Us and Our House

Hairdresser

"How do you like it?" Tony asked the blond as he peered up into the mirror.

"I like it a lot." the blond, Adam, had said as he examined his hair in the mirror. "Thanks." he smiled. Tony returned the gesture and unclipped the black material covering the customer.

"You're welcome." Tony replied before he shook the remaining hair off the coat and set it aside. Adam got up out of the chair.

"Have a nice day." Adam concluded and have a wave of his hand before heading to the counter where he was to pay.

Tony grabbed a broom which was leaning up against the wall beside the mirror and began to sweep the blond hair from around his area. Just as he had collected the stray hair into a neat pile on the floor, the door to the salon opened, little to Tony's knowledge.

He bent down to move the pile of hair onto the dust pan, then catching the glimpse of a figure in the corner of his eye. Glancing up to peer at the new customer, his eyes grew wide. Tony wasted no time and dumped the hair into a nearby garbage can and hurriedly paced away from the customer.

Although he made an effort to hide his face, he spared a quick glance back to see another hairdresser, VJ, was helping her. Relief seemed to wash over him for a precious second as he entered the break room.

What he didn't expect, though, was that that same hairdresser enter the break room soon after.

"Hey," VJ said to Tony to get his attention, "there's a customer waiting." he informed Tony.

Tony furrowed his brow in confusion before asking, "Why can't you take it?" he tried not to sound rude, as his intentions were mere curiosity.

The other hairdresser shrugged in response, "She asked for you." he answered simply before heading out the door to return to his work. Tony sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose before reluctantly pacing out the door.

Despite this, he put on a smile and wore it casually. Before he knew it, he was approaching her, his prom date. And her name was Rachel Potter.

"Hi." Tony said with a white smile, putting on the act of treating her like any other customer. "How may I help you?"

She returned a perfect white smile, which was highlighted by her bronze-tanned skin. "Heard you started working here, so, naturally, I stopped by." she began in a way that confused Tony whether she was serious or just playing with him.

"Did you 'stop by' to get a haircut or just to say hi? 'Cause I'm on the clock, sweetheart." he mentioned, mimicking the same tone she used.

"Bit of both." she replied, the same suggestive smirk playing on her lips that won him over in high school. She wore shades, and with no doubt, an overall appearance that belonged on America's Next Top Model.

"Right this way." Tony then said as he turned his green eyes from her dark shades to bring her to a chair. The brunette with with the ponytail of glossy locks followed the man with the slicked-back black hair.

Rachel removed her shades and set them aside before she sat on a shorter black chair. Tony prepared his things as she undid her ponytail, shaking out her hair and fluffing it out a bit. "I like the water hot." she mentioned with a tone that could've meant whatever she proposed it did.

Tony drew in a sharp, silent breath, mouthing the words, 'Of course' to himself as he rolled his eyes. "Lean your head back." he instructed as he came up behind it. Rachel did as she was told, resting the back of her head on the edge. "How're the boys?" she asked him as she let her eyelids close.

"They're fine." Tony replied shortly, secretly doubting that she cared even the slightest bit.

"Still single?" she asked before he began to rinse her dark hair with warm water.