The Read And Weep Bundle: Anonymous, Perfectly Hopeless, Run by Holly Hood

was a way to express herself. She could change something, make it different and no matter what she messed up it didn’t matter because it was just hair. It came back.
    She decided to do something fun with her life. Not to take anything too serious anymore. Part of the reason for that choice was because everyone around her was so somber all the time. And she needed a way to stay together when all she wanted to do was fall apart. It was hard to function, but slowly she learned how to keep herself in control.
    Everyone wanted to be sad. Everyone was mourning the loss of a life. And sure, she was too, but she also was alive and had to live her own.
    Gretchen, her classmate plopped down in her chair. “Bad news. The models backed out at the last minute. Looks like we are stuck chopping up mannequin heads another day.” She fluffed her hair in the mirror and spun toward Elle.
    “Too bad, I was actually looking forward to it too.” She gathered up her combs and started organizing her station trying to pass the time.
    Ky, another classmate traipsed past the two of them. He was the dramatic kind and it was apparent he had something big to dish. Elle waited. One hand on her hip waiting for his story or whatever it was he was going to tell them.
    “Both of you bitches can thank me later,” he said, grinning from ear to ear. “I saved the day.”
    Elle stared at Ky confused. “What are you talking about?”
    Ky clapped his hands. “Oh, you’ll see. I happened to hear about your little dilemma and I found some wandering strays to fill in for today. You’re welcome.”
    Elle’s jaw dropped when Ky called in the guinea pigs.
    Ky elbowed her in the side. “Hot right?”
    She gripped Ky’s arm in shock. Hart took her seat with a grin on his face, pleased by her response to their running into each other again.
    “You never called.” He stared at her from the mirror. “And look how the universe repays you.”
    She reluctantly buttoned the cape around his neck. “Yes, look. I’m beginning to think you’re stalking me.”
    Hart smiled. “I swear I was in the area.”
    Elle picked up the spray bottle and comb.
    Hart watched her closely. “Promise me you won’t butcher my hair. It happens to be one of my favorite parts of me.”
    She stood in front of him her heart pounding in her chest. She  didn’t know why the thought of touching him was making her so tense, but it was.
    “I can’t promise anything. And you can’t sue me,” she said, staring at his dark head of hair. The kind of hair that belonged to someone famous, the kind of hair you slipped your fingers through and tugged back and forth.
    She dropped her spray bottle.
    “Somebody’s clumsy today,” Hart said a big grin on his face. His dark eyebrows rose in amusement, he kept his eyes on her as she tried to convince herself to touch him.
    “I’m fine. Let’s get this over with.” She came a bit closer, he smelled amazing. And the way he was staring at her with those eyes, those brilliant eyes of blue, rimmed with dark lashes.
    She ran her fingers through the front of his hair, brushing it back on his head. “What do you want?”
    Hart was silent.
    Elle tilted her head to the side. “Hello?”
    “Sorry.” He blinked. “Do whatever you want to me. I’m sure you’ll make me look great.”
    Elle bit her lip, spraying him with the spray bottle. She started to work, combing and cutting. Trying to remember everything th at she had learned in hopes she didn’t butcher him.
    “Got any plans tonight?” Hart asked. He stayed still, letting her try her best. 
    “I plan on going home and eating some of my mom’s famous spaghetti and meatballs and then probably going to bed,” she told him. She spun the chair.
    “Sounds like a blast,” he said. “You’re never going to give in are you?”
    “Probably not.” She looked over his hair, taking him by the chin to turn him the way she needed to get a better look. The scruff on his chin tickled her finger