Mer Tales 01 - Everblue

to get the conversation off of me. On the front was a picture of a familiar face, Zac Efron. She had a poster of him in her room. “He’s kinda cute.”
    “ Kinda?” She flapped her hand back and forth in front of her face. “He’s like the most gorgeous actor ever.”
    I smiled. The bait worked. With each comment, I hummed and hawed as I felt her spray and press each piece of my hair carefully with a curling iron. But the whereabouts of Fin’s family consumed my thoughts. Sadness crept in as I hoped I worried for nothing and they’d come home—and soon.
    “ You hate it, don’t you?” Georgia chewed on her fingernail after handing me the mirror.
    I came to my senses and looked at my reflection, shocked at what I saw. “Oh, wow.” I stood up and turned to the side, using the hand mirror to see the back. She’d perfectly replicated the hair style in the picture.
    Georgia blew out a gust of air. “Whew. I was worried. You looked so sad.”
    “ No, sorry. I’m distracted, that’s all.”
    She crinkled up her eyes and sighed. “Not the race again?”
    “ Well, yeah,” I lied.
    She turned her finger in a circle to signal me to spin around and sit back down. “Don’t. It’s going to be fine. Stop thinking about it or you’ll psych yourself out.”
    “ I know.”
    “ Close your eyes,” she demanded, make-up brush in hand.
    In rapt concentration, Georgia quietly painted a masterpiece on my face, letting out little “oohs” and “aahs” every once in a while. The sweep of the feathery brush and her warm breath eased my conflicted heart as she blew off the excess make-up. After what seemed like multitudes of brush strokes, she finally handed me the mirror. I expected to see myself completely vamped out, but the girl looking back at me was stunning.
    “ He’s gonna kiss you when he sees you,” Georgia cooed and danced out of the bathroom. “I’m starved. Ready for pizza?”
    I turned away with a blush, inspecting the fake eyelashes. “Yeah, sure.”
    With each mention of kissing, the butterflies already in my stomach started doing crazy aerial stunts. I hoped some food would make them knock it off for a while, but with the continued thoughts of Fin, they’d just start up again with a renewed vigor. Why I kept thinking about him and not Callahan stumped me. Maybe my feelings stemmed from me wanting to prove I was worthy of Fin’s attention. With one look, he’d have to finally realize I’d grown up into a beautiful young woman.
    When Mom picked me up a little after nine, I expected her to rave about my make-over. Instead, I got a lecture about how girls my age were trying to grow up too quickly and make-up should enhance one’s natural beauty. Crushed, I remained silent the entire way home.
    Without even saying hello, I strode past my family and went to my room, slamming the door. I threw myself on my bed and burst into tears. Why did she have to ruin everything? A soft knock interrupted my pity party.
    “ Can I come in?” Dad asked through the door.
    I looked down at my pillow case. Charcoal smudges lined the fabric. “Um…” I jumped up and studied my reflection in the mirror over my dresser. Georgia’s handy work had turned into black trails down my cheeks. I did my best to wipe away the evidence.
    “ Yeah, Dad. Come in.”
    He turned the knob and peaked around the door. “Everything okay?”
    “ I don’t know.” I sat on my bed and rubbed my toes into the carpet.
    He joined me and put his arm over my shoulder. “More sister drama, Mom troubles, guy issues, or is it nerves about the meet tomorrow?”
    I fidgeted with my newly painted nails. “Mom hurt my feelings.”
    He grunted, partly in acknowledgement, partly in concern. “Does she know?”
    “ She should know.” I scoffed. “She insulted me in the car. Basically called me a tramp.”
    “ Is that what you thought I meant?” Mom asked, appearing from around the corner.
    The waterworks started, leaving me humiliated. I hated to cry, but in front of my parents for something as stupid as too much make-up left me feeling wretched. “Sort of.”
    Mom walked over and put her arm around my other side. “Honey. I was only trying to tell you that you’re naturally beautiful, inside and out. You don’t need to put on a lot of make-up to impress anyone or get a boy’s attention. I’m sorry if that hurt your feelings.”
    I leaned into her shoulder and hugged her back.
    She pushed a wayward curl behind my ear.