"Guys, I really don't know about this," Emily tried to back out of the girls' plan for her for one last time.
"It's okay, Emily. You just put a little faith in us," Joanne assured as Maureen and Mimi led her by the arms into the Iris Salon. Once in the salon, Maureen had a quick discussion with the staff member about their plan for Emily.
"Well, then. Let's see," the staff member examined Emily's face. "Well, I do see a lot of potential. First things first, though. We'll start by taming those bushman eyebrows." For the next half hour, the staff member hovered over Emily, from styling her frizzy hair to treating her nails. Occasionally, Emily would try to strain her neck to see into the mirror.
"No, Emily!" Mimi prevented her from looking. "Not until it's done."
"But I want to see what you're letting her do to me!"
"Just be patient. You won't be disappointed."
"You three are so lucky I trust you guys."
"There," The staff member announced finally. "She's finished." Emily looked tentatively at the mirror, and was stunned by what she saw.
"Well, what do you think?" Nana asked as she and Collins entered the Blue Room after their cupping treatment.
"I must admit, the back's never felt better," Collins smiled. At that moment, a commotion was heard in the corner, where a teen boy was currently bragging.
"Hey, I can't help it if I'm unbeatable," the boy stated, haughtily displaying a cad hand. "There isn't a game of cards I can't win." Hearing this, Nana and Collins shared an exasperated glance.
"Ay, when I see people like that, I'm almost happy I never had children of my own." Nana sighed.
"What do you say we see if we can't put him in his place?" Collins suggested. "If I didn't believe you knew how to play Texas Hold'em, there's no way that boy would."
"Oh, so you're seriously suggesting we challenge that big-headed teen to a round, just so we can lower him down a peg, even if it means we do it by false pretenses?" Nana frowned.
"Well, yes."
"You really are an anarchist. And I like the way you think." Collins chuckled and challenged the boy to a game of Texas Hold'em.
"You're challenging me, pal?" the boy asked, sizing Collins up.
"Actually, my associate is the one who's giving out the challenge."
"What? You mean Grams here?" The teen laughed in mirth. "You sure you don't have any Bingo buddies around, old timer?"
"Just deal the cards," Nana sat down, clearly not appreciating being called 'old timer'.
Mark sat in his room, winding his camera in preparation for filming. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Upon opening it, he saw Emily standing there. But she no longer looked like Emily.
"Emily?" Mark blinked. While her eyebrows were thinner and well-shaped, and there was a light coat of mascara and other beauty products on her, the most noticeable difference was her hair. It was no longer frizzy, but straight.
"What, no good?" Emily asked. "It was the girls' idea."
"Well... I… your hair! It's… not frizzy."
"Yeah, the lady at the salon put some hair tamer spray in it. Why? Is something wrong with it?"
"You… just look so different without the frizzy hair, that's all."
"Good different or bad different?"
"Just… different." Mark quickly checked himself to snap out of his surprise. "I'm sorry. Is there something you wanted?"
"Not really. I just thought you'd like to know there was a scenic creek hike leaving soon. Thought you'd like to come and film a bit."
"Oh. Sounds good," Mark agreed and followed Emily down the hall, occasionally glancing in shock at her new look."
Sometime later, Mark and Emily were returning from the hike, discussing the things they had captured on film. As they approached their rooms, Mimi poked her head into the hall.
"Oh, Mark, Emily. It's only you," Mimi sighed, her expression a combination of amusement and discouragement. "I thought it might be the people from the salon."
"Why? What do you want with them?" Mark blinked. Mimi bit her lip, clearly trying to hold back a laugh.
"Well, you know how Roger and Maureen have been trying to get the other last?"
"Yes, we all know about that," Emily nodded. "What did they do this time?"
"Come in," Mimi waved them into the room where Roger was sitting on the edge of the bed, his head concealed by a towel. "Maureen," Mimi explained, "obviously switched his shampoo with a semi-permanent hair dye. We've tried, but it won't wash out."
"I'm going to kill her," Roger announced, his voice slightly muffled beneath the towel.
"Roger, come on," Mark reasoned. "How bad could it be?" After a brief hesitation, Roger, whose face was up in an irritated scowl, threw back the towel, revealing his hair, which was no longer the usual dirty blonde color.
"YIKES!!!" Emily's hands flew to her mouth, slightly stumbling backwards in shock at the sight of Roger's hair, which was now a vibrant electric blue.
"I'm going to kill her," Roger repeated.
"You'll do no such thing!" Mark demanded.
"Don't tell me who I can't kill, Cohen! Look what she did to my hair! I can't let people see me like this."
"Okay, calm down!" Emily stepped in. "Just head down to the salon downstairs. I'm sure the people down there can salvage your hair, Roger. Look what they did with mine. If they can make my hair look like this, they can handle your… little problem."
"And risk being seen looking like a circus clown!?"
"Hmm. Good point. You're just going to have to wear this 'till you get down there." Emily took off her Yankees cap, and offered it to Roger, who gave her a look that said you must be kidding. "Don't look at me like that. I know you're a die-hard Mets supporter, but it's either wear the hat or exhibit the hair." Roger, after weighing the two options, sighed and accepted the hat.
"Thanks," Roger got up off the bed and let Mimi escort him down to the salon.
"So," Mark began, once he and Emily were alone. "You never explained to me why you let them give you a make over."
"Oh, that," Emily nodded, tugging on a lock of her now unfrizzed hair. "I was just tired of being overlooked."
"What are you talking about? We don't overlook you."
"It's not you guys I'm talking about, it's everyone else."
"Huh?"
"Come on, Mark. Look at who I'm surrounded with. We got a diva like Maureen, and Mimi, who has curves most girls would kill for. Even Joanne can turn a few heads. I've never been the type of girl most guys go for. I'm the girl-next-door type. Guys go for what I haven't got. I don't expect you to understand." Before Mark could reply, Collins suddenly appeared at the door.
"Anyone know where Roger is?" he asked desperately.
"He went down with Mimi to the Iris Salon, why?"
"Because… I just saw Benny down in that general area. If Roger heads down…"
"Oh, Sh-t!" Mark quickly ran out of the room.
"Head him off, Mark! You can do it!" Emily called after him. After Mark was out of sight, Emily stepped across the hall to her room. "Excuse me, Collins, but I think I should take Wenceslas for a walk. I don't know about you, but if Roger runs into Benny, there's gonna be an outbreak of World War Three, and I don't want to be present for that."
"I know what you mean."
"Roger, Wait!" Mark caught up to his friends shortly before they got close to the salon. "I think the salon's the other way!"
"What are you talking about, Mark?" Roger blinked. "The salon's right there."
"Oh. Right. Well, they're… the salon's closed for lunch break."
"Lunch isn't for another hour," Mimi pointed out.
"Mark," Roger eyed his best friend. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to keep me from…" Roger trailed off, spotting something over Mark's shoulder, his face betraying his shock. Mark winced and turned around. Sure enough, there was Benny, coming out of the salon, talking with the staff member.
"Yes sir, we have an opening for your wife in about two hours. She can stop by then."
"Thank you, Miss," Benny nodded before leaving the salon. However, he froze at the sight of Roger, Mimi and Mark, who were all looking back at him, Roger and Mimi in surprise, and Mark with a grimace.
AN: And the two finally meet. The confrontation is coming soon. I hope it meets your satisfaction. Until next time...