As days passed on and weeks to months; my life just got more normal, yet more interesting. Olive started treating me like a sister and not an idol. All of us were a real family. I saw Julia everyday, between work and her being with Robert, she was always with us. She was basically family as well. I turned sixteen, and got my own used car, and drivers license. No more cabs.
Though my career was anything but normal now. I was often overbooked, and had many people going so far as trying to bribe Sin for my services.
*BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ* my phone vibrated in my bag on my way to work. I answered the phone putting it on speaker. "What's up Sin?" I asked, not bothering with a polite greeting.
"Good morning to you too." Sin said sarcastically. He continued "So I may have accidentally agreed to have a reporter come and interview you." he said shyly.
"Sin, you know the only thing I want to be publicly acknowledged for, is for getting my own colors. I already ended up on TV once for saving Olive. I don't want anything else." I said sternly. "I won't agree to interview with anyone. Besides all the article will focus on is me being completely white anyways." I pointed out.
"Well this is actually about your increasing popularity amongst children models. I told the man no pictures, and maybe you could use a fake name. That way only our studio will benefit." he said. "Sin, the whole purpose of me getting an interview is for him to introduce me to the world. My real name will be required." I replied in a know it all voice. "Honey you know that this would be great for my business. Extra funding would be very helpful right now. With extra publicity we would get more customers." he said. "Sin I am already overbooked as it is, we can't take any more customers." I pointed out. "Well I could hire more makeup artists if you do this interview." he bribed. "Fine fine. That would take a huge load off of my shoulders. I am in the parking lot now, I am gonna hang up. I tapped my phone to hang up, and I walked into the studio.
A man I assumed to be the reporter was already at the counter talking to Julia. Alright let's get this over with "Hello sir." I said calmly, "I assume you are the one here to interview me?" I asked. The reporter turned around with shock on his face. Sin obviously hadn't told him about my complexion. "Uh...Uhm yes. I am Roger Eliot, and I am here to interview the children's makeup artist." he said a little nervously. "I took this opportunity to act like I was high and mighty. "Did the photographer and owner tell you I don't do pictures? I will decline any questions if you demand pictures." I led him to the waiting room to sit down. I wore black pumps that clacked on the floor with each step. At some point black had become my signerature color. "Yes he told me, though I was hoping to change your mind." he stated. "You won't have any luck convincing me. My boss has been trying to get my picture for months and has failed." he sighed at my response. We sat down and he began asking questions.
"So let's begin with, How old are you?"
"I recently turned sixteen"
"Sixteen? Then when did you learn cosmetics?"
"I graduated high school at age thirteen, and learned everything I know from magazines, books, and the last few months of working."
"So you are a prodigy. Interesting."
"Sir I am no prodigy, I simply work harder than others because I hope to find my true colors. I have gotten where I am because of family, friends, and hard work."
"My sources said you were an orphan." he said.
"Last year I was adopted, and you wouldn't believe how lucky I was to get the family I have. I have a loving father, a beautiful little sister, and my honorary brother that I have had since I was still in the orphanage."
The man looked shocked. I assumed he was shocked because it was hard to think of someone wanting a colorless child
"and how did you manage to become so well known amongst as a childrens stylist?"
"I helped raise many other orphaned children at the orphanage. From diapers to braces I was there. I try and connect with each child on a personal level. I do listen to the parents of course, but the children have as much say as possible when it comes to me. I talk to them as people, and not just someone's child. It is usually Sin that reassures the parents, while I work. Though once they see the end result, they usually trust me afterwards. All of the parents of these famous beauties talk to eachother, and word spread fast about me. My complexion makes things more interesting."
"and who was the first child that you styled professionally?"
"It was my little sister, Olive. She dreams of a life of beauty and splendor, and I will always try my best to make that happen."
I heard Sin yell from the front door, "Miss Foster Princess is here!"
"Well that ends this interview, I must go back to work." I said getting up from my chair. "That is okay, I have plenty to work with."
I walked away from the reporter, with a feeling of dread in my stomach. No good was going to come from that article and I could already feel it.
"Hey Princess." I walked up to the child. "Follow me you know the drill." I said.
After hours of working with different children I got to go home. "Welcome home honey." I heard Ed say from the kitchen. Imidiantly I let my hair down. "Ed, why am I so good at what I do?" I asked dramatically. "Well since you asked in such a humble manner, I will answer. It is because you work hard. Why do you look upset?"
"Because I had to talk to a reporter today. Since I am becoming a bit too popular as a children's stylist." Ed rolled his eyes "You are upset because you are popular and people want to learn about it." Ed said. "No I have just had this feeling of dread all day since the interview. I can't shake it." I said dramatically as I plopped into a dining room chair.
"Well have some eggs and toast, and forget about your day." Ed said as he started to dish out plates for everyone. "I'll go get Robert and Olive." I said. I walked to the second floor where Olive was practicing piano (horribly). "Olive it is time to eat." I said walking towards her. She grunted, her face was red in frustration. "Olive go eat breakfast for dinner, and I will help teach you how to play Disney songs tomorrow night." I said as I reassuringly patted her back. She went down stairs. I called "Food!" halfway up the stairs, and that was all it took to get Robert downstairs.
We ate dinner peacefully as per norm, and once everyone was done I began to wash the dishes. I still couldn't shake that bad feeling that that reporter had stirred up. I started scrubbing the plate I had harder, not realizing. Ed noticed and came over to me, "I don't know what's wrong, but I am pretty sure the plate had nothing to do with it." he said jokingly. I snapped out of my worried daze, and realized I had begun to wash the paint off of the dish. I put the dish in the dryer and sighed. "I still feel uneasy about that reporter." I said, sounding defeated.
"I'll tuck Olive into bed tonight, you go to bed, maybe you'll feel better in the morning. I hoped he was right.
I woke up feeling great the next morning I got dressed. braided my hair loosely over my shoulder, applied makeup and was ready to fend to Olive. "Okay Sis. What will we be wearing today?" I asked as I walked in her door. Olive (through observation of my work), began to be able to choose her own outfits, without my help, though often it needed tweaking. I looked at her bed where her outfit was layed out. I saw a grey thick knit dress covered in a pattern of criss-crossing pink lines. separately there were leggings that matched the deep pink pattern of the dress. Then I saw leather ankle boots and socks at the base of the bed. Those shoes weren't the color I would have chosen, but otherwise she did well. She came out of the bathroom in a towel, and had another towel wrapped around her wet hair. She quickly got dressed, not caring if her sister saw her unclothed. Never the less I turned my head. Soon I was doing her hair. A high bun wrapped with a braid. We went downstairs and each had a simple bowl of cereal before leaving. We got in a cab with our usual driver who was oddly silent. I dropped Olive off at the school, where all of the parents avoided me. I was confused, but got back in the cab to head to work. The cab driver remained silent the whole drive to the studio.
I walked in with an odd feeling, that something was off. I saw Sin, and his face put the feeling of dread back into my system. "Don't freak out okay." Sin said. Which only put me into a panic. "What happened?!" I yelled thinking someone had been hurt or had died. Sin handed me an iPad that I hadn't noticed was in his hands. It was pulled up to the website that the news reporter had interviewed me for, I had thought it was only in the newspaper. "Turns out the news paper has a website." Sin said, seemingly able to tell what I was thinking.
I read further down to see the name of the article. "White Monster Takes Color from Children"
I backed up. This title made me sound like a true monster. I sat down shaking into a lobby chair. Sin rushed to my side. "I know this seems like I am using your pain against you, but I promise I am not. The only way to save your career, and future social life, and my studio is to get a photo shoot of you. I looked at him shocked. How could he say that right now.
"I have been trying to think of an alternative, but taking pictures of you, showing your beauty, and making an article of our own. That is what can defeat this reporter. I am so sorry I let him do this." Sin said.
I couldn't be weak, I couldn't have a breakdown, especially in front of others. I took a few deep breaths and stood up, nearly knocking Sin over. "Do what needs to be done." I said in an unwavering voice. "That is very red of you." he said smiling proudly. Though I could tell part of that smile was excitement for finally getting his way.
Sin had several women's designer outfits delivered to the studio a new assistant went to get them. Julia was trying to cheer me up as I was nervous about being in front of the cameras.
Before I could calm down, Sin called me "Okay come and get yourself ready!" Sin yelled from the makeup room. I walked to the makeup room where I had dressed up so many little girls, and a few boys. I was now having to prepare myself for my own photoshoot. Sin had laid out my outfits. I had chosen to wear the grey and black dress first. It had an all black sweetheart neckline. It wrapped tightly around my breasts and upper chest, then it became looser and more flowy, it faded from black to dark grey then a translucent light grey that let my lower thighs and knees show through the fabric. Then I had simple black sandles that wrapped around my ankles. I had redone my hair into the same loose overshoulder braid, to make it look fresher and less frizzy. I weaved small grey flowers in my braid, that stood out against my white hair. I put on a small amount of makeup, so not as to over-power the simplicity of my outfit. I walked out to where the pictures would be taken, and where Julia and Sin were waiting. "Damn. Why don't you dress like this everyday?" Sin said with a smile. "Because most days I work." I said. Both Julia and Sin smiled at that "Oh honey, this is working." he said. This comment scared me slightly what had been planned? We took several pictures in different poses before it was time to change into my next outfit. Sin had a shocked look on his face, but I didn't have the time to think much of it. The next outfit was something I had already worn on several occasions it was a sleeveless one piece; the legs went all the way to my ankles and the top ended in a tight turtleneck. The whole outfit hugged my body showing my curves, though it was a surprisingly thick fabric. I took the flowers out of my hair, and pulled my hair up into a tight perfect bun. I wore sight heeled silver boots. This time I made my eye makeup look more fierce with dark eyeshadow, and cat eye eyeliner. I put a deep red lipstick on. I looked at myself in the mirror, and decided to add large silver hoop earrings, and added several different metalalic and black fabric bangle bracelets. I walked back to Sin and Julia. I was shocked at their faces, though I had worn an outfit very similar to this outfit several times, they seemed to be more enthralled this time.
After hours of modeling we were finally done. I was tired and chafed from switching into so many uncomfortable outfits, that I had given up on pretty clothes. I switched into Julia's clothes that she wore before changing into her work uniform. I was wearing simple jeans and a yellow graphic tea with a kitten on the front. After some time of complete silence I went to check on Sin in his office. "Honey you won't believe these pictures, I checked to see if my camera was wrong multiple times by taking pictures of myself and Julia, but this is real. He pulled away on his swivel chair and I could see the pictures of myself on his laptop, I wasn't white with white hair anymore. I was...iridescent.
My skin shown every color that was known, and then some others, I had never seen so many colors on one person, in fact I had never seen anything like this in any book I have ever seen. my hair shown a metalic silver matching my typical eyes, whilst my irises shown in multiple colors as well. What was this?
"Looks like you will be getting famous, but only instead of gaining some color, you gained every color." Sin said, in almost a whisper. Just enough that it didn't take me out of my trans of my own pictures. Loose tears slid down my cheeks. All this time. I heard the snap of a Polaroid and saw the light of a flash coming from behind me. I turned to Julia who was holding the old black and white camera. "You won't be colorful in this old camera, because nothing is, but you will want to remember this moment, and that look will go down in history." she said, with tears welling up in her eyes as well.
*One Week later*
Bob: "Now we go to Liz who will be interviewing the new anomaly we are calling Iridescent."
Liz: "Good morning America today I am will be interviewing Violet Foster, also known as Iridescent. Miss Foster, people are asking why your colors only show on camera, and why do you have so many?"
The camera focused on me.
Violet: "Well since I was young I have been trying to get my own colors. you know me being all white." I tried to gesture to myself, but on camera, I shimmered. The screen then turned to the black and white photo that Julia had taken.
Liz: "Now why was it you wanted colors so badly?"
Violet: Well other than fighting with my own self esteem, I also needed to grow a backbone to protect myself from others. I learned everything I would ever need to know about colors. So that I could possibly become colorful, so I worked for every color. I didn't want to limit myself, and ruin my chances with other possible colors."
Liz: "Can you elaborate on your motivations and methods? I am sure everyone would love to hear how you gained so many colors."
Violet: "Well I will elaborate to the whole world, but not here Liz. If you want to hear my whole story, my self biography will be out in a month. It is called "Colorless in a Colorful World" I am excited to learn what others think and feel about my story." I said with a subtle grin on my face.
Liz: "Well you heard here it folks, "Colorless in a Colorful World" will be available in stores in a month. Back to you Bob."
THE END
Authors Note: Sorry about ending the story so abruptly. I have just been lacking motivation for this novel, and am one of those authors that just wings it. I don't prepare a story ahead of time. Check out my other novel "Inherited a Dragon Farm".