FIRE | H.S.

Chapter 2

   "Ooh, girl, you look tired," one of my best friends, Charles, says when he sees me. "Don't get me wrong, you still look amazing, makeup and outfit are on point, but you look like you did not rest at all."

   "Well, that's because I did not sleep very well at all," I tell him as I get my hair station ready.

   "Nightmares again?" I nod. "Oh, honey, I'm sorry." He comes over to me and wraps his arms around me in a tight embrace. "Are you okay? Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea?"

   "No, I'm okay, thank you," I smile at him. "I just want to work and forget about it."

   "Got you," he says. "Here, I got you this. Happy Valentine's Day, bitch." He gives me a cute glass container full of gummy bears and gummy worms.

   "Thank you, Charles!" I give him a baggie with the cookies and an amethyst pendant I bought for him.

   He lets out a high pitched, excited scream. "BIIIIIIITCH, I LOVE IT!" He removes the pendant from the box and immediately puts it on. "You remembered my love for crystals!"

   "Of course I did, it's literally one of the first things you told me about you when we first met," I say. "Plus, every time you come over to my house you bring me a crystal."

   "Gotta keep those negative vibes away, girl. There are envious people out there and you have to stay protected."

   "You're right."

   We keep talking for a couple more minutes, then as everyone else finishes getting their stations ready, I walk around handing everyone the cookies I made. I love bringing my employees little gifts. I like to make them feel valued and keep them motivated.

   Once everyone is ready and the time comes, I turn on the "Open" sign and let the day begin.

   Many times my best friends tell me that I should just stay for a while in the office and then go home. That it's not necessary for me to still cut and color hair, or do facials, or massages. But I love doing this. I love working in something I truly enjoy and brings me peace. Sure, many times there are difficult clients but I prefer clients who are picky about their hair than the... other clients I've had to deal with.

   Coming here keeps me occupied and lets my mind stay away from the intrusive thoughts of my past. It seems like I can't escape my past no matter how hard I try to forget it, and I hate it. I hate not being able to be completely happy because of it.

   But I've always known this. I can't be happy. He told me so many times.

   "Girls like you don't deserve to be happy. You're not worthy of happiness."

   I shake my head, trying to come back to reality. "Concentrate on your job, Ava," I tell myself and get back to the reports.

   There's a knock on the door and then Charles pokes his head in. "Hey, I'm gonna go get some Chinese food for lunch, do you want me to get you something?"

   "Orange chicken and Chow Mein, please," I smile at him, reaching for my wallet in my purse.

   "Bitch, keep that money, it's on me," he says, blows me a kiss, then closes the door.

   I continue filling out the reports until Charles gets back, then we eat together while he tells me about the new guy he's talking to. Apparently a different guy from the one he told me about last week. I admire how he always has a different guy to tell me about. He's told me that dating is like going into an ice cream shop. He needs to sample lots of flavors before deciding on one.