Eric decides to get his hair done

"Aw man, I like your hair... But if you're sure, I think the hair salon is on the other side of the mall..." Kyle started looking at a nearby directory map.

'He's so helpful...' the singsong voice said.

Eric grimaced and tugged slightly at his hair.

"Why does it have to be a salon?" Eric whined. "Why can't women go to barbershops?"

"Ah! Here it is!" Kyle exclaimed. "Second floor, east side. So... that way!"

Kyle pointed towards the other side of the mall.

"Ugh, fine." Eric sighed, and started walking in that direction.

Kyle quickly jogged to keep up, dodging around other customers, as Eric speed-walked across the busy mall.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to lose me." Kyle said.

'If only you knew...' Eric thought to himself.

Once they arrived at the hair salon, Eric walked up to the counter, while Kyle sat down in the waiting area. The salon was slightly busy, with one woman working on a customer, with two empty chairs beside her.

"Excuse me, do you have any openings?" Eric asked, blowing hair out of his face, which immediately fell right back down.

"Usually, we don't have any same-day appointments open, but you're lucky, we just got a cancellation." the woman behind the counter said.

"Thank you so much!" Eric gushed.

"Take a seat in the chair, and a stylist will be right with you." the woman behind the counter motioned to the empty chairs.

Eric quickly sat down in the chair and breathed a huge sigh of relief, things were finally looking up. He glanced over at Kyle, who gave him a thumbs up and Eric felt butterflies in his stomach, and turned away.

"All right, what'll we be doing today, miss?" the stylist asked as she turned the chair towards the mirror.

Eric bristled slightly at being called 'Miss' but sat up and looked up at the stylist.

"Cut it off." Eric said.

"Are you sure? You have gorgeous hair, it'd almost be a shame to just get rid of it all, what does your boyfriend think about this?" the stylist asked.

"He's not my!" Eric blushed again. "He likes it."

"And you don't like it... why?" she asked.

"It's getting in my face too much." Eric tapped his foot impatiently.

"How about I try something that I think will satisfy both of you?" she asked.

"Whatever..." Eric sighed.

"Just sit back and relax, I'll take care of everything." the stylist said, draping a cape over Eric and leaning the chair back.

The stylist lowered Eric’s head into the basin and started scrubbing his scalp. Eric didn't want to enjoy it, but he had to admit, it felt nice. He closed his eyes as he relaxed further.

'This feels great, we're going to look so pretty for Kyle.'

Eric's eyes shot open again and he felt his heart racing, but a few moments of getting his hair washed calmed him down again.

"You have really great hair," the stylist said as she started to rinse Eric's hair.

"Thanks..." Eric said.

The stylist turned the chair away from and got to work, blow drying, brushing, combing, cutting and styling as Eric waited, concerned at what he would look like when it was all over.

"And... finished!" the stylist said, turning the chair

Eric's lips parted in a look of shock as he saw his new hairstyle. Instead of the unmanageable, too-long hair that he'd gotten from the spell, instead his hair was now pulled into a slightly messy bun.

"It's..." Eric started.

"Wow! Your hair looks great!" Kyle exclaimed.

"Great, yeah..." Eric frowned as he realized the spell had made him say that. "Thanks."

After Kyle paid, they walked out of the salon as Eric tried to keep the singsong voice under control.

"So, now you can get some new clothes?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah, sure." Eric said, not paying attention.

"You okay, man?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine it's just... still a lot to get used to." Eric replied.

"Right..." Kyle muttered.