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Moving to a new town rough on Leone. He was leaving lifelong friendships for a small island town. They moved because his parents were researching cardinalfish. Sure, Sardinian was beautiful but most of Italy was beautiful. Sure, there were beaches but that meant sand getting everywhere and sunburns. The only benefit Leone saw was that things were cheaper. He couldn’t help but miss everything about Naples.
Leone sighed; even worse he was still trying to gauge how homophobic the town was. It was a small town he couldn’t expect to be the queerest place on earth.
He sat on a bench staring at a store. Maria’s Makeup. Leone just ran out of his favorite lipstick. Even if it was just to wear at home, he needed it. But was he going to get looks if he entered? Normally he wouldn’t give a shit, but this was a small town and rumors flew fast. Sure, his friends and family accepted him and that was all that mattered. But moving here sucked enough without everyone judging him for existing.
“The sign said opened.” Leone looked up to see Diavolo.
“I’m surprised you’re even outside.”
“You’re hilarious, papa needed me to pick up groceries,” Diavolo held up a bag.
Leone only knew Diavolo because his parents threw a party and decided to invite everyone from their new church. The party was supposed to be a way to get to know people. Or to try to get their children to make friends. Leone stood and watched people socialize. He saw Diavolo also standing against a wall people watching. He was only here because his father made him come. The two ditched the party together and have been friends since.
And by friends Leone met he was the only person he regularly talked to outside of his family. Leone was positive Diavolo only saw him as an acquaintance at most. Not that Leone could get upset that they only knew each other for a month.
“Be honest, can I go in there without getting looks.”
“Yeah, they’ll just assume you’re buying for your girlfriend.”
“Wonderful,” Leone muttered. It was better than the alternative.
“If it makes you feel better, I buy makeup from there too.”
“Wait, seriously.”
“Of course, you can never buy anything online, the government tracking your every move it’s disgusting.”
“Sorry, you don’t seem like a makeup person.”
“Makeup is one of the best ways to disguise oneself.” That made more sense.
“So that’s a costume makeup store?” Leone asked.
“They have both, now stop being a fucking coward, this is a life skill.”
Leone stared at Diavolo, somehow that was the most encouraging thing he heard in a while, “Thanks.”
“I’m not leaving till I see you enter the store.”
Leone rolled his eyes and walked in. It looked like two stores were mashed together. One side had a wall of wigs and was Halloween-themed. The other side had a wall of lipsticks and looked like a Barbie-themed boutique. There was a good selection of colors, and the prices were nice. So nice in fact that Leone bought two, a deep red and a lavender lipstick.
He walked and for some stupid reason expected Diavolo to be out there. But he was gone. Still, Leone’s heart beat faster at the thought of him. Maybe life here wasn’t so bad after all.