In My Art

Chapter 10- Skincare Routine

Song- I Know How To Speak by Manchester Orchestra

…/…

“I really feel like I haven’t been seeing you guys as much,” Jane says as we’re all seated around the living room. “Yeah, that’s because we’ve been having mid-semesters,” Lexie says. “Yeah, and both of you basically lived in the library throughout,” I say to Jane and ID.

There were at least three days when I came back to the suite and I was the only one in till I fell asleep. “True, where was Lexie though? Because I’m sure she wasn’t in the library,” ID says. “Lexie was studying with her gym partner, now turned study partner,” I say, confidently.

Jane and ID gasped, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Why’d you say it like that?” Lexie says, smiling. “I cannot believe this. Did you even study for your papers?” Jane asks. “Of course, I did. Char is the one to talk, she was with Bryan all through”.

Now, it’s my turn to do the dramatic gasp. “I was so not! He just happened to be everywhere I was, that’s all”. “Of course,” Lexie says. “I don’t know what TSC was thinking though, putting those papers so close to Halloween,” I say.

“Oh yeah, speaking of Halloween. I got tickets from my brother to the sickest party and y’all have to come,” Jane says. “I always forget that you have a brother in school. I don’t think I have ever seen you guys together,” I say, and Lexie concurs. “Well, are you guys coming?” ID says.

“Sure,” Lexie says, and I agree too. “So chill, we’re all going to have plus ones except Jane?” I asked. “I’ll just bring Tyler, it wouldn’t be so bad to have him hang around my arm all evening plus I have the best couple costume”.

“Oh right! We’re supposed to dress up,” Lexie says. “What universe exactly did you grow up in, Lex? Of course, we have to dress up. What’s the point of Halloween without costumes?” Jane says in a rush, as though Lexie had just sinned against her.

“How about no one says what they’re going to wear, so we do a form of reveal on Friday. Sounds good?” ID says. “Yeah, that will be so much fun. Okay, guys, you have three days to look for your costume. Let’s go!” Jane said.

“You don’t mean now, do you?” Lexie asks for both of us because I am just as confused as she is. “Of course not, we have a movie to watch”. “Okay good,” I say. Lexie hits the play button and ‘Red Notice’ is displayed on the screen.

…/…

I watch as Bryan walks towards me with two ice cream cones in his hand. “Hi pretty lady, I was wondering if I could give you this as my date just stood me up early this noon and I don’t want them to melt”.

“Why yes, kind sir. Thank you very much, it is deeply appreciated”. We burst into laughter at my fake accent. The sun was perfect for pictures and I couldn’t help but take out my phone to capture the moment.

He covers his face when he sees me opening the app ‘Snapchat’. “Why? You look so fine”. “I have acne, that’s why, but I have started a new skincare routine so I should be fixed in no time”. I turn over and squint, trying to find the acne.

He points somewhere at his face, saying, “See?” I lean in, peck his cheek which happened to be where he was pointing at, and then I say, “All better?”

He smiles and says, “What was that for?” “I don’t know,” I say, licking my ice cream. “You are just so cute,” he says, and then I respond with, “Now that, I know”.

“Hey, so Jane invited us to a Halloween party and we have the option of bringing extras, so would you like to come with me?” “A Halloween party, huh? We’d have to dress up and all?”

“Uhm yeah, that is the point of a Halloween party”. “I would’ve loved to go with you but parties and wearing costumes aren’t really my thing, sorry”. I felt a tug in my chest, I had been let down. I don’t know why I thought he’d agree to come with me. I’m just glad I hadn’t told him about dressing up with me in a couple’s costume before he let me down.

“Crap! I forgot about the governors' meeting. I have to go, I’m sorry”. “Oh, it’s okay”. “Unless you want to come with me?”

“Nah, I'll just go back to my dorm. I’m supposed to work on something”. I stood up to hug him and watch his retreating figure. Then, I decided to go see Mystery Guy. Maybe he’d make me feel better.

…/…

“Locked! Why?” I asked myself as I walked in the opposite direction, away from The Art Space.

A clothing store came into view and it occurred to me that I hadn’t thought of a costume to wear to the Halloween party. I enter the store, thinking of what to wear and that’s when it hits me.

…/…

“I think you guys can come out now, it’s really not that deep,” Lexie announces from the living room. “Plus my date is here and he’s getting tired”. “I’m actually quite comfortable,” I hear a guy say. “Well, I’m tired of waiting,” Lexie counters.

“I’ll be out in a minute,” I shouted from inside my room. I was done styling my hair, all that was left was the dress, which took forever to put on, but after ten minutes, I was finally ready.

As I opened the door, I couldn’t help but coo at the rest of them. Lexie and her date, Cole, dressed up as Hulk and She-Hulk. Jane and Ty are dressed as what can only be interpreted to be Batman and a sexy nurse. “Looks weird, right?” Jane says, confirming the expression I had on my face.

“I told you, a cat-woman would’ve been sexier than the sexy nurse fit,” Ty says. “Yeah? Well, a cute doctor wouldn’t be such a bad fit for you”. I leave Ty and Jane to keep arguing. “Interesting choice of costume,” I say to both Lex and Cole.

“I could say the same to you, Tinkerbell”. “Oh, this old thing. I saw it in the store two days ago and decided to get it. It really was a ‘decide on the spot’ kind of situation”. “So, where’s Bryan meeting us?” Jane asks innocently. “Nowhere. He doesn’t like parties, so he isn’t coming. I don’t want to talk about that right now”.

“Where’s ID and Ian?” I asked. “They went to dress up at Ian’s so they’d be meeting us at the party or we’d be meeting them because Ian and my brother know the people throwing the party”. “Okay, who’s ready to party, guys?” Lexie shouts. I’m so surprised about how excited she is that it makes me scream in response.

“Okay, you two are definitely contending for the weirdest suitemates in the suite,” Jane says. “Come on, scream, it felt amazing,” I say, trying to coerce her to be weird like me.

…/…

“Having fun?” I asked Jane, who was just standing by the bar. “What do you think?” By her tone, I could tell she was bored. “Where’s Ty?” “Off playing video games with the rest of his people, how did they even get invited? It’s so weird”. “And you don’t want to hang out with your brother?”

“Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. He’s upstairs making out with some random girl”. “Let’s go dance then,” I said, dragging her to the dance floor. We dance for a while, owning the dance floor for the littlest bit. Lexie sees us and joins in the fun. People make way for the three of us. At that point, we didn’t care who was staring, we were absorbed in the moment like nothing else mattered.

“Let’s go outside,” Jane says, dragging me off the dance floor to the back door. We were laughing at nothing in particular when Jane suddenly lay down on the grass outside. I stood there watching her for a minute, then she pats the ground beside her, indicating that I lay there with her.

We stare at the stars in silence before I start confessing how sad I was when Bryan said he couldn’t come. “Guys just somehow find a way to make me sad sometimes,” Jane says. The whole time we’re talking, we don’t look at each other once, we just keep staring at the stars.

“Hey, we should go in, it’s starting to get cold out here”. We walk inside and in the process, I bump into someone.