Facials! (And Mani-Pedis)

“Now, it’s time for facials!” Julie said. “Just take a seat and we’ll get started.”

This time it was a fairly standard spa room, with four spa chairs set out.

“Trust me, Kylie, this is going to be absolutely divine! You’ll be glowing once we’re done!” Darla said.

“Right…” Kyle said as he followed them and sat down in the chair.

Kyle ended up sitting between Robin and Melissa, Kyle being thankful that at least he wouldn’t have to deal with Darla asking him about Greg during the duration of the facial.

After securing everyone’s hair back with a headband, Julie’s spa employees leaned the chairs back and started applying a green facial mask to their faces, smoothing it on. Kyle noticed scents of mint and avocado as they worked, and once they finished, each girl got their eyes adorned with two slices of cucumber.

As the scent of the mask wafted into Kyle’s nose, he started to feel more relaxed and at ease. Whether that was the result of the music or just the effects of the sauna and massage catching up with him, he didn’t know, nor did he really care. And with the slices of cucumber resting on his eyes, not being able to see it made it even more relaxing, since he could drift away and pretend it wasn’t happening to him.

“Ahhhh,” Kyle smiled, stretching out his fingers and toes, and realizing for the first time that his feet were sitting in a basin of water.

“We’re going to start on the mani-pedis now, girls. And don’t worry, Darla already told me what she has in mind for you.” Julie said in a soothing tone.

As Kyle’s left hand was picked up the nail tech, she started almost massaging it as she cleaned away the bright pink nail polish that MARCI had chosen that first day that he’d worn ever since. She continued as another nail tech started massaging Kyle’s feet and removing the polish from them too. The process continued as Kyle’s feet were moisturized, his toenails trimmed and buffed and finally new polish was applied as toe separators were inserted between his toes. Kyle had gotten used to the experience of getting his nails done, but it was a truly different experience having it done by a human being.

Kyle hated to admit it, but after the almost clinical feeling of MARCI’s robot limbs taking care of his nails every day, it felt nice to have a human looking after them, feeling the gentle massage, and the care that goes into ensuring that every finger and toe is properly trimmed and polished. He still hated it, of course, but it sure beat dealing with MARCI, and it’s not like he’d be able to escape anywhere with MARCI always nearby. He’d been lucky to avoid doing anything to earn MARCI pulling the high-pitched noise trick again, but Kyle wasn’t eager to invite it either, so he just had to endure things until he could leave.

Once they were finished, the masks were slowly removed, along with the cucumber, and Kyle could finally see his hands and feet. Seeing his hands first, Kyle saw that his nails hadn’t been changed, he still had the lengthened acrylics that MARCI had given him, but now instead of sporting a pink color, they were adorned with a decorative french tip design, save for the ring fingers, which featured a sparkly pink polish.

“Do you like it?” Darla asked, wiggling her fingers in Kyle’s face. They matched Kyle’s own design, save for her ring fingers, which featured a sparkly gold polish instead of pink. “I said I wanted to do matching nails!

“Oh, I just love this color,” Melissa said, admiring her own nails, which matched theirs, but with a sparkly purple polish on the ring fingers.

“This is going to look absolutely perfect with my dress!” Robin swooned, her ring fingers adorned with a sparkly silver polish.

Looking down at all of their toes showed that they simply sported the french tip design from their fingers, as did Kyle.

“Looking great, girls!” Julie said.

“Feeling great, Jules!” Darla said “Thank you so much for everything!”

“It’s always my pleasure. You know where your things are, so just head back there and I’ll escort you out.” Julie smiled.

Heading back to the first room, Kyle found himself struggling slightly to manage to do anything with his hands, particularly after repeated warnings about his nails possibly still being wet. Watching the girls, he noticed that there was a particular way that they picked things up or opened doors and he tried to mimic them to the best of his ability.

After changing back into the outfits they’d arrived in, Kyle was about to put on the wedge heels, but noticed how Darla, Robin and Melissa had all changed into flip flops, and taking a glance into what he hated to refer to as ‘his’ purse, he found a pair waiting for him and changed into them.

As they walked out of the room and headed back to the main entrance, Julie stopped Kyle by holding something out to him.

“And for you, Kylie,” Julie handed Kyle a paper bag. Kyle opened it, puzzled, to find a selection of face creams, nail polish and lotions.

“Darla told me about that neat computer of yours, I figured you might want to touch up the look for that hot date Darla was telling me about.” Julie said. “Not like you need it, you came in here looking like a goddess.”

Kyle intended to ignore that comment, but:

“Thanks, Julie, you’re the greatest!” Darla grinned. “Isn’t she, Kylie?”

“Uh, yeah, she is. Thanks.” Kyle said as Darla started dragging him towards the exit.

“See you all in a couple of days!” Julie said as she waved.

“A couple of days?” Kyle asked.

“Yeah, Kylie, you didn’t think this was it, did you?” Darla asked. “This is just part one!”

“It’s better to do hair and waxing closer to the date of the party so we look our best, so we’ll be dropping in for that on Saturday!” Robin said.

“Oh, joy…” Kyle said, sarcastically.

“Come on, Kylie, this is what it takes to be beautiful! It’s not like we all have our own MARCIs to get us looking perfect every time!” Darla remarked.

“Count yourselves lucky that you don’t…” Kyle muttered.

“Anyway, let’s head back to my place so we can help Kylie on what to do on her date tomorrow.” Melissa said as they all piled back into Robin’s car.