This story has been written jointly by Matriarch and EmeraldKitten. Both have put in an equal amount of time and effort, writing a section each consecutively. This story could not have been written without Kitten. It was an immense pleasure working with her, and an honour. She has a huge talent and has taught me a great deal during this time.
As posting can only take place on one site, it was decided to submit on my page, but all comments and voting will be for us both.
Matriach.
I was sitting in the reception area of the salon, reading the newspaper, cursing the slow day. How was I supposed to make money out of invisible people?
The shrill ring of the telephone cut off my thoughts. Aha! At last, some last minute person needing in to get their hair done. I practically ran to the phone, and once I answered, I frowned, realizing it was someone wanting an appointment with a different operator for the following day. Just my luck.
I'd put them on hold, and walked over to Susana's book, when the bell above the front door jangled. I looked up, saw a woman had entered the salon, told her I'd be with her in a minute, and went about making the appointment. Hanging up the phone, I moved back to the front of the shop, smiling.
"Hi, can I help you?" I asked, as I took in her appearance. She was older, probably somewhere between forty and fifty, with brown hair, shot with silver strands, that reached just past her shoulders. Eyes a cross between green and brown. Wearing a light blue sundress, she looked like she'd just gotten off work, or was about to go in.
"Yes, I don't have an appointment, but I was wondering if there was a chance to get a hair cut? If no one has time, I understand, but I just thought I'd check."
"You're in luck. It's been an awfully slow day. You're actually saving me from myself," I finished, with a laugh. Turning slightly, I said, "You can come on back."
I led her from the reception area, around the corner, and back to my station. It was a cosy little nook, and I always liked being back there. It seemed so safe, and comforting in a way.
She sat down in my chair, and I spun her to face the mirror.
"So, what are we doing to you today?" I picked up the cape, and draped it over my arm, as I watched her explain through the mirror. Suddenly, it dawned on me that I had been staring at her, instead of listening. Mentally shaking myself, I tuned back in to her words.
"If we could just take maybe an inch or so off the length, then trim up the layers, I think that should do. I don't like fooling with it much. Just a style that's quick and easy; a 'wash and go' basically." Laughing, she smiled at me through the mirror.
"Ahh, I see. I think I might be able to handle that." I smiled, and ran my fingers up through her hair, breaking up the light hair spray.
I was looking down at her hair, and as I stepped to the side to put the cape over her, I caught a glimpse of her cleavage. Right down the front of her dress actually. The fabric fell relatively loosely over her chest, but just snug enough to accentuate the fullness of her breasts. I caught myself staring into the neckline. Stunned, I quickly moved and flicked the cape deftly over the front of the small woman, securing the snaps in the back.
I thought I felt her eyes on me, but shrugged the feeling off, until I glanced in the mirror, and my gaze collided with hers. Quickly looking away, I turned the chair around, and lifted up the top of my station. I grasped the lever, and tilted the back of the seat down, lowering her head into the bowl.
Nothing was said, but I felt a flush start from my chest, and spread to my face. Cursing myself, I grabbed the hose and turned the water on, setting it on a comfortable temperature.
"Is that too hot?" I asked, cringing at the way it sounded coming out of my mouth.
With her eyes shut, she said, "Mmm, no, it feels good."
I quickly wet her hair, and shut the water off. I put a couple pumps of shampoo in my palm and rubbed them together, and gently applied it to her hair. Once I'd worked up a lather, I began my scalp manipulations. Using the pads of my fingers to massage her head, I worked around the hairline, across the top of her head, sliding them easily through the suds, to the back of her head; gingerly I manipulated the nape of her neck, repeating the procedure a few more times.
Around about the second time, it started feeling different. I'm not sure if it was just me being over imaginative, or if it was because I felt myself becoming aroused.
The thought stopped me in my tracks. 'Aroused?' What in the world was I thinking! I retrieved the hose, turned the water back on, and rinsed her hair. Reaching into the cupboard, I pulled out a towel and draped it over her head. Grasping the lever, I lifted the chair back into its upright position.
I combed through her hair, parted it off, and set about cutting. Feeling a little warm, I excused myself and went to turn the air down. Once I stepped up behind the chair again, I realized that this silence was killing me, and tried to start up a conversation.
"So, do you live around here?"
"Yep. Been here for a couple years now. It's a nice quaint little town."
Laughing, I replied, "Yeah, 'quaint' isn't how I'd describe it, though."
After a few moments, I spoke again. "By the way, I'm Danielle. And you are?"
"Oh, I'm Rebecca."
"It's nice to meet you," I paused for a split second, "Rebecca." as thought I was testing her name on my tongue.
There was another lull in the conversation, but I let it sit. I focused on making sure the length was even, and holding the hair at the correct angle to get the layers in properly. I felt her gaze on me through the mirror once more, and I knew if I looked I'd meet her eyes. I didn't. I just kept cutting.
I set my shears and comb down on the station, and ran my fingers through her hair; checking the length, shaking it, picking it up and letting it fall, making sure the layers looked even.
Each time my fingertips grazed against her scalp, I felt like an electric charge had been sent through my fingers straight down to my toes. Maybe it was because I knew Rebecca was staring at me in the mirror, but I couldn't bring myself to look up. I glanced at my hands, and saw that they trembled slightly. Just enough to notice. I felt myself flush. I decided that the haircut was perfect.
"Would you like me to blow dry it?" I asked, cringing inwardly at the husky resonance in my voice.
"Yes, please. That would be great." As she spoke, I summoned the courage to look into the mirror at her. She had a small smirk on her face as if she was trying not to break out in a full smile. As I watched, her gaze flicked down from my face, and she looked over every inch of my body that was visible in the mirror.
Swallowing hard, I grabbed the blow dryer and flipped it on. Thank god her hair fell into its natural part, because I wasn't sure I could've found my voice to ask which way it needed to go.
The few minutes it took to dry were enough for me to find my brain and my voice again.