Putting on makeup was harder than it
looks. That was the one thing Dandelion Mellark had discovered that
day. She'd been embarassed enough when she'd quietly asked her
mother if she could have the makeup in the first place. Walking
around looking like a clown would make it even worse.
Dani reached dejectedly for the
washcloth and scrubbed her face for the third time in an effort to
remove the makeup that just didn't look right on her face. She
turned from the mirror, no longer wanting to look at her own
reflection, and pulled herself up onto the counter. It wasn't as if
she could ask her mother for advice. Dani didn't think Katniss had
put on one bit of makeup since she was seventeen years old, and even
then she hadn't been putting it on herself.
Dani's heart went into her throat as a
knock at the bathroom door startled her. "Dani, are you in
here?" Rowan Hawthorne. Dani had forgotten that they were
getting here today. Here was the answer to her problems. Rowan, who
was two years older, had always seemed like Dani's older sister.
Dani flew off the counter and wrenched
the door open. "Rowan!"
Her younger friend's enthusiasm caused
Rowan to take a step away from the doorway. "Happy to see you
too, Dani," she chuckled. "What have you been doing for so
long in the bathroom? I was waiting for you downstairs."
Dani's face brightened in embarassment.
Instead of answering, she motioned towards the bathroom counter,
which was still littered with various beauty products. That was when
Rowan noticed the makeup on Dani's face that Dani hadn't been quite
successful in removing in her anger. A small smile found its way
onto Rowan's face. All she said was, "You want help?"
Dani smiled back gratefully. "Yes,
please."
Rowan wasn't an overtly kind person,
but she often found herself helping Dani more often than she would
others. Sure, she was nice, but she didn't do many favors. For that
reason, she couldn't help but make a few jibes as she went over the
basics of makeup with the younger girl. "You look great by the
way," she motioned at Dani's own attempt at the makeup. "You'd
make a very believable clown."
Dani stuck her tongue out. "Even
I know it's not that horrible," she sighed.
"Close though," Rowan
muttered just loud enough for Dani, who swatted her playfully, to
hear.
"You have the right idea,"
Rowan explained as she closed the door behind her. "You just
need some practice, so you don't end up looking like a crazy Capitol
person."
Dani's confidence swelled. She'd been
sure that she was screwing something up. No way did she want to look
like a Capitol citizen. Her mother would fly off the handle. Dani
knew that Capitol fashions had become much simpler in recent years
thanks to the influence of the districts, but the people there were
still known for slightly outlandish tastes. If she was to go to
school looking like one, she'd be teased endlessly.
Rowan had Dani remove the makeup she'd
applied before pulling out the foundation that Dani wasn't even sure
exactly matched her skin tone. Rowan looked from the foundation to
Dani as if she was considering this very thing herself, but her nod
seemed to imply that she was satisfied with the shade. "We
might be able to find a better shade for you, but this works okay for
now," Rowan explained. "Next time you should try to find
one that brings out the slight olive tint to your skin." Dani
nodded although she wasn't so sure about the "olive tint."
Sure her skin wasn't as light as her dad's or other people she knew,
but Dani had always been slightly jealous of the olive skin her
mother, Rowan, and most of her classmates had.
Rowan had applied a layer of makeup to
Dani's face that was far thinner than she had thought possible. All
the while, Rowan was explaining that the less makeup Dani could get
away with, the better. She wanted to look as natural as possible.
Makeup was supposed to enhance your natural beauty, not hide it.
Rowan's many philosophical makeup comments continued throughout the
entire process. Dani had never thought about many of these things,
and she soaked up the new information. She'd have to remember to put
on a lot less makeup next time. The eyeliner would take some
practice. How Rowan could hold her arm so steady and see clearly
with the pencil to her eye Dani didn't understand.
"There," Rowan began clearing
the makeup off the counter, seemingly satisfied with her job. "Look
in the mirror."
Dani turned and almost blushed at the
reflection in the mirror. If Dani didn't no better, she would almost
be surprised that she had makeup on. Rowan had made it perfectly
complement her features. "Thanks, Rowan!" Dani exclaimed
in excitement.
"You're welcome," Rowan
chuckled. "Come on. Let's go into town, and you can show off
my awesome makeup skills to everyone." Before Dani knew it, her
arm was hooked in Rowan's, and they were out the door and heading
toward town.
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