Page 44 of Just My Puck
“Sounds good.” Marissa puts her phone down, then shoots me a smile. “We’ll take care of everything. You just have to show up.”
“Do I have a choice?” I joke.
“Nope,” they both say, and I laugh, shaking my head.
Marissa sits back, looking satisfied. “Right. Now, let’s go get you a new birthday dress.”
My eyes fly wide. “What!”
“Non-negotiable,” Marissa says. “We know the contents of your closet, since we bought your whole wardrobe together. You’re going to need a dress.”
I sigh. What did I get myself into?
After another three hours of shopping, we find not only a dress for the party, but jewelry, shoes, and makeup. The girls also insist on getting me another outfit for Christmas with Caleb’s family. Satisfied, we finally head back to Warlington Lane.
Susan, the hairdresser, was happy to move things around and help me out. The salon is small but cozy, with soft lighting and pastel-colored walls adorned with framed vintage beauty posters. Styling chairs line one side, each facing a large, well-lit mirror, while shelves stocked with colorful bottles of hair products give the space a fresh, clean scent. The faint hum of a blow dryer and the quiet chatter from another stylist add to the chic, welcoming atmosphere.
“Okay,” Susan announces onceI’m sitting facing the mirror, my hair still damp from the shampooing. “What are we thinking?”
“I haven’t really had time to think about it, but I’d love to change styles. Like I said, this haircut just doesn’t feel like me.”
“I see what you’re saying,” she says, picking up my tresses and letting them fall. “I think bangs would work really well on you. I’d also add more movement to your hair, give it more volume with a layered cut. Or we could shorten it too.”
“What about pink hair?” Beth suggests from her seat in the corner.
I shoot her a glare, and she bursts out a laugh. “Just kidding. Although Hayley’s rocking hers.”
“Definitely not pink hair,” I tell Susan. “Something classic.”
She shows me a couple of pictures, and I find a style that speaks to me. Once we decide on my cut, I relax into the chair as she snips at my hair. She leans over me, and her lily perfume tickles my senses again. Since we arrived at the salon, the aroma has followed her around, and for some reason, it seems familiar. Maybe I had the same perfume, or someone close to me wore it. Then, out of the blue, the laughter of a little girl resonates in my head. I look around, but there are no kids in the salon.Still, the sensation stays with me. It feels like I knew someone who used this perfume.
The longer Susan works on my hair, the more I relax. I don’t know if it’s because of her comforting perfume or the fact that I’m switching up my appearance. Maybe a bit of both. And probably also because Caleb is coming back tomorrow.
An hour later, she finishes cutting and styling my hair, and I’m finally allowed to see the final result. The girls already approve, and I’m excited to see my new look.
“What do you think?” Susan asks, stepping back with a hand on her hip before reaching out to fluff a few strands into place.
She swivels my chair back around to face the mirror, and I gasp at my reflection. The bangs and the volume of my hair look so different, yet exactly what I wanted—what I needed. It feels more me.
“Wow. I love it. Thank you so much.”
She beams, taking off my styling cape. “You’re very welcome. I’m glad you like it.”
“You look amazing,” Beth gushes as I stand up from the chair. “It’s like this hairstyle was meant for you.”
“Absolutely.” Marissa nods. “Aria 2.0 is here.”
“You know, it does feel a little like a rebirth. Thank you again—both of you,” I say, glancing between them. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you. You guys have been so good to me, and we barely know each other.”
“Of course,” Marissa says, giving me a hug. “It’s what friends do.”
“It’s our pleasure,” Beth adds, hugging me in turn. “You’re part of the group now. We take care of one another.”
And just like that, my mind drifts back to Caleb. All this, everything I have, I owe to him. I honestly can’t believe my luck. Now, I’m even more eager for tomorrow. Beth was right. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he lays eyes on me. Hopefully he’ll like Aria 2.0.
19
“I’ll be your penguin, Aria.”
