Note: Thanks to everyone who enjoyed the last chapter. And really, watch MASH it's worth it. Sorry for the delay as my recreational life has taken a back seat to working full time. If only I didn't need the money, then I would be putting out fanfics like no ones business. But since life don't really work that way, my stories will be slow. Sorry.
"Angel…Angel didn't you think that was…" Mimi tried to say poking her friend in the arm. But the drag queen was currently busy, making out with Collins as she had been doing since they heard the story of Ty and Anton. Apparently, they found it romantic. "Well at least I tried. Maybe we can tell them later."
"I listened," Collins mumbled between kisses, "Mark was a surgeon and Roger was a nurse."
Roger raised his brow and chuckled, "That's close enough, I guess."
The gypsy woman laughed showing her missing teeth to the friends who were gathered. "I wouldn't worry. I believe that your friend shall pay attention to this one. As it is about her."
Angel pulled herself from Collins' neck, her lipstick now smudged all over her face. "Hmm?"
Maureen and Joanne erupted into giggles, the lawyer passed Angel a tissue. "You might want to clean that up, sweetie."
The drag queen looked at the tissues suspiciously and wiped her make up off carefully. Then she did the same to Collins' neck. "So this next one is about me again? And who?"
"God, please don't let it be Collins again, or we'll never get out of here," Mark mumbled good naturedly.
"Sadly no," The woman said still cackling away. "This is the story of you and your dearest friend, May."
Spring 1958 Florida
May glanced around the general store that she was tending. The slight jingle of the bell attached to the door, told her that Mrs. Wercheck had finally left. The woman always liked to say hello, walk around the store for hours, and leave without buying anything. May never minded, she would get paid whether Mrs. Wercheck bought something or not. But that wasn't what May was worried about at the moment. She put a jump in her step and raced towards the cosmetics section. Then she picked out a compact with the proper powder and raised her head. The mirror exposed what she was trying to hide. A bruise on her chin. May patted the puff into the powder and then attempted to cover the purple circle. People didn't look too kindly on women not being able to hide their "family troubles" as they called it.
At the same time, Adam slowly walked into the store and put his hand over the bell that would alert his coming. That was the last thing he needed. As it was, he couldn't believe that he had the guts to even imagine what he was about to do. His eyes glanced over towards the cosmetics section and to see a sales girl freshening up. He'd have to wait. Adam put his hands in his khaki pockets and pretended to be interested in some handy tools. Wrenches, screw drivers, and nails. He never understood the fascination with them or even understood their function.
May snapped the compact closed and put it back on the shelf as if she had never used it. Then she sashayed back to the cash register, as she was feeling quite proud of herself. All morning she had worried that someone would notice it. Ask how she got it. And then ask her if she wasn't satisfying her man. It had happened to a girl, Bertina a whiles back. She left the store crying. May didn't want the same thing happening to her. Even though she hated Hazelbar, she couldn't leave her town. Not yet. She had to work up enough money for a train ticket, and then she could live the life she always wanted.
The coast was clear and Adam finally left the tools behind to find his real destination. The cosmetics center. He had experimented before. Stole his mothers make up for his own devices, but they weren't his colors. He paid enough attention to the women around him to see what colors worked on who and what colors didn't work on who. From this observation, he was sure that the pale colors were just not for him. He needed to make a statement…at least in the privacy of his own home. When his parents were away with his sister. And the neighbor wouldn't stop by…there were so many obstacles, but Adam knew he had to do this. Just had to do it for himself.
He glanced around the store making sure that it was empty besides the presence of the clerk. The radio played "Me and Mrs. Jones" filling the whole store with it's melody. The clerk seemed to be too interested in listening to the lyrics to pay attention to him. This was his chance.
Adam reached out slowly and picked up the reddest red lipstick that they carried. "Crimson Rose" it was called. He could imagine his mother's reaction to the color. "That is a devil red!" She would call out before spitting on the floor in disapproval. But then again, she would probably never approve of her son wearing make up. He carefully took off the cap and caressed the lipstick against the back of his hand. The feeling was better than kissing any girl, he decided. The red mark that was left behind made Adam grin. It was perfect, loud, but perfect.
Now came the part that Adam wasn't very proud of. How could he in good conscience buy a tube of lipstick without it traveling around in their very nosey town? There was no way he could. "I'm sorry," He muttered under his breath before slipping the lipstick into his side pocket.
"Me and Mr. Jones" turned now to the Temptations and May grumbled, "You are so over rated." But she didn't turn them off and turned to a magazine to flip through.
Adam breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to the cosmetics. Only a few more things and then he could leave. He really did want to get some foundation but that would take too long. Matching his skin tone perfectly was no easy feat, even his mother's cover up was a shade too dark. There was only time for mascara and eye shadow. He could always use his mother's eyelash curler.
He reached out for a generic tube of black mascara. That wasn't so difficult. After slipping it into his pocket, he started to investigate the eye shadow. Adam didn't notice that the music had turned off.
May walked towards the guy in the cosmetics section. Who did he think he was? Stealing make up for his girlfriend? Not only was that pathetic, but May knew that she would get in trouble…so much trouble if her manager found out that make up was stolen. And stolen by a young man of all people. She could hear him now. "You didn't notice a boy in the cosmetics section? Would have you recognized a walrus in the tool section?" No she couldn't loose this job.
She was about to open her mouth when she saw a red mark on his hand. At first she thought it was dried blood, but then she recognized the constancy. It was lipstick. Was…this was for him? May shook her head and walked towards him. "Excuse me…"
Adam dropped the eye shadow that he was gazing at. The perfect blue color powder was now broken on the ground. Although he wanted to lean down and somehow try to fix it, he froze. She saw him in the cosmetics. Maybe he could back away and he could pretend that he was just…curious. Maybe a chemistry project. Hopefully she didn't see him take the mascara and the lipstick…if she did…he would be arrested. And explaining that to the police officers…that would not be pleasant. Especially considering his father was one of them.
"I don't really think that's your color," May said quietly. She smiled at him gently. "I mean…blue?" She leaned down and picked up the remnants of the eye shadow. Then she placed it on the shelf. "Let someone else think that they broke it…"
Adam stared at the clerk as if she was insane. Was she really…did she really? "I um.."
"Don't worry about it. Let's see…" May tapped her chin and looked over the cosmetics then pausing every so often to look at the boy's skin. "Okay let's try this…this eye shadow is called Neapolitan. It's like the ice cream. Three different colors in one. It will save you in many situations. It's got the icy purple color kind of like the blue one but a little less popping. And then a sweet pink that would really bring out your brown eyes…and then of course a reliable light brown. When you just want to go out but not call attention to yourself, that's the way you go." She handed him the pack and grinned.
"Um…I…I can't really pay for this," Adam admitting trying to pretend that he wasn't blushing as deeply as he was. "Thanks…though."
May waved her hand. "Don't worry about it…and what about mascara and lipstick? Did you pick those out yet?" She asked pointing towards his lipstick mark on his hand. "That one is a statement that's for sure."
Adam smiled gently realizing that this girl was actually trying to help…she wasn't being mean or anything. She was going to help him. He pulled out what he chose and held them out for her to inspect.
She nodded at the mascara but picked up the lipstick, "Crimson Rose? You willing to go that far?"
Adam shrugged not knowing what to say. He did like it…
"Okay, well try this one too. It's called Frosty Pink. I know it might seem like a wimpy one in comparison to your Crimson," May winked at him, "But it really does look nice our skin tones. You should give it a try."
"Thanks," Adam said hesitantly. "But…I told you I…I can't really pay for it. Maybe one but…not all of them." He jumped when the bell chimed. More people were coming into the store. They weren't alone now. Adam's heart started to beat faster and faster with each breath.
May took the makeup from him. "Oh could you do me a favor…" She said rolling her hand and waiting for something.
Adam raised his brow and then it hit him, "Adam."
"Could you do me a favor Adam and bring these home for me? I know it's embarrassing for you to carry them around and all," May replied heading towards the cashier and motioning for Adam to follow her. "But you are my friend anyway…and what are friends for? I'll be sure to pick it up later, but my manager isn't crazy about me buying more make up. He says that I'm too young to wear so much." She just laughed animatedly and rung up the price of the make up.
Adam stared at May in awe as she placed her own money into the cash register. But she gave him a quick look, "Don't argue," it said. Adam looked behind him and the people who entered seemed to be on their way to the cash register with some idiotic questions to bother May with.
"Thanks, Adam, sweetie," May leaned across the desk and kissed his cheek. "Have fun, hun," She whispered into his ear.
A deep smile spread onto Adam's face. "You're…you're welcome," He said with a slight laugh of triumph. Then without another word, he left the store with the make-up in his hand.
May watched his leave, a matching smile on her face. Every once in a while she actually liked this job. The minute a customer plopped a worn out shoe on the counter, she remembered that she also hated it every once in a while.
Three months later, Adam walked back into the store wanting to properly thank May for her help. A lot of things had happened since she gave him a hand. Not only did he wear the make up but he did actually go out with it in public. And he did realize that the Frosty Pink was better than the Crimson Red. He let the bell ring and strained his neck to find the girl.
"I know…I won't do it again, I promise…I just wasn't thinking."
"You better believe it. You wasn't thinking, now you'll remember real well."
A high pitched scream hit Adam's ears. Without a thought, Adam ran towards the screaming to find May in the back room with a huge guy standing over her, his hand wrapped around her neck.
"Leave her alone!" Adam called out rushing up to the man and kicking him in the side.
The man dropped May and held his side as he howled in pain. Adam ran to May's side, he made sure that she was breathing well enough on her own. They were labored but May managed to get oxygen in and out of her body. When Adam was sure that the girl was okay, he stood up and balled his fists. "Get outta here. My father's a cop and one tip by me, he'll arrest you so fast you won't be able to reach for your keys," Adam called out.
"Why should I believe you, fruit?" The man asked with a laugh noticing the slight brown eye shadow on Adam's lids.
Adam simply pulled out his wallet and showed him a small picture of his whole family…and there was an older man in a police officer's uniform. The man looked back and forth between the photo and Adam with a confused look on his face. "May…you haven't heard the last-"
"Oh she has," Adam interrupted.
The man staggered out of the back room and Adam stood frozen until he heard the bell ring. He was gone. Adam sunk down next to May, "Are you okay?"
May rubbed her neck and slowly stood up with Adam's support. "I'm…I'll be ok." She walked out of the back room slowly and stopped at the cosmetic area. Then she pulled out a compact and started to place it on her red neck.
"No," Adam said taking the compact from her. "You shouldn't have to do that."
May smiled through her forming tears, "We're both hiding Adam. Just in our own ways." She took the compact back from him and continued to apply the makeup to her neck.
Adam knew that her words were true. He didn't think that he could ever go out in the daylight with Crimson Red on his lips. And he didn't think that, despite his warnings, that May's boyfriend would back down. They would both have to live with their troubles. He gulped and then took May's hand. "Maybe. But at least...at least we have each other...you know...we'll keep each other company."
May wiped away her tears and allowed herself to smile. Then he pulled Adam into a hug. And they held each other right next to the cosmetics center.
Next Tale: Tad and Maggie