ℒ𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒪𝓃 𝒯𝒽ℯ 𝒟𝒶𝓃𝒸ℯ ℱ𝓁ℴℴ𝓇 [𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟏]

𝟑.𝟏𝟎- 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐫

˚✧.⋅₊˚ ‧ 🩰⋅୨୧ ⋅🦢 ‧₊˚ ⋅.✧˚

["Dance To Express, Not Impress"]

January fourth arrived, and with it, the end of an unforgettable few days in Los Angeles. Emily had returned to Pittsburgh, her heart still racing with excitement from everything she had experienced in the past few days. Filming for Victorious had been a dream come true, and though she was sad to leave the cast behind for now, she couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity she'd had. She knew she'd be back soon enough, but for now, she was returning to life as usual.

Her mom, had planned a special treat for Emily that day— a trip to the salon to get her hair dyed blonde again. Ever since her hair had faded from the red shade she'd tried out, she had been thinking about going back to the bright, beachy blonde she had worn for a while before. It felt like the right time to return to her roots, quite literally.

As they pulled into the salon's parking lot, Emily's stomach fluttered with a mix of excitement and nervousness. She had always loved her blonde hair. It felt like it had been part of her identity for so long, but in recent months, she had experimented with different looks, trying to figure out what felt best for her. Now, however, she was ready to go back to the version of herself that had always felt most authentic.

"You sure you want to do this?" Katie asked, glancing over at her daughter as they sat in the car.

Emily grinned, "Definitely. I've missed being blonde. It just feels like me, you know?"

Katie chuckled, "I know what you mean. You've had a few different looks over the years, but this one suits you the best."

Together, they made their way into the salon, where a friendly stylist greeted them. She had done Emily's hair a few times before, and they quickly fell into easy conversation as Emily settled into the salon chair.

"So, what are we doing today?" the hairstylist asked, her hands already poised with the tools she needed for the transformation.

Emily smiled, "I want to go blonde again. Like, really blonde. I'm ready for it."

Katie nodded approvingly from the side, "I think that's a great idea. Your hair always looks amazing when it's blonde."

As the hair stylist began to mix the dye, Emily found herself reflecting on the whirlwind of emotions she'd been experiencing over the past few months. New York had felt like a dream, Los Angeles too, and now, back in Pittsburgh,
everything seemed to be settling into place again.

"So, how do you think with the filming in LA?" Katie asked, breaking Emily's thoughts as she sat beside her.

Emily's face lit up, "It's amazing, Mom. I can't even believe it. Ariana is so sweet, and the whole cast is really fun. I feel like I've known them forever, even though it's only been a few days. I'm excited to film again soon."

Katie raised an eyebrow, "That's great to hear. I knew you'd love it, you always have loved performing."

"I think I always will," Emily said, her voice filled with confidence. "It just feels like a natural fit, you know?"

As the hair stylist worked her magic, Emily couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort in the familiar routine of getting her hair done. It was one of those simple pleasures that always felt grounding, no matter what was going on in her life. She had always loved her hair, and today, she was eager to bring it back to the version that felt most like her.

Katie watched with a proud smile as Emily's hair began to transform. It wasn't long before the bright blonde color began to shine through, making Emily's features pop. When the process was done, the hair stylist spun the chair around so Emily could see the final result.