wozziewoo
Well, we’ve reached the end of our story. After a short time jump, let’s finish off the school year strong.
For your convenience, here are the links to all the previous chapters of this volume, if you missed any of the action:
The Start of Something New: Volume II Chapter 1 — New Beginnings
The Start of Something New: Volume II Chapter 2 — Homecoming
The Start of Something New: Volume II Chapter 3 — Girls’ Trip
The Start of Something New: Volume II Chapter 5 — Great Expectations
The Start of Something New: Volume II Chapter 6 — Explanations & Explorations
The Start of Something New: Volume II Chapter 7 — Calendar Shoot
The Start of Something New: Volume II Chapter 8 — The Apprentice
The Start of Something New: Volume II Chapter 9 — The Revelation
The Start of Something New: Volume II Chapter 10 — Overnight/Hotel Trip
The Start of Something New: Volume II Chapter 11 — The Fundraiser Part 1
The Start of Something New: Volume II Chapter 12 — The Fundraiser Part 2
The Start of Something New: Volume II Chapter 13 — Establishing The New Normal
The Start of Something New: Volume II Chapter 15 — Pumped & Ready To Go
The Start of Something New: Volume II Chapter 16 — The Competition – Regionals
The Start of Something New: Volume II Chapter 17 — Reflections
The Start of Something New: Volume II Chapter 18 — The Competition – Nationals
The Start of Something New: Volume II Chapter 19 — Total Team Effort
For those wanting to go all the way back to the beginning, this will take you the end of Volume One, where you can find the links to all previous stories:
While this may be the end of this series, in this form, it does not have to be the end of the adventures of these cheerleaders. Let me know if you are interested in reading more about this team & what the future holds for them.
******* For anyone that wishes to discuss any aspect of this story further or talk anything hair, please feel free to message me. I’m always willing to chat and love corresponding with people. *******
Let’s see how it all plays out:
Checking In
The next few weeks flew by. Anna was settling into her role as Captain, while Emma was enjoying some more free time in her schedule. Of course it would be short lived. Although she was still a student and currently focused on her graduation, she knew that she had a lot to prepare for after her graduation. She would be taking over as the coach, which would be a big adjustment for her and the rest of the team as well. Plus, she would be doing this without any time off in between.
Elsa and Annie had the massive undertaking of not only preparing for postgraduate life but needing to pack up their rooms as well. In four years, they had accumulated a lot of stuff. So, they spent a lot of their downtime packing, and they were not shy about enlisting the help of their teammates. Additionally, Elsa had started to book modeling gigs. While she still prioritized school and finishing up her studies, she ended up being away a lot more than she preferred.
Melissa was flourishing. Her relationship with Franklin was rock solid, and she found herself with a lot of extra time. Since she was no longer focused on her hair and wardrobe, she devoted her extra time to her studies. Initially, she had to think about what to wear and actively choose to cover up, she now found it second nature. The other girls on the team couldn’t remember the last time they saw her in anything revealing. However, she loved showing off her bald head and seemed to revel in the freedom it provided.
Jenny finally got her bowl cut back. It seemed strange but she felt like herself again. She and her sister, Jessie, had always been twins. They had always been ‘the twins.’ The day they cut their hair is the day they became individuals. They embraced it and found their own individual identity. But when they both then shaved their heads, they were ‘the twins’ again. They loved each other and always would be twins, but they also enjoyed being different. So yes, this bowl cut was hers and it always would be. Jessie, on the other hand, was desperate to be blonde. When Evan bleached her hair, it was brief, but she liked what she saw. Ever since, she’s had this itch. Evan had promised to help get her there once the football season was over. But now, Evan was gone, and she was bald. Before he left, Evan promised that Heather was up to the task and Heather would be happy to get Jessie back to blonde. Jessie was ready. She didn’t know what style she wanted, but there would be time to figure that out later. About two weeks earlier, she finally decided she had grown her hair out enough, sat down in Heather’s chair, and let her work her magic.
“So, what do you want?” Heather asked. “I can make you a blonde, but there are so many different shades.”
“Ooooh… I hadn’t thought about that.” Jessie, sprouting about a half inch of hair all over admitted.
“Well, are we doing anything else with your hair?”
“I don’t know!” Jessie panicked, “It’s just nice having hair again.”
“Well, there’s not much of it.” Heather examined Jessie for a moment. “I do have an idea, but I’m not sure it’s the best idea for you currently.”
“Tell me! I trust your judgement.” Jessie enthused.
“Well, I say we go platinum. I know you want to grow it out, so I’ll leave the top alone. I’ll just trim it up a bit. But allow me to take the rest of your hair down. I’ll buzz it close to the skin, and gradually blended as it goes up.” Heather explained.
“Heather! I’m trying to grow it, and you just want to shave it off again!”
“Not at all. This will help with that. Remember your hair is curly. If we do nothing, it will just grow out into a giant ‘fro. I don’t think you want that.”
“No, definitely not.” Jessie shook her head.
“The only potential problem that I see, is that your hair is still quite short. Since we’re talking platinum blonde, it will make your hair quite light. From a distance it may look like you don’t have any hair, and since I know that’s the opposite of what you were going for but –”
“You think it will look good?” Jessie contemplated.
“I wouldn’t have suggested it otherwise.”
“And it’ll be very different from my sister.”
“It is. She’ll be ready for her bowl cut soon, and I’ll make sure I keep you both different enough.”
“Just remember, she’s not allowed to go blonde or lighten her hair at all really.”
“Yes, I’m aware of the arrangement.”
“Okay. I trust you. Do what you said.”
So, Heather got to work. After she was done, Jessie loved the results. Now, she faced a new dilemma. She loved the look so much that she wasn’t sure she would grow her hair out, even though she wanted a bit of length back. She knew it wouldn’t take long to grow, but she also really enjoyed the style that Heather gave her.
Heather had always been a strong student. Previously, academics were a priority for her. She was very smart, and she took her studies very seriously, but then everything changed. Her first semester went okay. She went through the adjustment period but still prioritized her classwork. Even after she cut off her hair, her schoolwork still mattered. Even with all the changes going on in her life, she still managed straight As. Once the spring semester started and Evan announced he was moving away, suddenly school mattered less. As her new passion began to take over her life, she found it more and more difficult to juggle everything. Still, she made her best effort and got her work done. She would manage to pass all her classes, but barely.
A Surprise Visit
It was a Wednesday afternoon, the week before the end of the semester. Heather was at the salon as usual. Her schedule was crazy, especially because she was trying to go to class, take all her finals, and fit in as many of her clients as she could before the semester ended. She was so thankful to have Nikki around. She kept the schedule and was always willing to drive her around everywhere. Heather wasn’t sure how she would get everything done if it weren’t for Nikki.
“You’ve got a 2 o’clock appointment, then I scheduled you for a break. After that, I’ll take you back to campus for your exam. Then when you’re done, we’ll come back here. You’ve got two more clients and then you’re done for the day. Afterwards, I can either take you back to the house or the gym. You don’t have to decide now. We’ll see how everything goes, and how late it gets.”
“Nikki, I don’t know how I’d survive all this without you.” Heather praised her best friend. “Who’s my 2 o’clock?”
“Her name is Beth. She’s a new client. Well, you’ve done her hair before, but it’s her first time here.” Nikki grinned.
“Beth…?” Heather contemplated the name. “Beth! Like my Cheer Coach Beth?!”
“Former coach.” A familiar voice corrected as the door opened and the mystery client walked in with a newborn baby in tow. “Please, it’s just Beth from now on.”
“I’m so happy to see you!” Heather grinned. She turned to Nikki, “You knew?”
“I booked the appointment last week. I asked Nikki to keep it a surprise.” Beth explained. Heather looked up at the scraggly mess on top of Beth’s head. “My hair has always grown fast, and even faster during pregnancy.” She reached her hand up and rubbed her head. Beth’s hair was a bit over an inch long. It was sticking out in all directions and had a dull copper hue. It looked a bit of a mess, but it could have been worse. “Thankfully, I started from nothing, but it’s time to do something. Apparently, I’m a redhead… who knew?”
Heather went over to offer Beth a giant hug. She looked over at the baby in tow. “And who is this precious angel?”
Beth chuckled, “Yeah, he’s an angel, alright. So was Lucifer.” Heather and Nikki both looked at Beth in mock horror. “No really, he’s been great. There’s just a big difference between one and two.” They all looked down at the little bundle. “This is Buddy. He’s sleeping right now, thankfully. Hopefully, he’ll stay that way for at least a little while.”
Nikki reached over and took the baby carrier. “I’ll watch him while you two go head back.” Beth looked over hesitantly. “It’ll be alright, Mommy. I’ll be just fine.” Nikki said in a baby voice.
“It’s just…” Beth began. “Well, I haven’t left his side… And it’s our first time out of the house, so…”
‘Well, then you absolutely deserve this.” Nikki gently pushed Beth away and towards the back room. Beth went willingly but looked back a few times, just in case.
Heather and Beth entered the room that was now all too familiar to Heather. It was her room now. She had made a few small changes, but nothing major as she knew it would only be temporary. She directed Beth over to the chair and gestured for her to sit down.
“Did you want…?” Heather trailed off, not sure how to finish her sentence.
“To keep my natural color? Oh, yes.” Beth answered. “That was always the plan moving forward, even when I had no idea what it was.” She smiled, “and even if it was grey, so be it.”
“Okay, but…”
“I don’t want to shave it. At least not all of it. Not this time.” Beth continued. “I have no idea… this whole short hair thing is still new to me. I know I want simple. Zero effort. I think that no matter what, my hair still needs to be short enough that shouldn’t be an issue. I’m definitely not ‘growing it out’.” She reached her fingers to her head, “I know there’s not a lot to work with, and I don’t care how much of it I lose.” She looked up at Heather. “Just not ALL of it. As long as I don’t end up leaving here bald, I’ll let you do whatever you’d like.”
Heather looked at her former coach and studied her. There were a few options that she was thinking about. “So, what’s the long-term plan?”
“There isn’t one.” Beth admitted. “This is all still a big adjustment and I’m adapting as I go. I’m up for all ideas. Everything is on the table.”
“So… short, long, anything?”
“Honestly? Short. I’m pretty sure it’s staying short. Probably very short.” Beth sighed. “It turns out Bruce was really into my bald head. Like REALLY into it. I think I mentioned that last I saw you. I know he would probably be really into it if I did come home with it all shaved off again. I’m just not ready for that again. Not yet. I did make him a promise, though.”
“What was that?”
“I told him I needed to lose the baby weight. I want my figure back. When that happens, I’ll shave it all off again.” Beth smiled, “Weirdly, it’s my motivation.”
“When, not if…” Heather was sure to point out. “You really are hooked then.” She smiled. “So, would you keep it that way?”
“I don’t know. Maybe?” Beth bit her lower lip. “I know. I know!” She looked deep into Heather’s eyes. “Please don’t tell Melissa.”
“I think there’s some kind of Hairdresser’s confidentiality or something.” Heather laughed. “Honestly, I’m not sure I saw this coming. I wasn’t really even sure how committed you were going to be the first time.”
“You know this wasn’t planned, right? It was only supposed to be the one time, then I’d just start growing it out again and take things from there.” Beth shook her head, “I didn’t count on two things. I wasn’t expecting my husband to be as into it as he is, and I didn’t realize how much I’d enjoy it. Not to mention, it’s so easy to take care of. Heather, I don’t even think about my hair anymore. That’s NEVER been a thing, for my ENTIRE LIFE!”
“I know exactly what you mean.” Heather grinned rubbing her own bald head.
“Yeah, and now that I’ve experienced it… I don’t know that I ever want to go back.”
“Okay, so I think I’ve got a good idea of what to do. Do you want to know, or should I just go for it?”
“Just do it.” Beth smiled, “And keep the mirror covered, too.”
“One surprise makeover, coming up!” This was one of Heather’s favorite things to do and her eye was developing. She had a knack for knowing exactly what worked for the clients and what didn’t. At first, she was very shave-centric and relished any chance to shave someone but has since become more well-rounded at all styles and learned to appreciate the truly special moments that much more.
Heather got her clippers. She put on a number six guard. She was pretty sure, she’d end up taking it shorter, either by aesthetic or request, but it was a good place to start. She turned the clippers on and placed them on Beth’s forehead. Then she quickly swiped them back across Beth’s head.
“This is exciting.” Beth squealed in delight. “I never thought that I’d be this into it.”
Heather smiled. She loved when her clients reacted this way. It took a lot of the pressure off and helped her relax. Once Heather finished buzzing the top of Beth’s head, she switched out the attachments. This time she used a number two guard at the back at the base of Beth’s neck and swiped up, making pass after pass.
“You know, for anyone that has doubts about this, the biggest proponent of this is the amazing feeling from it.” Beth admitted. “If my hair never grows beyond a buzz cut, this will be a major reason why.”
“Do you think that’s likely?” Heather asked, though she already knew the answer.
“Had you asked me that question initially, before any of the team got to my hair, I would have doubted there was any way that my hair would ever get this short.” Beth sighed, “Even after that initial shave, I still figured it was unlikely to stay this short. At this point, though… Well, I’ll put it this way, I wouldn’t have said it, if I wasn’t already thinking it.”
Heather put down the clippers and switched to the tiny trimmer for a more refined and precise cut as she began to sculpt the edges. She buzzed down the hair in the lower part of her neck, then she started to blend the hair together, so it made one smooth transition.
“You know, I’ve never had a haircut like this.” Beth observed. “My hair has always been long, and until a couple months ago I had never had more than a trim. If I cut an inch off, it was a lot. Then, you shaved my head. And now, there’s this.” She paused for a moment to reflect. “I guess there’s a lot more of this I have to look forward to in the future.”
“Is that a bad thing?” Heather queried, as she continued to blend Beth’s hair and determine exactly how much she should take off.
“Not at all.” Beth got serious. “This is still new for me. I’m enjoying every bit of it, and I realized that things I thought may be worth trying once are becoming more likely to be the norm going forward. Everything has been extremely positive, which makes it all so much easier.”
“I get it. A lot of this is still new to me as well.” Heather put the trimmer down. “When I first cut all my hair off, I hated it, and swore I’d grow it back out immediately.” She chuckled just thinking about it, as she took a moment to stroke her head. “That changed pretty quickly. Now I can’t imagine ever growing it out again.”
“You have definitely changed and opened up more. I see a very strong and confident woman before me.” Beth praised. “Not to mention gorgeous. I’m very proud of the person you’ve become.”
“Thank you, that really means a lot. I didn’t realize how much I was missing before. I thought I was in a good place, but life is so much better now, and I am extraordinarily happy.” Heather paused and looked at Beth from all angles. “So how much change are you up for, really? How short is too short?”
“I already told you. Whatever you think is best. I trust you.”
“Then you’re mostly done. I was thinking about taking the top a bit shorter, but I wanted to double check you were okay with it.” Heather reached for the clippers again and looked for the attachment she wanted.
“My hair only got as long as it did because I didn’t do anything to it. It wasn’t through any sort of conscious effort or a desire to grow it. I’ve been busy, birthing that kid and all.” Beth sat back as Heather approached her again. “If it wasn’t for the fact there was a special event going on at the school later tonight, I’m not sure I’d be back so soon. That and I wanted to make sure I got to say goodbye to all of you before everyone took off for the summer.”
“So, I’m just your first stop.” Heather quipped, as another quarter inch of hair fell around Beth.
“I wanted to look my best. Plus, I know how busy you are, and I wanted to make sure I got to see you. I’ll be stopping by the house after I leave here to introduce Buddy to everyone.”
“I’m sure they will enjoy that.”
“Then it’s home to change and pick up my husband. Then back to campus for the party. This is the first time I’ve put on real clothes in over a month, and honestly, I have no idea what I’m going to wear tonight. I haven’t really been anywhere or done anything since, well…”
“You shaved your head.” Heather finished Beth’s thought.
“Exactly.”
“Well, I’m just about done, if you’re ready to see,” Heather turned off the clippers and headed toward the mirror, which was covered with a sheet.
“I can’t wait!” Beth sat up straight and clapped, giddy at the thought of what she was about to see. Heather pulled the sheet down and Beth got to see her new look for the first time. It didn’t take long for Beth to react. She stood up and immediately walked closer. She turned her head in all angles, reached her hand up as she stroked her head, and her smile grew.
“Oh, Heather!” She walked over to Heather and gave her a giant hug. “I love it!” She turned back to the mirror. “This is perfect and exactly what I was looking for, even though I had no idea what I wanted.”
“You’ve got what’s called a fade. I started off with a #6 guard on top, which is ¾ of an inch, but then I went back and shortened it to a #4 guard, so it’s at a ½ inch. The back and sides graduate down to a #2, which is a ¼ inch. I was thinking about giving you a skin fade but decided to hold off until next time.” Heather explained. “I just gave one to Jessie recently, so be sure to check her style out and let me know what you think. Oh, she’s blonde now, by the way.”
“Next time?” Beth inquired with a sly smile.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I just assumed –”
“Relax. Of course there’s going to be a next time.” Beth assured. “And there will be many, many more times after that.” She laughed, “as if there could be any doubt.”
Heather smiled. “Any time. I’ll always make time for you. With the friends and family discount, of course.”
“Nonsense.” Beth rebuffed. “I insist on paying your full rate, and that’s non-negotiable.”
“But –”
“Non-negotiable.” Beth insisted. “Do we have a deal? Otherwise, you’ll force me to go elsewhere…” Heather tried to protest. “And I really don’t want to go elsewhere.”
“Oh, alright.”
“So, I imagine this will require a lot of upkeep? I used to get my hair done every couple of months, but I’m guessing that won’t cut it anymore?”
Heather started to laugh. “Ideally? It’s more like every couple of weeks.” Heather informed, “But really it comes down to what you want. If we keep it as it is or even shorter, then yeah… if you come as often as you can, it will keep the style looking its best. But if you have thought of growing it out a little, then we can possibly stretch it a bit, maybe about a month or a bit longer. It won’t look as sharp though.”
“That’s certainly a lot to think about.” Beth admitted as she headed for the door.
“The good news is with classes ending, I should have even more time here and the availability to accommodate you whenever you can come. And in the fall, once we open the barbershop, you’ll be able to go there also. Then it would be even easier to visit and catch up with everyone.” Heather informed. “Assuming that’s something you wanted to do.”
“Of course it is.” Beth chuckled as she reached her hand to her head and rubbed the fade. “I never thought I’d be going to a barbershop for my haircuts though.” She opened the door. “This has been quite the eye-opening experience.” She took a deep breath, “Thank you again for doing this, now it’s back to Mommy-hood.”
“I’ll be right behind you. I actually have to head back to campus for a final.” Heather mentioned as she finished up.
A few minutes later, Heather walked out to the front desk. Beth was still there, deep in conversation with Nikki. They both turned towards Heather as she approached.
“Come on, I’m taking you back to campus for your test.” Beth informed Heather, as she cradled Buddy. “I’m headed there anyway, and this way, Nikki gets a break. By the way, I owe you this.” Beth handed Heather a crisp hundred-dollar bill.
“That’s way too much.” Heather protested. “I may have to charge you my regular rate, but this is way more than that.”
“The rest is your tip.” Beth smiled and brushed her hand across her head. “Believe me, you earned every penny.”
“But –”
“Just accept it and say thank you.” Nikki encouraged.
“Th-Thank You.”
“And this is for you.” Beth handed a fifty to Nikki, who looked confused. “Babysitting?”
“Oh, it was nothing. He just slept the whole time.” Nikki replied. “But thank you. I’ll watch him for you any time.”
“Well, it seems I will be making regular visits here, so I may be taking you up on that.” Beth acknowledged. “Now, come on Heather, I won’t be the reason for you being late.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be there to pick you up later.” Nikki assured Heather as she made her way out the door right behind Beth.
Free Babysitting?
As they continued toward campus, Beth and Heather continued to chat. Beth may not be Heather’s coach anymore, but they will always be family. And as such, Heather would always count on Beth for help and support in any way she can provide it. It wasn’t long before they were back on campus and Beth dropped Heather off. Heather thanked Beth for the ride and Beth once again praised Heather for the amazing haircut. Then Beth headed off to the Cheer House to see the rest of the team.
Beth pulled up to the House, took the car seat out of the back and headed up the steps. Before she even got to the top step to ring the bell, the door swung open. “Coach!” Betty greeted the new mom.
“Oh, Betty. I’m not your coach anymore. Please call me Beth.” Beth headed up the final step and into the house. “I hope everyone else is here, I came by for a visit.”
“You’ll always be Coach to me.” Betty looked around as she closed the door. “I think a few of us are around. Some may be up in their rooms studying. I think a few are elsewhere on campus taking finals and whatnot.”
They headed into the living room and sat down. “Well, I have some time, so let’s see who makes it.”
“You look great, Coach. I can’t believe you only had a baby a month ago.”
“Aww, that’s sweet of you to say. Good genes, I guess. But I have a lot of work to do, believe me.”
“And your hair! I still can’t believe you shaved it all off. But you look amazing.” Betty continued.
“Oh.” Beth gave a soft chuckle while she rubbed her head. “Is it really that surprising? Look at the rest of the team. I didn’t want to miss out!” Beth joked. “And any compliments about my current hairstyle are the result of your girlfriend. I just came from the salon. Then I dropped her off for her final on my way here.”
Just then, Anna and Janie both came down the stairs and made their way into the living room. Anna had returned to her signature #1 buzzcut, a style that Beth now examined in a different light. Janie was still keeping her head shaved but had a day’s worth of stubble.
“Hi, Coach.” Janie greeted, “And hello baby!” Janie ran over to her and bent down for a better view, with Anna close behind.
“This is Buddy.” Beth leaned forward as both Janie and Anna fawned over the newborn.
“He’s so precious.” Anna whispered.
“Thank you.”
“He’s so tiny.” Janie remarked.
“He’s only a little over a month old. Babies start off very tiny, but they grow fast.” Beth explained.
Anna and Janie continued to fuss over Buddy.
“Coach, I mean Coach Beth… Um –” Betty started, clearly flustered.
Beth couldn’t help but laugh, “It’s okay, Betty. I know it will probably take some time to get used to. What is it?”
“I was headed into the kitchen. Can I get you anything?” Betty stood up and started towards the hall.
“I’m okay but thank you for asking.” Beth smirked, “Actually, maybe a bottle of water?”
“Sure.” Betty headed off to the kitchen, before stopping in the hallway. “Yeah, she’s in the living room… Yeah… Of course.”
“BABY!” Jessie popped into the living room a moment later and rushed towards the group. “Hi Coach!”
“Hi, Jessie.” Beth grinned, “I had heard you went blonde, which looks great on you. But please call me Beth. Just Beth.”
Jessie looked up pawing at her own hair, “Thanks, I really like it. I like yours too.”
“Thanks, I just had it done. I was told to look at yours for future reference.” Beth admitted.
Jessie’s jaw dropped. “You’re keeping it shaved?” Anna and Janie looked up at this revelation as well.
“Well, no, not shaved. Not like it was, at least not right now… but I plan to keep it pretty short, or similar to how it is now.” Beth giggled. “Why? Does that surprise you?”
“I guess not.” Jessie admitted, “I guess I just didn’t give it much thought.”
Betty came back into the living room and handed Beth a bottle of water. “It was great seeing you again Coach Be— B— Beth, but I need to head out. I have a final soon. I’m sorry this is just really weird.”
“Don’t worry, Betty. It was great seeing you as well. Good luck.”
“You’ll always be Coach, even if you’re not the current coach.” Betty admitted, as she headed out.
“Where’s Elsa and Annie? I love you all, but they’re the ones I really want to see.” Beth asked.
“I’m right here.” Annie walked into the living room. “Sorry, I just got here. I was finishing up my last exam.” Annie plopped down next to Beth and exhaled, “So now I’m done.”
“Congratulations. How does it feel?” Beth inquired.
“Can I get back to you on that?” Annie asked.
“Sure.” Beth smirked as she took a swig of water.
Beth stayed and hung out with the team for several hours. It was nice being there just as a visitor, and not in any capacity of Coach or any responsibility. She was able to see most of the team, this way. Finally, it started to get late, and she needed to get home to get ready. That way, she could come back for the dinner event she was going to. As she was gathering her belongings together to leave, Melissa walked in. “Coach! I almost missed you.” She looked down and saw Buddy all bundled up. “Oh, my God! He is so adorable.”
“Hello, Melissa. I’m glad I was able to see you. I was just about to leave but I’ll stay a few more minutes. Also, it’s just Beth now. I’m not your coach anymore.”
“Okay, Beth…” Melissa paused and contemplated. “No, that just doesn’t sound right. Maybe in time, but you’re still Coach for now.”
“It’s okay, Melissa.” Beth smiled. “Most of the team seems to be having trouble with the transition.”
“Well, I don’t want to keep you and this little one. But thanks for staying.”
“It was my pleasure. I’m glad I got to see you, and that you got to meet Buddy.” Beth smiled as she headed for the door. Her hand was on the knob, and just as she was about to open the door, she heard Melissa call out.
“Oh! One more thing.” Melissa shouted back to Beth. “Your hair looks gorgeous! I love it!”
Beth breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, so do I!” She opened the door, headed down the stairs, and got into her car. After securing Buddy, she got into the car and took a deep breath, before peeling off and heading back home.
Checking Out
Jenny and Jessie were the first to leave. One of the last things they did before heading home for the summer was visit with Heather. Jenny had her bowl cut back. Jessie was fully committed to being blond and she loved the skin fade that Heather had given her. She had a fair amount of hair but liked the illusion her style created. She had no idea what her hair would look like three plus months from now when they returned. It would also be the first time that they went home and not twinning. Although they had spent a good portion of the past school year highlighting their differences, particularly during the fall semester, by the time they went home, they were both bald and therefore still looked the same.
Janie was next to leave. She had a successful freshman year and had changed a lot. She had kept up her bald head until about a week before she left. She figured that she would just let it grow wild all summer, then let Heather deal with it when she got back for the new semester. She promised Anna that she’d spend some time working on the team’s social media sites. Although she wasn’t sure how much she could do, since she didn’t think there would be much content to post about.
Shandra just kind of snuck off when no one was paying attention. She was a good teammate in that she was a strong and talented cheerleader. She always attended functions and did whatever was asked of her, but she tended to be a bit standoffish and didn’t always bond well with her teammates. Her hair had grown like weeds. So, by the time she left, her hair was several inches long. And if that rate kept up, it would be close to grazing her shoulders by the time she returned for her senior year.
For Annie, it was not easy saying goodbye, because unlike most everyone else she wasn’t coming back. Unfortunately, the time had come and while there were times when it felt like the four years flew by, she knew she had memories to last a lifetime. As she left the house for the final time, she walked down the steps, turned and looked at the house. She reached up, touched her head and smiled. There was some hair on it now. Not nearly as much as when she first showed up. And she doubted there ever would be again. She would grow it back out for a bit. Then, she would need to figure out what her plan was and how she would deal with it, but it was worth it.
Melissa was the next one to leave, but she wasn’t headed home yet. She and Franklin had become quite the power couple in a short amount of time. Franklin had invited her to spend the summer aboard the family yacht for a cruise to an exotic location. A tropical getaway where she could live in a bathing suit and work on her tan? You didn’t need to ask her twice. Plus, while she was all in on her new look and loved what it brought out of her, she didn’t want to deal with the questions and challenges that would present themselves if she went home. She was a bald girl now and she couldn’t be happier about it.
Betty could have gone home sooner, but that meant being away from Heather. So, she stayed a bit longer. It was going to be a long summer, and she couldn’t imagine being apart from her for so long. The original plan was that Heather would go with her so they could really work on and solidify their relationship away from everyone else. That was before Heather became so popular and in charge of her own business. While Heather originally thought she could close the salon, if not for the entire summer, then at least for a good portion of it… But Heather had too many clients now and she didn’t want to disappoint them. Plus, she would run the portion of the Coach’s cottage that would be turned into a barbershop. And Emma wanted her input with some of the decisions that needed to be made. Heather did hope to get away for at least a few weeks, and Betty planned to come back for a visit, but that was the best either of them hoped for at this point.
So, Betty finally decided to leave with a fresh head shave from Heather right beforehand. It was agreed that Betty would not do anything to her hair without Heather around. So, she would be free to grow it as she saw fit, with the understanding that when they did get together, a clean shave was first on the priority list and the last thing before parting again. Betty was fine with this. She finally accepted her bald head, as it brought her closer to her girlfriend. Betty was finally happy to admit that they were together, and she even bragged about her good fortune.
Anna stuck around a bit longer than she needed to, but as the new captain she felt obliged to be there while most of the team was still there also. She used her time well. She spent a lot of time with Emma going over things she needed to learn for her new role, which was extremely important. Now that she was in charge of the team, there was a lot more administrative responsibilities then she initially realized. Emma vowed to help her out as best she could, but Anna also wanted her to establish herself and her own direction. It was important that everyone saw it as her team, so that she could leave her own mark and set her own direction. Finally, with most of the team gone, Anna departed with her signature #1 buzzcut.
Then there was Elsa, who had technically already departed. Elsa was the model cheerleader throughout her four years. She was strong, well respected, and liked by everyone. She often found herself as peacekeeper and put her team first above all else. However, her exotic look and intoxicating beauty also proved to be an asset away from the team as well. On a whim, she had contacted a modeling agency, and they instantly signed her. Initially, she was very attached to her bangs, so much so that they ended up restricting her style. Originally, she had long waist-length ice blonde hair. Once the team started cutting their hair she wanted in, but she was loathe to lose her bangs. Luckily, Evan came up with an amazing solution. But her bangs held her back. She just didn’t realize how much until Heather accidentally shaved them off. That turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Elsa had now been fully bald for almost six months, and while she struggled at first, she had not longed for hair since signing with the agency. They wanted her to start right away, but finishing her degree and graduating from college were extremely important to Elsa. She had gone too far not to see it through, and she refused to abandon her team before their competition was over. So, a compromise was arranged, and she didn’t start her modeling work until the competition was over. But shortly after, the gigs started pouring in. The agency agreed to work around her school schedule. She was able to pass all her classes and graduate, as expected, but she really wasn’t around much those last two months. When she was on campus, it was mostly to attend class, for important tests, or other school-related projects. When she finally left the house for the final time, she was off to Milan where she was expected to spend several months on multiple back-to-back campaigns and fashion week.
That just left Heather and Emma, again. Heather had planned on leaving. She wanted to spend some quality time with Betty and explore their relationship. The experience was so new to her, as was so much of everything that happened to her since entering college. While she didn’t have much to compare it to, she saw Betty as someone to build a future with and she hoped for a long-term and lasting romance with her. However, she also had a booming business, and she was building a larger clientele base than she ever imagined. The thought of losing that and disappointing them was more than she could bear. Ultimately, it was decided that Heather needed to stick around. Emma was in the process of converting the Coach’s Cottage into a full-service barbershop, where Heather would be the main person in charge. So, Heather felt like she needed to stick around to help with that, also.
Emma had the easiest time of all. She needed to move out of the house, but she wasn’t going very far. As her new place of residence was just across the lawn and down a short path, she barely even needed to worry about packing. She could just move in a little at a time, but not yet. With the construction of the barbershop, it proved ill-suited for her to stay there while that was going on. So, she just stayed in her room at the cheer house. She’d be out in plenty of time before someone new needed to move in. She even had the added advantage of Heather being around, so she’d be able to start her day with the fresh shave she had become accustomed to and so greatly enjoyed.
Some Day You’ll Find It
It had been weeks since Nikki had updated her hairstyle. Previously, that was perfectly normal. She regularly avoided hair salons and only went two or three times a year for no more than a “dusting.” Now, however, it was the total opposite. Ever since Evan had chopped all her hair off six months ago, everything was different. She became addicted to haircuts and loved to change her look. She originally went to see Evan every two weeks before she switched to Heather. When Heather started doing her hair, weekly visits became the norm. Once she started working with Heather at the salon, she was there every day, and they spent much of the day together. Nikki was always willing to sit in the chair for whatever Heather wanted to do.
Nikki knew what their ultimate goal was, and at first, she was hesitant to have fun with all the changes, but that was weeks ago. She had been ready for the razor and awaited her shave for a while now. Her desire to experience being bald was almost overpowering. Originally, they had agreed that when the team opened the barbershop, Nikki wanted to be the first person in Heather’s chair. She wanted to give herself time to prepare. But now, it felt as though that was way too far away and she was ready. But she also knew that Heather had a plan, and she didn’t want to disrupt that. Still, it had been weeks since her last update, and she was craving a change. Anything. She just wanted something different.
Heather had a dilemma. She wanted to give Nikki her next major hair change, but she couldn’t figure out when. Her original idea was that Nikki would be her last client right before she closed the shop for the summer. Then they would wait until the barbershop opened, when Nikki would get to be first and Heather would shave it all off. Now that she would no longer close up the shop, and they would be around for most of the summer, she wasn’t sure about when to have Nikki’s next cut. It would be a big, bold change. It was something she was very much looking forward to, and she hoped that Nikki would enjoy it as well.
Nikki was patient. Maybe too patient. She had grown close to Heather and enjoyed their time together. She knew Heather was struggling with her schedule. She was overwhelmed with all the adjustments to her life. Nikki knew it was important for Heather to try and fit it all in. Heather also tried to do it all and would always honor a request. So, when school became a challenge, Nikki was there to make sure she always made it to her classes and completed all her assignments. Nikki held back and put her own desires on hold, because she knew Heather would prioritize her over something else that was probably more important. However, she couldn’t help but feel as though her hair was getting shaggy. She was in desperate need of a haircut. She chuckled to herself, since her hair was arguably shorter than when Evan initially cut it. At the time, it had seemed so short to her, but she now realized that her initial cut was longer than she ever wanted to have it again.
“It looks like your schedule is a bit light this afternoon…” Nikki pointed out to Heather during a break.
“That sounds great. I’ve been going like crazy and could use the break.” Heather replied.
“Well, I know someone who’s wanted an appointment with you. I had hoped that you’d be able to fit her in…”
“Who? I thought I’ve seen everyone I normally do… Is it someone new? I love new consults, but I’d rather not do any right now. Once the barbershop opens up, I’ll take anyone.”
“Not quite everyone… I suppose you have seen her, just not in your chair.” Nikki wasn’t sure how Heather hadn’t picked up all the clues, yet. “In fact, you probably spend more time with her than almost anyone else.”
“But I just shaved Emma this morning! It can’t be her.”
“No, not her.” Nikki looked directly at Heather, she wanted Heather to figure it out for herself, but Nikki had gotten impatient. “It’s me, silly!” Nikki chuckled. “It’s been weeks!” She reached up and finger combed her hair. “This is the longest I’ve gone without doing anything to my hair since I cut it all off. Look how long this is!”
“It’s funny that you think that it’s long now, given that it’s probably shorter than that haircut Evan and I originally gave you.” Heather grinned.
“I had the same thought. It’s amazing how a perspective can change. I’m sure you can relate.” Heather nodded in agreement. “So, what gives? I wanted to give you some time because I know that you’ve taken on a lot, but school is over, and you’ve got more time now. It’s not like we don’t see each other ALL THE TME.”
“I’m so sorry.” Heather went over to Nikki and gave her a hug. “I haven’t forgotten you. In fact, you’ve been on my mind a lot.” She smiled. “I have something EPIC planned for you. It’s something I’ve thought about for a while. I know you give me free reign, and I’ve never disappointed you but…”
“Heather, you CAN’T disappoint me.” Nikki said. “We both know what the end goal is. So, worst case scenario, you just shave it all off and we go from there.” She smiled. “Honestly, I feel a lot better just to know how much thought you’ve given to this, and I hate that it’s caused you so much anguish.”
“If you’re really sure we can do it later today.”
“Hun, we can do whatever you want.” Nikki mussed her hair, “I’m over all this hair but I’ll stick with it as long as you want. It helps just to know that you have something big planned. Whenever you’re ready just let me know.”
“Soon. I promise.”
Nikki felt better about the situation, but now she couldn’t wait to see what Heather had in store for her. The topic was dropped and the day continued. Heather’s desire for a break didn’t mean a break from the gym, apparently. In fact, she doubled down and put in extra time. Nikki realized that the gym had become an outlet to relieve stress, and it was how Heather chose to decompress. She admired that girl so much and envied all she had going on for her.
Later that night Heather was on the couch, just trying to relax, when Emma walked in. “So, I have a list.”
“A list? what kind of list?” Heather snapped out of her trance almost instantly.
“A list of things we need to do or decide.” Emma replied as she sat down next to Heather. “The construction will start soon, but there are so many decisions to worry about before that… Do we even have a name? Or a logo? What kind of uniform? Do we even want or need a uniform?”
“Wow, Emma that’s a lot.”
“That’s not even all of it, but they’re all important.”
“Okay, well, I don’t think that we need a uniform, but I do have thoughts if we want them. I know we briefly discussed the topic during the semester break, and it quickly pivoted to the redesign of our cheer uniforms… They turned out AMAZING. Of course, I would have hated them a year ago, but that’s no longer an issue.” Heather smiled.
“So, something similar to our cheer uniforms then?” Emma inferred. “It would be ‘on brand’ and I don’t think most of the team would have an issue wearing something like that.”
“True, but can we push things a bit? I have an idea… It would be like a hybrid of our cheer tops and a bikini top. I like the look and comfort of our cheer tops, but it would have a bit of a deeper plunge, a bare back, and ties around the neck and mid back.”
“So, what kind of clientele are we going for?” Emma chuckled. “I’m not against it, but I am rather curious.”
“I’ll bring over my customers from the salon, and obviously the entire team will be customers, but beyond that…?” Heather shrugged.
“Alright,” Emma nodded, “Well, I imagine the football team and some of the other male athletes would support us, given how much we support them. Imagine the ease and convenience of getting a haircut right here on campus. And by a hot, minimally dressed cheerleader?”
“Exactly.” Heather grinned.
“Wow, Heather you’re really good at this. You definitely have a future in marketing.”
“Thanks. It’s really just how I feel.”
“It’s not just that, Heather. It’s… This wouldn’t have happened without you, so…”
“As for the other questions you had, I’m not sure yet… but I’ll definitely give it some thought.”
Emma and Heather continued to discuss all aspects of their lives, before both turned in for an early night. They planned to meet up the next morning as usual for their daily run and shave. Heather had another busy day scheduled at the salon but also planned a special treat.
The Rainbow Connection
“Okay. Today’s the day!” Heather told Nikki, when she got picked up.
“What day would that be?” Nikki asked innocently, hoping it was what she thought.
“What we talked about yesterday.”
“You know you’ve got a very busy day planned.”
“I know, but you’re important to me. Your happiness matters to me.” Heather replied. “I’m also giving you a 2-hour break afterwards. Emma said she’d come help me out.”
“What’s the break for?”
“I don’t know if I should tell you that yet…” Heather looked at her friend coyly.
“I guess I shouldn’t ask to many questions.”
“Probably not.”
As soon as they reached the salon, Heather had a few minutes to prepare herself before her first client showed up. Then she was in her back room as client after client showed up.
Meanwhile, Nikki kept staring at the clock, willing it to go faster. The seconds, minutes, and hours ticked by slowly. She had no idea what was in store for her, but she was excited to find out. Nikki used to dread her haircuts. While it took several years of convincing, she finally allowed Evan to cut all her hair off. She was ready for it, although she was very nervous. To say it went very well, would be an understatement. Since then, she has looked forward to her haircuts, and her previous nerves have been replaced by excitement. This was probably the most excited she had ever been, but she also felt a bit of nervousness for the first time since she had her hair chopped short. Heather had back-to-back-to-back clients all day, so she couldn’t figure out when there was a window for her to get her hair done. Not only did she not know what was going to happen, she had no idea when.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, but was only a couple of hours, the door to the salon opened and Emma walked in. “Wow, I haven’t been in here in forever.” Emma walked over to Nikki. “Hi, I’m Emma. I believe I’m supposed to be covering for you.”
“Yeah, Heather told me I should be expecting you.” Nikki replied. “I have no idea what the plan is, though.”
“Ah…” Emma nodded.
“Do you?”
“I’ve got a general idea, yes.” Emma answered, “but I’ve been sworn to secrecy.”
“Of course, you have.” Nikki chuckled nervously. “So, um, do you like being bald?”
“I do. I love it actually.” Emma grazed her hand over her head. “I’ve had it this way for a while now and have no intention of changing that any time soon.”
At that moment the conversation was interrupted by Heather’s latest client leaving the back room and heading over to the desk. Nikki quickly rang her up, booked her next appointment, then took a deep breath.
“I think it’s your turn.” Emma gently nudged Nikki down the hall. “Don’t worry, I can handle things here.”
Nikki slowly walked down the hall. It felt like the longest walk of her life. It was a walk she had done countless times before. Finally, she reached the door and slowly turned the knob.
Heather had installed a pull up bar in the corner of the room. She didn’t use it often, but it was there so if the occasion arose and she had a spare moment, she could pump herself up. This was one of those moments.
As Nikki entered the room, she looked off to the side and saw Heather attack a long set of pull-ups like it was easy. Nikki just stood and watched for a minute, continually impressed by the strength and energy of the girl. After another minute or so, Heather jumped down and took a deep breath as she turned around.
“Hey. Sorry to keep you waiting.” Heather apologized as she noticed Nikki.
“Are you kidding me? What are you apologizing for? You do whatever you need to do to help you get through the day. I should be thanking you for fitting me in. Besides, I love watching you work out. I could have watched that all day.” Nikki declared as she made her way to the chair.
“I’m sorry I didn’t have time to get more reps in sooner. Now, before we begin, I need to set a couple of ground rules.” Heather started. “This is something I’m looking forward to very much. I hope you are as excited as I am, or at least that you will be once I finish. This was originally intended as your ‘summer cut’. When I thought I would leave for the summer, I had planned to give you this as my final cut on the final day before we closed up. So, you would have had this all summer until we returned. Once the barbershop opened on campus you wanted to be my first client there, and I planned to shave it off.” Heather recapped. “So, that WAS the plan… And even though we won’t close the salon for the summer, this will still be your final style before we shave it. And my plan is that we’ll wait until the barbershop opens for that, but I will give you an option.”
Nikki shifted in her chair. “Am I rolling the dice again? That was kind of fun.”
Heather paused for a moment, as if she were contemplating that idea. “Huh… I hadn’t thought of that. So, after this cut, we stick with the plan… I won’t do anything else with your hair until the barbershop opens. You’ll have to deal with your hair growth. Or you can continue to have touch ups and maintenance of the style you get today. But nothing new, no changes. Either way, your next change is a full shave when the new shop opens.”
“Do I have to decide now?”
“No. You can wait until it’s done.” Heather answered. “Although now that you put the idea in my head, I like the idea of using the dice to decide your fate…”
“Is there anything else?” Nikki was eager to please, and all of this was getting her more excited.
“I think that’s it for now.” Heather walked over to Nikki with her spray bottle and comb. “Prepare to look very different when I’m done!” Heather declared with a sly smile on her face.
“I can’t wait.” Nikki sat back and relaxed. She had waited a long time for this. Nikki heard what had become a very familiar sound. It was a sound that would have brought terror to her not all that long ago but now represented pure joy. Then seconds later, she felt the teeth of the clippers pull at the hair near the top of her head. She couldn’t help but giggle in delight. “Sorry.”
“Relax. There’s nothing to be sorry for. I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.” Heather replied as she completed the first pass across Nikki’s head.
Unbeknownst to Nikki, Heather had marked off a 1 ½ inch strip of hair right down the middle of her head. That was the hair Heather planned to keep, while the rest of it would go. Heather had spent a lot of time around Katie. She had also witnessed Evan do this to Shandra’s hair, and watched Katie do it to Emma’s. When Evan first styled Shandra this way, Heather had yet to cut her own hair and was mildly terrified of what was happening around her. But now, it was her turn to attempt it. Boy, have things changed. She grinned.
Heather picked up the clippers and lined them up on the other side of Nikki’s head. Then she swiped them back across Nikki’s head, which left a bare path in its wake. Nikki was ready for a shaved head. She wanted a shaved head. Heather knew as much. So, she found quite a compromise. Nikki would get the experience of a mostly bald head. Heather would go over all the bare skin later and really make it smooth. There was one strip on the top of Nikki’s head that wouldn’t get shaved, not yet anyway. This time, it was the color that Heather was concerned about. Although, in truth, she had about a half dozen colors ready to go once this initial shave was done. Heather continued to make pass after pass on Nikki’s head, leaving more and more bare scalp in its wake.
Heather had planned this for a while. She knew it was something that interested her. She had been the one to remove Emma’s short lived mohawk. She helped participate in the removal of Shandra’s. She also had the honor of getting rid of Katie’s. Now she finally had the opportunity to create one, with her own twist, of course.
Soon Nikki’s head had been reduced to stubble, minus the 1 ½ inch strip across the top. Now it was time for color. She separated Nikki’s remaining hair into sections. Part of the reason that Heather waited to do this was so that there could be some length for the mohawk. It still wasn’t much, but it would have to be enough. Section by section, Heather applied a different color solution, being careful not to mix up the order of the colors. Once she was done, she set the timer so she would know exactly when it would be done.
“Okay, now we need to wait a bit for the color to process, then I’ll finish you off.”
“I think I know what you did.” Nikki smiled. “If I’m right, I understand your hesitation. However, you have nothing to worry about because I think it’s awesome.”
Heather began to pace. She knew Nikki was probably right. It was a fairly distinct style, and Nikki had been around enough to have an idea of what she did. She felt better since Nikki seemed to be on board.
“If you want to do anything while we wait. Please, go ahead. I don’t mind.” Nikki hoped Heather would take the opportunity to do more pull ups or another mini work out. She’d enjoy the show while she waited.
“Are you sure you don’t mind? I really don’t like to mix business with pleasure. Plus, if I do too much, I’ll get all sweaty and stinky. And that won’t be good, either.”
“I promise. Get as sweaty and stinky as you desire. I don’t mind at all. It’s not like I don’t watch you work out almost every day, and right now I’m just stuck here waiting…” Nikki practically pleaded.
“Alright. If you’re sure. I guess I can do another 20 or so.” Heather walked over to her bar and jumped up to grab the bar. After hanging there for a few seconds, she started to pull herself up, then down again, then up, as she repeated the motion several times. She was quite adept and seemed to have no trouble pulling herself up like it was nothing. After about 20 times, she pulled herself up and then lifted her legs over the bar, before she let go and hung upside down. “I started doing this recently, just ‘cause I could. I never cared about any of this before, but now I’m obsessed. It’s my favorite thing to do.” Heather reached up to grab the bar again, before swinging her legs free. She hung on for a few more seconds before she jumped down. She started to walk towards Nikki just as the timer went off. “When I’m not doing my other favorite thing, of course.” She smiled as she reached for Nikki’s hand and guided her over to the sink.
“It’s too bad you only have that bar, I bet you’d really take advantage of a full mini gym.” Nikki sat back down at the sink and leaned her head back as Heather began to rinse out the solution.
“I did think about it. Ultimately, I know my time here is temporary. With the barbershop opening soon and the fact that I won’t be staying at the salon, I didn’t feel like it was worth it to make too many changes. But this was a simple one.”
“That makes sense. So, are you advocating for anything at the new barbershop, then?”
“I hadn’t really thought about it. Emma said this wouldn’t have happened without me. This plan was also put in place before we knew Evan was leaving, so I could probably ask for just about anything I wanted. But I wouldn’t want to take advantage, especially considering that space will probably be tight. I could ask for a bar or something similar, and maybe one other thing, but I won’t go to crazy. The gym on campus is pretty big, and I’ll be a lot closer to it then I am now.” Heather finished rinsing off Nikki’s hair, then grabbed for a towel before she guided Nikki back to the chair.
Nikki sat in anticipation of what was next. She didn’t have to wait long. Heather reached for the shaving cream and lathered her hands. She then proceeded to apply the cream to both sides of Nikki’s head, being careful to clearly define the edges. She then reached for the razor. She slowly began to scrape the cream away from Nikki’s scalp and with it any remaining remnants of hair. This was often Heather’s favorite part. She enjoyed it all, but there was something about that first scrape. The first time the razor touches the skin. Sure, Heather had used the razor a lot on the bottom of Nikki’s head. It was mostly for shaping purposes, and near the bottom of the neck, but this was different. Going across the top of her head and making that commitment was special.
Nikki was all smiles. It wasn’t long ago, when her long virgin blonde hair stretched all the way down her back. Even when she decided to let Evan cut her hair, it would only be some sort of short pixie cut. At that time, she would have sworn that a pixie was as far as she’d go, and she wasn’t even committed to that style. Then, the idea of a razor even touching any part of her head wasn’t even an option. Now that it was happening, she loved every second of it and knew this was her future. The idea of a mohawk intrigued her. It wasn’t something she had ever considered for herself, even once she committed to this short hair/no-hair journey and had agreed to go bald by Heather’s razor at some point.
Heather finished up on the left side and then proceeded to do the same on the right. At this point, Heather had a lot of experience with shaving heads. It was like second nature to her, and she could probably do it in her sleep. This style required slightly more skill and precision, so she was careful to follow the sharp lines that she set. She managed to finish up the right side quicker than she thought, before she grabbed a towel and wiped down Nikki’s head. Then she reached for the shaving cream and began to lather her hands for a second pass. Even though Nikki wasn’t completely bald, Heather still wanted that refinement and smoothness that she gave everyone else who committed to the shave.
“Heather.” Nikki was so relaxed she could sit there all day. She hadn’t seen anything yet and didn’t want to until it was finished, but she already knew she loved it. She already knew she would maintain it as long as Heather requested. She already knew she wanted to experience as much as possible. “Heather, I know you said we’d discuss it when you were done, but I’ve already decided.”
“Decided what, exactly?” Heather mused, as she started to shave the left side of Nikki’s head again.
“I want this. I mean, I want to keep experiencing this. So, let’s maintain this and I’ll keep it up as long as you want.”
“Oh.” Heather half expected this. She thought maybe Nikki would wait until she was done but it wasn’t a total surprise that she didn’t. Heather continued to scrape Nikki’s skull. She finished the left side and then did the right. Once she was finished, she put the razor down. She reached for the spray bottle, spread the oil on Nikki’s head and rubbed it in. After that Heather stepped back and took a deep breath.
“Is it done? Do I get to see now?” Nikki asked, excitedly.
“Not quite. It’s close, but it needs a little styling first.” Heather went back over to her counter and grabbed some styling gel. She walked back over to Nikki and undid the first tie. The loose hair flopped all around. Heather proceeded to rub the gel into her hands and then massaged it into Nikki’s hair. Then she gathered the hair together and brought it to a point, straight up like a spike. She then undid the second tie and continued the process. She repeated the procedure each time until there were seven spikes in all. She put the gel down and washed her hands. She looked back at the new Nikki. She was incredibly pleased with what she saw and hoped that Nikki would feel the same. “Okay, you can stand up.” Heather told Nikki as she got ready for the reveal.
“It’s a mohawk, right?” Nikki asked as she stood up, all smiles. “A spiky mohawk?”
Heather said nothing. She just pulled the sheet down and let the reflection reveal the answer. As prepared as Nikki thought she was, she was still shocked by what she saw. Not in a bad way. It was more of a ‘wow this is stunning, and I can’t believe that’s me’ kind of way. It took a few seconds, but the smile slowly spread across Nikki’s face. She jumped up and down and started to laugh. She turned her head and examined her new style from every angle. It wasn’t just a mohawk. She had a mohawk with spikes in all different colors. It’s never something she would have chosen for herself, but she would totally own it.
“I love it, Heather.” Nikki raced over and gave Heather an enormous hug. “I understand your trepidation. And I get why you waited, but this is amazing!” She reached up and touched her head for the first time. “Oh…” she melted. “That’s heaven!”
“I’m glad you like it.” Heather grinned at her friend’s reaction. “I was a bit concerned because it was so different. I was prepared, that if it didn’t go well, I could have just shaved it all off, but I was really hoping that wouldn’t happen. Soon, but not yet.”
“No, definitely not.” Nikki was ecstatic. “I’m in no rush. I still want to experience it eventually, but I have no problem putting it off for a bit. I have no issue maintaining this for as long as you want me to. So yes, I definitely want the maintenance option. I think I would be mad at you, if you did this to me and then left for a few months.” Nikki grinned. “So, every day when you’re done for the day, can I sit down for a quick shave before we hit the gym?” Nikki nodded, hoping that was Heather’s plan.
“Well, maybe not every day. Initially, I thought I would shave it at least twice a week… So, how about we agree to at least every other day and go from there? I’ll touch up the color about every week or two. Also, you don’t always have to wear it spiky like that. You’ll have a lot of other options.”
“Okay, I can deal with that.” Nikki looked in the mirror, “I love this so much. Particularly the spikes.” She touched her hair again. “But I’ll try some other styles if you want.”
“I’ll let you figure it out. Now, about that break. I know how you like to match your outfit to your hair. I remember you telling me that the first time we went to the gym together. I figured you might need some time to coordinate. So, go shop. I told Emma what I had planned, and she was all too happy to help out.”
“Wow, Heather. You are so amazing. You really do take care of everything don’t you?” Nikki bent down, hugged Heather again, and kissed her on the cheek. Then she made her way to the door. “I’ll send your next client back, if you’re ready.”
“Thank you!” Heather shouted back as the door clicked closed. She needed a few minutes after that, and she hoped that her next client didn’t show up right away.
The rest of the day was business as usual. Once Nikki came out of the back room, Emma complimented her on how amazing she looked and that she should take her time on her break. Emma had the rest of the day free, and she was happy to stay as long as she was needed. Nikki had put in a lot of time at the salon, and after her amazing makeover, she deserved some time to explore her new style. Nikki thanked Emma and said she’d be back by the end of the day to help close up and take Heather to the gym, but she might be back sooner. Heather spent most of the day in the back room with clients.
Emma had spent the day behind the desk like a receptionist. She answered the phone, scheduled appointments, greeted customers, and took payment. It was not something she was used to, but it was something she felt was an important skill to pick up. While she hoped the girls on the team would be able to handle all aspects of the barbershop, Emma knew she might be required to fill in on occasion. She also had a fair amount of downtime, which she took full advantage of. As the day wound down, she had started to clean up, when the door flung open.
“Thank you so much for the time. I’m sorry that I’m so late.” Nikki said as she entered the salon. She was dressed in a black bedazzled strapless bandeau crop top, with an open leather vest over it. A pair of short cut-off jean shorts, fishnet stockings, and knee-high boots with a 2-inch heel completed the ensemble. “I know Heather expected a new gym outfit, and I have that also. But with this hair…? One new outfit wasn’t going to cut it. I needed a whole new wardrobe.”
Emma looked up. “You look sexy as hell.”
“Thanks! I feel that way, too. It’s really amazing what a haircut can do to change things.”
“I know exactly what you mean. Ever since Heather shaved my head for the first time, something has awoken inside of me. I never expected this, but ever since, I’ve felt like a totally different person. I’ve been bald ever since, minus about a week for our team’s fundraiser. If I’m being honest, I love it and have no desire to grow my hair at all, even a little.” Emma admitted.
“Heather is such an amazing person and super talented.”
“Are you talking about me?” Heather asked from down the hall, as she started towards the lobby. “Emma, I didn’t realize you were still here.”
“My meeting was canceled. I decided to stay and help out, so I gave Nikki some extra time off.”
“And I took FULL advantage.” Nikki laughed.
Heather looked over at Nikki and noticed her new outfit. “I see that. You look amazing.”
“I FEEL great. Better than I’ve felt in a long time.” Nikki wrapped her arm around Heather. “Now, let’s finish up, so we can hit the gym.”
The trio made quick work of shutting down the salon for the night. Heather and Nikki sent Emma home soon after, as she had done more than enough. A short time later, Nikki and Heather closed up, got in Nikki’s car, and sped off to the gym. Nikki teased her outfit the whole way there, and the two worked out the details on the maintenance of Nikki’s new style. Heather was extra excited and had a ton of energy. She pushed herself hard and was happy that things had turned out so well with Nikki. They had a great workout. Nikki also filmed quite a few videos of both Heather and herself.
Heather arrived back at the house a bit later than usual. She was exhausted and wanted to head straight to bed. However, just as she was about to go up the stairs she heard her name.
“Heather?” Emma called out from the living room.
“Yeah?” Heather stopped as she answered the voice.
“Can you come here for a minute? I promise I won’t keep you.”
Heather headed into the living room, where she saw Emma lounging on the couch. She had a glass of wine in one hand and stared at a piece of paper in the other.
“What’s up Emma?” Heather stifled a yawn as she sat down next to Emma, who flipped around and sat up.
“I promise I won’t keep you. I just need a couple of minutes.” Emma took a sip of wine, then put the glass down. “First off, I want to say, that it was nice to see you in your element today. Things at the salon went so well, and it gave me some ideas about the barbershop. Not to mention that you did such an amazing job with Nikki. Heather, you’re amazingly talented.”
“Thanks, Emma.” Heather blushed. “That really means a lot.”
“So, the other thing I wanted to mention, was that while I was behind the desk, I found this.” Emma showed Heather the paper she had been looking at. It was a drawing of a cheerleader from the waist up. The cheerleader was bald, and in place of pom poms, she had clippers in each hand. “I don’t know where it came from or who did it, but I think it could be a great logo for the barbershop.”
“That looks great!” Heather agreed. “I’ve got the perfect name as well.”
Emma leaned forward. “That’s great! What is it?”
“Cheerful Clips.”
