"Why?!" I cried, desperately trying to get away. Trying to free myself from the cruel fate that awaited me in a room so nearby that it was scary.

I was trying to pull my arms away from three girls yanking me from the warmth of my bed.

I really didn't want to let them do this, but they overpowered me. Three to one. Not fair. And they were really important to me, so I definitely couldn't beat them up like I would had they been some strange girls I didn't know. But Ella and Angel were my sweet - well, evil right now - younger twin sisters, and Nudge was my loving - well, not so loving right now, either - cousin who lived next door. This was not happening.

No wait, it was, and I knew it. Why was it happening to me, though? That's a better question. An even better? How could I let this happen to me at all? An honest answer? I truly just don't know where my head is at or why it's allowing this to have even occurred in the slightest.

"Max," Ella whined at me, pulling hard on my right arm, yanking with all her might, "Quit being so damn difficult."

"Yeah," Angel pouted, pulling just as hard on my left arm, "All we want to do is give you a little makeover. It's not such a bad thing, Max, now is it? Really, is it so bad for two sisters and a cousin to want to help an older sister and same-age cousin out when their heart is broken up and they're acting like you are?"

"Yeah!" Nudge nodded vigorously, gripping my ankles tightly and trying to drag me from my room, even with all my wriggling and trying to get free from their vice-like grips, "That didn't really make sense to me, but I know anyhow that it's totally true, Max! Just one small teensy-weensy little makeover can't be that bad. Some blush and mascara wouldn't hurt you, really, I swear. Max, please."

"Neither would some lipstick cause any pain," Ella said, "And eye shadow, too, Max. Come on, please, Max, please."

"And don't forget about foundation," Angel groaned with the effort of pulling me, "and eyeliner as well, Maxie."

I was getting tired out already, but I didn't really care about whether I had the energy to fight back. No way was I ever going to give in and let them put any kind of make up on me, if I could help it. Ugh. Just the thought of them with powder and sticks of make up aimed at me gives me shivers touching down on my spine. No way was it happening.

"Please Max!" They all cried, yanking once more on my limbs.

I was so lost in thought I hadn't been trying as hard as I had been before and I was too late to realize it, as they had me already, pulling me into the twins' make up room as I cursed myself for being so stupid and sidetracked. Yes, they have a make up room. It was their own personal spa place and yes, I guess you could say we were rich enough to have one. But never had I ever stepped into it. And now, I had a perfect reason why not to ever again.

The place was pure pastels. There were racks upon racks of nail polish in one corner with what looked like all a girl could ever want for nail treatment, for hands and feet, both, might I add. There was three large tubs in the center of the room, all connected to each other by tiled walls that didn't reach the ceiling of the room. One was a hot tub. One was a mud bath, I think. And the other, I had absolutely no idea what it was, nor did I think I would ever want to. And there was much more in that room, but before I could even see it, they pushed me into a white cushioned rolling chair and Ella and Angel both held me there while Nudge got down in front of me with a scary looking tube of lipstick in her hand. She gave me a look that said if i dare mess her up, she would never let me go and would make my life much more miserable than it was or ever could be, in my belief. Yeah, I didn't know a single look could say so much, either. But it was all there, black and white in her large brown eyes.

I thought about begging her to not put anything on me, but I knew it was useless. They had me now. I was their make up guinea pig. This was going to be horrifying experience, I just knew it. And I'd probably never hear the end of it either.

"Maximum," Nudge said, calmly and slowly. I had never heard her sound so relaxed and... un-Nudge-like.

I was so startled by the change that I immediately focused my eyes on hers and gave her all my attention. "Yeah, Nudge?"

She said, "Don't move."

I gulped.

"I said don't move!"

I froze in place, shocked. Since when was Nudge so like... this?

"Yeah, I know right," Ella muttered in my right ear, leaning towards me a little. It was like she could read my mind in that moment.

"She becomes like this every single time she does someone's make up," Angel explained quietly from my other side, "So if you mess her up, that will not be a good idea, Max. Trust me. Nudge can be just as scary as any of us three can be. Sometimes, I think maybe even a little bit more than us. And you know that's saying something right there."

"Especially because of who we are," Ella added, whispering still.

I only breathed, not daring to move my head in the slightest curt nod. I knew if I did, Nudge just very well may kill me. With her stiletto pumps, no less, I thought as I looked down warily at her pink-clad feet. Pink seriously can kill.

"Max," Nudge said, her voice icy, "Look up."

I did and my eyes watered as she seemed to trace something under my eyes, tickling me. Who knew?

"Max," Nudge sighed, wearily, "It's just eyeliner. No need to cry about it. Seriously, make up doesn't kill anyone. Stop being such a baby, Max, I mean it."

I made the softest sound of understanding I could, "Mm."

She smiled slightly, "Just wait until I'm done. You'll be speechless. Heck! You'll want me to do your make up everyday, I'll bet. And, best of all, everyone else will stare at you at school too. Girls with envious rage. Boys with want. You will be the school's most wanted. And more importantly, Max? You will be Lissa's envy and Fang's want!"

Angel, Ella, and Nudge all laughed at that. I slightly frowned and Nudge yelled, "No! I told you already. Don't move, Max!"

"Zree," I mumbled. It was supposed to be 'sorry,' but I couldn't really manage the words considering how angry Nudge looked at me already moving out of the place she wanted me in. I knew I'd better shut up now and let her do her work. Oh, boy. I'm scared to see what she's done to me.