Page 7 of Convergence

Nate, Everett, and I walked around the lab to check out all the fantastic equipment we were given to use. Some of it was brand new and still had the protective plastic covering on it.

“I know Truman College has a great reputation in the scientific and medical communities, but this shit is… insane,” Nate said, with wary awe in his voice.

Daisy laughed. “Um yeah. Seeing as most of the people who graduate with any honors here are picked up by huge pharmaceutical companies. Even us business students get scouted. They want to make sure you all know what you’re doing with the best equipment.”

I felt mildly uncomfortable knowing the proverbial Big Pharma gave the college the money for all this equipment. Was my education and participation in this program paid for by Big Pharma, too? Would it be a pharmaceutical company that comes for some sort of payment after I graduate? Unease grew in my belly as I considered if this was the start of The Catch we had discussed.

“Anyway, there’s a gigantic party happening off campus tonight. We’re totally going before you guys start your research,” Daisy said, upbeat and confident. Her brightness and enthusiasm distracted me from my thoughts.

I wrinkled my nose and caught Nate’s look of apprehension.

“I’m not one for college parties,” Everett told her dismissively.

“Oh, please Ev, please?” Daisy begged him with an impressive combination of cleavage and pouty lips.

“I guess I could go to one party while I’m here,” Nate said, clearly convinced by her display.

Honestly, so was I. She was good.

Everett huffed out an agreement.

“Eva?” she turned her pouty lips and cleavage to me.

“Sure, yeah. One party,” I said with a smile.

Daisy squealed in delight and said, “I’m doing your makeup!”

We left the lab not long after with Daisy babbling about how she was going to do my makeup and hair and now let me borrow an outfit. I didn’t mind her attention. It had been a long time since I had a friend other than Caleb and a few people I talked to in my dorms and study groups through college. Caleb was an old friend and a friend I slept with, and the people at college were cool but not the kind to offer to do my makeup. I had gone to a few parties through my years of school, but it wasn’t my scene. I couldn’t help the almost childlike desperation for Daisy to become my friend. She was so beautiful and confident that I wanted her to teach me how she did it. I could use some of it.

Daisy left us back at our house so she could run back to her dorm and gather “supplies” for my makeover. I showered, shaved, and moisturized in preparation. I felt nervous and giddy. It felt like the first day of school. When she came back later that afternoon, she had Everett help her carry in armfuls of dresses and outfits on hangers, and two pink toolboxes of what I assumed to be hair and makeup supplies.

We set up shop in the upstairs bathroom, Daisy chatting mostly one sided at me as we set everything up on the long bathroom counter. At one point Nate came in with intentions to shower and stopped short, seeing an entire beauty parlor where it previously had not been.

“Oh, I was going to shower. I guess I’ll go use the one downstairs,” he said, eyeing the makeup on the counter.

“Or you could pretend we’re not here and go on with your shower,” Daisy said huskily, looking up from beneath her lashes.

Nate smirked at us. I blushed. He leaned back against the doorframe and said nothing for a second. “Hmm, while that sounds like a great idea, I’m going to pass.”

“Too bad,” Daisy said airily and turned back to pulling makeup pallets out of her containers.

Nate shot me a grin before grabbing his soap out of the shower and leaving.

I looked up at Daisy and we both burst into giggles at the same time.

“Those boys are too much fun,” Daisy said as she plugged in a hair straightener.

“They’re really nice,” I said and settled into the seat we had Everett bring up from the kitchen.

“To look at,” Daisy giggled. “So, tell me what your normal beauty routine is.”

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I had dark brown eyes and mousy brown, shoulder length hair. My hair was thin and tangled easily, so I typically kept it in a low bun or ponytail. My lashes were nowhere near the length of Daisy’s, and I was suddenly self-conscious over their shortness. I curled them and applied mascara every day, as well as my favorite deep pink tinted lip balm. I wasn’t against make-up and had followed many YouTube tutorials to varying degrees of success, but I felt most comfortable with a minimal amount on my face. Covering the occasional zit didn’t count.

She chatted about boys while she worked, and I felt more and more comfortable with her. I was able to tell her about Caleb, much to her surprise.

“No way! You had a casual hookup situation? Let me see him!” Daisy demanded and handed me my phone, which was playing some pop music playlist Daisy had recommended. I pulled up a picture of me and Caleb we had taken at the fourth of July fireworks this summer. “Oh, my gosh, he’s delicious!”

I giggled and swiped to a picture of us from high school. “We dated in high school. He and I agreed we’d see other people in college and if we didn’t find a serious relationship when it was over, then we could come back to each other. I think we just didn’t want to lose each other permanently; you know?”

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