A Beautiful Forever

chapter 25

Paige

“I can’t believe you’re quitting on me!” Andrea moans as I tell her my news. “And in a week! How am I supposed to replace you that

quickly?"

“I’m sorry Andrea, really I am, but I told Elliot that I’ll go back with him,” I explain, “Don’t hate me.”

Andrea laughs as she comes toward me and gives me a friendly hug. “I could never hate you Paige. I'll really miss working with you.

To be honest, I was pretty sure this would happen when you and Elliot got your act together, and I’m so happy for you both. Do you

think you’ll ever come back? Because I could always use you if you do,” she asks hopefully.

“I don’t know what’s happening right now, I’m still kind of shocked I agreed to go.”

“Well you do want to go don’t you?” she asks.

“I want him, I just kind of wanted to stay here longer – there are things I wanted to do, but now I’ll have to put them off.”

“Well then, that settles it. You’ll have to come back and when you do, you’ll work for me again.”

I laugh at her boldness - it’s nice to be wanted. “Alright, I’ll come back as soon as I can,” I concede.

“Excellent, now get to work missy. You still have to finish up all of your booked clients before Thursday.”

“Yes ma’am!” I say saluting her on a laugh as I move toward the front of the salon and flip the sign on the door to open. Looking

around the salon I let out a sigh, I’m really going to miss it here.





Elliot


“Good morning Elliot,” Celsey sings out as I enter the gym for my last few days of work. “You’ve got a pretty busy client list today.

Everyone wants to get one final session in before you leave. Are you counting down?” she asks, handing me a sheet of paper with

my client print out on it.

“Kind of, I’m happy to be going home, but I’m really going to miss it here. How much longer to you have?” I ask, knowing her time to

leave must be coming soon. She started at the gym not much longer after I did.

“A week and a half. I’m feeling the same way – I don’t want to go, but I miss everyone from home.”

“Are you coming to my going away bash?” I ask as I pick up a clip board and pen, sliding my printout under the clip.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she smiles before I move through to the staff room to put my bag in my locker.

The first client on my list is a guy around my age called Tony. He's here to bulk up a bit after being as skinny as a rake for most of his

life. I’ve been training him for the last two months, and he’s made some great progress doing heavy weights and supplementing his

diet with some heavy-duty protein powders.

I find him warming up on the treadmills and wander over to him. “Ready for our last session?” I ask him as I approach.

“Not really. They’re giving me the guy, who's replacing you. I have no idea if he’s any good,” he comments as he hops off the

machine.

“They don’t hire just anyone here mate. I’m sure you’ll be in good hands. Come on, let’s get started,” I say as I clap him on the back

and lead him over to the free weights area.





Paige


“Naomi, I really don’t think you should go messing with your hair colour. It’s beautiful the way it is,” I say to her as she sits on the salon

chair discussing her style options with me.

“Paige, I want a change. My hair’s always been like this, and I love that two-toned look that some girls do – you know how they have

brown underneath and the blonde on top with those feathered styles that kind of flick out?” she explains.

“Well, it’s your hair Nomes. I just don’t want you to regret changing it, because we won’t be able to change it back once it’s done,” I

point out.

“Come on Paige, do it. I want you to be the one to give me a new style. It'll be a way for me to remember you when you go.”

“Couldn’t you just take a picture to remember me by?” I ask with raised eyebrows as I talk to her via the mirror.

“Paige!” she pleads, her voice slightly whiney.

“Alright, alright, I’ll do it for you,” I submit. I get the need for a change but when people come in with beautiful naturally coloured hair, it

always stabs at my heart a little to alter it.

I leave Naomi flicking through a magazine while I go into the back room and mix her colour before returning to start her

transformation.

“Are you happy about going home?” she asks as I pin the top half of her hair up.

“I’m happy I’m going with Elliot but I kind of wanted to stay here,” I admit to her.

“It’s very romantic,” she sighs. “Meeting on a plane and falling in love.” She stares off, smiling dreamily as god only knows what plays

through her mind.

“You read too many romance novels Naomi,” I laugh at her as I start to paint the bottom half of her hair with her new colour choice.

“Leave me alone,” she pouts. “I like to see people happy; that's all.”

I smile at her in the mirror briefly before I focus my attention on applying her colour evenly.

“It must have been some night away though, to make you change your mind,” she prods, trying to get me to divulge some details.

When I don’t respond, she pushes further. “Did he tell you he loves you?” she asks biting her lip as she waits for the answer.

“He did,” I admit carefully.

“Was it romantic? Did you say it back?” she gushes.

“Why don’t you tell me what’s going on with you and that guy from the Salsa club – you’ve seen him a few times haven’t you?” I ask,

trying to steer this conversation in a new direction. I can’t really tell her that he yelled it at me because I refused to hear it now can I?

“Oh no Paige! You haven’t told him, have you? But you do love him; I know you do.”

I can’t answer that, I can’t say that in my thoughts let alone out loud. Knowing it and admitting it are two very different things.

“Paige, why don’t you say it?”

“Because it’s too hard, Naomi, it’s too hard for me to say it.” I tell her, keeping my eyes low, so she can’t see into them.

“Oh no!” she says again. “Please don’t break his heart Paige, he’s head over heels for you.”

I freeze at her words before turning away to place the bowl of dye on the trolley for cleaning. I take an extra few moments with my

back turned away from her, squeezing my eyes shut as I breathe through the emotion swelling inside of me.

“Why do you think I would?” I ask, focusing my eyes ahead so she can’t see my face.

“I just have this terrible feeling Paige. You’re not being honest with him, or yourself. He’s baring his soul to you, and you’re still

holding back on him. Just be good to him ok? You could ruin him forever if you’re not careful with him. I’ve seen it happen too many

times to count Paige.”

“Where? In your books?” I question her, not appreciating her reading me so well, it’s like she’s figured out exactly what I’m thinking.

“Paige, I’m not just a bookworm. I do have a life you know,” she tells me, looking slightly wounded from my words.

“I’m sorry Nomes, I shouldn’t have snapped,” I tell her, feeling immediately guilty.

A single tear slides from my eye and I wipe it away secretly as I pretend to brush back my hair. I think of the beauty that’s inside Elliot

’s heart, and I’m riddled with guilt at the thought of being the one to rob him of that. What if I do ruin him forever? What if he never

finds love again just because I was the one who was too selfish to say no to him. I never should have let this happen, I should have

been strong enough to stay away from the beginning. I'm a horrible person.





Elliot


“Agy!” I call out, embracing her where I find her in the reception area.

“Elliot, I’m so sad today. Why do you have to leave me? Who am I going to ogle now?” she jokes, hugging me back.

“You’ll find someone; I'm sure,” I laugh offering my arm and leading her into the gym.

“What would you like to do for our last session?” I ask.

“Fancy taking an old lady out for a coffee?” she asks hopefully.

“Sure, let me go and grab my wallet, and you’re so far from being old Agy – don’t put yourself down.” I jog into the staff room and

grab my wallet from my locker, leading Agy out and letting Celsey now that I’m leaving the gym for an hour in case anyone is looking

for me.

“I like that little American girl,” Agy says to me as leave the reception area and head outside. “She’s always so friendly.”

“I like her too, although she’s going home soon as well,” I inform her.

“Oh, all the good ones are going. I'll be left with boring English people again!” she moans, although I know she’s joking.

I take her into the first coffee shop we come to and spend the best part of an hour having my final chat with my favourite client.