Shrinking Violet

chapter six

"You are the finest, loveliest, tenderest, and most beautiful person I have ever known—and even that is an understatement."
-F. Scott Fitzgerald

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"So you and Sam?" I asked Violet in the dressing room as she was doing my makeup. We weren't doing a full dress - it was way too early for that. Mrs. Satie just wanted a photo of me and Eli in our full makeup for the promotional photos for the show. I was pretty embarrassed about the thought of my face being on posters all over the school, but unfortunately, Mrs. Satie wouldn't budge about this.

"She told you?" Violet asked, blushing.

"Of course she told me, we're best friends," I said.

"Close your eyes," Violet said, lightly brushing eyeshadow over my eyelids. She was close enough that I could smell her shampoo. Her curls brushed against my face.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to make it awkward by bringing it up."

"It's okay. I heard about you and Eli," Violet said casually.

"Oh. He told you?"

"Of course he did. We're best friends." I frowned at Violet for throwing my line back at me. "Keep your eyes closed!"

"Yes ma'am," I said with a smile.

"Not that it's my business or anything, but what are your thoughts? On Eli?"

"Well... Eli's really nice. And funny too. Sometimes he's so self deprecating, but that's part of his whole bit."

"Agree with all of that, but not what I meant. Do you like him?"

"Well I don't know!"

"You kissed him! You should have some sort of idea!"

("I saw it coming from a mile away, but I was still so upset about that."
"I could never tell that you didn't like it!"
"You're not really known for being observant about these things."
"No more interruptions!")

"You kissed Sam! Do you like her?"

"I asked you first."

"Well... yeah. I think I do like Eli," I said. Admitting it aloud to myself, sober, made it feel so real all of a sudden.

"See was that so hard?" I wanted to roll my eyes but they were still closed.

"Don't tell him we talked about this okay?"

"I wouldn't. You can open your eyes now." She started applying blush to my cheeks. "He likes you by the way. Not because he said anything to me or anything. It's just pretty obvious. So if you like him, I think you should go for it."

"Oh. Well... thanks for the advice."

"Yeah. Of course. Okay I think I'm done." Violet reached up and brushed a curl from my face. I jumped at the contact. Before either of us could acknowledge it, Violet handed me a mirror. I gasped.

"Oh Vi. I look so lovely. Thank you," I said softly. I had never seen myself look so soft and pretty. Violet hadn't even put on much makeup on my face besides on my eyes, but I looked ethereal. My eyeshadow was beautiful and pastel and iridescent. It looked professionally done. My hair was gently curled. I looked like I was in love in a dream. It was perfect.

"You look like Harriet. Okay now change while I find Eli and do his makeup," Violet said. I nodded and went into the changing room to change into ballet clothes for the shoot. When I came back down Eli's eyes were closed as Violet was applying a light layer of brown eyeliner and brow gel. Eli was plying Roberto, an opera house owner, so he didn't need any heavy makeup, just light touching up.

"Lulu, Mrs. Satie wants you to stretch backstage just in case they do any ballet shots," Violet said. I groaned.

"Lulu?" Eli asked.

"Close your eyes!" Violet snapped.

"Violet you're a tyrant," I said with a laugh, walking backstage. I did a few light stretches at the barre before working on my splits.

"I can do that too!" Eli said, coming up to me. I swung my leg around.

"I'd love to see you try."

"Ready Harriet?" Eli asked. He offered me a hand to help me up.

"Ready as I'll ever be, Roberto," I said with a grin, taking his hand. Eli was staring at me when I stood.

"You look so beautiful," Eli whispered. I blushed.

"It was all Violet."

"No Lulu. It's you." He stepped closer and tilted up my chin up. My heart was beating so hard I thought it'd fly right out of my chest. Then Eli leaned down. I stood on my toes and wrapped my arms around his neck. And we kissed.

"We should get to our photo shoot," I said after a while, pushing him away.

"Would you... do you want to get dinner after this?" Eli asked shyly.

"Yeah. I'd love to," I said. He beamed and pulled me in for another kiss.

"Eli!"

"What?" He asked innocently. I shoved him, and he laughed. Reflecting, it was the best day for us to take the promotional photos as Harriet and Roberto. We couldn't have portrayed romance any better than we did that day.

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Author's note: Why is doing someone's (especially someone you like) makeup so sexually charged lol?? Also Eli and Lulu kissed again & are going on a date! So much drama on and off stage. As always, please vote and comment xx