my fingers through it. My hair felt the same. But the shade was something out of the paint department at the hardware store. I’d heard of people’s hair changing color due to fright or trauma, but nothing like this.
‘Okay, what’s going on?’ I peeled my gaze from the mirror. ‘Is this another weird Gypsy tradition? First tattoos, then hair dye? Did my brother put you up to this?’
Vincent didn’t blink. ‘You’ll have to ask him.’
As if on cue, the front door banged open. Hugo stomped through, ushering a gust of wind. ‘Did you guys see the fog?’ he said, shedding his jacket. ‘It looks like we’re going to…’ He caught sight of me, instantly registering my new hair color. But he didn’t seem surprised. His face hardened for a moment, then relaxed into an expression I couldn’t totally place.
Almost like satisfaction.
‘Your hair’s gray,’ he said.
‘Yeah, we just covered that,’ I replied.
‘Looks good on you.’ Hugo brushed passed me and chucked his jacket on the counter. ‘Hey, Vincent, can you grab that book for me? I’ve got some research to do on a Gothic tat for a customer.’ Vincent hauled a large leather-bound book from the shelf behind the counter and handed it to my brother.
‘Hold up,’ I said, tossing the mirror aside, ‘is this gray hair part of some kind of initiation thing? I thought you already said I was in the club.’
‘It’s not a club,’ Hugo replied. ‘We’re a clan. And no, having gray hair doesn’t make you Roma.’
‘Then it has to do with my being your apprentice, doesn’t it? Your form of tattoo artist hazing.’ I paused, thinking. My scalp had only started itching after my shower earlier that evening. My gaze cut to Vincent and back to my brother. ‘You put something in my shampoo, didn’t you?’ Hugo had never really been the prankster type, but the other guys were always pulling something on each other. ‘Trying to get me to change my mind?’
Hugo cracked open the book and flipped through the pages. ‘Hmm…’
I smirked darkly and crossed my arms. My brother was stubborn.
But so was I.
‘Well, it’s going to take a lot more than flowery tattoos and hair dye or tossing me around the alley to get me to back down.’
Hugo glanced up with a sharp look. ‘Tossing you around?’
‘Yeah,’ I replied. ‘One of you guys was out by the dumpster, trying to freak me out.’ Everyone just looked at me. I let my gaze circle the group, studying their blank faces. ‘Okay, then,’ I continued, allowing my smirk to lengthen into a casual smile, ‘if that’s the way you want to play, bring it on. You’re going to apprentice me this time, Hugo. Nothing’s going to stop me from doing what I want with my life.’
For a split second, Hugo seemed to freeze. As he studied me, another expression flickered across his face. Conflicted, maybe even uncertain. But then, the blinds were closed again, and it was gone. Hugo tucked the book under his arm. ‘Well, I’ve got to get these sketches done. I’ll see you guys later.’ He smiled at me. ‘As for you, Mr Apprentice, you’d better get yourself cleaned up and grab a mop. You’ve tracked mud all through the shop.’
‘Mr Grey, please remove your hood.’
I glanced up from my math problems. ‘Sir?’
Mr Weir stood over me, obviously irritated. ‘Your hood, Mr Grey,’ he said, pointing to a laminated list of rules on the wall. ‘No hats or coverings in the classroom.’
I looked around self-consciously. Everyone was in a typical Monday morning stupor, working drearily at their desks. Only Avery stole a glance at me over the edge of his textbook. I sighed and reached up, pushing back my jacket hood. Avery made a weird choking sound.
Alex Graham turned around in his seat directly in front of me. He looked me over in his typical ‘everyone on the planet is beneath me’ way and sneered through his nasty mountain-man beard. ‘Nice.’
My chest grew warm underneath my jacket at his insult. I didn’t need any more negative attention from Alex. He singled me out for ridicule enough on a daily basis as it was. I hunched in my seat and narrowed my eyes back at him, feeling the heat churning into irritated anger. I clenched my teeth, determined to keep my stupid, newfound emotions under control. No freak outs, Sebastian.
Mr Weir cleared his throat disparagingly, and continued moving down the row, checking students’ work. Alex snickered and turned back to his graffiti effort on the desk with his pen. As soon as the coast was clear, Avery leaned across the aisle and poked me with his pencil. He aimed his eraser at my hair, silently indicating the obvious question.
‘Just trying something new,’ I whispered.
No one needed to know that I’d tried to dye my hair back to its original shade all weekend, but with no success. I’d rinse out the solution, only to find the same slate gray color mocking me in the mirror. I didn’t know what Hugo and the guys had used on me or how long it would last. But for now, it appeared my new hair was permanent.
In the parking lot after school, we made our plans for the evening. Or rather, everyone else made the plans while I stood in the back of the group, adjusting the hood of my jacket and tugging it as low as possible. I’d been slammed with comments about my hair all day. Katie had given me several disapproving looks, and Emma had even threatened to stop by later and ‘repair the damage’.
‘Hey, I saw Erica on my way out,’ Mitchell said as he leaned against his car. ‘She said Ms Lucian’s going to post the cast list for A Midsummer Night’s Dream at six tonight.’
‘Finally,’ said Katie. ‘I’ve been freaking out all weekend.’
‘I’m sure you’ll get a part,’ said Emma, from under Brandon’s arm. He had her pinned against his car door and was proceeding to suck on her ear. ‘I can’t wait to see who got cast.’
‘Okay,’ said Mitchell, ignoring them. ‘I vote we meet here, check out the list, and then head to Josephine’s party at the Fairgrounds. Is that cool with everybody?’
Josephine’s party.
I’d forgotten all about it.
‘Works for me.’ Katie retrieved her keys from her purse. ‘Somebody text me as soon as you see the cast and let me know. I made the mistake of volunteering to help with the party, and now Josie’s made me her slave for the next few hours.’
Avery winked. ‘Remember, you promised you’d get Josephine to introduce me to some of those hot Circe performers.’
Katie wrinkled her nose. ‘Don’t get your hopes up.’
She got in her car and drove off. The rest of our group exchanged goodbyes and quickly dispersed. Avery pointed at me over the hood of his Jeep.
‘You’re still coming, right?’ he asked, opening the door.
I hesitated. I wasn’t the party type, but I’d told Josephine I’d be there. And I couldn’t pass up the chance to prove that I wasn’t a complete bumbling freak. The gray hair wouldn’t earn me any points, but at least maybe I could talk to her this time and not come off as a total idiot. ‘Yeah, I’m coming.’
I pulled out of the parking lot right behind Avery, and I was halfway home before an unsettling thought struck me. I didn’t have a birthday present for Josephine.
‘I can’t show up without something,’ I groaned aloud.
My rumbling van seemed to agree, so I turned around and headed back into town. Sixes was