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A dark shadow passed over the light and blocked the center of the doorway A tall hat perched atop the figure’s head and a long walking cane rested in one hand I sturipped s

The figure held out its hands A woony

"No!" I yelled "Stop it!" But I couldn’t o away I was only--

My cell phone rang and I jerked awake My ears hurt My head hurt Every part of ony I pushed myself off the floor, pulled the phone from my pocket, and stared with bleary eyes at the screen It was Crye I answered

"Your appointment is at ten AM," she said in a voice entirely too chipper "Don’t be late!"

"Isn’t it a school day?"

"Teachers’ work day Don’t you remember the announcement?"

"Oh Okay I’ll see you soon" I pushed hthtirls that approached sweaty smelly fat kids after a workout also did not exist I was even surer of that And ith the pregnant wo baby? Maybe Stacey had slipped ony from yesterday’s workout, I felt pretty normal I stood up A wave of dizziness alered into the bathroo appoint of "my hair" and "style" in the same sentence was a new concept for me I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had it cut

As I showered, ih ot out of the shower and regardedwet mop of a hairdo in the mirror Then I noticed hand-shaped bruises the color of rotten blueberries on reenish bruise covered ht had happened Stacey really did exist Maybe if I went about business as usual, I’d forget about the whole thing and never have to face a hot vaain

Besides, today I would start the transformation that would leave me a different man--an improved man A non-feasted-upon-by-varipped , the version that would belove to his hand for the rest of his life if I didn’t change It see a haircut than the petrifying night before The hus too terrible to behold

After re my bedroom door and the front door, I looked for Dad in the usual places--the couch and his bedroom--but he was nowhere to be found I wondered if I’d locked him out of the house with my furniture blockade, but it appeared he’d never returned hoh, his car was still in the driveway, so I took it and found the salon in East Atlanta Village, a neighborhood still struggling between trendy and gangster A cute girl in jeans and a tight pink T-shirt sat at the reception area I stared at myself in the mirror on the wall behind her so I wouldn’t stare at her really nice breasts They weren’t huge, but the tight fabric of her shirt gave them the extra oomph to make me a fan for life Even the hopeless romantic in me couldn’t resist the lure of female anatomy

She smiled at me "Hey Justin Be just a few ht It certainly boosted s But when I openedcae mirror behind the desk showed irl raised an eyebrow

"Don’t be nervous I told Monition dawned on ish brain My eyes widened "Crye?" Without the piercings,she looked normal Pretty cute, in fact "I didn’t realize it was you" I grimaced Nice job, idiot

She smiled and shook her head "Mom won’t let me wear my Goth clothes here Too many people wouldn’t understand"

"Well, she’s the boss," I said laaze, long legs, and epic cleavage--yes, I’m obsessed with boobs--came to the front She pursed her lips and stared at ht, dear This one needs serious work" She spun on her heel and hooked a finger over her shoulder at onna be fun," Crye said, her violet eyes sparkling I stared at her eyes, wondering why she was still wearing her colored contacts without her Goth garb "Better hurry," she said "Mom’s impatient"

I hurried back to the chair where her mom waited, towel in hand The place was full of wo hair and chatting away A cross between ammonia and roses scented the air, no doubt a toxic cloud fro this, Ms, ue calling so too She and Crye could ale and sat in the chair Leia spent the next severalmy hair, then shooed me over to a salon chair I took a seat and stared at the ht about the irrevocable change I was about to coet up and run Leia’s hand clamped onto my shoulder

Noas too late

Her hand on my shoulder reminded me uncomfortably of Stacey My neck felt very here she’d licked it, like that hot ice stuff athletes slather on their sore ht side of my neck in the mirror It looked redder than the moon-white skin around it

Leia left for a moment then returned with a spray bottle She stood behind me and appraised my hair with an arched eyebrow Movies depict e set to an upbeat pop tune In real life, they’re a lotThat, and it takes a lot longer than one Lady Gaga song to get the job done

"Elyssa seems to think you’d look better with spiky hair," Leia said after staring at my mop