"EUREKA! I AM A GENIUS!" shouted Buffie from over at his computer.
"What?" Jade asked, a little unsure what Buffie was so excited about.
"I think I created the perfect and affordable new closet for Jonatha." The fashionista was smiling from ear to ear.
"Show me! I'm curious." Jonatha ran over to Buffie in anticipation.
"Here you go." Buffie turned the screen toward Jonatha, showing off a whole range of looks which had strong boho and 1980s influences, with short skirts and some miniskirts; several blouses; many retro-styled T-shirts; denim shorts; and form-fitting jeans that accentuated his curves but weren't too tight. His hair was cut in different layers, making it more voluminous and expressive.
"Buffie, this whole gallery...I'm blown away! I loved every piece and how all of it fits my body. If you were a girl, I would kiss your mouth right now," Jonatha replied excitedly.
"A 'thank you' and being my model is enough for me. Right, boyfriend?" Jonatha blushed.
"But how would I get this hair done? I don't have time to see a stylist, since regionals are this weekend."
"Have I told you that I spent my last summer and winter vacations learning how to be a hairstylist?"
"You truly are a fashion renaissance man, Buffie," Jade complimented in amazement.
"Thanks, I'm just doing my best to get ahead in the world after school! Now, Jonatha, you sit here while I get everything I need from my bag." Buffie took his computer to his bag and exchanged it for scissors and other implements of cosmetology.
"Do you mind if we start to watch something now? I don't want to waste the night just doing all this," Jade asked, grabbing the TV remote. "That way you can watch while Buffie works his magic."
"No, I really would like to watch something. That will help me to not think about the whole idea of losing 10 years of hair in one fell swoop."
"Alright," Jade said, turning on the TV and going on his Netflix account. "How about we watch To All The Girls I've Loved Before?"
"I love this movie! The protagonist is so Nessa," Buffie commented.
"Cool! It's a movie about a wallflower boy." Jonatha began to relax in the chair.
None of the girls noticed the time flying while Buffie was doing Jonatha's hair. Both Jonatha and Jade got really involved in the movie. Buffie had already watched it, but he was enjoying seeing his friends' reactions to Petra and Lars Jean's relationship.
"Now, the last part," Buffie said, already getting the golden hairdye tincture box. "Time to transform this cute chrysalis into a gorgeous butterfly."
"Do I really need this?" Jonatha whined, fearing the last step.
"Yes, dear," Buffie explained, almost paternally. "The whole look I built for you was for a blonde Jonatha, not a brunette one. Don't you want to look amazing?"
"O—okay," Jonatha mustered, still unsure if it would work or not.
"Good, because I'm already mixing everything."
Jonatha closed his eyes when Buffie applied the dye, and when he opened them, he saw Buffie get out his computer again and start watching videos.
"Whatcha watching?" Jade asked curiously.
"Some music videos from my favorite producing company," Buffie replied as he cast the stream from his computer to the TV screen
"Gosh... the singers look awesome...the music is so good," Jade swooned, almost dancing.
"I know," Buffie agreed in excitement. "Republic Atlanta really has the best boy bands."
Jonatha looked at the screen and started to pay attention. "Jade, this reminds me a bit of cheerleading!"
"Heh, yeah. Maybe the choreographer was a cheerleader himself." Jade was already tapping his foot to the beat.
"Well, makes sense since many of these boys were discovered as cheerleaders and at dance competitions. But the dances are easy enough to do at home," Buffie explained, checking his watch to see how much longer he needed to keep the dye in Jonatha's hair.
"I must admit I never had listened to any of this before," Jade added as he started memorizing the lyrics. "But it's not the heavy metal the girls listen to. I can't stand Fifth Harmony, the Spice girls, Sweet Sensation..." He sighed with some disgust. "Pop music's good, I grew up listening to Joshua Ciccone, but it sounds so samey."
"Five more minutes," Buffie announced.
"That fast?"
"That's what happens when you use professional beauty products. This stuff is like what they use in Hollywood, Jonatha. Once it's done, you will look like you had born blonde, including your eyebrows."
"How much does that cost?" Jade asked.
"Nothing. I got this as a reward when I graduated as the best student in my winter class. But to buy a whole set's quite expensive, like $500 or so for a dye like this that lasts 10 to 14 months."
"Very expensive," Jade mused, already calculating in his head how many hours he would need to work babysitting or as a barista to get enough money. "It sure looks like it, too."
Buffie's watch beeped. "You can wash your head to remove the excess now, Jonatha." He promptly went to the bathroom to wash out his hair. When he was done, he looked in the mirror and emitted a squeak, a short shriek that alarmed both Jade and Buffie and sent them running to the And Jonatha went to the upper floor bathroom to wash her hair. When Jonatha finished to wash his hair and finally looked to the mirror he emited a squeek, a short shriking sound which alarmed both Jade and Buffie
"I am blonde, really blonde, not a fake blonde..." Jonatha said quietly to himself.
Buffie arrived just in time to catch Jonatha admiring himself in the mirror. "Yes, boyfriend, you are blonde, but next time... can you not shriek? I thought something happened to your head."
Jonatha blushed in embarrassment. "It's an adjust—" The doorbell rang.
"I...wasn't expecting anyone else," Jade wondered aloud.
