Blended TML Ch 34

It’s only now, after years of living with Mary, that Piper realizes she probably should have been going to Mary for help with fashion and makeup all along. Mary dresses like a super professional grownup all the time, and she’s always presentable around the house. Like… Flynn Stackwell drools over her. But Piper never really sees her try.

Mary knows what she’s doing. She’s like Michelangelo with makeup, and it takes her less than ten minutes to effectively hem their skirts with an iron and some kind of tape. She knows exactly where to pin to make the fabric flare and create the illusion that the wearer has more of a butt than she really does. Which is a little ironic, because Mary is Riley’s mother and doesn’t have to fake it. Neither does Piper, but Mary learned all this when she was young, and it stuck. It’s automatic to her, and Piper looks a thousand times better after ten minutes of attention from Mary than she would after spending an hour on herself.

“I’ve been going to the wrong mom for advice,” Piper admits as they do their final check before heading out. It’s just a skirt, crop top, and makeup with a few cursory cheap bands and bracelets. They wear black All Stars and knee socks. For gimmick outfits never to be worn again, this was mercifully cheap.

“Your mom’s the right person to ask for how to tuck point a house.”

“I don’t know what that is.”

“But your mom does.”

“OK, Mary. You know what we’re missing?”

“A wig? This doesn’t work for me at all,” Mary says, touching her hair. She’s right. A deeper, artificial red would work. Blonde would work. Anything would work except Jameson red. “The only ones that look right are my grays,” she mutters.

Piper’s boring, girl-next-door brown color is OK for this. Not great. Mary’s inhuman eye and steady hand for makeup are doing a lot of lifting. Piper kicks herself on the inside for not putting Mary in charge of her prom and homecoming preparations.

“I was going to say that we should get our belly buttons pierced,” Piper says.

“No, Piper.”

“It would really bring this outfit together. Then we could re-wear it.”

“I’ll re-wear these Chucks,” Mary says, glancing down. “God, I missed these.”

“It’s so weird having nails like this.”

“You’ll get used to it. Let’s go. I’m hungry.”

“What? I thought we were gonna drink and dance.”

“You drink and dance. I want to eat.”

“I’m supposed to be making you happy, damn it,” Piper says, following her out.

“Shrimp will make me happy. Tempura.”

“We should’ve stopped for frozen custard.”

“That does sound good. I’m not sure I actually want to be seen in public like this.”

“You look hot.”

“I look like I’m having a midlife crisis.”

“I mean, are you not?”