Forever Glamorous

Chapter 35

AURA PACED BACK AND forth in her room as Gwenn spoke her ear off about making a statement. She wasn't sure if that was a good idea. She hated seeing makeup artists post those Notes app apologies on their socials, but the situation was forcing her to do the same.

"A, if you keep quiet, this will just keep following you forever. Simply tell your audience what happened and move on."

She pouted as she stared at Gwenn's face through her phone. She was bare-faced, a messy bun on top of her head, and dressed in sweats. She had finished a shift at her day-care job and was relaxing before going to bed.

"But what if me making a statement makes things worse?" Aura asked. She bit down on her lips, picking at her natural nails with her tweezers.

"They probably will twist your words, but I think it's worse if you stay silent. You can't ignore a problem and expect it to go away. You have to face it."

Aura sighed, knowing full well that Gwenn was right. She desperately wanted her best friend to be wrong, but her words were laced with truth. She needed to face Elaine's drama if she wanted to move on.

"Okay, fine, I'll make the statement."

She went into her Notes app, still listening to Gwenn walking around her apartment and snacking on fruit. She groaned and started typing her thoughts about everything. Biting her lip, she wrote down how shocked she was at someone she didn't even know saying something so horrible about her.

Her fingers trembled as she continued detailing what happened at the beginning of summer that must have set Elaine off. She typed how confused she was to see that Elaine, of all people, wrote such a thing about her when it was her fault that she even got the job to begin with, and she should be grateful the universe decided to move the way it did to get her that gig. She explained how her family needed her presence elsewhere, which is why she was seen at the other side of the country, and so she had to cancel her gig with Lacey Redd.

If it weren't for her family, she would have happily done Lacey Redd's makeup. In fact, she was so excited to do so, but her presence was needed elsewhere, and thus she made the decision to cancel her gig. Unfortunately, her family didn't give her much warning, and so she had to cancel practically last minute.

Finally, she went on to apologize to Lacey Redd and her management for putting them in a tough spot, but was happy they were able to get such a skilled makeup artist in time for their shoot, which turned out beautifully.

Aura hated the fact that she had to do that. She shouldn't have to explain her actions to anyone. All she wanted was to do her makeup and earn money to live. Was that so hard to do?

She read her words to Gwenn, getting them approved before sending them out to the world. After re-writing it several times, she posted it on her socials and logged out of everything, remembering what Tyson had told her: if she shut it off, then there was no evidence that it existed. 

"I'm scared," she confessed.

Gwenn popped back up on her screen, sporting a sympathetic frown.

"I know, but things like this will always happen. Someone is always gonna want to bring you down."

"I know," Aura sighed, plopping herself down on the springy bed. "It just sucks."

"But, hey, that still doesn't change the fact that you got featured on Aphrodite's Gaze. Don't forget about your achievements."

Gwenn smirked as Aura began to smile at the good memory. All the squealing and screaming that came out of her body almost made her lose her voice. Everyone was congratulating her, praising her for her fantasy looks; even her parents, who weren't the keenest for her career choice, were impressed and happy for her.

That moment was forever engraved in her mind.

But then Elaine Cavette had to ruin it.

"Aura, you'll be fine. You're Aura freakin' Chandler for a reason. You're gonna make them regret ever hating on you."

She chuckled, scratching her head. Her hair was a mess of knots, which she tried to pull out. She hadn't bothered to brush her hair after being followed around. So the combination of washing her face without a bandana, hopping into the shower without a cap, and the humidity of the outdoors had brought back her curls in a frizzy mess. It showed just how much the Elaine drama was affecting her.

She was not one to skip fixing her hair.

"I'm sorry about everything, A, but I hope that you can go back and sit in front of a mirror and create real soon."

Aura stared at the glossy vanity in disdain. She wasn't sure when she'd get inspired to paint on her face again. Internet trolls took the fun out of her work. People who didn't know her criticized her without having all the facts laid out in front of them.

Couldn't they focus on their own lives and stay out of hers?

But she couldn't pretend like she didn't see it coming. She knew that if word got out of her  Lacey Redd mishap, she'd be crucified online. And there it was.

It was worse knowing it came out of someone who had never even met her, who thought that it was okay to slander her, and put her down for something Aura had no control over.

Aura wanted to meet with Elaine, just to see who she was as a person and why she thought it was okay to bring her down.

And for what? Elaine had a nice following and was hired by Lacey Redd. She was sure other artists would follow up from that, so there was no need.

"Yeah, I just... I just wish I knew her motive for all of this. I don't get it."

Gwenn sighed, looking away from the camera. "Some people can't stand others getting what they want."

Aura shivered, remembering the same type of glint in Millie Moore's eyes. That wretched green cloak. If Gwenn was right, then Elaine must have wrapped herself in one of those too.

"I guess so," Aura mumbled.

"Now get some sleep, alright," Gwenn ordered. "You have to call me some other time to explain everything about... Tyson. And whatever happened to Zachary? God, you've been having a busy summer vacation." She tapped her index finger over her chin in mock thought.

Aura chuckled, thinking back at the days leading to where she was now.

"I will definitely explain another time. I'm gonna need over a day to tell you everything." She smiled thinking of Tyson and how sweet he was. It was the most organic she had ever felt with anyone.

"I'm excited," Gwenn smirked, "I can't wait to see you whipped."

"What? I'm not whipped."

"Bye!" She frantically waved into the camera and hung up. Aura scoffed, heat rushing up her cheeks.

She was so not whipped.

Aura Chandler didn't get whipped. She got others whipped.

She could not deal with that thought at the moment. She was too drained by Elaine Cavette and her stupid cryptic message to think about her feelings towards Tyson and Zachary.

She let out a breath. She would have to deal with one mess at a time.