“That’s because you look ridiculous,” Melody answered, offering him a compact mirror. “Hopefully balding isn’t a trait that runs in your family, because this is what you’ll look like in twenty or so years.”
“Thankfully, no,” Xander said, turning his head from side to side as he checked out his reflection. When Melody held up her phone with a smirk, he snatched it from her hands with the speed of a lightning strike. “Absolutely no pictures. If JJ saw me, I’d never hear the end of it.”
“Fine. Can I have my phone back?”
“Nope. I’m keeping it as a precaution. Indie, I’ll need yours too.” Turning to me, he held out his hand. “You’ll get them back when I’m done being your guinea pig,” he added.
The only person who might need to reach me was Violet, so I handed over my cell without a second thought.
Xander nodded in thanks and tucked both devices into his pocket. “Okay. Now that that’s sorted, carry on.”
Melody rolled her eyes but turned her attention back to our lesson. She picked up a wicked-looking horn that was four inches long and grinned. “Okay, time for step two.”
* * *
An hour later, Xander was unrecognizable.
We’d transformed him from heartthrob to alien monster worthyof haunting nightmares. He had scaly skin that faded from purple to black, a Mohawk of deadly spikes, and cheekbones as sharp as razor blades. Melody taught me two different techniques for blending the edges of prosthetics, and it was the most fun I’d had in ages.
“Guys, this is wicked,” Xander said as he inspected his reflection. “I could be a character in a sci-fi movie. This looks so real, I’m actually scared of myself.”
“This is all Indie’s handiwork,” Melody replied. “Not mine.”
What a truckload of bullshit.
I shot her a pointed look. “You’re the one who came up with the alien concept. I just helped you execute it.”
She crossed her arms. “Sure, but you did the application.”
“And you’re the one who made all the prosthetics,” I pointed out.
“They’re just horns. You could make these in your sleep. Besides, it was your idea to create a Mohawk out of them, and that’s what makes this particular look so sick.”
When I opened my mouth to disagree, Xander cut me off. “Take the compliment, Indie. She’s totally right. This is badass.”
I cleared my throat. “Well, thanks.”
“You sure you don’t want a career in prosthetic makeup?” Melody asked. “I could use some competition.”
A blush swept over me from head to toe. “To be honest, I never really considered it as an option.”
She shook her head in disappointment. “Well, you should. There’s a new school called the Academy of Cinema Makeup opening in LA next year. I’m one of the instructors. We’ll be teaching all kinds of things from beauty and editorial makeup to prosthetics.You’d be a perfect candidate, and I’d be more than happy to write you a letter of recommendation.”
“Wow, that’s incredibly kind of you,” I said. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Melody held out her hand to Xander. “Give me Indie’s phone.”
“Why?” he responded.
“Did I ask for lip, E.T.?”
“No, but a please would be nice,” he muttered as he grudgingly dug out my cell.
Ignoring him, Melody typed something into my phone before tossing it back to me. “I’ve added my contact info. Once you realize how much potential you’re wasting, give me a call.”
I beamed. “Will do.”
Xander relinquished Melody’s phone. “Now that I look like a badass instead of a balding eighteen-year-old, can you take some pictures for me?”
