Regrets For Ages

This New Rarity

I wasn't the type to want to talk or be social. My stuttering didn't help with that. The problem was, I was a 17-year-old applying for college in four months. So you could say it was an issue.

My long, burgundy hair fell down my back as Dolly took out my scrunchie.

"So, girlfriend, how short you want this?" Dolly motioned her hands around my hair as I grew comfortable in the seat.

"Right here." I motioned towards my shoulders. "Make it quick, though. I have to show some foreign exchange students around later."

"Alrighty then. Feelin' confident today, now are we?" Dolly snipped the tips of my hair.

"Sure..." I say hesitantly. "It wasn't me who signed up though. Melina signed me up..."

"You're gonna do great, sweetheart. I know it." Dolly reassured me. "I'm not worried at all!" 

An hour later, I emerged from Dolly's parlor looking confident and fierce. I liked it, not just liked, loved it. I saw a boy standing by the door. He had this look about him that made my face heat up. 

"Helo, are you Rose Q.?" He said. And then I realized. This was the student I had to show around town. He was staying in my apartment, after all. 

"Uhh... How'd you guess? I'm sorry I took next to forever to get out here." I held out my hand. Surprisingly, I hadn't stuttered once in front of this kid.

He took his hand out of his jeans pocket gingerly and shook mine lightly. "Oliver Griffiths, ma'am." He dipped his head. This kid was the most formal person I think I've ever met.

"I- umm... Uhhh.... Where are you from?" I say, nervously. Yep, this is it. I've officially lost my mind.

"Heh, Wales. I thought you knew that." He distracted me with his everything that I didn't know he had an accent.

"Ohh, I'm sorry. Where do you wanna go first?" I hated this with every amount of my being.

"How about the place I'm staying," Oliver muttered, shyly. His smoothed back his blond hair and blushed softly.

I could tell I was gonna like him already.