A/N: AnmlLvr hepled me with the last half of this chapter . . .
Haircuts and Cell Phones
The next day was Monday, and it was also the first day back from spring break. Our school system changed classes every quarter instead of every semester, so it was also the time when we all got new schedules. The school actually printed out schedules for Link and Midna, but that wasn't really necessary since they still had all of my classes with me. Our new schedule went like this: First period we had French, then Gym, then Algebra, History, English, Lunch, Child Development (where you get to teach preschoolers), and finally Science.
After the first hectic day of trying to find our new classrooms and meeting our new teachers, I realized that Serena and I had scheduled a haircut after school.
"Hey Midna, you're coming, right?" Serena asked as we walked out of the school building.
"Um . . . I'm not sure . . . a haircut doesn't sound very pleasant," Midna replied, subconsciously touching her ponytail.
"Well, okay, then I guess you and Link can stay with Jake . . .," I suggested.
"Actually, I have soccer practice today, so that won't work," Jake said. "Sorry."
"It's okay," I replied. "I guess you guys will just have to come with us."
"Okay . . .," Midna replied, sounding a little uncertain.
The four of us took the bus home to Serena's house since she was closest to the hair salon. We dropped off our stuff at her house and made our way over to the salon. When we entered we were immediately welcomed and ushered over to the chairs.
"And monsieur would like a haircut as well, no?" one of the stylists asked as Link hesitated next to his chair.
"Uh, no?" Link said, confused by the stylist's accent.
"You would not like a haircut?" the stylist asked, confused.
"No. I mean yes! I mean . . . wait- what?" Link asked.
"Yes, he would like a haircut," Midna said. "If his hair gets any longer he'll probably get fleas . . ."
"Hey!" Link exclaimed as he glared at Midna. He sat down in the chair and the stylist draped the cloth over him so he wouldn't get hair all over his clothes.
"And what style would you like today, monsieur?" the stylist asked.
"Um . . . just do whatever you think would look cool," Link replied.
"Link, I really don't think that's a good idea . . .," I said.
"It's my hair and I'll do what I want with it!" Link replied.
"Fine, suit yourself . . .," I said as another stylist brought over a book for me to choose a hairstyle out of.
"So, do you just want a little off the edges?" Midna's stylist (who was named Becky) asked.
"Uh, okay, but I really don't know about this . . .," Midna said nervously.
"Midna, it's okay. A haircut doesn't hurt," Serena said.
"Well, okay . . .," Midna said, not sounding very convinced.
"I'm going to need to take your ponytail out," Becky said, reaching for the fused shadow that was serving as Midna's hair band.
"NO! Don't touch it!" Midna yelled, putting her hands around the fused shadow and leaning forward as Becky was about to grab it. Everyone in the salon stopped to look at her.
"Sweetie, I need to take it out so I can make your haircut even," Becky said as everyone else resumed what they were doing. Midna just shook her head, still holding onto the fused shadow. "You want me to leave it in? Your ends might not be even when you take you hair down."
"I don't care," Midna replied.
"Okay . . .," Becky said, shrugging. "You can let go of it now. I won't touch it."
Slowly, Midna let go of the fused shadow and leaned back in her chair. Becky took a small piece of Midna's hair in her hand. Midna bit her lip as Becky brought out the scissors.
"OW!" Midna screamed as Becky cut the piece of hair in her hand. Becky, surprised, let go of Midna's hair and dropped the scissors. Everyone turned to look at them again. Midna took her ponytail and started massaging the tiny part the Becky had cut, and it looked like she was holding back tears.
"Uh, sweetie, are you okay?" Becky asked.
"No I'm not okay!" Midna spat. "That hurt!"
"Sweetie, all I did was cut off a little piece-"
"I don't care if you cut off one strand! It still hurt!"
"Sweetie, I was just-"
"I swear to the Goddesses if you say sweetie one more time, you will be sorry!"
"Midna, maybe you should just wait over in the waiting area for the rest of us to be finished," I said.
"I think that's a good idea," Midna said. She stood up and shoved the cloth into a very confused Becky's hands as she passed her. She sat down in one of the chairs in the waiting area, crossed her arms in front of her, and glared at everyone who looked at her like she was crazy. The rest of the stylists continued to work on our haircuts, and Link was finished first.
"Hey Midna, do you like it?" Link asked, running over and stopping on front of Midna. She took one look at him and burst out laughing.
"What? What's so funny?!" Link asked.
"You . . . you got a . . . a buzz cut! Ahahahaha!" Midna said, holding her sides since she was laughing so hard.
"What are you talking about?!" Link asked.
"Did you even look at yourself?"
"No, I was so excited to show you that I forgot to look . . ."
"Well, go look in the mirror now."
"Okay, but I don't see what's so- HOLY GODDESSES!" Link exclaimed as he saw his reflection. This reaction only made Midna start cracking up again, and Link just stood there, staring at the place where his hair had been only moments before.
"Ah monsieur, you like it, no?" Link's stylist asked, coming up behind him.
"LIKE IT?! I'm completely bald for Goddesses sakes!" Link yelled.
"But, this style is 'cool,' no?" the stylist asked, making air quotes with his fingers.
"No, it isn't cool! Aw man, just wait 'till Jake sees me . . . he'll never let me live this down."
"Link, I'm sure it's not that bad," I said, coming up behind him.
"Look at it, Alex!" he said, turning to face me.
"Oh, that is pretty bad . . . well, you can just wear a hat," I said, patting him on the shoulder.
"Ugh . . .," he groaned. Serena and I went over to the counter to pay while Link and Midna went to stand by the door.
"Well, at least three's one good thing about this," Midna said.
"And just what might that be?" Link asked.
"Now you won't get fleas!" Midna replied, and then laughed as Link ground his teeth and glared at her. Serena and I went over to them and we left the salon, Link putting up the hood of his jacket and Midna laughing at him the whole way home.
***
As soon as we got back to my house after grabbing our stuff from Serena's place, Midna started bugging Link about turning him into a wolf.
"Come on, I just want to see what you look like!" Midna said, floating up in front of Link's face. She had turned back into her imp form as soon as she had gotten into my room, so it was easier to annoy Link.
"No, Midna. I don't want to be a wolf!" Link replied, trying to go around her, but she just floated over so she was in front of him again.
"It'll just be for a few minutes! Please?"
"No! Leave me alone!"
Link quickly ducked under her and ran to the other side of the room. Midna floated after him.
"Alex, aren't you going to do something?" Link asked as he passed by me.
"Why? This is the most action I've seen all day!" I said, sitting down on my bed and leaning back against the wall. Link just glared at me and then he stopped moving and let Midna come over to him. When she was close enough to touch, he reached out and grabbed her under the shoulders and held her in place.
"Hey! Why are you holding me like a doll?!" Midna said, struggling to get free of Link's grasp, but he was too strong.
"I'm holding you because you won't listen to me when you're flying around," Link replied. "Now listen. I don't want to be a wolf. Okay?"
Midna just pouted. Then her face turned up in one of her creepy smiles.
"You know, I don't have to touch your forehead to turn you into a wolf . . .," she said, pulling out the Dark Crystal.
"What do you mean? Wait- no! Ah!" Link exclaimed, as Midna touched his arm with the Crystal. He immediately let go of her and turned into a wolf. Surprisingly, he still had fur, and it was just as long as it always had been.
"What the heck?! Shouldn't he have, like, no fur at all?" Midna asked.
Yes, I still have my awesome fur! Woohoo! Link thought, panting happily and wagging his tail.
"Hmm . . . I wonder if you still have no hair as a human . . .," Midna thought aloud. She touched Link's head and he turned back into a human.
"That is so weird," I said as Link touched his head and found his hair back to the way it had always been.
"Yes!" He said, pumping his fist in the air. "Now no one will think I look stupid!"
"Trust me, people always think you look stupid," Midna said.
"You're so mean!" Link said, his happy mood dampened by Midna's comment.
"Aw, I love you, too," she said, smiling. Link just glared at her.
Just then, my mother yelled that it was dinnertime, and I went downstairs to get some food. By now my parents had gotten used to me usually eating up in my room, and sometimes my sister even came up as well. Tonight, however, was one of the few times I ate dinner downstairs with the rest of my family. After I was finished, I went over to the counter to grab my cell phone which I had left there. I looked and it was nowhere to be found. I figured I must have left it in my room and I went upstairs.
"Hey, have you guys seen my- Link, what are you doing?!" I yelled as I opened my bedroom door to find Link practically screaming into my phone.
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING! DO YOU SPEAK HYLIAN, TWILI, AND/OR ENGLISH?!" Link said into the phone.
"Link!" I yelled. Link looked up and noticed me standing there.
"Alex, you said I didn't need to scream into the phone, but I tried to speak normally and I still didn't understand what they were saying," Link said.
"Just give me the phone!" I said, and Link handed the phone over. I put it to my ear to hear someone on the other end speaking in what sounded like Chinese. I tried to talk to them but I didn't have much luck in communicating with them.
"Hello? Um, yeah, sorry, I must have the wrong number. What? I can't understand- why are you yelling at me?! I said I was sorry! Look, I'm sorry to cause you any trouble. Goodbye!" I said, hanging up the phone. It beeped and I opened it to see that I had about eighty-nine dollars left in my account balance.
"Whoa, I know I had at least a hundred dollars on this thing before you guys got a hold of it! What have you been doing?!" I asked.
"Well, Midna found that thing lying on your dresser and she pressed a button and somehow called Erin, and then I said I wanted to try and I couldn't call Erin but I managed to call a lot of other people and I even called the pizza place and ordered a pizza!" Link explained.
"Oh no, did you tell them to deliver it here?!" I asked.
"I told them to send it to 'Alex's house,' since he doesn't know your address." Just then my phone rang and I looked to see that Erin's number was on the screen.
"Hello?" I said, answering the phone.
"Um, Alex?" Erin said. "Why did Midna just call me?"
"Uh yeah, about that . . . I have your number on speed dial and somehow Midna got a hold of my phone . . .," I explained. "You know the rest."
"Darn right I know the rest! My mom was pissed! We were eating dinner, and you know dinner is all about 'family time.' And then she asked who was calling. What was I supposed to say? The Twilight Princess was calling me?! They would have sent me to a mental institution with rubber walls! I DON'T LIKE RUBBER!"
"Sorry," I said, when Erin was done with her little rant. Midna and Link were staring at the phone as if Erin was about to come out of it and throttle them. Mental note to self: don't buy Erin a rubber Wii remote cover for her birthday.
"Midna, maybe you should tell Erin you're sorry . . .," Link suggested.
"Okay," Midna replied. She cupped her hands over her mouth and yelled: "I'M SORRY ERIN!"
"You'll be even sorrier when I get my hands on you tomorrow!" Erin yelled.
"Link, um, I think I'll hide in your shadow tomorrow . . .," Midna said, floating slightly behind Link as if to use him as a shield.
"What so I can get killed instead?!" Link said.
"Uh, well, I don't think she'll actually kill you . . . maybe just fatally injure you," Midna said.
"Oh, thanks a lot, Midna," Link said sarcastically.
"You're welcome," Midna replied. Link glared at her again.
"Guys, I'm still on the phone," Erin said.
"Really, I hadn't noticed," I said.
"You know what, Alex? I'm hangin' up!" Erin yelled.
"Geez, she's so touchy," Midna remarked.
"I'm not touchy, you insensitive little imp!" Erin screamed. Just then, I heard a door opening in the background.
"Erin, I will not have you screaming into the phone!" I heard Erin's mom yell.
"Oh shit," Erin muttered.
"ERIN THAT IS IT! YOU ARE GROUNDED!" her mom screamed.
"Dang it," Erin said, then she hung up the phone.
***
The next day at school . . .
"I hate you guys!" Erin yelled at us as we stopped in front of my locker.
"I discerned that from your attitude," Link said.
"Where did you learn that word?" I asked.
"Um . . . Idunno," Link replied. "But it's a big word so I thought if I said it it might shock Erin enough that she'd forget she wanted to kill me and Midna today!"
"Oh, I wasn't planning on killing you. Something much worse is coming," Erin said evilly. Then she turned around and stalked off towards the office.
"Hey, she didn't kill us!" Midna remarked. "That went really well!"
"Um, I don't think you should plan the party quite yet, Midna," I said, knowing that Erin could hold a grudge for a long time; three months was her record.
I opened my locker to get my stuff when all of a sudden, Midna's voice came over the intercom. I turned around to see that Midna was standing right next to me.
"Hey, did you hear?" the voice said over the PA system. The whole school turned to look at the speakers. "I finally snuck around Luke's mom last night. Boy did we ever have fun!"
"See, I told you that trick I taught you would work," a voice that sounded exactly like mine said over the intercom. "I've tested it."
"What?!" I yelled as everyone in the hallway turned to stare at me and Midna.
"But . . . my mommy's dead . . .," Link said, looking like he was about to cry. Then he turned and ran towards the bathroom, but he was stopped by a mob of guys who surrounded him and started patting him on the back.
"See dude, I told you that talk would pay off!" Jake said, giving Link a thumbs up.
A group of girls came and surrounded me and Midna.
"Geez, Mindy, I didn't know you wanted him that bad," one of the girls said. Midna just started at her openmouthed. Then she snapped.
"WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?! I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE HE LIVES! WELL, YES I DO, BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN IN HIS HOUSE! WAIT-YES I HAVE, BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN IN HIS BEDROOM! DANG IT, I HAVE! WAIT-THAT CAME OUT WRONG! IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!" Midna screamed.
This was pretty much how the rest of the day went: Link being congratulated by all of the guys and Midna being terrorized by all the girls and screaming her head off. –sigh- And it was only the second day back . . .