Changing Seasons

Meeting.

Leslie wasn't at school for a few days. She had forged her parents' signatures to sign herself up for homeschooling. It seems unlikely but her parents really didn't care. She could be pregnant, on drugs, and half dead but they wouldn't ever leave their bed. In her own opinion, she wasn't really in a safe home. And her parents, at least as many times as they left the room, had either ignored her or told her that they wish they had gotten an abortion when her mother was pregnant with her. As her first day of official homeschooling began, so did her transformation. She looks in her purple purse and saw her wallet. She pulled it out and looked at it. It was simple, white with purple stripes with the name 'LESLIE' printed across the side. She looked in it and pulled out fifty dollars, money that she had made from babysitting the neighbor's kids about three weeks ago, and six quarters. This should be enough to dye her hair if she didn't go with an odd and wacky color. Maybe blonde. She put on a pink blouse with leggings. She slipped on her boots she had gotten for Christmas. They were white with three inch heels on them. She checked the mirror one last time and walked downstairs to retrieve her jacket and keys. She walked to the coat hanger and searched for her purple jacket. Once she found it she slipped it on and let it rest on her small shoulders. She searched around for her keys. Where could they possibly be? They weren't on the key rack or on the table. They weren't on the counter or the couch. That's when she remembered why she shouldn't have dropped out of public school; She forgot where everything was until about five minutes after she stopped looking. It was usually too late to find it but not in this case. She ran out to her car and there she saw them, in the driver's seat. She sighed with relief and punched in the unlock code to unlock the car. Once she got in, she, of course, forgot to pick up the keys so she sat directly on them. Her bottom just happened to directly hit the alarm button. The car erupted with honks of the horn and flashes of the headlights. She shut the door and groaned loudly. She quickly got the keys from under her and hit the alarm button again to silence the noisy car. Once she did she leaned back in the seat and sighed as she closed her eyes. She finally opened her eyes and dug the key into the ignition. The car roared as it started and she checked the time. 2:37PM. Hopefully she could get an appointment quickly enough. She backed out of the driveway and drove cautiously down the road. The hair salon was only a mile away. She could walk there if she wanted to... But walking really isn't her thing. When she was in middle school she never got a good grade in gym because she would never exercise. Exercise was for the at people and the people that cared about being a sports player. She drove for maybe five minutes down the straight road. It amazes her that there were barely any turns on it. Once she pulled up at the salon she looked around before getting out and walking into the salon. She looked for the sign that she'd loved since she was a baby. It was a pink sign with pink hearts and white swirls on it. Instantly, Leslie was greeted by the manager. She was a tall woman with long, dark hair. Her tall, skinny body was covered in tattoos. Some were new and some were older. Two of the black tattoos on her arm were of her kids names. They were on her upper back, almost on her neck. They read, 'ASHTON' and 'ASHLYN'. They were twins and both were about 15 years old now.

"So what would you like done today, Ms. Summers?" The woman asked her.

"I.. Uh.. I want my hair dyed."

"What color?"

"Bl-" Leslie thought for a moment. Did she really want to attempt to look like the girl that she hated? She decided to choose a color that matched her better. "Black, please. I want my hair dyed black." Leslie said, sounding more sure of herself than she did when she almost said blonde. She handed the manager her fifty dollars, but she shook her head. "You've been coming here regularly since you were a baby. Plus you overpaid last time you got your hair cut so it's on me." Leslie shrugged and put her money back into her wallet, which she shoved in her purse. The woman led her to a chair where Leslie had her hair brushed, washed, dyed, and washed again. Leslie was then led to a room with one other girl in there, and she was playing on her phone. Leslie sat in the chair beside her  and did the same thing. She checked her Facebook and the video had over 200 views already. It wouldn't be long before everyone saw it. She sighed a disappointed sigh and the stranger looked over. "Drama troubles?" The girl asked. "I got stood up again. I always do. I'm just a nerd at the school." At this statement a smile grew on the girl's maroon stained lips. "I'm Emma List. And I have a group of friends that we basically became friends because we all used to be like that. Now every girl wants to be part of our group. We turn most of them down, but you've got some potential. I can tell. You want to hang out and meet all of them some time? Maybe Wednesday?" It was Monday. That's not a lot of time. Leslie thought for a moment and then nodded, "But I don't have any clothes to wear to meet new people." She said shyly as she looked down, turning off her phone and placing it gently on her leg. Emma laughed and nodded excitedly, "That's what we'll do then. Me and the girls will take you shopping and get you a wardrobe!" She exclaimed. Leslie thought for another moment before nodding. "That'd be awesome! Let me put my number in your phone so we can text to know where to meet up." The girl nodded and handed Leslie her phone. She quickly put her number in under the name, 'Leslie' and gave it back. At that moment, the manager came in and beckoned for Emma to come with her. "Your highlights should be done now Ms. List." She said. Emma nodded and gave one last smile to Leslie before leaving the room. She did it. She actually did it. She found a group of friends that were like we and she already had plans to meet up with them. This was going to be the best time Leslie had ever had before. Soon enough, another worker had came into the room. He was a new worker. He had dyed blonde hair and bright blue eyes. His body build was fit and he looked to be athletic. He surely seemed to be a guy to catch many girls' eyes; and Leslie was one of the girls. "Hi, my name is Jacob and Karen told me to finish your hair." He spoke in a soft tone but with a deep voice. As he spoke, he grew a smile that showed off perfect teeth. Leslie was caught completely off guard. "Um... Y-Yeah I am completely fine with that." She said to him after realizing that she should probably answer him. Jacob furrowed his eyebrows as he looked at her, "Are you alright Ms. Summers?" He asked with a concerned frown hinting at his light pink lips. Leslie nodded quickly at the question and she stood up. Though she let the words, "I am now." Escape her throat in a low mumble. She walked out with the boy that she had just barely met and he removed the tin foil from her hair. She took one look in the mirror that towered her and was in awe. She looked like a completely different person. "Do you like it?" Jacob asked with a hopeful tone in his voice. It was obvious that he was new and he wanted to make sure that she was completely satisfied with her new hair color. Leslie saw the hopeful sparkle in his eye and smiled. 'There is another thing I can add to the list of things perfect about him. His eyes.' She thought to herself. She nodded and uttered a yes. She was almost speechless with how different she looked. Leslie took one last look t the handsome young man and smiled. He sent a smile back and with that, she took off, grabbing her purse off of her shoulder and looking through it to find a twenty dollar bill. She gave to Jacob and thanked him before walking out and going to her car. Once she got in she placed her purse beside her in the passenger seat and smiling. She thought for a moment. 'I have a friend. I talked to a cute guy. That school was holding me back socially. I can do anything now.' She smiled as she continued to think for about twenty more minutes before finally starting her car and driving out of the parking lot and onto the short road. It was about time for school to let out so she was careful not to run into anyone. She drove down the road until getting to her house and getting out. She left her purse in the car and ran inside. She passed the unlocked door and ran to her room. Once in her room, she shut the door and plopped on her bed. One thought kept roaming through her mind though. 'I have a friend. I have a friend. I have a friend.'