Chapter 7

The next day, Beth found another note taped to her window. This time she took a shower and straightened her hair. She did her make-up and put on her most flattering shorts paired with a sparkly green v-neck that provided the illusion of a bust. She did all of this in hopes that his note would again call for an impromptu coffee visit, she was vastly disappointed.

Her disappointment was immediately overshadowed by curiosity.

Beth, Love

Meet me at the Turned Barrel Pub, 6:15 sharp. I don't think I could bare to wait any longer. I have a surprise evening planned out for you. Don't call or come by, I wouldn't be able to stop myself from ruining the surprise if I hear your voice.

Love

Xoxo

Abe

Beth thought about how long it would be until the next time she'd see Gabriel. It was nine forty three which meant she would have to wait eight hours and thirty three minutes. Crushed by her revelation, Beth scrambled to distract herself for at least six hours and thirty three minutes.

First she tried cleaning the bathroom, but immediately realized that it was a horrible idea and if she didn't stop ASAP she would probably hurl. Her next attempt was weaker still. She had decided to take a walk but ended up pacing in front of Gabriel's house. She considered defying his instruction's not to stop by, knowing he wouldn't complain. The only thing stopping her was that she was actually quite looking forward to the surprise.

Eventually Beth stationed herself at the kitchen table to twiddle her thumbs. Who knew that having a thumb war with yourself was so engrossing? Certainly not I! She managed to sit there completely still but for her thumbs for half an hour. Her mind wandered, her eyes glazed over and she was all but asleep when the *ring ring ring* of the telephone startled her into coherency.

"Hello?"

"Hey Beth, it's Lara,"

"Hey Lara, what's going on?"

"What're you doing today?" lead Lara.

"Nothing, you?" the hint in her friend's voice was lost on Beth.

"Wrong! You Eve, Ria and I are getting make-overs." She declared.

"Lara, I'm broke, I really can't…"

"Pish Posh, don't be such a kill joy Beth, the plastic will cover all 4 of us,"

"Lara…I dunno…" her resolve was fading

"Sure you do, you're coming, I'll be there in ten."

"Lara…" Beth tried again but was cut off by the droning sound that symbolized her being hung up on. Fine then, she thought. If they were going to force her into uncomfortable salon chairs all day, she would be comfortable gosh darn. She pulled on an old pair of green soccer shorts, and a "Kiss me, I'm Irish," shirt. She then took a moment to consider the irony what with her being the only non Irish person within 100 miles.

Lara was in fact not there in ten minutes. She took eleven minutes and forty seven seconds, which gave Beth an extra minute and forty seven seconds to twiddle her thumbs. During that time, Beth came to the conclusion that maybe Lara's idea wasn't so devastatingly terrible. For one thing it gave her something to do all day but the part Beth was a little excited about was that she would get to surprise Gabriel with her new look.

Eventually, Lara's black Jeta screeched around the street corner and came to a sudden stop in front of Beth's house. Beth had never been in a vehicle with Lara and the faces of Eve and Arianna told her that she would have been better of maintaining this state. That said, Beth still slid into the backseat with Evianna and asked Lara where they were going first. "Many Pedi." Lara turned to beam at her consequently turning the car into a lane full of oncoming traffic. Beth was thrown onto Evianna's lap and Lara cried out "WHOUPS!" as cars ran off-road swerving to avoid her. Once she was back into her proper position on the road she gave them all an impish grin and swerved suddenly into the parking lot of the nail salon.

The speed at which they all jumped from the car was astonishing. As they walked into the salon Beth made a mental note to volunteer her driving skills en route to the next stop. Lara wouldn't protest as her nails would be freshly painted and Beth figured it would be safer for all of them! It was with that thought that Beth took a slightly dizzy step into "Maura's Nails and Stuff," a promising name if there ever was one!

Beth examine the wall of painted fake nails and selected pine for her finger nails (it matched the sequins on her one and only cocktail dress). She then picked emerald to match the dragonfly ornament on her peep-toe flats, for her toe nails. Once she sat down she drifted in and out of daydreams as they oiled, buffed, filed and polished every imaginable surface.

As the girls filed out of Maura's and Beth slid discreetly into the drivers seat, Beth found herself engrossed in a conversation on hair colour. It was decided that Beth would go black and be given blunt cut bangs. Beth was a little nervous that she would end up looking like a japans anima character but went with it. She figured anyone as gorgeous as Lara must know what they were talking about.

As soon as they entered the high end salon, Lara started telling the stylist what each girls would be having done. Then she whispered something in his ear and he nodded looking a Beth with and appraising eye. He told them it would be about ten minutes but that they were lucky as there was going to be four open chairs at the same time. An occurrence usually unheard of this time of year.

Once they sat down Beth inquired what Lara had whispered to the stylist but Lara just rolled her eyes. Before Beth could press the point an assistant came and lead her over to the sinks. Under the messaging hangs of the assistant and the pounding water, Beth immediately relaxed. She hardly noticed the other three girls being lead over for shampoos. Eventually the assistant wrapped her head in a towel and lead her over to a chair.

Less than a minute later, a petite, pale woman with wild dark brown curls appeared behind her. Without saying a word she spun Beth in the chair and began snipping furiously. She combed the front of Beth's hair onto her face and chopped strait across so that she had a horizontal fringe. Then without giving Beth the chance to look in the mirror she handed her off to the colorist.

The colorist at least spoke to her. "Now, what school are you at?" he asked in a slightly nasal voice.

"St-Valentine's secondary school." She answered as he painted her hair and tucked it into tin-foil.

"Really?" he asked, "I would have figured you for a college girl," he stated.

That was when Beth noticed Lara standing behind her nodding and saying, "Yes I can see it, it'll be perfect!" Beth asked once again what she was up to but Lara merely said, "You'll see soon enough," and winked at the colorist who gave her a knowing look. And started blowing out Beth's hair. When he turned her to face the mirror Beth gasped. The bottom inch of her hair was silver and with her new fringe her cheekbones were noticeably more prominent. She looked like a super model and admittedly a little bit like and anima character… but in a good way. She loved it.

Finally they all went downstairs to have their make-up done. Beth verified that they weren't hiding any tricks up their sleeves before letting them start. A girl who could have been the hair stylist's twin worked on her for just over half an hour. When she finished Beth looked up at Lara who gave her an approving nod. Then Lara's cell rang and her face got pinched in a way that was unusual for the normally chipper girl.