Page 10 of The Twins

It looks cheap. That’s all I’m saying.

She’s in sweats, and quite frankly, she doesn’t smell like a pop star. I don’t mind, but her mom holds another monologue, shaming her in front of me.

I look away because I instantly relate to Carey Jean’s cringing face.

“Apologize to Mrs. … Grey for your disgusting behavior!” Liz Jean demands from her daughter.

I wouldn’t have apologized in her shoes, but I wasn’t raised to be a child pop star. My family had more sinister plans for me.

“I’m sorry, Grey. It won’t happen again,” Carey Jean says. Her voice is unusually deep for a teen her age. Her eyes are freakishly green, spooking me with their venom. In her eyes, I see that she doesn’t mean what she says. I take her apology with a nod. “Should we get started now? My singing lessons start in an hour.”

I go to work on the girl. Lucky for me, Liz Jean gets called away by the teen pop star’s lawyer. While Carey Jean and I are alone with my work tools and the feminine top coats and glitter Liz Jean is so fascinated by, young Carey doesn’t say a word.

And although she was rude by standing me up, and she will continue to be mean, I decide that she’s my new favorite client.

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