Misery Loves Company

By: theinkslingerr

Track 9: #BlueVendettaDoesMyMakeUp (Part II)

I think Dominic was trying to hurt me.

We were halfway through his turn and my neck was aching from him constantly moving my head around. He may not have realized this, but I wasn't the girl from the Exorcist.

"Open your mouth." He gripped my chin and forced my jaw down then started tracing my lips with a pencil. As Dominic did this, I struggled to stabilize my breathing.

It turns out that trying not to hyperventilate was hard.

Dominic smirked and capped the lip liner before dragging a thumb under my bottom lip. The somewhat intimate touch set off anxious tremors- a totally different reaction to the butterflies I'd felt in my stomach when Rocco had touched me earlier.

I turned away, no longer trying to hide my discomfort, but Dominic just jerked my head back and forced my mouth open again. I really wanted to bite his thumb off, but he struck me as the kind of guy who might like that, so I kept my teeth behind my lips and sat there like a mannequin.

After Dominic's "hands-on" approach with the liner, he picked up a tube of lipstick and began dabbing my lips. I sighed in exasperation, because it was getting harder and harder to keep my mouth open, and Dominic seemed to be taking his sweet time!

There finally came a point when my throbbing jaw called it quits, and closed without warning. "Mouth open!" Dominic growled, yanking my chin down roughly. I blinked back tears of frustration, trying to focus anywhere but his stupid face.

"Dude, take it easy," Eli chided.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Dominic just brushed it off.

"OK...we're just going to edit this portion out," Ackerman said slowly.

The side of the dark pink lipstick Dominic was using read "Funny Face," and caused a dry laugh to tickle the base of my throat.

Funny face?

I really hoped that was the end result.

I was barely surviving this, how would I survive an entire afternoon of Dominic's aggression?

Sure, I'd noticed that Rocco could be a little aggressive too; a little intense, but that intensity felt...different somehow.

Rocco was that sweltering day at the beach you looked forward to every summer. It usually started out with you hopping around, trying to avoid direct contact with the scorching sand, and ended with you in the ocean; a cool reprieve made more attractive by the soft towel waiting for you on the shore.

But Dominic?

Dominic was a shark in low tide.

And if I wasn't careful, I'd bleed out in the water.

When Dominic finished applying my lipstick, he picked up the fan brush, first tapping it against a sparkly bronze palette before dusting the length of my cheekbones. He smoothed out a couple more things with his fingers then tossed the brush somewhere to his left. The clattering held a note of finality.

"Done," Dominic murmured, running a sparkle-infused hand through his blond locks as he examined my face.

I looked around the quiet room cautiously. Why wasn't any body laughing? Did I look so bad they were speechless? Paralyzed with horror? Filled with pity? Or did they not want to hurt Dominic's feelings and trigger whatever skipping his meds would result in?

Enid suddenly materialized in front of me with "The Mirror of Truth," and the expression on her face was a kick in the gut.

I knew what I would see when I looked in the mirror and it terrified me.

I wanted to tell Enid to smash the mirror. I wanted to scream and run right upstairs into Paula's arms. Most of all I wanted to shred the contract I'd handed Ackerman moments earlier.

Why had I agreed to this again?

"Misery, look," Enid whispered in awe. "You have to see yourself..."

I lifted my head, glanced at the mirror, and hated myself for actually liking what I saw.

Dominic had been the only one that was able to match foundation to my skin, and it blended so seamlessly I looked airbrushed! My brown eyes stood out thanks to the subtle eyeliner and mascara, and the dark pink lipstick looked amazing, bringing out golden undertones in my skin I'd never seen before. A deep pink blush and bronze highlighter accented my cheeks, and completed the makeover.

There was no other way to put it...I looked...good.

And now I was going to be sick.

"Dominic! This is...amazing!" Enid breathed. "How'd you- where'd you learn to slay?"

Dominic shrugged, and sauntered over to Enid's mini fridge. He tugged it open and grabbed a can of Red Bull without asking. "When you've got a thing for make-up artists, I guess you pick up a few tricks."

Enid froze, turning the same shade of red as her hair. I could practically see her solving the word problem in her head: If Dom has a thing for make-up artists and there is an aspiring make-up artist in the room. Who has a shot with Dom?

Despite my anger, despite the way Enid had been treating me, I felt a protective surge of adrenaline shoot through my system, and it caused me to sit up a little straighter.

There was no way I would let her near that slippery shark! No. Way. The only member of my gender who deserved Dominic was Jessica Paoli, and she was probably out kicking puppies somewhere.

Dominic paused mid-sip to glance around the room and analyze the shock on everyone's faces. "I know...I can't believe I'm good at something either." With a wry grin, he strolled back over to me and said, "Let's take that picture now."

I tensed up when he put his arm around me and smiled in Enid's direction. I didn't care if the viewers voted for him or not, I'd break both legs before agreeing to a date. I'm sure that'd be less painful.

"You had comments for Rocco and Eli, but nothing for me?" Dominic breathed in my ear. "I'm a little hurt, Misery." My skin crawled, and I tried to duck away, but the arm around my shoulders tightened. "Tell me you like it."

"It's...nice," I choked out, hoping he'd let go.

"Thank you!" Dominic exclaimed.

He didn't let go.

Enid snapped the picture, and it was perfect timing because I was about to have a panic attack. Dominic leaned even closer, causing Enid to frown and lower her phone slowly. "Looking forward to our date," he whispered conspiratorially. "Will you wear your hair in those little puff balls I always see girls with on Instagram?"

I recoiled, completely disgusted and he finally released me. His hearty laugh garnered confused looks, which he promptly ignored in favor of chugging the rest of his stolen energy drink.

Rocco's gaze was calculating as he observed me and his bandmate. I hope he didn't think we were flirting!

I took deep breaths that did nothing to calm my ratcheting nerves. It felt like there was water trapped inside my lungs; every inhale and exhale a struggle as I pictured various ways a boy named Dominic Finn could drown me.

~~~

Letting Rocco near make-up had been dangerous, and Eli's attempt had been well thought-out, but tragic, so right now the odds of Dominic winning were high. Really, really high.

The thought made me sick to my stomach, and grumpy, old Jae wasn't making things any better.

If Rocco was a hot day at the beach, Eli a source of calm, and Dominic a shark in low tide, then Jae-Shin Moon was an iceberg; sleek and cold, and hiding the unknown.

Remember the iceberg that sunk the Titanic didn't seem big, most of its mass was below the surface. That's what worried me as far as Jae was concerned.

What was he hiding below the surface?

I couldn't tell, because he applied make-up the way he spoke: harsh and abrupt. He never lingered, joked around, or made unnecessary eye contact. Everything was quick and mechanical. It wasn't soul-destroying like Dominic's turn, but it left me feeling...unsettled.

My eyes darted around, trying to gauge everyone's reaction, but it was hard to see with Jae standing directly in front of me. He'd moved the folding table closer, so all he had to was reach down and grab whatever he needed.

When the director pointed this out and asked him to move, Jae ignored him and kept doing what he was doing. The director (who I actually felt sorry for at this point) had to lurk around the room awkwardly to get decent angles.

At one point, Enid and Dominic tried to creep closer for a better look, but one dark glare from Jae sent them scampering back with their tails between their legs.

I guess it'd be a surprise for us all.

When Jae finally stepped away, I don't know what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn't for Enid to gasp and drop the Mirror of Truth. Or for both cameras to surge forward at the same time, warring against one another for a close-up of my face. I shrank back in my seat a little, and glanced at Rocco, Eli, and Dominic only to find them with their mouths wide open, tonsils nearly visible.

Was it humanly possible for someone to suck more than Rocco?

The thought made me want to laugh and sob. Jae doing worse than Rocco meant my face would probably give millions of people the best laugh of their lives, but Jae doing worse than Rocco also meant Dominic would win, and I'd have to break my legs.

I looked around the room, exasperated. "Well, can I see?"

To my surprise, cue card guy actually dropped the cue cards, and ran over to Enid who was trying to pick up the mirror. He snatched it from her and darted up to me, shoving it in my face so I could see that I looked...perfect.

PERFECT.

The girl in the mirror staring back at me widened her eyes and touched her face, mouth dropping open like everyone else's, tonsils exposed. I quickly glanced at a scowling Jae before grabbing the mirror from cue card guy and peering closer.

This wasn't me!

Oh my God, was this me?!

Could I really look like this? Did I really look like this?

Dominic had made me look airbrushed, but Jae had applied the foundation so effortlessly and evenly, it looked like my skin! My flawless skin! He'd used a dark shimmery purple that matched my hair on my eyelids and waterline, and coated my eyelashes with mascara to make them look a million times longer. Like Dominic, Jae hadn't shied away from liquid eyeliner, and ended up doing the cat-eye Eli had failed to do. My lips were a subtle matte nude, purposefully downplayed so they didn't compete with my eyes. In addition to contouring and high-lighting, Jae had arched my brows, transforming me from an awkward shell of a girl into a stunning woman that would draw attention wherever she went.

"Good Lord," A guy holding up one of the lights murmured.

"It's even better up close," Mr. Cue Cards sighed.

And what more was there to say? Everyone in that room knew who the viewers would vote for.

I slouched down in my seat. Guess I'd better find my winter coat, and make sure this date came with lifeboats.

After everyone (with the exception of a pouting Dominic) had examined my face, Enid cornered Jae. "How messed up is it that I'm about to ask a guy to be his apprentice?! What witchcraft is this? How did you do that?!"

A funny look flitted across Jae's sharp features and for two seconds he looked insanely uncomfortable. Then that icy mask slid back into place. "Remember that special announcement we were supposed to make at the end of the show?"

"Jae, your make-up up skills are insane! You've gotta tell me-"

"It's the end of the show!" Jae snapped, turning to his bandmates. I think he was waiting for "backup," but even I knew better than that, and I'd only known Rocco, Eli, and Dominic for two days.

"Pretty sure you just won this thing, man." Eli's smile didn't quite reach those soft brown eyes.

"We don't know that," Dominic interjected coolly. He was hanging back, a fresh can of Red Bull in his hand.

"We don't?" Eli countered, eyebrow raised.

Rocco was the only one that wasn't saying much. He just stared at Jae, head tilted to the side. Suddenly he grinned, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hey, how're Ji-Hyun and Jeni?"

Jae froze and paled considerably, eyeing Rocco like he was holding up a grenade.

I cleared my throat quietly, before squeaking out, "Who...who are Ji-Hyun and Jeni?"

"Shut up!" Jae growled, whipping his head in my direction. I pretended to find something very interesting on one thigh.

"They're his older sisters," Dominic said, looking confused. "But so what?"

Eli caught Rocco's eye and after a minute they were both smiling to themselves.

"Exactly. So what." Jae was glaring at Rocco, who might as well have turned away and started whistling like a guilty Loony Tunes character post anvil-drop.

Curiosity was killing me. What about his sisters? Were they the reason for my flawless face? "Did they teach Jae all this?"

Everyone turned to look at me. Oops! Had I said that out loud?

Jae looked like he wanted to murder me and bury each limb in a different state. His almond-shaped eyes narrowed as he bit out, "No. No, they didn't."

I glanced at Rocco, but he was just smiling now, all traces of mischief gone. "Let's just make the announcement," he suggested.

"Jerk," Jae mumbled, still very irritated. He turned to the cue card guy who was bent over, shuffling through cards and trying to get his life together, then sighed before dropping the bomb. "At the end of Misery Loves Company, we'll be releasing the first single off our upcoming second album."

Enid rushed to catch up, "You're all dying right?" She gushed into the cameras. "Well, me too! Like I said, Misery Loves Company will be thirteen episodes, but what I didn't say is on the last episode Blue Vendetta will be performing their new single!!! Tell them what it's called, Jae!"

Jae looked more comfortable now that we weren't discussing his impressive make-up skills. "Safety In Numbers."

"Ohhh...profound! Why did you guys choose this song as your first single?"

"We didn't," Dominic grumbled.

"Edit that out!" Ackerman yelled again from his corner. I really wish he'd yelled that out several other times, but if it wasn't affecting the band's image negatively, I guess he didn't care.

Jae ignored Dominic and said, "You'll find out soon."

"Alright, you heard the man! Tune in next Friday at 3:30PM Eastern Standard Time to see who won the date with Misery and to hear more about Blue Vendetta's new single 'Safety in Numbers!' Thanks for watching guys and gals, see you next week!" Enid exclaimed.

"Cut!" The director shouted. He looked around the room and released a heavy sigh. "That'll do, but next week, please just stick to the cue cards."

We were in the middle of cleaning up and putting everything away when Dominic announced that he was hungry. It really proved my theory that Paula had superhuman hearing abilities, because as soon as he said that I heard the basement door open and Paula's voice boom, "Who wants pork chops?"

Every man in that room's eyes glazed over, all thoughts of make-up and web shows vanishing in favor of satisfying their bellies.

I grabbed a make-up wipe, ready to say goodbye to the captivating woman Jae had created, but Enid tapped my elbow and mumbled, "No, don't. Mamá...would want to see it."

I moved my elbow away, hesitated, and put the make-up wipe back in the pack.

Once Enid's room went back to looking like a bedroom and not the set of a TV show, the men pushed us, and each other upstairs like a bunch of hungry animals.

As soon as Paula saw me, her face crumpled and she gathered me into a tight hug. "You're always beautiful, but tonight you look...what do you kids say? Fierce?"

I shrugged awkwardly but couldn't help smiling as she sang my praises and shoved everyone into the kitchen and dining area. She reheated the pork chops, rice and beans, and served them on extra durable paper plates. The Diaz family only had three people, but Paula always cooked for fifty. You know, just in case.

Everyone looked like they were enjoying themselves, wolfing down the food in between animated laughter and conversation. Everyone except Ackerman, that is. He turned down the pork chops, nose high in the air as he retrieved his car keys, and for once Paula didn't care enough to push. Tom Morgan stood by him, nibbling on his food politely and chatting with the director. When Tom finished, he thanked us all for our hard work and left with Ackerman, probably headed to some fancy restaurant where a piece of lettuce cost you $50.

Paula locked the door behind them and came back into the kitchen. She winked at me as if to say "more for us," and picked up her plate, then squeezed in next to me to grill me about school.

The director and the rest of the crew actually turned out to be pretty friendly. They begged Paula for seconds and thirds, only deciding they'd had enough when cue card guy's button popped off his jeans. On their way out, one of the set guys pulled Enid aside and handed her a card with the editor's email address. I heard him tell her to collaborate with the editor so the videos remained somewhat authentic and kept that special touch. What everyone failed to realize was that I edited most of the "Everything Enid" videos. I gave them that "special touch."

Once today's footage was edited, Tom and Ackerman would approve it before it went live on Friday afternoon. I realized it was already Thursday, so they'd probably have to pull an all-nighter to upload it in time! I didn't miss the dirty look the guy talking to Enid gave me when he mentioned that. I guess I couldn't really blame him. The shoot had been delayed because of me, because of my feelings.

After Enid finished receiving her instructions, the whole crew thanked us and finally left. Paula soon started yawning and saying her own goodbyes. She kissed me and Enid, told us to kick the rock stars out before ten, and disappeared upstairs with a bowl of plantain chips.

That left me, Enid, and every teenage girl's wet dream in the tiny kitchen.

And of course, I wound up next to Jae.

"So...um..." I started slowly. "You can't tell us where you learned how to do all that stuff? The make-up, I mean."

"I do drag on the weekends," Jae replied.

I almost spit rice and beans all over the linoleum floor. "E-excuse me?" I was trying my hardest not to imagine him in sequined fishnets and a Cher wig.

His dark eyes glinted. "If you're thinking I'm a Cher then you'd be dead wrong- I'm a Lady Gaga."

My mouth opened, and this time (to my utter mortification) some rice and beans did fall out. I looked around for help, but there was no one available to come to my aid. Rocco kept trying to steal food off Eli's plate, and Enid and Dominic were flirting by the refrigerator! I was on my own! A lone ranger braving the landmine addled terrain of casual conversation. I cleared my throat and blurted, "W-wow...that's...cool? Panty hose are the devil and all, but, like...how do you have time? Don't people recognize you?"

"Your parents should've named you Moron instead of Misery," Jae snapped in disgust. "If I spent my weekends in drag do you really think I could hide it from the guys, much less our fans?"

The remaining food in my mouth lost its taste as I shied away from such open derision. "No...I guess not."

In hindsight, it'd been kinda stupid to believe him, but I was nervous and he'd said it