Chapter 313: Blood-Red Lips

Coco stepped back, holding a fluffy makeup brush in the air like a magic wand. He squinted at Aria’s face in the brightly lit vanity mirror, tilting his head from side to side before letting out a satisfied gasp.

"Okay, hold perfectly still. If you twitch right now, I will accidentally give you a Joker smile, and we do not have the time to fix it," Coco warned, leaning in close with a tiny precision brush.

He carefully lined the outer corners of her mouth, blending the rich pigment before swiping a final, thick coat of clear gloss over the center.

"Yes," Coco announced, tossing the brush onto the table and clapping his hands together. "The glossy cherry red ties the whole look together. You are officially ready to be perceived by the masses."

Aria stood up from the makeup chair and turned side to side, admiring her reflection in the full-length mirror leaning against the wall.

The dress was a total showstopper. The black satin corset cinched her waist beautifully, pushing her chest up, while the draped crimson silk flowed around her legs with an effortless, sweeping elegance. The sheer black ribbons Coco had meticulously pinned and draped over the skirt added a gorgeous, high-fashion edge that made the entire outfit look completely custom-made for a Paris runway. It didn’t look like a last-minute, panicked fix at all; it looked incredibly chic and completely intentional.

"I love it," Aria beamed, running her hands smoothly down the sides of the silk skirt. "Coco, you are a genius. Thank you for saving my life tonight."

"Please, it was my absolute pleasure," Coco grinned, quickly packing away his array of contour palettes and setting sprays into his leather carrying case. "But seriously, what are we going to do about the shredded velvet disaster sitting in the living room? Diana needs to pay for her crimes."

"Oh, she will definitely pay," Aria promised, grabbing a black clutch from the vanity and slipping her lipstick inside. "I am going to make her regret ever touching a pair of scissors in her entire life. But we’ll deal with Diana tomorrow. I am not letting her ruin my mood tonight. This is my very first movie premiere, and I am going to have fun."

"Speaking of the premiere, you guys need to see this," Zoe announced, strutting into the doorway holding her iPad.

Zoe was already dressed in a stunning silver dress that caught the ambient light beautifully, paired with strappy, knee-high metallic heels. Her collarbones gleamed with a beautiful dusting of diamond body shimmer.

"The official red carpet pre-show just went live on YouTube," Zoe said, hopping onto the edge of the bed and turning the iPad screen toward them. "The early arrivals are already doing interviews."

Aria and Coco instantly crowded around her, peering at the screen.

The live feed showed a sprawling, glittering red carpet lined with hundreds of screaming fans and popping flashbulbs. A bubbly entertainment host was currently holding a microphone out to a very familiar face.

"Oh my god, is she wearing beige?" Coco gasped in horror, placing a hand over his heart. "To a world premiere? In the evening?!"

On the screen, Bella was doing her best to look tragic but beautiful in a pale, uninspired beige chiffon gown. It washed out her complexion entirely.

"We are all just keeping Aria in our thoughts tonight," Bella sniffled into the host’s microphone, looking off into the distance with practiced sorrow. "It’s hard being here without her, but I know she’d want us to celebrate the film."

"She looks like a damp napkin," Aria snorted, shaking her head. "I almost feel bad for her. Did she dress herself in the dark?"

"She is trying to give ’grieving sister,’ but she is accidentally giving ’dentist waiting room,’" Zoe cackled, turning the volume down slightly. "And look at Lucas standing behind her. He keeps checking his watch."

Aria smiled, leaning back against the vanity. "Let them have their five minutes of fame. When we pull up, no one is going to remember they even walked the carpet."

"Exactly," Zoe cheered, tossing the iPad aside and looping her arm through Aria’s. "As your date for the evening, I am fully prepared to hype you up in front of all the cameras. We are going to have the paparazzi screaming. Best dressed duo of the year, easily."

"We are going to look so good," Aria laughed, linking arms with her best friend.

"Okay, but we need to finish getting ready!" Zoe clapped her hands, checking the time on her phone. "We have exactly thirty-five minutes before the car gets here. Let’s go, assembly line!"

The bedroom instantly transformed into a synchronized glam station.

Aria grabbed her phone, popping open the camera app and switching to video mode.

"Okay, Zoe, look at the lens," Aria instructed, adjusting the exposure slider. "The 4K resolution on this thing is super crisp, so do not blink."

Zoe grinned, holding up a liquid eyeliner pen as she stood over Coco, who was now sitting obediently in the makeup chair.

"Hey guys," Zoe chirped perfectly into Aria’s phone, effortlessly slipping into the bright, bubbly influencer persona she used for her channel. "Today I am doing the makeup for the genius who just saved my best friend’s red carpet. We’re going for a fierce, exaggerated graphic liner to match his aesthetic."

"Make me look expensive, babe," Coco purred, keeping his face perfectly still.

While Zoe expertly flicked the black liner across Coco’s eyelids, Aria stood behind the chair with a tub of styling pomade. She worked the product through Coco’s hair, sculpting it into a sleek, textured, piece-y look that perfectly complemented his flamboyant vibe and his skin-tight black leather pants.

"Wait, that actually looks fire," Zoe noted, stepping back as Aria finished the hair and Zoe nailed the eyeliner wings.

"Switch!" Coco demanded, hopping out of the chair and enthusiastically shoving Zoe into it.

Zoe sat down, carefully smoothing out the skirt of her silver dress.

Coco grabbed a fluffy brush and went straight to work on Zoe’s face, hyping her up constantly as he applied a flawless, luminous base and blended a soft, smoky eyeshadow to make her eyes pop.

Meanwhile, Aria took over hair duty. She scooped a generous amount of styling gel into her palms and ran it through Zoe’s blunt-cut purple hair, expertly sculpting it backward into a slicked-back wet look.

"Where are my rings?!" Coco suddenly shrieked, spinning around in a panic and nearly knocking over a bottle of setting spray. "I brought my vintage silver knuckle rings! I cannot walk out of this building without them! I will look naked!"

"They are literally on your left hand, Coco," Aria pointed out dryly, pausing her styling.

Coco looked down at his left hand, where five chunky silver rings were glittering brightly. He blinked, let out an unbothered exhale, and went right back to blending Zoe’s contour. "Oh. Right. Carry on."

"Oh my god," Aria laughed, stepping back to admire their collaborative handiwork. "We are genuinely going to steal the entire show."

Zoe hopped out of the chair, checking her reflection in the mirror and striking a quick pose. "The cameras aren’t going to know where to look."

Aria smiled, but as she looked at her best friend and the ticking clock on her phone screen, her stomach did a tiny flutter. The adrenaline of the evening was finally catching up to her. It was the good kind of nerves...the buzzing, electric anticipation of standing on the precipice of something massive. She was actually going to walk a movie red carpet. The fans, the flashing lights, the chaotic interviews—it was everything she had worked so hard for since she started taking acting classes.

Zoe caught the slight shift in Aria’s expression. She walked over, gently bumping her shoulder against Aria’s.

"You ready for this?" Zoe asked softly.

"I think so," Aria breathed, letting out a long exhale. "I’m just... really excited."

"You’re going to eat them alive," Zoe promised, grabbing her own silver clutch.

"Alright, let’s go!" Coco shooed them toward the hallway, tossing his neon-yellow Balenciaga track jacket over his shoulders to contrast his all-black leather ensemble and platform combat boots. "The car is waiting downstairs, and we do not want to hit rush hour traffic on the way to the theater!"

They were chatting and laughing as they approached the marble foyer.

Aria reached out to press the call button for the elevator.

Before her finger even touched the metal plate, the soft ping echoed through the entryway.

The steel doors slid open.

Aria paused.

Damien was standing there.

Aria’s breath caught in her throat. Her hand dropped to her side. She froze, completely stunned.

He was wearing a perfectly tailored, black tuxedo that fit his broad shoulders flawlessly. His crisp white shirt was incredibly bright against the dark fabric, his bowtie perfectly knotted, and his silver hair was impeccably styled, swept back from his face. He looked ridiculously, unfairly handsome.

In his right hand, Damien was holding a gorgeous bouquet of fresh white peonies, her favorite flowers. And in his left hand, he was holding a small, clear plastic container filled with bright red strawberries.

Aria’s eyes went wide.

She had been giving him the cold shoulder for the last few days. She had been purposefully keeping her distance, ignoring his attempts to bridge the gap, and was perfectly content to attend her premiere with Zoe. She had assumed Damien would continue to stay out of her way until she was ready to talk to him again.

She never, in a million years, expected him to show up dressed to the nines, fully prepared to be her date.

Damien stepped out of the elevator.

His golden eyes swept over her, taking in the red silk, the black corset, the flawless makeup, and the way her rose-gold hair cascaded over her bare shoulders. A soft, affectionate smile pulled at the corners of his mouth as he looked at her.

"You look beautiful," Damien murmured, his deep voice sending a warm rush straight to her chest.

Aria swallowed hard, fighting the instinct to melt right into his arms. "Damien..."

Damien stepped closer, his presence immediately overwhelming the foyer. He offered the bouquet of peonies, his gaze never leaving hers.

"You didn’t really think I would let you go tonight without me, did you?" Damien asked softly. He held up the clear container of strawberries. "I brought snacks for the car ride. Just in case you got hungry."

Behind Aria, Zoe and Coco instantly read the room.

The two of them exchanged a quick, amused look. Zoe covered her mouth to muffle a delighted giggle, grabbing Coco tightly by the sleeve.

"Oops, look at the time!" Zoe chirped loudly, blatantly side-stepping around Aria and making a beeline for the open elevator doors. "We’ll just catch you downstairs, Aria! Have fun!"

Coco snickered, practically sprinting alongside Zoe into the elevator cabin.

"Take your time, kids!" Coco winked over his shoulder as he hit the lobby button.

The steel doors slid shut, sealing Zoe and Coco away and leaving the foyer quiet.

Aria and Damien just stood there, staring at each other in the quiet entryway.