Shadow's home: Nightmare

"Er... something simple... I work with horses you see..." Close enough, Shadow thought.

"Hmmm...something more...you...I think darling I shall take a good bit of length off it...and possibly layer angel...what do'ya reckon love?" Craig asked Shadow.

Shadow gritted her teeth against something she would like to have said, but refrained.
"Yeah, fine."

"I see you have issues...say what you want, and I can do it..no problem," said Craig, grinning, "Craigy knows all."

"Em... just... what you said." Shadow now realised that getting your hair cut by your sister had been an advantage. Raven never bothered with styles, she just cut it straight.

"Maybe a few minor tweaks...trust me...I'll make you...you. I won't give you two many layers...just a few at the front...kay?" said Craig, smiling at Shadow as he began to wash her hair.

Natalie patted Shadow's knee comfortingly, before sitting next to her.
"So...hows like Craig?" Natalie asked.
"Good...had a birthday recently...24," Craig shuddered, "I mean TWENTY FOUR! I am so OLD!"
"I'm twenty five..." said Natalie.
"Yeah...but YOU look about 15," said Craig, rolling his eyes.

Shadow's hand rested near her leg, where she knew there was a dagger concealed, just in case he made any moves towards her throat (Shadow was getting paranoid). She kept her mouth shut on the topic of ages.

"I'm SEVENTEEN!" Holly shouted.
She wasn't.
But shhh.

Natalie reached out and held Shadow's hand.
Craig handed Shadow a towel.
"Can you...um...wrap your hair...and I'll get scissors," said Craig, who had panicked, due to the fact that he couldn't wrap Shadow's long hair...because it was so long, "and I was 17 once...worst age of my life!"

Shadow deftly wrapped ehr hair up, used to its length. She smiled a worried smile at Natalie.

"Well you're you." Holly said, "I'm me... and I love it."

"He'll never know...I swear," said Natalie, as Craig returned.
"I have returned," said Craig, grinning politely at Shadow, Natalie and Holly, and then waggling his tongue at one of his clients near the back of the room.
"Hol-ly!' Natalie said, thumping Holly, "I'm sorry, she tends to lie."

Shadow made an attempt at a smile back, but could instantly tell that it wasn't a very good one, so she wiped it off her face.

"Is she ok?" Craig whispered to Natalie.
"Yeah...she's just...look...she's never been to a real hair-dresser before...he sister does it...the dye and all," explained Natalie, though the dye part was a lie.

Shadow nodded slightly to Natalie, thanking her.

"Oh no sweat..." said Craig, beginning to cut Shadow's hair carefully.

Shadow sat still as a rock (Raven had managed to cut the back of Shadow's neck a few years back, and she had learned her lesson).

Craig smiled.
"You're better than that Holly girl when it comes to stillness," he commented.

"Thank you sir." Shadow said quietly.

"Sir....ha! Craig...call me Craig...I shiver at the word 'sir'..." said Craig, laughing slightly, "or if you really must, you can call me Britney."

(( I couldn't resist...I understand this, but others won't lol))

"OK." Shadow replied carefully.

Craig hummed "Hit me baby one more time," under his breath as he worked.

Shadow raised an eyebrow slightly.

"You know it?" Craig asked, grinning, "I love me a bit of Britney."

Shadow shrugged slightly.
"I don't tend to listen to it."