A Beautiful Forever

by Lilliana Anderson

  “Long time no see,” he says to me.

  “If you call yesterday morning a long time ago,” I deadpan. “Are you here for a haircut or are you just passing through?”

  He looks around and sees the other customers sitting on the chairs waiting, “Um, yeah; I want a haircut. Can you fit me in?”

  “Ah,” I cut my eyes to the clock upon the wall while I think, “it could take a good hour - I have two clients ahead of you.”

  Drumming his hands on the counter he nods. “That’s fine. I'll wait.”

  A small blonde girl walks up behind him and touches his shoulder, “Um, what are you doing?” she asks, looking slightly irritated.

  He inclines his head to me slightly, “I’m getting a haircut,” he tells her as a matter of fact.

  I stop listening and call my next client, a chubby redhead named ‘Christine’, leaving Elliot to deal with his friend. As I shake out the black cloak to drape over her, I glance at Andrea, who raises her eyebrows at me and mouths, He’s gorgeous! Do you know him? Nodding I make the ‘sort of’ sign with my hand. She glances at him again and nods appreciatively, practically licking him with her eyes. Laughing at her, I shake my head and turn to focus on my client.

  Elliot

  “You don’t have to wait for me,” I tell Naomi, who is standing next to me with her arms crossed over her chest. “I can find my way back on my own.”

  “It’s fine. I can wait,” she says.

  “Naomi, I’m fine. Go home.”

  “Oh, um… ok,” she says hesitating a little before starting to leave, regret rises within me as I start to feel bad for dismissing her so rudely.

  “Listen, thanks for joining me today Naomi. It ended up being nice having someone to sight see with,” I tell her. She smiles brightly, happy with my acknowledgement and tells me she’ll see me at home.

  Nodding, I look over at Paige, who is pinning up a woman’s hair so she can cut underneath. She cuts with great concentration and skill, only speaking when she needs to. I’m impressed she’s functioning so well, right now I feel like I could pass out.

  Chapter 6

  Paige

  “You know that guy you don’t really know?” Andrea says behind me as I blow dry my current client’s hair. I nod in response, still focusing on curling the brush to create enough volume.

  “Well… he’s asleep.”

  “What?!" I laugh incredulously, turning my head slightly to spot him in a chair with his head slumped forward on his chest.

  When I finish up with my client, I walk her to the counter, quickly offering her some product, but not caring if she takes any. I can’t seem to stop my eyes from flitting constantly to the sleeping figure in the waiting area.

  The moment she leaves, I walk over to Elliot and stand in front of him as I contemplate how best to wake him.

  “Wait, wait, wait!” Andrea calls out in one of those whispers that might as well be a yell, as she dashes towards me. “I want to witness this!” She stands beside me and adjusts her shirt as she prepares herself.

  “What are you doing?” I ask her. She looks like she’s getting ready to catch a ball or something.

  “I don’t know,” she shrugs, laughing a little. “Just wake him.”

  Elliot

  I jerk my head up as a loud clapping sound startles me awake. Slowly, my eyes focus and I’m met by the sight of Paige and her co-worker standing in front of me smiling their arses off.

  “Jetlag can be a bit of a bitch huh?” Paige comments. “You still want that haircut?”

  I scratch my head and stand up, stretching to try to bring myself fully awake. “Yeah, I still want that haircut,” I reply through a yawn.

  Paige inclines her head towards the wash basins, and I follow her over taking the seat she points to. She places a towel around my neck and gets me to lean back against the hard porcelain.

  As she turns the water on and tests the temperature on the back of her hand she says, “Try not to fall asleep on me, I don’t want to have to pull your hair to wake you up.”

  I laugh, “I’ll do my best, but no promises.”

  God, I love getting my hair washed by a hair dresser. It's freaking awesome. The way they massage your head is brilliant, and I have to say, the fact that it’s Paige doing the massaging is making it that much better.

  “Alright, sit up,” she instructs as she throws a towel over my head and starts to dry it off. Once finished, she walks me over to a chair and drapes a waterproof cape over my clothes, securing it around my neck.

  “Just a trim, or you going for a whole new style?” she asks.

  “I have no idea, what do you think?”

  She smiles to herself, and I think I catch a bit of an eye roll. “Well, if it were up to me, I’d shave it off - I like very short hair on guys,” she replies, her eyes on me via the mirror.

  “How short are we talking?” I ask, suddenly worried she might try and shave my head bald.

  “A number four,” she tells me, and I can see the challenge in her eye.

  I look at my hair in the mirror. It's gotten long to the point that it gets in my eyes and almost touches my shoulders. “Number four it is,” I say seriously, holding her eyes in the mirror.

  She raises her eyebrows slightly and nods, preparing the clippers to buzz all of my hair off. I’m a little nervous, but hair grows back… right?

  Paige

  I really didn’t think he’d go for it, so I’m a little surprised right now, and impressed. Truthfully, I do truthfully like guys with super short hair. I love the way it feels when you run your hand over the spikes. I just didn’t think an Adonis like Elliot would contemplate cutting off his locks on a whim.

  As I lift the clippers towards his hair, I look at him in the mirror. “Are you sure?” I ask. He looks at me and nods confidently, so I take the strip of hair away straight down the middle of his head.

  “Can’t change your mind now,” I tease.

  He laughs, “I don’t want to.”

  I run the clippers slowly through his hair, watching as his locks cascade over his shoulders and slide down the cape towards the floor.

  “Where are you staying?” he asks.

  “Heathrow, near the airport. I’m there for a couple of weeks until I find a share house. First stop was a job though.”

  “You got a job in a day?”

  “I got a trial in a day.”

  “She got a job in a day,” Andrea interrupts. “As long as she wants it of course.”

  I pause and smile at Andrea, “Really? Thank you Andrea.”

  “Well, you’re good and I need help. It’s a win win.” She winks at me and carries some wet towels into the back room.

  “Congratulations,” Elliot says to me smiling.

  “Thank you,” I can’t help but smile back. I am so glad the job part is sorted out now.

  “Can I take you to dinner to celebrate?”

  “Oh… I don’t know about that,” I hesitate as I finish neatening his hair and put the clippers down. I reach for a soft powdered brush to flick away the excess hair on his neck. Gliding my hand over the short spikes, a delicious chill runs through me as I touch him, perhaps a little more than I should. I take a deep breath, knowing I need to put a stop to this. “Listen, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea here Elliot. I can see the way you look at me, and I can’t give you what you want. You’re a great-looking guy. I'd be a fool not to notice that, but I need to be clear - I’m not the girl for you.”

  He sits up and spins his chair so he’s facing me now, “Paige, while I’m flattered that you think I’m so great-looking – you’ve got the wrong idea yourself. I think it would be pointless to start anything with anyone. Especially with you, I only have three months, and you are here indefinitely. However, you’re the first girl I’ve met in a long time that doesn’t giggle every time I speak, so I like you, I’d like to get to know you… if you’ll let me - as friends.”

  I narrow my eyes slightly at him, not sure
that I believe him, but I have to admit that there is logic in his reasoning…, and I am hungry. “Alright, fine. We can have dinner.”

  Elliot

  “I’ll tell you what,” I say. “I’ll take you to the flat I’m staying in, and we can see what everyone else is doing, it can’t possibly be a date that way. Plus, you’ll get to meet some new people.”

  I can see the wheels turning in her head as she considers my proposal, “Where are you staying?”

  “About a five-minute walk from here.”

  “Ok, fine, just give me time to finish up, and I’ll meet you outside.” She walks me to the register, and I pay for my haircut. I can’t stop running my hand back and forward over my head. It feels strange and awesome all at the same time.

  She’s smiling as she watches me do it, “See, feels good huh?”

  “It does,” I admit. “I’ll see you when you’re through.” She nods, and I walk out the door as she flips the sign to ‘closed’ behind me. I’m waiting maybe ten minutes before she comes out with her bag.

  “That was fast,” I point out.

  “I got let off early for being such a good worker.”

  “Lucky you.”

  “No, lucky you. You would have been waiting for a good 30 minutes otherwise.”

  “I didn’t mind. Listen, don’t take this as flirting, but I like your hair this way… it’s pretty. I mean, I like it curly; I like it both ways actually… maybe I just like your hair.” I laugh nervously, tripping over my words and sounding kind of dopey.

  She laughs back, “Normally I would definitely take that as flirting, but since you were so clear that it wasn’t I will take it simply as it is – you like my hair. Although I’ll admit, now that your hair is short, I like yours too.” She reaches her hand up and rubs it over the fuzz that is currently covering my head.

  “You didn’t like it longer?”

  She shakes her head vigorously and scrunches up her face.

  “It was that bad?” I ask, surprised.

  “No, it wasn’t that bad. I just don’t like long hair on guys.”

  “Why not? Did you date a guy with long hair who broke your heart or something?” I ask as a joke.

  “Or something,” she replies.

  “Oh I’m sorry, that was a dick of a thing to say,” I apologise, kicking myself for saying the wrong thing.

  She laughs a little, “It’s fine, Elliot. Nothing happened with a long-haired guy – short hair is simply my personal preference.”

  “Really? Well, that was kind of mean – making me think I took you to a bad place. Not cool Paige, not cool,” I tease light-heartedly.

  When she smiles at me again, I’ve found my new addiction. Paige seems to have some sort of sadness emanating out of her, so when she smiles, it feels special.

  Approaching the block of flats, I point ahead and dig for my keys in my pocket.

  “That’s it, the white one?” she asks.

  “Sure is,” I tell her.

  “What’s it like inside?”

  “Cramped, but nice – you’ll see.”

  Paige

  Elliot leads me up a few flights of stairs until we reach a cream coloured door with a brass ‘12’ attached to it above a peephole. Using his manners, he opens the door for me, and I smile as I step inside, I’m really not used to spending time around courteous men.

  Loud voices and laughter can be heard coming from the living area. I move to the side and let Elliot go ahead of me, so he can make the introductions – I don’t want to look like some random from off the street.

  “Hey everyone, what’s happening?” he says as he enters the room.

  “Hey man, oh my god! You shaved your head,” one guy points out, before moving straight on. “We’re just deciding what to do tonight, no one wants to cook so we’re thinking of heading down to the pub for something easy.”

  “OR” another guy interrupts, “we’re thinking of getting Indian, there’s a debate over what’s best. We are a house divided.” He tilts his head as he looks from Elliot to me, “Oh hello, I’m Gavin.”

  “Paige,” I say, nodding at him.

  Elliot does a quick introduction around the room, “We are only missing one person, Naomi. She's the one that was with me today.”

  I nod my understanding and listen as the discussion over food continues. Eventually, it’s decided that everyone just goes to the closest pub, which is also the place that their other roommate works.

  “So Paige,” Gavin asks as we walk towards the pub as a group. “How do you know Elliot?”

  “Oh…I wouldn’t really say I know him. We met on the plane and just kind of bumped into each other again.”

  “You met on the plane? Are you a Sydney girl too?”

  “Kind of, not Sydney city, but not too far out. What about you? I’m going to peg you for a Brisbane boy.”

  He raises his eyebrows, an impressed look on his face. “Very close Paige, I’m from the Goldcoast, Nerang to be exact. How did you know?”

  “I’m a hairdresser; I meet a lot of people, so I’ve learned how to pick the different accents.”

  “That’s a good skill to have,” he says thoughtfully as Petra moves in beside him and links arms.

  “What’s a good skill?” she asks.

  “Oh Paige can tell where you’re from in Australia based on your accent.”

  “Really? Where am I from?” she asks.

  “Melbourne,” I tell her without hesitation.

  “Correct,” she smiles.

  “Here we are,” Brian says as we come to a stop outside a pub called The Hole in the Wall, it’s aptly named because there's what looks like a storm pipe coming through the wall near the roof. I wonder if it was always there and inspired the name or whether they added it to justify the name.

  As we file inside and head towards a table, everyone waves at the blonde behind the bar that I saw with Elliot earlier. Her smile isn’t quite as bright when it lands on me, so I nod and smile kindly at her, not wanting to ruffle any feathers.

  Elliot pulls out my chair for me, and I look at him with raised eyebrows. “Seriously Elliot?” I ask.

  He shakes his head and laughs, “I’m sorry. I was simply using the manners that my mother taught me.”

  “Well then, tell your mother I said thank you,” I say as I take the seat he offers.

  “I will,” he says before turning to the guys to discuss our all-important drink choices and who is shouting the first round.

  “Alright,” Brian says, “I’ll go first round. Paige, what are you drinking?”

  “Oh just a coke for me please.”

  “You sure you don’t want something a little stronger?”

  “No thanks,” I laugh. “Coke’s fine.”

  “Alright, Petra – what are you having?” he asks moving his way around the table until he has everybody’s choice. Elliot gets up to go and help him while I stay and chat to the others while we decide what we want to eat off the pub menu.

  During dinner, I get quizzed further about where I’m from and what I’m doing in London. I try to be as vague as possible, but it’s hard to do that and not seem rude, so I deflect by asking lots of questions of my own.

  “I like that accent thing you can do,” Petra says. “I always thought that if you’re from Australia your accent is just Australian. Where did you grow up?”

  “Oh around Sydney. Are you from Melbourne city or did you grow up in one of the surrounding suburbs?”

  “I’m from Templestowe actually. It's about twenty kilometres out of Melbourne city.”

  “Did you always live there or move around a bit?” I continue.

  “I’ve been in the same place all my life; that's why I came to London – I need a little adventure in my life,” she smiles.

  “Where are you staying Paige?” Brian asks from next to Petra.

  “A hotel near the airport,” I reply.

  “That’s a bit of a hike from here,” he comments. "I'll drive you back afte
r this - don't catch the tube on your own."

  “You don't have to do that, I'll be fine.”

  “He insists and I'll come for the drive too - it's no trouble. So where will you be living after that?” Petra asks me.

  “I don’t know yet. I still have to find a place. I’ll start looking around here tomorrow, there has to be a share house needing someone somewhere.”

  “Well you should come and stay with us,” Brian suggests, “Petra is going home in a week so her bed will be free.”

  “Yeah that’s a great idea,” Petra adds. “It needs to be another girl because we share rooms – that’s why the rent is so low.” She stands up from her seat and cups her hands around her mouth. “Hey Nomes! Paige is gonna be your new roomie!” she calls out. Naomi lifts her head as she’s pulling a beer and makes an O shape with her mouth. Brian and Petra give her the thumbs up, not paying any attention to whether she’s happy about the idea or not.

  “There you go,” Brain says beaming at me. “It’s settled – you’ll come and stay with us.”

  “Really? Well... I guess that could work out, considering my job is so close… alright then, I think I’ll have to take you up on that,” I say feeling pleased. A full-time job and a place to live sorted in one day – my luck is good right now; I should buy a lottery ticket!

  “Did I just hear that right? You’re moving in?” Elliot asks.

  “Yeah, in a week – is that cool with you?” I reply.

  “Of course it is! Why wouldn’t it be?”

  “I don’t know… it’s pretty great for me though – five minutes from work.” I hold my fingers up in his face for added emphasis. “How awesome is that!”

  He laughs, nodding his head in agreement, “That is awesome.”

  Chapter 7

  Elliot

  I’m kind of feeling a little like a stalker, as I’ve started waiting for Paige after work most nights. It’s not like I’m hovering for hours outside the salon being creepy – it's just that my train gets in maybe ten minutes before she finishes work so I wait for a little bit and say hi before she heads back to Heathrow. I figure when she's staying at the flat as well then we can walk home together. I just makes sense to me, why wouldn’t I wait ten minutes for a friend?