𝑬𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝑴í𝒂 | ᴮᵒʸ ᴹᵉᵉᵗˢ ᵂᵒʳˡᵈ

4: Whole Lotta Hair

Two girls were giving a presentation for science class.

"In conclusion, some products we use every day cause algae to grow in lakes..." She poured stuff into a beaker, and white murky stuff began to form.

"Cutting off oxygen and disrupting the ecosystem." The other girl said, then dropped a fake fish into the beaker. "So, what we've learned is that we must choose biodegradable products to help protect our environment." The first girl said, then pulled out the first the other girl dropped in, and it was just a skeleton.

"Excellent report! Inspired visuals." Mr. Feeny said from his desk. "Next team!" Shawn and Cory got up and went over to Mr. Feeny's chalkboard and pulled down the map.

"How air pollution affects our everyday life." Cory said. "Excellent topic." Mr. Feeny said. Shawn and Cory took out pointers at the same time. Shawn then points to the Gulf of Mexico.

"Denver." He spoke. I smiled and shook my head. Mr. Feeny then moved the pointer to the correct location of Denver. "Elevation, five thousand feet." Shawn said. Cory then pointed to Iowa. "Philadelphia." Mr. Feeny corrected him like he did, Shawn. "Lying low in the Delaware basin, 250 feet above sea level." Cory said. "Well researched." Mr. Feeny complimented. Shawn then pointed to Yucatan. "Clean crisp mountain air."

Their presentation lost me the rest of the way. Mr. Feeny began to pair up people. "Since we have an odd number, there will be a group of three." Mr. Feeny said. Shawn, Cory, and I looked at each other. "Those three will be Mr. Hunter, Miss. Flores, and" Shawn and I both hoped he said, Cory. "Mr. Minkus."

I had sunk into my seat while Minkus and Shawn slapped their foreheads. At least Cory got to work with Topanga.

At lunch, Cory joined Shawn and I at a table. "What do you think of my hair?" He asked. "Guys don't ask guys that question." Shawn said. "Adriana-Camila, what do you think of my hair? Be honest." Cory asked me. "Uh, it's... hair?" I didn't know how to answer the question. "Well..." Cory gestured to his hair. "Would this qualify as a Brillo head?" "Nah..." Shawn felt Cory's hair. "You're more like a Nerf head." He said, then went back to eating his lunch. "You knew this, and you didn't tell me?!" Cory seemed on edge. "You got curly hair. Big deal. Can we move on now?" I spoke. "Sure, it's easy for you to talk. You got hair. I'm a Chia pet." Cory kept feeling his hair as Shawn ran a hand through his. It was cute.

Topanga walked over to the table carrying a clipboard. I was reading my history book, so I didn't catch much of what they were saying. All I heard was Shawn talking about "The Addams Family."

Later that day, Shawn and I went shopping and bought some stuff for Cory's hair crisis. Well, that's what Shawn called it. After we bought everything, we walked to Cory's house.

We came through the back door. "Got the stuff!" Shawn said as we both stopped in our tracks and looked at Topanga, who had red lipstick all over her face. "Use a mirror, Babe." Shawn said.

"What stuff?" Topanga asked. "Let me ask you something. What do you think of my hair? You think it looks good?" Cory asked Topanga. "It's beautiful. Like a desert tumbleweed." Topanga replied. That's a bit weird and specific.

Cory began to hand Topanga her things and pushed her towards the door. "Are we all done for today?" She asked. "Yeah, Shawn, Adriana-Camila, and I have another project we're working on now." He told her. "Really? What is it?" She sounded intrigued. "Well, you know how those dolphins get caught in the tuna nets?" Shawn asked Topanga. "Yeah?" "It's got nothing to do with that." He closed the door, leaving Topanga outside.

We walked upstairs to Cory's room and began the hair straightening process.

"Should this stuff be burning!?" Cory asked. "Why? Is it burning?" Shawn asked. "No, I'm just trying to make conversation because we never really get to talk." Cory said sarcastically. "How bad's it burning?" I asked. Cory looked at Shawn. "Call your sister." Shawn went over to the phone. "Ask her if my ears should feel like throbbing jalapeños." Shawn called his sister, Stacy.

"Hi, Stacy? It's me. Listen, Cory wants to know if that stuff you sent over should be burning." Cory began dancing in pain. "Uh-huh... Really?" Shawn said while on the phone. Cory ran over to Shawn. "Hurting! Hurting now!" He yelled. "Stacy wants to know how long it's been burning." Shawn naked Cory. "Forty, forty-five minutes." Cory said. Shawn said that number into the phone.

I looked at Cory's hair. It kinda looked straight but also a mess. "Shawn, I'm gonna rip my head off!" Cory yelled. "Stacey says you should've washed it out forty-five minutes ago." Cory ran into the bathroom, and I ran in to help him.

I grabbed the box and read it. "I told you guys to read the box!" I said, looking out of the bathroom and at Shawn. "Yeah, Stacy just called us idiots." Cory began to yell. Shawn entered the bathroom with Cory and me. Both our eyes widened at the sight.

Cory's screams caused Eric and Mrs. Matthews to run upstairs. They entered the room, and both yelled at the sight of his air as well. "Adriana-Camila and I had nothing to do with this!" Shawn yelled, grabbing my hand and running out of the room and house. As we went down the street, we started to walk. Shawn still had my hand. He's been holding my hand a lot lately.

The next day, it was time for presentations. Shawn, Minkus, and I went third. It wasn't that bad since I did my own work while Minkus did Shawn's work as well as his own. It was Cory and Topanga's turn finally. Cory didn't wanna take off his hat. Mr. Feeny made him, and everybody laughed. I tried not to, but I couldn't help it.

At lunch, Shawn and Larry made fun of Cory's hair. "Over here... duck head!" Shawn said, then laughed as did Larry and I. Shawn and Larry talked about TV shows.

"Adriana-Camila, did you see- oh right. You don't have a TV. Never mind." Larry said. I felt left out. I guess Shawn noticed. Larry got up to throw away trash.

"I heard they're playing Tombstone at 7 tonight. You wanna come by after school? You could have dinner with my mom and I?" Shawn's offer brought a smile to my face. "Yeah, that'd be nice. My dad's working late tonight, too." Shawn smiled back and nodded. "They're playing The Mighty Ducks, too, at some point! I remember how much you liked that movie." I smiled more. "And if your dad doesn't mind since it is Friday after all. You wanna just sleep over?"

I was confused. Shawn's never asked me to sleep over. If we do have sleepovers, it's with Cory in his living room. Morgan would join us now and then. "Yeah, that'd be nice. I'll ask my dad or my brother." Shawn nodded.

I asked my brother, Eduardo, if I could sleep over at Shawn's, and he didn't mind. I packed my bag and headed to Shawn's. Mrs. Hunter opened the door. "Hi, Mrs. Hunter!" I spoke. Her face lit up, and she smiled big. She hugged me tight to where I couldn't breathe much.

"Hi, sweetheart!" She let me inside. "I heard you were sleeping over, so I went to the store and bought everything I remembered you liked!" I smiled at her. "You can help yourself to whatever you want when you want. Okay?"

"Yes, ma'am." She hugged me again. "I have to continue making dinner, but here's the remote!" She handed the remote to me. "Make yourself at home! This is your second home after all, Adriana-Camila!" I smiled at her again. "Thanks, Mrs. Hunter." "You're very welcome, Hun! Shawn's taking a quick shower, but he'll be out soon." I nodded and looked at what was playing on TV.

Shawn came out of the bathroom, and I guess he didn't notice me at first, and when he did, he looked like he wasn't expecting me. "Hi, Shawn!" I said with a smile.

"H-Hey, Adriana." He sat next to me on the floor. "What are you watching?" "Batman Returns." "Nice!"

I had dinner with Shawn and his mom. Mrs. Hunter went to bed early while Shawn and I ate a bunch of snacks and watched movies.

Shawn fell asleep while we were in the middle of watching Tombstone. I cleaned up the snacks and put a blanket over him before joining him back on the floor and falling asleep as well.

On Monday, Cory had his normal hair back. "Hey, touch football in my backyard after school?" Shawn asked Cory. "Yeah, I'll be there." Cory replied.