Page 18 of Stay Toxic

She takes a shower first, as I haven’t picked my own outfit, and by the time I’m ready, she’s transformed from seriously freaking adorable to ultimate bombshell. I gasp. I’m pretty sure every single person in the vicinity would stop, turn and gasp, watching her. What’s more, she doesn’t look overly made-up; it’s all subtle, natural, and yet there’s no denying that there’s a huge difference.

“How do you even do that? You’regreatat makeup.”

She grins. “My mom’s a hairdresser; she took a MUA course a few years back and I learned all the tricks. I can do you if you’d like?”

If someone had told me on Sunday that I’d end up seated behind her desk while she applied makeup with the ease of a professional, I would have scoffed. I don’t typically warm up to people this fast, but she’s so friendly there’s no resisting her.

Ari explains everything she’s doing to highlight my features, lecturing me on the use of sponges, and before I know it, I’m also way prettier than I can ever remember being. I’ve had professional makeup done before, for the family pictures my mother demands I pose in for her campaigns. It was always designed to make me look younger, immature, innocent.I lookhottoday.

It’s a little sad I’m going to the ballet, really. It’s the kind of makeup I would love to have when…certain people saw me.

NotSebastian. No one like Sebastian. Sebastian is taken, you idiot. But other people my age. I know the theater will mostly have an audience of kids under ten, and grandparents over fifty.

We stop by an Italian place for pizza. If mother knew I got pizza and a burger in the same week, she’d have an aneurism. Actually, she’d drag me straight back home and lock me in the kitchen like she used to before I learned to behave. Before I had a reason to.

When we reach the theater, I give my name at the box office. Instead of the two tickets I expected, I’m shown to a box, which is baffling.

Maybe it’s a slow night? I only let Tanya get my tickets because they’re complimentary—each dancer gets two per show, and her family’s too far to come. I know the price of a box; I wouldn’t want my friend, an artist with her first paying job, to pay for a box meant to sit twelve people, even with her employee discount.

One glance around the seats shows it’s almost full, though. Strange. I’ll have to ask Tanya about it after the show.

Giselle is suitably pathetic, and before we know it, the curtains falls. Tanya played her role—one of the spirits of maidens betrayed by their lovers—to perfection, naturally, so I’ll get to tell her I told you so.

“My friend will meet me at the bar after getting changed. You can stick around if you want,” I offer, and Ari’s quick to agree.

The two bubbly girls get on like a house on fire. I should have expected it. They’re both sunny, friendly, adorable, and somehow, they’ve adopted me as their introvert.

We don’t leave the bar after the show. We’re still there when Tanya’s done getting changed, and I order us a bottle of their best champagne, because she killed it.

“I love the ballet. Seriously. I want to watch it again, and again. But like, why did Giselle justdieall of a sudden?”

“Albrecht was taken, so she, like, spontaneously dies,” Tanya explains, wrinkling her nose. “In the original version, she stabbed herself with his sword.”

“Men are dicks,” I reply, sipping my third glass.

“Surely not all men.”

I freeze.

I must have imagined his voice, right? I must have.

“Ladies.” Sebastian steps into view, coming frombehind the bar.

Oh, goodie. I’m gonna need another drink.

9

He looks fucking delicious in a fitted tux, his usually messy hair brushed back.

“Bass!” Ari calls, even more enthusiastic than normal, thanks to the bubbly. “I wasn’t sure I’d see you.”

She doesn’t sound surprised, though.That makes me raise an eyebrow. “You work here or something?”

Somehow, that makes him laugh. “In a way, I guess. My family owns part of the Gold Theater. Tanya, right?” he asks my friend, extending his hand over the counter.

She blushes as she brings her palm to his, and he presses his lips at the back of it like it’s fucking nineteen-thirty or something.

Tanya, man-eater, confident, badass gorgeous dancer, is getting hot under the collar because of a hand kiss. He’s that hot.