The Hairdresser Diaries

by Jessica Miller

  “What, a bitch and a slut?”

  “Ha-ha, whatever. Hey you already got the slut part down,” she mocked and I picked up an empty color box and threw it at her. “Hey!”

  “I’ve got more important things to worry about than Kayla talking shit,” I said as I went back to mixing color.

  “Oh, that’s right. Tonight’s your big date with Cole.”

  “It’s not a date.”

  “Then what would you call it?”

  “Paying my dues,” I said and she rolled her eyes at me.

  “Just remember, don’t give it up on the first date.”

  “Please, I’m not you. I wait at least till the second date.” We both laughed and I headed back out to my station. Peyton followed me out and sat down in the empty station next to mine. Peyton was done for the night, but decided to hang around to chat since our friend Jessie was my last client of the night.

  “So where you guy’s going?” Peyton asked.

  “Applebee’s.”

  “Applebee’s, lame, who picked there?” she said making a face.

  “I did, and it’s fine.”

  “What are you gonna wear?” She was enjoying this too much.

  “I don’t know and I don’t care.”

  “What are you guys talking about?” Jessie asked.

  “Tatum has a hot date tonight,” Peyton told her.

  “I thought we were getting drinks tonight?” Jessie said making a face like I was ditching her.

  “We are, afterwards,” I reassured her.

  “So who’s this hot date?”

  “No one,” I said.

  But then Peyton jumped in saying, “This really hot guy Tatum’s in love with.”

  “I’m not in love with him,” I said exasperated. “And I don’t even like him.”

  “Then why are you going on a date with him?” Jessie asked, her interest clearly peaked now.

  “Yeah you never did get to tell me,” Peyton said.

  I knew they wouldn’t let this go so I told Jessie everything that happened last weekend and them both why I was going out with him tonight.

  “Why do I always miss the good stuff,” Jessie said when I was finished.

  “Okay, now that I told you, can we please drop it for now?”

  “Fine, geez, don’t get your panties in a bunch,” Jessie said.

  “May I remind you, that you should not piss off your hairdresser?” I told her.

  She looked at me all sweet and innocent and said, “I love you.” I just shook my head and kept my mouth shut.

  Jessie was my last client of the night. I always did her last because normally we would talk so much it slowed me down and it took forever to finish her hair.

  Tonight I took extra time styling Jessie’s hair. “I think your procrastinating,” Jessie finally said.

  “Huh?”

  “You never spend this much time styling my hair. Usually you do it half-ass and kick me out.”

  “Not always,” I drew out the words, “And we’re going out tonight so I know you want me to style it nice.”

  “Yes, but I think you’re doing it to find a way out of the date. You’re taking your time so you have an excuse to cancel.”

  “Shut up! Fine, whatever do it yourself,” I said handing her the flat iron and comb. She tried hard not to laugh. We both knew she was right, but I’d never admit it.

  Peyton volunteered to stay with the stylists who were running late. She didn’t want me to come up with any excuses not to go on the date either.

  She was practically pushing me out the door, not letting me clean up my station. She said she would clean it for me.

  I was running out of excuses so I grabbed my stuff and left.

  On my way home I kept telling myself, “Only five dates, that’s it and I’m done. No big deal, think of it like a business dinner, get in and get out. I can do this, really, why am I stressing?”

  Once inside, my thoughts were on what to wear. I searched through my closet analyzing each item. Okay a dress? No, nothing to make him think I’m interested. Nothing too revealing or too tight, crap, that’s most of my wardrobe. Okay Tatum think…something casual, but not too casual. I don’t want to look like a bum. Oh what does it matter?

  Uh, this should not be this hard. Okay, I’m just going to grab something and whatever it is, that’s what I’m going to wear. I closed my eyes and reached into my closet. Of course the first thing I grabbed was my naughty nurse costume from last Halloween.

  Yeah, that won’t work, okay, let’s try this again. The next thing I picked up was the skimpiest dress I owned. It barely covered anything. I bought it a couple years ago for the vacation I took in Mexico.

  Ugh! This is hopeless. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted my white Capri’s. I took them off the hanger and my yellow V-neck shirt. It was a little dressier than a t-shirt, but not too dressy. Perfect, now just a little touch-up with makeup and hair.

  I got changed and went over to sit at my vanity. Wow my hair is a mess. I wore it curly today, didn’t feel like straightening it and now it looks like a nappy mess. I didn’t have time to redo it, so I reshaped some of the curls with product and pinned up the sides. That would have to be good enough. I was ready now and running late. I quickly sprayed on a little perfume and was out the door.

  When I got to the restaurant Cole was already inside waiting. “Wasn’t sure if you were going to show,” Cole said as I entered the restaurant a little breathless.

  “Hi, sorry, ran a little late at work.” That was a lie, but I wasn’t going to tell him I was late because I couldn’t decide what to wear.

  “Shall we,” he said gesturing towards the hostess. “Two for Kelley,” Cole said to the hostess.

  “Yes, your table is ready,” she replied.

  We followed the hostess back to a booth by the windows. We sat down, she handed us our menus, and said our waitress would be with us shortly. I picked up my menu hoping he would start talking—I was not a good conversation starter—but he didn’t. He just seemed to mimic what I did. The waitress came over, introduced herself and asked us what we’d like to drink. Cole gestured for me to go first.

  “I’ll have a sprite,” I said.

  “The same,” Cole told the waitress.

  I glanced at him quickly, and then went back to staring at my menu. I already knew what I wanted—I knew before I even picked up the menu—but was hoping to avoid the awkwardness of not talking but was failing miserably.

  When the waitress came back with our drinks, she asked if we were ready to order. I told her I was and looked at Cole to see if he was ready. He nodded, gesturing again for me to go first.

  “I’ll have a cheeseburger, medium well,” I said and Cole ordered the same thing, smiling at the waitress politely and handing her the menus.

  We sat there, not saying a word. I started to play with my straw wrapper, thinking, “Please say something.” But he didn’t. He just sat there and watched me intensely.

  Okay, this is getting weird. I looked up at him. He had an expression on his face like he was studying me. Like he was playing a game, to see who would break the silence first.

  “Alright I’ll play,” I thought to myself. I stared back at him and we both sat there in silence watching each other. It was almost as if we were trying to read each other’s mind. Even when the food came, we still said nothing. It seemed like we were so into this ‘game’—if that’s what you want to call it—we didn’t say anything to the waitress either, just nodded at her and smiled.

  When we finished eating, more silence. We sat there, waiting for the other to give in. When the waitress brought us our check, she gave us a weird look. Apparently she noticed we haven’t said a word to each other since we got there.

  Cole automatically went for the check. Determined to not break the silence, I stuck my hand out and motioned for him to give me the check. Reminding him that I owed him and I was paying. He was slightly confused at first, but then remembered our little
agreement per his arrangement and handed me the check.

  I paid the bill and gestured to leave. We both stood up and made our way out the door, stopping just short of where I parked. I opened my mouth to say something, but then stopped. I looked at him and gave him a half wave goodbye.

  He smiled at me, gave a slight bow, turned and walked away. Confused at what the hell just happened, I turned around and went to my car. I gave a quick glance over my shoulder, but he was already gone. Once in my car I sat there for a minute, thinking to myself, “What the hell was that?” For a guy who seemed so interested in dating me he doesn’t say anything on the first date?

  Weird, seriously, just weird. Stalker? Serial killer? I shook the thought from my head and called Jessie.

  “Hey I’m ready. Where are you?”

  “You’re done already?” Jessie asked.

  “Long story, well not really, I’ll tell you later.”

  “I’m already at the peg spot,” she replied.

  “Alright see you in ten.” I hung up the phone and took off to meet Jessie.

  I found her downstairs at the outside bar. I walked over to her, sat down, and ordered a drink.

  “So how was the date?” I gave her a look that said don’t ask. “That bad huh, what happened?”

  “Nothing,” I said dryly.

  “What do you mean nothing?”

  “Exactly that.”

  “Did he not show?” she asked confused.

  “No, he did.”

  “Care to elaborate?”

  “He was already there when I got there and he told me he thought I wasn’t going to show.”

  “Why?”

  “I guess cause I was running late.”

  “You always run late.”

  “Anyway, we sat down and ordered. He ordered the exact same thing as me including the drink.”

  “Coincidence maybe?” Jessie said seeing the annoyance in my face.

  “There are no coincidences with Cole. Anyway after we ordered we didn’t talk, at all.”

  “At all?”

  “Nope, not one word the entire time.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Absolutely, even when we left, just a gesture.”

  “Wow…um…I don’t know what to say.”

  “There’s nothing to say.”

  “Apparently,” she said she mockingly.

  We both laughed at her comment and then changed the subject.

  Jessie started telling me about the guy she met last week, but I couldn’t pay attention, my mind kept wondering back to Cole. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I stressed so much over tonight and for what? But every time I tried to let it go I couldn’t. He was always there in the back of mind. He definitely threw me for a loop tonight. This was not how I expected it to go at all. I thought maybe he changed his mind about me and thought maybe if he acted weird it would make me not want him. No, there’s no way he can change his mind like that. Only I can. God how dare he, and how does he always manage to irritate me, get under my skin…

  “Hello?” Jessie said waving her hand in front of my face. I was so lost in my own head I forgot where I was. I snapped out of it after Jessie started knocking on my head saying, “Anyone in there?”

  “Ow! Jess!”

  “Sorry, but I’ve been trying to get your attention and you were ignoring me.”

  “Okay, you got my attention now,” I said rubbing my head.

  “Your phone beeped.” She giggled and gave me an exaggerated smile. I glared at her and picked up my phone. It was a message from Cole.

  “Had a nice time tonight, looking forward 2 tomorrow.”

  I replied to his text, “What’s tomorrow?”

  “Our 2nd date,” the text read.

  “You’ve got to be kidding,” I thought as my phone beeped again.

  “B ready by 6. This time my choice and I’ll pick u up.”

  Before I could come up with an excuse and decline he sent one last text.

  “No excuses.”

  Crap. Well if tonight’s date is any indication of how tomorrow’s will go this should be pretty easy, weird, but easy.

  “Who was that?” Jessie asked, probably in response to the faces I was making at my phone.

  “Cole.”

  “Did he say something or did he just send you a blank text?” I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “No, there was an actual message,” I said wondering what he could possibly have in mind for tomorrow. “I have a feeling he’s playing games. Which is gonna end real quick. I don’t play that game bullshit.”

  “I don’t know what to tell you. I have to agree the whole not talking thing is weird. If you weren’t doing this to pay him back I’d say no worries and not bother with him again.”

  The funny thing is, even if I wasn’t doing this to pay him back, I don’t think I could get rid of Cole. As much as he annoys me and irritates me, I find myself still drawn to him for some reason. The more I try to push him away, the more he comes back to me.

  “So enough about you, we’re talking about me now,” Jessie said interrupting my thoughts again. “So this guy I met…”

  “Oh yeah that reminds me,” I butted in.

  “Excuse me, I was talking.”

  “Yeah, but trust me you want to hear this,” I told her as she huffed annoyed. “You remember Tommy, Cole’s friend from last weekend?”

  “How could I forget,” she said dreamily.

  “Well he likes you.”

  “And you’re just telling me this now!”

  “Sorry, I’ve been a little distracted,” that was an understatement. “So you’re interested?”

  “Uh, yeah,” she said as if that was obvious.

  “I’ll say something to Cole tomorrow and tell him to give Tommy your number.”

  “Hopefully he’ll say something back,” she joked.

  We talked for a while and had a few drinks then called it a night. I had to work early the next day so I didn’t want to be out late.

  Follow your heart where ever it takes you, and be happy. Life is very fragile and only loaned to us for a while…

  -Unknown

  Chapter 6

  Work went by slow; I had a big cancellation and a no show. I really hate when people don’t show up without calling to at least say they can’t make it. Don’t people know how rude that is? If we knew, we could call someone who was actually willing to come in, instead of sitting here with an hour and a half opening. Not to mention, most stylist work on commission. So when clients don’t show, that’s less money we get in our paychecks and people don’t understand that. I’m pretty sure most people don’t not show up for a doctor’s, car, or dentist appointment, so why do it to us?

  To pass the time, I helped Peyton out. She was overbooked. In the time I had open I helped her by shampooing clients for her or ringing them out. The good thing about her being busy, it didn’t give her time to ask about my date with Cole. It’s not like there was anything to say anyway.

  I got done with my last client and once Peyton was caught up, I headed out early before my shift was over. I didn’t get paid hourly so it’s not like I really had to put the hours in.

  When I got home I thought taking a nice long relaxing bath would help prepare me for tonight. I needed something to take my mind off of whatever it was that Cole had planned.

  I went into the bathroom, turned on the water, and poured in some of my Victoria Secret bubble bath. Got undressed and hopped in. This definitely was a good idea. I was starting to feel relaxed already. Well, I was until Cole text me.

  “What’s ur address?”

  I text him my address and then asked, “Do I get to know what we r doing?”

  “Nope”

  “Can I at least have a clue so I know what 2 wear?”

  “Dress comfy and casual”

  Great, that helps.

  I decided to wear my white peasant dress. It was light and flowy and came down to my knees. The dress had spaghetti
straps, so I decided to wear my hair down in loose waves. I only put on a minimal amount of make-up. Light pinks and peaches.

  I was ready by five, so now I had an hour to kill. I hated waiting. I tried to find things to do to kill the time, but had no such luck. I was too antsy. I went to the fridge, grabbed a beer, and sat on the deck to calm my nerves. I also debated about eating a snack, since I wasn’t sure what we were doing. I was scared he might take me somewhere and I’d go hungry because I didn’t like the food. I shrugged it off giving good faith he’d pick a good place. God let’s hope he does.

  While sitting there waiting, my one beer turned into two, then three. Crap, maybe I should have had a snack. Once I realized I was on my third beer I stopped and snacked on a couple pretzels. Then I brushed my teeth and reapplied my lip gloss. By the time I was finished, there was a knock at my door. I checked the time, six on the dot. I grabbed my purse and opened the door.

  There he was in jeans and a t-shirt, smiling that marvelous smile. I stepped out locking the door behind me.

  He took one look at me and said, “That’s what you consider comfy and casual?”

  I looked down at my dress, “I think it’s very comfy and this is one of my casual dresses. Why, should I change?”

  “No, it’s fine.” He put his arm out for me to take it and led me to his car opening the door for me.

  Once we were both in the car I asked, “Now are you going to tell me what we’re doing?”

  “Nope you’re just going to have to wait and see,” he said.

  Great he’s going to kidnap me and tie me up in his basement.

  I tapped my fingers nails nervously on the door ready to open it in case he was a serial killer.

  Cole glanced over at me. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to kidnap you,” he said.

  I looked at him surprised, yeah that’s what they say to help you relax so you’re easier to restrain. I opened my mouth to say something, but I couldn’t.

  “You’re tapping your nails on the door nervously as if you were preparing to make a break for it.”

  “Oh, sorry,” I said and quickly pulled my hand away.

  He tried to hide his smile. “It’s okay, I don’t expect you to trust me…yet,” he glanced over at me. “I know trust has to be earned and I can tell you’re someone who doesn’t trust people easily.”