I pull a funny face when I finish and she giggles. “All done, princess. What do you think?”
I turn the chair toward the mirror again and she runs her fingers through the blond strands. “I look pretty, mommy?”
Faith comes over and the way she interacts with Katy completely changes her demeanor. Her back straightens up and she smiles wide making her sad face light up, and for the first time, I notice she’s beautiful.
“The prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”
She lifts her off the seat and Katy runs to me to cling onto my leg. “Thank you!”
She giggles and it resonates through me, making me feel a lot lighter.
“You’re welcome, sweetie.”
Faith pays up and I notice her demeanor change again as soon as she steps out the door onto the street, her back hunches over a little and she keeps her head down, watching Katy the whole time. I’ve never seen her around town before, maybe she’s just new and shy? I watch her disappear up the street and I don’t know why, but I feel a strange sort of connection to her. I want to run out to her, but I don’t.
I shake my head and make my way into the back room, flipping on the coffee pot. Now Katy’s giggle isn’t filling up the salon, my mood from earlier starts weighing itself down on me again.
“Kee?”
I jump. “Jeez, you scared me!” Sam stands there holding a fast food bag out to me. “Thanks, Sam, I’m starving.” I take it from her and pull out the burger, taking a bite out of it.
“Yeah, I can tell. I was saying… if Mr Carter comes in early, can you tell him I’ll be back soon? I’m just going over to the Gracefield’s to see about those tables.” With my mouth full, I give her a thumbs up. “Thanks, see you in a bit.”
I give her a little wave and take another bite out of my cheeseburger.
Sam has been working tirelessly on this fundraiser, so the least I can do is try to perk her up a little. We’ve spent the night in front of the TV again and I’m bored.
I’m bored of watching documentaries and not getting up to anything fun, I’m bored of the monotony. I don’t want to go to a bar to grind all over random guys or anything, I just need something to do, so I pull Sam up off the sofa and start looking for outfits for the fundraiser. She’s put so much effort into making the venue look nice that I think we should do the same for ourselves.
I pick out a purple top and denim shorts for Sam and wear my usual ripped shorts and baggy tank top with a chequered shirt around my waist. It takes up a little bit of time and is a worthy distraction to my wandering mind.
Truth is, since Sam got back from Sharlington earlier, I just can’t stop feeling guilty. She won’t expect Connor to be there tomorrow night, and I’ve led him there, but she needs to hear him out so she can move on, at least that’s my reasoning and I’m sticking to it. And while we’re there, there’s no reason why we can’t have a little fun before he turns up either. I plan on showing her that it’s okay to let go sometimes and let yourself feel, although I can’t ever take my own advice. As soon as Connor turns up, I’ll make myself scarce. I’m under no illusion I’ll be accepted at yet another town event, even if I’m helping decorate the place, they still won’t care.
“Is Lewis going do you know?” Sam asks.
I scoff at her, “How would I know? It’s not as if I care.”
She laughs, “Yeah, and I don’t care about coffee.”
My hand flies to my mouth and I gasp. “Did you just compare Lewis to coffee? How dare you, he isn’t all that. Anyway, I’m not planning on sticking around long enough to find out. The people here don’t like me, Sam, I’m an outsider to them even after all this time, so I’d rather just show my face then leave.”
She takes her time getting into her pajamas before answering me. “You’re not an outsider, Kee. They just haven’t gotten a chance to get to know your sarcastic self yet.” I flip her off. “See! That’s the Kee we all know and love.”
I swat her hand away as she pinches my cheek. “Yeah and if they keep staring at me like I have a third arm, they won’t get to know me. I have all the friendship I need, right in this little apartment.”
“Ah, don’t tell me you’re going soft on me,” she says with a wink. I ignore her and flip her off again as I walk out of her room.
“That’s my girl!” She calls out behind me, and I can’t help but laugh at her when I’m back in my own room.
I was so full of nervous energy about today that I couldn’t damn well sleep. We’ve spent the morning decorating for the fundraiser and my conscience is still niggling at me. ‘You should warn Sam that Connor will be there’ but I choose to ignore it, yet again.
My conscience could be wrong anyway, I’m pretty sure me being up before her this morning alerted her to the fact that something is off. If that didn’t do it, then I’m sure me acting weird about the biker guy turning up did. I just couldn’t help it.