Shop Till You Drop

You stared at the endless rows of shelves, feeling more lost than ever. Sephora was a labyrinth of tiny bottles, tubes, and palettes—each more confusing than the last. The fluorescent lights above did nothing to ease your growing headache as you squinted at a list of essential makeup items you’d found online. Liam was beside you, flipping through products and nodding thoughtfully like he actually knew what he was looking at. You? Not so much.

"Okay, so this list says I need a primer, foundation, concealer, and some setting powder," you muttered, reading off your phone. "What the hell is a primer even for?"

Liam chuckled. "It’s supposed to smooth out your skin, I think. Helps the foundation go on better."

You frowned at the shelf in front of you, overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. "Why are there, like, a thousand different kinds? Mattifying, hydrating, illuminating—why can’t they just have one damn product that does it all?"

Liam shrugged. "Welcome to the world of makeup, man."

You sighed, grabbing the smallest and cheapest tube of primer you could find. This was already getting expensive, and you hadn’t even picked up half of what you needed. "I really don’t want to blow all my money on this crap. We’ve got tuition, rent, and food to think about, and now I have to budget for… for *makeup*."

Liam, always the practical one, nodded as he scanned the shelf for foundation. "I get it, but you’re gonna have to suck it up. You can’t go half-assed on this. If you want to pass as a girl—especially for that sorority thing—you’re gonna need all the help you can get."

"Maybe I should just hire a makeup artist," you grumbled, picking up a concealer and frowning at the price tag. "Like, for real. I could just go in on the day of the event, pay someone to make me look the part, and call it a day."

Liam raised an eyebrow. "You really think that’s gonna work? Makeup artists are expensive, especially if you’re planning to do it more than once. You might need it multiple times, and that’s gonna cost a fortune."

You groaned, knowing he was right. It wasn’t like this was going to be a one-time thing. Aphrodite’s curse stretched out over six months. Six. Freaking. Months. You’d be lucky if you only needed to look like a girl a few times during that period.

Liam smirked, grabbing a mascara off the shelf and tossing it into the basket. "Besides, you’re gonna need to know how to do this stuff yourself. What if something goes wrong on the day of? Or you need a touch-up? Better to learn now than freak out later."

"Why are you suddenly an expert?" you snapped, more out of frustration than anything. The pressure of the situation was starting to weigh on you. "I’m not gonna be doing this for six months. I’m gonna finish this stupid trial as soon as possible and get back to normal, okay?"

Liam raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, man, I’m just saying. No need to bite my head off."

You sighed, running a hand through your long hair—something you were still getting used to. "Sorry, I’m just… this is all too much."

Liam nodded in understanding, picking up a lipstick and examining it. "I get it. But you’ve gotta play the long game here. We’re stuck with this, so the sooner you master it, the easier it’s gonna be."

Before you could respond, the cashier called out from behind the counter. "You two ready to check out?"

You glanced at the basket, full of makeup products you barely understood, and trudged over to the register with Liam in tow. As the cashier rang everything up, she smiled, her eyes flicking between the two of you.

"You guys make such a cute couple," she said with a grin.

You felt your face heat up immediately. "W-What? We’re not—"

Liam, ever the smooth one, cut you off. "We’re siblings," he said coolly, shooting the cashier a polite smile.

The cashier looked a little surprised but didn’t miss a beat. "Oh! My bad. Well, you guys are cute together, either way."

You just stood there, face burning as the cashier finished ringing up your stuff. Liam handed over the money, and you grabbed the bag of makeup, feeling more embarrassed than you had in a long time. You couldn’t even look the cashier in the eye as you mumbled a quick "thanks" and practically bolted out of the store.

Liam was chuckling as he followed you out into the mall. "Dude, relax. She didn’t mean anything by it."

"Whatever," you muttered, feeling the weight of the makeup bag in your hand. It wasn’t just the embarrassment of being mistaken for a couple; it was the entire situation. The curse, the trials, the fact that you were now buying *makeup* like it was a normal thing. You were still struggling to accept it.

Liam glanced at you as you walked through the crowded mall, his tone turning more serious. "Look, I know this is hard. But it’s gonna get easier, okay? You’ll get the hang of all this stuff. Just take it one step at a time."

You nodded, though you weren’t entirely convinced. The idea of mastering something like makeup—something that felt so alien to you—seemed impossible. But if this was the only way to break the curse and return to normal, you didn’t have a choice.

"Alright," you said, taking a deep breath as you headed into the mall. "Let’s get this over with."

As you and Liam strolled through the mall, a guy sitting at a café table waved at you. He didn’t look familiar—a dude in his late twenties, wearing a simple black hoodie and jeans, sipping on a coffee like he had all the time in the world.

“Hey!” he called out, flashing a lazy grin. “Come over here!”

You and Liam exchanged glances. You definitely didn’t know this guy, and judging by the way Liam raised an eyebrow, neither did he. The last thing you needed right now was some random stranger calling you over. You tried to ignore him, but Liam, being Liam, shrugged.

“Should we?” he asked.

“No,” you muttered. “Let’s just keep walking.”

But the guy waved again, more insistently. “No, seriously! Take a seat!”

Liam hesitated, and before you could protest again, he headed toward the table. “C’mon, man, let’s see what he wants. Maybe he’s got free samples or something.”

You shot him a look. "Dude, really?"

Liam shrugged. “What? He looks harmless. Worst case, we walk away.”

Reluctantly, you followed him over, your feet dragging. The last thing you needed was another weird encounter today.

The guy grinned as you approached, motioning to the two empty chairs at his table. “Go ahead, sit down.”

You shook your head. “We’re good standing, thanks.”

Liam, of course, was already pulling out a chair. “Eh, what the hell. Let’s hear him out.”

You sighed and sat down beside him, still on edge. The guy leaned back in his chair, completely at ease. Up close, there was something about him—something just a little off—but not in a creepy way. More like… otherworldly. His eyes sparkled with amusement, like he knew something you didn’t.

“So,” he said, “my name’s Hermes.”

Liam blinked, frowning. “Like… the watch brand?”

Hermes chuckled. “Nah, they named the watch after me. But yeah, I’m that Hermes. The god. Messenger of Olympus, guide of souls, all that jazz.”

Liam snorted, clearly thinking it was a joke. “Right, of course. You’re that Hermes.”

You, on the other hand, were already fed up with whatever this was. “Okay, so who the hell are you really?”

Hermes leaned forward, his grin widening. “I’m telling you. I’m the Greek god Hermes. I’ve been hearing rumors up on Olympus that Aphrodite’s cursed a mortal. And let’s just say she has a reputation for brutal curses. I’ve had some buddies get mixed up with her in the past—thankfully, no curses, but I’ve seen how she works.”

Liam’s expression shifted from skeptical to intrigued. “Wait, you’re serious?”

You rolled your eyes, but Liam was all in now. “You’re telling me you’re the actual Hermes?”

Hermes shrugged, totally casual. “Just the one.”

Liam leaned forward, looking starstruck. “Dude, that’s insane! I mean, we met Aphrodite last week, and now we’re meeting you? This is… wild.”

You sat there, arms crossed, glaring at Liam, who was busy bro-ing it up with a literal Greek god. This wasn’t some random mythology class lecture about the ancient world. This was your life unraveling, and yet here they were—Liam and Hermes—talking like they’d known each other since kindergarten.

“So, you mean to tell me,” Liam said, leaning in, “you can just travel between realms? Like, Olympus and Earth, no problem?”

Hermes chuckled, casually twirling his coffee cup on the table. “Yeah, man. It’s pretty easy when you’re the god of travel and communication. Got my winged sandals and all that, you know? Makes getting around a breeze.”

Liam laughed, completely enthralled. “Dude, that’s sick. What’s Olympus like, though? Is it like… some giant golden palace in the clouds? Or is that just what humans think?”

“Oh, Olympus is legit,” Hermes replied, nodding. “Big, gleaming, majestic. Zeus’s throne room? The view is unreal. You wouldn’t believe the sunset up there. And the parties… whoo. You think college is wild? Try partying with gods.”

They both laughed again, the sound grating on your nerves.

Seriously? you thought. Partying with gods? What the actual hell is going on right now?

You glanced around, half-expecting the other mall-goers to stop and take notice of the fact that an actual deity was sitting right there, talking about divine ragers and Olympus like it was some trendy rooftop bar. But no, everyone else just went on with their shopping, oblivious to the absurdity happening at that café table.

Hermes leaned back in his chair, a relaxed smile on his face. “Yeah, and don’t even get me started on Dionysus. That guy’s a riot. Throw him in a room with some mortals, a little wine, and things get out of control real quick.”

Liam practically lit up at the mention of Dionysus. “Dude, Dionysus is my guy! God of wine and parties, right? I think I might’ve prayed to him a few times during freshman year, no joke.”

You couldn’t believe what you were hearing. My guy? Did Liam just claim Dionysus as his guy? What was happening?

“Yeah, he’s definitely the one you’d want in your corner for a frat party,” Hermes said with a knowing grin.

And there they went again, bonding like old frat brothers. Meanwhile, you sat there like a third wheel at your own intervention.

You shifted in your chair, trying to stay calm. I’m the one cursed. I’m the one who woke up with a vagina. I’m the one who’s going to have to infiltrate a freaking sorority. Yet here they were, talking about partying with gods, like that was somehow more interesting than your impending transformation.

“Uh, guys?” you interrupted after a few minutes of being completely sidelined. “Can we focus here? I’m the one who’s cursed, remember?”

Hermes looked at you, finally pulling his attention away from Liam. “Right. My bad.” He leaned back in his chair again, still looking way too relaxed for your liking. “So, Aphrodite cursed you, huh? What’s the deal?"

You ran a hand through your long hair, still getting used to the unfamiliar feeling. “Yeah, she cursed me. Apparently, I’ve got six months to complete some trials, or I’ll turn into a woman—fully—both physically and mentally.”

Hermes whistled, clearly amused. “Damn, that’s rough. Aphrodite doesn’t play around when she’s pissed off.”

“No kidding,” you muttered. “The first trial is to infiltrate some prestigious all-girls sorority—Pi Beta Phi—and convince their leader to let one of Aphrodite’s favorites in. Apparently, she’s trying to join, but doesn’t stand a chance.”

Hermes raised an eyebrow. “Pi Beta Phi? Fancy.”

You nodded. “Yeah, They’re connected to Phi Delta Theta, the top frat. We’ve already looked into it. There’s a big public event coming up with both the sorority and the frat, and we’re gonna have to sneak in somehow.”

Liam chimed in, all excited again. “I’m thinking we can use this girl I hooked up with in first year as our way in. She’s in Pi Beta Phi, and I haven’t talked to her in a while, but it’s our best shot.”

Hermes rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Not a bad plan. But yeah, you’re gonna need to be pretty convincing as a girl if you’re gonna pull this off.”

You groaned, slumping back in your chair. “Don’t remind me. Liam’s already been lecturing me about makeup and how I need to practice all this girl stuff.”

“Well, he’s not wrong,” Hermes said with a smirk. “Aphrodite’s not gonna make this easy on you. You’ve gotta commit if you want to survive.”

Liam shot you a smug look. “See? Even Hermes agrees with me.”

“Yeah, yeah,” you muttered, crossing your arms. You couldn’t deny that the plan was solid, but the idea of pretending to be a girl—of having to go through all this—was driving you nuts.

Hermes clapped his hands together. “Alright, let’s get serious. If you’re gonna do this, you need to be on your A-game. Charm, looks, confidence—it’s all gotta come together.”

You sighed. “Easier said than done. I’m not exactly Aphrodite’s idea of beauty, you know.”

Hermes leaned forward, his tone more serious now. “Look, I’m here to help. I’m not just the god of messengers, you know. I’m also known for trickery, transformation, and disguise. You need to blend in with this sorority, right? I’m your guy.”

That got your attention immediately. You leaned in, a spark of hope lighting up inside you. “Wait… so, you can help me look the part? Like, magic or something? Can you make it so I always have makeup on, or like… fool people into thinking I’m a girl?”

Liam nudged you with a grin. “Dude, that’d be sick.”

Hermes chuckled, shaking his head. “Not quite that simple. If I could, I’d have done it already. The thing is, I can’t go too far with this. Other gods might get suspicious, especially Aphrodite. She’s always got her eyes on her own little games, and if I tamper with things too much, it could blow up in your face.”

You groaned, the weight of reality sinking back in. “So, no makeup spell or making everyone see me as a girl?”

“Sorry, kid. Altering reality? That’s more Theodon’s thing,” Hermes said with a shrug. “But hey, at least Sephora probably isn’t gonna accept a return on that pile of makeup you just bought, so you’ll be using it anyway.”

You sighed, feeling the frustration bubbling up again. “Great…”

“But,” Hermes continued, raising a finger, “there is something I can do for you. The biggest problem you’re gonna have with these sorority girls isn’t just your looks—it’s your behavior. You move, act, and talk like a dude. No offense.”

You huffed, crossing your arms. “None taken. I am a dude.”

“Yeah, well, that’s not gonna fly with the ladies of Pi Beta Phi,” Hermes pointed out. “Sorority girls have their own vibe, and if you’re gonna pass, you need to act the part. What I can do is help with that. A little trickery, a bit of a spell to make you act more… feminine.”

Liam perked up. “Wait, you can do that?”

Hermes nodded, his grin returning. “I can give you a boost. Help you blend in better, make you act more like a girl without thinking too much about it. But the appearance? That’s all on you guys. Dresses, makeup, all that stuff—you’ll have to nail that yourselves.”

You stared at him, conflicted. The idea of behaving like a girl for a trial—of having your mannerisms and personality altered, even temporarily—made you uncomfortable. But at the same time, what other choice did you have? You had six months before this curse became permanent, and this was your first real shot at getting things moving.

Liam leaned over, whispering, “Dude, this could work. At least you won’t have to worry about screwing up how you act.”

You sighed. “Fine. We’ll take whatever help we can get.”

Hermes grinned. “That’s the spirit! Just remember, it’ll be temporary. Hopefully,” he added with a wink. “These kinds of things don’t always last as long as they’re supposed to.”

“Hopefully?” You didn’t like the sound of that. “You’re not sure?”

“Eh, magic can be fickle,” Hermes said nonchalantly. “But I’m pretty good at what I do. Anyway, the appearance stuff? You’re on your own for that. Make sure it’s on point—dresses, makeup, whatever. I can’t stress enough how critical that part is.”

Liam nodded eagerly. “We got this, man. We’ve been doing research, right?”

You still weren’t convinced, but Hermes had a point. “So, what’s next?”

Hermes smirked. “Next, you get in touch with me when you’re ready to roll. Just call my name three times while standing in front of a mirror and flushing a toilet.”

You blinked. “Wait, what?”

He nodded, dead serious. “You heard me. Call my name three times while flushing. Like Bloody Mary. Trust me, it’s a good way to get a god’s attention.”

You and Liam exchanged bewildered looks. Liam couldn’t help but ask, “Seriously?”

Hermes shrugged, that mischievous smile back on his face. “You’d be surprised. Works like a charm. Anyway, when you’re ready, hit me up. I’ll help you with the rest. And remember, the spell is temporary—probably—so don’t get too comfy with it.”

He stood up, brushing off his jeans, ready to make his exit. “Good luck, guys. And remember—nail that sorority look. You can act the part all you want, but if you look like a dude in a dress, you’re screwed.”

With a final snap of his fingers, Hermes vanished, leaving you and Liam sitting there in the middle of the mall, stunned.

“Well,” Liam said after a moment, “at least he didn’t make us flush the toilet right here.”

You groaned, rubbing your temples. “Yeah, small miracles, I guess.”

“Hey, could be worse.” Liam grinned, giving you a nudge. “At least we’ve got a plan now.”

“A plan involving trickery, magic, and me pretending to be a girl for god-knows-how-long,” you muttered.

Liam just chuckled. “Welcome to your new life, dude. Or should I say… girl?”

You shot him a glare, but deep down, you knew he was right. This was just the beginning.