Are you from New Orleans? What's your favorite thing about living here?

Newbie It was like fishing. I'd cast my line, and someone was taking a nibble. Now I just had to decide if I should reel her in...and then what would I do with her?

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*Hi, Newbie, I've lived in N.O. all my life. My favorite thing about the city is the food, which is not really a good thing because I'm on a diet.

And now, I'm thinking about food. There's a great place near the French Market cal ed Fiorel a's. If you ever go there, I'd suggest the fried chicken. You have to wait a while for it because they fry it when you order. This bird doesn't sit under a heat lamp all day.

Okay, I have to get off the topic of food.

Believe it or not, this is my first go-round on a social networking site. Like you, I thought it would be a good place to meet people. Some of the messages I've been getting are a little creepy, so thank you for being so down to earth. Okay, your turn.

What places have you visited since moving here?

P.U.

There was no response from Newbie by five o'clock when I knocked off for the day. Even still, I was happy that things seemed to be going well. I didn't have any preconceived notions that I'd met the love of my life, but I had made a friend.

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Chapter 3.

Operation Makeover.

Monday arrived without any word from Newbie. I can't deny that I felt a little discouraged. Then again, not everyone sat in front of the computer all day like I did.

Normally, hair salons are not open on Monday since they stay open on Sat.u.r.days. We hired enough staff to rotate and began doing business on that dreaded day of the week. A few salons did the same when we garnered a few of their clients. This did not make the Brycen sisters popular with our compet.i.tors, so when I called for an appointment, I gave a false last name.

Shannon Fiorella lucked out on a cancellation and was getting a new "do" at ten. I put my hair up in a ponytail, threw on a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie, and was out the door.

"Going for a run?"

The voice stopped me in my tracks. I turned and found Hailey looking at me expectantly. Dog in tow, she was dressed much like I was.

"I...don't run. I mean, I exercise. I just don't run." I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling like an idiot. "Are you going to...

run?"She looked down at herself and laughed. "I don't run, either, though I'm dressed for it. I'm taking Fuzzy for a walk."

"So that's her name-Fuzzy?" The dog c.o.c.ked her head to the side and looked at me as if to say, You real y are an idiot, aren't you?

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*Hailey reached down and scratched the dog behind the ears.

"She was so fluffy when she was a puppy, it was like holding a fuzzy teddy bear, and the name just fit."

"Dogs are nice," I blurted out. I could feel the blood rushing to my face. I looked at my bare arm as if I were wearing a watch.

"I'm late, I have an appointment." Hailey looked stunned as I turned and sprinted out the door. For someone who didn't run, I jogged half a block.

"So what are we doing today?" My flamboyant hairdresser named Marvin asked as he ran his fingers through my tangled mane. His hair was exactly the same color as mine as a child and styled in a faux Mohawk. I watched as his shocking red painted fingernails weaved in and out of my tresses, and I realized that I had no idea what I wanted to do with it.

"Do you have any suggestions?"

"Do I have suggestions? Oh, honey, you picked the right girl."

He stood back and looked long and hard at my face in the mirror.

"I wouldn't go too short. I'm thinking maybe something shoulder length." With both hands on his hips, he circled me and let out what sounded like a devilish laugh. "Oh, honey, I can make you s.e.xy."

s.e.xy? I liked the sound of that. "Okay, I'm trusting you."

He half dragged me over to the sinks and pushed me down in one of the chairs. "I love the color. We won't do anything with that. I'm going to put in lots of layers, make it wispy around your face. Are you okay with bangs?"

"As long as they're not too short." A flashback of my childhood wafted through my brain.

"Your boyfriend isn't going to be able to keep his hands off of you," Marvin said as he wet my hair.

"I'm gay." It was out of my mouth before I could stop it.

"Me too! Like it's not obvious, please. Your girlfriend won't be able to keep her hands to herself."

"That would be great if I had one." I was immediately embarra.s.sed at how pathetic I sounded.

"You won't be single for long," he said with a sweet smile.

1.

*I hoped that was true.

"You do realize, though, that you're supposed to have two eyebrows?" Marvin said with a wink. "I can take care of that for you right here."

"You mean wax them?" I asked. The pain of plucking them always made me cry. Kalen had harped on me endlessly to have them waxed, but I had visions of my eyelids being yanked off.

"I'll rub on a little numbing cream first. You'll feel a slight sting. Trust me, honey, it's worth it." Marvin ran his fingertips over his sculpted brows. "I swear mine would look like two handlebar mustaches if I didn't have them done."

"Okay," I murmured as I slinked down farther in the chair.

Marvin hummed a tune as he smeared my brows with the numbing cream. I closed my eyes, trying to find my happy place as he wiped it off, then applied the wax. To my credit, I only whimpered when he jerked the hair out by the roots. He ma.s.saged something else into my brows, then laid a gel pack over my eyes. "Just relax and I'll have you ready for the magic chair in a minute."

After my hair was washed and my scalp was ma.s.saged, he sat me in his "magic chair" and went to work. When I saw the first four-inch lock hit the ground, I closed my eyes, entrusting my hair to Marvin. I didn't open them again until he'd dried his masterpiece. I was speechless. I didn't know who the stunned woman was who stared back at me in the mirror. When I finally looked back up at Marvin, he was grinning from ear to ear, and I was, too.

"Your hair is so easy to work with that you won't have any problem replicating this look. When it's wet, use a little styling gel and blow dry while ruffling it with your fingers," Marvin said with a clap of his hands.

"That's a hot look," another stylist said as she came to stand next to Marvin. "Looks like you just had s.e.x. I love how wispy it is around your face."

I blushed at her comments.

"She's single." Marvin gave his colleague a playful nudge.

A sculpted eyebrow rose beneath dark bangs. "So am I." She

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*plucked a card from the station next to Marvin's and handed it to me. "Give me a call. I'd love to take you out sometime."

I nodded dumbly and grinned back up at Marvin. He was getting a big tip.

I was about to walk out the door after my bill was paid when Marvin said softly, "Come back and see me, Ms. Brycen."

I whirled on one heel, wondering how he knew who I was. I'd paid in cash. He smiled back at me. "Yes, I know who you are. I interviewed at one of your salons. You obviously don't remember me."When we opened the first two salons, I sat in on a few of the interviews, but it was Kalen who ultimately did the hiring. I hated the process, and it was all one maddening blur. I always felt sorry for the nervous interviewee that I wanted to hire them all. That's when Kalen took over alone.

"Forgive me. I'm afraid you're right. I don't remember you."

He frowned slightly. "I kind of thought you were head hunting so to speak."

"Are you unhappy here?" I asked softly.

He looked over his shoulder, then back at me. "I've just always wanted to work at one of your salons. You have a magnificent reputation."

I liked Marvin, and what he did with my hair was amazing.

"My sister is out of town for two weeks, but when she gets back, I'll talk it over with her. I have your card, so I'll give you a call."

He hugged me and planted a kiss on my cheek before I knew what was happening. Then he shrank back. "Oh, too forward," he said as he covered his face with his hands.

I couldn't help but laugh. "I'll call you one way or another."

I actually had a spring in my step as I walked home. Maybe it was the new diet or what felt like pounds of hair that had been cut away, but I felt lighter. I was nearly skipping into the courtyard when I pa.s.sed Hailey sitting on a bench.

"Whoa," she said with a look of surprise. "I almost didn't recognize you."

I was immediately self-conscious. "Is that bad?"

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*"No." Hailey shook her head. "Amazing...your hair...it looks fantastic."

I ducked my head, embarra.s.sed by her appraisal. "Well, thanks."

"You're welcome. Who's your stylist?"

"His name is Marvin. He's moving to a salon on Ca.n.a.l Street in two weeks. When he gets new cards made up, I'll give you one.""Please do," Hailey said with a smile.

One thing was for sure, Marvin was about to have a new job, whether Kalen agreed or not.

It was my day. I had a new look and a bunch of messages in my inbox. I scanned them all until I found Newbie.

Hi, P.U., I haven't visited many places yet, but I did go to Fiorella's on your suggestion, and you're right. The chicken was delicious! I won't be able to go there often, or I'll do damage to my waistline.

I'm falling in love with this city. All the old architecture is beautiful. And the people I've encountered have been friendly.

Atlanta is much colder in the winter, but I find the wind blowing off the river to be bone chil ing. I imagine that the summers here are much like they are back home, muggy and hot.