"We are? Why do you ask?", Giselle glanced over while chewing on a cucumber. "For one because he always sleeps in and furthermore he's already leaving? I know the world cup does broadcast in the morning, but seriously", Laury explained visibly agitated, "He's acting strange. Why doesn't he stay in bed?". The brunette just shrugged and pondered about what's been said in silence.

Her coworker just pushed half of her slice of toast into her mouth at once and started chewing. Giselle burst into laughter and hid her mouth behind her hand when she spoke, "You look like a fucking squirrel". After her friend could muster up a response, she said, "Oh fuck off. You're going to clean up this mess here. Rightful punishment for comparing me to a squirrel! And then you'll do my make-up". The voice became playful, but started out disgruntled. The brunette raised her hands in defeat, "Alright alright, I'll do my sentence".

While her friend took a shower, she took care of the dishes and had another cup of coffee. Brewing it in a kettle had a different quality to it altogether. By now her pajamas didn't even bother her anymore. Her nipples showed constantly and bending down to put dishes into the dishwasher pulled some fabric between her butt cheeks, due to her panties that gave her a nice, wide butt. The realization made her grin happily. She had overcome something. It made her proud.

Applying make-up on another person was a challenge however, she had never had to overcome until now. She was trained in applying it to herself, how it felt, how the light needed to reflect from her skin. On the third try, she finally got some of it right. The foundation was good, the rouge barely visible and the eye-liner almost perfect. A transparent lip gloss and a thin layer of mascara finished up the project. Laury stared at herself in the mirror for a long time. Without saying a word Giselle followed the quiet woman into the bedroom. The mirror there was larger and the daylight more natural. All in all, Giselle did to her friend what she did to herself. Cover up some places, smooth the skin over and highlight the eyes. On her friend however, this simply felt eery. It looked eery. And she wasn't alone in thinking that. Her coworker raised her eyebrows, frowned, smiled, made a silly face, opened her eyes wide. Finally she turned toward her make-up artist, "Is that what I look like?". "Well, yes, it is!".

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"I need to get used to that. I think I like it? Do I like it?", the woman glared back into the mirror, disbelief all over her face. "You should like it. It's you, Laury. That's what you look like when your skin is smooth and your eyes get a bit of support", Giselle explained proudly. "No harm in trying. I can save half an hour in the bathroom per day. That's something", Laury said sarcastically and waved her friend over, "Now help me pick something to wear".

Half an hour later, Laury was dressed and looking at herself in the mirror. It was outfit number eight, maybe even nine. Near the door was a pile of clothes that definitely needed to go. The woman was starting to like her new look. She even considered a new haircut for a brief moment.

Giselle got herself through the bathroom and emerged fully dressed and ready to go on a date. At home she'd change her pants and shoes to match the colder weather that was pulling in from the east. The forecast scared her and she didn't want to end up cold if the date extended into the evening. Around 11am, Giselle left Laury's place after giving her a strong hug and a peck on the cheek. The way to the bus lead her past a Thai Takeaway restaurant and she ordered a box of noodles and vegetables that she chewed down on the bus home.

Ian wasn't there. There was no trace of him being there. She found it odd how the bed was still made and the air smelled old. The uncanny feeling was easily brushed off as imagination. By 2pm, her bag was empty, the laundry ready for Sunday, a summer coat and a handbag on the sofa and a pair of expensive leather shoes with a low block heel next to the door.

Seconds ticked by. Then minutes. At 2:13pm the doorbell rang. It was a slightly hesitant Annie that wore make-up, a long skirt and a long-sleeve shirt. Over her arm she draped a coat and a handbag. The bob haircut was partially gone and got replaced by an undercut from her neck up to the ears. Giselle just stared for a long time. Then her neighbor wondered, "What? You could say Hi at least?". The brunette stammered helplessly, forgetting about greeting the woman altogether, "You look gorgeous!".