Purpose ❆ Benny Rodriguez

17 | masterpiece

12/24/2015

chapter seventeen ;
MASTERPIECE

♡

"WOW – YOU'RE HOT."

　Leah glanced briefly in the mirror – took in her chocolate curls, her long eyelashes, and her burgundy-painted lips – and sighed. Her brows furrowed in frustration.

　"I am definitely not hot."

　A smile grew on my mouth. "Ivy's right. You are pretty hot."

　Ivy stood behind Leah in the mirror of my bathroom, smirking at Leah's reflection. She held the tube of lipstick expertly – and I had never believed someone could hold lipstick with expertise.

　When the girls were gathered, of course Ivy had to practice painting a face and styling hair other than her own. As if she actually needed to practice.

　And suddenly Ivy turned on me, the smirk on her red lips growing. "You're next, darling."

　"Oh, no." The smile fell from my face, and I backed away, approaching my bedroom. "No, I'm not, Ivy."

　Ivy's impossibly intricate curls bounced around her perfect face as she nodded, approaching me all the while. "Yes, you are, Makayla – You are not getting out of this."

　"Can I get some help, Leah?"

　Leah turned to face the two girls, a smile slowly curling at her lips. "You didn't help me."

　"I'm guessing this is why you have mostly guy friends."

　Startled, I whipped around to find Kenny and Bertram sitting on my bed. Bertram had been the one to speak, and although his words were directed to me, he was not looking at me.

　"What the hell – How did you guys get in here? How did no one notice?" I breathed. And then I whirled on Ivy again. "You were facing them, how did you not see them?"

　Ivy's smile was closed-mouthed, but she still somehow managed to brighten the room with it. "I did. I just wanted to see if they would scare you or something."

　My mouth parted in mock hurt. "Rude."

　The bathroom door slammed shut, earning everyone's attention. Leah had closed herself in. "I am not letting the boys see me like this."

　Bertram grinned smugly. "Oh, we already did, sweetheart! We were not disappointed."

　"Speak for yourself, Bertram," Kenny mumbled. "I mean – not that I didn't – "

　"Oh, save it, DeNunez," Ivy smirked. "I work wonders. Leah, you don't need makeup to be beautiful, but I made you look like some kind of queen."

　I nodded, accepting the comparison. "I could see that."

　"Anyway," Kenny sighed, standing to his feet, "we came to steal the girls from you, Kayla. Benny wants you to go over to his place."

　My brows furrowed, although I immediately went to slide on my shoes. "What for?"

　"Don't really know," Kenny shrugged. "But I do know that the four of us" – he indicated himself, Bertram, Ivy and the bathroom door – "are going to catch a movie."