Vic
I finished blow drying my hair and I was scared to look in the mirror. We leave and start tour tomorrow and I do not have the time to fix this tonight and I really don't feel like having to try and figure out how to fix a dye job on a tour bus, and I really don't want to be seen getting on a plane with Harry and the team with a botched bleach job.
I wanted to do something different, I'm about to go on a world tour with my... best friend? I'm excited for this new opportunity so and it felt like a completely new start for my career, so why not give myself a bit of a fresh start? So I decided to just say 'fuck it' and finally do it, and go blonde.
I've always wanted to but I was too scared it would look bad or kill my hair from having to bleach it. But to be fair, it looks.... really good, and yes my hair is dry and dead, but I was determined to do it all in one go, so my hair could be healthy right now if I did this is levels, but it would not be this blonde and I didn't have the time, since we hop on a plane tomorrow and head to Switzerland, and the day after, Harry officially starts his first solo tour, and I officially become a tour photographer.
This felt so refreshing, making this change felt so right, and with the chapter I'm about to begin... it just feels like a new start. It feels like a new start, but the weird atmosphere Harry and I are suspended in takes away some my focus and I can't help but try and imagine what's going to happen once we get on the plane tomorrow. We're going to be traveling the globe together, and I don't even know what our boundaries are anymore. Friends? Who used to hook up, and sleep over, and dance in the kitchen making breakfast, and kiss, and cuddle, and..... I think I made my point. I am looking forward to seeing all of these places, and being able to do it all with such an amazing group of people, who I've come to love, and with an amazingly talented and focused team, that make all of this work for Harry and the band. This is their show, and we're all here to make it happen.
I walked out of the bathroom and cleared my throat as I entered the room causing Sophia to turn around. When she fully faced me and took in my hair, her jaw dropped and she crossed the living room and came over to me, quickly spinning me around and moving my hair around.
"Damn... I did a good job." She said to the back of my head and then placed a hand on my shoulder, spinning me back around to face her "how do you feel?" She asked me and I smiled at her.
"I love it, you even got the roots right." I said and she nodded, proud of her handiwork with some bleach and hair dye. I was worried she wouldn't do the roots right because I wanted to keep them brown on top, so when it grew out it it wouldn't look terrible. The first few inches from the root were kept brown, and faded into blonde, it looks amazing. I'm honestly impressed that my photographer/waitress can now add 'hair stylist' to her list of strengths.
"So, what made you wanna go blonde anyway?" She asked and we walked to the couch and took a seat. I shrugged and put on the news so we could wait for a weather forecast for tomorrow.
"I don't know... I've wanted to for a while and this your just feels like... a fresh start- the beginning of something life changing, and as stupid and cheesy as that sounds, it felt like it was only right to lean into it and finally do it." I told her and she nodded slowly.
"And you're sure it's not because Harry seems to have a thing for blondes?" She asked and I could feel my face heat up.
"I'm 100% sure, I wouldn't kill my hair and put us both through this 2 hour process from hell, just for to try and get the attention from a friend." I stated and she rolled her eyes and laughed. "What? Why are you laughing?" I asked annoyed and she shook her head as her laughter died down.
"You use the word friend like it applies here. You know whatever it is, is more than friends."
"Sophia, we're just friends. That's all it is, and that's all it's going to amount to. It's gets too complicated and messy when things... get too close." I explained and she shrugged.
"I give it 2 weeks."
"And how's that girl from the other week? What was her name again? Lily?" She rolled her eyes as her face began to turn a hint of pink.
"Her name is Leah, and I'm actually seeing her again this weekend." Soph shot back with a smug smile.
"Oh my god. A second date? You, Sophia Gibson, have a second date with a girl? She must be special, this is unheard of." I said sarcastically and she rolled her eyes and flipped me off.
"I can't believe you're leaving for 5 months..." she said in a serious soft tone now "I'm so happy for you, this is going to be so huge for your career, you have no idea. And the experience you're about to get? You'll be so high profile you won't have time for all of us at the studio after you're home." She said and I smiled at her. She was right, this is going to be huge for my career and portfolio, and the experience ill earn, the new techniques and practice I'll get will get me even further with my photography. This will really put me on the map in my field.
"And you swear you're okay feeding Arlo for that long? I can always ask the woman downstairs to leave food out for him, she thinks he's super cute and always leaves me little bags of cats treats every so often." I asked her nervously and she scoffed and nodded quickly.
"Oh please, I don't mind. And this way I can send you pictures and videos, and someone will be here to water your plants, because let's face it, if you come back and all your plants are dead, you'll cry." She said and I wanted to fight back... but I knew she was right. "Plus, Arlo and I almost became friends the last time I watched him. He almost let me stand at the door and watch him while he sat on the table outside." She said and it made me kind of sad to be leaving for so long. I'm gonna miss Arlo, and I'm gonna Sophia. She truly is such a amazing friend to be doing this for me and taking care of everything here while I'm off somewhere with Harry and the team.
"You better send loads of pictures and videos. You're welcome to hang here or sleepover here whenever you want, you don't have to just come in, feed the cat, water the plants and leave. Get comfy." I told her and she smiled and nodded.
"I just hope you have fun, this is so amazing for you. Just... I know it's easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of it all, and I know it's easy to get wrapped up in him, this is your moment. It's his tour, but this is your moment, be extraordinary, blow everyone away. Don't let him shadow that, don't let him consume you. I know that you feel everything so passionately, it makes you an amazing friend and person, but don't let yourself get swept up in the excitement of it all. Do not settle for half assed efforts, and clouded judgment. Take what you need, and demand what you're missing. Be a bitch if you have to, don't roll over and let people push you around, take control and be a bitch if you have to be and don't feel guilty about it, don't feel guilty demanding what you need. You're an amazing photographer, and an even more amazing person, don't let anyone forget the reason why you're there. It's not because of whatever weird thing you have with Harry, you're there because you're extremely talented in what you do, be cocky, take up as much space as you need- do not make yourself feel small for the sake of others." I smiled softly to her taking in what she said. She was right, this is my moment to show just how good I am at what I do, I need to be assertive and ask for what I want, I need to set myself up to do well, even if it means stepping out of my comfort zone and being a little pushy.
I leaned over and wrapped my arms around my best friend as she snaked her around my neck and hugged me tightly.
"Thank you." I said quietly
"You're gonna kill it." She said as she pulled away and smiled at me. "And if you do end up having sex with him again, you better call me when you go to tell Sarah and the three of us can scream about it."
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Hello hello hello!!!
Sorry I've been MIA, life has really gotten the better of me this last week. But even with being inactive and all, I still see the reads and votes going up, and that means so much!!
I promise I'm going to try and focus more on writing this week and getting some content out for all of you amazing amazing readers.
Thank you thank you thank you as always. I hope everyone's still enjoying the book, don't forget to vote for your favorite chapters and leave your thoughts, opinions, and even any ideas or characters you wanna see in the comments or even my messages! No idea is a bad idea.
All the love,
r