Free I So Don't Do Makeup by Barrie Summy Page A

bad batch of makeup, Crystal?” Lacey asks in a small voice.
    â€œI haven’t.” Crystal’s frowning. “Did you contact Naked Makeup about it, Lacey?”
    â€œI did. They haven’t had any complaints from other vendors,” Lacey says. “Not even vendors with product with the same lot numbers. I sent in Nite Sprite Creme samples to corporate for testing.”
    â€œWill you send in the lip gloss too?” Crystal runs the bracelets up and down her arms.
    â€œI could.” Lacey presses her palms flat on the counter. They stop trembling. “But if it’s the hotsauce ingredient …” Lacey trails off.
    â€œCapsicum,” Junie inserts.
    â€œYeah, capsicum,” Lacey says. “Corporate wouldn’t test for that.”
    â€œWe’re convinced someone’s sabotaging Lacey.” Amber’s screwing lids on the mini bottles. “To, like, put her out of business. We don’t know for sure, but Sherry thinks maybe someone’s adding capsicum to our lip gloss. She’s done some detective work in the past and she’s trying to figure it all out.”
    Junie’s eyes flash.
    I try to add that Junie’s working on the case withme, but Amber barrels over me. She never worries about Junie’s feelings. Probably because they’re cousins—she knows Junie’s stuck with her.
    â€œIf I were you, I wouldn’t keep sending tainted makeup to your headquarters,” Crystal says. “They’ll start getting very anxious about what you’re selling and question whether they should shut you down to keep their name clean.”
    Crystal leans in, looking closely at Junie again. “Cross your fingers that it ends soon and you don’t have any more incidents.” She straightens. “I’ll keep my ears open and let you know if I hear anything.”
    â€œThanks,” Lacey says, all choked up.
    â€œWe’re gonna keep working hard, hooking people up with Naked Makeup because we totally believe in the product line.” Amber’s unrolling lavender ribbon and cutting it into lengths of about six inches. “We’re gonna find out who’s doing this to Lacey and stop them. It’s our duty as cosmeticians.”
    Lacey hugs Amber.
    â€œWhat’re you working on?” Crystal picks up a strip of ribbon.
    Amber points to the miniature bottles. “Silky Soft Hand Lotion. Hands love it. It’s the perfect product for introducing shoppers to Naked Makeup.” Amber is positively glowing. She believes in this productfrom her highlighted head all the way down to the tips of her painted toenails.
    â€œWe’re decorating samples to give away.” Lacey’s hands are steady now as she picks up a bottle.
    â€œJunie and I can help after school! We’ll walk around the mall with a basket, handing them out,” I say. “We’ll reach more customers than if the samples are just sitting here at the kiosk.”
    Amber and Lacey squeal at the same time.
    Junie nods, which goes to show how far she’s advanced socially. Not too long ago, she would’ve chosen math homework over giving away free samples of lotion.
    â€œI gotta boogie,” Crystal says. “I left Suze in charge and you know what a pain she is if I’m gone too long.”
    â€œSeriously,” Amber says.
    Suze isn’t part of the Amber-Crystal-Lacey trio.
    â€œThanks for the coupons,” Lacey says. “And for the moral support.”
    â€œNo prob.” Crystal waves and her bracelets tinkle and sparkle.
    Amber’s gazing at me like this is science class and I’m a bug under a microscope. “We’ll do your makeup before we send you out to represent Naked Makeup.” She turns her scientific gaze to Junie. “You can help Sherry in a few days. Your face needs to heal.”
    Junie flushes red like a tomato. Which makes her face look even less desirable for