The Hairdresser Diaries (30 page)

“Teresa asked me to help out, while you started on your next client.” Which was a lie, but I was trying not to freak out the client. I stared at Kayla hoping she’d get the hint and let it go, but of course not. Kayla was too stupid.

“Back away, you don’t know what you’re doing.” She shoved me out of the way.

Still trying to act professional, I didn’t say anything and backed up.

“Um, what’s going on?” the client asked sounding scared.

“Oh, this idiot turned your hair blue.”

“What!” both the client and I exclaimed.

“My hair is blue?”

“Ma’am I can assure you I did not turn your hair blue. I’m sorry for all this inconvenience and will be happy to fix everything and you will not be charged,” I said trying to calm down the client.

Kayla glared at me. “I think you did enough, why don’t you leave this to someone who knows what they’re doing,” Kayla said. I laughed and walked away not being able to take anymore.

I went straight out back to Teresa. “Alright look, either you need to get your ass in there and start acting like the fucking manager or I need to find someone who can do your job for you.”

“Who you think you’re talking to? I’m your superior,” Teresa growled at me.

“Then fucking act like it and do something. Kayla just threw a fit in front of the client and told her I turned her hair blue and shoved me out of the way making it seem like I was the one who didn’t know what I was doing.”

Teresa didn’t say anything. She marched right back into the salon and straight to Kayla as I followed. We overheard Kayla tell the client that it was the client’s fault and she must be on some kind of medication that caused this reaction.

Teresa stepped in right away. “Hi, I’m Teresa, the salon manager. I just wanted to let you know you have nothing to worry about,” she turned to me. “Tatum is one of our best stylists. She is going to make sure everything is fixed properly and you will not be charged at all.” She smiled warmly at the client. The client not sure what to say at this point just nodded her head. Teresa turned on Kayla, “Kayla, can I speak with you for a moment?” Kayla threw the brush she was holding into the sink and stomped off toward the backroom.

I stayed with the client as they left. “I am so sorry for all that. I promise you, you are in good hands.” I tried my best to make her feel better, despite what Kayla may have told her. I finished applying the bleach and waited a few minutes for it to lift out the blue.

We could hear Teresa and Kayla screaming at each other. I excused myself from the client and kindly warned them the whole salon could hear them. They took their screaming match outside.

I rinsed out the clients hair and just like I thought, it took out the blue. I put a massive deep conditioning treatment on her, stuck her under the dryer, and then went out back.

“This is all your fault!” Kayla pointed at me.

“I wasn’t the one who turned her hair blue,” I spat back.

“I know what I’m doing.”

“Apparently not and don’t ever speak to me that way in front of a client again,” I said.

“I’ll speak to you however I want.”

“That’s enough!” Teresa yelled.

“Kayla, this is your fault, if you didn’t know what you were doing you shouldn’t even have taken the client in the first place.”

Kayla tried to say something, but Teresa cut her off. “And the way you handled that client was extremely unprofessional. Telling her Tatum turned her hair blue when it was you, telling her it was because of her medicine clearly when it was you, and, throwing a tantrum and talking down other stylists in front of a client. It’s unacceptable.”

“Whatever, please like you know what professionalism is, and I’m charging her. No way am I going to let her walk out of here for free after doing all that work.”

“All that work wouldn’t have had to be done if you knew what you were doing in the first place,” I said.

Kayla turned to me getting ready to say something until Teresa spoke, “You’re fired.”

Everyone turned to Teresa, eyes wide with surprise.

“What?” Kayla growled.

“You heard me, you’re fired!” Teresa repeated with more authority behind it this time.

Kayla’s mouth opened wide and she started screaming a stream of profanities at Teresa. I looked at Peyton and Jenna and tried hard not to laugh. Some of the other stylists came out to see what was going on and to complain about the language saying they had clients who could hear everything. I was glad I had my lady under the dryer. She wouldn’t be able to hear under there. The other stylists started yelling at Kayla for her mouth and it turned into an all-out war.

I pulled Teresa aside, “You might want to get security. Obviously she’s not going to go quietly.”

“Gee, you think?” Teresa rolled her eyes at me. “Alright everyone shut up!” she yelled and everyone did. “Kayla, you have ten minutes to pack up your shit and get out before I call security on your ass and I don’t want to hear another word from anybody!”

Everyone stared in astonishment, wondering if what they heard was true or their ears were playing tricks on them. Kayla, fired?

They watched as Kayla stomped into the salon and started packing up all her shit.

“You’ll be hearing from my lawyer!” Kayla yelled over her shoulder as she left.

“Good luck with that,” Teresa said.

As soon as the door closed behind her everyone in the salon started to cheer. “I think we need to bust out some champagne and celebrate!” Jenna shouted and we all laughed.

Teresa fell into a chair relieved. “Champagne sounds good to me,” she said. Jenna said after her shift she’d go to the liquor store and pick some up and come back and we’d all celebrate.

I finished up with Kayla’s client and despite the debacle she left satisfied. After all the stylists finished for the day Jenna started to poor champagne for everyone and we made a toast.

“Ding dong the witch is dead,” I said and everyone cheered.

“We have something else to celebrate too,” Peyton interrupted. “Tatum’s engaged.”

Crap.

Everyone gasped and gawked at me in shock.

“Yeah right,” Jenna said thinking Peyton was joking.

“It’s true, show them the ring Tatum.”

With no way of avoiding it I held out my hand. They all swarmed me at once. “I think we should go out and celebrate,” Jenna suggested and all the stylists agreed.

I called Cole to tell him I’d be home late and we continued the party over at Tino’s Bar and Restaurant. Everyone was in high spirits celebrating the demise of Kayla and my engagement. They kept buying me shots and drinks all night. I drank until I couldn’t drink anymore. I had to call Cole to come pick me up because I was too drunk to drive.

“Who’s that?” Jenna asked.

I turned to look and it was Cole. “Excuse me ladies, I’ve got this one.”

I stood up slowly so I wouldn’t fall and headed over to Cole. “Hi, what’s your name?” I teased. “Wanna come over and have a drink with us?” All the girls watched with surprise. I heard them whispering about how cute they thought he was and how they couldn’t believe I was hitting on him.

“I’m sorry, but I’m looking for my girlfriend. Maybe you’ve seen her?” Cole said playing along.

“What does she look like?” I asked.

“She’s tall and has beautiful long blond hair, green eyes, and a nice rack and a great butt,” he smiled. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him.

“She doesn’t waste time does she,” Jenna said.

I pulled away laughing and brought Cole over to introduce him. “Guys, this is my fiancé, Cole.”

“Ooh,” they all said now understanding.

“So how did you get Tatum to agree to marry you?” Jenna asked chuckling.

“It didn’t take too much persuading,” Cole winked at me and I smiled.

“Ha!” Jenna laughed and I shot her a dirty look, but it didn’t seem to faze Cole. “Why don’t you sit and join us and tell us how you managed to attain the unattainable.”

Cole could tell I was ready to leave and said politely, “Maybe another time.”

I mouthed thank you and we left. When we got home, Cole helped me upstairs, and into bed. “Had a good day at work I see.”

“Well not at first, but then Kayla got fired. That’s what we were celebrating,” I yawned.

“You were celebrating someone getting fired?”

“And our engagement,” I smiled. “No one liked Kayla so we were happy she’s finally gone.”

“I see,” Cole said lying down next to me. I started to rub my shoulder. It was sore from all the blow drying I did today. “What’s the matter, your shoulder hurt?”

“Yes, I was busy today. I did a lot of blowouts.”

“Do you want me to rub them for you?”

“Yes, please.” I sat up in front of him and Nala jumped on the bed.

“Nala get down,” Cole scolded her. She whimpered, but obeyed.

“How does that feel?”

“Mmm…Great.” I could have spent hours like this, but it only lasted about fifteen minutes. Cole touching me was turning me on and making it hard not to jump his bones. So I gave in to temptation.

Once Cole fell asleep I let Nala sneak back up on the bed.

All week at the salon all the stylists were buzzing with joy. Kayla being gone gave everyone a brighter outlook. Toward the end of the week I came in, threw my stuff down and immediately went outside to chat before my first client.

“Did you see the new stylist?” Peyton asked when I stepped out back.

“There’s a new stylist already?”

“I’ll take that as a no.”

“Did you?” I asked. Peyton and Jenna looked at each other funny. “What? Don’t tell me she’s another Kayla.”

“I’m not saying anything,” Peyton said.

“That’s a first,” I retorted and Peyton gave me a dirty look.

“Hey guys,” Alex said stepping out back.

“How was your vacation?” I asked her. Alex went to the beach for two weeks missing all the excitement at work, but Peyton caught her up.

“I can’t believe Kayla is finally gone. Anyone see the new girl?” Peyton and Jenna turned away looking in every direction but ours. I just shrugged my shoulders.

The door opened and Teresa walked out with the new stylist. My eyes practically popped out of my head. “Guys, this is Bambi, our new stylist. This is Tatum, Peyton, Jenna and Alex.” I just stared at her. Teresa shot us a, ‘be nice’ look and went back into the salon with Bambi.

“What the fuck was that?” Alex said.

“Okay, Bambi? Is that her stage name or her real one?” I asked.

“You see what we mean. You had to see for yourself.”

And I did understand. She was not something that could really be explained without thinking someone was making it up. She had big ass fake boobs, which were barely covered by her shirt. If she bent over, they would probably fall out and knock someone unconscious. Her skirt was tight and short, she had hoop earrings that fell to her shoulders, white-blond hair with green extensions, and way, way, way too much makeup on. I wanted to ask her if she just came from her ‘other job’.

“Do you think she’s a stripper?” Jenna asked.

“Duh…”

“Guys be nice. She might be a very nice girl, give her a chance.”

“Oh Alex, you’re so naïve,” Peyton sighed.

“Don’t patronize me.”

“Alright, alright, chill guys. Alex is right, let’s try to be nice.” I looked to Peyton. “I know you can.” She put on her best fake smile and we went inside.

I found out I was the one who was going to have to set an example since they stuck her at the station next to mine. I let out a big breath and tried to put my best face forward. Alright Tatum, like Alex said. She’s probably a real nice person. “Don’t judge just because she looks like a prostitute,” I told myself before I went to my station.

“Hi Bambi, I’m Tatum,” I said in my most compelling happy voice.

“Hi, I love your hair. Is it fake?” she asked me.

I was about to answer with a smartass comment, but reminded myself to be nice. “Uh no, it’s all mine,” I said and forced a smile.

“Oh sorry. I just asked cause it’s not too often you see people with hair as long as yours and real.”

“It’s okay. How long have you been doing hair?”

“About two years.”

I just nodded my head not knowing what else to say. Then Peyton walked over and ignored the new girl until I hit her and made her play nice.

“Hi I’m Peyton.”

Bambi said hi and went back to setting up her station. Peyton made a face at me and I just shooed her away.

A few minutes later Cole walked in.

“Hey Cole,” Peyton said. “So when are you and I gonna get to have some fun.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him. I just rolled my eyes.

“Sorry Peyton, but I’m a one woman kind of man and this one right here has already stolen my heart,” Cole said as I wrapped my arms around his waist.

“Good answer,” I said and gave him a kiss. “What you doing here?”

“I need a haircut.”

“Okay, I can do it now, before my next one.”

“Oh, um, I have Nala in the car.”

“You left her in the car!”

“I wasn’t going to bring her in here and I didn’t think you would be able to take me right away, I was going to take her home first.”

“Go get her, she can come in here,” I said pushing him out the door.

Cole came back in with Nala and all the girls rushed over to pet her, including Bambi. When Cole saw Bambi his eyes grew wide with surprise and he quickly turned around and excused himself saying he forgot something in the car. It wasn’t like him.

I gave Nala to Peyton and told her to watch her while I cut Cole’s hair. Cole came back in and tried to stay clear of Bambi, but she saw him.

“Cole? Hey! How are you?” Bambi said.

“Fine and you?” Cole stuttered nervously.

“Haven’t seen you in a while, what you been up to?”

“Not much.”

I watched them. Cole was doing that thing he does when he gets nervous, running his fingers through his hair and rubbing the back of his neck. Bambi had a big smile on her face.

“You two know each other?” I asked trying not to sound jealous.

“Cole used to be one of my regulars,” Bambi said and winked at him.