Page 37 of Unnecessary Drama

‘How about now?’

They both shake their heads.

‘Can we lose the leggings?’ Harper says.

‘And put on what instead?’ I say.

‘Nothing. Just a peek of naked leg. Like you’ve just had sex and put on the hoodie—’ Harper says.

‘That could work! And rumple her hair,’ Penny says.

‘No,’ I say. ‘Absolutely not.’

‘What about,’ Jesse says. ‘What about if you sit over here by the window, with the lamp light? Just wearing a normal top. And no props.’

Harper looks unconvinced.

I take off the hoodie, and sit in leggings and a plain white T-shirt.

‘Can I?’ Jesse says, holding out a tissue.

‘I can wipe my own nose.’ I lean away from him.

‘No, I was going to wipe off a bit of the eyeliner.’

‘No! That’s my gothic masterpiece!’ Harper says.

‘Just a little. Just so she looks a bit more…’

‘A bit more what?’

‘A bit more like herself.’

‘Fine.’

Jesse gets close to me with the tissue and I look up at him. My heart is suddenly racing, and I feel a little breathless.

‘Do you know what you’re doing?’ I say. I am trying to stall him from getting any closer. I need my heart to slow down first. I need to regroup.

‘I’ve put make-up on and off my little sisters lots of times,’ he says.

‘Okay,’ I say.

‘Close your eyes,’ he says softly.

I hesitate, and then close my eyes.

He gently touches the tissue to the side of my eyelids, and softly dabs. His knuckles brush my skin. I swallow. I’m scared I’m blushing. What is wrong with me?

‘Okay,’ he says.

I open my eyes. He’s still very close to me.

‘Wait, let me…Look up,’ he says. His voice, quiet and close to me like this, makes goosebumps appear on my neck. I hope no one notices.

He dabs under my eyes too, so gently the tissue barely seems to be touching my skin.

‘Done,’ he says, and picks up a phone and takes a few photos.