Kayla and I are the only ones in the salon giving Kayla the freedom to stream something instead of having to compromise. The other salon ladies love watching shows like Maury and The Jerry Springer show which I can't stand. Sometimes the show is interesting like when one kid belongs to the dad, but the other belongs to a sleazy bartender, but other than that I prefer binge worthy tv series that are a distraction and let the time fly.
Kayla and I settle on Scandal which I've watched before, but that was when I was in 8th grade and didn't know the things I do now. Kayla starts immediately on my braids and she's now opening up the second pack of hair. I'm watching Olivia Pope yell at the leader of the free world when I feel my phone buzz. Finally.
I pick up my phone from under the cutting cape and look at my screen.
Ziyah: Sorry I answered late, but it's ok and trust me you're the only person I want to talk to. A smile etches onto my face and I'm so invested in looking at the text I don't even notice Kayla giving me a look in the mirror. The only one? The last time I felt this special was when my 7th grade teacher was telling my class to be more like me.
"Aww is that him?" She asks while still focusing on plating my braids.
She's right behind me with a clear look on my phone so there is no point in lying. "Yes."
"Mhmm I'm not a snitch, but remember what your dad said yesterday?" She raises her eyebrows and her look has even more emphasis as her fingers move without stopping.
"Yes," I repeat this time with a sigh.
"Well i'm braiding and trying to catch a glimpse of this scandal episode so if you text him back I wouldn't notice." She gives me a wink and I switch my eyes back to my phone. My initial instinct is to ask him if I'm the one person he wants to talk to then why didn't he talk to me yesterday after our stare at lunch, but that seems pointless. He's texting me now and that's good enough.
Me: How is your weekend so far? That was the best I could come up while leaving the other events in the past, although I do want to get into that if he lets me in.
Ziyah: It was good I just left the Americana. I type and as I touch each letter I picture Ziyah in front of me playing with the braids that Kayla is nailing at the moment.
Me: I love malls during the holiday time, but the Grove is better than the Americana.
Ziyah: Ok you're adorable, but the grove doesn't have shit on The Americana. I try to shake off the smile on my face, but Kayla positions my head to stay straight.
Me: How?
Ziyah: The Americana has way more stores and another mall across the street.
Me: It's about quality not quantity, the grove has a family vibe and the farmers market
Ziyah: And that's exactly why the Americana is better, I don't want to go to a mall where there are a bunch of kids.
Me: I guess you have a point
Ziyah: I guess I do
Ziyah and I go back and forth for a little while longer before I decided to focus my attention back to Scandal. The good thoughts that Ziyah put in my head give me a smile that stays even when more of the salon ladies file in and begin talking loudly with their clients. They of course change the show to Maury, but I don't watch for long because Kayla finishes my knotless box braids. That moment when she turns me around so I can face the mirror a smile spreads across my face. Ok Daya you look good.
*
On Monday I have my first two finals that I finish in the first hour of the 2 hour periods. Our teachers didn't let us get our backpacks from the front of the classroom giving me no choice, but to take some good deserving naps.
Because our school kept us in the same room for 2 hours locking the holidays away and leaving us with number 2 pencils we get out at noon. I'm at the elementary school watching three kids sing Rudolph the rednosed reindeer for their winter concert as they color snowman. I wish I could go back to elementary school and have my last week before winter break be spent with sweets and Christmas carols, but being around their overwhelming amount of spirit is enough for me. Astrid is even happy and cheery at the front desk, but that's probably because today there is only Sofia and Sacha P. The other parents have the privilege of getting off work early and taking their kids to one of the many food spots in Los Angeles.
"Daya what is Santa getting you for Christmas?" Sascha P coos. Sofia and Sascha look at me with big grins while David continues to scribble on his paper.
I return their smile. "I don't know maybe some clothes." Of course I know I'm getting gift cards, the surprise element isn't even there and my dad just straight out asks me what stores I want to splurge $25 at.
"Clothes? That's boring I want Santa to bring me a pony or an American girl doll," Sofia adds.
"I want some monster high dolls, and world peace," Sascha says and that line sounds so sweet coming from a child instead of a politician. Sofia and Sascha go back and forth exchanging things they forgot to put on their list to Santa, and they don't once state that they want any technology just toys. This brings a huge smile on my face because after Toys R US closed I thought kids would be like us teens and become phone obsessed aliens, but I guess that's not happening until later. The coloring and listing stops when Sascha P's mom comes and she jumps into her arms. Now it's just Sofia and I sitting on the carpet playing uno. Because of the early schedule she doesn't have fashion classes, and I decided to play uno to prevent her from asking questions.
"Uno," Sofia says and I'm not even going easy on her. I shuffle through my 8 cards and place a card down only for Sofia to put the same card down and throw her hands up.
I give Astrid the cards and she goes to put them in the back closet which leads her to organize everything inside of there. Sofia makes a bunch of loud pouts as she struggles to successfully get her hair out of her face. Her long light curls come right back to compromise her vision each time she tries to push the beautiful healthy hair back.
"Daya can you braid my hair?" she asks. I don't have eco gel, a comb, or hairspray, but she makes her eyes all puppy like and I give in.
"Sure how you do want them?" Her pout goes away and she rushes to sit right in front of me.
"Like the two braids Astrid wore yesterday." French braids ok that's easy.
"Ok." Lucky for me her curls that descend almost to her back aren't that tangled and I begin while Sofia begins with her conversation.
Sofia goes on and tells me her favorite type of pastries until I successfully finish her two braids. I show her herself in my camera and a smile etches on her olive cheeks like the one I had in the salon. She gives me a big hug then turns to face me with those curious eyes.
Before me or her can admire her hair some more I hear footsteps and we both get up from the carpet. I was expecting Ziyah just so he can wipe my dirty glasses and kiss me, and tell me how much he loves the Americana, but Angela walks in. Great. Sofia gets her backpack and after hugging me goes to hug Angela who puts her on her hip.
"Wow who did these," Angela says looking at Sofia's braids.
"Daya!" Sofia shouts.
Angela's eyes dart over to me and the same smile on Sofia's face comes onto hers. "Daya, Oh my god how is everything." She drops Sofia on the ground and she runs to play hopscotch right outside the door.
"Good." I never expected to have this encounter and I'm extremely nervous. What if that big smile is fake and she's frowning down on me.
"So are you and Ziyah an item yet?" Her smile remains and so do my nerves. I guess she senses them and continues to talk. "Girl it's ok, he likes you the boy doesn't talk to me about anything but he mentioned you." At that I start to play with the ends of my braids.
"He talked about me?"
"Yes not a lot, but are you guys together?" My eyes fall to the floor and I try to form words as if I'm Sawyer.
"Oh I see," she says with a nod. "Anyway Sofia is having a birthday party Saturday and she really wants you to come?" Will he be there? It's like she knows I have nothing to do on Saturday except get ready for the Falims holiday party.
"Uhh-" I stammer.
"What's your number?" Angela says and takes her phone out. I give her my number and Angela's smile gets bigger. "Sofia really wants you to be there right Sofia?"
Sofia rushes to her side. "Yes, Yes you need to be there." I don't even know where "there" is.
"Umm ok." Angela and Sofia give me little waves and I take a picture of Angela's number and cross it out on the bright yellow paper.
Astrid finally wanders out of the closet and sits at the front desk like nothing happened and I didn't just get invited to a 6 year old's birthday.