Page 88 of Act Three
And now here they were, at my front door.
“You don’t give up, do you?” I asked as I opened it, but blinked in confusion as I saw who it was. “Crystal?”
“I sent you a text message.” Her portable makeup kit was the size of a suitcase, and she tapped it with her left hand. “The production company sent me to do your makeup for tonight?”
“Oh.” I looked back to the kitchen, where I’d left my switched-off phone on the bench. “I didn’t get the message, sorry.”
“I can leave,” Crystal offered, but I opened the door wider for her to come in.
“I’dloveto have my makeup done professionally.” I led her into my bedroom, where April squealed at the sight of her makeup collection when Crystal unzipped the case.
“Can you do mine, too?” April asked, and Crystal shrugged.
“Sure, if we have enough time.”
She worked quickly, and it turned out that we had enough time for my makeup, April’s makeup, and for Crystal to put loose curls in our hair before our car arrived. I pivoted in front of the mirror, in awe of the transformation.
I look like a movie star.
Crystal’s makeup complimented the dress perfectly: clear and dewy skin, blue and silver eyeshadow with white shimmer in the corners, and a rosy blush that made my cheeks glow like I’d just had an orgasm. And the giant cherry on top was the diamond jewelry that sparkled as I moved, reflecting every source of light in the house.
“Come on, Narcissus,” April said as she pulled me by the hand. She looked stunning in her black sequined dress and six-inch heels. “The car’s here. You can stare at your reflection when we get there.”
I poked my tongue out and waved goodbye to Crystal and my dad as we made our way to the limousine. Jamie and Jeromewere already there, plus two other extras that I recognized but whose names I didn’t know.
“I’m Theresa,” the first one said, holding out her hand for me to shake.
“Louis,” the other added.
They all wore black, and I sat between Jamie and April, feeling self-conscious in my pale blue dress.
You’d better get used to that, a voice in the back of my head told me as the car steered away from my house. I was the star of the movie. Of course, all eyes were going to be on me when I walked in. Especially Dean’s, Wyatt’s, and Isaac’s, and the idea of them staring in awe as I walked into the party was enough to make me forget about my self-consciousness and enjoy the ride.
The others told stories about their time on the movie set that I didn’t know had happened. Like the time when a food fight had broken out in the cafeteria, or the time when Jerome had called Preston a prick when he thought Jamie was standing behind him… but it was actually Preston himself.
I laughed and Jamie nudged me.
“You must have better stories than us! Do tell.”
“Do tell, do tell,” the others chanted together.
“I don’t have any stories,” I insisted, but my reddening cheeks gave me away.
“Yes you do!” Jerome squealed. “We already know you slept with Dean. What else have you done?”
I glared at him. Neither Theresa nor Louis seemed surprised, and I reminded myself that they had probably read the article from the gossip website.
“Nothing.”
“Boo,” April said, and slapped my thigh with a surprising amount of strength. “We wantallthe details.”
“Did he cheat on Brooke with you?” Theresa asked.
“Is that why she left Australia?” Louis added.
Five pairs of eyes waited for an answer, but I stayed quiet and pressed my lips together. My private life was just that — private — and I didn’t like these questions any more than I liked rumors being published about me online.
Even April didn’t know the truth, and I liked it that way.
