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robinrunsfiction · 3 years

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Style

Pairing: Frank Iero x Female Reader Rating: Teen Requested By: None Word Count: ~3,900 Author’s Note: This is the first in a series of stories inspired by songs by Taylor Swift, this one of course being Style from the album 1989. I had intended on holding on to the series until I had all of them done, but I’m struggling to write... anything lately so I’m posting the two that I do have done. Full honesty, this story is one I originally wrote about two years ago for a different fandom and then modified for this challenge. I hope you enjoy.

The vibrating of her phone on the nightstand next to her woke her from her light sleep. She rolled over, bleary eyed, and checked the screen.

From: Frank Iero Message: hey

"Oh for fucks sake" she muttered to herself. She glanced at the clock, just before midnight, no surprise there. 'What's up?' She texted back. She set her phone down and rolled back over, willing it to stay silent.

Until it vibrated again.

'So you are up…' he replied

'Because you woke me up' she replied.

'Anyway, wanna come over?'

'Where's your girl tonight?'

They had an arrangement. They would only contact each other if they knew the other wasn't seeing anyone and they'd hook up, no strings attached. It had been working out pretty well for a few years now. They were each occasionally with a significant other for a while, him more usually than her, but nothing long term, so they weren't ever out of their routine for too long.

'She's gone' he replied.

'At the very least you come to my place' she replied back.

'Already on my way'

(YN) dragged herself out of bed and into the bathroom to check her reflection in the mirror before curling up on the couch and waiting for the doorbell to ring. About 20 minutes later, she had almost fallen back to sleep, when there was a knock. Trudging to the door, she opened to find that familiar face.

"Hey" she said, letting him in.

"Hey, glad you were up," he said with a smirk as he took off his coat and tossed it on the couch where she had just been sitting.

"I wasn't, remember?"

"But you are now," he said, taking a step toward her, putting his hands on her hips.

"Lucky you," she replied as she slipped from his grasp leading the way to her bedroom. Frank had hardly taken a step when she pulled off her tank top and flinging over her shoulder at him.

It always amazed (YN) that no matter how long they may have been apart, they were always able to pick right up. She could remember exactly what to do to drive him wild, he remembered all the spots that she loved him to kiss and touch.

When they both finished and were both lying back, catching their breath, he looked over at her and chuckled.

"What?" She asked with a laugh as well.

"I dunno" he muttered.

"So what happened with your girl?" She asked after a few moments of silence.

"Nice pillow talk, (YN)."

"Oh come on, you know how I am" she said rolling over onto her elbow to look at him.

"Nosey?"

“I was gonna say kind of a bitch, but I suppose that’s true too,” she said with a shrug and he laughed.

"She said I wasn't giving her the attention she deserved, so she found someone who could."

"So she starts dating a touring musician, someone who everyone knows is busy as hell, and bails when he's busy as hell? What a bitch."

"Eh, it was fun while it lasted."

(YN) rolled her eyes. "If you say so."

"What have you been up to?" He asked.

"Ya know, the usual" she said with a shrug.

"Been seeing anyone?"

"Why?"

"Making conversation."

"Nah. Been on a few dates, but nothing worth the effort." She said rolling on to her back again. He then rolled onto his side and looked at her.

"What?" She asked again, with a sideways glance.

"Admit it, you missed me."

"Ugh, you are the worst."

"You know you did."

"I missed... parts of you" with that same sly grin from before.

"Well, let's get reacquainted again."

The next morning (YN) woke up with the sun streaming in around the blinds. She was glad she had the day off because Frank had kept her up late. She looked over at where he slept beside her, back turned to her and she couldn't help but smile fondly at his tattooed back. She pulled herself out of bed and slipped into the shower.

Frank woke up and didn't find (YN) next to him, but soon realized he heard the shower running. Even when he was with his ex, he missed coming over to (YN)'s place, or when she would stop by his house unannounced. They were friends first and foremost, but the physical chemistry between them was undeniable. Their agreement had been working so well for so long that he didn't dare say what he had been feeling for a while now.

He heard the shower shut off and a minute later she came back into her room with her plush towel wrapped around herself.

"Oh you're up" she smiled. She thought maybe he would have slipped out by the time she got out of the shower.

"Yea I just woke up. You gotta work today?"

"No, today's my day off. You?"

"We got a meeting this afternoon."

"Sucks to suck" she said with a grin, pulling on underwear from her drawer.

He laughed lightly as he got up from the bed and got dressed. She glanced over at him while pulling on her shirt. It looked like there was something on his mind, but she didn't know if she should pry. "Wanna get brunch? Your treat?" She asked with a grin.

"Sure," he replied with a laugh.

They headed to a diner down the street and ordered their meals and caught up a bit more since it had been a while since they had been face to face.

"I have to go to this bachelorette party for my coworker tomorrow after working all day." (YN) said, rolling her eyes. She was a hair stylist and knew she had a busy Saturday booked. After being on her feet for hours, she knew she'd rather just crash in bed than go out.

"If you don't wanna go, don't go."

"No, I'm gonna go, I don't just bail, but I am gonna hate it the whole time. I'll just have to get a good night of sleep tonight." She said, narrowing her eyes at her friend across the table.

Frank shrugged and put his hands up defensively. "You coulda told me not to come over."

"Oh, you and I both know that wasn't gonna happen."

"Again, you missed me."

"Stop projecting your feelings on to me" she said hitting his arm from across the table and he laughed.

"Anyway, I gotta get home and shower, let's get outta here."

Frank paid for their meals, and they walked back down to her building.

“Good to see you again, (YN),” he said as he turned toward his car.

“Welcome back to the land of living Mr. Iero,” she replied as she let herself into her building.

The next morning (YN) woke up without any text messages interrupting her sleep. She got out of bed, showered and got ready for her day. She had a full schedule that included two of her more difficult clients in the afternoon.

Thankfully the day went quickly, but by the time her last client was done she had a splitting headache. She knew if she wanted to leave Jenny wouldn’t hold it against her, but Susie who organized the bachelorette party for Jenny would never let her forget it. As she cleaned up her station, she heard champagne bottles popping in the back room and decided she could at least go to dinner if it involved champagne.

After pre-gaming in the back of the salon, the group headed out to dinner and (YN) found her patience growing thinner, and the drinks she was consuming weren’t helping. There were multiple conversations happening, but she found herself sitting back, wishing she was anywhere else at that moment.

“(YN), you’re single, what’s up with that? You’re so pretty and feisty, I can’t believe you can’t find a guy who can put up with that!” One of her coworkers asked. She opened her mouth to reply to the back handed compliment, when Susie jumped in.

“I heard she’s got a friend with benefits!”

“Well yes Susie, you’re right! Because I don’t see the point in being in a relationship. I can get laid without all the unnecessary bullshit that goes along with it! Win-win!” She said taking a smug sip of her drink, relishing in the dumbfounded looks and glares being shot at her from her coworkers who were celebrating the idea of long-term commitment and romantic love.

She finished her dinner and glanced at the time on her phone, it wasn’t very late, but waved down the waiter and paid her check. As she left, she gave Jenny a hug and whispered an apology into her ear for her bitchy comment earlier.

“Don’t worry, I understand” Jenny replied with a smile.

(YN)'s uber was outside when she exited the restaurant. She gave the driver the address and rested her head against the cool window.

If she was to be honest with herself, she wasn’t completely opposed to the idea of a relationship, but she was really satisfied with where her life was, especially now that Frank was coming around again. He really was the best sex she had ever had, probably because they had been in each other’s lives for so long.

When she arrived at her destination, she breathed a sigh of relief that the lights in the living room were on and no other cars were around.

“I knew you’d turn up sooner or later, but I didn’t think it would be this soon” Frank said with a smirk when he opened the door.

“Are you gonna chastise me, or are you gonna invite me in?” She asked, rolling her eyes. He stood back and opened the door for her and she came in. The place looked the same as always, kind of cluttered with guitars and horror movie memorabilia all over the place.

“How was your party?”

“It was ok. I like my coworkers at work, much more than that, I’ll pass. They get real catty when they start drinking," she said flopping down on the couch. "I see you have a real exciting evening going on here.”

“Well it’s a good thing you came along to save me from it” he said sitting down next to her, putting his hand on her thigh.

“What can I say, it’s my super power,” she said, turning her body into his, putting her hand on his chest. He leaned in and they started making out. He ran his hand further up her thigh over her tight jeans, the other hand on her back pulling her closer to him. She ran her nails up the back of his neck, raking over his scalp sending goosebumps up and down his body.

He leaned back pulling her onto his lap, and she took the opportunity to pull her top off. He pulled her back down to kiss him, hand roaming over her back, easily undoing her bra and tossing it aside, as she ground her hips into his with an increasing urgency. He sat up and she pulled his shirt off and then raked her nails over his tattooed chest.

Moans and muttered curses filled the room until they both came. She fell forward onto his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. She was surprised at first by the affection of the action, but didn’t care because it did feel nice to be held like that. They stayed like that for a few minutes before she pulled back.

“I guess I should get goin' then” she said reaching down to gather her clothes from the floor.

“Why?” He asked. “I mean, we haven’t hung out in a while, just stay.”

She considered the offer. He had a point, they used to hang out much more. And it wasn’t like she had anything to do that night.

“Ok sure, but I’m still putting on some of my clothes," she retorted.

“You want something to drink?” He asked, getting up after pulling his sweatpants back on and wandering into the kitchen.

“Yea, I’ll take a beer” she said following him into the kitchen in just her bra and panties.

“That’s a good look,” he said, handing her a beer.

“Thanks, I was thinking this bra wasn’t getting enough appreciation for the hard work it does.”

“Well I for one would like to salute it. It truly is doing God’s work.” He replied with a wink.

They went back to the couch and sat on opposite sides while he picked a movie on Netflix. As the movie played, they talked about the party she had been at and some new songs he was working on. As the evening wore on, (YN) could feel herself getting sleepier from her long day. She felt her head getting heavy as she slowly leaned toward Frank.

She woke up the next morning still on the couch, her head was on this chest and his arms were wrapped around her. She didn't move, not sure of how to react to the position she was in.

They had been friends for a long time before that one night when they were at a party and someone suggested Seven Minutes in Heaven. (YN) had been a little worried, but also quite exhilarated when she realized her partner was Frank. They had both been liquored up enough to throw caution to the wind the second the door to the closet shut behind them.

Their lips crashed together, hands in hair and all over each other. The seven minutes passed too quickly, so when the attention of the party was off them and their disheveled state, they snuck off to another room to finish what they had started.

At that point in their lives, (YN) had just gotten out of a shitty relationship and had no interest in getting into anything else serious anytime soon, and Frank was fine with just having fun. She and Frank’s chemistry led them to hooking up a few more times before they officially agreed to do the friends with benefits thing. Over time she warmed back up to the idea of being in a relationship, but she didn’t actively pursue anything because she didn’t want to miss the opportunity to be with Frank. She always had felt jealous when he let her know he was seeing someone, but she was terrified of ruining things with him, so she never let on to how she felt.

Now as she woke up with his arms around her like that, it felt quite intimate, bordering on relationship-y behavior. Even if she did decide to risk it all with Frank, now wouldn't be the time as she'd just be a rebound, so in that moment she decided she just needed to back off for a minute and let things even out a little, and get back to normal.

"Hey," he murmured, waking up.

"Hey" she replied, pulling herself up from his arms.

"You want some coffee?" He asked sitting up and shuffling off to the kitchen.

"Yea sure" she said following behind him, sitting on a barstool at the counter as she watched him make the coffee.

"What are you doing today?" She asked. That voice in the back of her head nagged for even asking the question. They weren't a couple, they didn't just hang out every day they were free, why even bring up the topic?

"I'm gonna go down to record a few of those demos I was telling you about last night" he replied, pulling out a couple mugs. "But you wanna hang out later?"

"Nah" She replied, shaking her head. A concerned look crossed his face. He wondered what he had done as he handed her the mug.

"You got something better to do?"

"Frank, I'm gonna be straight with you, I'm not looking to be a rebound, you know that. That’s not what I signed up for.”

"I'm not trying to use you as a rebound! I just thought you’d want to hang out since it’s been a while. I don't want anything to change what’s going on with us," he lied.

It wasn't completely a lie, he didn't want her to be a rebound, but he did want things to change between them, he wanted them to be more. He did want a relationship with (YN), that's why he never put effort into his other relationships, because they never were with her. But he didn't want to drive her away, so he kept being friends with benefits, so at least he could be with her in some way.

She considered what he was telling her, not completely believing him. "Mmk," she replied, taking a sip of her coffee.

“Can I at least give you a ride back to your place?”

“You're such a gentleman," she smirked. "But I’d appreciate it.”

Over the next few weeks, (YN) and Frank settled back into their usual routine for when they were both single. They would text regularly, stop by each other’s place to hook up at least once a week, and sometimes hang out if a group was getting together.

Once things had normalized between them, she started to stop worrying so much about whether Frank was using her as a rebound. She did notice though that he still was being more physically affectionate than he used to be, putting his arm casually around the back of her chair when they were sitting next to each other, holding her for a little longer after hooking up, she'd wake up sleeping against him. She realized that maybe she was keeping up the affection just as much as he was, but that didn't change the fact that she just didn't think they should be pursuing a relationship.

On a quiet Tuesday in the salon, Jenny and (YN) were the only two working and chatting about life between clients.

"(YN) , don't take this the wrong way, but I have to ask. Are you still just hooking up with your friend?" Jenny asked

"Yea, but it's good, it's fine! It's what we want to do, ya know? Like for a while I was worried that he was catching feelings, and sometimes I get jealous, but we're just having fun and we're good."

"Yea, but have you talked about it recently? Like you said it seemed like he was getting attached."

"We did talk about it, and he said he wasn't trying to rebound and I believe him, and things went back to normal."

"And what about your jealousy?"

"Damn Dr. Phil!" (YN) retorted. She was surprised at the intense line of questioning coming from her friend. She was even more surprised at the knowing smirk that was on Jenny's face. "What?!" She snapped.

"There's nothing wrong with being vulnerable! Let him crack that hard shell you have around you, I'm sure you have a soft, gooey center in there somewhere!"

"He's found my soft center plenty of times, he's very good at that actually." (YN) said with a wink, getting up to prepare her work station for her next client.

"(YN), ew! But just think about it. What honestly could be the worst that would happen?" Jenny called after her.

"I could lose him and everything we have," she muttered under her breath.

(YN) was crammed in a booth with Frank, Mikey, Gerard, Ray and a few others at the afterparty celebrating another sold out show. It had been a long night of partying, but (YN) was having a lot of fun since it had been a long time since she got to hang out with the whole band. She did notice that Frank had kept his arm around her shoulder for most of the night, but she decided to let it slide.

Eventually the group started to get pulled away into different conversations until (YN), Frank and Ray were the only ones left in the booth.

"Ray, that girl over at the bar has been tryna to eye fuck you for a while now. Are you gonna do something about it?" (YN) asked, as she drew their attention to the girl at the bar.

"I see that," he said, taking the last swig of his drink and sliding out of the booth. (YN) and Frank both laughed as he made his way over to her.

"What do you think his chances are?" She asked, taking a drink.

"Eh, probably pretty good, she does seem into him."

(YN) could feel Frank's eyes on her. "What?" She asked, turning to look at him. He reached up to her cheek and pulled her in to kiss him. She didn't protest as he deepened the kiss, but after a moment the voice in her head started screaming 'What are you doing? This isn't how you two act in public!'

"Frank, what are you doing?" She asked, pulling back.

"I don't know anymore, (YN). I... fuck..." he stammered.

She knew where this was going because she had felt it building for a while now. She grabbed her bag and slid out from the booth.

"(YN) , come on, don't leave like this." He said following her out of the bar into the cool night.

"Frank, what are you doing?" She said putting an emphasis on each individual word, as if saying it more clearly would somehow spark clarity in his mind. She looked up at him, his hazel puppy dog eyes filled with fear and frustration. After a long moment, he still hadn't replied so she turned leave when he reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her back to him.

"(YN), I love you, ok? I fucking care about you and I don't give two shits about what we've agreed we're supposed to be, or what we aren't supposed to say. You are the reason none of those other relationships worked out. You're the one I always come back to, over and over again."

"Fucking hell man!" She shouted as she put her hands over her face. Her head was spinning. This was everything she had known deep down all along, it was all she wanted to hear for so long. But now that it was happening, she was panicking.

Frank took her wrists and pulled her hands away from her face, but she pulled her wrists away from him with a jerk, taking a step back and drawing in a deep breath.

"Ok, fine! I'm out of excuses. I've always had feelings for you too. Every time you tell me you have some girl you're seeing it made me so mad, and at first I didn't want anything more with you or anyone, but now I do and now I know you do too, so let's fucking do this Frank. I'm in. I love you too, goddamn it."

"You're mad that you love me?" He asked, laughing.

"Shut up" she said, pushing on his arm. He laughed again and took her face in his hands and placed a kiss on her lips with every ounce of passion he had been holding back for all the years and she wrapped her arms around his neck. When they separated, he took her hand and they went back into the bar to find Ray back at the table alone.

Even though he was dejected from his strikeout, Ray couldn't have been happier to see his plan to play Seven Minutes in Heaven all those years ago had finally paid off.

#frank iero x reader #frank iero fan fic #frank iero fan fiction #frank iero imagine #my chemical romance fan fic #my chemical romance fan fiction

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finchbaggins · 4 years

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Carrot Cake

Rating: Mature

Pairing: Tom Hiddleston AU / OFC

Authors note: For @redfoxwritesstuff 500 followers writing prompt challenge #Kitkats500

Prompt: “Did you do something different with you hair?”

“Fuck.”

The curse left my lips in a frustrated hiss, and I threw the poppy red beret I’d been trying to style my hair under for the best part of half an hour to the floor. I stared at my reflection in the mirror above the dressing table.

My stupid reflection.

My hideous, god awful, embarrassing, reflection.

You’d think, when you were paying someone a decent amount of money, a professional no less, at a top salon, to restyle your hair, that they might have some idea what they were doing. I’d expected to come out of that salon feeling like a new woman, heaven knows I needed it after the month I’d had.

Work had been hell, what with two people handing in their notice and one of the team had just gone on maternity leave, which meant the number of FTE’s (Full time employees – junior management jargon) was down to just four on my team, and reallocating everyone’s workload’s had kept me tied to the office, sometimes late into the night.

This unusually busy period, and my unforeseen extended hours, had been seemingly the only excuse that Dan – the guy I’d been sort of seeing for almost a year to get bored and find someone else to do his laundry, cook his dinners, and suck his cock.

I wasn’t as upset as I ought to have been, if anything I was relieved. I’d known the guy was a leach and I was better off without him. But somehow being thirty-two and dating him seemed more appealing than being thirty-two and single, going home to an empty flat and microwave meals for one every night.

It had however, been the kick up the backside I needed to get my shit together. Work had finally sorted its self out. I booked a Friday off so I could enjoy a nice long weekend. I enjoyed finding any tiny possession that Dan had left in my little one bed flat, and putting it in a black sack, before hauling it all down to the communal dumpster. Then I’d cashed in on a voucher I’d found on Groupon – Colour and Restyle at Top London Salon – fifty pounds.

That probably should have been my red flag.

But money was tight, and I was determined to push forward with the whole, out with the old and in with the new.

I’d attended the appointment with several images saved on my phone with what I wanted. I wanted my dull light brown hair transformed to a vibrant copper, with choppy layers and a heavy fringe. What the stylist – or apparently blind, trainee stylist – managed to achieve was shade of orange which could be described as radioactive, and an uneven, long bob which made me look like I wanted to ‘talk to the manager’.

The worst part was, because I’d already had a voucher which meant the treatment had been greatly reduced, the salon could not issue me a refund. Although they did invite me back to try and ‘correct’ the colour. But I’d have to wait at least a fortnight, as putting more colour on it straight away could cause serious damage to my hair. Apparently.

So I was stuck with this horrific orange blob on my head for at least a fortnight. Probably longer, as there was no way I was setting foot back in that salon and letting any of their stylists lay a single finger on my hair again. So that meant waiting until my next pay day so I could go to a better salon. But pay day was three weeks away.

In the meantime I had to go to work, in an office full of people. Looking like Chucky.

Worse still. I had to face Tom. Tom, my annoying, shithead of a colleague. Tom who was in equal measure the bane of my existence and the closest thing to a real friend I actually had. Tom who was also devastatingly gorgeous and he knew it too.

I’d just about managed to twist and clip the fringe out of my face, and I’d attempted to do some type of vintage up-do that I could tuck under my beret and hope it just looked like a new style I was trying out. My fashion sense was normally a little off beat and loud so it was unlikely anyone would comment.

But no matter what I tried, I just couldn’t pull off the beret.

Eventually, another brainwave, I pulled out a pretty silk scarf. It would at least offer some cover from the embarrassment of my morning commute on the tube. I couldn’t see my boss standing for it though.

∞

“Kara,” my eyes shot to my boss, who tapped his wrist and frowned at me from the doorway to his office, “Was there something more pressing for you to do this morning, than show up to work on time?”

“No, Nick, sorry, I missed my alarm,” I apologised hastily, as I passed, “I’ll take ten minutes off my lunch.”

“Whatever, Kara,” he chuckled, and shook his head. He wasn’t really mad, I’d worked for him for too many years for him to really care about the odd ten minutes here or there, “Get that stupid thing off your head, we’ve got clients in today.”

When I finally made it into my own office everyone was already there. The small team were quiet and hard at work, Tom was leaned up against the end of one of the newer team members desk, chatting away quietly, but didn’t miss the opportunity to roll his eyes at me as I hung my coat on the back of the door, and hurried over to my desk.

The next fifteen or so minutes were spent logging into my computer and putting an eye over my emails. Long enough for Tom to fetch our morning coffees and put one on the end of my desk and take his seat across from me.

Everyone worked in comfortable silence and I waited for Tom to settle into his work before I shifted and started removing the pins I’d used to hold my scarf in place, hoping to just slip it off and carry on and maybe no one would say anything. But the second I pulled it off my head I could feel the burning of Tom’s gaze on me.

I tried not to look at him, and fixed my stare on the screen in front of me, trying to focus on the monthly audit spreadsheet. But of course my eyes darted to the side and I caught him, sitting across from me, his eyes sparkling with delighted amusement. I looked away and tried hard to ignore him.

“Good weekend?” his voice drifted over the space between us, and I couldn’t bear to look at him.

“It was fine,” I muttered, “Yours.”

“It was good, got drunk with Pete on Saturday. That new bar on Green Street, with the cocktails that turn your tongue black.”

“Nice.”

“So…” he trailed off, and I could hear in his voice that he was holding back laughter now.

“So?” I shot back abruptly.

“Did you do something different with your hair?”

I looked him dead on now. He was lounged back in his chair, arms folded across his chest. God, I wanted to smack the stupid fucking grin off his beautiful face.

“Obviously,” I hissed, looking away quickly, not wanting him to have the satisfaction of seeing how distressed I was. Made worse by how amused my misfortune was making him.

I tried to press on with my work.

“It’s very –”

“Don’t,” I snapped, quickly, cutting him off before he had a chance to finish.

He finished anyway.

“Orange.”

I said nothing, and kept my eyes firmly fixed on my screen. Tom obviously realised he wasn’t going to get a rise out of me now, because it seemed his attention was also back on the job. So, when it seemed like I could finally settle into my working day and hope that was the last comment I’d get regarding the disaster on my head, I shot off a few emails and then looked at the internal audit from my superior.

Everyone worked in silence, which wasn’t always the case. Generally we were a lively office, but the mood was dampened by the clients due in. The office manager was strict on professionalism, and whenever we had visitors he insisted chitchat was kept to a minimum.

“Christ, Kara. What happened to you? I think you were better off with the head scarf on!”

I’d not heard my boss enter our office, and my eyes shot up in time to see Tom bark with laughter, and a collection of snickers rose from around the office.

“Sorry, Nick,” I mumbled.

“Not me you want to be apologising to. Poor Tom here needs sunglasses sitting opposite you,” Tom chuckled and greeted his bosses high five.

I huffed loudly, “Hilarious. Glad you’re all getting a good laugh at my expense.”

“Talking of expense,” Tom started, his eyes were bright and twinkled with humour, “How much did you sell your soul for, for that haircut?”

“Ha, fucking, ha, Tom, gingers don’t have souls, I get it. You’re a fine one to talk with the ginger Jokes, at least mine will grow out,” I groused, annoyed that now Nick had basically given permission for open season on the hair jokes, Tom was going all in.

“Mines auburn, the ladies love it.”

“Sure.”

“Besides there’s ginger, and then there is that,” he waved a pointed finger in my direction, “It looks like you’ve fallen in a vat of chemicals.”

“Fuck off.”

“Language, Kara,” Nick said, suddenly more serious, “That’s quite enough. You can’t expect to turn up looking like that and not get a few jokes made at your expense.”

“Obviously it’s not meant to look like –”

I tried to argue, but my boss held up a hand to stop me.

“I just came in to let you know I’ll be showing our visitors around within the hour. If you could all just be on your best behavior. Tom, perhaps you can bring up some of the recent stats for them to have a look at, I’d like you to talk them through.”

“Nick, I completed last months internal, perhaps it would be better if I did that.”

“Given your vile mood this morning, Kara, you are the last person I want left alone with one of our highest paying clients.”

My lips parted in surprise. No, shock and humiliation.

I wouldn’t even be in such a foul mood if it wasn’t for his and Tom’s jibes at me. I wanted to walk out, but if I did that I’d only make it worse for myself. So I pressed my lips together and gave a short nod.

In his favour, Tom did give me a sympathetic look, as he picked up his laptop and followed the boss out of the office.

∞

If I’d even hoped that might be the end of my ridicule, I was sorely mistaken.

When I arrived back to my desk after lunch, a bowl had appeared, full of fresh oranges, and a two litre bottle of Tango orange was there too. Tom had returned from his meeting with the visitors, and only glanced from his screen briefly, long enough for me to see the smirk on his lips, as I picked up both the bowl and the bottle and marched them to the shared staff canteen.

When I returned, he looked pretty pleased with himself.

“Chill out, Weasley.”

“Oh fuck off.”

Then not long later a tap on the office door. It was Barbara from the bakery down the street, carrying a small white box. The types they delivered their cakes in, because we always ordered from there on birthdays.

“Hi, Kara,” she chirped, placing the box on the end of my desk, “Special occasion?”

I looked at the box, with a post-it on top reading my name and office number. I frowned, then looked back at her.

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“Oh, well… must have an admirer. Enjoy,” with that she skipped off.

I could feel all eyes on me as I pulled the box towards me. When I glanced across my desk, Tom looked about ready to implode.

“What? What did you do?”

“Me?” he exclaimed, holding a hand to his chest, having the gall to look insulted at the accusation.

So I flipped the lid of the box open, and there, inside was a small, but perfectly delicious looking carrot cake. Complete with cream cheese frosting and little decorative iced carrots.

“I…” The tears rolled down my cheeks and splashed onto the cake before I even realised I’d started crying, “I think…I think I’m not feeling too well. I’m going to go home.”

I closed the box quickly and dropped it into the bin under my desk. Then picked up my handbag. It was only when I strode across the room, and reached for my coat that Tom spoke up.

“Oh come on, Kara. Don’t be like that.”

“Tom, I think you should leave it, mate,” I heard Paul, the usually quieter member of the team, pipe up. But his warning went ignored.

“Kara, it’s just a bloody joke.”

“Yeah, well it’s not funny, Tom!” I shouted, spinning back to face him, “Do you think I wanted my hair like this? Do you think, if I could have done something to make it look less hideous, I wouldn’t have done it before having to come in and face you.”

“It was just a laugh.”

“For you, maybe. Not for me,” I sniffed, “You’re meant to be my friend. I know we wind each other up, but I can’t believe you’d go so far out of your way to get a laugh at my expense. It’s bad enough having to leave the house looking like this.”

“Kara, I didn’t…”

“Don’t even bother, Tom. I’m going. Tell Nick I’m ill.”

With that, I turned back and hurried from the office, leaving Tom, and the rest of the team in stunned silence. Not once, in all the years I’d worked there had I walked out like that, or out rightly shouted at Tom. We bickered, sure. All the time actually. We wound each other up, but we were never cruel.

∞

I waited until I arrived home to completely lose it.

A text came through from Nick, saying Tom felt bad about how he’d behaved, and they both meant no harm, and hoped I was okay.

I cried. Tears streamed down my cheeks and my body wrecked with harsh sobs.

This was ridiculous. It was just hair, why did I care so much? Some people had it worse. My own mother had lost all hers when she’d undergone Chemotherapy, and she’d not cried about it once. Alright, she wasn’t okay with it, she hated it. But she got on with it.

So why was I so upset about my hair? It would grow out, eventually. And in a few weeks I’d be able to colour it and maybe get the cut sorted. It was fixable.

More so, why was I so bothered by what Tom said?

Oh yeah, right. Because the office banter and bickering had been my own, so far, successful way of staying in control of the stupid crush I’d been harbouring from the day we were assigned to work with one another.

It’s not like I’d ever stand a chance with him anyway, he’d never paid me the slightest bit of interest. I’d have known if he had, because Tom was a notorious ladies man and when he liked a woman he let her know very quickly. He always said it was because he had impeccable taste, so he didn’t like to hang around. If he didn’t get in there, another man would.

I called him a slut.

But only because I was jealous.

Jealous of every girl who was better than me.

And now I was heartbroken because I’d now made myself look repulsive, and stupid and I’d managed to bump myself further down Tom’s list. Not that I was even on it to start with.

The truth was, of the women Tom had dated, there had been a fair few red heads. These stunning women, with long, scarlet tresses. Usually tall, with fair skin, blue eyes, and so very striking to look at. Women who were so extra, that next to them, I looked positively dull.

I bathed, and washed my hair. The stylist said after a few washes the colour would ‘settle down’. It wasn’t working, but I tried anyway. After blow drying it, it looked brighter than ever, and I shed a few more tears in front of the mirror. I couldn’t stay away from work until it was fixed.

It had just gone seven o’clock in the evening when my door buzzer went. I wasn’t expecting visitors, and my phone had been quiet since I’d ignored my bosses text. So I was a little nervous when I picked up the entry phone and asked who was there.

“Hey, Kar…It’s Tom,” I could heard the uncertainty in his voice. I’d already given him one dressing down today, was he expecting another one? “Can I come in?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’m not here to take the piss.”

“I hope not.”

“Well, can come in then?”

I glanced back into my little flat. It wasn’t too untidy. I looked down at myself. Old leggings, a band t-shirt which I’d cut the sleeves off of, and my fluffy bed socks. I suffered from cold feet. What the hell? He’d seen me in worse states.

“Sure,” I pressed the button and heard him push the door open.

Tom had only visited my flat once before, for a little gathering which I’d had for my thirtieth birthday. Whilst we were friends, it was usually reserved for work, and occasionally nights out. My place was small, and I wasn’t overly fond of having guests.

It only occurred to me when I heard the tap at my front door, that Tom lived the other side of the city. Coming to Croydon was well out of his way, considering his own place was in North West London. No closer to work, than me, really. Just in the complete opposite direction. The fact that he’d made the effort to come all the way to see me, gave me pause for thought.

When I opened the door, Tom was standing on the other side, clutching a bottle of white wine, and wearing a very sheepish smile.

“Sorry,” he said, the instant I beckoned him through the threshold of my doorway, and he thrust the bottle of wine into my hands. It was cold, and had clearly been picked up on his way over from a Newsagents with a chiller. The sudden cold in my hands took me by surprise and I bit back a gasp. Tom frowned at me, waiting for my response.

“Erm…okay,” I nodded slowly, closing the door behind him, “You didn’t have to come all the way here to say sorry. I probably over-reacted.”

Probably. I had definitely over-reacted. Most people would see the funny side. Hell…I’d have normally seen the funny side. Except, when it was at your expense, and the subject of the joke was actually something that was quite upsetting to you, it wasn’t very funny. But how could I expect Tom to understand why I was so upset over my hair. It was just hair.

Hair which he was now looking at with a renewed interest.

Of course. At work, it had been clipped up. But now, post blow dry. He could see the dodgy style in all its horrifying glory. Wonky fringe, and uneven layers, the lot.

“Wow… Kar… that hairdresser’s really did a number on you, didn’t they?”

“Tom, you’ve come here to apologise, but if you’re going to start on me again, I’d rather you just left,” I thrust the wine bottle back in his direction, and pointed at the door, “You can take your cheap bottle of plonk, and bugger off.”

“No, no, I’m not taking the piss, Kara. I promise,” Tom held up his hands, palms out, as if to show he wasn’t there to hurt me. “And I’ll have you know that wine just cost me ten quid.”

He looked sincere. His eyes were wide and full of concern. That’s what set me off again. As if I hadn’t wasted enough tears over a stupid haircut already.

“Oh, no…oh Kara, love. Please don’t cry,” he lunged forward, and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. Completely forgetting the bottle of wine, which was now trapped between our bodies still in my grasp.

“It’s…so…stupid,” I sniffed and wiped my face on his jacket, “It’s just hair.”

“It’s not stupid.”

“It is though,” I hiccoughed, and pulled away from him, “Sorry, I’m crying all over you.”

“Listen, I’ve got a friend, he works for Toni and Guy, he’s a top level stylist. I’ve had a chat, and he says he can see you tomorrow. He’s based not far from work, and Nick has said you can take the morning off.”

“Why would he do that?”

“Because I told him I’d been a complete knob, and I wasn’t sure if you’d ever come back, if I didn’t try and help you put this right.”

“It doesn’t matter. I can’t afford it anyway, and the salon said I probably shouldn’t put anything on it for a few weeks, or it’ll all fall out or something,” I shrugged hopelessly.

“Well, that might an improvement,” I knew he was trying to lighten the mood, but his jibe cost him a harsh glare from me, “Sorry, I’m sorry,” he said quickly, “Anyway, I spoke to my friend, he said he can help, and he definitely knows more than those idiots that fucked it up in the first place. And as for the cost, it’s my treat. Don’t worry about it.”

“I can’t let you do that. It’ll cost a fortune.”

“Kara. I wasted money on a homemade cake, for a joke today. I can afford a haircut. Besides, I want to do this for you. I hate seeing you so upset. Especially when I’m the one whose fault it is.”

“You didn’t do this,” I gestured to my hair, “How is it your fault?”

“Well, I’m supposed to be your friend. Friends don’t kick each other when they’re down,” Tom shrugged, “Anyway, you’re seeing my friend tomorrow and he’ll fix it for you.”

“Well…that’s very nice. Thank you. Do you…want a glass of this?” I held up the bottle of wine.

“Why do you think I brought it?”

I went into the kitchen, Tom was hot on my heels, and hung behind me whilst I fetched two glasses from the cupboard and poured us each a glass of wine.

“Here,” I turned and put a glass in his hand. We went through to the living room, and sat together on my little sofa. We both sipped our wine quietly, and I wondered how long he would stay. It would take him well over an hour to get across London this time of the night. I couldn’t help but feel bad that he’d felt the need to make the effort, all because I couldn’t take a joke.

“I don’t mean this to come across the wrong way, but I’m not sure why you felt the need to change your hair anyway. It was fine as it was,” Tom said, somewhat out of the blue. I’d thought the topic of my hair catastrophe was done with.

“It wasn’t fine, it was boring, and dull.”

“It was lovely, and natural.”

“Since when do you have an opinion on my hair.”

“Since you felt the need to ruin something beautiful,” he shot back without a beat.

“Beautiful,” I scoffed, “Since when have you considered anything natural about a woman, as beautiful?”

“I beg your pardon?” Okay, maybe they was harsh, and I shouldn’t have been surprised by his insulted expression.

“I didn’t mean…I just…” I stammered trying to explain myself, “I’ve seen the women you date, Tom. We’ve worked together long enough. You can’t sit there trying to tell me I shouldn’t be changing my hair because it’s beautiful in its natural state, when I know for a fact that in your eyes, me and beautiful are two things which don’t go together.”

“Oh you know that for a fact do you?” Tom spat, looking surprisingly, more annoyed than I’d ever seen him. And I’d seen him lose a contract he’d worked on for over three months, “You think because I date a lot of women who bleach their hair and cake on make-up, that I don’t appreciate natural beauty. That I don’t think of you as beautiful?”

“You’ve never given me reason to think you do. But that’s fine, Tom, you’re allowed to have a type. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. It’s just…don’t judge my decision to try and change my appearance, in an attempt to appear more aesthetically pleasing, when you’re in no position to do so,” I exclaimed, truly exasperated. I didn’t expect him to sit there and lie to make me feel better. Or to try and justify his proclivities.

“I like all women, Kar… all shapes and sizes, it doesn’t bother me. I’m not picky.”

“You are a bit,” I muttered under my breath.

“Well, alright, yeah, I can be a bit picky, but it never has anything to do with looks.”

“Why are we even talking about this?” I wondered, finally. I didn’t want to talk about Tom’s dating catalog, it was literally the last thing I needed right now.

“Because, you seem to be under the impression that I don’t think you’re beautiful. Which I do, actually,” Tom stated, very matter of fact.

“Tom, please don’t do this. I know you think it’s making me feel better, but it’s not. I appreciate you coming here, and also sorting me out an appointment with your friend. But you don’t need to shower me with fake compliments. I don’t…what you think about me doesn’t matter. It’s fine,” the words were rushed, and Tom’s brow furrowed in frustration.

“You’re not listening to me, Kara. I’m not trying to make you feel better, and my compliments are not fake. I’m trying to tell you that I like you, that I have for a while. Which is why I feel so awful for upsetting you today. And I always think you’re beautiful,” he paused, taking a short breath, before adding, “Even with your god awful Toyah hair do.”

“What?” I asked, bluntly. Ignoring his comment about the hair.

“You heard me, Kara.”

“You like me? Like me, like me?” he nodded, “Since when?”

“Well… a while. I don’t know?”

“But… why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because I was trying to be professional, we have to work together. Also, I didn’t want to make a move unless I knew you liked me too, because it would make things awkward,” Tom explained, as if it was the most obvious reasoning in the world, “And up until very recently you were still dating dickhead Dan.”

“But all you do is wind me up, and argue with me.”

“You argue with me too! Plus…I like it when we bicker. I like your fire, Kara. I purposely try to get a rise out of you, because…well… it’s sexy as hell.”

“Oh come on!” I scoffed, incredulous.

“You don’t believe me do you?” He set his wine down on the coffee table.

“I just… you date so many women, really stunning ones.”

“I date a lot of women, because I’m single and I like female company. Am I seeing any of them more than once or twice? Am I looking for anything more than dinner, and maybe sometimes sex? I’ve not had a proper relationship in almost two years Kar…because I’ve been too hung up on you.”

“Oh.”

“I hated that I made you cry today. I never, ever want to hurt you. Although I didn’t plan on telling you quite like this –”

He didn’t get time to finish, because I cut him off, with my lips against his.

Tom froze momentarily, and I wondered for a second, if kissing him had been a mistake. Just because he apparently liked me, it didn’t mean he wanted to make a move. I went to pull back, parting our lips, but as I did so, I felt Tom’s hand grasp the back of my head, pulling back, and he mumbled his disapproval of my intention to pull away.

He kissed me back this time, his lips insistently working against mine. I flung my arm out, the one still grasping my own wine glass, feeling for the table until I could set it down. Then once it was safely out my hands, I moved back into the kiss properly, maneuvering myself, until I could clamber up and push Tom against the back of the sofa, and straddle his lap.

“Fuck, Kara, you have no idea how long I’ve wanted you like this.”

“About as long as I’ve wanted you,” I responded, moving back to press little kisses along his jaw and neck.

“But…but you were with Dan?”

“Only because I couldn’t bear the thought of being single. It took him cheating on me, to make me realise that I’d rather be on my own, than with him. My self esteem isn’t great, but I know I’m better than that.”

“He cheated on you?” I hadn’t meant to let that lip, I’d not told anyone that part.

“Yeah.”

“What a fucking idiot,” Tom mumbled, tugging me back towards him and kissing me again. When his hand travelling from my hip to my right breast and squeezed trough the worn fabric of my t-shirt, I gasped. The second my lips parted, his tongue plunged into my mouth. He worked a nipple between his fingers, and I groaned loudly into his mouth, grinding myself down into his lap.

“Tom,” I whimpered his name, breaking the kiss, “I wanted you too. For a really long time. I thought… I never thought you could like someone like me.”

“What on earth, Kara?” his hand left my breast and settled back on my hip, he pulled back and his eyes searched mine, “Someone like you? You’re wonderful. You’re beautiful, smart, and incredibly sexy. I’m so incredibly lucky to even know you, to have you as a friend, let alone, on my lap, rubbing yourself on my cock like it’s your fucking job or something.”

I giggled, and ground down again, giving him a playful smile, “Like that?”

“Fucking minx, I always knew you’d be like this. Please tell me I don’t have to go home.”

“You don’t have to go home,” I answered, placing a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth, pleased that he was thinking the same as me. I couldn’t think of letting him leave now.

“Thank god,” he breathed, “Now… lets find you a suitable hat, to cover that monstrosity on your head, then I’m going to take you to bed and fuck you so good, that tomorrow you’ll go into work with a bad limp and a huge smile, and no one will have any doubt exactly what you’ve been up to.”

I didn’t even have time to formulate a suitable sassy response, before I found myself lifted off the sofa and marched across the flat, and thrown, unceremoniously onto my bed.

#Kitkats500

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wreckitrobyn · 4 years

Text

Plot Twist

INVOLVED: Robyn Lewis, Jasmine Atwater, Melody Lewis, and Madison Lewis TIME FRAME: Saturday, April 25, 2020 LOCATION: Leia Lauren Hair Salon; Washington, D.C. SUMMARY: Robyn comes into the salon with her twin girls, Madison and Melody, for their hair appointments. With Jasmine’s client canceling, the woman takes Melody instead.

Robyn walked into the salon, holding the door open for her girls, before she entered fully behind them, looking around the shop with a hum. Seemed like every single week she was in there for one reason or another. Licking her lips, she walked right past the receptionist as usual, making her way to Allison with a smile. “Hey,” she said sweetly as she approached the woman.

Madison walked into the salon, earbuds in her ears, as music played through them. She bobbed her head slightly, her phone in one hand, her other scratching at her dirty scalp a bit. Following behind her mother, she walked alongside her sister, to Allison’s chair. Pulling one earbud out, she said, “hi miss Allison,” greeting the woman.

Melody moved into the salon with her mother and sister, humming softly to herself. She held her little purse on her shoulder as she walked up to Allison with her sister, speaking in unison with Madison on accident as she said, “hi miss Allison.”

Allison allowed Natalie to sweep her section up after having just created the most perfect layered bob moments ago on a client. There was hair everywhere and seeing as Jasmine was in the salon today, everyone was on their very best behavior. When Robyn walked in, she smiled at her and her two beautiful daughters, noting everyone in the building said hello as well. “Hey girls,” she said to them easily as they both greeted her at the same time. She looked at their mother and said, “hey,” sweetly, “how’s it going?” she asked them all. “Which is going first?” she mused.

Robyn smiled, placing a hand on both of the girls shoulders as she stood behind them a bit. “It’s going well,” she answered the question with a hum. “Well I believe Mel went first last time, so Maddy is going first today,” she said, gesturing to Madison, not completely sure if Allison could truly tell them apart yet.

Madison smiled at Allison as she greeted them back before she looked at her sister, then at her mother as she stood behind them. “I am,” she said easily, behind her mother, as she stepped forward a bit.

Melody smiled at Allison nodding her head at the greeting as she shifted on her feet. She looked at Madison, pointing her finger at her sister. She knew the system and remembered that two weeks ago, she had gone first.

Allison nodded her head at the woman’s words. “Okay,” she said unable to tell the kids apart anyhow. So, whoever got in her chair first did so and really didn’t affect her any. “And what are we doing today? The usual?” she asked them.

Smirking a bit, Robyn watched Madison step forward and she nodded at Allison, “yes, the usual, just a wash, blow dry, and flat iron,” she said with a hum. “Maddy, you wanted braids on the side of your head, right?” asked the girl as she stepped behind Melody, both of her hands on the girl’s shoulders.

Madison pulled her other earbud out, pausing her music, as she wrapped the cord around her phone. At her mother’s question, she nodded, “yeah, just like a few braids going back on the side,” she said to Allison. “Uh, I have a reference in my phone I can show you,” she added.

Melody nodded along to her mother’s words before she looked up at her, placing one of her hands over her mother’s on her shoulder. “I wanted curls, remember mom,” she said before she looked at Allison. “Just spirals with the small curling iron,” she explained.

Allison adjusted her smock and she nodded her head, her eyes bouncing from mother, to daughter, to other daughter, to mother, and then to the child’s phone. “I would love to see that photo,” she told her. “Curls for you,” she said to the other sister, “and braids for you,” she said looking back at Madison. “Easy,” she said happily. “Let’s get you washed,” she told Madison.

Robyn looked down at Melody and said, “I know sweetheart,” before she looked back at Allison nodding her head.

Madison nodded at Allison and she unwrapped the cord from her phone, unlocking it and moving into her photos. She had saved the reference picture the night before. As she pulled it up, she turned the phone to Allison. “Just like this,” she said with a smile, “bone straight, no curls,” she smiled. Nodding, she tucked her phone away in her pocket, stuffing her headphones away as well as she followed Allison over to the sinks to get her hair washed.

Melody nodded at her mother before she looked at Allison, nodding at her as well. As Madison and Allison moved to the sinks, she looked up at her mother once more. She had always wondered why her mother never just tried to book two stylists at the same time for them, it would be much faster.

Looking at the photo the girl had, Allison nodded her head. “Okay, easy,” she commented nodding her head. As they moved to the shampooing area, Allison turned the water on letting it get warm and in the process told Madison, “you can sit,” sweetly placing a towel over the back of her neck before she placed a cape around her and told her, “rest back,” gently. She moved to grab Jasmine's favorite shampoo and conditioner products and she rested them aside.

Robyn watched Madison and Allison move to the sinks before she looked down at Melody, patting her shoulders gently. “C’mon, let’s sit,” she said before she turned and moved back, closer to the front of the shop to sit down. She rested in a chair, crossing her legs as she pulled her purse from her shoulder, resting it in her lap.

Melody nodded at her mother and she moved to sit down in the chair beside her, brushing her skirt down in the back as she did. She crossed her stocking covered legs and began swinging her foot a bit as she pulled her small purse off her shoulder and rested it in her lap as well. She unzipped it and pulled her phone out to play a game while she waited.

Madison moved with Allison and she sat down as she was told, resting back with her head in the crux of the bowl. Closing her eyes, she hummed softly to herself. “Miss Allison,” she began with a smile on her face, “you still can’t tell us apart, huh?” she questioned her slightly.

Allison began to wet the girl’s hair with the hose, and she looked to her as she called her name. Smirking, the girl shook her head, “no, and I try so hard,” she chuckled. “I thought I had it this time but nope,” she mused.

Jasmine moved up to the entrance of the shop and she walked through the door moving into the building swiftly. She had her LV bag in one hand, pair of sunglasses in the other as she moved for the break room. “I am late,” she said loudly, knowing someone would call her out on it if she didn’t beat them to it. Her client would be in fairly soon and she was not ready at all. She rushed in her LV booties and she moved to toss her purse into her locker before she rushed back towards her chair, grabbing her belt and placing it around her waist. “Juana had a fever last night and she isn’t much better,” she told Genesis as she rushed towards the back again. She resurfaced it and said, “I had to drop her off to my mother’s because I didn’t want to leave with the Lin,” as she placed the wig for her client and the mannequin it was on, on the counter. “She looks so bad,” she said with nothing but sadness, fear, and concern laced in her voice as she rushed back into the break room to fetch a bottle of water.

The receptionist moved to offer Robyn and the child something to drink over hearing Jasmine openly speak of her daughter and move about the shop like a lost ant, she paused. “Um,” she breathed pulling her eyes from her boss. “Would you ladies like anything at all?” softly before she turned back around to look at Jasmine as she continued to rant.

Genesis looked at Jasmine and she got up watching her rush past. Her words made her laugh at first, however, as she continued, she looked at her concerned. “One of us could have taken your client, you don’t have to be here Jazz,” she assured.

“Yeah, I could have taken her,” Emma said, sanitizing her combs and scissors from the last client.

Robyn looked at Melody, smiling softly at the girl before she leaned over slightly and pressed a kiss to her temple. Sitting up straight, she looked up as Jasmine came rushing to the front, speaking quickly and her eyebrows furrowed a bit. Oh no, she thought. She knew how bad little ones could get when they didn’t feel well, especially with a fever. The fact that the woman had shown at all was a shock. She had known from seeing the girl that the child couldn’t be any older than maybe one. Jasmine should definitely be home, tending to her daughter. With a small frown on her face, she licked her lips, watching as she rushed off once more before she turned her head to the receptionist and she said, “no I’m fine,” before she looked at Melody, “honey do you want anything?” she asked before she looked up again, listening to Jasmine as she returned, still talking. She looked over at the other women as she spoke to Jasmine and she nodded slightly, to herself. Jasmine needed to be home with her child, that’s what she felt.

Melody opened up Merge Block on her phone, tapping the screen and dragging her finger with the various colored blocks, trying to reach the next level with a hum. At the question from her mother, Melody looked over at the receptionist before she nodded, “yes please, just a bottle of water,” she said softly.

Madison rested there as Allison began to wash her hair and she chuckled softly. “Happens all the time,” she said truthfully, eyes still closed. She truthfully thought she and her sister, at the least, acted differently and people would be able to tell them apart that way, but nope, people were always confused.

Jasmine moved back to her station and she placed the bottle of water down before she replied, “it’s fine, it’s fine,” she told them lifting her hand up to them. She moved to examine the wig that she would be applying. “You know he walks in like a knight in shining armor and he doesn’t do any darn thing,” she said angrily. “He doesn’t have to deal with a sick child and doctor's visits,” she told them bitterly before she moved to walk off again.

Genesis looked at Jasmine and she licked her lips gently as the woman continued to rant, she gave everyone a knowing look. She was like second in command around the place and she knew Jasmine more than anybody. They needed to stay quiet, she was stressed and honestly doing hair was the only thing that helped.

Allison could hear the commotion, but she focused on Madison as Jasmine moved back and forth. She looked down at the child and smirked, “I bet,” she replied having shampooed her hair for a second time, she took the hose and rinsed it out as she looked to Genesis.

The young girl nodded her head at the mother and daughter, she walked off looking at Genesis as she passed her. She moved towards the back and grabbed a bottle of water and napkin, moving past Jasmine quickly. She walked back to the young girl and said, “here you are,” sweetly before she moved to sit down.

Robyn listened to Jasmine continue to rant and rave and she bit her lip softly. It sucked; she knew that. Oftentimes Marcus would be busy with work, or whatever else, and she was the main caretaker and provider for the kids. Doctors’ visits, parent teacher conferences, bedtime stories, the works. He wasn’t really around or involved enough to truly help so it all landed on her shoulders. She felt for Jasmine, she truly did. Shaking her head a bit she looked at the receptionist with a thankful smile as she handed Melody the water.

Melody was not listening at all. She was focused on her game, dropping the blocks here and there, merging and letting their colors change, trying to match up with the color at the bottom to bust through and move to the next level. When the receptionist returned with her water, she took it politely and said, “thank you,” as she rested the bottle in her lap with her purse.

Madison rested there, nodding slightly as Allison shampooed her hair, listening to the woman as she went on and on. “Oop,” she said softly, opening her eyes to look up at Allison as she continued to listen. The woman seemed to be really, really upset. “Is she okay?” she asked Allison curiously.

Jasmine inhaled and exhaled calmly as she moved back to her station, she looked at the clock and then at the door. Her client was 5 minutes late but that was okay, she had a 10-minute window before she had to rebook and reschedule. She looked over to see Robyn and she fixed that hat on her head before she looked to Audrey. “I’m sorry,” she said to the entire shop as she grabbed her bottle of water and took a sip before she capped it and put it back on her counter space.

Genesis looked at Allison and then back at Jasmine. “It’s fine, we are family,” she reminded her. “This is a safe space,” she told her sweetly. Genesis continued to color the hair of the woman before her, highlighting it and eventually wrapping it up in foil paper.

Allison looked down at Madison and she smiled. “Oh, she’s fine,” she told her sweetly. “Don’t worry,” she whispered as she conditioned her hair, she combed her fingers through the girl’s curly hair making sure she covered every strand before she moved to rinse it out. She rang the girl’s hair out and then she grabbed a towel wrapping her hair up in it and leaning her up. She tucked the towel tightly and said, “come on,” sweetly to her.

Robyn shifted in her seat, uncrossing her legs and re-crossing them in the other direction. As Jasmine returned to her station, looking at her, Robyn looked right back. She offered the woman a small smile before she looked away. Her eyes scanned the shop looking at Allison in the back with Madison and then over at the other employees with a hum.

Melody’s fingers tapped away and she mumbled “yes!” as she moved onto the next color block. Licking her lips, she placed the phone down in her lap for just a moment to open her water and take a sip. She took that time to also look around the shop at all of the women before she recapped the water and placed it back in her lap, picking up her phone and playing her game once more.

Madison looked up at Allison listening to her as she whispered and she nodded slowly. As Allison finished up and rung her hair out, she sat up and held the towel in place. Looking at the woman who had been going off, she bit her lip softly before she stood, following Allison to her chair. She pulled her phone from the back pocket of her jeans and sat down.

Jasmine's eyes moved to the clock and she walked over to her receptionist checking the books for her appointments. She knew for a fact that the woman hadn’t stood her up, there was no way.

Allison walked with Madison over to her station and she allowed the girl to sit down before her before she raised the chair up a little. She watched Jasmine walk past them and she licked her lips removing the towel and sitting it aside as she grabbed her comb and sectioned the girl’s hair in four parts. Once she did that, she took one section at a time detangling it a little before she grabbed her blow dryer and circle brush blowing her hair dry in sections.

Robyn glanced down at Melody beside her as she played the little game on her phone before she looked up as Jasmine stood not too far from her at the receptionist desk. Robyn’s eyes drunk the woman in, looking at her thick thighs, barely being contained by the small dress, and the curve of her ass that was just about hanging out the back of the dress. Licking her lips slowly, she allowed her eyes to travel higher over the curve of her plush stomach to her full breasts pushing against the thin material. Robyn could almost make out the outline of the bra that Jasmine was wearing. She shifted in her seat, her body growing warm as she idly admired the woman, completely subconsciously.

Melody looked up slowly as the woman walked over to the desk and she eyed her for a moment before she looked back at her game. She wondered if the woman could do her hair since clearly it looked as if her client wasn’t coming. “Mom…” she leaned towards her mother and whispered. “Could she do my hair?” she asked, pointing to Jasmine discreetly. “It would be faster,” she said trying to convince her mother.

Madison sat in the chair, getting comfortable as Allison began her process of detangling and blow drying. She opened the music app back up on her phone and popped one headphone back in as she pressed play, sitting there quietly as she listened to her music.

Jasmine checked the book, looking at the time and she walked away from the young girl slowly. She hated things like this, she devoted her time endlessly to this very shop and her child. At times sadly enough she had to choose between the two and though she hated it, she sacrificed. And today like other days she chose the shop over her child and for what? A client that stood her up. She walked away as she moved to sit down in her chair, she thought to herself for a long time before she got up and moved to the break room. Once there, Jasmine moved into her locker to grab her phone out of it. She locked the locker back and called her mother to check on her daughter and update her on her missing client.

Allison looked down at Madison as she toyed with her phone and she worked through two sections, briefly looking at Jasmine as she checked the books. She then looked to Genesis and gave her a knowing look. Jasmine walked away and moved to the back of the shop, someone needed to talk to her and tell her to go back home and she only saw Genesis being the one to do so. She was just third in command around the place.

Genesis watched Jasmine, as she delicately worked to color the woman's hair. Her eyes moved back and forth, much like a pinball in a pin machine before she looked at Allison. She stayed in her spot continuing her task as she looked across from her at Emma.

Robyn cleared her throat a bit, pulling her eyes away from Jasmine as she walked off. She reached into her purse, pulling out a water bottle. She cracked it open and took a sip before she let out a hum, looking down at Melody. “I don’t know sweetheart, I’m not sure what else she might have to do,” she said, licking her lips. “We’re already booked with Allison, it wouldn’t be right to switch up,” she said.

Melody frowned slightly, letting out a sigh at her mother’s words. “Okay…” she said quietly. She looked back to her phone, playing the game easily. She just hated waiting. She uncrossed her legs, slouching down in the chair a bit, resting with poor posture.

Madison switched from her music app to her messages and she tapped Melody’s name, texting her quickly. So… the owner? She text her sister quickly with a shocked face emoji.

Allison moved to blow dry the next two sections so the girl's hair before she sat her dryer and brush aside. She then parted the girls hair, framing the section she would braid, and she placed the rest of it in a holder and out of her way. Allison began to braid the one side of the girl’s head, greasing her scalp as she went along. After each braid she added a rubber band to secure it before she moved to the next, creating a simple but cute design as she worked.

Robyn let out a hum before she moved to stand up, picking up her purse from her lap as she did. “I’m going to use the restroom,” she said to Melody easily before she sat her purse down in the chair and walked towards the back of the salon.

Melody smirked as the text message popped up on her phone and she responded quickly with I know, what’s up with that? before she returned to her game idly. At Robyn’s words, she nodded and said, “okay,” quickly.

Madison bit back a giggle as she responded to her sister texting back so crazy, I’ve never seen her act like that before as Allison finished blow drying her hair. She tilted her head to the side, shifting in the chair a bit as Allison began to braid.

Jasmine hung up with her mother and she gripped the phone as she moved to walk out of the break room. Seeing Robyn, she smirked gently. “Hey,” she said as she brushed orange hair behind her ear moving past the woman. Her hand pulled her dress down as she walked back towards her station. Jasmine sat down and she looked at Genesis and then Allison contemplating what she was going to do next.

Robyn looked back at Jasmine as she passed her and she said, “hi,” to her sweetly. Looking back, she watched Jasmine’s ass as she continued to walk away, just lingering around in the hallway as she did until Jasmine sat down. She stood there a few seconds longer before entering the restroom. She closed the door behind her, quickly handling her business, cleaning herself up, and moving to wash her hands. As she dried them, she gazed at herself in the mirror before she tossed the napkin in the trash and began to fiddle with her braids a bit. She adjusted the tie in the back, holding back the front of her braids back behind her head. She rubbed her glossed lips together a bit as well before she moved to exit the restroom.

Me either, Melody text back to her sister quickly, looking up at Jasmine as she rested in her chair. She momentarily contemplated getting up and asking the woman if she could do her hair but then thought better of it, her mother had already told her no. Sighing out, she shifted, sitting up a bit and crossing her ankles. She adjusted her purse in her lap before she returned to her game.

Madison shook her head only slightly as she read over Melody’s text before she switched to her music app. She changed the song quickly before she rested her phone down in her lap as Allison braided her hair.

Allison continued to braid the young girl’s hair and when she was done with that, she greased her scalp fully where the braids were placed. After doing that, she sprayed down her hair with heat protectant and moved to part the girl’s hair. She clipped the bulk of it up before she grabbed her comb and began to straighten the girls hair using the chasing method as she did.

Jasmine fiddled with her phone idly as she licked her lips again. She swung the chair around and drank down some water from her bottle, looking at the other child sitting in the seat and she looked at Allison. She closed the bottle of water and placed it on the counter before she got up and moved towards Allison. “Yours,” she asked her curiously.

Allison watched Jasmine approach and she looked in the direction she was pointing, she looked at the other twin and said, “yes,” to her smoothly.

Jasmine looked at the little girl and said, “let me make this trip worth my while,” as she moved to the girl. She wasn’t asking, she was telling her. She smiled at the girl and said, “let me get you going,” to her easily.

Robyn moved out of the bathroom, slowly but surely walking back out into the busy salon. She smoothed her hands down over her stomach idly, before she dropped her hands as she realized what she was doing. Walking over, she caught what Jasmine was saying and she said, “oh, you don’t have to do that.”

Melody let out a sigh and switched to another game on her phone, Smash Hit. She started the game fresh and immediately began tapping away until the owner approached her. She hit the pause button in the corner of the game quickly as she looked up at the woman, prepared to speak before her mother interjected. She slowly tucked her lips inward.

Madison tried her hardest not to bob her head to the music as she listened while Allison greased her scalp. However, when Allison picked up the comb, she most definitely sat still not wanting to get burned at all. She had a many of fading scars from moving too much while getting her hair done.

Jasmine turned and looked to Robyn. “I insist,” she told her, it wasn’t a question to her at this point. She ushered the girl over. “Come on sweetie,” she said to her with a smirk on her face. “I got you covered, you are in good hands, right Allison?” she said moving to her station.

Allison looked to Jasmine and she nodded her head despite herself and said, “the best hands,” to her easily.

Robyn gazed at Jasmine and she shifted on her feet as she said, “if you’re sure,” watching as the woman pulled Melody up. Robyn pursed her lips slightly as she picked her purse up out the chair and sat back down, resting the bag in her lap. She looked at Allison, then back at Jasmine, her eyes following the woman and her daughter closely.

Melody looked at her mother, then at the owner of the shop as she pulled her up and she gripped her purse, holding it in her hand along with her phone and water bottle as she walked with the woman towards the station.

Madison closed her eyes as she sat there, her hands resting in her lap as she listened to her music.

Jasmine looked to the girl and said, “I’m Jasmine, and you?” questionably before she asked, “what are we doing for you today?” easily.

Allison looked at Robyn as she continued to straighten the girls hair in small sections getting it bone straight as she did.

Robyn licked her lips slowly before her eyes moved to Allison and she looked at the woman with soft, worried eyes. Yes, Jasmine had done her hair but that was different, it was her own head, now this was her daughter they were talking about in the moment and Melody specifically was very particular about her hair. With a sigh, Robyn stood up once more, walking over to Jasmine station, standing beside Melody quietly.

Melody sat down and looked up at the woman with a soft smile. “I’m Melody,” she said easily before she answered the question. “I need a wash and blow dry with a press and curl,” she told Jasmine before her mother walked over and she turned her head, looking at her. “Mom…” she whined slightly.

Jasmine nodded her head “Melody, yes, okay,” she said happily. “Well nice to meet you,” she told her before she nodded her head at her. “Alright, let go wash you up” she told her as she moved to the back with the girl. She grabbed a towel and a cape dressing her as she did all her clients before she said, “I don’t how anyone could tell you and your sister apart,” with a chuckle.

Robyn looked down at Melody and she said, “yes, sweetheart,” knowingly. As Jasmine ushered Melody to the sinks, she followed easily, standing beside the bowl now with her purse in her hands as she clutched it in front of her.

Melody smiled once more. “Nice to meet you as well,” she said easily before she nodded getting up. As her mother followed, she looked back at her with an embarrassed expression. As Jasmine dressed her up with the towel and cape, she allowed her to before she sat down and said, “most people can’t.” She looked at her mother with a small barely audible huff before she said to Jasmine, “if you look closely, I have a cut in my eyebrow and Madison doesn’t.” She pointed to her eyebrow, showing her what she was talking about.

Jasmine moved around the bowl and bumped into Robyn purposefully as she grabbed her secret shampoo and conditioner. She moved around the woman bumping her ass against the woman’s hips as she moved back to the girl. She licked her lips and said, “oh, I didn’t notice. Not even in the picture your mother showed me,” she mused as she looked at Robyn again. “How did you get that?” she asked next as she turned the water on warming it and drenching the girl’s hair with her hose.

Robyn stood there listening idly to Jasmine and Melody speak back and forth before Jasmine bumped her. She looked at the woman with an arched eyebrow before she looked away only for the woman to bump her once more. “I am a whole lot of woman…” she said easily, “I know you see me standing here…” she said to Robyn softly. As the woman mentioned the photo, she had shown her, she pursed her lips slightly before she answered for Melody. “When she was one, she ran into a cabinet in the kitchen and cut herself on the knob…” she explained.

Melody rested back, leaning her head back into the sink as she did. She rested her purse in her lap as she crossed her legs. “Mom…” she said once more at the mention of the photo that she had apparently shown Jasmine. At the question, she was prepared to answer before her mother beat her to it and she pursed her lips whining once more. “Mom go sit down, I am fine,” she huffed slightly. “You’re not hovering over Maddy…” she whined.

Jasmine looked up at Robyn, her words darkening her eyes and she licked her lips slowly eyeing her. “Oh, I know,” she breathed to her swiftly as she began to work shampoo into the child’s hair. All while her eyes were still on Robyn, she poured shampoo into her hands and began to massage her scalp. “Wow, how unfortunate,” she said back to the woman. At the little girl’s words, she nodded her head. “Yeah, take a load off,” she told her. “Unless you just want to be close to the both of us,” she smirked wickedly.

Robyn looked at Melody, then back at Jasmine at her words and she shifted on her feet a bit. She was shocked by that response and didn’t know what to say back to the woman. She brushed a few braids over her shoulder instead, her body growing a bit warm as Jasmine stared at her. She cleared her throat a bit at her daughter’s words before her eyes slowly met Jasmine’s and she gazed at the woman; her lips slightly parted. She inhaled a sharp breath before averting her eyes and she said, “fine,” in response to her daughter as she turned and moved to walk away. She made it to the front and sat down in the chair, her purse in her lap as she did.

Melody said, “thank you,” as her mother walked away before she looked up at Jasmine as she shampooed her. “Sorry, she’s so protective,” she whispered. “Something about having a difficult birth or something,” she shrugged slightly. “She watches us like a hawk, it’s so annoying,” she mumbled as she got a bit more comfortable in the chair.

Jasmine licked her lips as the woman walked away and she then looked down at the girl. “Oh,” she said to her easily before she pressed the issue. “Difficult how?” she asked. Robyn told her it was easy, she didn’t tell the full truth, why?

Melody shrugged once more. “I don’t know,” she said softly. “She doesn't talk about it,” she said easily. “I just know that there was a complication or something…” she said looking up at Jasmine before she closed her eyes.

Jasmine nodded her head humming, ��mhm,” to her easily as she rinsed her hair and shampooed it again, she looked up thinking to herself before she looked back down. She rinsed the child’s hair again before she conditioned it, running her hands through her hair covering each strand easily. She moved to grab another towel and returned, rinsing the child’s hair. After she did that, she turned the water off and she rang the child’s hair out before she wrapped her hair up in the towel and tucked it tight. “Okay,” she said to her easily.

Melody grew quiet at Jasmine’s response and she rested there with her hands holding her purse in her lap. As Jasmine finished up, ringing her hair out and wrapping it with a towel, she sat up slowly as she nodded. Standing up, she moved to walk back over to Jasmine’s station, sitting down in the chair with her purse in her lap.

Robyn watched closely from her position at the other end of the shop as Jasmine washed Melody’s hair. Sighing out, she looked away over to Maddison and Allison before she let her eyes move around the shop idly. She reached into her purse, pulling out her bottle of water and she took a sip before placing it back.

Jasmine walked to her station and she looked over at Robyn sitting there so bothered and mildly upset that she couldn’t hoover. It was amusing to her. She let the girl sit down before she raised the chair up a bit. She grabbed her comb out of her belt and she removed the towel, sitting it aside, and parting the girl’s hair in fours. Once she did that, she clipped the sections in place before she grabbed her blow dryer and began to blow the girls hair out.

Melody sat comfortably in this chair, crossing her ankles as she did. As Jasmine removed the towel and began parting her hair, she looked over at her sister getting her hair done. It looked great so far.

Robyn pursed her lips as she sat there, her foot tapping a bit anxiously before she stood up, pulling her jeans up in the back as she did. Placing her purse on her shoulder, she walked over to Madison and Allison saying, “how are we doing over here?” with a small smile, her eyes discreetly watching Jasmine and Melody.

Allison looked at Robyn and she smiled. “Great,” she told her as she continued to straighten the child’s hair. Still doing little by little, wanting it straightened fully. She looked over at Jasmine as her blow dried the girl’s hair and she looked back down. Always wondering to herself why the woman hovered and couldn’t keep still.

Jasmine used the roller brush in one hand and the drier in the other, working steadfast as she blew the girl’s hair out. She looked up at Robyn, she needed to sit down and learn to trust her damn people to do their jobs. How annoying. She sighed softly and said, “your mom is protective of you guys wherever you go?” sweetly as she moved to another section of hair removing the clip and drying it.

Robyn smiled softly at Allison as she nodded before she looked down at Madison who was sitting there in another world with her eyes closed as she listened to her music. Licking her lips, she just stood there, her eyes slowly but surely moving back over to Jasmine. She had learned to trust Allison over the year that they had been coming to the shop, but Jasmine was still new to her. She had to watch.

Melody watched her mother as she walked over to Allison and she sighed before she nodded at Jasmine’s question. “It depends,” she said, “if we’re around people we know then she’s chill, if we’re around new people and things… she’s on edge…” she explained. “I have no idea why…” she shrugged once more. “My dad is totally not like that,” she added. “He just lets us be…”

Jasmine nodded her head as the girl spilled it all with her and she smirked. “She doesn’t trust me, huh?” she said to the girl with a smirk on her face, having connected the dots now. She licked her lips, “I’ll take care of you, no worries,” she said to the girl as she moved to blow dry the next section having knocked down 3 of them now.

Melody looked back at Jasmine slightly, turning her head a bit to do so as she said, “she doesn’t know you,” before she turned back properly, letting Jasmine work. “You’re the owner,” she said easily, “I know you will,” she was confident that her hair would look great. She didn’t know about the other stylist, but she knew the owner couldn’t mess up her hair.

Robyn shifted on her feet before she moved to go sit back down. She rested there moving her purse back into her lap as she crossed her legs, swinging her foot slightly as she eyed Jasmine closely. The woman’s dress was far too short to be deemed professional, she thought to herself now.

Jasmine looked at the little girl as she spun around in the chair and she raised a brow, oh okay, “I was just asking, little miss,” she said politely. “Mhm,” she said softly nodding her head at her as she continued to blow dry her hair, she moved to the last section running the brush through and the drier against it. She was going to do this little girl’s hair damn good, but it wasn’t because of her words, it was because it was too damn easy not to.

Melody nodded slightly as she placed her hands on her knee, sitting up straight and very prissy-like. She gazed over at her sister in the chair and she made a small face, because the girl’s eyes were closed so she couldn’t communicate with her. She rolled her eyes softly.

Robyn finally tore her eyes away from Jasmine and she pulled her phone from her purse as it rang. Answering it, she placed it to her ear and began speaking to Willow about Junior. The conversation was short and sweet before she hung up the phone. Now with her phone in her hand she moved to text her husband.

Jasmine continued to blow dry the girl’s hair and until it was dry fully and turned the dryer off. She sat it aside and moved to turn on her electric hot comb and her wand allowing them to heat up. The woman moved to spritz her hair with a little oil sheen before she moved to part the back of the girl's hair and she clipped the rest of it up and out of her way. “Okay,” she told her, “let me know if I burn you or even get too close,” she said gently, using the wand to curl the girls hair as she asked.

Allison finished Madison’s hair straightening the hair over to her left side and she smiled looking at her work. She sat her flatirons down and her comb, she sprayed the girls hair with a little oil sheen before she sat the can down and smirked combing the hair through a little before she left it alone. “All done, you look so cute,” she said to her happily. “You like it?” she asked her gently.

Melody sat there quietly now as she picked up her phone from her lap and returned to the game that she had been playing, Smash Hit. Out the corner of her eyes she saw Jasmine picking up the wand and she said, “oh I wanted you to straighten it then curl it,” as she leaned up a bit, feeling the woman already starting to curl her hair.

Robyn shook her head with a small huff, sending her husband another text before she tucked her phone away. Looking up, she glanced at Allison and Madison, then Melody and Robyn as she ignored her phone buzzing in her purse now as her husband text her back. All he was doing was letting her know that he would be working late again.

Madison looked up slowly as Allison told her that she was done and she smiled as she looked into the mirror. She pulled her earbud out and looked back at Allison with a bright smile. “I love it,” she said cutely. Turning back to the mirror, she rubbed her fingers through her hair and turned her head to the side a bit admiring her braids there. “Oh, I really love it,” she said once more, beaming from ear to ear. “My friends are going to freak,” she gushed slightly. All of them were going to have the same hairstyle now. It was perfect.

Allison smiled at Madison, it prided her to know the girl loved her hair so much. “Great, I am happy you love it,” she told her as she removed the cape and the towel. She sat both aside and looked over at Jasmine, taking her in. The girl would be a piece of work but she knew Jasmine could nail the look too. “What do you think?” she asked Robyn, turning to her now as she looked at the young girl’s hair she had just finished.

Jasmine looked down, releasing the girl's hair as she tugged from her. “I know sweetie,” she told her easily, she took a deep breath and finished, “but,” she said, “that would be a lot of heat on your super healthy hair, you want pin-curls or wand curls?” she asked her curiously. “Because one doesn’t require that much heat,” she breathed looking down at her.

Melody looked at Jasmine through the mirror and she bit her lips softly at her words. “Wand curls,” she answered her easily, nodding slowly at Jasmine as she informed her that all the heat was not necessary. She shifted in the chair slightly as she said, “okay…” if her hair did not come out how she wanted, she was going to be upset.

Robyn sat silently fuming to herself. Her husband was a piece of work. She at the least used to get him on the weekends but now she couldn’t even get those from it. She was so bothered but she was trying not to be. He was busy, he worked hard, she understood that but damn, what about her? She worked too but still managed to find the time. Sighing softly, she slowly looked over at Allison as she spoke to her and she stood up, holding her purse as she walked over, admiring the hair. “It looks great,” she smiled.

Madison continued to stare in the mirror, swinging her long hair and swaying it slightly before she pulled up her camera on her phone and began to take pictures, most of them featuring the infamous duck lips and peace signs.

Allison nodded her head at the woman and smiled, “good,” she said softly before she said, “I trimmed their ends the last time and they still look good, so I didn’t bother cutting any hair unnecessarily today,” she told her.

Jasmine looked at the girl, gazing into her eyes and she repeated her. “Okay,” she said back to her as the woman moved to curl another section of hair, the way she felt looked the best. She curled the girl’s hair in four sections in the back, wanting the curls to be defined and tight but also fluffy and full.

Robyn admired Madison’s hair as she twisted and turned and took pictures before she looked at Allison nodding slowly. “Okay,” she said with a smile. “I thank you,” she said, “you always know exactly what to do,” she chuckled softly as she turned to look at Jasmine and Melody. Seeing the look on Melody’s face she slowly walked over and asked, “what’s wrong sweetie?”

Melody sat there; her face scrunched in a frown of disapproval as Jasmine curled her hair. She looked over at her sister as she took pictures and her frown deepened. As Robyn walked over, she looked up at her mother and said, “nothing…” as she shifted in the chair slightly, her arms slowly moving to fold over her chest as she tucked her phone under her arm as well, it still resting in her hand.

Madison finished taking her pictures and sent them to her friends with a bright smile. She stood up and tucked her phone into her pocket before she moved to hug Allison, giving her a squeeze as she laid her head on Allison’s chest. “Thank you,” she said once more before she pulled away.

Allison watched Madison as she took photos, a smirk on her face. She thought her kids were a handful, these kids had nothing on them. “No problem,” she told the girl, hugging her back gently with a smile on her face.

Jasmine continued to curl; she’d stop ever so often to spray the girl’s hair before she added a few more curls. Listening to Robyn’s question she tucked her lips in as she continued her task delicately yet in a fast-paced manner. She lowered the chair a bit before she asked the girl, “part down the middle, left, right?” questionably as she moved to part the hair accordingly so that she could work on the top of her head.

Robyn nodded slowly at Melody’s response before she looked up at Jasmine, taking her in. Robyn moved around, looking at Melody’s hair. It looked fine. She moved back around, looking down at Melody with an arched eyebrow before she said, “then take the scowl off your face,” easily. “Your hair looks beautiful and it’s not even finished yet,” she told the child, knowing how particular she was. The child had not yet been diagnosed but Robyn was sure the girl had OCD like she had and was medicated for.

Melody looked at her mother before she sighed out and she dropped her arms and straightened up her face and her little attitude. She couldn’t see her hair just yet because of the positioning of their chair but she would be the judge in the end. “Okay mom…” she said softly as she relaxed a bit, trusting her mother before she said to Jasmine, “left side.”

Madison smiled at Allison before she walked away, moving to sit down in the front of the shop, waiting for her sister. She pulled her phone from her pocket and continued to text her friends excitedly.

Jasmine said nothing as mother and daughter spoke and she didn’t even look at the woman or budge when she walked around her critiquing her work as if she wasn’t still standing there. She licked her lips and grabbed her comb parting the child’s hair on the side she chose and from there she began to frame the curls in the direction of her hair now. She sprayed a little more sheen and worked on the right-hand side, after she did that side, she spun the child in the chair and began to work on her left-hand side.

Robyn watched as Melody softened a bit and she shifted on her feet before she looked at Jasmine once more, giving the woman a soft apologetic smile. At the end of the day, she felt bad. She shouldn’t have allowed Jasmine to do Melody’s hair because the child was so picky. With that smile, Robyn walked off, moving to sit back down now and she brushed her braids back slightly as she did.

Melody sat there, allowing the woman to finish her hair as her mother moved to sit back down at the front of the shop. She crossed her legs once more, her foot swinging slightly as she waited for the woman to finish so that she could see what it looked like and if she approved.

Jasmine looked at Robyn, she didn’t make an actual effort to respond in any way in regard to her smile. She continued to work before she sat the wand down, having finished the curls, if the girl wanted them to last, she had to spray her hair with a little holding spray. So, she sprayed some before she sat it back down and she then greased the girl’s scalp before she picked up the straightening comb and laid her edges as well as her parted section, getting rid of fly-aways. She then took a small brush and she placed some edge control she made on the girls edges and she swooped those, laying them down in a cute way new-aged kids liked. Once she was done with that, she unfastened the cape. “All done,” was all she said as she handed the girl a handheld mirror, sitting the cape and towel aside.

When Jasmine finished, Melody leaned up quickly as she took off her cape and handed her the mirror. She stood up, sitting her purse down in the chair, along with her phone and bottle of water, and smoothing out her skirt before she turned, using the mirror in her hand and the mirror on the wall, angling herself to see her hair. She turned her head to the left and to the right, watching her curls bounce and move. Her tongue rolled over her little lips and she shifted on her feet before she lowered the mirror in her hand and she handed it back over as she said, “I like it… thank you” politely to her.

Robyn glanced down at Madison sitting beside her before she pulled her phone from her purse and finally responded to her husband before she tucked her phone away once more. She shifted in her seat, pulling her water bottle back out and taking a sip before she placed it back. Looking over to Melody as she stood with her hair finished, Robyn stood up, sitting her purse down in the chair before she walked over and she said, “see,” to her child before she looked at Jasmine. “Looks great,” she said softly.

Jasmine turned all the devices off and she looked to the little girl saying, “good,” as she grabbed the mirror back and placed it aside. She looked at Robyn and nodded her head, “thanks,” she said in deliberate one-word response as she unplugged both items and began to clean her area. “Make sure this goes towards Allison,” she told Robyn looking into her eyes before she put the dryer where it belonged and placed her brush and comb back into her belt.

Melody nodded curtly at Jasmine as she turned to look in the large mirror, eyeing her edges as she leaned in before she nodded and let out a hum of approval. The woman had actually done a really good job, better than Allison even. With that thought, she picked up her purse, phone, and water bottle from the chair and moved to sit down in the front as she waited for her mother to pay, and of course tip as she always did.

Robyn took in Jasmine’s short response and she nodded slowly tucking her lips in. She could tell from Jasmine’s body language that she was a bit upset, so as Melody walked off, Robyn said, “I am sorry, she’s very particular about her hair and she likes everything to be done a certain way,” she explained quietly. “I thank you for taking her, you didn’t have to,” she added, trying to sugar coat her daughter’s behavior as she pulled her purse from her shoulder and pulled her wallet out, prepared to walk over to the receptionist to pay.

Jasmine tucked her hair behind her ear and turned looking at Robyn, she rested her hand on the back of the chair and listened. “You don’t have to thank me” she told her easily. “And you don’t have to explain anything to me. You are a client; I provide a service,” she said easily to the woman.

“I do,” Robyn insisted softly, knowing that Jasmine was not in the mood when she entered the shop earlier. “She’s not your client and you didn’t have to take her rather you’re the owner of the salon or not,” she said knowingly, “so I really appreciate you,” she said as she flipped her wallet open and began to sort through the bills. “Let me pay,” she said, speaking more so to herself before she walked over to the receptionist desk asking, “how much will it be for them today?” as she pulled out two fifties, needing change.

Jasmine looked at the woman and really said nothing picking up the towel in her hand and she allowed her to walk away. She sighed moving to walk away, catching Audrey’s eye and she rolled hers at the girl as she tossed the towel where it belonged.

The receptionist looked up at Robyn and said, “one second,” as she looked at the list totaling everything up. “110,” the girl breathed, “30 per wash and blow dry,” she read off to her and “25 per press or curl,” she smiled.

Robyn nodded slowly at the woman, allowing her time to check the price listings, and as the woman told her the price she looked back at Melody, having forgotten just that quick that the girl had gotten curls. “Right,” she said to herself as she turned her focus back to her wallet. She pulled out another fifty and handed the one-hundred and fifty dollars to the woman. “Can I get two twenties back?” she asked.

The receptionist smiled up at the woman waiting expectantly for her to hand over cash. When she did, she nodded her head at the woman’s request. She opened the register and placed the money in before she handed her two twenties back. “There you are,” she said to her. “Scheduling any future appointments?” she asked her curiously.

Robyn smiled at the woman as he accepted the two twenties back and she separated them in her hands, folding each individually as she nodded. “Yes, I need to schedule for Junior next Saturday at 9am and these two in two weeks at 11:30am and 12:30pm respectively,” she said thoughtfully to the woman

The young girl nodded her head at the woman, and she opened the books scribbling down what she had said. “Saturday for the girl’s as well?” she asked her curiously.

“Yes, Saturday,” Robyn confirmed with a nod, “all three appointment with Allison of course,” she hummed out. She shifted the two folded twenties into one hand as she shuffled through her wallet for more money to pay the deposits. She pulled out two tens and two five-dollar bills, to pay the thirty dollars for the ten-dollar booking fee per child. She counted the money back to herself before she handed it over no problem.

The girl continued to pencil her children in and she nodded her head at her. “Okay, got them all booked,” she said softly to her before she grabbed the deposit and counted the money back with a smirk. “See you guys next time, have a great day,” she told the woman happily.

Robyn smiled at the woman, “you too,” she said easily as she walked away, moving for Allison with a smile. “Thank you again,” she said to the woman as she walked over, taking Allison’s hand into her own, sliding the woman one of the twenties easily. “I have Junior booked for next week Saturday and the girls booked for two weeks from today,” she informed her.

Allison had straightened up her station completely and she didn’t have another client for 2 hours. Which gave her an extra-long lunch if you asked her. When Robyn approached, she accepted the tip. “Thank you,” she breathed softly. Before she nodded her head. “Great, I can’t wait,” she said to her.

Jasmine resurfaced moving to her station, she tucked away the straightening comb and curling wand easily before she put everything else back into place. She took her belt off and sat it against her counter before she told Genesis, “I am headed out.” The woman was next in command whenever she wasn’t in the shop. Walking back towards the back, she grabbed her purse and moved back towards her station putting her phone and water bottle in her bag, sitting her bag in her chair. Jasmine squatted down a bit, making sure she pulled her dress down and she turned the power strip before she stood back up and grabbed her purse adjusting her hat on her head. “I’ll see you guys when I see you,” she breathed out to the crew.

Robyn nodded at Allison with a smile as she pulled away from her. She turned towards Jasmine, watching the woman squat down and Robyn’s eyes took in the curve of her ass, watching her ass as she stood up. Robyn licked her lips slowly before she stepped forward, prepared to give the woman the money before she said that she was leaving. Robyn stepped forward once more, trying to catch her. “Wait,” she said softly, holding the twenty out to Jasmine with a soft smile.

Jasmine looked at Robyn and then at her hand. She tilted her head at her and said, “you don’t have to do that, it’s fine,” patting the woman on the shoulder as she walked past her not accepting the money. “You know what, as a matter of fact,” she told her as she pulled her bottle of water out of her bag, she rummaged through it and grabbed some money sliding it to her. “This is the last tip you left me,” she said, placing it in Robyn’s hand before she waved the staff off. “I’ll call you Genesis,” she said to the woman moving out the front door and towards her range rover.

Robyn frowned slightly as Jasmine didn’t accept the tip before she watched the woman as she rummaged through her bag. As Jasmine pulled out a fifty and handed it to her, Robyn pursed her lips slightly. “But…” she trailed off as Jasmine just up and walked off, exiting the shop after speaking to Genesis. Standing there, Robyn held the bills before she sighed and tucked them away into her wallet. She put her wallet in her purse before she walked over to Madison and Melody. “C’mon girls,” she said softly, watching as they stood and she held the door open for them, glancing back to wave bye to Allison before she exited the shop.

#thread #thread: plot twist #involving: jasmine lauren #involving: madison erica #involving: melody aisha

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tkmedia · 3 years

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Dougie’s Monday Mailbag (Gervonta Davis, Vasiliy Lomachenko)

Davis swung for the fences with almost every shot he launched at Barrios. Photo by Amanda Wescott-SHOWTIME 28 Jun by Doug Fischer LOMA AND TANK Dougie, What a great night of boxing. Loma is looking back to his usual self, and dammit if Tank isn’t always in tense and exciting fights. Kinda wish the ref would have let Barrios go out on his shield, but I know that’s not his job. What do you think Tank should do next? How do you see Tank vs. Josh Taylor playing out? Also, Loma loses to Lopez again (too much power), but I’d love to see it happen anyway. Maybe Loma pulls a Marquez (a la Baby Bull Diaz or Pacquiao IV) and just starches Lopez. I’d lose my mind if that happens, but in a good way. Loma is legit obsessed with Lopez right now. Side note: I just graduated from Columbia (wassup fellow alumnus). Any advice for a recent grad? Got my masters in nutrition and exercise physiology, and honestly, if I could be Canelo’s strength coach and sports dietitian, life would be pretty sweet. I’d settle for being on AJ’s team though. All the best. – JC, Dallas You gotta pay your dues, JC. That’s the best advice I can give anyone (Columbia grads included) and it’s true for every profession. So, if you want to get into boxing as a S&C coach, it’s best to start from the bottom up and work on your craft/profession as your teammates/clients learn their craft/profession. Work with promising amateurs and young prospects – or maybe even not-so-promising boxers who aren’t that young – (do it for free if necessary) and help them achieve their goals, thus growing with them in the sport. Every S&C coach you’ve heard of started out this way. What a great night of boxing. It was a lot of fun, but I wish the DAZN, ESPN and Showtime PPV broadcasts didn’t overlap the way they did. I can’t fully concentrate on three screens (four if you count the Twitter page that I kept flipping back and forth with the ESPN+ player on my laptop), so I didn’t watch the main event on DAZN (I’ll catch up later this week) and didn’t fully watch certain undercard bouts on all three shows (I’ll have to watch a replay of the Brant-Alimkhanuly fight). However, I still had a good time.

Loma’s not as explosive as Tank, but he’s equally punishing to his opponents. Loma is looking back to his usual self, and dammit if Tank isn’t always in tense and exciting fights. I think both guys are must-see TV even though their styles and skillsets are different. Vasiliy Lomachenko’s the savvy ring general, while Gervonta Davis is the seek-and-destroyer. However, they have the same uncanny ability to pull the trigger with the right punch at the right time, and they both want to pressure their opposition until the opposition capitulates. Tank is more prone to bludgeon or whack out his opponents; Loma is more apt to grind his down or make them quit, but they’re both badasses. I’d love to see them tangle at 135 pounds. Kinda wish the ref would have let Barrios go out on his shield, but I know that’s not his job. I thought Thomas Taylor – one of the best young referees from California – did a great job on Saturday, and while he was little hesitant at first, I believe his stoppage was at the perfect time. Barrios was given an opportunity to survive and fight back if able, but he was ultimately spared serious damage. What do you think Tank should do next? Drop down to lightweight and challenge the Lopez-Kambosos winner, Ryan Garcia and/or Devin Haney. How do you see Tank vs. Josh Taylor playing out? I would favor The Ring champ to win a decision, but I think it would be a hell of fight. I don’t think Davis can be in a bad fight. Also, Loma loses to Lopez again (too much power), but I’d love to see it happen anyway. I would favor the young lion to beat the old lion again, but I wouldn’t totally count Loma out in a return bout, especially if the Ukrainian legend enters the ring 100% healthy and Lopez struggles to make 135. Maybe Loma pulls a Marquez (a la Baby Bull Diaz or Pacquiao IV) and just starches Lopez. I don’t see that happening, even if Lopez is severely weight drained. Loma is legit obsessed with Lopez right now. Of course, he is. He’s a real champion, a winner and an ultra-competitor. WEEKEND RECAP What’s up Doug, I hope all’s well. My last time writing in I asked how do you see Casimero vs Inoue going. I forgot that Casimero is now scheduled to face Donaire, who looked like a monster against Oubaali, so how do you see Donaire-Casimero going? Tank seems to have that sickening fast twitch power to the head and body and he’ll take one to give one, so he’ll be in exciting fights but I do feel like he’s defensively getting better at slipping and riding shots. What did you make of his performance and how do you see him fare vs. each of the top lightweights who we all want to see him fight? Loma looked sensational but can he make enough changes to beat Lopez in the rematch if it happens? Same for Lubin, can he do anything different vs Charlo if it were to happen? Janibek Alimkhanuly looks like one to keep an eye on! Cheers. – David, Dublin

Janibek Alimkhanuly. Photo by Mikey Williams/ Top Rank Alimkhanuly was already Ring-ranked (No. 9 at middleweight) when he faced Rob Brant (who is currently at No. 8 but might drop out of the rankings following this stoppage loss). I expect The Ring Ratings Panel to advance the 28-year-old native of Kazakhstan up the 160-pound rankings. I can’t give you an analysis of his performance vs. the more experienced Brant because I haven’t seen it yet (don’t blame me, blame boxing’s power brokers for counter-programming the s__t out of each other), but based on that result and on what I’ve seen of him I think the southpaw is ready for top-tier middleweights after just 10 pro bouts. Alimkhanuly is currently rated No. 2 in the WBO’s middleweight rankings, just behind Jaime Munguia and the WBO titleholder Demetrius Andrade. If Munguia doesn’t want that Boo-Boo Smoke (oh my God, why did I write that? It sound like kindergarten slang for “fart”), I bet Qazaq Style would go for it. (H)ow do you see Donaire-Casimero going? I think it will be a hell of fight in the early going – it has the potential to become a shootout – but I think Donaire will keep his composure and systematically break his fellow Pinoy down to a mid-to-late rounds stoppage. As big, powerful, gutsy and savvy as Casimero is, the Road Warrior is too wild and reckless at times. Donaire will clip him at some point. Tank seems to have that sickening fast twitch power to the head and body and he’ll take one to give one, so he’ll be in exciting fights but I do feel like he’s defensively getting better at slipping and riding shots. He’s got the quick feet and reflexes to avoid punches when he sees them coming from a distance. I don’t know about his defensive prowess on the inside. It probably can be better than it is now if he works on it. I think he’s the total package as it. The main areas I’d like to see him improve in is his activity, his ring-cutting ability, and his combination punching. What did you make of his performance and how do you see him fare vs. each of the top lightweights who we all want to see him fight? I thought it was a very good performance; although he was outworked and outboxed in the early going, his speed, power and take-no-prisoners mentality ultimately proved too much for Barrios, who showed a lot of skill and grit lasting into the 11th round. Loma looked sensational but can he make enough changes to beat Lopez in the rematch if it happens? Does he need to change that much? Maybe all he needs to do is show up healthy and start faster. There’s only one way we’ll find out. Same for Lubin, can he do anything different vs Charlo if it were to happen? Yeah, tuck his chin and keep his gloves up. LOL. Seriously, he’s matured and developed a lot – technically and stylistically – since that first-round KO loss, and I think underrated trainer Kevin Cunningham deserves some kudos from the boxing community for The Hammer’s advancement. THE MATRIX Hey Dougie, Hope you’re good. Keep it up with the mailbag, some of us ain’t got much else in life! I’ve completely readdressed where I see Canelo in world boxing after what he’s done in recent times but my two faves still grab me. Inoue was monstrous the other week, then Loma came again this week. He didn’t start slow like he did against Lopez (not saying that’s why he lost!) but also he didn’t start slow like he did against everyone else! That whole “Matrix” thing might work but when boxers know they can just throw leather in different looks and pick up rounds…. And I’m not saying that’s why he lost to Lopez. But, afterwards, I watched him fight at his natural weight against the Ring Magazine #1 ranked boxer at featherweight, Gary Russell Jnr. Loma really shouldn’t be fighting at lightweight. Full stop. Where is he in your pantheon of greats at featherweight? – Thomas

Loma beat Russell and won his first world title in his third pro bout. Photo / Naoki Fukuda Lomachenko? He’s not in my featherweight pantheon. He had six pro fights at featherweight and only fought two standouts – an overweight Orlando Salido, who narrowly outpointed him, and a 24-0 Russell, who he outclassed. I thought Loma was absolutely sensational in both fights, he exhibited uncommon resolve vs. Siri and he was masterful in dissecting the ultra-talented American, but those 24 rounds aren’t NEARLY enough to earn a place among the likes of Willie Pep, Sandy Saddler, Salvador Sanchez, Henry Armstrong, Eusebio Pedroza and Naseem Hamed. No disrespect to Loma. He’s an amazing talent, but he didn’t reign long enough in any one division to be considered among the best of a particular weight class. He’s like Jeff Fenech, another super-talent who beat top fighters in multiple weight classes in just a few years (and within 20 bouts), he’s recognized for his body of work over three divisions. Keep it up with the mailbag, some of us ain’t got much else in life! LOL. I’ll keep that in mind, Thomas. I’m on family vacation this week, but I’ll try to find a substitute for the Friday Mailbag and next week’s Monday Mailbag. I’ve completely readdressed where I see Canelo in world boxing after what he’s done in recent times but my two faves still grab me. Inoue was monstrous the other week, then Loma came again this week. I thought Loma looked sharp and confident against Nakatani, who’s tall order (pun intended) for most lightweights. He didn’t start slow like he did against Lopez (not saying that’s why he lost!) but also he didn’t start slow like he did against everyone else! It wasn’t just a slow start vs. Lopez; the young gun “handcuffed” Loma with his tactics and the threat of a knockout counterpunch. (A)fterwards, I watched him fight at his natural weight against the Ring Magazine #1 ranked boxer at featherweight, Gary Russell Jnr. I think that STILL might be his most impressive pro performance. Loma really shouldn’t be fighting at lightweight. He may not be a natural 135 pounder, but he’s Ring Magazine’s No. 1-rated lightweight, and he deserves to be. I can’t see him dropping back down all the way to 126 at this stage of his career but dipping down to junior lightweight might not be a bad idea if the right fight is available. Loma vs. Shakur Stevenson would be fascinating. CRAWFORD AND THE P4P Hi Dougie, I’m just curious about your thoughts on Crawford potentially taking on Jose Zepeda next and more specifically, should Crawford’s lack of quality competition start to affect his P4P standing? Guys like Inoue, Canelo and Spence constantly take on the best in their divisions while Bud takes on mediocre comp on the regular. This isn’t a knock on Bud, who IS good but I think he should have to start facing the p4p consequences sooner rather than later. I know Arum hasn’t exactly helped Bud’s career path lately but Bud chose to re up with him as well. MMs: Bud vs Mosley @140 Kosta vs Bradley Thanks. – Lance I’ll go with Crawford by MD or SD in a great fight, and Tszyu by UD in a good fight.

Terence Crawford. Regarding Crawford’s place in the pound-for-pound rankings, I think he’s already dropped due to his relatively weak strength of schedule in comparison to Canelo’s and Inoue’s recent runs. Crawford was as high as No. 2 in The Ring’s rankings (behind Gennadiy Golovkin and later Lomachenko) through mid-2019. Canelo and Inoue were always outside of the top two, but they’ve had the better fight schedules from the second half of 2019 to the present and have advanced past the American, deservedly so in my opinion. Beating Zepeda at welterweight isn’t going to change my opinion. Crawford needs to face a P4P peer, such as Errol Spence or Josh Taylor, and beat him in order to advance past Inoue and Canelo. If he keeps fighting the Zepedas of the world, he’ll be in danger of slipping out of his current No. 3 spot. Email Fischer at . Follow him on Twitter and IG at @dougiefischer, and join him, Tom Loeffler, Coach Schwartz and friends via Tom’s or Doug’s IG Live every Sunday. GET THE LATEST ISSUE AT THE RING SHOP (CLICK HERE) or Subscribe

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Gervonta Davis drops Mario Barrios three times, scores 11th-round stoppage in Atlanta Schedule | View All 03Jul Chris Colbert vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa (Showtime) 09Jul Gilberto Ramirez vs. Sullivan Barrera, Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Javier Fortuna, Tenkai Tsunami vs. Seneisa Estrada (DAZN) 17Jul Jermell Charlo vs. Brian Castano (Showtime) Instagram Facebook

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wesfike · 4 years

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Owen Sound hair salon owner excited to get chopping

Prior to COVID-19, hair salon owner Megan Gillespie didn’t realize how essential the service she provides is, but she certainly knows now.

Since the province announced Monday that it was moving ahead with its Stage 2 reopening beginning on Friday, Gillespie’s phone at Creative Hairstyling in downtown Owen Sound has been ringing almost non-stop.

“I have always loved to do hair and makeup and everything else, but I didn’t realize how important it was to so many people,” Gillespie said Tuesday morning at her shop as the phone continued to ring. “I know that I make people feel good by doing their hair, but I know the next couple of weeks, maybe month, until we get everybody in, it is going to mean transformations to people.”

By Wednesday morning, Gillespie had already completely booked the shop until June 24, which will operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. six days a week upon reopening.

Gillespie said she plans on getting through everyone because she knows how important it is for them after going months without getting their hair cut, styled or coloured.

“I have missed my clients,” said Gillespie. “It is a social job and I have missed seeing everybody, I have missed talking to everybody and I have missed being a part of this family, because that’s what it is. It is a big family.”

The province is moving to a phased re-opening with Monday’s Stage 2 announcement, with the Grey Bruce Health Unit one of 24 across the province that have been given the green light to move forward. A total of 10 health units in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas, as well as around Windsor and Sarnia, will remain in Stage 1 until it is deemed safe to move to Stage 2.

There is a long list of businesses and services that have been given the OK to resume operations with the second stage, after some retail businesses with street entrances reopened a couple of weeks ago.

Personal care services, including barber shops, hair salons, tanning salons and tattoo studios are among those getting the green light this time.

Other businesses and services that are allowed to open include personal services such as house sitting and wedding planners, shopping malls, tour and guide services, and water recreation such as pools and splash pads.

Restaurants are now able to open outdoor dining areas such as patios to go along with takeout and/or delivery, though indoor dining continues to be prohibited.

Museums, galleries and other attractions and heritage institutions can open again as well.

Campgrounds can begin to accept all campers again, while community centres can reopen with limited or modified programs, though indoor recreational activities are not permitted.

Places of worship such as churches and mosques are permitted to open with physical distancing and attendance of no more than 30 per cent of capacity.

Outdoor team sports can resume for training purposes only and with no scrimmages or games.

Groups of 10 people, outside of members of immediate families, will be permitted, up from the current five.

Businesses and services are expected to take a number of public health and safety precautions such as ensuring physical distancing, wearing personal protective equipment, limiting numbers and cleaning areas and surfaces. Full details on the Stage 2 reopening can be found at https://www.ontario.ca/page/reopening-ontario-whats-each-stage#section-2

The Ontario government also announced on Tuesday that all child-care centres can reopen on Friday with restrictions place.

Gillespie said Tuesday she was surprised at how quickly the announcement came down from the province that she could reopen her hair salon business, but she is certainly excited to get going again.

“It has been a long couple of months, but it will be nice to get back to work,” she said. “I know a lot of clients are looking forward to coming back in. I have never had so many people so happy to talk to me.”

Gillespie’s shop will look different when those clients do start arriving on Saturday. Each of the stations in the salon, including the reception area, have been framed in and encased with clear plastic, while signage has been put up and floor decals have been added directing clients where to go and instructing them where to wait. Magazines, toys and other items that clients used to bide time while waiting have been removed, while hand sanitizer has been placed throughout the shop. Clients have been staggered so nobody is coming and going at the same time, while each station will be thoroughly cleaned after each appointment. Staff will be wearing masks, while masks will also be available for clients should they request them. For now, Saturday afternoons will be family time where entire families from the same households can come and get cleaned up.

Along with the changes that needed to be made due to COVID-19, while she was closed Gillespie has also managed to complete other little things that needed to be done.

“Every week that we have been closed I have been here at least two, three days a week,” Gillespie said. “Because the salon is quite busy most of the time I was actually able to take time to do the little things that just kept not getting done.”

Gillespie said her staff have remained strong and continued to communicate despite the uncertainty since the salon abruptly closed with most everything else in mid-March, but they too look forward to getting back to work.

Gillespie is confident and feels she is ready to welcome clients back.

She admits it is going to be taxing and frustrating to start because everything is changing so much and each stylist will only be able to deal with one client at a time. But she feels once they settle in it will feel natural.

“It is going to be a long start,” said Gillespie.

“My goal through the entire thing was the safety of my staff and my clients. That is all I am concerned about.”

Gillespie said the support from everyone has been great, including staff and clients, and especially her partner Anthony and her parents for all the work they have done to get the shop ready.

“Everyone has been amazing,” she said.

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kentonramsey · 4 years

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How Lauren & Cameron’s Stylist Transformed Them Into The New It-Couple

NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 04: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Lauren Speed and Cameron Hamilton visit People TV on March 4, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images)

Last summer, Refinery29 Research and Insights manager Candace Hokett took a leap, leaving her full-time job in order to pursue a creative passion she’d never been able to kick: fashion. Less than a year later, she’s the stylist behind the most beloved reality TV couple of 2020: Love Is Blind’s Lauren Speed and Cameron Hamilton.

“What a full-circle moment,” she remarked when I called her up a recent afternoon. The lovebirds are fresh off a press tour for the popular Netflix show that had contestants meet, fall in love, and get engaged without ever seeing each other. Lauren and Cameron are one of the show’s success stories, making it down the aisle and now, a year and a half later, still going strong. Their enduring love is the main inspiration behind their subtly-coordinated looks, the power of which rivals Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s latest press appearances — so much so that they even went viral, catapulting Lauren and Cameron to It-couple status.

“THIS is how you do a press tour,” one person wrote on Twitter, accompanied by a series of photos of Lauren and Cameron in their outfits, to the tune of over 16 thousand retweets.

THIS is how you do a press tour. pic.twitter.com/tbyLEcTGK3

— la loba (@vickto_willy) March 4, 2020

Hokett has had experience all over the biz: a certification in tailoring from Fashion Institute of Technology, work as a buyer for major brands like Michael Kors and Calvin Klein, and a roster of high-profile clients that include musicians like Teyana Taylor. But it’s Lauren and Cameron who finally put Hokett in the much-deserved spotlight. The pair has gone from reality TV icons to relationship icons to fashion icons. Their love story touches on race, feminism, and independence — all things Hokett took into consideration when pulling their looks. Oh, that and the fact that Lauren used to be…her boss.

Refinery29: How did you get introduced to Lauren and Cameron?

Hokett: “I’m friends with Lauren. I actually knew her years ago. She was my boss at American Apparel when I was the only Howard girl for almost four years.”

Did she ask you to style them or was it just a happy coincidence?

“We just so happened to hit each other up a month or so before the show came on. She called me and said, ‘Hey, I’m doing a press tour and I’m really nervous, I don’t think I have a lot to wear.’ It was a Saturday afternoon. By Monday…I was getting so many replies back from different showrooms that told me, ‘Yeah, come in right now.’ I was able to literally style her and Cam for the week at that point.”

So how did you approach picking clothes for them?

“Cameron’s a grounded guy that’s got so much hidden swag that people would never know. It’s just been really fun getting him out of his comfort zone, trying different colours for him, and coordinating him along with Lauren. I know her, so I would never put her in something crazy, and I know him now. We’re on an ‘I love you’ basis. That makes the relationship so much more trustworthy when it comes to taking potential risks in fashion and telling your story as a cohesive unit. They are together; they are united. I wanted people to see that and I don’t think that would have ever happened with anyone other than someone who loved them from day one.”

People are especially loving that green suit Cameron wore.

“He looks great in green. He told me that literally the night before. I work really well under pressure, so it’s kind of rewarding to see that you can turn things around sometimes.

I value so much of how he is a space for her to expand and he does not put a lid on her beautiful energy. He’s there to hold space for her but to also allow her to really be her best self. And I think she does the same for him and is always in his corner and holding his hand right by his side.”

Were there any hidden messages or symbols in their outfits?

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 06: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed from Love Is Blind visit ‘Sway in the Morning’ with Sway Calloway on Eminem’s Shade 45 at SiriusXM Studios on March 06, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

“The t-shirt that says ‘Black women are a gift from God.’ I just felt like for women’s month, being this strong black woman out in the public eyes for the first time in your life with your new husband, you need to know that this is a God dream and I want everyone to see that this is your dream. It doesn’t have to be a racial stance if you don’t want [it to be]. You’re here to speak on your love and at the same time be able to amplify the fact that your gift is within your uniqueness without having to exclude anyone else [while] still shining a light on black women.”

What did you learn about them through styling them, personality or relationship-wise, that we may have not seen on screen?

“They are just so unbelievably affectionate. There were definitely times where I had to be like, ‘Okay, lovebirds. Stop hugging and kissing in these outfits, y’all ain’t even go anywhere yet.’

Some people DMed me and had the curiosity to say, ‘Are they really in love?’ And it’s just so funny how jaded we as humans have become. For the first time in my life, I’m dreaming about my fairy tale situation that could come any which way. And it’s all because my friend took a leap of faith and is so happy, and I can see it with my own two eyes.”

As a stylist working in such a visual medium, do you think love really can be blind?

“I can proudly say that someone who I loved for over 10 years, I met them without ever seeing them. A friend introduced us over the phone as teenage kids. Not until I got a MySpace with pictures did I ever see that person, and by that time I was smitten. And it took us years to go our separate paths and give it a rest, cause you’re young and other things to do, different colleges, different careers, different countries. But I can say that love is definitely blind. I can say that that person has changed my life and I never regret meeting them the way that I have.”

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

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How Lauren & Cameron’s Stylist Transformed Them Into The New It-Couple published first on https://mariakistler.tumblr.com/

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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The Work Diary of a Hairdresser So Coveted, She Travels by Private Jet

Jayne Matthews thinks that most hairstylists are doing it wrong: “A person takes a pair of scissors and cuts the ends, maybe gives the hair some layers, but in general it’s like a big, shaped block on the head that needs to be blown into a manageable style.” Ms. Matthews — the co-owner of two salons in the San Francisco Bay Area, both called Edo — uses a straight razor as a carving tool instead of scissors. “I can carve petals into hair so it can have length but be lighter,” she says. “I consider it the difference between a hedge and a bonsai tree.”These organic cuts, as she calls them, have garnered her a cult following of more than 82,000 on Instagram. Her signature look is a modern shag, heavy on the face-framing layers and bangs, inspired by Chrissie Hynde, Brigitte Bardot, Jane Fonda, Stevie Nicks and Patti Smith. Ms. Matthews, 47, charges $325 for cuts at her salons, the first of which she opened with her business partner, Chri Longstreet, in 1998. At that price, many clients get just one or two trims a year. “When you get these haircuts, they look cool and lived in,” she says. “You can wake up in the morning, maybe tuck it behind the ear, touch the bangs a smidge, and it looks good. The less you do, the better it looks.”In 2014, after giving birth to a daughter, Ms. Matthews decided she’d try to get better at showing off her cuts on social media, practicing lighting and angles. Salons in Los Angeles and Portland, Ore., were soon asking her to come do cuts and trainings, and clients now routinely fly to the Bay Area to book with her.

Tuesday

7 a.m. I woke up in an Airbnb in L.A., a little bit drained because I worked with a shaman yesterday on a cleanse. I drank a raw cacao and coffee thing I had delivered the day before.10 a.m. I took a private jet service that has like 20 passengers from L.A. to Oakland. I listened to a relationship podcast on Audible because there was no Wi-Fi. Then I went on a dating app and changed some of the wording to be more authentic. I also edited hair photos for my Instagram account and the salon’s. I take 25 to 50 photos for each cut and look for one where the client looks the most alive and interesting.12 p.m. I took a Lyft home and took a bath — I almost never take showers — and tried on a dress to wear for this big workshop I’m teaching this weekend in New Orleans.1 p.m. A friend is helping me get some online education going. We checked out a space to see if the light was right for filming. I want to sell classes online because it’s hard being a single mom and traveling around so much — I get messages daily from London, Berlin, Paris.2 p.m. With clients at Edo in Oakland. The first flew from Salt Lake City: an Asian woman whose hair was mid-back, all one length. I gave her a shag with bangs. Then there was a woman with blue, curly hair and I gave her bangs. I also taught an impromptu class with my assistant, who was doing a bob across the room that I thought was looking a little like a mom bob. I spent 45 minutes working with her to make it more cool and young.6 p.m. I picked up my daughter, Sylvie, from her after-school arts program. It was pouring rain and we ran out to the car to go get ramen.10 p.m. Answered some direct messages on Instagram. They’re always women. Half of them cut hair and half are fans. My clients are usually between the ages of 28 and 45. It is usually the girl who likes her expensive stuff worn in. She’s understated but not messy, she doesn’t have a lot of plastic surgery, she’s a farm-to-table girl who doesn’t shop at department stores.

Wednesday

7 a.m. I made Bulletproof coffee and opened email and DMs and made sure there wasn’t anything too pressing. I woke up Sylvie and made her peanut butter toast and took her to school.9:30 a.m. Back in bed. I had a call with these hair salon business coaches that are helping me navigate my separate education business and whether — after I move to L.A. soon — I want to open my own salon or a third Edo.11 a.m. I made a post that I was looking for hair models. Then I got a call from a friend at a modeling agency about girls who want makeovers.4 p.m. I picked up my daughter and we rushed to get to her ballet class at the Y.M.C.A. in Berkeley. Afterward we went to this place that sells really high-quality bone broth and premade foods that’s only open a few hours a week. We went back to the Y.M.C.A. and she went to the child care room while I ran upstairs and took a quick workout dance class that was kind of cheesy, but it felt good to work my body out.8 p.m. Took a bath, cleaned up my kitchen a little bit, edited and posted a picture on Instagram of a makeover I did, answered some DMs and online shopped for some new shoes.

Thursday

8:30 a.m. After I dropped off Sylvie, I had an hourlong phone conversation with my custody lawyer about my move to L.A.11 a.m. By then I was in a really big rush for work at Edo Oakland. I was 10 minutes late to my first client, who had just moved here from New York. She was wearing a great outfit and had a huge cowlick and very dry, kind of fuzzy, long hair. I gave her some cheekbone-framing layers. My next client was an intuitive healer and the next one worked at Google as an artist.4 p.m. There are these muses I do for free. I can do anything I want to with their hair. I gave one a mullet with choppy baby bangs, but a chic version.7 p.m. I started feeling like I had a sore throat, which would be terrible because New Orleans is this weekend.9 p.m. Into bed.

Friday

10:30 a.m. I got a message from somebody who said a photo that one of my stylists posted — braids with ribbons — was cultural appropriation and asked that I consider taking it down. If somebody asked me the origin of this hairstyle, I’d guess it was African-American, and this photo was of a young white woman.I thanked her for the message. I took the image down and told my manager that I wanted to have a discussion. We’re in Oakland, a historically African-American city, and it’s important for us to be able to grow in that way.1 p.m. A client came over for a trim. She started crying, which happens a lot with my clients (but not over their hair). She patches clothing with embroidery, and I gave her a pair of 1970s Wranglers with a hole in the butt to do for me.4:30 p.m. I went to yoga and came back home and made food. My personal assistant came over with my mail and packages. I listened to Kate Bush and started trying on outfits for what I’d pack for the workshop trip. I decided to be minimal.

Saturday

6:45 a.m. Woke up and flew to New Orleans. The workshop is called Bayou St. Blonde. It’s two days of education and networking that The Left Brain Group — my agency, which helps me grow my business — puts on every year.3:30 p.m. All of us from out of town are staying at a hotel near the French Quarter. As soon as I got there, I saw a friend and fellow stylist and educator, Roxie Darling, for the first time in years.6 p.m. Headed to a party for the attendees in this incredibly beautiful church where the entire inside was painted light pink and periwinkle blue and had arched ceilings, and all I could think about was when I find my guy someday, I want to get married in there.I saw the creative director for Bumble and Bumble, who has taught many classes I’ve taken over the years. I told her that a couple things she said to me years ago about face shapes and bangs made light bulbs go off in my head.

Sunday

9 a.m. Opening day of the event. I didn’t have to teach, but I ended up cutting someone’s bangs in the bathroom because I felt inspired.1 p.m. I went to the hotel to take a nap, and then a hairstylist friend came over and ended up doing an Instagram live video of me giving her a total transformation.

Monday

8 a.m. Room service: arugula salad, eggs over medium, orange juice and coffee.12 p.m. Went to a yoga class that was heated. I was super sweaty and rushed back to the hotel to shower. Then I threw on some cozy sweats and a sweater and Converse, and grabbed a fancy outfit to change into later.2:30 p.m. I��m scheduled to cut two models’ hair onstage at Bayou St. Blonde. Texted my makeup artist that I wanted matte, bright red lips on both of them. He arrived and started working as I was assessing their hair. Then I went downstairs and listened to a panel on self-care and thought about whether I had burned out.4:30 p.m. There were 250 people watching, in a tent decorated with garlands and wreaths, when I got onstage. I definitely did not have enough time to do two models, so I felt rushed — I would say the hair came out beautifully, but I definitely needed to do some more work when I came offstage before I took photos.8 p.m. We all felt like our legs were about to fall off and went to dinner at a Middle Eastern restaurant. Then I came back to the hotel and watched Instagram Stories of my teaching. It looked better than I remembered, and that made me feel good.Interviews are conducted by email, text and phone, then condensed and edited. Read the full article

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alanrangerphotography · 6 years

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Help-Portrait-Coventry Report

Background

Just over a year ago, whilst thinking about new year resolutions and things I wanted to do in 2017, I came across the Help-portrait movement.

Help-Portrait is a global movement of photographers, hairstylists and makeup artists using their time, tools and expertise to give back to those in need.

Help-Portrait is about GIVING the pictures, not taking them. These portraits aren’t for a portfolio, website, or sale. It’s about giving people who otherwise couldn’t afford photography, a chance to capture a moment, a memory…and a whole lot more.

Photography has always been something that is an expression of individual perspective, values and interpretation for me. Images that don't convey a narrative or have a reason for personal connection simply don't resonate or hold my attention. I wanted to connect what I do for a living, in the community I live in with people I encounter and feel compassion for.

The idea was simple if I cannot go and photograph refugees or victims of famine, war and other injustices then I should at least start at home and use my skills to raise awareness, inform and give photography back to those who could not afford it. In the process, I aimed to give people, volunteers and recipients, some dignity, respect and sense of how a photograph can make a difference on many levels.

I proposed the idea to my Facebook Client Group (Alan Ranger Photography) and was delighted that there were a number of people who wanted to support the idea.

What followed over the next six-nine months were many meetings and sometimes resistance to my insistence to plan methodically and set the bar high on execution. I'm pleased to say that despite my initial fears about who, how, when, why were largely academic. However, I am also confident in saying that the team, collectively, through my nagging and pushing did rise to the challenges I set and have produced the most wonderful outcome for the people we aimed to reach and support.

Through my association with Xposure International Photography Festival, we managed to secure sponsorship that meant equipment and consumables were financed. Their support financially and ethically is so appreciated and we cannot thank them enough for everything they have provided that has ensured that a great idea didn't get beached due to financial resources to provide what we needed.

Who to support?

After the initial idea was hatched about photographers and others providing their skills, expertise and time to provide people in need with a special day, we had the task of identifying a group of people.

Having previously worked with Crisis Skylight in Coventry on Christmas Day to provide homeless people a special day, it occurred to me that whilst my time on the day was helpful, my skills and experience were not really utilised by serving cups of squash and dinners. Don't get me wrong, I was and am happy to do whatever is needed to provide vulnerable people with what is needed. However, I felt that more could be done and I could be put to even better use.

So Crisis Skylight in Coventry became our target group of people to provide a professional portrait print and whatever other services we could combine to make it a special day.

Crisis Skylight Coventry

Crisis Skylight Coventry and Warwickshire is an outreach service that works with homeless individuals and those at risk of homelessness.Based in the city centre, they deliver their services throughout Coventry in various venues including those provided by partners. Crisis Skylight come into contact with over 600 people a year in Coventry.

Homelessness in all its guises is sad. Not everyone is a rough sleeper and many people find themselves with no fixed abode for many reasons:

Individual Reasons:

Leaving an institution

Relationship breakdown

Substance misuse

Physical or mental health problems

Escaping a violent/abusive relationship

Structural Reasons:

Welfare reform and benefit cuts

A low pay weakened job market

Reduced access to affordable housing market

Photographs - Document, Inform, Educate and Express

It makes me really sad that anyone in this century ends up with such insecurity, judgement and resulting low self-esteem due to circumstances, government policy and the lack of support.

My view may be simplistic, we are born equal as human beings and deserve to be given opportunities and most importantly self-respect whatever our personal circumstances and upbringing, but clearly today's society has become polarised between the haves and have-nots.

Be it mental health, relationship issues/consequences, education, welfare state cuts and access to the support that each individual needs to make a better life, we all live in the same community, share the same streets, shops and services but most importantly all want an improved standard of living and life. I feel that it benefits society as a whole if everyone in it feels they are part of it and is contributing in any way they can and gets the support they need to progress themselves and their communities further.

My thoughts were idealistic maybe but also heartfelt and I know those that supported the event shared the same feelings of outrage, compassion and wanting to do something that gave vulnerable people who had fallen on bad times some hope dignity and self-worth again through the power of a photograph.

Quote from Crisis Team on the event

Help-Portrait was one of our highest attended activities in the 4 and a half years we have been running in Coventry & Warwickshire. We managed to engage the most entrenched and hard to reach homeless people in the region and our team were amazed and overjoyed at the turnout.

The event

Saturday 2nd December - Help-Portrait, organised by Alan Ranger Photography, sponsored by Xposure and partnered by Crisis Skylight and The Salvation Army.

The Stats:

30 Volunteers - made up of 10 Photographers, 3 Hair Stylists, 2 Make-up Artists, and 15 friends/supporters gave their time and skills to provide.

35 homeless people had haircuts/hair styling

23 homeless people had make-overs and makeup

58 homeless people with a professional portrait print and a digital version for download

Homeless gender mix 22 Women (38%), 36 (62%) Men from the Coventry and Warwickshire area

Services provided on the day:

Sandwiches, soup, drinks and cakes

Hairstyling and makeover

Professional portrait print + digital download

Clothes and gifts to take away (donated by team and public)

Crisis registration/contact for further support

A venue (Salvation Army) to host the event and provide homeless people a day to remember.

A friendly reception, compassionate attitude and respect to their situation and needs.

Feedback from Crisis

The care, attention and dignity that Alan and his team of volunteers showed the guests was truly inspiring and the transformation and boost in their confidence is something we will never forget.

The atmosphere throughout the day was electric and our members were so proud of their portraits that they can now go on to give as gifts, help them to find work or just keep with them as a memory of such a wonderful day.

The feedback from the guests has demonstrated an increase in confidence, trust and relationships with others. These are some of the things that we work on improving with our members every day so the Help Portrait activity has really helped us in carrying out our aims with the individuals we support.

Following the huge success of the day, we are hoping to provide ongoing support to the individuals who attended. Help Portrait has certainly done its bit in supporting us in our mission to end homelessness and we are very proud to have been a part of the event

Feedback from Guests

“(it has) lifted me up a lot, it has given me a boost”

“being pampered, paying attention to myself, having my hair and beard groomed. Having a portrait photograph of myself was the ultimate”

“Enjoyed the makeover and haircut (it) made me feel really good, thank you”

“It’s been nice to have a haircut and get a photo for my mum. Really good morning”

“well and truly enjoyed it today, would recommend to everyone”

Feedback from Volunteers:

"It was a really special day Alan and I felt really lucky to be involved"

"Such a privilege to be involved"

"Really successful and worthwhile day, very happy to have taken part in it."

"loved it can't wait to see all the photos"

"A lovely event and experience"

"Thank you for asking me to be part of such a great day"

"Great day. Proud to have been part of it"

"Really good day - I’m so pleased to have been involved"

A selection of Portrait Shots - All shots available here

A selection of shots from the day behind the scenes - All shots available here

What's Next...

In the process of organising this event, we also set a target of raising £1000 for Crisis to support homeless people in their step to move on to something better, To date, we have raised £875 which is fantastic (thanks to all those who have already contributed) You don't need me to tell you that penny makes a difference, so if you have read this post and something in it resonates please make a donation - www.justgiving.com/fundraising/help-portrait-uk-coventry

Personally speaking, I will be giving my time and experience on Christmas Day to support Crisis Skylight - and the homeless in Coventry, so why don't you get in touch with your homeless support group in your area and discuss how you can support and provide invaluable expertise to help vulnerable community members move forward to a better life and more hope.

What can you do to support?

Please share this blog post on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google etc.)

Make a donation yourself and ask others to make a donation

Contact me if you want to get involved in the next event in Coventry

Organise an event in your own community

Use photography to inform, educate, document and express

Thanks

There are so many people to thank individually I'm afraid I'll miss someone by accident but the event could not have taken place without the efforts and support of so many people, not just on the day, but in the lead up to organise, manage issues and collect donations, gifts and be part of the whole thing even if not in person on the day.

Photographers

Joyce James

Kirsten Pearce

Laura Byrne

Jacki Rosin

Chris Shaw

Nick Jones

Rob Edwards

Con McHugh

Hair and Makeup

Jill Shipway

Rebecca Bloor

Wayne Tapp

Nicki Stobbs

Carla Solvason

Other Support

Derryn Ciesla

Dunstan Vavasour

Rachel Pardner

Stuart Berry

Gemma Potter

Kirsty Millard

Philippa Holdroyd

Melanie Goolding

Charlotte Aldridge

Plus all the others who contributed with providing cakes and clothing/books and support on the day from the Crisis Team and others.

Disclainer

All photos published have the consent of individuals. Any reproductions/publishing of images of individuals identifiable cannot be shared or used without the express permission of Alan Ranger Photography, otherwise, the individual who is publishing will be liable in the event of sharing photos and any subsequent claim.

Help-Portrait is about “give the photos, not to ask for anything in return, not to use the photos in portfolios”

#Help-Portrait #News

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