Chapter 14

Lucy looked at the extravagant beauty salon. She hesitated at the sliding doors, reluctant to go in. Some teenage girls passed her by, gossiping as they entered the salon.

A hand rested on her shoulder.

She looked back and saw Adam holding the very excited Scarlett.

"Um..." she said and looked back at the building. "I don't really think this is necessary, Mr. Adam."

"Oh c'mon." Adam laughed. "You're not shy, are you?"

"No!" Lucy denied firmly. "It's just...the place is ridiculously big and flamboyant."

"I don't mind," Scarlett said cheekily as she grinned happily.

"That's my girl," Adam laughed again and patted Scarlett's hair.

Reece snorted. "I think it's a shame to waste huge money all on some stupid girl's fashion house or whatever," he said and rolled his eyes.

"I think it's kinda cool," Caleb admitted.

"This is a waste of time," Matt muttered, looking away.

Adam turned to the boys. "You know, you boys are also going to the barber's shop. We're just here to drop the girls off."

"My hair is fine as it is," Reece insisted.

"Have you checked yourself in a mirror lately?" Caleb teased Reece.

"Look who's talking!" Reece fired back hotly.

"Alright, alright.... that’s enough," Adam interrupted what seemed to be the beginning of an argument. "You're all going to the barber's shop. No need to quarrel about it."

Lucy was still debating whether to go in or not.

"Okay listen, I'll come in with you," Adam said.

"No... it’s not necessary," Lucy murmured, still looking at the building.

"I'm coming with you two," Adam insisted firmly and then turned to the boys. "You guys should stay right here: I'll be back soon so don't wander off or get into any trouble."

With that, he held Lucy in his left hand and Scarlett in his right.

The three of them entered the beauty salon.

A middle-aged woman walked up to them quickly, with a smile plastered on her face.

She had on a dark blue pencil skirt on a yellow shirt with fitted, lacy long sleeves. Her black hair was curly and was done in a bun plait.

The make-up she had on was a bit moderate.

Her light blue eyes lit up when she finally reached them.

"Hello," she said cheerily. "Welcome to Queens' beauty salon, where your hair is our top priority."

Lucy inwardly rolled her eyes; she knew that was a rehearsed line.

"Hey there," Adam glanced down at her name tag that was pinned to her shirt. "Stacy."

"That's my name," the woman grinned at Adam.

"I'd like you to give these two girls a makeover," he said and slightly nudged Lucy and Scarlett forward.

"Oh my!" She gasped as she stared at them. "They really do need a makeover!"

She clapped excitedly. "You've brought your daughters to the right place, sir," she said and bent to Scarlett's height.

"No, um..." Adam's voice faltered.

"Hey sweetie," Stacy smiled warmly at Scarlett who just stared at her. "My name is Stacy, what's yours?" she asked sweetly.

Scarlett was rather quiet as she looked at the over-enthusiastic woman. All Scarlett's previous excitement flew out of the window and she very much wanted to leave. She stepped back fearfully and clutched Adam's hand tightly.

"Scarlett?" Adam looked at her, a bit amused.

"I think she's a little shy," Stacy giggled. "It's alright, we deal with situations like this all the time," she told Adam and turned to Scarlett again.

"Scarlett, was it? That's the name of a princess, did you know?" she said in a pleasant tone, her smile still warm and friendly.

Scarlett looked at her skeptically.

"Do you like my hair, Scarlett?" Stacy asked. Scarlett gave a short nod. "Nice," Stacy beamed. "Would you like me to make yours like mine?"

Scarlett nodded again.

"I think you're pretty," Scarlett murmured shyly.

"Aww," Stacy cooed. "Such a dearie."

"We have snacks too you know, and what's this?" Stacy reached out to a nearby shelf and brought out a catalog that had different styles of various hairdos.

Stacy shook it slightly. "It's a catalog, see? With lots of pictures. Do you like pictures, sweetie?"

Scarlett nodded eagerly this time.

"That's great!" Stacy stood straight.

"How about you take a look at all these pictures and tell me the one you'd like to be fixed on your hair, how's that?" Stacy proposed. There was a twinkle in her eyes as she spoke.

"What about the snacks?" Scarlett asked with big eyes.

Stacy laughed.

"Of course, sweetie. You'll have snacks as well."

"One moment please," she excused herself from them and went to make a brief call with the landline of the salon.

Adam was impressed at the way the lady coaxed Scarlett out of her timidity, though Lucy still had her doubts about the place.

Stacy returned and with a female youth of about twenty-two years old.

The youth had on a yellow halter top and a sapphire-colored skirt. Her hair was done in a donut bun with a braid. She had on silver bangles that had small, blue stones on them as well and she wore a gold, hoop earring.

"Hi," she said as she and Stacy both got to them.

Adam read her name tag. "Hello, Amanda."

"Hello, it's an honor to personally meet the Adam Hunt," Amanda said with a small squeal. Stacy looked baffled.

"He's Adam Hunt?" she questioned in amazement. Apparently, she had only heard of his name, during conversations with her friends or briefly as their lecturer mentioned something related to him. She had never searched him up on her own.

"OMG! You didn't know?!" Amanda gasped in disbelief as she turned to Stacy.

Adam winced a bit.

Stacy frowned slightly at Amanda.

"That's enough Amanda!" she said in a reprimand, then turned to Scarlett and smiled sweetly again.

"Sure," Amanda nodded and shrugged.

"Hey sweetie; this is Amanda, my friend. She's going to be your stylist for today. You'd tell her all the nice hairstyles you like, and she'd advise you on which would fit you perfectly," Stacy told Scarlett with a grin.

Amanda knew that was her cue.

"Hello, Stacy told me your name is Scarlett, nice to meet you," she beamed at Scarlett.

"Hello," Scarlett replied.

"Why don't we...," Amanda started then trailed off like she was thinking of something, "go to the room over there and settle down and go through the catalog." She stood up and faked a yawn and stretched her legs.

And Scarlett giggled at the act.

"I'm so tired and I saw some huge comfortable chairs in there, can we go seat on them, please?" Amanda said to Scarlett as she did a puppy face.

Scarlett laughed as she nodded happily.

"Yaay!" Amanda clapped joyfully.

She held Scarlett's hand as she led her away from the waiting room. Scarlett looked back and waved at Adam and Lucy.

"Don't worry Scarlett, you'll see them again very soon," Amanda assured her as they both went out of the waiting room.

"Amanda is one of our children stylist specialists; Scarlett is in good hands," Stacy told Adam with a smile then she turned to face Lucy.

"I'm Lucy," Lucy introduced herself.

"Hello Lucy, I'm Stacy as you already know and I'm going to be your personal hairstylist for today," Stacy said warmly.

"I guess," Lucy said skeptically.

"Your reaction is quite similar to mine when I started working here as well," Stacy said with a grin which made Lucy drop her guard.

"Really? You thought it was unnecessary?" Lucy asked with an eyebrow raised.

Stacy laughed and leaned towards Lucy's ear in an eager conspiracy. "Oh yes," her voice dropped to a whisper. "I even once thought that the girls brought here were nothing but spoilt brats."

Lucy gasped.

"No way."

Stacy stood straight and winked.

"Yes, way."

"I would love to tell you the story but it's really a long one and we could be here all day, just chatting. Why don't I work on your hair while we chat?" Stacy offered.

"Of course, yes!" Lucy said with a grin.

"But...I've never been in a...um, a beauty salon before," Lucy admitted shyly with a slight blush.

"You don't say?" Stacy smiled at her.

"Yeah, I just normally brush it every day and wash it every week with a soap bar," Lucy said as she ran her hand down her hair.

Stacy shook her head, still smiling. "Not good enough, darling. I could help you pick out some brands of shampoos and hair conditioners that would fit your hair texture."

"C'mon," Stacy said, cheerfully, looping her arm around Lucy's. "Let's go start with your haircare."

Lucy looked back at where Adam stood with an encouraging smile.

"Bye, sir." She waved a little and Adam waved back. Lucy and Stacy then headed up the stairs.

Once they had gone, Adam turned and went out of the building just as more people were trooping in. He headed outside and didn't see the three boys where he had told them to stay.

"Goodness, where could they have gone now?" Adam wondered aloud.

Could it be that Reece already got into a fight with someone?

He thought.

He turned at the corner of the building, about to go and search for them in the 'Lost and Found' section but then he saw Reece leaning against the beauty salon wall, talking with Caleb while Matt stood by listening.

Adam sighed in great relief.

"Hey, guys." He jogged up to them.

"We good to go?" Reece asked cheerfully.

"Yeah," Adam said and then crossed his arms as he looked sternly at them. "Why didn't you stay where I told you to wait for me? I thought something bad had happened."

They all looked at him sheepishly.

"Sorry, but it was when you left that we saw the 'No Waiting' sign that was behind us," Caleb explained apologetically.

"And just at that moment, a heavily-built security man was headed our way," Reece said then he muttered under his breath, "I hate security men."

Matt frowned at the two of them while Adam only chuckled.

"The 'No Waiting' sign was for cars," Adan told them.

"Exactly what I told them!" Matt cried out. He then gave both Reece and Caleb a bad look. "But they wouldn't listen," he added.

Reece growled at Matt and took a step towards him. "The security dude was headed our way, what were we 'posed to think?!"

"I told you he was headed to the hot dog stand that was some feet away from us!" Matt said with a scowl.

"Okay..." Adam cut in. "That's enough."

"Geez, don't pick a fight with him, Reece," Caleb muttered.

"Let's go," Adam said and swung his arm around Matt as he led the boys to the barbershop. Reece and Caleb followed them, walking beside each other.

They got to the 'Jack-D' barbershop in no time.

Soon, Reece, Caleb, and Matt were seated on different seats under the skills expertise of the barbers in the shop.

Adam busied himself with a magazine he took from the counter while the boys had their hairs trimmed and styled.

After twenty good minutes, they were all done.

"We're done," Caleb grinned, feeling pleased about having had a proper haircut.

"Finally," Reece added under his breath. He didn't like the fact that three barbers were fussing over him and the fact they had taken time to give him a suitable haircut.

Matt's mouth was filled with the candy he had been offered, so his voice came out muffled and Adam didn't catch what he said.

"Great," Adam said and tossed the magazine aside then he looked up at them and his mouth opened slightly.

If not for their ragged clothing he wouldn't have believed they all came from a poor background.

Though Reece looked slightly ticked off because he hadn't eaten and the barbers had taken a while on his grooming, his black hair was done in a jiff and rubbed with black gel until it gleamed like a polished object. The gel brought out the richness of his soft, dark curls.

Caleb's hair was neatly done in a side parting which made his facial features more prominent. It also brought out his cheekbones.

Caleb met Adam's onyx eyes and smiled.

Adam noticed that when Caleb smiled, his dimples were more noticeable.

Maybe his shaggy oak hair was much too thick then. Adam thought when he wondered why he hadn't noticed that Caleb had dimples.

He finally cast a look at Matt.

The young boy's hair was styled in a hockey-hair kind of way. Matt placed his glasses firmly on his nose.

"Thank you so much for this favor, Mr. Adam," Matt said in gratitude.

"Yes, thank you so much, sir," Caleb said and patted his hair cautiously. "It's been ages since I've stepped in a barber's shop," he commented.

"Yeah, thanks man," Reece grinned at Adam.

Adam stood up and smiled warmly at the boys.

"It's no big deal."

He headed towards the door and they all followed him. He reached for the glass door handle and looked back at the boys.

"I can only imagine how the girls would look," he said.

"We're going back there?" Reece was not pleased with the news.

"Yup." With that Adam swung the door open, earning a groan from Reece, a chuckle from Caleb, and a snort from Matt.