Chapter 2 #3
That had the desired effect, and Dani slowed down a fraction, though she was still practically unhinging her jaw, reminding Rick of the snakes in the nature documentary series she’d made him watch last week.
Once she was fed, Rick herded them all into the Beast, Dani bouncing the entire ten-minute drive to the salon.
Shear Delights was in the older part of town, and while the building itself looked slightly run-down, the inside was tidy and bright.
Rick didn’t bother to restrain Dani as she hurled herself at Gabrielle, though he did yell, “Scissors!” to remind his sister that Martina’s aunt was cutting hair and the blades were very sharp.
For her part, Gabrielle stepped back as soon as she heard the screech, making sure she wasn’t in mid-snip when she was hit by Hurricane Dani.
“Ah!” She pushed Dani’s light brown hair back from her face. “There you are.” She planted a kiss on her forehead. “Have Martina pull up some pictures on her phone, eh? See if there’s a hairstyle you like.”
“I want a Mohawk!” Dani made her eyes big. “Pleeeeassssse.” She clasped her hands together in front of her.
Rick crossed his arms. “No can do, monster. I still remember the last time you got a Mohawk. That haircut is on the forbidden list.”
“What? Why?” Dani scowled him. “I don’t remember that.”
He grinned at her. “You were in preschool. Your attitude level tripled, and Mom got a lot of notes home.”
Dani huffed out a breath. “That was ages ago. When I was literally a child.”
Rick bit back his response that she was still, in fact, a child. Dani would only roll her eyes.
Gabrielle examined her critically, one eye squinting. “A Mohawk would look very fierce, but it is also going to be winter soon.”
Dani’s elfin face screwed up in confusion. “So?”
Gabrielle clucked her tongue, returning to the woman in her chair as she began snipping away.
“You would be very cold, mija, and you’d have to wear a hat.
No one would see it. What if we find a different haircut for now, which will give you time to impress your mother with good behavior.
Then by the summer, she might say yes to the Mohawk. ”
Dani tilted her head, considering Gabrielle’s words. “I guess that’s a good plan.” She sighed and wandered over to Martina, who already had her phone out.
“Thanks,” Rick said quietly, making sure his sister couldn’t hear him.
“Your mother does not need triple-attitude Dani right now. Her head would explode,” Gabrielle whispered. She shot him an evil look. “We’ll try to save the Mohawk for middle school.”
Dani’s hair was trimmed and styled, and Rick was just sitting down when Martina’s mother breezed into the salon, her boot heels clacking on the tile.
Much like her daughter, Serena Lopez liked to wear bright red lipstick, though she paired it with slick professional clothing.
Rick watched in the mirror as she greeted Martina with a kiss and a smile, though she looked worried as she smoothed Martina’s hair back from her face.
Her attention strayed to Dani a few times.
She was probably watching what she said in front of Rick’s sister.
When she was done, she strode over to Rick.
“I spoke to your principal today,” Mrs. Lopez said as soon as she was close enough to the chair, concern obvious in her brown eyes.
Gabrielle shook her head, her gold earrings flashing in the salon light. “Nasty business.”
“It’s ridiculous is what it is.” Mrs. Lopez pursed her lips in irritation. “I can’t say I’m totally impressed with how they’re handling it.”
Rick didn’t say anything. As it was, he had to fight to not slide down into his chair.
Gabrielle draped the black cape over him, snapping it behind his neck. “How so?”
“I don’t like how quickly they’ve focused on the kids.
” She plucked Rick’s hoodie from the back of one of the empty salon chairs, brushed off a few stray pine needles, and hung it up on the coat rack.
Worry made Mrs. Lopez fuss like a mother hen.
“When I asked them why, I got a lot of nonanswers. It’s all unfounded rumors. Nothing concrete.”
“We didn’t do anything,” Rick repeated for what felt like the eight hundredth time that day.
“I know. This thing, it’s not your style. It feels…hateful,” Mrs. Lopez said, reaching out to run her fingers through the back of his hair.
“As I said, nasty,” Gabrielle agreed. “And mean. Not like you two at all.”
“How much are you taking off?” Mrs. Lopez asked, still sifting Rick’s hair with her fingers. His was darker than Dani’s and a little wavy, so it curled slightly around her fingers.
Gabrielle firmed her mouth, running her own hands through Rick’s hair. “Not much, I think. Just enough to clean him up a little.” She winked at him. “Ladies like a little bit of bad boy, eh?”
Rick snorted.
Gabrielle laughed, pinching his cheek. “Don’t worry, mijo. I’ll make you look good.”
Mrs. Lopez smiled, but it looked a little weary around the edges as she turned the conversation back to the original topic. “I went ahead and left a message for your mom, Rick. Hopefully she won’t worry too much. This will all blow over soon. You’ll see.”
Rick didn’t quite believe that, but he didn’t argue, because he didn’t think Mrs. Lopez entirely believed it, either.