I So Don't Do Makeup (15 page)

“Sales have slumped.” Amber unwraps an energy bar. “A few shoppers came by today to say they won't be buying Naked Makeup anymore because it's too chancy. It's only a matter of time before the mall management gets wind of this and shuts down Lacey's business.”

Lacey buries her sad head in her hands.

“Tell her how well the investigation is going.” Amber breaks off the end of the energy bar and hands it to Lacey.

“Lacey, we're making incredible progress,” I say in my perkiest of voices, which always works with Sam. “I've gone all out and even given up makeup. Which, yes, sounds like it doesn't make sense, but it was the only way to infiltrate the Janes.”

“We have two other suspects as well,” Junie says. “Will—”

“Ahem,” I interrupt loudly and give her the hand-cut-across-the-neck signal to stop her, but, alas, Junie barrels on.

“And that Drew guy from Discount Mart.”

Lacey jerks up her head. “It's not Drew.”

“We're just being thorough,” I explain. “It's the way we roll.”

“Did you ever hear back from headquarters about the ingredients of Nite Sprite Creme?” Junie asks.

Lacey's head flops back down.

“It had a bunch of extra papaya acid in it.” Amber snaps off more energy bar. “Like enough for a chemical peel that should've just been left on for three minutes. Think how much longer you guys left it on.” She pops some bar in her mouth.

“Is it possible Naked Makeup put a Nite Sprite Creme label on a batch of chemical peel by mistake?” Junie asks.

“Naked Makeup doesn't make a chemical peel.” Amber looks grim.

“I don't get how we kept sleeping with acid on our faces,” Junie says. “We should've felt the itchiness and burning.”

“There was a time-release formula in the cream,” Lacey says all monotone, her head still down.

Yikes! We're lucky we have any faces left!

“Sherry, you gotta step it up with the investigation.” Amber chews on the energy bar. “Crystal's
coming over in a few. She has a really good idea to spark Naked Makeup sales.”

We have this whole conversation without getting interrupted by a customer. So different from even a day ago.

Amber sends Junie and me over to the food court for a bottle of green tea for Lacey.

“Those makeup people really do look after each other,” I say. “Green tea for Lacey? That's übernurturing for Amber.”

“And the way Crystal's coming over with makeup ideas for Lacey, who's basically a competitor?” Junie says. “Amber wasn't kidding when she described the makeup world as tight.”

When we get back to the kiosk, Crystal's waiting in all her bling and glitter. She's dressed in a long firetruck-red sequined T-shirt and a wide belt with a big shiny silver buckle. Metallic shadow accentuates her eyes, and she has the most adorable diamond stick-on by her left brow. She looks amazing and put together and all Queen Sparkly of the Phoenix Mall. I practically need sunglasses to look at her.

Sigh. Which makes me more aware than ever that I'm makeupless.

Crystal looks at me and smiles. She's so tactful, she doesn't even mention my plainness. Not even the tiniest roll of her eyes.

I smile back. And to continue with my friendliness,
I ask, “So, did you get your trip to Montreal all planned?”

Amber screams.

Crystal turns the color of her T-shirt.

Amber grabs Crystal by the waist and dances her around. “You're going to Montreal? You got enough sales? Why didn't you tell me?”

“Uh, it's not totally a done deal yet.” Crystal twists a stud earring.

“What's in Montreal?” Lacey asks.

“Only her dream job for Riley's Cosmetics,” Amber says. Her emerald eyes flash with excitement. “Only what Crystal's been working toward for forever.” She raises her hand for a high five. “You're finally getting out from behind the counter.”

“I gotta show good sales growth over the next few weeks still.” Crystal gives Amber a lackluster high five. Probably she's worried about jinxing herself. “How'd you hear about my trip?” she says to me.

“We stopped by your makeup counter,” I say. “You were on the phone.”

Lacey sips her tea. Amber brings Crystal up to speed on the suspect list.

Crystal dives into her brilliant save-Lacey's-business idea. “You need to attract customers in a new way. Ya gotta build up your clientele. I say offer classes.”

Lacey slides off the stool and stands back from the
kiosk, her eyes flitting over her various bottles and jars and other containers. “We do carry a variety of products.”

Amber is practically pogoing, she's so excited. “Saturday! Let's do it this Saturday! Seriously. We could do hair and faces and nails!”

“Hair!” Lacey perks right up, like she's stuck her finger in an electrical outlet. “Are you thinking what I'm thinking?”

“Hair Repair Extraordinaire!” they squeal in unison.

“Is it new?” Crystal asks.

“It is so brand-new,” Amber says, “not all the vendors even stock it.”

“We got a sample and then the opportunity to order it”—Lacey climbs on a footstool—“because our sales were through the roof.” She goes still, then gives a little shake and opens a cupboard door.

“Drew called to let me know the shipment came in today.” Lacey's rooting through the cupboard. “I'll pick it up at Discount Mart and bring it with me for the big event.” Still on the stool, she turns around and waves a rectangular box with the standard Naked Makeup butterflies fluttering all over it. “You spray it on. Leave it in.” Lacey snaps the fingers on her free hand. “And—”

“Presto!” Amber picks up. “Your hair is instantly frizzless, manageable and shiny.”

“Incredible,” Crystal says.

“It's a miracle,” Amber says. “A Naked Makeup miracle.”

“Let's call the event Fantabulous You!” Lacey's eyes sparkle. “And we'll set up twenty-minute appointments and work with four customers at a time. That's two for me and two for Amber.” Her cheeks are pink with excitement. “I have so many ideas, I'm bursting with them.” She hugs Crystal. “No wonder Riley's wants you in Montreal.”

Clicking her tongue and deep in thought, Amber's staring at Junie and me.

I so do not like the look in her eyes.

Y
ay for boyfriends! Yay especially for Josh Morton! Who called me just as Amber was giving all kinds of boring chores to Junie and me so she and Lacey could get to work designing a flyer and tickets for Fantabulous You!

“Sherry, you know how you wanted me to go to Discount Mart with you?” Josh asks in his spine-tingling golden tones. “Can you go now? My mom's going shopping and could give us a ride.”

“Right now?” I whine, like I'm being asked to do something responsible and boring. Meanwhile my heart's bouncing like a rubber ball.

“We could grab a slice of pizza and a soda for dinner there too,” he says.

“Oh, fine, if I have to,” I continue in whining mode.

“I thought you wanted me to help with the investigation,” Josh says.

I turn my back to the kiosk. “I'm faking. So I don't look too anxious to get out of the work Amber gave me,” I whisper into the phone. “I'm at the mall,” I say loudly.

“Gotcha,” he says. “Can my mom swing by the entrance by Movie World in ten minutes?”

“I guess,” I say, sounding all resigned.

“Sherry, you crack me up.” He disconnects.

I attempt to look serious and crestfallen, like maybe the call was from The Ruler, who's ordering me home for babysitting. “Sorry. Gotta blow this pop stand.”

Junie glares at me because I'm sticking her with Amber's to-do list.

I mimic texting to let her know I'll be in touch.

Amber looks down her nose at me. “Junie can handle getting the flyers printed, but it'll take both of you to hand them out. Especially at your school.”

“Uh, Amber? My cover? I'm a Jane. Those flyers are like kryptonite to me.” I shoo away imaginary poison. “Can't go near them. Not standing in the same room as them.”

Junie rolls her eyes.

“Check in with us tomorrow, Sherry,” Lacey says. “We have lots to do if we're going to pull off a successful event by Saturday.”

“And we gotta figure out how to keep it safe,” I say.

Lacey pales. She nods.

I sprint to the main entrance.

I'm barely at the curb, pinching my cheeks and biting my lips to get some color going, when Josh's mom pulls up.

Josh hops out so I can sit in the front. He is such a nice guy. He's cute, he's cool, he's polite and he's mine.

“Hi, Vicki,” I say to Josh's mom. “Thanks for picking me up.”

“No problem.” She glances at my face. Her eyes widen, but she doesn't say anything about my lack of makeup. Vicki's cool that way. “Are you looking for something specific at Discount Mart?”

“Not really.” I buckle up. “But I wouldn't mind checking out the video games.”

“Did you hear about the most recent study comparing video games with the violence between Los Angeles gangs?” And she's off for the entire fifteen-minute car ride. The radio at the salon must be turned to the news all day every day, because Vicki's always up on current events and has loads of opinions.

Vicki leaves Josh and me at the outdoor café after telling us we have about an hour. Then she high-heel-clicks along the sidewalk, flashes her membership card and enters the store. She's a way cool mom.

Josh and I line up for huge slices of cheese pizza and all-you-can-drink soda. Once we're seated, our
legs crossed under the table so that our feet are entwined, I tell him about Fantabulous You! and our planning meeting. “The trick is, we gotta make sure all the makeup is okay and safe. We're going to have to take turns keeping an eye on it.”

“Count me in,” Josh says.

Sigh. That's my guy.

“So”—a little frown crinkles his perfect-boyfriend forehead—“how are we gonna pull off this Discount Mart thing?”

I finish chewing. “I'm not exactly sure, but we need to see how Drew treats Lacey's packages. What if he believes her shipment is in jeopardy? That we're there to take it. How does he react?”

“And we're trying not to get in trouble, right?” Josh bites into his pizza.

“That would be good,” I say, thinking of my good-behavior pact with the Academy. “Let's start with walking into shipping and receiving and finding Drew.”

“And if he's there”—Josh sips his Dr Pepper—“we'll ask about the packages and I'll just pick them up and start walking out.”

“Yeah, yeah, that's good. Be all bossy like you're taking over the packages and we'll see how protective he is.”

Josh beams. He so likes to be involved and give good suggestions.

“If he's not there”—I poke the straw through the lid of my drink—“we'll ask someone else about Lacey's stuff and then at least we can see where Drew's storing it.” I push my paper plate with its half slice of pizza across the table.

“You sure you don't want it?” Josh asks.

“I'm saving room for samples,” I say.

“Thanks.”

Josh eats way more than me. Frighteningly more. I guess because of water polo and swim team.

When Josh's finished, we toss our trash. Then, hand in hand, we trek to the back of the store, visiting all the food sample tables on the way.

“This is cool, solving a mystery together.” Josh pops a chicken dumpling in his mouth.

I nibble, nodding. I'm loving it too.

A bite of quiche and a tortilla chip + corn salsa later, and we're at the back of the store.

Josh points to an Employees Only sign. “This could be a problem.”

“You're tall. You could easily pass for sixteen. Even sixteen and a half.”

He strokes his chin where he'll probably grow a beard one of these days. “How about eighteen?”

“Yeah, maybe.” Like my grandmother might think that. In dim light. If she'd forgotten her glasses were on top of her head instead of on her nose.

“You don't know this, Sherry, but I actually have
acting experience. Although it's way far back in my past.”

“Really?”

“It was, like, in kindergarten, but I played a pretty good Oompa-Loompa. I even got to sing the Oompa-Loompa song.”

Yowzer. My boyfriend was a child-star Oompa-Loompa! Because he's excellent at pretty much everything.

Josh drops down on one knee to tie his shoelace. When he's done, I fake pull him up. Then I give him a kiss for good luck. And then, because I have that kind of weak personality with a lack of willpower where I can't stop at only one M&M or only one rippled potato chip, I lean into Josh for another kiss.

“Hey, you two! What're you doing back here?”

Josh and I break apart.

Yikes! This is so not the kind of ruckus we planned to make. I sniff like a dog in a new neighborhood. Phew. No Cinnabon smell. Mrs. Howard would not consider getting caught kissing at the back of Discount Mart good behavior. I sniff again. Phew. No coffee smell. I'm not up for one of my mom's lectures about boys right now.

“What're you guys doin' back here?” says a blond guy in jeans and work boots and a tight Discount Mart T-shirt that shows off his rippling muscles. He's glaring at us with icy blue eyes. “This is a store,
where families shop for diapers and vitamins and apple juice. This is not a make-out place.” He steps closer. “How old're you two anyway? Twelve?”

“We are way past twelve.” I gesture to Josh with my head. “He could pass for sixteen and a half.” I sling my denim purse over my shoulder in anger. It's embarrassing enough to get caught kissing next to the bulk toilet paper in Discount Mart. No need to insult us about our age as well.