Her mother checked her out at lunchtime. Thank goodness she wouldn't have to endure questioning looks anymore. Tommy was the worst. When she and Johnny arrived at school, he held her hand a little tighter and kept her by his side a little longer. She was doing OK, really, until Tommy pointed it out. He made her feel like some hideous monster and made her want to hide in the shadows.
First, his eyes got big, round as a baseball. Then he held his hand over his mouth. "Color abuse! Color abuse right here," he shouted with laughter. He grew quiet when he saw the thunder written on Johnny's face.
She tried to go along with it. "Blue hair don't care." But even she wasn't buying those words. Putting on a brave face, she faced her peers with dignity. The dignity deserving of blue hair. Johnny was by her side every step of the way, except in classes they didn't share together. Which was basically all of them, but he did meet her after every single one to walk her to the next.
During lunch, the secretary came to get her. She explained that her mother is here to pick her up. Johnny pushed up the sleeves on his red Cobra Kai jacket and reminded his girlfriend "I have to stay awhile after school and help finish decorating. Then I'm changing at home. But can I come over and have you help me with the face paint?"
Nodding she said, "Of course." After standing up from the table, she grabbed her belongings. "Take a long look because the next time you see me, hopefully, I'll have normal hair again," she mentioned.
He stood up with her and touched her hair. "I don't know. It's kind of growing on me." His fingers ran through it.
Taking his hand in her own, she retorted "Be serious. It's revolting, but thank you for trying to cheer me up regardless. You're a great treat for this awful trick." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. They squeezed hands goodbye.
Then she was off to the office where she met her mother. Her mom, bless her, had a Wendy's chicken sandwich meal waiting for her in the car. She didn't even ask how school was, which Ava is also thankful for. It's like her mom's intuition kicked in and she just knew how terrible it was. They rode in silence all the way to the salon, Mia Bella.
If this is the prelude to the dance, then she's unsure if wants the actual thing. The day started with a trick, a nasty trick. As she looked at a strand of her blue hair, she can't help but wonder what more this day has in store? It has to end better than this, right? After all, it's a full moon tonight. Full moons are magical, mysterious, and when wishes come true. At least that's what she read in a book.
As soon as they arrived and checked in, Javier whisked them away. He tsked and shook his head. His Italian accent came through when he spoke. "We can fix it. This is what we will do. First, we wash it good. Then we bleach and re-dye with a honey brown. If you want we leave some blonde low lights in. It will be a happy mixture of light and dark. It's up to you."
Ava agreed to his plan. Anything will be better than looking like a Smurf. He led her to the washing stations and clarified her hair with a soothing shampoo. It got a lot of the blue dye out. Then he set about doing what he explained. By the time she set under the big dryer, with the brown hair color in, it was two o'clock.
Growing antsy, Ava was ready to leave. She has to get ready for the dance tonight. But her hair is important too. More irritation flared, after flipping through another magazine. Seriously how many times does she need to read about How To Get His Attention with looks he'll love? And she's also tired of reading about freaking John Stamos. The guy is in all the magazines. All of them! Sure he's gorgeous, but so is Johnny. Finally, Javier turned the chair around.
"Voila. It is magnificent! Some of my finest work," he acknowledged.
She can't bring herself to look. What if she hates it? What if Johnny hates it? But then he didn't poke fun of the blue hair, so how bad could this be? Definitely not worse. With a forced smile on her face and a wild thumping of her heart, she raised her eyes from her hands. Tears formed. Her hands touched it. She's normal again! And it's SO pretty. It's her brown hair but better. He left some low lights in and it really accentuates everything. The light brown and the dark mixed together are perfect!
"Oh thank you, Javier. Thank you so much!" She stood and hugged him. Her mother did too. Naturally, she booked an appointment with him for seven weeks out. It's definitely worth maintaining.
The minute her mother paid and they stepped outside, Ava let out a shout of joy. "It's normal again! No more blue hair fiasco. And look, mother! It's so pretty." She can't stop touching it.
Her mom agreed and hugged her daughter. "Do you need anything else for your costume tonight?" she asked. "Tell me now while we're out."
Shaking her head, Ava confirmed "I don't think so. I have my striped tights, tulle skirt, and hat. I'm wearing the Halloween T-shirt underneath my denim jacket, and my black shorts underneath the tulle skirt. So, I think I'm good."
Linda thought about what her daughter said, and an idea popped into her head. "What about fingernails? Are you going to have witchy nails?"
A mystified expression formed on Ava's face. "I didn't think of that. Yeah, I guess witchy nails would look good."
They headed to K-Mart for last-minute Halloween items. Seeing a jumbo bag of gummy worms, made Ava put them into the cart. They're Johnny's favorite. He deserves a treat too, especially after having to put up with her blue mood. She helped her mom pick out more bags of candy, for trick-or-treaters. Her mother always goes overboard with candy buying. After checking out, they headed home. There's a ton of things to do before the dance, like work on some homework.
The setting of the sun cast shadows on the wall. Ava sat on her bed distracted by her own shadow. She's supposed to write a poem for her poetry elective. Her teacher, Mrs. Anderson, told the class it has to be about some aspect of truth combined with Halloween. The only thing she can think of is shadows, mainly because that's what's distracting her at present.
Shadows are interesting things. On the edge of light and dark, it brings. Some people hide behind them whether big or small. Shadows follow you, lurking tall. It finds you when the sun does down and the light goes out. It cuts you close. It preys on your weakness and makes you doubt. It shifts through the dark, to hit its mark. Those who live in shadows don't think they deserve the light. The darkness inside them makes a terrible sight. Look in the shadows, you're not alone. Catch the light. Cause fate is not set in stone. There's something to be said about the shadows.
She wrote this down. Her poem could be prose or a mixture. There are no guidelines saying it couldn't be. A knock sounded at her door. "Come in," she yelled. Johnny entered carrying a dress bag and his duffle. She set her poetry notebook aside.
Instantly she sat up and inquired about his day. "Hi, You! How was your afternoon?"
Sitting his things down on the floor, he plopped on her bed. "Boring without you. But the gym is decorated. Everything's ready for tonight." He admired her hair. "Oh wow! You look hot. Not that you didn't before. Even with the blue, you were still hot. A hot Smurfette. This though, this is good." His fingers reached out and touched it. He'll have to beat the guys off her for sure.
Her head turned to him. She took his hand and laced their fingers. Leaning back on her pillows, she commented. "We have pizza downstairs. Have you eaten?" He shook his head no. "Come on. Let's go get you some."
She started to get up, but he pulled her back down. His lips met her head-on. Ava's heart thudded like a drum and her knees got weaker by the second. She could only focus on how soft his lips are against her own. How beautifully, and wonderfully he invaded her senses.
Keeping his eyes half-open to look at her, every time he took air, he can't help but wonder if this is a trick of his imagination. He lives for the light of her kisses. Heat rose from his stomach to his chest. His whole body tingled at the feel of her frame against his and her fingers running through his hair. His mouth is hungry but not for pizza.
No one else existed in this time, this place. Just them. And their shadows twined on the wall. This delicious, savory, hungry kiss. They lay there kissing and cuddling. Then she pulled back and looked into his eyes. A mixture of calm and storm. Light and darkness. And it's all good. She placed sweet butterfly kisses on his face.
She started with his forehead and kissed his worry lines away. Then to his cheeks, back up to his forehead, and down to his nose. Followed by both of his eyelids and chin. Then an Eskimo kiss to his graceful nose. And finally back to his lips. Where she laid claim to them. Every kiss big and small saying the words she wants to voice, I love you.
Pulling away, she rested her head on his chest. "I think we need to get up. You need food and we need to put on our costumes." He groaned his displeasure. "But we do. There's time for kissing later."
Ava sat up first. She held her hand out to him. He took it and slowly got up. Peace and love shadowed each other in his soul. They held hands down the stairs. Clara came bounding up to her sister. "Sissy up," she said. Ava picked her up.
"You are getting too heavy for me to pick up," she told her sister. Then Vera followed, except to Johnny.
She held out her arms to him. "Up peas." Smiling he picked her up. The last time he held a child was maybe Tommy's little sister two years ago. They carried the twins into the kitchen with them. The two of them refused to be put down, even when Johnny ate. Vera sat on his lap with her head on his chest. By the time he finished his pizza, Vera was halfway to sleep.
Linda came into the room. She saw Clara and Vera with their sister and boyfriend. It's too cute. But if Vera falls asleep, then trick-or-treating is ruined. "Alright munchkins, no falling asleep for you." She went to Johnny and took Vera, who rubbed her eyes. "We have to put your costumes on." Looking at the older two, she told them "You have to do the same thing." Then she left with the two little girls.
Johnny threw his paper plate into the trash. He drank down the last of his soda and stretched out a hand to Ava. The two went to get ready. Ava changed in the closet, while Johnny went into her bathroom. She was finished dressing by the time he came out.
If his PE shorts are way short, and they are, then his costume truly leaves nothing to the imagination. It hugs everything, everywhere. "Oh wow!"
Not knowing if that's good or bad, he asked "Is it stupid?" Maybe he should have asked her opinion before he and the guys bought them.
She came over and put her arms around him. "No. It's good. Definitely a sexy skeleton."
Before he got turned on again, he handed her his face paint. "Alright hot witch work your magic."
Leading him into the bathroom, she hopped up on the counter. Then she had him positioned in front of her. They're almost even height like this. Handing him a clip, she stated "Clip your hair out of your face. That way it won't get makeup on it." He did as instructed. Starting with the white, she smathered it all over with her sponge applicator. Then evened it out with a makeup brush, not in current use.
Looking at the picture he gave her, she applied the black next. It went around his eyes and his nose. Before his mouth was done, she pulled him down for a final kiss. Which he pouted at. "It's not a final, final kiss. I just don't want the face paint on me." As soon as his mouth was completed, she unclipped his hair and fixed it in place. "Tell me what you think."
He admired her job in the mirror. It looks excellent, just like the picture. "I like it. Good job Babe." He exited and left her to do her own makeup. He sat on the bed, reading her shadow poem, and can't help but feel it speaking to him.
Coming out of the bathroom, she saw him reading her poem. "If it's stupid don't tell me."
His eyes caught hers watching him. "It's good. I like it. It makes me think. But it's Halloween and we have a dance to go to. I don't want to think. I want to make magic with you."
As she finished applying her last witchy nail, she picked up her hat and set it on her head. Then she turned around and quoted some poem from poetry class. "The moon has awoken with the sleep of the sun. The light has been broken, the spell has begun."
"I'm totally under your spell. You've enchanted me with your Ava stuff," he ached to kiss her. Instead, he reached out his hand, and she took it. They walked downstairs, where her mother took their picture. Heading out the door, Ava grabbed her purse. The wind is chilly and billows in the air. It pricked her arms and made her shiver.
Muttering to herself, she quoted Shakespeare. "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes." She can feel it in her bones. Something wicked is definitely afoot, way worse than blue hair. She held Johnny's hand a little tighter.
They arrived at the dance, around eight-thirty. It was in full swing. He grabbed his Walkman and slipped it around his neck, then raised the hood of his costume. Holding hands they traipsed toward the entrance. She knew he wants a kiss. "You know this witch can be bribed with chocolate."
Laughing, he remarked with a wink, "I'll keep that in mind for later." He pulled her onto the dance floor with him. A slow song started, True by Spandau Ballet. Locked in each other's embrace, he rested his head on top of hers. She gets him and he loves her. So why not tell her?
His mouth went dry and his heart sped up. Head still resting on hers, he spoke. With a soft voice, he said her name "Ava."
"Hmmm," she murmured. This is so nice. His arms and scent surrounding her. It's wonderful.
Rubbing her back, his courage kicked in. "Ava, I want you to know something. Iâ-" He felt someone tap him on the shoulder. What the hell? Stopping their dance, he whirled around. Of course, it's Dutch. This had better be good or he swears he'll hurt him. A bit harsh, he voiced "What?"
He whispered into Johnny's ear, then walked off. Turning back to Ava, he explained "I need to go do something with the guys. I promise we're not up to trouble. When I get back there's something I really want to tell you." He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it.
As he walked away, Ava felt uncomfortable. Something just doesn't feel right, but she can't put her witchy finger on it. Once he was out of sight, she tried to find her friends. Joy is going as a cat. Charley is supposed to be a "pretty princess ". Kara said she's going to be a popcorn box? Which she spotted instantly and it's oh SO cute.
Kara wore a red and white striped skirt. Her white T-shirt had yellow and white pieces of foam and pom-poms attached to it. She wore yellow heels on her feet and held an actual popcorn box in her hands. It's full of popcorn and by far the most creative costume here.
Wandering up to them, she said "Trick-or-treat girls." They all laughed and talked about the costumes and the dance. They all agreed the Cobras make sexy skeletons. Speaking of which. "What are they up to? Do any of you know? Because Dutch came and dragged Johnny away."
"No, but they're probably smokin' a joint. To take the edge off," Joy stated.
Ava hopes not, especially on school property. But then... Off in the distance, she noticed a chicken throwing real eggs. "Oh look. Real eggs. If he comes anywhere near me or my hair, my witchy claws will come out. I've had enough hair dilemmas for one day." Her friends agreed and they went to stand off to the side.
Meanwhile, Johnny was totally rolling a joint. This would actually help calm his nerves. If he's going to say I love you, then he needs all the calm he can get. Cause that's a huge freaking deal. The only woman he's ever said those words to is his mother. With Ava, he knows it's true. It's just a matter of actually saying it out loud.
He almost had it rolled when Bobby banged on the door. "Got the number rolled yet, Man?"
Poking his head up, he answered. "In a minute." As soon as Bobby left, he went back to listening to his music. All of a sudden water started pouring down on top of him. What the hell? Looking up he saw a hose and heard feet running. If that Twerp...
Dashing out of the stall he gave chase to the running feet. Oh, it's definitely that Twerp. He's going to pay. As he took off after him, he got tripped up. Like a pile of bones, his friends fell on top of him. "Get up!" They took off running again. Out of the school, in the street, over a fence, and through a meadow when he finally caught up to the idiot. Pulling him off a second fence, he said "You ain't going nowhere." Tommy's eerie laughter echoed in the background.
Ava saw the whole scene. Charley threw an arm around her. "What was that all about?" she questioned.
Responding, Ava said the only thing that came to her mind. "Heck if I know. But it's obvious Johnny was instigated. He never starts fights purposely. He finishes them or defends himself. It's clear that idiot goaded him into something."
Just then she heard annoying laughter behind her. Turning around she saw Susan and Barbara. "Even you couldn't stop him from fighting. He's such an angry loser. We won't say we told you so, but sucks to be you, Ava."
Narrowing her eyes, and with a frightfully calm voice, Ava emphasized "No. It sucks to be you. And it sucks to be Daniel even more right now. He pushed and pushed and pushed Johnny until he had enough. This is him having enough and pushing back." She walked off with her friends, the whole time hoping Johnny won't do something so terribly stupid.
The anger continued to rise in him. "You couldn't leave well enough alone. Could ya? Could ya little Twerp? Nah. You had to push it. Well now you're gonna pay," Johnny told him. Then he punched him before kicking the crap out of him.
Bobby thought it's time to intervene. "Leave him alone Man. He's had enough."
In the heat of the moment, Johnny remarked "I'll decide when he's had enough. The enemy deserves no mercy." He whirled back around to kick the crap out of this jerk even more. Just as he was going for it again, this old guy came out of nowhere and started taking down his friends. He tried to defend himself, but the guy got him too.
Stunned and unable to move, at least for a while, he had time to think. This is another moment he can add to the "this did not go as planned" pile.
Rachel, dressed as a fairy, came to join the group. "Wow. That was wild. The car pile-up outside is massive."
Needing to see it herself, Ava began walking out. Everything outside is full of mist, fog, darkness, and shadows. Cars wrecked out. No good will come of this. "This is ridiculous." She and her friends held hands surveying the damage. She can hear Sid yelling and cursing at Johnny in her mind, over all of this mess. Her heart hurt and burned.
The one who should be yelled at is Daniel. Why can't he just leave Johnny be? All of the wreckage was caused by petty jealousy and bad attitudes. Sure Johnny can own part of the blame. But seriously that guy needs to own his part too.
Through the mist and fog, skeletons could be seen stepping out of the shadows. In the light, they looked banged up. Tommy is holding his arm and head, while Jimmy is helping him walk. Staying put, Ava planted her feet firmly. She's not going to run to Johnny like some worried mother hen. He'll come to her when he's ready.
Helping Tommy into Dutch's car, he feels torn between going with his friend to the ER and staying for Ava. His jaw and fist clenched while rubbing his own head. His stomach gurgled and that made the decision easier. "Hey let me know how he is," he told Dutch. Then walked over to his girlfriend.
Knowing he'd hate to be fawned over in public, after a fight, she inspected him with her eyes. He doesn't look good. He almost looks ready to pass out. Johnny handed her the keys. "You drive" was all he said. They got into his car, and she started it. Then she reached for his hand. He clutched it tight in his own and wore a genuinely surprised expression.
As they drove off, he turned on the radio. Not knowing the direction she's headed, Johnny pressed her to tell him. "Where are we going?"
"Somewhere safe and quiet," was the answer she gave. He closed his tired eyes and rested his hurting head on the headrest.
Light is easy to love. The darkness is difficult. Someone who truly loves you sees what a mess you are, how moody you can be, and how hard you are to handle. But they still want you despite all of this. Johnny's a mess. But he's also a masterpiece.