Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
After breakfast and more lessons, Ben took Ivy to the hair salon. The two walked into the neat and tidy place. His sweater was so big that it was dangling down her thigh, she looked up at everyone “Hi, I’m here! Stop the press!” she announced. Ivy laughed at her own joke while Ben looked at her with raised brows. She quickly cleared her throat “Sorry, last time, I promise.”
He nodded as he looked around for his hair stylist “Joan!” he called.
“Why don’t you just wave her down.” Ivy asked as she began flapping her arms “Over here!!” she called. Ben flinched when she nudged him “You think she saw me?”
“I think the airplane saw you.” He said sarcastically.
Joan walked over to the two “Ben, it’s been so long!” the two hugged while Ivy looked disgusted “And who is this lovely young lady?”
Ivy turned in circles and then she pointed to herself “Who? Me?”
The girl giggled, “She’s cute.”
Ivy looked insulted as she pointed to the door “You want to take this outside?”
Ben widened his eyes “I think it was a compliment.” He whispered to the red face girl.
“Yeah, whatever! No one called you ‘cute’.” Ivy spat.
Joan shook her head calmly “Well, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
Ivy seemed to be taking the apology as she nodded “Fine…just don’t let it happen again.” She walked towards an empty chair while Joan threw Ben a scared expression.
“She’s harmless.” Ben whispered soothingly.
Joan snickered “You could have fooled me.” She put on a smile the minute Ivy turned to them “So, how short do you want it?”
“Ooh! You know what I always wanted to do?” the two looked at her suspiciously while Ivy looked excited “A Mohawk. Shave off the sides and spike up the hair like five inches high. I want it colorful too…like a rainbow!!”
Ben looked at her in horror “You’re kidding right?”
Ivy widened her eyes “I’m bitchin’ serious!! Its sooo cool!” she nodded at Joan “Can you do that?”
Joan turned to Ben and then back at Ivy “Let’s start off a little slower. We’ll just trim your hair for now.”
Ivy shrugged her shoulders “Fine. But I still want that Mohawk!”
Ben nodded to her “Sure, keep dreaming.” He turned to Joan “I was thinking, keep her hair like mid back length with some layers along her face. Give her a thick long bangs look.” Ivy was stifling her giggles since he started talking. Ben finally turned to her “What is so funny?”
“You sound sooo gay.” She whispered.
His face blushed over “Well, excuse me for having a little taste.”
“You go, girlfriend!!” Ivy snapped her fingers.
He couldn’t help but laugh at her comment, some how some way she always managed to make him laugh at his most frustrated time “Does that sound doable?” he asked Joan while Ivy began giggling again “What? What’s wrong with the word?”
“Doable…” Ivy said while she continued laughing, “It’s something Ty would say.”
He rolled his eyes “Can we start?”
Joan nodded “Of course. Let’s take a look.” She pulled off the rubber band that was tied in knots around Ivy’s long mane “I’m going to comb it and Angie over there will wash your hair.” She pointed to a young girl who was busy washing someone else’s hair. She reached for a comb and began stroking Ivy’s hair. When she got near the bottom, the comb was tangled inside the hair “Do you comb your hair often Ivy?” she asked.
Ivy nodded “Yeah, whenever I want to scare Ty because after I brush, this…like… shit load of hair falls off and I put it next to his pillow and he wakes up screaming like a baby!” she laughed hysterically.
Ben looked at her strangely as he turned to Joan who looked ready to run out the door “Ty is her little brother.”
“Well…yeah, that makes all the sense in the world.” Joan said with sarcasm. She picked up a wad of hair and pulled it in the front so Ivy could see in the mirror “You see, it’s stuck.” She pulled at the comb “It’s suppose to run down your hair smoothly.” She yanked out the comb and put it over her own hair as she showed Ivy.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. I haven’t washed my hair in days!” Ivy burst into giggles while Joan looked horrified as she rushed off to the restroom. Ben crossed his arms as he looked at her sternly “Last one, I promise!” she nodded.
He shook his head “I see why you don’t have any friends.”
Her smile dropped “So how do you explain your friendless stature?”
“Big word.” He commented with a smile “I keep in touch with my friends. We don’t see each other that much.”
“Yeah, and my friends are all rich and famous.” She rolled her eyes “You’re a pathetic lonely soul just like me, admit it.”
“Speak for yourself.” He quipped.
Ivy leered her evil eyes at him as she suddenly knit her brows together and motioned him to come closer “You got something on your face.” She pointed to his nose as he moved closer for her to get it off, instead she shook her head nonchalantly “Oh, it’s just your nose.”
“You are so witty.” Ben said without much feeling.
Joan came back with her hair tied back and Ivy quickly straightened in her seat “I was just kidding, Joan. I actually washed my hair the other night.”
“Ivy!” Ben cried.
“What? I tell the truth and I get yelled at?” she argued.
Joan looked extra calm as she took in a deep breath “It’s okay. Actually, washing your hair every other day is good for it. Over washing can lead to hair loss.”
Ivy turned to Ben “Then you better cut it down to a once a day event instead of 3 times a day.”
“Hey, how do you know…” he pointed at her and then dropped his jaw in shock “You peek at me?”
She covered her smile with her hand “Did you know if I stood in my dad’s room, I’ve got the perfect view of you in the bathroom?” she was teasing but it made him blush so bad.
“How does it look like?” Joan asked Ivy. Ivy turned to the girl and pulled her closer as she whispered something making Joan giggle “You are so bad!”
Ben turned to the women as he got up “I’m not going to sit here and be insulted.”
“Oh good, now we can really talk about you!” Ivy cried when he walked out looking furious. She turned to Joan “Aww, it’s not fun if he can’t hear us making fun of him!”
Joan laughed as she continued to comb Ivy’s tangled hair. After about 10 minutes, the hair was ready to be washed. Joan worked on Ivy’s hair with perfect dedication, snipping all the dead ends off and leaving the healthier locks. She blew dried it straight and even left a tiny wave at the ends so it would trail around her face. Her bangs were swept to one side and some strands fell around the corner of her eyes.
“How do you like it?” Joan asked, obviously pleased by her creation.
Ivy had to admit, she looked like a different person. Although her hair was a little too straight, she actually though it fitted her “Is that me?” she pointed to the mirror.
Joan smiled as she touched her on the shoulder “Yes. Okay, let’s do your face.”
“Is it gonna hurt?” Ivy asked like a scared puppy.
“Just a little.” Joan teased as she took Ivy to a different room. Inside there were layers of makeup: foundation, cover up, mascara, eye shadows, lipsticks and pencils.
Ivy looked at them in awe “It’s like Tyler’s heaven.” She sighed.
“I thought Tyler was a boy?” Joan asked curiously.
“He is.” Ivy answered with a nod while she played around with the makeup “Can I do my own face?” she asked excitedly.
Joan shook her head slowly “Maybe next time. I’ll do it this time.” Ivy looked disappointed but she sat down on the ready chair as Joan did her magic. She applied a matching foundation shade that was a little darker than Ivy’s skin tone. Next, she put on a very light rosy pink on the balls of her cheeks. The eyes were a little difficult because Joan was starting from scratch. She worked on the lids, brows, eyelashes and under eyes. When she was done, Joan was shocked by the beauty that sat before her. Ivy was a completely different person.
“How’s the damage?” Ivy asked when Joan paused to look at her creation.
“Not done.” She said softly as she applied the lipstick last. It was a very light shade of pink that almost was the same color as her lips. The gloss was put on last to add a girlish effect “There.” She nodded Ivy to look at the mirror “Take a look.”
Ivy turned and was met face to face with a stranger, she gaped at herself in the mirror “Oh my gosh…that’s me?” she asked while Joan nodded with a proud grin “That’s really me?” She moved her face closer to the mirror to get a better look “Oh crap, Benny’s gotta see this.” She jumped from her seat and rushed outside.
Ben was busy looking at the magazine when Ivy walked over to him and cleared her throat. She placed her hands neatly behind her back while Ben glanced up and did a double take. An apparent smile formed on his face as he got up and circled around her “Well, well, well…the swan has finally emerged.” He was mesmerized.
Ivy’s smile dropped “Are you calling me a duck? I wouldn’t be talking bull face!”
Ben began laughing while Ivy looked confused “Haven’t you heard of the story of ‘The Ugly Duckling’?”
“No, I’m illiterate.” She said casually.
“You are?” he asked surprised.
“No, stupid! I went to school remember? I just didn’t finish college…but to answer your question, I’ve never read about an ugly duck before.”
“Let me tell you about it….” He began but was interrupted by his cell phone “Hello? Oh, hey Ty, what’s up? Yeah, she’s with me…” he frowned as he handed the cell to Ivy “He wants to ask you a girl question.”
Ivy smiled while taking the phone “What’s up girl?” her grin grew wider and wider “Oh crap! I’ll be home in five minutes. Don’t get dressed and don’t go anywhere yet.” She hung up and turned to Ben “We’ve got to go home.”
“Why? I was going to take you shopping.” Ben said with disappointment.
“Tomorrow. Ty has his first date tonight!” she gushed.
“Really? With whom?” Ben asked.
“With…” Ivy frowned “I didn’t ask. Well, come on, I’m not missing this for the world!” she pulled at his hand out towards the door.
Ben pulled her back “I haven’t paid yet.”
“You’ve got one minute.” Ivy tapped her watch “I’ll leave without you.” She warned.