Chapter 9 #2
The Heartbreakers were in various stages of exiting a black Range Rover: Oliver looked like he was unbuckling his seat belt; Xander had the driver’s side door pushed open, his hand still on the handle; and JJ was in the process of stepping out of the SUV, one leg in and the other out, his left foot planted securely on the driveway.
What caught my attention was that none of the boys were moving.
It was as if they’d been frozen in motion.
“What’s going on?” I asked Stella, narrowing my eyes at the strange scene. Only then did I notice that Oliver, JJ, and Xander were moving, although at what appeared to be a snail’s pace.
“They’re slow racing.” Her eyes flicked heavenward, and she added, “Whoever gets out of the car the last wins, but they can’t just sit there.
They have to be in motion the entire time.
And before you ask me why, the answer is I have no clue.
They’re weirdos. I’ve given up trying to understand them. ”
“Sounds like fun,” I said, the corners of my lips rising. “Where’re Alec and Felicity?”
“Oliver said something about Felicity having an early shift this morning,” she explained. “I think she works at a diner? Alec picked her up when she got off. They’re only thirty minutes behind us.”
At that moment, Xander noticed me standing on the porch. His face lit up, and he instantly dropped out of the race, climbing from the car at a regular speed. He strode up the front walk and joined us.
“Hey,” he said, his voice bright. “Long time no see.”
I rolled my eyes—we’d seen each other less than eight hours ago—but couldn’t deny him a smile. “Hey to you too.”
Yesterday, after we finished everything I needed to get done for my portfolio, Xander and I watched the first three Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
I’d wanted to have a Saw marathon instead, but Xander argued he needed to get into character.
In the end, I didn’t care what we watched.
I was just glad I didn’t have to spend another Friday night by my lonesome.
We made burrito bowls for dinner—minus cheese and sour cream for Xander—and he ended up staying well past midnight.
“So I don’t know if Xander’s told you anything about me,” Stella said then, fiddling with her nose piercing, “but I’m studying photography at school. If you’d like, I can take the pictures for your portfolio today. I have all my equipment with me.”
Xander snorted. “You say that as if you don’t always have your equipment with you.”
“I’d love that,” I told Stella. My artistic abilities did not extend to photography. I could have the world’s best camera, and someone with an old cell phone would take a better photo than me, so I was grateful for and relieved by her offer.
“Awesome,” she said, the trace of apprehension melting from her face. “I was thinking I could get a shot of each of the boys pre-makeup, some of you working, and then as many as you’d like at the festival.”
“That sounds perfect. Do you guys want to come in? I have breakfast for everyone.” I gestured at the open door and then glanced back at the SUV. Oliver and JJ were still locked in their slow race. “Are we leaving them or…?”
Stella laughed as she stepped inside. “Don’t bother. They’ll be at it for a while.”
* * *
“What in the hell is that?” JJ asked, eyes wide.
He sat with his back to a mirror on the salon chair borrowed from my sister’s dressing room, knuckles white as he gripped the hem of his shorts.
Before the band arrived this morning, I’d set up a small makeup studio in one of the guest bathrooms where I’d have plenty of room to do my work.
“This?” I glanced at the small metal tool in my hand. “It’s an eyelash curler. I need to curl your lashes before I apply the false ones.”
“Nope.” He scrambled out of the seat and shook his head. “There’s no way you’re coming near my face with that thing. It looks like a medieval torture device.”
Stella laughed as she snapped a picture of JJ. “He does have a point. I’ve always thought they look scary, especially when you hold it right up to your eye.” When I shot her a not-helping look, she quickly added, “But don’t worry, JJ. I’m sure Indie knows what she’s doing. You won’t feel a thing.”
JJ took a step back. “No offense, but that wasn’t very convincing.”
Drawing in a deep breath, I willed myself to stay patient.
Five hours. That was how long I’d been laying beards, applying prosthetics, and blending makeup for.
Oliver, Xander, and Alec were already done, but JJ was proving to be a more difficult model to work with.
He kept jiggling his knees and running a finger over the brushes in the makeup belt clipped around my waist.
“I promise it won’t hurt, but you have to stop fidgeting.” I put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him back onto the stool. “Sit down, and hold still. I’m almost done.”
He muttered something under his breath but did as he was told.
Two minutes later, I spun him around so he could look at himself in the mirror. “There,” I said, exhaustion washing over me. “All finished.”
JJ leaned forward, turning his head from side to side.
For a split second, I feared he would blow up and demand I undo all my hard work.
After all, he’d put up quite a stink when I explained I’d be transforming him into Ursula from The Little Mermaid.
Instead, the corners of his mouth tugged into a grin.
“This is some next-level drag queen magic. You can’t even tell it’s me! ”
A sigh of relief hissed through my lips. “I’m glad you think so.” I rinsed the tacky lash glue off my hands and turned off my music. “Let’s go downstairs. Everyone is waiting on us, and I need coffee stat.”
We found Felicity and the rest of the Heartbreakers in the kitchen.
They were gathered around the island, enjoying the spread of fresh fruit, pastries, and cold cuts I’d assembled before their arrival.
Considering Xander and his friends were going out of their way to help me with my portfolio, feeding them was the least I could do.
“Hey, Indie. I was wondering if—” Oliver started, swiveling around on a barstool, but he never finished his sentence. As soon as he caught sight of JJ, he doubled over with laughter and nearly fell off the stool. “You’re freakin’ purple, dude!”
“Be nice,” Stella scolded, but she had to bite down on her lip to keep from laughing.
JJ flipped him off. “Laugh it up, Fuzzball.”
His comment made me frown. Titling my head to the side, I scrutinized Oliver’s makeup, wondering if he looked more Chewbacca than Beast. Without the horns and tusks, he could definitely pass as a Wookiee.
Whatever, I decided with a shrug. I was too tired to make any adjustments.
I suppose they were both Disney characters now anyway.
“I’ll be honest,” Oliver said when he finally had his laughter under control. “I was a bit disappointed I didn’t get to be Jack Sparrow as I feel we share a certain love of debauchery, but seeing you? I’m just glad I don’t look like that.”
“Ignore him, JJ,” Felicity said. “Ursula is my favorite Disney villain. In fact, I have a present for you.”
“For me?” JJ asked and, channeling his character, sashayed over to her. “What is it?”
Felicity rummaged through her tote bag until she found a small cloth pouch.
After loosening the drawstring, she tipped its contents onto her palm and revealed a gold seashell pendant.
“I made this last night. It’s a replica of Ursula’s necklace from the movie.
” She motioned for him to turn, and then she fastened the black cord around his neck.
JJ brushed his fingers over the shell and smiled. “A sea witch with style? I love it. Thanks, Felicity.”
From where I was standing, I could clearly see Alec’s expression, and his face split into the happiest of grins at the pair’s interaction.
“That necklace doesn’t make you look any less ridiculous,” Oliver said, unable to wipe the smirk off his face.
“You’re one to talk,” JJ shot back. “Your face is literally covered in fur.”
“At least I’m not wearing lipstick.”
“That’s rich coming from someone who went through an eyeliner phase!”
Oliver sucked in a sharp breath. Apparently a line had been crossed, because without warning, he snatched a grape off his plate and lobbed it at JJ’s face.
The kitchen went still for two seconds. Then, as if she knew what was coming, Stella snatched up her camera and ran for cover, followed quickly by Felicity.
The moment they were out of the way, JJ seized the fruit platter from the brunch spread and started pelting Oliver with blueberries.
“Hey!” Xander exclaimed when one of the berries clipped his temple.
He grabbed a container of doughnut holes from the countertop and retaliated.
The powdered ball accidentally hit Alec, and a tiny plume of sugar mushroomed off his chest. Before I could tell them to stop, that they might wreck the makeup I’d spent all morning applying, all four boys were flinging food at one another.
“What the hell is going on in here?”
Food stopped flying, and we all turned toward the source of the question. My sister stood in the threshold of the kitchen, eyes narrowed. For reasons I couldn’t explain, my heart stopped at the sight of her.
“Hey, Violet,” Alec said with an air of innocence, as if he wasn’t currently lobbing spoonfuls of Chobani at his bandmates.
Violet did a double take. “Alec, is that you?”
“I prefer Hades, god of the underworld,” he deadpanned as a glob of yogurt dripped from his hand and splattered on the floor, “but I suppose Alec works.”
“Why are you dressed like that?” She glanced around the room as if searching for answers.
“We’re helping Indie with her portfolio,” Oliver said by way of explanation.