One Rough and Beautiful Day (Open)

I hear Lilly's groan of terror. I don't really brush my hair much, and I don't try to look nice. I just look like I do, and that's it. My long-ish dark brown hair was probably mangled and messy. I never really see myself in the mirror, so I have no clue what I look like right now. I think Lilly looks fine right now. Without the tad bit of makeup she actually looks more natural, more relaxed. Although that not exactly how she's taking it relaxed, because she is groaning in terror. "Ok, ok," I say, trying to help out, "I have a brush and comb in my bathroom. If you need detangler you can use that. I barely ever use any of it."

Then for the first time in a while I run my fingers through my dark brown hair. It's tangled and messy, and there's a bit of sand in it. I sigh, but sort of like a 'oh well' kind of sigh. I do take showers, but I hardly wash my hair. There is a small mirror in the hallway. I look at myself in it and I look like a mess. My hair is sticking every whichway and my face has a dirt smear on it. I wipe the dirt off my cheek and shake my head at myself. For my first reaping I'll have to look nice. But how will I do that if I'm so mangled looking? I roll my eyes and look at the ground. I might attempt to get some of the knots out of my hair, but I know I probably won't fix much. I wait for Lilly to fix herself up first, though.

I give Lilly a little smile, and say, "I don't know, it's a bit mangled and long..." My hair was at least down to, if not past, his shoulders. And all of it is tangled. I would need to get the knots out. Maybe even a haircut would be fine. Then I need a shower. There was now a long list of needs I have to fix now. And Lilly made me realize it. Until now I had not taken much care of myself except for eating and drinking. Then I finally give in to my needs and say to her, "Ok, fine. Maybe I do need help."

"Ok," I say to her, "I guess I'll take a shower. Uhhhh." It was a bit unnerving to take a shower with a girl in the room. But I just take my shirt off because my shorts are water-proof. I step in the shower and turn the water on. Warm water comes pouring down on my head. It's been a long time since I felt like this. The feeling of flowing on your face is wonderful. All the dirt loosens its grip on my body and lets go. My hair is the only thing that isn't quite fixed. It's wet and it feels ok, but it's still tangled, but at least the grease came out, just like Lilly said.

After a little bit in the shower, I turn the water off and grab a towel. I dry myself off and put my shirt back on. I try to shake my hair so it isn't plastered to my head. It still has knots in it and it's still a bit mangled. But it isn't as bad as it was before. I turn my head to Lilly, "What next?"

I laugh playfully, "Ok, sure thing. Long sentence you got there!" I grab the near-by blow dryer and feel a puff of warm air. Soon my hair is dry and a bit fluffy, but it's fine. It's a struggle trying to get the comb through it and I manage to get a few knots out, but not a whole ton. I wonder how girls can possibly have their hair all pretty every day? I shrug to myself. Maybe that's why most boys don't usually have long hair like me. I sigh, "Ok, I tried to get as much out as possible. But that's only a few. Anything else I could do?"

When she gets my hair all smooth it felt good except that it was too much hair to have, it just felt weird to me. I am almost relieved when she grabs the scissors. It will be nice to have a change for once.

My eyes widen at the image in the mirror. All I can supress at the moment is, "Whoa." I run my fingers through my newly cut hair. It felt nice to have a different look sometimes. Then I look at Lilly and say quietly, "Thank you."