Haircuts and Hiding

Haircuts and Hiding

Arabella

FOR THE LAST week, I've become really good at avoiding the guys on campus. Knowing they're looking for me gives me an advantage because I'm constantly searching my surroundings and can spot them before they see me. I've taken to taking the paths that everyone else usually avoids on campus, especially the courtyard where everyone hangs out. Since it's located in the middle of the campus, you can see everything from the fountain. I think that's why everyone goes there when they aren't in class. It's the place to see what's going on around you and be seen by everyone else leaving their last class or heading to some other location. It's not hard to avoid the courtyard if you take the long way to each building. At least that's what I've discovered. Even Brock doesn't know how I get from one place to the other.

When I'm in the library, I don't sit at the tables out on the main floor any longer. Brock and Danny are the only ones I'm tutoring and they both know to just come to our room. The paper Brock typically puts up during his sessions remains taped to the door so no one can just look in and see me at the table in the room. I keep the door locked as well. I'm not about to make this shit easy on the guys who didn't hesitate to turn their backs on me. I even stopped bringing lunch with me to school. I'm not about to sit out in the open to eat with Brock because that's one sure way for them to find me and discover where I hide when I'm not in class or tutoring.

Honestly, this game of cat and mouse is fucking exhausting. I have way too much going on to worry about avoiding everyone at school. If I go to the Dean then I'm nothing more than a snitch. The problem isn't even worthy of going to anyone about. If I don't tell anyone about Karmen and the others, there's no reason to talk to anyone about the guys. Brock knows what's going on with me and he understands my need to hide and stay away from them. That's all that matters. If something happens to me, he'll know the right time to talk to someone. It's something I made him promise me. My only fear is not being here for Vinnie to ensure he grows up in a world that doesn't get him hurt on a daily basis.

Two days ago, Brock and I were in his tutoring session when we had the conversation about him talking to someone to get me help. I begged and pleaded with him not to say a word to anyone.

"Arabella, it's time for you to talk to someone about what's goin' on. Not just with the guys but with Karmen and everyone else. Your mother isn't takin' care of you the way she should and it's time you get the help you need. Not just for yourself, but for your baby brother as well," Brock says after we've been locked in the study room for a few minutes.

"No. If I tell anyone, multiple things are going to happen. The main one is that my brother could be taken from me and put in a worse situation than what we're currently in. I won't ever let that happen, Brock. Vinnie is the only thing I have to live for in this world and if he gets taken from me, I won't care what happens to me. I'll give up and let Karmen and the others do their worst to me. The guys and Karmen aren't going to get in trouble either. They all have money and power in High Point. I'm just a nobody and an easy target for them. Please, don't tell anyone what's going on. I've never asked anyone for anything in my entire life. Right now, I'm begging you to keep this secret to yourself," I tell him, tears filling my eyes as I think about what can happen to Vinnie and me if someone learns about what's happening to me.

"Arabella, I really don't want to fight about this. The guys aren't gonna stop lookin' for ways to corner you. I know you're doin' everythin' you can to stay away and hide, but it won't last forever. You know this. Maybe they don't want to say anythin' bad to you. I mean, what if they want to apologize for everythin' they've let happen over the years? Have you thought about that?" he returns, his voice a whisper as he looks at me with concern filling his face.

"I still don't want to hear anything they have to say. With them, strings would be attached and I haven't mattered to them in a very long time. It took seconds for them to turn their back on me. I won't give them that opportunity again. Please, Brock, don't say anything to anyone about this. Especially Karmen. She'll turn everything around on me. If I get expelled, I have no future or way out of this town. Vinnie needs to get out of here and away from the pain we'll continue to suffer through on a daily basis," I again plead with him as the first tear spills over and lands on the table in front of me.

"Okay, Arabella. I don't like this shit, but I won't say anythin'. Not yet," Brock finally says, dragging a hand through his hair and staring at me.

"You'll know when the time is right, Brock. If something happens to me and you don't hear from me, then you can talk to the Dean or anyone else you have to. I will never not show up to school. So, if I'm not here one day and I don't answer the phone, you'll know something has finally been done that I can't come back from," I state, fear coursing through me as I try to remain looking at him.

"If that day ever fuckin' comes, Arabella, I'll take out everyone who has ever fuckin' hurt you. You're my best friend and I'm tired of seein' you so fuckin' scared and hurt. Not just emotionally and mentally, but physically. You can hardly move some days and it fills me with rage like I've never felt before in my life. This shit shouldn't be happenin' to someone as pure and innocent as you," he says, his shoulders slumping in defeat as he turns his attention back to his math homework.

I let myself have a few minutes to compose myself. For the first time in nine years, someone is willing to stand up for me and make sure no harm comes my way. It's not something I know how to handle feeling. Brock is slowly showing me every day I spend time with him that there are good people in the world. More than Mrs. Andrews who is nothing short of an angel.

Thankfully, my day at school is over for today. I don't have any tutoring sessions and I need to get my ass to work. Sal has been giving me more hours and today is an early day for me. I have less than an hour to get to work as I walk fast through campus and head straight for the gate to get away from this prison. Everywhere I go is prison and there's no escaping until I can get the fuck out of here.

Just as I get to the gate and step through, I'm pushed from the side. There's nothing to stop me from hitting the ground, my shoulder landing on a rock as pain fills me. I manage to hold in my cry of pain as I look up to find Karmen standing over me an evil smirk on her face.

"You've gotten real good at hiding, dog shit. So, I figured if I hung out here, I'd finally be able to catch you. I'm so sick and tired of you trying to force yourself in the lives of Fallon and everyone else. You're so fucking pathetic and no one wants you around. Don't you fucking understand that shit?" she shrieks out, her voice more high pitched than normal.

"I haven't been around the guys," I whisper, knowing she's not going to listen to anything I have to say.

"You follow them around like a fucking lost puppy. It's so fucking pathetic. Stay the fuck away from them!" she screams, rolling me over so my stomach is on the ground and my back is up in the air.

Karmen sits on my lower back after moving my hair out of the way. In seconds, she grips a handful of my hair and I feel a tug. There's the distinct sound of snipping as her grasp becomes slightly looser than what it has been. No! I can't believe she's cutting my hair. If there's any part of myself that I truly like, it's my hair. I've worked so hard to make it grow and take care of it on a daily basis. It's the one thing I do for myself.

"No!" I yell out, fighting against Karmen's hold on me.

She starts cackling like a lunatic as she continues to cut my hair.

"Fallon is mine. We're getting married and you mean absolutely nothing to him. I'm not going to have to deal with you the rest of my life. Stay. Away. From. My. Man," she screams, shoving my face into the dirt before she finally climbs off my back. With one last kick to my side, Karmen spits on the ground next to me and leaves me alone.

For several minutes, I remain on the ground letting the tears flow as I silently cry. When I finally push myself from the dirt, rocks, and grass, I look down to find so many long pieces of my hair on the ground surrounding me. She cut at least six inches of my hair off when it was down to the top of my butt. Closing my eyes, I pull up my hood to cover the damage after running my fingers through the mangled strands of hair that remains. This is my fault. I let myself get comfortable in hiding away from everyone and didn't think for a second that anyone would wait at the gate of campus for me. I'm so damn na?ve and made a horrible mistake.

***

When I finally get to Slice of Heaven, the inside is empty. With most students and adults at school or work still, it's one of the rare times there's not a ton of customers to take care of. Sal is in the back preparing things for the afternoon and dinner rush. One of the waitresses who just started is wiping down a few tables. Looking around I see that so much has to be restocked and I don't believe the new waitress will do it. Sighing, I head for the back and keep my head down with my hood firmly over my head.

There are lockers in the back for us to keep our things while we're at work. I bought a lock for mine and as I open it, I know Sal's watching me. From his position in the kitchen, he can see the back where the lockers are located. As I put my bag in the locker, I grab one of my work shirts and hold it between my legs while carefully removing my hood. I really don't want Sal to see my hair, but there's nothing I can do to hide it from him. Not when I feel his eyes trained on the back of me.

"What the fuck happened to your hair?" Sal growls out, his footsteps letting me know he's coming my way. "Arabella, who did this to you?"

"It's not important, Sal. I'll save up some money and get it taken care of. I can't do anything about it now," I answer him, tears still lingering in my eyes as I try to avoid looking at my boss. "I'm just a nobody from the poor section of town. Whoever did this to me won't get in trouble. I know how things work in High Point. I just want to forget what happened and get through my shift. Please, Sal?"

Sal is a great man. He's like a father to those of us who have worked at Slice of Heaven for any length of time. He goes out of his way to ensure we're all taken care of and given the hours we can work and all that we can handle. Sal's one of the few people who know how bad my situation is and I've made him promise me that he won't say anything. It was the only time I ever made Sal mad and I promised myself I wouldn't do it again. I respect him too much to upset or anger him.

"I'm callin' in Mama Silvia. She can do somethin' with your hair. You're not waitin' to get this shit taken care of Arabella," Sal states before turning and walking away from me.

I hear him talking on his phone and know he's calling Mama Silvia. She's his wife and has taken some of us under her wing as well. If I could have chosen my parents, I'd choose Sal and Silvia. They're kind, loyal, loving, and treat their kids like the most precious gifts they've ever been given. Since I've worked here for so long, I've met all the kids and have interacted with them countless times. None of them pick on me or make me feel as if I'm less than them because of where I live. It's one of the main reasons I've remained at Slice of Heaven working for so long.

Sliding my shirt over my head after taking off my hoodie, I grab a hair tie and put my hair up in a messy bun. It's not the best thing ever, but it somewhat hides what's been done to me. Taking a deep breath, I clock in and make my way out to the floor of the pizzeria. While the other girl continues to wipe down the tables on the opposite side of the main floor, I begin filling all the napkin holders, wrapping silverware that's been washed, and restocking everything she hasn't touched. I can feel her eyes on me multiple times. While I don't know her name, I've worked with her a few times and she's always glaring at me for some reason. I've never even had a conversation with this girl. There's no reason for her to hate me at all. But, it's what I'm used to lately. I simply have to breathe and people hate that I'm taking up space in their world.

It's not long before Mama Silvia makes her way in the door and stops to look at me. Tears fill her eyes as she steps up to me and pulls me into her arms. After giving me a hug, Mama Silvia leads me to the back of the pizzeria. She sits me down on a stool Sal brings over and takes the hair tie from my hair.

"Oh, Arabella!" she says, her voice wobbling as she takes in the damage that's been done to me. "I can fix this. Your hair will be shorter, but not too bad."

"Thank you, Mama Silvia," I tell her, trying to hold my own tears back as she gets to work brushing out my hair and then cutting it.

Neither one of us tries to talk as she works. I keep my eyes closed as she fixes what's been done by Karmen. Mama Silvia finally stops cutting and brushes my hair out once again before handing me a mirror she pulled from somewhere. Holding my breath, I finally look to see she's worked her magic on me. Mama Silvia evened up all the ragged edges I'm sure were there. She added layers and there's still a good length to my hair. It might not be down to just above my butt any longer, but it will get there again one day.

"What do you think?" she asks when I don't say anything for several minutes.

"I love it!" I answer honestly. "Thank you, Mama Silvia. It looks better than I ever imagined it would after what happened."

"You're welcome, sweetheart," she says, coming to stand in front of me as she smiles down at me.

I give her the mirror back and get off the stool so I can sweep up the hair covering the floor at our feet. Sal gently pushes me aside and takes care of the mess as I make my way back out to the main floor while putting my hair up again. After washing my hands, I get back to work. There's music playing in the background as I manage to finish restocking everything and making sure my side of the floor is perfect. All the tables are wiped down, I've swept the floor, and made sure everything is stocked behind the counter. All the glasses are ready to be filled with various drinks for our customers. After placing the menus on the tables, the door opens and customers start entering for their afternoon snack. We're about to be busy and I'm happy about that. I can forget everything that's been going on and focus on work.