Removed

18

 "Welcome to Morales Salon. What would you like done today?" I query with a fake smile plastered on my face. My voice is an octave higher than usual, lips twitching and fingers drumming against my leg.

The lady who just walked in smiles back at me. "I'd love to have my nails painted with that new, erm, insta one."

I nod, realizing she's referring to Jared's parent's new line. "Of course." Next I glance down at the computer placed in front of me, tapping away at the slick surface. "Go to nail station number five."

"Thank you!" She beams as I glance up, practically skipping to the station at the back of the room.

Once she's out of my line of vision, I plop into the chair behind me. My parents want to spend some time with me, and this is their solution. Really, I believe they're short handed, but even though this job can become boring, I don't mind helping out. A yawn escapes my lips as I glance outside through the glass making up the walls. Streetlights give faint relief of the darkness as well as the florescent light of this shop. The chair is leather and hugs my body. A smile creeping onto my face, I allow myself to drift into my thoughts.

She ambled in the door, a bright smile gracing her features. I was hiding under the receptionist desk, peering at her from the gap at the bottom. Her sneakers slapped against the pristine tile, dress swishing at her ankles. Ash slowly turned around the desk, feet growing closer to my location.

Giddily smiling to myself, I slipped under the desk. Her feet appeared directly across from me, her skirt folding onto the floor as she began to kneel. A rush of adrenaline rushing through me as I scooted to the side in the nick of time. Sadly, my foot took too long to slide across the tile and in front of me.

I let out a yelp of surprise as a cold hand grasped my ankle. My cousin poked out her head from under the desk, a silly grin lighting up her face. Her emerald eyes were bright and shining, practically radiating joy.

"I found you, Hurricane," she smiled as she pulled the rest of her body from under the wooden structure.

After letting out a sigh of defeat, I let my smile return to my visage. "You're just too good at hide and seek."

She shook her head, sitting beside me. Our parents had already departed, but we'd snuck back to play. The shop was mostly dark, only a few lamps lightly the fairly large area. It felt like bliss, sitting in silence with my best friend. My both pulled our knees up to our chests, smiles bountiful as we clasped our hands around our legs. We sat like that for a while, lost in our own thoughts.

Suddenly, the door was yanked open. Ash immediately jumped up, protectively standing in front of me. I slowly pulled myself off the cold floor, trembling from head to toe. The person was obscured from my view by Ash's tall frame. I could make out their black shoes and black pants. Ash seemed to stiffen in front of me, fear practically radiating off her body.

"You girls are breaking curfew," the guard hissed. "Get home before I decide to punish you."

Rapidly, both of us bobbed our heads, heading towards the door.

"Wait," the guard halted us. "Let me scan your Chips. This goes on your records.

I felt the urge to roll my eyes and pee my pants at the same time. We both complied, one at a time holding out our wrists to be scanned. Then, we nearly ran all the way home, my cursed asthma slowing us down. The society was supposed to be perfect. Why were be being scolded for playing hide and seek? Why was I cursed with such a troublesome illness?