Like a plain Jane.

I lifted my hair brush and pulled my drawer open to put it in and there was some face powder with a brush to apply it. I glanced at myself in the mirror and took the powder out with the brush.

Just a little bit won't hurt, will it?

I ran the soft bristles over my skin and it took me back to only a few years before when I would have a full face of make up on to go to the shops for some milk.

My face was beginning to look a little more alive. I liked this, it wasn't much but it was something.

I put the powder down and spotted some mascara in the pot on the table. Surely a little bit of this wouldn't hurt either.

I was putting the mascara on when I heard a knock at the door, I looked at the time and it was five past ten. Really?

I jumped up and picked up my bag. "Did you hear someone knock on the door?" Beth called out. I walked out my room and she was standing at the kitchen door.

"No?" I lied.

"No I honestly thought I heard a knock?" She looked at me confused. "I just don't know what it could be." She muttered.

"Didn't hear anything, I'm going for a walk." I rushed down the hallway.

"A walk?" She questioned.

I looked at her and tried to come up with something. None of this would of happened if it wasn't for this stupid make up. "Yeah, we need milk." I hoped that we did. I really did.

"A walk for some milk?" She laughed.

"Yep, better go." I stood at the door, wanting to open it but not wanting to reveal what was at the other side whilst she was standing there. "Olivia, we don't even need milk? And have you got make up on?" She asked, curiously.

"No." I lied.

"Yeah whatever." She laughed and walked back in to the kitchen. I looked to the floor and let out a sigh of relief quietly. Could this morning get any weirder?

I opened the door slightly and slipped out. Jack was leaning against his door with a raised eyebrow, "I thought you stood me up." He smirked.

"Why would you knock? I told you not to knock." I whispered.

He laughed, "I just told you, I thought you stood me up." His voice was a little too loud for my liking. I had to get him away from the danger zone. I began to walk down the stairs and he followed.

We walked in silence all the way down the stairs and outside. "where do you wanna go?" I asked.

He shrugged his shoulders, "I'm lost in Manchester." He smiled. We kept walking down the other steps at out flat towards my car. "Oh, I think I was meant to buy you flowers or chocolates but I didn't have much notice, so I got you a protein bar." He said sarcastically.

I looked at him and he was holding out a bar of rubbish for me to take. "A protein bar?" I raised my eyebrow at him.

"Better than coming empty handed, isn't it?" He pushed it out more, trying to encourage me to take it.

I laughed, I couldn't help it. "Keep it, Jack. Thanks anyway." I replied and pressed the button to unlock the car.

"I thought we could walk? You know, more time for chatting?" He suggested.