Next memory.

After the summer was, obviously, Year Eight. We were twelve. Our teenage years were coming.

On the last week, like she'd promised, Iro took me to the salon again. So, for another hour or so, I sat over a book while a stylist - a different man from before - worked on my hair. Iro was having hers done across from me. Once mine was done, I sat on a chair and waited for her.

I heard her thanking the stylist before I actually saw her. I looked up - and my mouth flew open in surprise. It was like a waterfall, tumbling down her curly locks. She looked in the mirror, twisted her head from one side to the other and nodded. Then she spun and left the building.

I ran after her. "Wow." Was all I said. She looked at me and smiled.

"Wow indeed." She replied. "Let's see what they're going to say now."

Of course, it was anything but a compliment.

See, because of me - or, Iro - the trend had caught in to dye your hair crazy colours. There were other night skies, more morning skies, just vibrant colours. We weren't special anymore.

Iro took in the scene on the first day and shook her head sadly. "Useless copycats..." She muttered, pulling me to our form room.

I didn't comment on the fact she had just dyed her hair too. Instead, I looked around. The school was tidier. More pristine. I frowned. It must be because it's the beginning of the year.

We got to the form room with time to spare. Our form tutor ushered us inside. I caught his disapproving look. Iro didn't.

The rest of the form came in and we all sat down, filling in our timetables. Then he door opened. Iro's best friend, Mr. Lynx walked in, took one look around the classroom and sighed.

"Listen up, year eight!" He called attention, standing in front of the whiteboard. "Who here got the uniform leaflet?"

Nobody raised their hand. There was a uniform?

"We are now a academy. We are going to have a uniform. Rules will be enforced after Halloween." He looked in our direction. "It bans hair dye."

Iro wasn't the only one to protest. Several others yelled. "I mean!" He raised his voice, still fixing Iro with his steely gaze. "Unnatural colours. Anything out of the ordinary." His eyes didn't leave Iro during his whole speech. "You have until Halloween to get unnatural colours out of your hair."

He turned and left again. Our form tutor let us talk for the rest of the time. Then we had to go to class.

Me and Iro didn't have the same class.

"I'll meet you in our normal place, okay?" She asked. I nodded. Our normal place was a tree stump on the field. I arrived at the Chemistry class room, took my seat and waited for the lesson.

Someone nudged my shoulder. I looked round. "Hairo?" The girl asked. I nodded. She grinned, showing braces of every colour. "I'm Indigo. I just wanted to know if you wanted to hang out?"

My mouth went dry. "You'd be a lot more popular if you stopped hanging around with Iro." She was saying, twiddling with her hair. "C'mon, just hang out with us for one lunch time."

I shook my head. "Why not?" She demanded. "You don't actually like that freak, do you?" Then she laughed. What felt like the rest of the class laughed with her.

I felt like I was falling through a dark tunnel, the light being a hour away. I swallowed and turned away from her, turned away from the laughter.

In the doorway, Iro had just watched the whole thing. Her gaze flickered from the girl - Indigo - to the rest of the laughing class - then her face closed off. She stormed away, her patchwork jacket flicking around the corner.

The class dragged on until the end. I was the first to get out. A boy stepped in front of me.

"Do you want a tie?" He asked me. I blinked, and backed away slowly. He smiled. "No, seriously." He opened his bag, looking at me. "Grey sweater... Here." He pulled out a silky strip of fabric. I took it hesitantly. "Oh, you're Iro's friend, aren't you? Here, give her this one." He handed me another tie. I clutched them both, smiled weakly and darted to the tree stump.

Iro was already there, kicking up dust. She looked up as I approached. Her face beamed. "I though you were going to go with them." She said, hugging me.

I hugged her back, heart pounding. "Never." I replied softly.

"Good." Then she noticed the ties. "What've you got?"

I handed over her tie. It was skinny, with rainbows splattered over it in a patchwork design. Then I actually looked at mine.

It was a little wider then Iro's, but not by much. Just a plain, silvery tie. But turning it towards the light revealed a little star. I smiled, and tucked it in my bag.

"Do we have a tie dealer or something?" She asked, laughing when I told her the story. "Seems your getting popular, Hairo. Sure you still want to hang around with me?"

She said it lightly, but I could feel the emotion behind her voice. I nodded.

"I wouldn't trade you for the world." I told her.

She smiled and took my hand. "Me neither."

My heart fluttered. Did she mean it like I did or..?

Of course she didn't. I could only hope that she did, but a small part of my brain yelled at me. You think she'd fall for you? Get a grip!

Iro laughed, like she could read my thoughts, and tucked her tie into her bag, letting go of my hand. |I turned away so she couldn't see my blush.

I could only hope.

Ooo.

It's short.

I'm sorry, but I felt like it was a good place to leave it. It's not really short - about the same length as the last chapter. I'm aiming for around a thousand words in each chapter. Make it loooong.

Have you guys ever had to turn down something to stay with your friend? And did you make the right choice? I won't judge if you didn't - it's all in the past now. And if it's more recent, explain to your friend. If they're a true friend, they'll understand. Or maybe you need to give them time to cool down.

Until next time,

~Glitch