Page 55 of Atmosphere

“Open up, Joan! You’re late for the bus.”Vanessa.

“I’m coming!” Joan stuffed all of the sketches in the nightstand.

“Everyone can’t wait to see what you look like hungover,” Vanessa said loudly out in the hall.

Joan cringed. “Please be quiet until I get to the door!”

Finally, she opened it.

Vanessa turned to see her and only then did Joan realize she had not yet looked in the mirror. She glanced down. Her robe was loose, a deep V showing the borders of her chest. Vanessa looked at it and then back up at Joan’s face. Joan pulled her robe tighter.

“It’s worse than I thought,” Vanessa said, smirking.

Joan smoothed her hair down and let her in.

“Oh, your hair’s not the half of it,” Vanessa said as she followed Joan into the room. Joan started throwing her things into her suitcase. Vanessa began helping her.

“Everyone decided to go grab breakfast while we wait for you. Donna and Jimmy really wanted grits anyway.”

Joan tossed her new dress into her bag. “This is so embarrassing.”

Vanessa shook her head. “Everyone’s charmed. Joan Goodwin cut loose.”

“Everyone bought me too many drinks!” she said.

“It happens to pretty girls a lot. I’m surprised you’re not used toit.”

Joan looked up at her, but Vanessa was already walking to the bathroom. When she came out, she handed Joan a toothbrush with toothpaste already on it.

“Here you go, slugger.”

Joan took it and brushed her teeth. “I feel like I might vomit,” she said through the foam of the toothpaste.

Vanessa nodded. “You’ve been hungover before. It will pass.”

Joan headed into the bathroom, Vanessa following her. “I’ve had a headache before. This is…disgusting.”

Vanessa nodded again as Joan spit the toothpaste out. “Yeah, that’s because you usually drink wine or beer. Last night, you drank those hurricanes everyone was buying. Donna already puked this morning.”

Joan’s stomach turned. Vanessa wet a washcloth and then put a little bit of Vaseline on it. “Your face looks like a Jackson Pollock. Come here.”

Joan held her hand out for the washcloth. But Vanessa either didn’t notice or ignored her. “Close your eyes.”

Joan looked at her for a moment and then slowly complied. She swallowed hard.

Vanessa put the washcloth on Joan’s cheekbone. She rubbed gently, and with her other hand she held Joan’s chin. The washcloth was so warm that Joan could have fallen asleep right there. And shewas once again so close to Vanessa that she could smell the soft, sweet scent of baby powder.

Vanessa started in on Joan’s eyes, her hand gentle but firm. Joan could feel her skin getting cleaner under Vanessa’s touch, her stomach settling.

Vanessa rubbed Joan’s eyebrows, and then her forehead and down her jawline. And then she stopped.

Joan opened her eyes.

“You’re…um, you should probably do your lips,” she said, handing Joan the cloth.

“Oh, okay, thanks,” Joan said. She took the cloth and wiped the lipstick off as quickly as she could. “Good?”

Vanessa nodded. “Yeah, you look like yourself again.”

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