Page 10 of Stay Dangerous

Spring pictures were coming up, and most of the time, me or Renelle did Auty’s hair.

I decided to pay to get her hair done with me. Pops thought that was a great idea, and treated both of us.

The stars were aligned, because Mom and Dad took off to Northupton for some poker tournament, and wouldn’t be back until later that day, so for once, we wouldn’t have to sneak out.

I was dressed and ready hours before we had to leave, I was so excited. Auty and I rarely did anything together anymore, especially since we didn’t have the same classes or friends at school. And I went to a different hair salon than Mom, so she didn’t have a chance to badmouth her other daughter to those ladies.

When it was finally time for Auty to get ready, I eased out of my bed and padded over to hers.

She slept like a log, her mass of coils behind her, taking up most of the pillow.

“Auty,” I whispered, shaking her shoulder.

I backed up at the right time, missing her hand thrown wildly behind her as she sat up.

“Get up and get dressed, you only have half an hour.”

Auty wiped the sleep from her eyes before scowling at me. “Wyn, it’s Saturday.”

I cringed like I always did now that I was Wyn and not Wynnie, but I fought through it, pulling my lips back even more until all my metal covered teeth were showing. “I know. We have a hair appointment, for spring pictures.”

“I don’t care about your–wait… we?” Auty’s hands lowered, and we locked eyes.

My grin softened. “Yeah, we. You’re getting your hair done, too. Anything you want.”

Auty hated her smile. We both had ectopic canines, but our parents only paid for me to have braces. She was self-conscious.

But she still smiled brightly at me, just for a second, before rolling her eyes and jumping out of bed.

Pops drove us to my hair salon in South East. It was in a strip mall, next to the best Chinese food I’d ever had. He gave us both a hundred dollars, got out one of his books, and told us he’d be right outside.

Frankie, my hairstylist, was in her hair when we walked in. She beamed at us, standing so I could hug her. “My ice princess! And you brought your sister, finally!”

Frankie playfully pushed me away to hug Auty, who melted into her arms. Mom didn’t like her because Frankie was born Franklin, but she was the best hairstylist hands down, and that’s all that really mattered to me. Plus, Frankie taught me more about being a woman than Mom ever did, not to mention she was the flyest person I ever met, to this day.

“Tanisha gon’ hook you up with a press n’ curl on this pretty ass hair while I do Ice Princess. She may trim your ends but she not scissor happy, ‘kay?”

Auty smiled and nodded before Tanisha guided her to her chair. I slid into Frankie’s, and she began to take down my braids.

She smiled at me in her mirror. “You not as cold today.”

I shrugged, grabbing a braid to begin to help her. “You gon’ cut me some bangs?”

Frankie scoffed, her smile turning into an ugly scowl. “You want that big ass forehead to break out, huh? No. You and Autumn getting big bouncy curls. I’m thinkin’ front ponytail since I know you like to sleep on your face.”

“You never do what I ask,” I laughed, grabbing another braid. “I’ve been coming to you since I was a kid and every time it’s whateveryouwanna do to my hair.”

“And look? This orange mop is down your back andhealthy. Only reason I’m putting heat on it now is ‘cause I want some copies of your spring pictures for my hair book.”

I held in my squeal. Frankie was a celebrity stylist, too, and only featured the best of the best in her hair book. There was only one kid in it, her niece, so I felt special.

“Auty, too?”

She looked at me like I was stupid. “Duh, girl. I should have known your sister would have beaucoup hair like you. Why your tired mama never bring her?”

She combed out the crinkles my cornrows left as I averted my eyes. “Long story.”

“It always is with her ass. Come on, Ice Princess. Let’s get you shampooed.”