Beauty Beneath The Mask

by Jesse Lorenzo

  BEAUTY BENEATH THE MASK

  A Forever Marked Prequel

  Jesse Lorenzo

  COPYRIGHT© 2015 by Jesse Lorenzo

  All rights resereved worldwide

  This publication is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state, and local laws.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, stored in a database or retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the express written permission of the author.

  Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endoresement if we use one of these terms.

  THis book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover copyright© by Jesse Lorenzo

  Interior Formatting by Jesse Lorenzo

  Editing by Kendra’s Editing and Book Services

  https://www.facebook.com/catdipityProofing/

  Other works by the author

  Forever Marked Book 1 (Marked Series 1)

  Beyond Redemption Book 2 (Marked Series 2)

  Past Forgiven Book 3 (Marked Series 3 coming soon)

  Tales Of The Night an Anthology

  A collection of short stories that benefit the Joyful Heart Foundation.

  *All proceeds will be donated. Joyful Heart offers support to victims of domestic abuse. Help us make a difference by sharing the news.

  When Summer Came Calling an Anthology:

  Eight authors put together the perfect summer read filled with lustful, lethal, and lighthearted stories that’ll keep you turning the page.

  *All proceeds from this anthology will be donated to The Joyful Heart Foundation.

  Dedication

  To my three beautiful daughters,

  Jazlyn, Veronica, and Marcela:

  Dream big and reach for the stars.

  Mommy loves you.

  Chapter One

  The greatest act of courage is to be

  and to own all of who you are—

  Without apology, without excuses,

  and without masks . . .

  ~ Debbie Ford

  Sometimes we hide behind our masks to protect ourselves.

  HALLOWEEN IS THE most remarkable time of year. For one day, you can put on a mask and be transformed into anyone you want to be. And have the courage to reach out to others and form a relationship for who they truly are inside. Without fear of judgement, or the prejudices that blind us when viewing ones outside.

  “C’mon Adelle. You’ll thank me for this later.”

  Leiah tugged on Adelle’s arm, practically out of the socket. She would’ve been kicking and screaming, but who was she kidding. Leiah was her only friend. She wouldn’t risk losing her over something as stupid as a make-over.

  “Alright, alright. I’m going don’t get your knickers in a twist. Really, I don’t know why this is so important to you.”

  Adelle stared at her sad reflection in the unflattering mirror in the waiting room.

  “Because, it’s your last night in Portree. Because, it’s Halloween, so it’s a time to be whoever the hell you wanna be. And because it’ll be a fresh start for your new life.” Her friend ticked off all the reasons on her fingers.

  “Not to mention I’ve been dying to transform your outer beauty so that it finally matches your inner beauty.”

  Adelle smiled at her positively chipper friend. Leiah was a driven, stubborn woman and she loved her for it. She’d hate to admit it, but she knew she was right, too. Her lack of concern for her outer appearance has gone on long enough. It was finally time for a new look, to match her new life. Now was a time to move forward. Adelle allowed herself to get excited over all her future possibilities, that is, until she heard the wretched high-pitched voice of her childhood tormenter.

  “Oh my god. Look girls, Ronnie’s here to touch up her clown make-up.” Shannon walked up to Adelle and Leiah, flanked by her equally bitchy clones.

  Adelle cringed at the over used nick name given to her as a kid. Her naturally bright red hair was out of control with kinky curls and untamed frizz. Her very pale complexion helped complete the visual of the clown character she now despised, the very same one who represented a popular burger chain.

  It’s not like she refused to help herself out. It’s just that she was the only girl and youngest sibling of four brothers. She was never taught how to tame her wild lioness hair or learn how to apply her own make-up. In fact, by the time that kind of thing mattered to all the girls around her, she was already considered an outcast.

  Not knowing what else to do, Adelle just accepted it. After all, she knew who she was and didn’t want to change for any one. If they didn’t like her for such a superficial reason as that, than fuck them. Pardon her French.

  As previously mentioned, she grew up with four brothers. And they all adored her, since the moment she was born. If one would just close their eyes and ignore her outward appearance, you’d swear she was born a princess. Her brothers literally tripped over themselves to cater to their baby sister.

  Unfortunately, that love and adoration didn’t help her where school was concerned. They were much older than she, and already in and out of college. She also never told them about her troubles at school. She knew they would want to come to her aid and ‘do’ something about it. She didn’t want that.

  They were successful and hard working. She didn’t want to get any of them in any trouble over something as stupid as her looks, or lack thereof. But at least she would always have four doting brothers and one feisty best friend in her corner. No matter what.

  Shannon broke into Adelle’s daydream when she continued ridiculing her. “So, Ronnie, I’ll have a cheeseburger, fries, and a diet coke, please.”

  Adelle never rolled over and took her crap though, she always gave it right back to her. The bullied girl wasn’t afraid of Shannon, or her friends. She just despised them all a great deal for making her life miserable most of the time.

  “Oh wow Shannon, that dig was a lot like your dye job . . . pretty shitty.”

  Leiah snorted as she choked on her laughter. Shannon sneered at her as other patrons in the salon laughed at Adelle’s witty comeback. She stalked over to where they stood and jabbed Adelle in the chest with her boney finger.

  “What I don’t understand is how can someone born in the same family as all your smoking hot brothers, ever turn out to be as hideously ugly as you. Is that why your mother left? Because she took one look at you and regretted immediately that she didn’t have you aborted?”

  Adelle’s mouth hung open in utter shock. The cruel statement felt like a punch to the gut, it stole away all her air. This was an incredible low-blow, even for Shannon. Adelle’s mother was a flitty, free spirited, wild child. She left her family behind because she didn’t want to be tied down. She tried the ‘family life’ but once Adelle was born, she’d had enough. Leaving them all behind with just the clothes on her back, they’d never heard from her again.

  Adelle, having been caught tongue tied, just dipped her head low. She would rather be sipping tea with the devil, than hear another word from this Bitch.

  “SHANNON!”

  The loud booming voice at the doorway made everyone jump in surprise. It was Behr. Shannon’s on-again, off-again boyfriend. He was good friends with the youngest of Adelle’s brothers. He was a genuine, good hearted guy who’s always treated Ad
elle like his kid sister. It was usually extremely irritating, but at times like this, thankfully appreciated.

  “I don’t want to hear you say something as ugly as that to her EVER again. Understand?” Behr scolded her like a child.

  A very evil child.

  Shannon continued her assault, undeterred by Behr’s intimidating appearance. “What? It’s not like she doesn’t know that she’s disgusting.”

  Leiah came up to stand beside her friend. “What the hell does someone like Behr see in someone like HER?”

  In a very small voice only she could hear, Adelle murmured truthfully, “Because she doesn’t look like someone like me.”

  It’s not like she wanted to be friends with Shannon and her clones. She didn’t want to be popular, or any other lame thing like that. She just wanted, for once in her life, to either be treated with respect, or to be left alone. She no longer wanted to feel like she did in this moment.

  Like she was human garbage. Unworthy of kindness or love, just because she looked different than everyone else. She didn’t want to be convinced of hating herself, but it was a constant internal battle to remind herself that she wasn’t a worthless nothing. Adelle stood there frozen on the spot. Her eyes cast downward, embarrassed and ashamed. Overwhelmed with the powerful hollow emptiness she felt deep inside. Fresh tears burned behind her lids, threatening to spill over.

  But, after years of being tormented and publically ridiculed, she learned to hold them at bay until she was alone. Only then would she let them fall freely. She would never give them the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

  “Hey brat. You okay?” Adelle looked up, void of all emotion, all her guards firmly in place. She looked directly into the eyes of the object of her constant day-dreams.

  Gavin.

  Behr’s best friend and the town play boy. He. Was. Gorgeous. He definitely was the very definition of “pretty boy.” Adelle had an enormous crush on him for years. She lived right next door to him for many years growing up. Even then he was the most beautiful child in town. And she loved him at first sight.

  After a few fun filled years, Adelle’s father was forced to move into a smaller house further away from the much sought after harbor homes. That’s when things started to change. Instead of chasing frogs and balls, Gavin started chasing girls.

  Puberty had been a cruel reality for Adelle. One that neither her father, nor brothers knew how to help her through. Yes, their relationship changed as they grew. But, Gavin wasn’t the typical popular, pretty-boy, arrogant, douchebag you’d expect. Gavin and Behr both treated her respectfully, which was a plus.

  They were a few years older than she was and the object of every woman’s desire in town. Call her crazy, you wouldn’t be the first, but every once in a while Adelle had a fleeting thought that Gavin may possibly like her a little more than a friend.

  Every now and then she would catch glimpses of Gavin looking at her in a certain way that made her insides turn to jelly. Kinda like the way he was looking at her right then. With his head cocked to the side, and a sinfully playful smirk on his face. He looked on her as if he could see through Adelle’s neglected fashion sense and just see her. The real girl hidden beneath the surface.

  “Don’t worry about her. She’s just a nasty bitch. Everyone knows it.”

  Gavin tucked a runaway ringlet hanging in her face, behind her ear. Before the tongue tied girl could think of something genius to say in that heart fluttering moment, a few local ladies walked in.

  “Hi Gavin,” they gushed. “Can’t wait for your famous Halloween party tonight.”

  Gavin looked up and smiled brilliantly at them. The loss of connection made Adelle a tad jealous. “Hey ladies. I look forward to seeing you there. And your costumes.” He winked at them and they giggled.

  And there it was.

  His very big flaw. Adelle inwardly rolled her eyes. Gavin was a ladies man. And a major player. His belt had so many notches in it already, he was due for a new one to mark up.

  “Thanks Gavin. I’ll see you around. Don’t keep your fan girls waiting.” Adelle stepped to the side and was bumped roughly as the girls took her place in front of the object of their desire.

  He reached past his groupies and grasped Adelle’s elbow, halting her. “Hey sweetie, I’m having a Halloween party tonight at my place. If you’ve got a costume, I’d love to see you there.”

  His serious eyes broke through Adelle’s protective wall that surrounded her heart. She felt it swell and the dull ache turned to a fluttering warmth. She couldn’t resist him when he looked at her like that.

  Shannon’s high pitched cackle broke their private moment. “She doesn’t need a costume. She’ll scare more people if she goes as herself,” She mocked as she hovered inside of the door, waiting on her group to follow. “I’m ready to go. Now,” she commanded.

  Adelle pointed at Shannon, but her eyes never left Gavin’s. “That! Is exactly the reason why I wouldn’t step foot into that party, Gavin. Not in a million years.”

  Gavin looked back at Shannon, when his head came back around anger shone on his reddened face. He wouldn’t say anything out of respect for Behr, but she could tell he was sick and tired of having her around all the time. He reluctantly dragged himself out of the shop, never taking his eyes off of the broken hearted girl.

  Chapter Two

  “Behind every mask there’s a face,

  And behind that, a story.”

  ~ Marty Ruban

  “OH HONEY! Nuh uh, I don’t think so! You sit your cute lion haired, round lil’ behind down in my chair. We’ll take care of you.”

  The magnificently flamboyant beautician grabbed ‘hold of her shoulders and forced her to sit down. “You are going to have that delicious man eating outta the palm of your pasty lil’ hands by the time we finish with you. Mmhmm, yes we are!” He announced as he snapped his fingers signaling the rest of the staff to come help.

  They all poked prodded, and tugged Adelle in every direction. The whole process took several agonizing hours. Adelle wasn’t sure what was going on back there, but the smell of chemicals made her incredibly nervous. Too late to back out now.

  They had her chair turned away from the row of mirrors, so that she couldn’t see the progress. Expressing that they lived for the exciting reveal, once the makeover was complete. The beauty staff enjoyed teasing her with worried noises, gasps and sarcastic comments.

  After several hours had passed Adelle grew increasingly anxious. Right when she was beginning to regret her decision, they announced that the process was complete and turned her chair around.

  Stunned.

  That is what she was as she sat, staring at the reflection in the mirror. This stranger staring back at her couldn’t possibly be the same person. This girl was stunning. The stylist lightened her hair several shades, to a soft strawberry blonde with subtle honey colored highlights skillfully blended in. The combination caught the light at every angle making it shimmer.

  The beautician showed her how to use her new favorite tool, a straight iron. Once her frizzy ringlets were smoothed out, Adelle’s hair was a lot longer looking than one would originally suspect. The color change transformed her skin tone from pale and pasty, to porcelain perfection. The cosmetologist with the reverse Mohawk showed her different makeup techniques that blew her mind.

  This wasn’t like the movies where they remove a ponytail and glasses, throw a dress at you and poof! It’s a miracle, kind of makeover. After several hours of work, Adelle truly looked like a completely different person. It almost frightened her.

  After witnessing first-hand the petty confrontation and cruel treatment from Shannon, the beauty staff pledged their allegiances to Adelle. While working on her, they each told their own heartbreaking bullying stories, for no other reason than being different.

  “Come in here as much as you want, honey. We’ll touch you up until you’re a master at it. Soon enough you’ll be able to apply your makeup in the dark, with one hand tied
behind your back. My hand to God.” Promised the flashy beautician.

  Leiah was jumping up and down, completely blown away by the transformation. She almost seemed happier than Adelle. “Oh my God you’ve got to go to the party now! We’ll find the sexiest, most dangerously seductive costume around. You have to go. It’s your last night here. Go out with a bang!”

  Adelle had to admit that the thought excited her at first, but just as quickly she tamped it down.

  “The moment Shannon sees my face she’ll be all over me like a vulture on a carcass. No matter how I look now, if she sees me, my fun will be over.”

  Adelle’s enthusiastic friend shook her head confidently. “Nope. You’re not getting off that easy. It’s a costume party. We’ll find a gorgeous eye mask to cover the only thing anyone would recognize. The rest is too drastic a change for anyone to know that it’s you. Ta Da!” She waved her hands with practiced spirit fingers, as she uttered the words in a sing-song rhythm.

  Adelle let herself get worked up again. “That’s right. A costume party, hmm.” She spoke out loud. She definitely liked the idea of walking away on an epic note.

  “Honey, you better go. I want to hear how this story plays out.” Mohawk urged her, flicking her wrist as she talked.

  For just a moment the transformed beauty let herself think that with this makeover she finally looked like a girl Gavin would go for. With a confident grin spreading across her face. She announced, “Let’s do it!”

  Her friend clapped excitedly as the beauty staff high-fived, now feeling like a part of the story.

  “Yaaaaaaay! We’ve gotta go now. We need to find you an epic costume.”

  AFTER CHECKING every overpriced store selection in town, Leiah got an idea. She drove right to the edge of their harbor town before entering the highlands. The remote location made Adelle lift a curious eyebrow. Glancing at her friend she didn’t even have to ask, they were mind-mates after all.