Lipstick & Zombies (Deadly Divas Book 1)

by McKay, Faith

  "What are you all waiting for? That question should be answered by you running out of this room. My god. The lot of you could learn a thing or two from that drink minion. Places!"

  "Teegan," Gerri corrected.

  "Move!" Meghan yelled.

  The five of them left the room, quickly, but slow enough to grate on Meghan's nerves.

  If they'd managed to style Gerri's hair, it would have been wrecked within a few hours. She didn't care what kind of guarantees they made, she was sure of it. Her hair was drenched with sweat. She was sliding around in her shoes. She didn't want to think about what she smelled like.

  And it was awesome.

  She already knew everything the trainers were drilling into them. The whole day was singing and dancing and losing herself in work she actually liked doing. Even with all the sweat, and the drain of doing their whole set multiple times through, she was having fun. They'd been doing it so much lately that she wasn't even that worn out anymore. She wouldn't even be sore the next day. And the next day? There would be people out there. She'd always been an entertainer, whether it was the dining room table at home or the lunch room at school. And now she'd have a real audience.

  Even the groaning zombies at the edge of the stage didn't make it on her radar anymore. There was now. There was dancing and singing. And tomorrow there were fans. Everything else was irrelevant.

  The rest of the Divas seemed to feel the same way. All of them had plopped down on the stage, bodies splayed out and breathing heavy, staring up at the blue sky peeking through the scaffolding. Teegan brought them waters and strawberry lemonades and eventually a tray of sandwiches with vegetables and dips.

  "Do you hear that?" Sadie asked.

  "I'm trying not to," Gerri said.

  "Meghan was right. The crew is all in fits today. You'd think they got shot at yesterday," Sadie said.

  "Who cares?" Gerri asked.

  "I look like a freak," Dee said. Her and Carrie usually used their bathroom breaks to fix up their hair and makeup with more effort than the rest of them put in, but none of them had bothered so far that day. "I can't handle being this sweaty. It's so gross. And—"

  "Shhh," Carrie said. "We're pretending it's not happening."

  "I like it," Gerri said.

  "Um, ew," Dee said.

  "It's a sign we're alive," Gerri said. "All natural. The zombies don't really sweat, have you noticed?"

  "Um, no. Mostly I notice they want to eat me," Dee said.

  "Is that true?" Carrie asked. "Do they not sweat?"

  "I don't know, I've just never seen it," Gerri said. "Does it matter?"

  "I guess not. Just curious." Carrie sat up and shaded her eyes. "Did you notice they're extra lively today?"

  "Agitated," Jo agreed.

  "It's in your head," Gerri said.

  "I don't think so," Carrie said. "I think they're picking up on how stressed everyone is."

  "Is this more of your voodoo?" Sadie teased.

  Carrie shrugged and laid back down.

  A cloud blocked the sun just as a light breeze blew through. Mother nature's air conditioning kicking on. Gerri's wet skin prickled with the cold. She'd once found a book that took place before the world changed. The guy had traveled across the sea on a boat. He'd described lying on the deck of the boat, watching the sun's rays reach across space to glitter across the water. The breeze blew across that same water, keeping him cool. He'd spend his afternoons like that, until the boat rocked him to sleep for a nap.

  It sounded peaceful, that world.

  "Can you believe the show's still happening?" Sadie asked.

  "Of course it is," Dee said.

  "Why would someone do that?" Carrie asked.

  "We're famous now. It happens." Dee flicked her hair out into Gerri's face. Gerri picked it up and dropped it on her face. "Bitch."

  Carrie whispered, "Are we safe?"

  Gerri answered, "With Jo around, yeah."

  Jo said, "It wasn't—"

  "Yes it was," Gerri told her. "Thanks for getting our asses out of there. Thanks doesn't really cut it, does it?"

  Dee asked, "Do we send her flowers?"

  Gerri asked, "You want to send Jo flowers?”

  "I don't know," Dee answered. "Something I read."

  Jo said, "Thanks, but it was really—"

  Gerri interrupted her to say, "Saving our lives?"

  Jo laughed. "Oh, shut up."

  Gerri laughed. "Have I told you I like you?"

  "Say it with flowers," Jo said.

  Dee said, "Maybe flowers aren't such a bad idea."

  “How do you know how to drive, anyway?” Gerri asked. “I don't know anyone who knows how to drive.”

  “Everyone knows how to drive where I'm from.” She said it like it was another world, but was also careful not to name it and point out that difference.

  Noah's shadow managed to stretch over all five of them. It was like magic. The magic of ruining their breaks.

  "It can't be time to go back yet,” Gerri said. “My pits are still wet."

  "Oh my god." Carrie rolled on her side and used her hand to cover her laugh.

  Sadie giggled proudly. "I'm so glad we've gotten to this point in our relationship, guys."

  Noah cleared his throat. She had to squint in the sunlight, but she was pretty sure his cheeks were turning pink. He was way too easy of a mark if sweaty armpits made him blush. "I'm supposed to tell you a couple things," he mumbled.

  Way too easy of a mark. Gerri asked him, "Is that right? Who told you that?"

  He seemed to figure out that she was messing with him, tragically before she really got to have any fun. He cleared his throat again and looked straight ahead instead of at any of them. Back to the gruff authority voice, he said, "Expect to see military at the front of the crowd. Your parents will all be shown to the VIP tower. I'm sure Meghan's told you that you won't have a chance to see your guests until after the show. The recruiting station will be over there. They'll be working before and after the show, next to the booth selling your album. And—"

  "I still don't get why we're doing that," Sadie interrupted.

  "What?" Gerri asked.

  "Why they have to go to that booth to download it," Sadie said. "It's just so annoying."

  "It's so the fans at the show get it first," Gerri said. "Exclusive. Makes them feel cooler by buying it there tomorrow instead of a few hours later like everyone else."

  “Don't you just think it's a little weird?” Sadie asked. “People have only heard one song, but they want to come to our concert and buy our album?”

  “They want to be part of the experience,” Gerri said. “We're fabulous.”

  “Well I can't argue with that,” Sadie conceded.

  "Plus it comes with that picture we can sign," Dee said.

  "Has anyone seen this picture?" Sadie asked.

  "Noah?" Gerri asked. "Have you seen the picture?"

  He grunted and stalked off.

  "I think I scared him away," she said. "That sure was easy."

  But then there was a paper shoved in her face. She had to sit up to get a good look at it.

  The five of them were all posed. They'd shot this a few weeks before, in a day spent being styled again and again for different promotional shots. They weren't told what they'd be used for.

  Carrie was on the left, a sparkly chainsaw held high in one hand and her other arm wrapped around Gerri's shoulder. Gerri had one hand over her mouth in her best "Oops!" expression, while her other hand gripped a bat with blood dripping off the end. The blood was Photoshopped in; if it had really been there, it would have been dripping on Dee's back. Sadie stood to the right in a slinky short dress. She got to hold her favorite rainbow tinted throwing knife. Jo was in front of her, crouched down low with one leg kicked out and an ax in one hand. She'd been oddly opposed to the ax, but when they'd asked her why, she'd grunted a couple times and walked away with the thing in hand, looking like she'd hack at anybody who asked h
er anything else. Dee stood next to her, right in front, bent forward and blowing a kiss, her free hand behind her back holding a sword that poked up over her shoulder.

  "We don't look like us," Sadie said.

  "Photoshop," Dee explained.

  "I know that," Sadie snapped.

  "Of course you do," Dee said. "I just told you."

  Noah pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled loudly. "Don't forget about the special thanks to the military during the show; be sure to point the right way for the recruiters. When you're done here you need to go talk to Meghan about your fan meet and greets." He jumped right off the six foot stage.

  "He's weird today," Gerri said.

  "Not just today," Carrie said.

  "Should we go find Meghan?" Sadie asked.

  "Isn't it her job to find us?" Gerri asked.

  "You're a popstar already," Sadie said.

  "Girl, I was born a popstar," Gerri said.

  Sadie and Jo kicked at Gerri's feet until she relented and raised her arms for them to pull her up.

  Meghan ran them through the meet and greet protocols. Again. Everything they did that day was again, just to idiot-proof the plan. Outfit changes, zombie killing, lighting changes, timing details, backup dancers, props—if they didn't know it by now, she didn't know how this was going to help. Gerri wasn't used to being treated like someone who didn't already know. She inspired a certain brand of admiration, of respect, in her followers. She had to remind herself that once they were famous enough, she could fire all these people and then everyone in the world would give her the level of respect she was due.

  She had to remind herself of this every few minutes when Tammi yelled across the stage, telling Jo to look happier and loosen up her movements, Dee to tighten hers up, Carrie to be a little "less perfect" and more sassy, Sadie to be less sassy, and Gerri to just be less everything.

  Tammi was so much worse than Meghan. Meghan pestered about boring things, but Tammi interrupted Gerri's magic. Why couldn't she just nod off in the corner like Marvin?

  They killed their last zombie, in the last run through, of the last song, and that was it.

  "I'm proud of you," Tammi said, like she was obligated to do so, but then she threw out her arms and waited for them all to come in for a hug. She patted a few of them on the head and walked back off the stage.

  Once she'd gone away, Dee whispered, "What a freak."

  "I don't know," Carrie said. "I like her."

  Dee snorted. "You would."

  Carrie asked, "What's that supposed to mean?"

  "Ugh, don't start," Gerri said. "I'm too tired for bickering. Let's go get changed."

  They'd reached the door to the left backstage hall when Noah ran up behind them. He grabbed Jo's arm—she always lagged in the back with Carrie. "Hey," he said, and looked up to see if the rest of them were watching him. They were. "I just wanted to see if you were okay after yesterday."

  Jo just stood there glaring at him. After all the weeks of silence about how she knew Noah, with her never having said a word to him in any of their training sessions, Gerri had no idea why he thought she'd want to speak a word to him now, but she obviously didn't. They all just stood there, his hand on her arm, everyone waiting for Jo to speak or him to figure himself out and let the hell go of her arm.

  "Enough of this," Gerri said, and walked to the back of the group to rip his hand free. "We got enough drama of our own without boys, thank you very much." She looked from Jo to the dressing room, and Jo took a deep breath and walked away.

  "I am your boss, you know," Noah said.

  "You tell yourself whatever you want to, honey."

  He grabbed Gerri's arm after the others had turned away. She was just about to ask him what he thought he was doing when she saw the look on his face. He looked like he was going to be sick.

  “Don't trust them,” he whispered.

  “Who?”

  “Anybody,” he said, and then even quieter he added, “Why were Meghan and Willa in their own car?”

  Gerri jerked away, but then leaned in. “What are you saying?”

  “Nothing.” He shook his head. “Don't trust anybody. Watch out for each other.” He pulled away, smiling so casually she wondered if the whole thing had even happened. “You'll be great tomorrow, don't worry. I won't hear another word about it.” And then he just walked away.

  WATM NEWS

  “With the big day so close, the internet is bursting at the seams with Warriors fan videos, dance tutorials, and more tributes to the band than one person could ever keep up with. You'd think the city would be getting Diva'd out, but it's not even close. If anything, you're all demanding more, more, more! And they're ready to give it to you. Check out this selfie from the girl's tonight. The caption reads: excited and ready to go! Deadly Divas has always been more than just us. We want to thank all of you for coming along with us on this amazing ride and being the best fans ever. Hugs and Axes! Dee, Carrie, Jo, Sadie, & most of all, Gerri”

  Chapter Twenty-five

  DEE

  Things were perfect. Well, as close to perfect as the people Dee was working with seemed capable of, but she was learning to set the bar a little lower while everyone caught up to her.

  It was finally happening. The concert she'd been working toward since she'd decided to become famous, like, two whole months ago, when she'd first seen that ad. Becoming famous really was a lot of work, just like they said, but she'd done it. And now there she was, perfect.

  Their outfits, hair, and makeup were all done. They were in the dingy unfinished hallway that only the crew used. It was under the stage, and led to the platforms that brought the Divas up to the stage. There were another set of platforms in front of them for the zombies, and though she couldn't hear them over the noise from the crowd outside and couldn't see them with all the rigging set up in the dark space, she was so aware of their presence she could almost feel them watching her. Being underneath the stage was creepy and dark and almost enough to darken her mood. But not quite.

  "I might barf," Jo said.

  "No you won't," Gerri said. It was like an order.

  "I don't get stage fright," Carrie said. "But if I did, this would kind of be like it."

  "Knock it off," Dee said. "This is the best thing ever! I'm so excited I might pee."

  "Dee's right," Gerri said.

  "I know," Dee said.

  "This is what we've been working for," Gerri said. "We can do this!"

  "This is where it all starts, Divas!" Dee bounced up and down on her heels, then checked her hair for loose strands. It was supposed to be able to withstand all the dancing and jumping and fighting on stage, but you could never tell, and she just knew the shots of them rising up onto the stage would be the ones most posted tonight.

  Sadie asked, "Should we uh, group hug, or something?"

  "That sounds right," Dee said. She wished she'd looked something up for this. She was sure there was some kind of tradition for going on stage together, especially the first time.

  "Oh, I know!" Gerri yelled over the crowd. They were starting to stomp their feet. It made Dee's teeth ache. Last year her ex-best-friend took a pill at a party that she said made her feel like she could fly right over the wall. If it felt half as good as she did right then, Dee understood why she'd kept taking it.

  Gerri grabbed their microphones from the side table and passed them out. They weren't working microphones. A couple bands had started using them a few years ago to be retro or something, but no one did that anymore. These were just props, a wink to that retro movement that was almost tacky for a minute. Except when you pushed the button that looked like a heart-shaped jewel, and flicked your wrist out, the microphone stretched into a baton and then flicked and locked into a short ax. The blade was so small it was comical, but it didn't need to actually do much.

  "Group ax high five!" Gerri said.

  "Has to be the first one of those," Sadie said.

  "Tradition!" Dee squealed. "
Love it."

  They touched mics, smiled, and raised the adorable weapons in the air. Dee stomped her feet and screamed. Carrie flinched away, but then joined in, and the rest of them did too.

  "Let's do this!" Gerri screamed.

  They broke apart and went to their individual marks. From her spot, Dee had a perfect view of the zombies. She visualized the shining lights, the glittering stage setup, and let the sounds of the fans fuel her. Zombies? What zombies?

  Bright smile, mic held high, the crew guy stepped in front of her and gave her the thumbs up just before she began to rise into the stage.

  For all the focus she'd put on the fans, they melted away as the music started playing. She didn't even think about the steps, or the lyrics, or anything. Her body, even riding the high, knew exactly what to do.

  The chorus to Warriors kicked in—we are warriors, more than survivors—and she was lucky to not miss a step when she realized the crowd was SCREAMING the words back at them. Life does not get better than this.

  She was no longer sick of that song at all. It was like hearing it for the first time, except liking it this time—loving it, even, without having to try.

  The crowd kept screaming, even with the chorus over. If anything, they were getting louder. Dee danced across the stage, more confident than ever before, not the slightest hesitation about the restrained zombies that would be rising to the stage and squirting blood everywhere when she killed them.

  But then she got a better look at what she was moving toward, and it wasn't right. It didn't even make sense at first. Her body was in automatic mode, repeating what she'd done a hundred times. But this was wrong.

  She glanced over at the other side of the stage, where the second zombie was supposed to be. And it wasn't right either.

  The two old corpses were still there, still tied to the tracks on the platforms, but they had friends: three brand new corpses for each of them. And Dee recognized them.

  An arm grabbed Dee around her midsection, pulling her away from the faces of those two cute body guards who'd been shot on the road outside the military base, still in their uniforms.