Why Is Your Hair Blue?, chapter 2
I shut the door to my apartment and am greeted by the familiar scent of vanilla incence. Kelly, my roommate, has a habit of lighting it all the time. She's currently visiting family in New York, I don't think she was really excited about it though. I dump my bag on the couch in the living room and fall back into it. I like it, without the lights on, the curtains in this room got ruined so we got rid of them and now the moonlight comes through. The whole apartment has an old rustic style all our furniture were bought at markets so nothing matches. All the rooms are a dark maroon except for our bedrooms which are black. We have posters of bands in every room as well, Dead Kennedy's, The Clash, The Ramones. We're big fans of punk rock. I close my eyes thinking about things not yet ready to sleep. The boy with the bright blue hair enters my mind, I don't think I got his name. He was interesting, I'd seen lots of different characters enter the bar but none like him. I yawn, slowly I get off the couch and make my way to my room. Normally I'd just collapse on the bed in whatever I'm wearing but I need this uniform for tomorrow. I find a pair of shorts and a black t-shirt and lay down on my bed, I turn my radio on softly and fall asleep to the music.
I woke up the next morning when I rolled off the bed. I sighed. I lifted my face off the floorboards and stood up trying to untangle myself from my doona. I checked my watch which I'd forgotten to take off it was only 8:30, my shift didn't start until 5 so I had some time to kill. I found a pair of black jeans and an Operation Ivy t-shirt that I'd gotten the last time I was in Berkeley. I went into the bathroom and showered. I pulled my wet black hair into a ponytail and put on a thin layer of eyeliner, it's too much effort trying to take it off for work. I find my converses from under my bed and pull them on. I walk back into the living room and pick up my bag from where I'd left it and walk out of the apartment pausing for minute to lock the door.
As I run down the stairs to get to the front of the building I'm stopped by Tony the guy who lives beneath me
"Hey Dianna, are you okay? I heard something crash before."
"Oh hey Tony, I'm fine I just fell off the bed."
"Oh okay, listen I got something for you for when you come back alright?"
"Cool." I continue going down the stairs and finally make it out. I stand outside the building not really sure where it is I want to go. I decide to just start walking. I see a coffee shop and go in. I order a caramel milkshake, I've never really been big on coffee, and a muffin. I hand over my money and wait for my things. I pull a straw out of the dispenser as my milkshake gets handed to me, I push it into the lid and take a sip. I grab my muffin and leave the shop. As I'm walking I pass a homeless guy begging for food, not really hungry I throw him the bag with my muffin
"Bless you." I give him a quick smile before continuing on my way. I spot my favourite CD place a few shops up, I go in and start browsing the racks.
"Nice top." I turn to see who's talking to me and almost spill my milkshake when I realise how close he is. I look into a pair of green eyes, then notice his hair
"Are you stalking me?"
"No, I believe it is you who is stalking me."
"Oh yeah? What makes you think that?"
"Coz I was here first."
"What are you 5?" He shrugs, I laugh.
"Anyway I was trying to compliment you before." I look down at my top
"You like Operation Ivy?"
"Yep, love 'em. I'm actually surprised you've heard of them living in San Fransisco and all."
"Well it's very close to Berkeley so I go there sometimes."
"Ever heard of a band called Green Day?"
"I think so, I've heard that the lead singer acts as though he's having epilectic attacks while his performing."
"Well I haven't heard that one before..."
"Told he's got an amazing voice though and really knows how to play guitar."
"You must talk to very cool people, except that epilepsy thing is a load of shit."
"Well thank you for clearing that up..."
"Billie Joe."
"That's a pretty name."
"What's yours?" I smile
"Well I have a whole bunch of things to do today so I guess if we really are stalking each other I'll see you around."
"Wait your name?" But I've already walked out, I hurry down the street when I see him run out of the shop I duck into a hair salon and wait for him to pass.
I stand in front of the mirror in my room. I've changed into my work clothes which consist of black pants, a white 3/4 sleeved button up shirt and a black vest. Typical uniform for a job such as mine. I redo my hair and leave my apartment once again, careful to avoid Tony.
"Dianna, finally you're here!"
"Yeh sorry, the bus was late."
"Well come on we're busy as tonight!" Noticing the amount of people waiting for drinks I chuck my bag under the counter and start filling beers from the tap and mixing drinks. In hope of distracting the waiting customers I start spinning the bottles in my hands.
"Do we have anyone else working tonight?" Matthew steals a quick glance at me.
"I called Dre and he was gonna try and get Jack but knowing him he's with some chick."
"Great."
Being the great bartenders that we are Matthew and I have caught up with the orders about 5 minutes later.
"Hey I'll take care of whatever other drinks we have to get if you just wanna clear the tables and that." I agree, I'm definately getting the easier job. I grab a tray and start picking up the glasses. I manage to get about 30 and am about to go and put them in the washer thing that I cant remember what it's called when I spot a single glass on one of the tables near the shadows. I go to get it. I reach out to pick it up but trip over a foot, I fall and the tray drops, the glasses all smashing.
"Fuck!"
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to, let me help you." I try not to lean on any broken glass and start picking up the bigger pieces. The guy who I tripped over starts trying to help, but cuts himself on a smaller piece.
"Shit ow!"
"Matthew!"
"I'm coming." Matthew races over with a broom and starts sweeping up the glass.
I help the guy up and once again it's Billie Joe
"Matt, I'm gonna go help this guy." I grab Billie Joe and pull him towards the back room. I shut the door after we both get it and direct him to sit on a crate. I check the shelves for the first aid box
"I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to trip you."
"It's okay. My fault I'm sure."
"No it's not, I was hiding." I bring the box over and kneel down in front of him, opening the box on my knee. I pull out a one of those antiseptic clothes and wipe it over his hand.
"Hiding?"
"I was kinda watching you."
"I didn't see you come in. Is there glass in your hand?"
"I came in early and I don't think so." I grab a bandage and wrap it around his hand, he looks at it. "You know you didn't have to do that."
"No but I did."
"I'm really sorry again about the glasses."
"It's okay, Dre was thinking of getting different ones anyway, now he has to." I laughed, but noticed Billie Joe wasn't smiling
"I'm gonna get you in trouble aren't I?"
"No you won't, Dre is cool."
"Okay. But I wanna make it up to you."
"Oh really? And how do you intend to do that?"
"I could think of a few things..."
"Haha I'm sure you could. Anyway, I've gotta get back out there, can't leave Matt alone."
"Oh I'm keeping you." He stands up and heads out the door, I follow him and close it behind us. "I'll see you later... Dianna." I look at him puzzled at how he learned my time, he smiles and leaves the bar.
I woke up the next morning when I rolled off the bed. I sighed. I lifted my face off the floorboards and stood up trying to untangle myself from my doona. I checked my watch which I'd forgotten to take off it was only 8:30, my shift didn't start until 5 so I had some time to kill. I found a pair of black jeans and an Operation Ivy t-shirt that I'd gotten the last time I was in Berkeley. I went into the bathroom and showered. I pulled my wet black hair into a ponytail and put on a thin layer of eyeliner, it's too much effort trying to take it off for work. I find my converses from under my bed and pull them on. I walk back into the living room and pick up my bag from where I'd left it and walk out of the apartment pausing for minute to lock the door.
As I run down the stairs to get to the front of the building I'm stopped by Tony the guy who lives beneath me
"Hey Dianna, are you okay? I heard something crash before."
"Oh hey Tony, I'm fine I just fell off the bed."
"Oh okay, listen I got something for you for when you come back alright?"
"Cool." I continue going down the stairs and finally make it out. I stand outside the building not really sure where it is I want to go. I decide to just start walking. I see a coffee shop and go in. I order a caramel milkshake, I've never really been big on coffee, and a muffin. I hand over my money and wait for my things. I pull a straw out of the dispenser as my milkshake gets handed to me, I push it into the lid and take a sip. I grab my muffin and leave the shop. As I'm walking I pass a homeless guy begging for food, not really hungry I throw him the bag with my muffin
"Bless you." I give him a quick smile before continuing on my way. I spot my favourite CD place a few shops up, I go in and start browsing the racks.
"Nice top." I turn to see who's talking to me and almost spill my milkshake when I realise how close he is. I look into a pair of green eyes, then notice his hair
"Are you stalking me?"
"No, I believe it is you who is stalking me."
"Oh yeah? What makes you think that?"
"Coz I was here first."
"What are you 5?" He shrugs, I laugh.
"Anyway I was trying to compliment you before." I look down at my top
"You like Operation Ivy?"
"Yep, love 'em. I'm actually surprised you've heard of them living in San Fransisco and all."
"Well it's very close to Berkeley so I go there sometimes."
"Ever heard of a band called Green Day?"
"I think so, I've heard that the lead singer acts as though he's having epilectic attacks while his performing."
"Well I haven't heard that one before..."
"Told he's got an amazing voice though and really knows how to play guitar."
"You must talk to very cool people, except that epilepsy thing is a load of shit."
"Well thank you for clearing that up..."
"Billie Joe."
"That's a pretty name."
"What's yours?" I smile
"Well I have a whole bunch of things to do today so I guess if we really are stalking each other I'll see you around."
"Wait your name?" But I've already walked out, I hurry down the street when I see him run out of the shop I duck into a hair salon and wait for him to pass.
I stand in front of the mirror in my room. I've changed into my work clothes which consist of black pants, a white 3/4 sleeved button up shirt and a black vest. Typical uniform for a job such as mine. I redo my hair and leave my apartment once again, careful to avoid Tony.
"Dianna, finally you're here!"
"Yeh sorry, the bus was late."
"Well come on we're busy as tonight!" Noticing the amount of people waiting for drinks I chuck my bag under the counter and start filling beers from the tap and mixing drinks. In hope of distracting the waiting customers I start spinning the bottles in my hands.
"Do we have anyone else working tonight?" Matthew steals a quick glance at me.
"I called Dre and he was gonna try and get Jack but knowing him he's with some chick."
"Great."
Being the great bartenders that we are Matthew and I have caught up with the orders about 5 minutes later.
"Hey I'll take care of whatever other drinks we have to get if you just wanna clear the tables and that." I agree, I'm definately getting the easier job. I grab a tray and start picking up the glasses. I manage to get about 30 and am about to go and put them in the washer thing that I cant remember what it's called when I spot a single glass on one of the tables near the shadows. I go to get it. I reach out to pick it up but trip over a foot, I fall and the tray drops, the glasses all smashing.
"Fuck!"
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to, let me help you." I try not to lean on any broken glass and start picking up the bigger pieces. The guy who I tripped over starts trying to help, but cuts himself on a smaller piece.
"Shit ow!"
"Matthew!"
"I'm coming." Matthew races over with a broom and starts sweeping up the glass.
I help the guy up and once again it's Billie Joe
"Matt, I'm gonna go help this guy." I grab Billie Joe and pull him towards the back room. I shut the door after we both get it and direct him to sit on a crate. I check the shelves for the first aid box
"I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to trip you."
"It's okay. My fault I'm sure."
"No it's not, I was hiding." I bring the box over and kneel down in front of him, opening the box on my knee. I pull out a one of those antiseptic clothes and wipe it over his hand.
"Hiding?"
"I was kinda watching you."
"I didn't see you come in. Is there glass in your hand?"
"I came in early and I don't think so." I grab a bandage and wrap it around his hand, he looks at it. "You know you didn't have to do that."
"No but I did."
"I'm really sorry again about the glasses."
"It's okay, Dre was thinking of getting different ones anyway, now he has to." I laughed, but noticed Billie Joe wasn't smiling
"I'm gonna get you in trouble aren't I?"
"No you won't, Dre is cool."
"Okay. But I wanna make it up to you."
"Oh really? And how do you intend to do that?"
"I could think of a few things..."
"Haha I'm sure you could. Anyway, I've gotta get back out there, can't leave Matt alone."
"Oh I'm keeping you." He stands up and heads out the door, I follow him and close it behind us. "I'll see you later... Dianna." I look at him puzzled at how he learned my time, he smiles and leaves the bar.
