“So, explain to me why your hair is blue again?”
They had been at this for at least a good thirty minutes after he had gotten home. Surprisingly, he would admit that he hadn’t expected his mother to be taking this all rather calmly. She hadn’t suggested he shave his head yet, but it was only thirty minutes into the conversation.
“I just wanted to try something new out for senior year is all.”
“Honey, it’s blue.”
Hunter touched the tresses before offering a smile. “I know, I know. I didn’t think it would be this shade either but it’s not too bad, right?”
She grimaced. “I think you should shave it off.”
There it was.
“I’m not shaving my head, mom.”
“But, honey, it’s…”
“Blue, yeah, I know,” Hunter finished. “It’s only a bit of dye. It’ll be gone before graduation.”
“Why don’t you just c-”
“I’m not cutting my hair or shaving my head.” Averting his eyes as thin fingers combed through his hair, Hunter sighed mentally before pulling his mother’s hands away. “Mom, look, maybe I shouldn’t have gone with such a strange color-”
“You think?”
“-but it’ll be gone before I graduate, ok?”
“Honey-”
“Babe, leave the kid alone, alright? If he wants to run around looking like a smurf his senior year, let him.”
“Gee, thanks, dad.”
“No problem, Papa Smurf.”
“Dear-”
“Karen, last I recall, you dyed yours hot pink with purple and blue streaks your senior year.”
Hunter looked towards the woman that had put her hand on her hips. Holding in a chuckle, he backed out the room when his parents began to bring up memories of their high school years together. And, as much as that would have been fun to hear about, Hunter snuck out of the foyer and into the living room.
Passing by several boxes scattered along the floor, a large, rounded object covered in newspaper caught his attention. Walking over to the thing, he paused suddenly before shivering involuntarily. It wasn’t cold in the living room but it didn’t quite feel comfortable either. Nothing appeared to be out of place so he went to reach for the object again prior to his cell beginning to ring.
“Hello, Mikey.”
“Is she making you shave your head?!”
“What kind of greeting is that?”
“Oh, sorry. Hello,” Michael replied. “Is she making you shave your head?!”
“Mik-”
“Is she?!”
“No!” Glancing over his shoulder to see his dad looking at him, eyebrow quirked, Hunter smiled before focusing on the rounded object. “She’s not making me shave my head.”
“Dad saved the day, didn’t he?”
“Yeah, but I was dubbed ‘Papa Smurf’.” He heard the other snort. “I will kill you if you even think of using it.”
“Ok, ok, jeez. No need to be so sensitive, Princess.”
“What do you want?”
“Nothing in particular…”
“You just called to see if I was getting my head shaved, didn’t you?”
“Would I do that?” Not getting a reply, Michael knew the other was probably glaring at the phone. “What are you doing?”
Scowling at the device for a few moments more, Hunter focused back on the object before peeling away some of the newspaper. “Nothing; about to go do my homework.”
“C’mon, that’s boring stuff. Let’s play a game.”
“Shouldn’t you be doing yours as well?”
“But it’s not going anywhere…” he whined. “Let’s play a game!”
“Mik-”
“I’ll be by in twenty minutes!”
“But-”
Hearing the other hang up, Hunter sighed dramatically before he went back to pulling away the rest of the newspaper. Being presented with his reflection, he combed his fingers through his hair before frowning at the color of it.
“You don’t like the color, do you, Papa Smurf?”
“Are you going to call me that all year?” he asked, looking at his father’s reflection. The slight smirk on the man’s face informed him of his answer. “If you need me, I’ll be in my room.”
-§-
“You spend way too much time on that silly thing.”
“You need to lighten up,” Michael retorted. He then looked over his shoulder to see his friend working on another assignment. “No need to be so…blue.”
“You’re annoying as hell, you know that right?”
“And you love me for it. I brighten your dreary days and make the most sufferable of days joyous.”
Rolling his eyes as he went to his work, Hunter chewed on the edge of his pencil before turning at the sound of his door opening.
“Hey, Papa Smurf.” Dark eyes cut towards the brunette that had snorted. “Anyway, since you have extra room in here, we’re going to store this here,” his father said as he pulled in the large mirror from downstairs.
“Why did you buy it if you didn’t have room to store it elsewhere?” he asked, annoyed to say the least.
“You know I’m not going to deny your mother something she wants.” The man then glanced at the teen that made a whipping sound before focusing on his blue-haired son. “At any rate, until we make some room, the mirror will be staying in your room.”
“Fine; whatever,” Hunter said as he flipped through his textbook. “Michael, shouldn’t you be heading out?”
Aforementioned merely pouted before gathering his things. “Yeah, yeah. I know when I’m not wanted,” he said, swing his pack over his shoulder. “See ya’, Papa Smurf!”
“Michael!”
Glaring at his dad for a moment, Hunter got to his feet once the chuckling man left. Making his way to the mirror, he stared at his reflection before touching his hair again.
He was going to go through senior year with blue hair.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” Her son looked towards her before smiling. “You don’t like your hair, do you?” she questioned worriedly as she walked over to him. Her hand then combed through his hair. “We’re going to cut it.”
Hunter brushed her hand off. “We’re not shaving my head.”
“It’ll grow back.”
“Mom...”
“Babe, stop heckling Papa Smurf.”
Dark blue eyes glanced at the door to see his dad standing there.
“His hair is blue!”
“He doesn’t want to shave his head, dear.”
“I really don’t,” Hunter piped in. “I like it this way, honestly.”
“See?”
“Hun-”
“Mom, dad, I like my hair. It’s nice,” he said. “I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t want to so I’m not shaving it and I won’t dye it a different color. Its fine the way it is. I like it so no more talk on it, alright?”
“But-!”
“Karen, he’s old enough to make this kind of decision on his own, alright?”
Opening then closing her mouth for a moment, the woman sighed heavily in defeat. “Ok, fine.” Her attention then went back to her son as she cupped his cheek. “Honey, if you want your hair to be blue then I will allow it.”
“Besides, it is way better than coloring it hot pink with blue and purple streaks.” He then received a swat to the arm. “What? It is and you know it!”
“Shut up, Stephen!”
Pressing a kiss to the back of her hand, Stephen looked back at his son before smiling. “Better blue than pink,” he said as he ushered his wife from the room. “Anyway, don’t stay up too late. You have school in the morning.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he murmured as his door closed. His attention then went to the blue-haired reflection. “I look like a goddamn idiot…:” He touched the strands before sighing heavily. “Good for nothing Mitch. Stupid jock.”
Gritting his teeth, he balled up a fist before letting his hand go lax. Getting mad wouldn’t solve anything. He was stuck with blue hair for a year; so what? It would fade out before school ended anyway.
“Better blue than pink.”
Despite his dad’s goofy words, Hunter couldn’t help but crack a smile as he stepped out of the shower. Toweling his hair, he walked back into his room before coming to a stop at the threshold.
Something didn’t feel right.
Looking around his room as he walked inside, everything seemed to be in place for the most part. Figuring it as just his nerves after a stressful day, Hunter continued to towel his hair dry before coming to a stop once more as a tremor shot down his spine.
Chancing a look around once more, he brushed the towel aside before stiffening when he caught himself staring at his reflection.
Get a hold of yourself…
He scolded himself as he went back to getting ready for bed. Tossing the towel aside when he was done, he straightened up his room a bit more. He threw away the discarded Doritos bag that Michael had left. He bookmarked where he left off in his studies before ensuring that his alarm clock was set.
Flipping the switch after he had completed his nightly regime, Hunter climbed into bed before closing his eyes. He lay there for a couple of minutes, perhaps even an hour but blissful unconsciousness escaped him. Even more, the unsettling feeling of being watched was getting to him.
Sitting up slowly, dark eyes searched the moonlit room to find no one else present yet that disturbing idea of being watched continued to pester him.
Get a hold of yourself…
Combing a hand through his hair as he sighed heavily, Hunter stared at straight ahead before to feeling himself shiver involuntarily once more. Going over to the mirror stationed opposite to him, Hunter stared at his reflection before touching the pane of glass. As another tremor racked his body, he took a quick step back prior to returning to his bed.
Pulling the blanket over his head, he peeked out some time later to stare at his reflection. He knew he was being silly. The mirror was normal enough, his reflection showing him his current position. However, the reflection’s eyes seemed a bit too observant.
Get a hold of yourself…
With the idea of moving the thing tomorrow, Hunter pulled the covers back over his head before trying to get some sleep.
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