“It’s only hair.” He placed the buzzer on the counter and ran his hands over his head, it felt like peach fuzz. He turned and faced Jake. “It’ll grow back. Want to give it a go?” He shoved his hands in his pockets and kept a steady eye on Jake.
Jake lifted his hand to his head turned and looked in the mirror. He fingered the strands of hair and eyed Nick’s hair. He looked like he had cut his hair to join the military. He bit the inside of his cheek and quickly faced Nick. “Fuck it!” He exclaimed and then repeated Nick’s words. “It’s only hair.”
Nick smiled at him and reached for the buzzer. He stood behind Jake and they both stared into the mirror and Nick began to buzz Jakes hair. Since Jake kept his sides very short to begin with, it was an easy task. A few strokes over the top of his hair where it was longest, then and Nick changed the blade on the buzzer to even out the length across Jake’s entire head. Once he was done, Jake ran his hands over the soft fuzzy hair. Nick stepped back and let Jake access himself.
“What do you think?” Nick asked, rubbing his own shaven head.
“You become a barber or something in Seattle?” Jake asked and then grinned at him as only he could. “I’m a sexy son of a bitch, bald.”
Nick chuckled slightly and gripped Jake’s shoulders. “I’d ask you if you want to go cruising to pick up chicks, but you went and got yourself a ball and chain.”
Jake laughed and turned to face him and punched him in the shoulder. “Thanks man. I actually like it.”
“Anytime.” Nick said and then ran his hand down his head. “Going to take some time to get used to.”
“We look like we just joined the army. You should tell my sister you’re going to war, maybe that would light a match under her ass.” He pondered the idea, seemed like a no brainer to him.
“If I have to pretend to be something I’m not, then what’s the use?” Nick said as he began to clean up the mess from the haircuts.
“I know my sister Nick, she’s had a crush on you since she was thirteen. I don’t know what’s holding her back.” He frowned, because he was stumped. By now he thought for sure they would’ve come to their senses. He leaned back against the counter. “Maybe it has something to do with why she went to Seattle.”
Nick looked up from sweeping up the stray hairs on the floor. “Well, unless she tells me about her little excursion, I’ll never know why she never came to see me when she was there. The only one who she thinks knows about that is Luke.”
“Maybe I can get her to tell me about it.” He shrugged, his eyes lit up like a fluorescent bulb. “I’ll tell her it’s my dying wish.”
Nick smacked his leg with the back of the broom. “You’re an ass.”
Jake smiled. “I’m kidding. “ Nick eyed him suspiciously. “I swear! Geez, you people need to lighten up a little. But seriously, maybe I can get her to open up.”
“How do you plan on doing that? If she hasn’t told you yet, why would she tell you now?” He chucked the dustpan into the waste basket and they made their way out of the bathroom.
“You leave that to me.” Jake said very sure of himself.
“Fine. But no talk of dying wishes or any morbid shit.” He said pointing a warning finger in Jake’s direction.
“Scouts honor.” He assured him and then turned around quickly as the door opened.
Cara and Sam walked into the room laughing. Both girls stopped short, and their laughter diminished when they locked eyes with Jake and Nick. Jake grinned at Cara, as if shaving his head was the most natural thing.
“How long were we gone?” Cara asked no one in particular, as she dropped her belongings and stood before Jake. He searched her eyes, trying to figure what she was thinking and wondering if in fact she knew what caused the sudden hairstyle change. She lifted her hands, her eyes questioning him.
“Go ahead. Maybe a Genie will pop out.” He laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist as she lifted her hands to stroke his head.
She laughed slightly. He knew once she touched his head so gently, and proceeded to place feathered kisses along his hairline, that she knew. He watched her smile wide. “I love it.”
“Yeah?” He asked looking into her eyes, seeking her approval. She didn’t harp on the fact that he was losing his hair, or that he had probably been on an emotional rollercoaster while she was gone. She just accepted it, as if he had just done it on a whim.
“I really do. You look so rugged and bad ass.” She leaned in and pressed her lips to his.
Nick dragged his eyes away from Cara and Jake and focused on Sam. She was staring at him with an expression of shock, and something else that he couldn’t quite pinpoint.
“I just remembered I have something to take care of. I’ll see you guys later.” Sam stammered, quickly finding her way out of the room. Jake pulled away from Cara, and when they turned towards Sam, she had already shut the door behind her. Jake looked at Cara quizzically.
“What’s with Sam?” A hunch told him that his sister wasn’t taking his hair loss as easily as his girlfriend had.