"We'll be sure to keep that in mind," I said as I applied eyeshadow to one of the female extras.
"So 'lil' girl are you going to be cold to me all day?" he asked.
"Keep calling me ''lil' girl' and see what happens," I replied.
"I'm sorry Alexis," he replied putting emphasis on my name. "Just trying to get to you that's all."
"Is that really all?" I asked. He smirked at the head he was styling as if I wouldn't notice before turning his attention on me.
"That's all. . . for now," he replied. I looked over at him but he looked away before we could make eye contact.
"So where are you from Zeke?" I asked.
"Northern California, originally. I live here in Florida now though. Maybe I can show you around sometime," he said with that ever present smug look.
"No that's ok, Cookie already offered and I said 'sure'," I lied.
"Hhmmm I understand. Well maybe there'll be some sights that Cookie doesn't know about, believe me I know all the hot spots," he said winking at me. I looked away rolling my eyes.
"I assure you Zeke that I won't miss a sight at all. I've lived here all my life," Cookie replied noting my unease.
He continued to hit on me much to my annoyance. Apparently he figured being a stylist wasn't manly enough so he had to prove his manhood by hitting on every woman within eyeshot. If it wasn't me it was one of the female extras. I noticed with some amusement that he didn't hit on Cookie though. He either wasn't attracted to her or she looked like she wouldn't take any of his stuff, which she probably wouldn't. To Cookie's credit she really was a cool person with a quick wit. Once we got past her name and appearance everything was fine between us.
Kevin, Howie and Nick were the first of the Boys to arrive in the makeup trailor. We had gone through several extras including the Backstreet Boys' look-a-likes and our chairs were empty by the time they arrived. Kevin hopped into Zeke's chair while Howie got into Cookie's and Nick stood by the door. . . waiting.
"Nick, it looks like Alexis is free why don't you let her do your makeup," Howie said.
"No, I'll just wait for someone else to finish. I'm good. . . I don't mind waiting," he replied.
"Come on Nick, we have a schedule to keep to. We can't wait around for anything," Kevin replied. I flopped down in my chair, grabbed an emory board and started filing my nails.
"I promise I won't bite," I said over my shoulder. With some grumbling and a bit of profanity Nick finally sat down in my chair.
"I'm not in the mood for chit chat," he said looking me square in the eye in the mirror.
"Fine, I'm not in the mood for chitting or chatting with you anyway," I said. This was probably one of the most interesting makeup sessions that I had ever been a part of. Nick and I continued to talk, just not to each other. It got confusing at times. I was talking to everyone in the trailor except Nick and he was a part of the same conversation as well. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, I did. The minute he got in there he was being a dick. I wasn't expecting him to apologize for the way he acted the last time and it's not like I was expecting him to welcome me there with outstretched arms or anything like that. I was expecting some kind of common courtesy or something along the lines of good manners. What was it about me that rubbed him the wrong way? He was being nice towards Zeke and even Cookie could get a little smile out of him. So I knew it wasn't all women he was made at right then. For whatever reason all I could do was anger him more.
"Makeup!" the director yelled after they shot the first scene. Zeke, Cookie and I came forward. We had been watching from the side and waiting to be needed. "Alexis, could you take some of the shine off of Nick's forhead for me please." I was hoping he would say anyone but Nick. I sucked in my breath and made my way over to Nick with brush in hand.
"I hope this shit won't make me break out," he said.
"Did you break out the last time I put this 'shit' on you?" I asked.
"No," he said. "That was different though. It was your first day. You were trying to impress us."
"I'm not here to impress anyone. . . least of all you. I'm here to do my job and my job is to keep you and the rest of the people in this video looking good," I told him.
"Whatever, I know you probably don't like me and that could give you a reason to sabotage me," he said.
"Sabotage? Did you learn that word on your 'word a day' calendar?" I asked. Nick just gave me a nasty look. "Anyway, to keep your mind at ease. . . it's hypo-allergenic makeup. It's the same makeup I used on you Thursday and I'll probably keep using this on you. . . unless you give me a reason to use something else." I walked away, leaving him to ponder that notion.
The rest of the video shoot progressed pretty much along those lines. Nick and I snapped at each other whenever we were in the other's space. Ezekiel continued to hit on every girl that crossed his path. Cookie and I got along fabulously though. I won't bore you with every argument between Nick and I. I will tell you about the key ones and some of the ones that I think particularly interesting.
The video shoot as a whole went relatively well. I got along with everyone except for Nick. I even got along with Zeke to a certain degree. Apparently, I did a good job and they asked me to come on tour with them. I was extremely excited. I had never done a tour before. This would definitely be an experience to remember, I thought. Boy was I right. I was to return home and they gave us all a few months to get our affairs in order and do whatever we had to do before we were to be on tour with them. While we were getting our stuff together the Boys would be promoting and rehearsing. So I would still be needed at odd times.
When I got home Goldie had died by no fault of Joshua, according to him anyway. He swore that he feed her twice everday and cleaned her little bowl everyday. I was too happy about going on tour with the Boys to be too mad at him. Besides, it was my fifth Goldie Gills but she had lasted awhile compared to the others. My loft was still in tip top shape so he hadn't had any wild parties as far as I could tell. If he did, he hid it well.
"You're going on tour with them?" Joshua asked once I told him the news.
"Yes! I can't believe it either! I figured this would just be an interview and maybe a few video shoots job. Now I'm going on tour," I said flopping down on my bed.
"You've never been on tour," Joshua stated sitting beside me.
"I know that but I have been out of the country on a job," I replied.
"Oh yeah the photo shoot in Buenos Aires. I know, I know. I don't need to hear the story again. Please don't tell the story again."
"I won't. Anyway, it's not like I've only been doing makeup behind stages and I love to travel."
"On a bus with eight other people. You know you won't have your own bus. They'll probably stick you with the rest of the dancers and maybe the other makeup artists."
"Well I've made a friend then. I can just chill with Cookie."
"True, have I told you how much I want to meet her. She sounds fabulous. I think I'd like her."
"I'll be sure to introduce you two," I said chewing my bottom lip. A disturbing thought had just entered my brain. How the hell was I going to be able to spend six to eight months with Nick. Even if we would be on different buses and if not different hotels more than likely we'd be on different floors. I'd still be working with him almost everyday.
"Earth to Lexie," Joshua said snapping his fingers in front of my face.
"I'm sorry did you say something?" I asked.
"Yes I did as a matter of fact, before you zoned out there. . . I was asking you how were you going to be able to work with my tighty whitey hottie in your face all the time?"
"I don't know and will you stop calling him that. It's a bit disturbing. I'm a big girl, I'm sure I can handle him and his ego."
"Yeah ok I'll call him by his name. We shall see how well you 'handle' him. By the way I must say that I like this new side of Nick that I'm hearing about. He's testy and kinda mean hhhmmm. . . I think I like that," Joshua said with a smirk.
"Josh!!" I exclaimed smacking him with a pillow.
