Cut Your Bangs [S.Barber]

chapter nine

Stanley agreed to let Forest stay at his house for as long as she'd like until she would go back home. Forest could tell he was hesitant over it, rightfully so, but she also knew Stanley still enjoyed her company, as she did his.

Now, she lay on Stanley's couch after work at the bowling alley, reading through her science textbook. Stanley paced the room for unknown reasons. Forest always chose to ignore what he did while she worked.

"Forest." Stanley stopped pacing and stared at her. She hummed. "Do you wanna go to Ricky Berry's party? Everyone else is going." Stanley suggested.

"Well, if everyone was going to jump off a bridge, would you, too?" Mumbled Forest jokingly. "Yes, I would." Stanley sighed. "Forest, please."

Forest looked up from her book. "I don't have anything to wear." She motioned down towards the clothes she borrowed from Stanley.

"Yeah, well, uh.. remember how I wasn't there for lunch today?" Stanley fiddled with the hem of his shirt. Forest looked off to the side in confusion. "I actually went and got you something." He held up a dark green dress. It had long sleeves and appeared to be very comfortable.

Forest gasped and stood up from the couch. "Stan." She took the dress from him and ran her fingers on the fabric. "Why did you do this?" She smiled.

"Because I knew if I got you something, you'd have no choice but to go to the party with me." He joked. She chuckled, then pressed the dress up against her body. "I'm gonna go put it on." She said excitedly.

Stanley watched her run into the bathroom with a smile. It was a perfect fit, not to mention how beautiful the dress was. It wasn't anything formal, actually. It was simply a casual dress, which made it all the better for Forest.

When she got out of the bathroom to show Stanley, he was already holding up the camera, waiting for her to come. "So..." She spun around for the camera and smiled to Stanley.

"You look great." He grinned. "Thank you, good sir." She jokingly curtsied. Stanley set down the camera. "I need to figure out what to wear." He realized.

"Oh, my god. Is this going to be one of those montages where—" Forest started. "We're not in a movie, Forest." Stanley interrupted. "Right." She nodded. "Would be cool, though." She laughed.

"How about...this?" Stanley pulled out a blue suit from his closet. "Yes." Forest clapped her hands together excitedly. "Again, if this was a montage, you'd first have to pull out something bad, and I'd have to say no and—"

"Forest, we're not in a movie montage." He reminded. "I know. I was just saying." She argued. After Stanley put on his suit, they were just adding their final touches in Stanley's bathroom mirror.

All of a sudden, Forest gasped. Stanley looked to her with worry. "You alright?" He checked. "Stan, can we cut my hair?" She grabbed his arms. "Cut your hair? Where is this coming from?" He widened his eyes.

"Can we just do it? It would look so good." She begged. "Uh— Sure. Okay." Stanley shrugged. He was shocked at her urge to suddenly cut her hair. Up until now, she was anxious over every change she would make to herself. Now, she was running to grab a pair of scissors.

When she did, she separated her hair into two, and marked a spot using two elastics to where she would cut. "You're 100% sure about this? You're not high?" Stanley pushed her hand away from her hair for a moment.

She turned around and looked up at him. "I'm sure." She smiled. "Alright." Stanley chuckled. "Go for it." As usual, he pointed the camera at Forest in the mirror. The same mirror that they had earlier cut her bangs in.

Without much hesitance, she began cutting off the hair underneath the elastic. She laughed in excitement. The elastic fell into the sink along with the hair, letting the rest of her hair fall down to her shoulders. "Oh, my god." She marveled.

"Do the other side. Do the other side." Urged Stanley. "Okay." She did the same to her left as she did to the right. She covered her mouth with her palms. 

"I love it." She bubbled. "You look great." Stanley checked his watch. "Shit. We're late, come on."

With their suit and dress on, they arrived at the large house. It was filled with people. They were drinking, dancing, smoking, kissing, you name it.

Forest held Stanley's hand to not lose him in the crowd. They found Sydney and Dina sitting in the living room.

"Hey, guys!" Dina greeted. "Hey." Stanley smiled. He took a seat beside Dina. Forest sat next to him. "Might I just say, you guys look great." Commented Sydney with a smile.

"Says you." Intoned Forest with a laugh. "Where's Brad?" Questioned Stanley. "I don't know." Dina shrugged. "Probably off somewhere with Ricky."

Dina seemed to be studying Forest's face. Suddenly, she smirked. "Forest." She spoke. The redheaded girl turned to her. "I love your new hair, by the way." She complimented. Forest looked down at the hair that stopped just further down her shoulders, then smiled. "Thanks."

"I've got just one little thing I need to add. Come." She stood up, taking Forest's arm. "Woah— Wait, where are we going?" Forest chuckled. "Stan, Syd, stay here!" Dina shouted as she lead Forest up the stairs.

They stopped inside the bathroom. Dina shut the door. Forest looked around in confusion, until her eyes landed on a makeup bag Dina was fumbling through.

"Dina, what's this about?" She eyed the curly headed girl with a skeptical expression. "You have to trust me. Let me do your makeup. If you don't like it, you can wash it off." Dina pleaded.

Forest hesitated. She was never one to do makeup, but still considered it since she was very open to trying new things this past month.

"Fine." She sighed. Dina squealed in excitement. She reached forward with an eyeliner pen. Next was mascara, then lip gloss. Forest was shocked by the results.

Somehow she looked exactly the same, yet different. She didn't hate it, though. Not at all. "So?" Dina grinned. Forest laughed. "I like it." She turned back to the girl beside her.

"Yes!" Dina cheered. "Come on. We have to show Stan and Syd. They're gonna love i—" Dina stopped once she opened the bathroom door.

Right in front of them, across the hallway, we're Bradley and Jenny Tuffield making out. Dina seemed to be paralyzed for a moment. Forest sighed.

Dina quickly ran out, purposely brushing past Jenny to grab their attention as she left. When Brad noticed, he called her name a few times, though didn't bother running after her.

He glanced over at Forest, and glared at the girl. Forest simply shook her head at him, and ran after Dina.

Although, she couldn't seem to find her. When she did, she was already just leaving the house. "Dina." She called out.

Dina turned around. Her cheeks were stained with her mascara which was running down. Forest frowned. "I figure you don't want to go back in there." She spoke calmly.

Dina sniffled and shook her head. Forest pursed her lips. "How are you getting home?" She inquired. Dina shrugged. "Brad drove me, but I'm probably going to take the bus." She sighed.

"I can stay with you tonight if you want. Stanley'll get it. I can call him later." Offered Forest. Dina smiled sadly. "You don't have to. If you want to, though, it'd be nice." She wiped away a tear.

"It would be my pleasure." Forest bowed jokingly. Dina let out a small chuckle, followed by another sniffle.

"Forest, I don't know where you came from, but you are everyone's lord and savior."