No Skateboarding Allowed

Chapter 3: An Unseen Joey

I fidgeted with the leather chair and stared at my reflection. To be honest, I never really give much thought to how I look in the morning. Whatever's comfortable, really. I guess that's where hanging out with skateboarding guys all the time gets you.

"Alrighty, Joey," Katie said, running her hands through my hair, "first things first, we need to fix this hair."

"Deff," Daphne said.

I felt myself get reclined into a pool of water.

"Okay," I muttered.

She started washing my hair, dryed it, and examined.

"You have major curls," she said.

I nodded. At least we know she can see.

"We want to play that up," said Katie, "but in a cuter way."

Now I was just getting offended.

From there, I couldn't tell you what went on with my hair. So many serums and sprays and irons were used on it that I was afraid it was just going to fall off by the time they were finished. 

They stepped back and both immediately gasped.

"Wow!" Daphne said, "You actually look really good!"

I raised an eyebrow and they turned me around to the mirror. 

I had low expectations for what I was about to see. Being a girl and not caring about your appearance put you in a position to be less than impressed when someone tries to make you look good. But this... I was really surprised.

I almost didn't recognize myself. I was physically taken aback.

"What..." I said.

"I'm proud of us!" Katie declared.

I smiled, I'll admit. Only for, like, two seconds. But I still smiled.

My hair was straight and silky; it fell perfectly around my face, actually making me look good. Just like they said. 

"I'm impressed," I said, "really."

"Yeah?" Katie asked.

I nodded. "Yeah."

They let me take it in for a little while longer. I turned in different directions, ran my hands through it. That was something I never did.

I wondered for a second what the guys would say. Kyle would probably just start laughing.

Don't even get me started on Brady. 

"This is only the beginning," Daphne said, smiling.

Then I was scared again.

The next few hours were a whirlwind of makeup brushes and eyeliner sticks and modeling clothes and shoes and hairstyles and walking different ways. It wore me out.

I strutted a pair of denim shorts and a purple top when Brady texted me.

how's the beautification

I smiled to myself and texted back.

fine. go away.

I threw my phone into my bag on the couch where the girls were sitting. It buzzed again, but I ignored it.

Katie leaned over my phone. I didn't really care. She raised an eyebrow and tucked a piece of blonde hair behind her ear. 

"Who's Brady?" she asked, wiggling my phone.