A Beautiful Forever - By Anderson, Lilliana Page 0,14
at my hair in the mirror. It's gotten long to the point that it gets in my eyes and almost touches my shoulders. “Number four it is,” I say seriously, holding her eyes in the mirror.
She raises her eyebrows slightly and nods, preparing the clippers to buzz all of my hair off. I’m a little nervous, but hair grows back… right?
Paige
I really didn’t think he’d go for it, so I’m a little surprised right now, and impressed. Truthfully, I do truthfully like guys with super short hair. I love the way it feels when you run your hand over the spikes. I just didn’t think an Adonis like Elliot would contemplate cutting off his locks on a whim.
As I lift the clippers towards his hair, I look at him in the mirror. “Are you sure?” I ask. He looks at me and nods confidently, so I take the strip of hair away straight down the middle of his head.
“Can’t change your mind now,” I tease.
He laughs, “I don’t want to.”
I run the clippers slowly through his hair, watching as his locks cascade over his shoulders and slide down the cape towards the floor.
“Where are you staying?” he asks.
“Heathrow, near the airport. I’m there for a couple of weeks until I find a share house. First stop was a job though.”
“You got a job in a day?”
“I got a trial in a day.”
“She got a job in a day,” Andrea interrupts. “As long as she wants it of course.”
I pause and smile at Andrea, “Really? Thank you Andrea.”
“Well, you’re good and I need help. It’s a win win.” She winks at me and carries some wet towels into the back room.
“Congratulations,” Elliot says to me smiling.
“Thank you,” I can’t help but smile back. I am so glad the job part is sorted out now.
“Can I take you to dinner to celebrate?”
“Oh… I don’t know about that,” I hesitate as I finish neatening his hair and put the clippers down. I reach for a soft powdered brush to flick away the excess hair on his neck. Gliding my hand over the short spikes, a delicious chill runs through me as I touch him, perhaps a little more than I should. I take a deep breath, knowing I need to put a stop to this. “Listen, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea here Elliot. I can see the way you look at me, and I can’t give you what you want. You’re a great-looking guy. I'd be a fool not to notice that, but I need to be clear - I’m not the girl for you.”
He sits up and spins his chair so he’s facing me now, “Paige, while I’m flattered that you think I’m so great-looking – you’ve got the wrong idea yourself. I think it would be pointless to start anything with anyone. Especially with you, I only have three months, and you are here indefinitely. However, you’re the first girl I’ve met in a long time that doesn’t giggle every time I speak, so I like you, I’d like to get to know you… if you’ll let me - as friends.”
I narrow my eyes slightly at him, not sure that I believe him, but I have to admit that there is logic in his reasoning…, and I am hungry. “Alright, fine. We can have dinner.”
Elliot
“I’ll tell you what,” I say. “I’ll take you to the flat I’m staying in, and we can see what everyone else is doing, it can’t possibly be a date that way. Plus, you’ll get to meet some new people.”
I can see the wheels turning in her head as she considers my proposal, “Where are you staying?”
“About a five-minute walk from here.”
“Ok, fine, just give me time to finish up, and I’ll meet you outside.” She walks me to the register, and I pay for my haircut. I can’t stop running my hand back and forward over my head. It feels strange and awesome all at the same time.
She’s smiling as she watches me do it, “See, feels good huh?”
“It does,” I admit. “I’ll see you when you’re through.” She nods, and I walk out the door as she flips the sign to ‘closed’ behind me. I’m waiting maybe ten minutes before she comes out with her bag.
“That was fast,” I point out.
“I got let off early for being such a good worker.”
“Lucky you.”
“No, lucky you. You would have been waiting for a good 30 minutes otherwise.”