“Don't twitch, I almost finished the arrow for you,” she said in a whisper, afraid that her hand would tremble and come out ugly and she would have to wash and try again, as many times before. It is difficult to name the number, you have long lost count of these attempts.

Opening an eye free from creative attempts, you notice the girl's lips tightly clenched in a narrow strip, frowning blond eyebrows demonstrating her concentration, and a sharp look from gray eyes.

You were going to spend the night with Ashley very rarely: studying, your own business. There was no time for friendly gatherings at all, and finally the schedules coincided and you could stay together, even if only a little.

A glass of wine, sushi, watching a movie and, at the end of the evening, experimental makeup for each other - everything is classic, the atmosphere is so familiar.

You feel a wet cotton pad running along the edge of your eye. It won't work - it's not scary, you can take a shower, but Ashley approached this matter very responsibly, like an artist painting something that will sweep through the centuries and remain for posterity. Her palm rested under your chin to slightly raise your face to the level of your eyes, critically examining the resulting creation for symmetry and neatness.

Finally, exhaling, she says a timid “done” and hands you the mirror.

“Can we put on some more lipstick? What color do you want?”.

She doesn't even give time to evaluate how she starts a new stage: she pulls out a dozen different tints, lipsticks from her makeup bag and shows you.