Mint Lip Gloss

My Grandma gave me cosmetics for the holidays.

I loved my Grandma, and I shouldn't have been surprised considering we only see her once a year. I didn't hate wearing makeup, I was usually just too lazy to put it on.

Grandma did not skimp out that year. She got me a full (and possibly slightly expensive) bag for everything, despite not being able to fit it all, packed to the brim with eye shadow, blush, hair care, and a small container of mint lip gloss.

Because I didn't want it to just rot away in my room, I took a few minutes in the mornings before school to put on some eye shadow and lip gloss. Honestly, I thought it makes me feel more awake, just poking my eye with colors at 6:30 in the morning.

My friends noticed it, of course, because I only ever put on makeup for Halloween or special occasions.

On a day I had gray eye shadow on, my friend said to me "I like your makeup Jill! Wait are you wearing makeup or are you just tired?", which, although a fair statement, is not one I appreciate.

My life didn't rapidly change or anything, just sometimes received a comment from friends about not looking like a walking corpse.

But it was different in mid-February when a girl I had never spoken to came up to me.

"Mint?" She smiled as if she asked me something comprehensible.

I eloquently responded with, "Huh?", as one does.

She laughed and tapped her lips. "Mint lip gloss, right?"

"Yeah," I was shocked. By this time of day, all traces of it had usually vanished. "How'd you know?"

"Oh, you know." She waved it off. "Hey, you're in my math class, right? Did you understand Mr. Thompson's homework?"

Her name was Sally, and we started talking after that. She would find me at lunch, or whenever we had free time in math, and just start talking to me. It was a bit off-putting at first, but after three weeks I had gotten used to her presence.

The still cold March weather was getting to be one day, and I was shivering despite having on a thick sweater. Probably because they didn't bother heating the cafeteria.

"Hey, Jill!" Sally was suddenly next to me. The first few times she did that, it startled me, but I was expecting it.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Just really bored today." She sighed and laid her chin down on the table. "Do you want to come over today after school or something?"

I shrugged. I had nothing going on, and I had to admit I was curious about Sally's house. "As long as you have heating, I'm in."

She perked up. "Great! I can drive us there right after school if you're fine with that."

At 2:43, we were in her driveway. I remember the time so clearly because my mom texted me then if I needed anything from the store. I forgot to text her back.

Sally pulled out a key a opened the door, pushing me inside.

Her house was strange. Not like 'covered in blood and guts' strange, but it threw me off how fake everything looked. Like a house, you would see in a commercial for insurance.

"Just throw your bag anywhere, and make yourself comfortable! Do you want hot chocolate or tea?"

I sat down on the couch. It was stiff. "Hot chocolate."

She nodded and walked into the kitchen. Sally couldn't have been gone for more than seven minutes, but it felt like I sat there for hours. There was no noise from anywhere in the house, except for my own occasional breathing.

She walked back in with two mugs and handed me one before sitting next to me.

"I assumed you would be alright with whipped cream and sprinkles on it."

"Of course. I'll never say no to sweets." I laughed but felt weird having a tall sugar-filled cup while her mug looked so plain. I took a sip, and it wasn't as sweeter as I expected, tasting more bitter than anything.

"Do you want to work on homework or something? I'll help you with math if you help me with history."

Sally grinned and stood up. I had never seen her smile that wide. "Yeah," She set her mug on the coffee table. "Let's go up to my room."

I only had gotten halfway through my drink, but I couldn't say anything about it, because as soon as I had risen, I fell straight to the floor, shattering the mug.

"Oops." I could only hear her. My head couldn't move from the floor. "I was hoping you would set the mug down before the effects took place." Despite not having any recently, I swore that I tasted the strong after taste of almonds in my mouth.

Fingers grasped my chin and lifted up my throbbing head. Sally was blurry but clear as she kneeled in front of me, barely avoiding the spilled drink and shards.

She ran a finger over my lips and sighed. "Aw, I guess your mint lip gloss was rubbed off."