Page 26 of Dollface

I had to hold back tears as I smiled. “I love it.” Kaila snorted as I handed back her compact. “But you know.” I leaned in close to Tabitha and whispered in her ear, “I think Miss Kaila over here needs some face paint too.” Tabitha’s eyes lit up. “Why don’t you get your friends to help?” Tabitha nodded and squealed before she skipped back to the table.

Kaila eyed me. “What did you say to her?”

I grinned and stood. “You’ll see.” The little group of girls came running back with their hands full of various brushes and paint. They rushed Kaila, and all I could hear was a rupture of laughter.

“Aster!”

I laughed as Kaila tried to hold them back. “Oh, come on, Kaila! Live a little!” She eventually gave in and fell to the floor as the girls began to paint her face.

She looked at me and shook her head. “I’m going to get you back for this!” she teased between laughter. I waved her off and began to walk around the woodshop.

The campers were doing surprisingly well building and decorating their birdhouses. But man, I’d almost forgotten how messy kids were. There was paint, glitter, buttons, and glue everywhere.

“Aster.” I looked over as Sol walked towards me. He seemed to be in a lighter mood today. “Nice face paint.” He smiled and pointed to my cheek.

“Yeah. Tabitha’s a real artist.” I looked over and tried not to laugh as she and the other girls surrounded Kaila. She looked like a real life Picasso painting, as they had painted most of her face and neck.

He smirked. “You’ve really brought that one to life, haven’t you?” I shrugged. “How are you feeling?” Sol asked.

Aside from Kaila asking, I’d basically forgotten about my head injury. “Oh!” I tapped the stitches. “I’m good! Whatever Nurse B gave me yesterday seemed to really do the trick.”

Solomon nodded. “That’s good. I was a bit worried last night.” I gave him a confused look. “You know, leaving you alone with Sabbath.” Oh. “And I know he’s your brother and all.” Stepbrother. “But I’m not sure what it is. There’s just something really off about him. He makes the hair on my neck stand up, and I just get tense when he’s around. And don’t get me started on that little brother of his.” I didn’t speak. Mostly because I felt it too but that was Sabbath. He’s always been… off. “Anyways. I’m glad to see you doing well.” He patted my arm. “Hey, I’m about to round up the campers and take them all swimming down at the lake. I think they could use some time to clean all that mess off themselves.”

We both looked out at the campers. “Yeah.” I laughed. “I completely agree.”

“And what are we agreeing to?” Solomon busted out laughing as I tried to hold back my own laughter. Kaila was standing next to me and completely covered in paint. Her face, neck, and limbs were smeared in the girl’s art, and despite the smiley face painted on her face, she wasn’t smiling.

Solomon couldn’t control himself and bent over in laughter. “What the hell, Kaila?” He snorted. “Fuck, you could give Dirty Doug a run for his money!”

“Fuck off, Sol.” She crossed her arms as paint rubbed onto her camp t-shirt. “Aster here thought it would be a good idea to let the kids paint my face.” Her eyes glared at me. “Only they decided that wasn’t enough. They started painting and filling in my tattoos, and before you know it, I look like a kaleidoscope! A fucking kaleidoscope, Aster!”

I wheezed from laughing so hard as Sol tried to keep his balance. “But a pretty one.” Kaila made a face. “Look, we’re going to take the campers to the lake to wash everything off. You can just hop in and scrub it off then.”

Sol wiped his eyes. “Oh fuck.” He was grinning so hard. “You’re going to need sandpaper to scrub that shit off!”

Kaila growled before turning around. “Hey! Tabitha!” We all looked behind at the little girl and her friends. “Sol here said helovesyour paintings!”

“What’re you doing, Kaila?” Solomon asked.

Kaila grinned. “And would love to match me.” The girls' faces all lit up.

Sol’s smile fell. “Kaila.”

She nodded her head in his direction. “Come on, girls! It’s Sol’s turn!” And just like that, a group of girls rushed Solomon with their paint and brushes as they knocked him to the ground. They squealed and giggled as they painted his face and body. He eventually stopped fighting and just lay there with a sour look plastered on his face. His pink and pastel colored face that wasnow painted with butterflies and flowers. “You’re so pretty, Sol,” Kaila teased.

He grunted and shook his head.

Tabitha painted a tiny heart on the tip of his nose and then rushed to my side. “What do you think, Aster?” The girls all backed away and admired their newest masterpiece. Sol stood and looked down at his arms and hands. His arms were painted like rainbows, and he was completely covered in butterflies, hearts, flowers, and all things imaginable. Kaila completely lost it as he released a depressing sigh. “He looks beautiful, girls!” The kids all cheered.

Kaila wouldn’t stop laughing. Sol crossed his arms and huffed. “Go on. Laugh it up, Wicked.”

She wheezed. “I’m sorry! I can’t fucking help it! You’re just so pretty, Sol!” She had tears rolling down her painted face.

Sol grunted and grinned. “Oh yeah? Then I guess I can’t help telling Doug how you had a crush on him last summer. I’m sure he’ll justlovethat.”

Kaila’s face dropped, and she glared at Sol. “Don’t you fucking dare!” He had such a sinister grin. “Solomon, I swear to God!”

I snickered. “You have a crush on Doug? Dirty Doug?”

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