“Uh, okay,” Jonni stammered. “How about...Taylor Swift?”
“Nah, you don’t want her,” BriBri warned. “Her look would not suit you at all. How about...Bradleigh Pitt?”
Brad Pitt? Jonni thought to himself and giggled a little. Brad was a famous action hero movie star; Jonni was curious to see how he looked now in this world, all made up.
“Um, sure...if you think that I’d look good as a movie star.”
BriBri nodded excitedly. “Oh, for sure, you’ll look so hot.” With that, BriBri got to work. “You know,” BriBri started as he dabbed the brush. “Angelina is hot, but not as hot as Bradleigh, I mean, did you see him in Ocean’s Eleven? That dress that he was wearing? Oh. My. Goddess.” It was like BriBri had suddenly flicked a switch, from shy to gabbing.
It took some time, but eventually, BriBri was done. He grabbed his phone and quickly Googled an image of Bradleigh Pitt and held it up so that Jonni could see.
“So this is how Bradleigh looked after his latest movie.” Jonni nodded. He could see what BriBri meant; Bradleigh was absolutely stunning. Jonni was even getting a little flustered just looking at him, that was probably the bisexuality that was now a part of him.
BriBri smiled, noting Jonni’s reaction. “I’m glad you like it, because…” He picked up a handheld mirror and placed it in front of Jonni. “This is what you look like.”
Jonni was shocked. BriBri had done an amazing job. Jonni may not have had much knowledge about makeup, but he knew that he looked amazing. The way his eyelashes where highlighted, everything, it was just… amazing.
“Wow…” Jonni was lost for words. He wondered if they would be able to keep their looks after class and what Sugar would think of him when she saw him.
“Okay, now do me,” BriBri said excitedly. Picking up his phone again, BriBri brought up an image of Jacquifer Pearl. “This is the look that I want.”
Jon nodded hesitantly. He spotted the blue lipstick that BriBri had mentioned earlier.
“Oh...kay…” Jonni started, unsure of himself. “I must warn you though, I’m not that great with makeup. I’ve never done it on another person.”
BriBri frowned. “Are you sure?” he asked. “What about that project last year where you worked on historical figures that you told me about?”
“Um, well…” Jonni trailed off. “I mean, it’s been a while. Normally, when I’m at home, I just do my own.”
BriBri looked at him but then shrugged it off.
“Okay, I can guide you a bit through this one.” Jonni was nervous and a bit tense, and BriBri could see it. “First, take the thick brush and apply the foundation.” What followed was a solid, if fast-paced, set of instructions. It allowed Jonni to block out all the distractions in his head—Dakota, Sugar, this whole “boys are almost girls” thing—and focus on something productive.
Before Jonni knew it, BriBri was done and all made up.
“Alright, class, it’s time for me to come around and inspect your work,” the teacher, Ms. Banks, announced. She stopped at each counter station, clutching a clipboard with copies of her grading rubric, and judged the work of the pairs, as the others nervously began making preparations to clean up their areas. “Well, Jonni and BriBri, time to take a look.” She first turned her attention to Jonni’s face. “BriBri… I’m always blown away. It may be on the simple side, but you always seem to execute well. That’s a 23 out of 25,” she declared, handing BriBri a sheet of paper. “As for you, Jonni… Jacquifer, I suppose, was the inspiration?”
“Uh, yeah,” he hesitated.
“You definitely have trouble nailing the details. It’s just a bit...sloppy. Your hands could be a bit steadier applying stuff, and the layers are a bit clumpy.” She wrote on the next sheet for a moment, then handed it to Jonni. “20 out of 25. Be lucky it’s not a C,” she advised her student.
“Whew,” Jonni sighed in relief as Ms. Banks moved on to the next group. BriBri and other groups were already using makeup remover and touching up from their own personal sets, so Jonni followed suit and grabbed some removal pads before putting on his own.
“Yeah, I know you’re not always the most precise, but today you seemed a little more… off than usual,” BriBri explained. “I’d say blue lipstick would look good on you, but it’d probably clash with all the purple you wear.” That must be a thing for me, huh, Jonni realized. Am I “that purple boy”?
“I guess so… Well, I guess a boy can’t be good at everything, can he?”
“True, you’re a great dancer and I’m barely coordinated. I once tried out for the dance team back when I lived in Tennessee, but I fell flat in auditions,” he explained.
The familiar tones of the school bell cut off the budding conversation. “Well, I guess it’s lunch time. Maybe text me later? I definitely could use some help with... application and evenness,” Jonni asked, trying to find the words.
“Sure, I’ll text you tonight. See you, Jonni!”
“Bye, BriBri!” As Jonni gathered his things to head to the cafeteria, he sighed in relief. At least he didn’t treat me like an alien from the planet Zorbax 5, because that’s what I almost feel like still.
