The Popularity Project » l.h.

12. Beautiful

S T E L L A

"I normally don't use makeup."

"Well because you don't need it, dear."

When Luke told me that his mom was willing to do my makeup, I thought he was just using that as an empty promise to ensure that I would go to homecoming. I did not actually think that I would be seated on a toilet seat cover in front of his mother with my eyes closed as she applied sparkling eyeshadow gently onto my eyelids. 

Luke was running around town to pick up some last minute things, as it took him little to no time to get ready. He insisted that his mom, Liz, could help me as Gracie and the girls from the cheer team were preoccupied and getting their own makeup done for homecoming. After a quick introduction that was poorly managed by her own son, she got her supplies and began her work.

Her words made me blush, as I sat still in the bathroom her master bedroom. Liz Hemmings was everything I could imagine as Luke's mother, as the longer I spent with her, the more similarities I picked up on. From their calm demeanors to their quirky laughter, Luke was truly his mother's son.

"W-well I use mascara sometimes, but that's about it." I murmured, fiddling with the set of nude press-on nails I finished gluing onto my fingertips.

Once I lacked the feeling of the soft brush on my skin, I opened my eyes to look at Liz as she scanned my face carefully. I sat awkwardly in front of her as I waited for her words. A smile was quick to take over her face, as she eyes crinkled in the corners.

"Well you'll be alarmed when you find out how much makeup I'm gonna use on you then. I hate to inform you, but it's a bit more than just mascara." The older woman sifted through products in her makeup drawer, pulling out a set of false eyelashes.

The comment alone remind me of Luke, as it was a laughable and sarcastic reply. 

I sat patiently, nervous to know what I would look like once she was finished. The last time I wore a full face of makeup was when my mom entered me into a beauty pageant when I was seven.

"Do you normally do makeup for other people?" I ask, wanting to make small talk with Luke's mom. I knew that she only had sons, so I assumed that she often was not given the chance to practice or teach them. I also considered the idea that Heather probably did not have a close connection to Liz.

"Well I have a house full of boys, so the occasion is rather rare. I mostly do my own." Liz laughed to herself, fluttering my eyes shut as she began to work on my lashes. "Luke lets me do his makeup sometimes when I want to experiment with new looks."

"You're kidding?" My jaw dropped, tempted to open my eyes at the woman's words. I never thought of Luke as the type to give in when his mother offers to play with makeup. I would assume that he would be like most males that are opposed to it, as they are normally too proud or ashamed by the idea of it.

"Oh I probably shouldn't be telling you that," Liz laughed louder than the last time. "I'm not sure if he would want his homecoming date to know about his bold looks."

I just giggled, entertained by the idea that maybe if I were to invest into more makeup, maybe Luke would let me practice on him, too.

"I'm guessing your mom doesn't do much makeup?" Liz asked, softly dusting highlighter onto my cheekbones.

"She does, but she's busy with work most of the time."

"I see."

My parents were rarely ever home at the same time, as they both felt the need to provide for me as much as they possibly could. They were normally caught up with work and whenever they were actually at our house, they're busy managing things in their designated home offices.