Page 84 of Please Hate Me

“She won’t tell anyone, I promise.” Sophia smiled.

But if her business was doing so poorly, whywouldn’tshe tell everyone? I had cafés in Lyon paying me to take photos near their signs and post them online because of the business it would drum up. Did it not work that way here?

“I’m not as pretty in person,” I mumbled. It was a half-hearted excuse, but it was true. Plus, I was worried that I wouldn’t live up to whatever expectations she had for me. Mason the popstar was confident and bubbly… I was awkward, and I knew it.

“Mason,” Sophia hissed. “Don’t say that.”

“What?” I whispered back.

Jade paused and placed Sophia’s hand down on the workspace before rolling closer to me.

“I’m not going to make you take it off if you’re uncomfortable. But I really want to get to know Soph’s new partner.”

I shot Sophia another look, and she motioned for me to take it off. So, I swallowed hard before slipping my fingers into the elastic loops and slipping the paper off my face before folding it.

Jade smiled at me as she reached for my hand. “Better?”

I nodded.

“So, before I’m too absorbed in talking to Sophia, what are we doing? Please tell me we’re getting these ugly things off.” She groaned, running her fingers over my black acrylics.

A normal person would have probably been offended, but I agreed. I liked alternative clothes, but I hated the dark, monochromatic ensembles my dad said I looked best in. Black washed out my already-translucent skin. But still, I hadn’t put any thought into what Iactuallywanted.

My face remained neutral as I looked at Jade’s hands. Her nails were long and blue with a few floral designs.

“I really like the shape of my nails,” I admitted before looking over to Sophia.

This was too big of a decision. What if Sebastian hated them? I wouldn’t be able to say I didn’t pick them out, and it would be my fault.

“Can you pick for me?” I whispered.

Sophia’s face softened, and she placed a hand on my shoulder. She picked out what I wore today. Why wouldn’t she want to do the same for my nails?

“Mason, I want you to have somethingyoulove.”

God dammit.

I looked back at Jade. I was being indecisive and taking too much of her time—

“You like the shape of your nails. What don’t you like?” Her voice was smooth and even.

She was probably just being nice because I was famous. But, even if that was the case, she was also Sophia’s friend. So, I took a deep breath and tried to get comfortable.

“The color.”

“Just the shade, or the finish too?”

I studied my nails for a moment. “Both. I like glossier looks… I think.”

I looked back, and Sophia gave me a thumbs up. So, I prepared to continue.

“Reds are nice too, but I like it when they look kind of clear. Does... that make sense?”

Jade nodded. “Any designs?”

Fuck, now I had to pick a design? What was I even allowed to ask for? This was all too much; I was never getting my nails done again. My foot bounced against the ground as I tried to expel some of this nervous energy.

“I like flowers,” I admitted. “And I think white ones would look nice. Do you?”

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