Ignite - A Mutant Academy Novel

Chapter 18

For the next few hours, Holly was in her absolute element. All talk and even thought of Joe was out of sight, and she practically flew around the room creating a curl here, a perfect amount of lipstick there, and generally acting like our own personal stylist.

Of course Amber let her try out whatever she wanted - Holly was probably the luckiest girl in the world, anything she did was bound to look amazing.

And true to affinity, it did. Amber had eventually picked out the peach shift dress Holly had given her, and with her pin curls and lightly shadowed eyes, she looked the true meaning of elegant.

"You look just like Daisy a'la The Great Gatsby A, you just need one of those feathers in your hair and some pearls - oh actually..." she said, diving into the massive tool box she'd bought with her. She brought out a pearl necklace, and ran over to Amber. "Perfect." She said, admiring her work. Amber was beaming, and kept looking at herself in the mirror, touching something up every now and then. Who was she trying to look so perfect for?

Kat was visiting her Aunt and Uncle in the city today, and would be joining us later, which meant that next on Holly's hit list was...

I saw her advancing, brushes and makeup in hand. I quickly dodged past her and grabbed my makeup bag and dress from my bed.

"You'd better get on with your own makeup Hols, I'll do my own!" I backed into the bathroom and locked the door. I stood still for a second, taking in the wonderful quiet that was suddenly around me. I could hear dull murmurs of Holly's incessant talking, and Amber's occasional laugh. I loved my friends, but every now and then I sought the peace and solitude I'd been so used to.

I hung up my dress on the back of the door, still in the bag it had been in since I'd bought it on Wednesday. I hadn't got it out since. I half knew that if I did, I would change my mind about it instantly, and go running back to the shop. I was regretting choosing it.

No one else had seen it yet, I'd made sure of that.

I looked at myself in the mirror, trying to work out exactly what to do with my face. I sighed and grabbed the makeup removal wipes off the side - best to start with a blank canvas,

It was strange, seeing my bare face in the stark light of the tiny bathroom. Usually I immediately covered it back up again with the same black eye makeup that meant Holly occasionally teased me as 'panda eyes' about. Today though, I resisted the temptation. I looked at my face. Green eyes. The lightest hint of freckles around my nose - which I usually covered up without a second thought. My dark eyebrows clashes with my dyed red hair, giving away the game. I gathered my hair with my hand and pulled it to the back of my head, exposing my face even more. I looked again.

Hmm. Not sure about having my ears out.

Using my other hand I pulled a section of hair over each ear, causing a few shorter curls to come loose. They dangled at the front of my face. I'd let my hair dry naturally after my shower as I'd watched Holly work her magic with Amber, something I never usually did. Surprisingly, I quite liked it this way. I tied the rest of my hair up and put it into a loose bun - I'd sort it out a bit better later.

I was determined to try something different. I don't know...re-invent myself? Ugh I sounded like a teen rom-com. But it was true. I'd only been here just over a month, but it had been the most life-changing month of my life, there was no arguing with that. All the dark makeup, messy birds nest hair and perpetually grumpy complexion was a reminder of my past. It sounded ridiculous, but I needed this change.

I'd printed off nearly twenty pictures in secret in the computer suite last night. Celebrities I'd never heard of, glamorous models, trying to get some inspiration. I looked at one, crumpled from where I'd stashed it into my makeup bag. The woman's face meant nothing to me, but I tried to study her makeup. The image was too pixelated to see anything properly. I chucked the picture in the bin and looked around at the makeup bags and pictures surrounding me. I laughed. Who would have thought I'd turn into such a girl?