It's all about TRUST

Chapter 6

Holly, Chapter 6

My mum had picked me up from Alexis’ house; I was home now, on the sofa and watching – you guessed it – 4music. The “back to school” best tracks were playing. I had all the things I had bought today laid across the floor. Even with all the distractions, there was one question playing through my mind the whole time: ‘Can I trust Alexis?’ The truth was, I didn’t know.

Mother really needed a new look – she’d had the same hairstyle for years now, – we couldn’t risk it - so she had booked the hairdressers for tomorrow.  She had booked me in too, because I should probably change my hairstyle too to be on the safe side. Despite what Alexis said, I was going to get it straightened. Permanently. I thought about having it dyed a different colour, hopefully strawberry blonde, then I could aim for red! Okay, maybe that would be too vibrant and attention-seeking.  I’m not sure what my mum was going to have. She had lightly permed brown hair at the moment, but I think she was getting it dyed brown-black and straightened slightly, so it had a very subtle wave.

‘Holly, I think you should get to bed early tonight. You have had a busy day today and have another busy day tomorrow. Go upstairs and have your shower. Wash your hair because you’re having your hair done tomorrow.’

‘Okay.’ I went upstairs and removed my make-up. I got undressed and stood in the shower. I turned the water on cold, and felt relieved as the soothing liquid trickled down my back and washed the away the remnants of today. I used some nice smelling body wash to wash myself, and when I got out of the shower, I wrapped myself in a towel, then I smothered myself in matching body lotion. I put on clean pyjamas and got into my bed. I pulled the covers over my chest and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow (well, almost).

I woke up at ten o’clock in the morning. I heard some clattering downstairs which confirmed that mother was awake. I stumbled downstairs in my dressing gown and got some cornflakes out of the cupboard. I poured myself a bowl of it and added some milk. Mother was doing some washing up. I ate my cornflakes quickly, then rushed upstairs. I needed to get ready – the hair appointment was at eleven o’clock. I pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt, then brushed my teeth, brushed my hair, washed my face, pulled on a hoodie and grabbed my bag and phone. I sat watching the television downstairs until my mum was ready to go.

When we arrived at the hairdressers, I told the hairdresser exactly what I wanted. She nodded and got to work. Mother was in another room having her hair prepped up for the dark dye (well, that’s what I thought). The hairdresser trimmed my hair. Next she straightened my hair with chemicals and instruments of all shapes and sizes, then she washed it, put some more chemicals on, washed them out and blow dried it. My hair was poker straight. I hated it.

When she had finished with the dye, I looked in the mirror. My hair was a beautiful strawberry blonde, and… well… I guess poker straight wasn’t that bad after all. It just might take a while… getting used to. My hairdresser asked me if I liked it and I said yes, although I wasn’t entirely sure. I will get used to it, I thought. Mother came out from another room where she’d been having her hair done. But it wasn’t black or dark-brown… it was red. It was a bit less curly – just wavy – and it looked absolutely horrendous. I’m not going to lie. I frowned in horror, then realised that there were other people around, so put on a fake smile.

‘It looks… great,’ I said as enthusiastically as I could.

‘Thanks Holly,’ said mother, although I knew she hated it just as much as I did – she had that look in her eyes, the one that only I can read. The hair in fact, when you looked closely, was rather frizzy. She had also had it cut into a bit of a crop – definitely not a style that suits her. I knew exactly what I would buy her for her birthday – a hat! Actually, she would probably buy one anyway. Changing the subject, mother said, ‘I really like your hair, Holly. It really enhances your natural colour and just frames your face perfectly!’ The hair dresser stood up and handed my mother a piece of paper.

‘That will be one-hundred and twenty pounds for both of you please, Lindsey,’ said the hairdresser. Mother looked shocked for a fraction of a second but quickly covered it up.

‘Erm yes, erm here it is,’ said mother, looking uncomfortable. We weren’t one of those rich folks, so mother wasn’t keen on forking out so much money like that. She pulled six twenty-pound notes out of her purse. She had expected it to be around eighty pounds, but brought an extra forty just in case. If it had been any more, mother wouldn’t have been able to pay, and that would be embarrassing!

As soon as we got home, I started on my homework. I had done some of it earlier in the holidays – like the big history project – but other homework, such as my algebra maths homework, I had stupidly left until the last day before school. I had a long English essay, Maths, chemistry, physics, French, art and the list goes on.

I finally finished all my homework at nine ‘o’clock in the evening, so packed my bag and had a shower and went to bed. First day back at school tomorrow.