Misconceptions

1

(Roxanne: meaning "dawn" (or "bright, radiant one")

Bright scarlet hair was brought to the attention of the stylists at the hair salon. Of course the women with the hair had wanted her hair the way she did, yet her friends were furthermore shocked, no, impressed even!
Throughout all the talks, all the complaints, and all the years the four girls have known each other, their friend, Roxanne, has never once talked about dying her tips Orange. Perhaps the young lady wanted a change from her old life, maybe a change of scenery from her past relationships.
Of course, that wasn't the thing at all; she just wanted to feel whole again.

"Roxy! Are you being serious right now?!" The fore mentioned looked at her friend, Trisha Lucan, nodding her head gently with a small forming smile on her pink lips. Trisha was skeptical to the whole idea of her friend dying her hair a color that doesn't even compliment her attire, but of course Roxanne wasn't going to let someone else decide for her, not anymore.
After a few minutes of constant restrain and reminders, Roxanne sat down onto a chair, waiting for her new appearance to come true.

Now let's start over.

Roxanne is a mid twenty-one college student, always stubborn however passionate about her dream of being a chef, just like how her father is. Roxanne used to be a play girl back in her days, dating this person and dating that person back and forth, until senior year appeared.
She found a girl that made Roxanne's heart pop into many smaller hearts, falling down onto her trail, continuously following her wherever she went. Yes she knew she was bisexual, her parents supporting her along with her friends, however she herself, just couldn't accept it. Until Roxanne opened up her heart for the girl, that girl left her alone and broken once she found someone else to fill her needs. Once Roxanne's friends found out, they tracked the girl down, breaking the girl down to her knees, begging for forgiveness.
The struggling red head has never felt such pain in all her years of dating, but of course, she deserved it, knowing she probably hurt one of her past relationships way harder. She wouldn't eat, constantly being exhausted and hungry whenever she went to work. Once the years went by, she finally gave up on moping around and gave life a second chance.
And no, she didn't start dating, she wasn't ready for that commitment yet. No one knew this but, the reason Roxanne wants to dye her hair orange, was because of the mistakes she's made. The color orange represents determination, encouragement, and that only encouraged Roxanne herself to use a color that encourages her to be herself again.

Back to the present.

The red head looked into the small mirror that showed her the newly colored hair tips, making her squeal in happiness, catching the girls off guard and smile at the behavior of their friend, noticing that she is only recovering bit by bit.
Once they've all finished their new looks, the group of college students left the salon, only chatting their lips away on the way back to their shared apartment. Roxanne was left behind to grab a quick drink, informing her friends before they notice her disappearance.
Once she entered a small coffee shop, ordered her regular drink, paying, then exiting, she noticed someone glancing at her hair. She turned around, bumping into the very person that has been looking at her hair. She looked up at him, feeling slightly self conscious at how short she is compared to the man that stood in front of her. Roxanne sipped away at her drink, savoring each taste slowly while the small chill tickled her inside. She shivered lightly, notifying the man in front of her, taking note on this.
He showed her his hand, giving her a soft smile.

"I like your hair, both the colors mix in very well." He softly said, Roxanne's hand slowly sliding in his, shaking both their hands in greeting. She was confused at the sudden greeting the man has shown her, however just smiling in return.

"Ah, thank you. My friends have no idea that this color is just right for me." She said, waving her hand around while the other was still holding her drink. The man smiled at her gestures, clearing his throat, signaling her to walk along with him.
They both walked down the streets of LakView, the city of the night. Roxanne answering questions of his, and him answering her questions gladly, both of them just smiling at each other.
Once she knew where she was going, she almost swallowed a piece of ice that went through her straw, instead letting it melt inside the hot cavern that was also known as her mouth.

"You live around here too?" She glanced up to the tall maroon haired boy next to her, catching his attention. He nodded, pointing at the third floor of the building.

"Right up there." Was all he said. She looked up at the direction he pointed, taking notice of all the colors emitting from the balcony. It was still four in the afternoon, so the beautiful rows and fluttering flowers were easy to spot. The first row that covered the view of the balcony was bright yellow marigolds, making Roxanne's smile only wider.

"You plant?" She asked softly, coming back from throwing the once full cup but now empty in the recycling bin. He nodded, opening the door of the building for the both of them. She thanked him gently, pressing the 'up' button of the elevator.

"Planting is the only thing that keeps me sane." He joked, making Roxanne snort, her hands quickly covering her nose at the sudden action. The man only laughed, patting her head. She blushed, laughing along with him.
The elevator doors soon opened, the two friends walking along their way to her apartment. Once she found her door, she turned around, fumbling with her keys as she smiled at him.

"Thanks for...keeping me company through my - I mean, our way to our apartments." She announced, taking out her hand to have a farewell shake. He only chuckled, taking her small hand in his big ones, softly shaking both of them. He then grinned, trailing her hand over to his face, his lips planting a soft butterfly kiss on her hand.
Her chest tightened up, not knowing what this feeling was.

"My name is Ethan Leon by the way. Nice to have a chance to be friends with you...miss?"

"I...It's Roxanne Bethany. Nice to be friends with y...you too."  The flustered red head mumbled, feeling her hand lose its warmth from being dropped down to her side. He smiled, waving at her while his hand made its way into his jean pocket, walking off to his apartment. Meanwhile she was left there, confused and flustered that her knees gave out. She landed on the floor with a loud thud, alarming the other students from the other side of the door.
Not hearing the rumble of steps emitting from the house, the door swung open, a startled Roxanne hitting her head on the wooden floor.

"Roxanne?! What took you so long coming over here!" Trisha yelled, helping up a dizzy Roxanne off the floor. Once inside, the red haired was bombarded with so many questions that she had to sit down.

"Calm down! I just went on a walk with someone that's all." She said, rubbing her temples by the amount of yelling that came after.

"You know you shouldn't be walking around with someone that you just met! What happens if the person tries to kidnap you?" Another friend of Roxanne named Elleanor said, her arms crossed along her dark green hoodie. Roxanne only sighed, her hands finding its way between her thighs, only shaking her head.

"C'mon Ell, you know I studied martial arts in high school. I can handle myself." Roxanne said, standing back up from the couch, heading over to her room. But as she tried to open it, Trisha appeared right in front of the door, keeping Roxanne from opening her door. She sighed loudly, falling to the floor, bringing her knees close to her chest while hugging them.

"What's the point in all this?" She groaned out.

"The point is, we don't want you having another relationship again! You're only healing okay?" Ell said, passing her fingers through her red head friend. Roxanne only nodded, standing up for the third time, finally locking herself in her room.

While she was in her room, she only threw herself onto the bed, groaning into the pillow. Tears stung her eyes, her palm wiping them away. She only heaved as she curled up into a small ball. Her knees into her chest, her arms around the bottom of her thighs as she slept.
Her room isn't a nice and friendly one. Glass almost all over the floor along with many ripped up pictures of her past relationship, driving her mad. The new sensation of being alone drove Roxanne to a point where her used to be clear tan skin, was covered in bandaids and cuts. Deep cuts. Her medication bottles on the floor, along with many other clothes that she didn't bother to wear or fold.
Her friends tried to help her, which turned out to be a difficult task that not even Roxannes terrifying yet hot brother could make her clean up. They were so afraid that their once cheerful friend would turn out to be so suicidal that it would drive her to the point to not want to exist anymore. However, Roxanne needed to live.
She had to.
Sleep has taken over Roxannes head, soft snores emitting from her lips, not noticing her balcony door opening, feeling a blanket covering her shivering body...
And a pair of lips kissing her forehead with a whisper afterwards,

"Stay alive for me. Please."

The only thing Roxanne did was something incredible.

"I will."