Walking away from the astonished family, Hermione couldn't help but laugh quietly. Her walk was strong and confident, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught glimpses of other guests watching her closely. She couldn't help but like it. She knew she looked great and for once, she enjoyed the positive attention. At home, she had been almost invisible, but here she was greatly noticeable. It was a new feeling, and she took it all in.
On her way out, she went to the counter to talk to the waitress that had served her the meal.
"Hi there", Hermione said, chewing a gum and playing with the sunglasses in her hair she had quickly grown so fond of. The waitress approached her with some sort of awareness.
"What can I do for you?", she asked Hermione, openly bedazzled by her attitude.
"I really like your outfit, and I am going to my little sister's party tomorrow. She has planned this big 50s-themed party with pastel colours, cupcakes, balloons and pretty dresses", Hermione told her while bending down over the counter to gain eye contact with the waitress.
"And unfortunately, I kind of forgot about the whole party and therefore I also forgot about finding a proper dress", she continued, smiling to the waitress. "And then I saw your pretty dress. By the way, you look stunning in it". The waitress almost blushed, hearing Hermione's compliment and brought a modest thank you over her lips. She was about 45 years old and time had not been good to her. Her skin was wrinkly and uneven, and the makeup was given no chance to work its miracles on this canvas.
"You don't have a spare one, do you?", Hermione then asked in a hushed voice, smiling her prettiest smile.
"Well", the waitress said, "I really don't know", and she looked around to check if anyone was approaching them.
"I am Jane, by the way", Hermione said, offering the waitress her hand. Her nails were long and perfectly coloured in a pale shade of pink. Hermione looked at her own nails, and realized that she had forgotten all about nails when trying to look dazzling and irresistible.
"And your nails are just beautiful. Have you ever considered becoming a beautician?", Hermione said, turning on the charm.
"Oh, don't you say so", the waitress said, all shy. She did not receive compliments well.
"Oh, yes I do", Hermione said, letting go of her hand.
"Oh, you are just too kind. Well, my name is Betty, and as a matter of fact, I once went to beauty school, but it wasn't all I thought it would be. You know, mean girls and horrible teachers. It was just too difficult. But then I met James. Oh James, he could get away with murder. You see, he was my sweetheart", Betty the waitress started reminiscing, suddenly forgetting all about everything around her. Quickly, the conversation started to bore Hermione.
"Did this James go to beauty school too? Let me guess, he turned out to be gay – and he left you for a man?", Hermione interrupted, leaving Betty looking surprised with her mouth wide open.
"Oh, no dear, I am just kidding", Hermione continued, realising that Betty seemed hurt by her assumption, "tell me all about wonderful James, the hairdresser". Betty hesitated for a moment.
"James did not go to the school. He was the brother of one of my classmates. Her name was Candice; she was a real beauty with flaming red hair. James had blonde hair though. He was so handsome, and of all the pretty girls, he chose me. He could have had anyone, but he wanted me", Betty kept on telling her story, all lost in her trip down memory lane. Hermione had no interest in the story, but suddenly she took pity on the ageing and apparently lonely woman.
"Tell me more", she encouraged her. Betty's eyes lit up.
"Well, he invited me to a school dance and we danced all night. I was proclaimed queen, and I had never felt so proud. I was only 18 and all absorbed in the love I felt. You see, James was my first love. And last too really, but I don't want to bore you with that sad story".
"Oh, do tell", Hermione said, more interested in when things went wrong.
"As you can guess, I got pregnant, and reluctantly he finally married me. He did not want to play house, so our marriage felt like a burden to him. For me, it was actually wonderful. Dropping out of beauty school was sad of course, but then I had a husband I loved and a child on a way. A proper little family. For a while, I felt happy, but then James left me. He wrote me a letter and left for Vegas with some friends. The petition for divorce arrived in the mail two days later. I was eight months pregnant at the time and I had no job", Betty said and Hermione felt sorry for making her tell the sad part of her love story.
"I feel bad for you. He was an asshole, that James", Hermione said, offering emotional support. Betty looked at Hermione, almost in shock.
"Asshole? No, I loved James with all my heart. I still do, I guess. And I did manage to keep afloat after giving up the baby. My childless aunt and uncle adopted her – her name was April – and she has been given a better life. I still see her every now and then". Betty's eyes started getting teary and Hermione offered her a tissue.
"I know how you feel, Betty. I really do. I lost my own child", Hermione told her and looked down shamefully.
"Oh no, what happened?", Betty asked. Hermione faked some tears.
"He was a beautiful baby boy, my precious Sam, but he died on a trip to the playground. For a moment, I did not pay enough attention, and then Sam had fallen off the swing. Head first. Broken neck", Hermione said and let a tear roll down her cheek.
"When my husband found out, he went crazy and nearly strangled me. I was in the hospital for three days, and after getting out of there, I had to first bury my baby boy and then divorce the man I thought was the man of my dreams".
"More like the man of your nightmares, dear", Betty said, all caught up in the story.
"Yeah", Hermione said, wiping away the tears, "but I am free now and going to my sister's party tomorrow. She is only seven, so when I see her, I see Sam too". She smiled at the end of the sentence.
"You know what, wait one second", Betty then said, leaving Hermione. When she reappeared, she was holding white fabric in her hands. She handed it to Hermione.
"Here, take the spare dress. I want you to have it", she said with a smile. Hermione unfolded the dress and looked at it proudly. It was perfect for her Marilyn-act.
"Are you sure? I really can't accept it", Hermione tried to seem modest.
"No, you take it. Take it and wear it for Sam", she said, grabbing Hermione's hand.
"Okay, I will wear it for Sam. For Sam and April", Hermione said, shaking Betty's hand and getting up. She sent one more smile towards Betty before finally leaving The Real American Diner.
Outside, it was already dark and a bit chilly too. Hermione instantly went to her car. She had never slept in a car before. Now was the time to try it. She put the roof back on and made the backseat her bed for the night.
The next morning, Hermione woke up early. Sleeping in a car was not as easy as in the movies; Hermione felt all sore and tender. She looked at her watch: 5:26 AM. It was too early for her, but the sun was already up. Feeling tired, she stretched out her body and went outside. A fiery red sunrise was happening in front of her, and she sat down on the hood to watch it. She wrapped herself in a blanket and leaned against the windshield. Her eyes were completely mesmerized, but soon her mind started to wander off again: She started questioning herself about her newly-found lying skills and the deprivations she was clearly still suffering. Not wanting to let the worries in, she got up again and went straight for the driver's seat. Then she hit the road, heading for Las Vegas once again.
She had a beautiful view of the sunrise all morning while driving thought the desert. Nothing eventful happened, and she only made one stop at a decent-looking gas station. She bought some canned soup for breakfast and visited the bathroom to clean up. She removed the old makeup and applied new to look her best. She put on short denim shorts, a tight white top and a beige vest. She combed her somewhat dry and fragile hair and tried to make big waves in it, but it was a struggle in vain. Black eyeliner and red lipstick were her best friends today, and leaving the bathroom that seemed so old that it threatened to fall apart, she once again felt like a different person. A person she felt comfortable breathing in. Then she went back on her way.
Driving for another couple of hours, she was finally able to see it: Coming closer was the fabulous Las Vegas where she would hopefully find the answers to her questions. The darkness was falling too, which made it more perfect – now the neon lights were burning even brighter, welcoming her.
"The city of sin", she said to herself, smiling a devious smile. But the smile soon left her face when she realized that there was no one to see it. She did not have to act when there was no one around to observe her.
Quickly, she hit the Strip alongside thousands of other cars. Everywhere, cars were honking and people shouting, and it made her feel alive again. Alive but yes – it also gave her that inevitable feeling of being lonely. And with that came vulnerability. Before it managed to overpower her, she shook her head clear and headed for The Mirage – the hotel that would be her new working place. Driving past it, she saw the posters about the Marilyn audition. She smiled and parked the car as close to The Mirage as possible. Then she found the nail polish in her bag and carefully painted her nails red like her lips. She was ready to become Marilyn.