ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀꜱ : ᴛʜᴇ ᴜᴘʀɪꜱɪɴɢ

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"Girl, how about some new color for a new month? You've been stopping that tradition since you've been tired and all. Maybe that'll do you good."

"You should say it will do you good. I know you love to do my hair even more than I love changing it." I laughed through the phone, watching Alicia rummage through her closet, her whole wardrobe sprawled everywhere around her room.

"Busted... so what color?"

"You never stop, do you?" She shook her head, smiling deviously as I rolled my eyes.

"I was thinking of something completely different from what I have at the moment. Red or purple."

"You should so do red, girl." I shrugged, trying to keep my yoga pose as Alfred played with my legs, making me laugh and tremble. "I'll come pick you up next hour, I'll do some shopping too while we're at it."

I finished my session and went to take a quick shower before she came to pick me up. I didn't plan on looking good to go grocery shopping, so I hoped for a plain outfit that would go well for a sleepover or whatever. It's not like I would see anybody from school there.

As I was drying my hair, I thought about the strange atmosphere that had settled over our town. The curfew was new and unexplained, and it left an unsettling feeling. Something was off, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

When Alicia arrived, we drove to the mall, chatting about our plans for the weekend. We picked up a few things before heading to the grocery store. I wandered through the aisles, lost in thought about the new hair color I wanted.

In the hair dye aisle, I was trying to decide between two shades of red when I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"A new color?" I nearly knocked over everything on the shelves in surprise.

"You scared me!" I put a hand on my chest and looked at Raiden, curious. He seemed different outside of school, more relaxed. It was strange seeing him here, but I couldn't deny the flutter in my chest.

After exchanging a few sentences, we stood there in silence. I didn't know what to say, and it seemed neither did he. Before I could think of something, Aria interrupted us.

"We need to go, Rai." She was cold around me, and I didn't understand why.

Maybe jealousy. There was a rumor these two were dating, so that must be why she didn't like me talking with him.

They left, and I was left with a strange feeling. Why was he here? And why did I feel so drawn to him while I shouldn't?

Alicia found me still staring at the door where Raiden and Aria had exited. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just saw someone from school," I mumbled, grabbing the hair dye and heading to the checkout.

We finished our shopping and headed back to Alicia's place. I couldn't stop thinking about Raiden and the way he looked at me. There was something about him, something that felt different.

We spent the rest of the day chilling and doing my hair. It was my new era. Eighteen and about to be my better self.

As if I would. It was my promise every time I change my hair. And if I failed, I had to change again. That is why I never stay long with the same hair color.

The next day at school was even stranger. Raiden and his friends seemed to be everywhere I went. They were cautious around me, barely acknowledging me, but I could feel their eyes on me. It was as if they were trying to tell me something without words. Or I was seriously getting paranoid.