Violets are blue, p.15
Violets Are Blue, page 15
“Okay, talk fast,” he said as Pippa dimmed the lights and the opening notes of “No One Mourns the Wicked” filled the auditorium.
I took a breath. “Kai, I really think we should go to Comic Con.”
“What? You mean tomorrow?” He practically shouted it. “What are you talking about, Wren? I didn’t think you even wanted to go.”
“Shhh,” I said. “No, no, I really do! And it has to be today, because Cat FX will be there—”
“Who?”
“That makeup artist I told you about! The one who does videos, remember? And you said you had tickets—”
“Yeah, my dad got them months ago. But—”
“They don’t need us here! I finished the cast makeup, Aliyah’s fine with props, and Pippa and Henry are doing lights and sound!”
Kai shook his head.
“Why are you shaking your head?” My voice squeaked.
“A million reasons. First of all, what if something went wrong with the dimmer board?”
“Ms. Chen would fix it! Or Pippa, or someone else! You’re not the only one who—”
“And second, how would we get there?”
“Isn’t your dad here? In the audience?”
“He came last night. Right now he’s at the gym. So he can’t drive us.”
Ugh. I hadn’t thought about transportation. I hadn’t thought about any details, really.
“Fine, so we’ll take the train into the city,” I said. “You still have the tickets, right?”
“Yeah, on my phone,” Kai admitted. He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at the floor. “But, Wren, I heard what you told Avery yesterday, all right? How you don’t even like me.”
My face burned. “No, no! I do like you! As a friend! That’s what I was trying to tell you when you gave me that valentine.”
“It wasn’t a valentine.”
“Whatever it was! Kai, listen: I really want us to be friends! I want to hang out and talk about comics! And art! And cosplay! Even if we don’t go to Comic Con.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You mean that?”
“Yeah,” I said. Then the words tumbled out of me. “Because we like the same sort of stuff, right? That’s why I showed you that webcomic, My Six Legs. I didn’t show it to anyone else, not even Poppy. To be honest, I don’t think she’d get it.”
He didn’t say anything. But I could tell he was listening.
“Anyhow, if we did go to Comic Con, I could do your makeup,” I added quickly.
“I guess,” he said. “But I dunno. Running away without telling anyone?”
“We’re not ‘running away’! We’re doing this one cool thing. For one afternoon!”
He shrugged.
Now the music onstage reached my ears. And like every family, they had their secrets…
“Listen, Kai, I really need to see Cat FX, so I’m going even if you don’t,” I said. “I’d rather go with you, because it’ll definitely be more fun, and I won’t be mad if you say no, okay? We’re friends either way, I promise. But I’m leaving, so you need to decide right now.”
“But you don’t have a ticket.” That was when a shy smile inched across his face. “Could you do Thanos? I know I told you I was thinking about Daredevil, but I changed my mind.”
“I could do anyone you want,” I said. “I’m sure of it.”
I was so excited right then, it wasn’t even a lie.
Thanos
You know how in some dreams everything happens in slow motion? The next part was like a dream that happened fast.
I ran back to the makeup table, grabbed my jacket, and tossed a bunch of supplies in my backpack. Then Kai led us out a backstage door I didn’t even know existed.
The train station was ten blocks from school. Kai said he knew that there was a 1:47 train into the city on Saturdays, because he and his dad took it often—to go to museums, the aquarium, concerts, shows.
“Wow,” I said as we walked fast in the chilly air. “My mom never takes me anywhere.”
“How come?”
Too busy disappearing. “Working,” I said.
We got to the station just before the train arrived—barely enough time to get round-trip tickets from the ticket machine. Kai punched in the numbers as if he’d done this a million times before.
When the train doors opened, we took two opposite seats: Kai facing backward, me facing forward.
We’re actually doing this, I thought. I grinned at Kai, but he didn’t grin back.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Yeah,” he said. “Just feeling a little… guilty.”
“For what? Leaving the show?”
He shook his head. “Stealing the tickets. From my dad.”
“But you didn’t steal anything! Your dad bought the tickets, right? And you said he got an extra one for you to share with a friend. So I’m sure he’ll be happy.” I knew this was pushing it; I changed the subject fast. “Anyhow, let’s get started on the makeup. Can you get a picture of Thanos on your phone?”
Kai did, just as the conductor came by to see our tickets and then chat for a bit (although I could tell he was mostly snooping about why two kids were heading into the city without a grown-up).
When the conductor finally quit asking his cheery, snoopy questions, I studied the Thanos picture and got to work. Foundation, Clown White, black kohl for lines in his chin: nothing too complicated, but it would be tricky to apply all the stuff on a vibrating train. And did I have the right shade of purple? Maybe not, but Je T’aime Amethyst was close enough. Fortunately, I’d grabbed one of Mateo’s spare swim caps, so at least Thanos could have a bald head.
When I thought we had a good-enough Thanos, I put my phone in selfie and showed Kai.
“Hey, cool,” he said, smiling for the first time since we left school.
Then I did Nebula for myself: not my best work, but not terrible, either, considering the moving train, the staring passengers, my sweaty hands.
“Okay, now we both turn off our phones,” I said as over the PA a robot voice announced that our stop was next.
“Wait, really? What for?” Kai frowned.
“We’re in character, right? We can’t be distracted; we have to fully commit.”
I knew it sounded as if I was quoting someone. Did Cat FX ever talk about “fully committing”? Probably yes, although I couldn’t remember when.
But the real reason I’d said it was this: if Kai texted his dad, I knew he’d come to get us right away—and the two of us needed to be unrescuable.
Emerald City
The train station was connected to the convention center, so when we arrived, we didn’t even have to go outdoors. As we speed-walked through the tunnel, Kai seemed even more nervous than he was on the train.
“Doors close at six,” he muttered. “And they kick you out at seven. So we need to hurry.”
“We’re hurrying,” I said. “And don’t use your hand to wipe your nose; you’ll smear everything. Here.” I gave him a crumpled old tissue from my jacket pocket. “Blot gently.”
Kai took the tissue and blotted.
“You look great,” I told him. He did a wince-smile.
As soon as we got to the main entrance, though, my heart sank. Because right under the neon WELCOME TO COMIC CON sign was another:
All backpacks will be searched. No guns, weapons, umbrellas, food allowed. All attendees under the age of thirteen must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Crap. How were we supposed to know that? Because I hadn’t seen that rule on the website.
“Okay, well, we tried,” Kai said. His eyes darted like he was ready to flee.
“Are you serious?” I said. “We’re not just turning around after all this!”
“Well, what are we supposed to do, then? Grab some random grown-up off the street?”
I made a shh finger and pointed to a group of about thirty kids and grown-ups—most of them cosplaying Avengers, others doing Toy Story or Frozen or Moana. Laughing and shouting and shoving as they opened their backpacks for the guards, who waved metal detectors like high-tech versions of Glinda’s wand.
“Come on.” I grabbed Kai’s sleeve and pulled him so that we blended in with the big, noisy group.
And it worked. The guards were so busy checking bags and tickets that they didn’t stop us, or ask a bunch of snoopy questions like the train conductor had.
We were in!
“Cool,” Kai said as we raced into the convention hall.
As for me, I couldn’t even talk. It was like we’d entered some portal and were now in another dimension—an Emerald City of pulsing lights and roaring music. Crowds of people in full costume pushed past us, heading for panels and demonstrations and cosplay competitions, posing for selfies with stuff they’d bought (“merch,” Kai called it) like posters and inflatable Jedi swords, eating churros and blue slushies like they were at a baseball game or something.
It was all deafening and blinding, exactly what I needed. But where was Cat FX? How would I find her in all this… the best word was “commotion”?
Kai seemed to read my mind. He handed me a flyer that he’d picked up at the entrance.
“We could just walk around,” he said. “But since we’re watching the clock, I suggest we check out the schedule and see if there’s anything we don’t want to miss.”
You may be watching the clock, but not me, I thought. This is where I live now, Kai.
But I knew he was right. And when I scanned the schedule, I saw that at five thirty—forty-seven minutes from now!—Cat FX was doing a demo called Special-Effects Makeup 101.
We weren’t too late! She was here! I’d get to see her! In person!
“You okay, Wren?” Kai asked. He looked worried. Or, rather, Thanos did.
“I’m great!” I shouted above the Star Wars music that was blaring in front of a booth called TROOPER PRODUCTS: FASHION ACCESSORIES AND COLLECTIBLES. “I’m just really excited about this one makeup demo, but it’s not for a while! You want to see this panel first—Navigating the Star Wars Universe?” I pointed to a small stage where three guys were in folding chairs. Behind them was a screen showing a chart so complicated it was like peeking inside the human brain.
“Nah,” Kai said. “Let’s check out the one on Spider-Man storyboards. It’s this way.”
I let Kai lead us through the hall. To be honest, I didn’t care what panel we were heading for. Only minutes to go until Cat FX! Who was inside this building! Breathing this same french-fries-scented air!
All my bones vibrated to the music.
* * *
When the storyboard panel was over, Kai asked one of the artists to sign a small sketchbook he kept in the pocket of his jacket. But first he showed the guy his drawings of Daredevil and Iceman, and the guy told him he was “super talented,” that he should keep at it, and one day, who knows? Maybe Kai could be up on the stage beside him.
“Can you believe it?” Kai yelled at me. “Did you hear what he said?”
“Yes, I did.” I grinned. “Aren’t you glad we came? Wasn’t it worth it?”
“Yeah,” Kai admitted. “When’s that makeup thing?”
“Now, but you don’t have to come. I mean, if there’s something else you’d rather do—”
“That’s okay. You came to my panel, so I’ll come to yours.”
When he said this, I had a strange reaction. A tiny part of me wanted to be here all by myself. Floating undetected through the hall like my mental mermaid, picking up souvenirs for camouflage, unattached to anyone or anything back home.
But most of me was just relieved. Because if Kai and I got separated, we might never find each other again in this huge, crowded place, and that would be scary.
And the truth was, this whole thing was way more fun with a friend.
Blue Violet
At five thirty, in Conference Room 15678B, Cat FX was taking products out of her makeup kit and arranging them, one by one, on a small table. Like maybe she was killing time, waiting for more people to show up.
Because the audience was only six people. Six including Kai and me.
I couldn’t believe it. Where was everyone? Didn’t they realize that a brilliant artist was here in person, sharing her precious secrets with the world?
Cat FX was tinier than I’d figured she’d be, wearing a Harley Quinn wig (mostly white, with two messy pigtails, one tinted red, one blue). Her eyes were outlined in kohl black, she had a small black heart on her left cheek, and her lips were cherry red, smudged in a way that you could tell was on purpose. A creepy character, one I hadn’t seen her do before—but her voice was so familiar, it was like hearing someone speak my private thoughts.
“Well, I guess we should get started,” she was saying. “Today I’d like to show you how to do Shuri from Black Panther, and I need a volunteer. Anyone?” She smiled—a little nervously, I thought.
Kai poked me. “You.”
I almost raised my hand. But no. Much better to sit in the front row, watching her technique up close. Even though I’d seen her Shuri video at least fifteen times and had to stop my mouth from moving as she spoke.
Anyway, she picked some mom-aged woman sitting behind me.
When she finished the demo, the four other people in the audience, including the volunteer, stayed to chat with her for a minute. The volunteer gave her a hug and asked if they could do a selfie together. Cat FX said, “You bet,” and the two of them posed in a way that was a teeny bit embarrassing—hands on hips and duck lips.
Then Cat FX laughed her familiar laugh, and I felt better.
Kai poked my elbow. “All right, what’s next?”
“Um, I think I’d like to stay for a minute? To talk to her,” I said.
“Cool, but I’m starving. Okay with you if I get some food and meet you back here in like fifteen minutes?”
I nodded.
“You want anything? Fries or pizza or a Coke…?”
“No thanks.” I hadn’t eaten anything since the breakfast bagel, but the thought of food right now was impossible.
Kai left. I walked over to Cat FX, who was carefully putting away her supplies.
“Hi,” I said.
She looked up and smiled. “Hey. Nice Nebula.”
For a second, I’d forgotten my face was blue. “Oh! Thanks! I got it from your video.”
“Really? That’s awesome. And your boyfriend is Thanos, right?”
“He’s not my boyfriend! Why does everyone assume that?”
Cat FX’s fake eyelashes fluttered. She seemed surprised by my reaction—and I was horrified. Why did it matter what she thought about Kai and me? How could I snap like that at my idol?
“Sorry,” I said in a croaky voice. “I didn’t mean…” I was too embarrassed to even finish the sentence.
“Hey, no worries,” she said calmly. “I totally get it—I’m not anybody’s anything either. To be honest, I’ve got enough going on just being me.” She shrugged, grinning. “And that changes every day! Some days I’m a scorpion; some days I’m a butterfly. Or Nebula. What’s your name?”
“Wren, like the bird. It used to be Renata, but I changed it.”
“Same. I was born Catherine Fox, but of course I was destined to be Cat FX. So, Wren-like-the-bird, can I show you something cool to do with that eye?”
I decided to be brave. “Could you show me the mermaid makeup instead? How you make it seem like you’re seeing it underwater? And the light is always changing?”
She raised a redefined eyebrow. “You couldn’t tell from the video?”
“No, and I looked like a thousand times. You say to use Seafoam Blue by CozMeticks, but it’s semitranslucent, not iridescent. And too green.”
“Yeah, that’s right. Good catch.” She tossed her Harley Quinn pigtails and laughed. “But it’s just my little trade secret, so don’t tell anyone, okay, Wren? This is between you and me.”
I sat in the volunteer’s chair. Cat FX dabbed some makeup remover on my left cheekbone and began applying the mermaid makeup, explaining how she achieved the special iridescent effect with a final layer of shimmery color called Blue Violet by MakeDown MakeUp.
The whole time she was working, I thought: Why would anyone do a how-to video but still keep something secret? It seemed almost… unfair.
I was about to ask that question. Then I thought: Yeah, but everyone has secrets sometimes. And anyhow, she’s not keeping it secret from ME.
Not knowing what else to say (This is great, I think you’re great), I pointed out that there was no such thing as a blue violet.
“Actually, blue violets do exist in nature,” Cat FX said cheerfully. “Purple ones are more common, but just because something is weird doesn’t mean it’s not real.” She squinted at my face, then reached into her makeup kit for a tiny brush. “And you know, Wren, blue is my absolute favorite color to work with, because it’s so many things—the ocean and the sky. Cold, peace, and sadness. The god Krishna. Nebula, the X-Man Nocturne. Smurfs…”
As Cat FX went on and on about the color blue, I was happier than I’d ever been in my whole life. Sitting in that chair, talking about the thing I loved with the person I worshipped. This is where I belong, I told myself. Not pulled in different directions. Being the true Wren. Even though that meant wearing mermaid makeup. Blue Violet, which was secret and good weird. Beautiful and real.
All of a sudden Kai was standing in front of us. He was holding a blue slushy in one hand and his phone in the other. His eyes looked huge.
“Wren, we have to leave,” he said. His voice sounded funny.
“Now?” I stared at him. “But we’re not finished—”
“My dad’s been texting. He knows where we are and he’s really mad. He told me to ask for your mom’s phone number.”
My mom? “Kai, I thought you turned off your phone—”
“I did, but I turned it back on. You should turn on yours, too, maybe.”
“Go ahead, Wren,” Cat FX said gently. “Don’t get in trouble because of me.”
