I pour myself a bowl of cereal and take a seat on one of the stools at the counter. Yesterday was fun. I pull my list out of my pink sweatshirt pocket and snatch a pencil out of the mason jar that Ava likes to keep in the kitchen for when someone calls her. I scribble a cute little check mark next to Go to a drive-in movie.

"What shall we do today?" I mumble to myself, looking over the list while tapping the pencil on the marble counter. I spoon some cereal into my mouth as one item peaks my interest.

Dye my hair a crazy color.

Remembering this one girl's cool hair, I decide that is what I'm going to do today.

The stairs creak as Ava walks down them, likely having just finished showering after her morning run. She slides into the kitchen wearing a light wash denim skirt and a burnt orange button up shirt with short ruffle sleeves.

"Why the fancy clothes?" I ask, shoving another spoonful of Frosted Flakes into my mouth.

"I'm going to the boardwalk with Matthew," she answers, pulling a yogurt out of the fridge.

"There's a hair salon there, right?" I ask raising an eyebrow.

"No," she responds at my suggestion. "I'm not canceling my date to get some wacky haircut."

"That's not what I'm suggesting," I say, sliding off the stool.

"Getting my hair styled in some Brazilian blowout will cost a hundred dollars."

"But you will come with Matthew and get your hair dyed," I place my bowl in the sink, grab the list, and start walking towards the stairs.

"Dyed hair?" Ava gasps. "No way. My hair would get damaged!"

"It will look cool and you won't have to dye it all," I remind her.

"Matthew won't want to..." she tries to escape my reasoning.

"Fine, you have," I check my phone, "Twenty minutes to decide or I'll just go without you."

Ava huffs, and I climb up the stairs to put on some better clothes. I slip into some high waisted cut-offs, an old t-shirt from a local ice cream shop, and my comfy yoga sandals. I find my phone amongst my blankets and text the group my plans for the day.

Me

Hi guys! What do we think about getting our hair dyed?!

Daisy

Ooh! I've been waiting for this one! I should go pastel to match my lavenders!

Me

The pictures with ur chicken babes alone would be worth it!

Lincoln

Do I have to do a crazy color? Or my whole head?

Me

Whatever you want as long as something's dyed

Lincoln

Okay. I'm in.

Daisy

When and where are we meeting?

Me

My place ASAP

I click my phone off and head back downstairs to find that Ava has changed into different clothes. This was a good sign.

"So..." I prodd.

"Ombre with a natural color, that's it," she says quickly flicking her hair behind her shoulder and returning to her phone. Hopefully she is texting Matthew.

I plop down into a chair before pulling out my phone to look on Pinterest for hair ideas. A few jump out at me but my favorite one is a silvery gray color that is rainbow hair underneath. Rainbow is on my mind since the movie yesterday. It was a weird movie but bat-girly's hair was really pretty.

My phone buzzes notifying me that I have a message from Lincoln or Daisy. I double click the home button and return to my texts.

Daisy

I'm here and I brought Lincoln

Me

Lovely!

"They're here," I announce jumping up from my seat and snatching my fanipack from the floor. I clip the soft gray item around my waist while simultaneously walking to the door.

"Can we pick up Matthew on the way?" Ava asks following behind me.

"Sure, I don't see why not."

I pause to check that I have my Polaroid, phone, charger, and sunglasses. Seeing that it's all accounted for I continue out the door.

"Does Mom care if we're getting our hair dyed?" Ava asks closing the door behind us.

"I didn't think about that," I respond stopping on the front stoop.

"I'll text her."

"I mean she's gotten her hair dyed before."

"True," Ava chirps hopping off the stoop.

"Someone's cheery, today," I comment raising my eyebrows and smiling at her.

"I've always kind of wanted to get my hair dyed," she whispers, ducking into Daisy's car.

I smile to myself and duck into the car as well.

"Hey, hey, hey," Daisy greets from the driver's seat turning to grin at me.

"Hello, hello, hello," I sing back.

"What's up, Cami?" Lincoln finishes smiling softly at me.

I giggle before responding, "Oh, you know, just getting my hair dyed seven different colors."

Without looking, I can tell Ava's mouth is practically to the floor.

"Well who cares if my hair gets damaged anyway!" I say with jazz hands. "It's not like I'll have it for much longer anyway..." I mumble.

The car is filled with a deathly silence.

Daisy breaks the silence first, "So, where's Matthew?"

"We need to pick him up," Ava answers looking at me.

"Alrighty!" Daisy cheers hopping to lift everyone's spirits as she pulls out of the driveway.

***

We arrive at the boardwalk just shy of 10 am to find people already surfing and tanning on the sunny beach. Daisy parks the car in front of the small hair salon and pulls out her phone.

"Before selfie with all of our pretty hairs!" she says holding up the phone. We all lean in and smile up at the device. "Lovely!"

We pile out of the car and I snatch Lincoln's hand before he walks too far away from the car.

"Can you take a Polaroid of me with my brown hair?" I say positioning myself on the hood of Daisy's red car.

"Sure thing," he smiles and takes the camera from my outstretched hand.

I look over my rounded sunglasses at the camera. He clicks the button and the camera whirs as the picture peeks out the top.

"Do we need to retake it or am I a great photographer?" he chuckles handing me the picture.

"It hasn't appeared yet, silly," I say watching as the colors of the beach bleed into the small rectangle of the picture. Blue waves crash against a yellow beach in the background of the picture. A dazzling smile stretches across my face as I sit on top of Daisy's car. "Perfect, thanks."

"I have absolutely no idea what color I'm going to dye my hair," Lincoln admits holding open the door to the small salon.

"Do you even want to dye your beautiful, curly, dark locks?" I ask standing on my tippy toes so I can ruffle his hair. He bats away my hand playfully.

"Its on the list isn't it?" he says with a smirk.

"You don't have to dye it all, Linc."

He smiles and raises his eyebrows in question.

"Then this whole hair dying session will be our little secret," I whisper with a grin.

He chuckles and scratches the back of his neck, looking away.

"Look at this color!" Daisy exclaims racing up to me with a small package in her hand. I grab the box from her hands and study it. It's lavender hair dye.

"It's just like your chicken babes," I say in my chicken voice (high pitched and throaty).

"I know! It perfect!" Daisy does a little happy dance her blonde waves bouncing around. "I planned ahead and made sure my outfit would match the color I knew I was going to get."

"I see that," I reply looking at her outfit. She is wearing a white lace romper with beige sandals that wrap up her calves with lace and puffs. "Your new hair will definitely pop."

"Alright," a worker walks in with a few others trailing behind her, "this is going to take a while."

"I'm sorry we didn't schedule anything," Ava says glancing my way, "my sister's a little spontaneous."

"Business is business. Spontaneity is good for a young soul. Enjoy it while you're young," she smiles at me.

"See Ava," I say to my sister, "she likes my spontaneity."

Ava rolls her eyes and continues to browse the hair color catalog.

"So who's all getting their hair dyed and who's here for moral support?" She asks grabbing some of those black smocks that you wear when you get your haircut.

"We all kinda are," I reply.

"Really?" She asks surprised.

"Well, the boys probably aren't doing to much and Ava isn't doing anything too crazy. I'm the one to worry about," I chuckle.

"Well, what'll it be?" She asks patting the salon chair in front of her.

I pull out my phone and show her the picture I found as I take a seat. "If you can, please."

"Of course I can. It's just going to take a little while," she replies with a hint of sass before rushing to get all the colors necessary.

"Thanks."

***

"I think I've read through every magazine they own twice," I groan sitting next to Daisy.

"I've organized all my chicken pictures and made several video montages of them," she giggles handing me her phone so we can watch one.

"Hey, what'cha watching?" Lincoln asks sitting down across from us with a small section of his hair wrapped in tinfoil.

"Chicken video, now hush!" Daisy says waving a hand at Lincoln.

"It's beautiful, Dais, beautiful," I comment as I watch the purple chicken run around her yard.

Ava joins us in the waiting area looking a little skeptical of her foil-wrapped hair.

"I'm starting to second guess my decisions. I mean can I pull of this look? I've always been so clean and neat but this is so rebellious and mixed," Ava ranted.

"Ava, honey, breathe," Daisy says.

Ava gives her a sassy look but accepts the advice anyway and takes a few deep breaths.

"I'm sure you'll look great," Matthew reassures her taking a seat beside her. He too had only a small section of his hair wrapped up.

"So what are we supposed to do for the next half hour?" Lincoln asks stretching so that his hands cradle his head.

"I have no idea what you guys will do because my time is almost up!" I exclaim looking at my watch.

***

"Do you like it?" the stylist asks me as I shake my hair to get all of its angles.

"I love it!" I beam. I grabbed the gray colored top sections of my hair and pull it up to reveal the rainbow bottom half.

"Good! It's always hard when they don't like the hair they're stuck with," she sighs.

"Speaking of not liking your hair," I think about Ava. "I should probably check on my sister."

"Okay, I'll get this thing off you," the stylist says, unbuttoning the sleek black apron that protected my clothes.

I tie my hair into a half up, half down bun and go to locate Ava.

"Ava you look great!" I gasp looking at her brown hair that faded to a golden blonde.

"Thanks!" she chirps smiling at herself in the mirror. She catches sight of my hair and the mirror and whips around. "OMG. It's rainbow."

I smile shyly hoping she'll like it.

"Although I would never wear it, you totally pull it off."

"Thanks," I smile playing with a pink strand.

We head over to Daisy and find her posing in front of a mirror.

"Daisy! Your hair is purple! It looks just like the lavies!" I exclaim petting her head.

"And yours is the entire rainbow!"

"Don't forget the silver cloud on top," I wink. We giggle and see Lincoln walking towards us.

"Linc!" Daisy shouts and stands up before grabbing the small part of his hair above his left ear.

"It's blue!" I announce and wrap my arms around him before Daisy piles on top and squeezes. I laugh as we stumble forward with all the compiled weight.

"You like it?" He directs toward me specifically.

"I love it." I laugh as Matthew joins the gang.

"Green!" Daisy shouts and walks up to him to investigate it more. His hair is similar to Lincoln's except it's above his right ear and green.

"I'm a little nervous about your answer, Av," Matthew chuckles. She grabs his hand and swings it slightly.

"I'm okay with it as long as you are too." He leans down to give her a peck on the cheek and we all 'aww'.

"Did we break Ava?" I whisper into Daisy's ear. She giggles and wraps her arm around my shoulder.

"Maybe with a little more of the list we will." I smile and lay my arm on her back as well.

"We should take a picture!" I announce and pull my polaroid out from it's nook in my purse.

"I can take it," my hair stylist offers.

"Thanks." I hand the camera to her and we all quickly find a spot on the chairs with blow dryers and pose for the photo. The flash goes off as she snaps the picture, and I giddily snatch it from her hands. Ava and Matthew start walking outside hand in hand, Lincoln and Daisy follow soon after. I hang back at the door as I stare at the picture. Ava and Matthew are kissing, Daisy poses with her Ray bans and a shocked face, Lincoln flips through pages of a magazine, and I'm turned to the side and flipping my hair sassily.

"You know, it's not everyday you get a group of teenagers coming in for some fun," I hear one of the stylists say to a few others.

"It's refreshing. I wish I had done something like that with my friends when I was younger." I grin before pushing open the door and skipping out to the group.

"What are you smiling about?" Lincoln asks, a grin of his own appearing on his face.

"I just love you guys," I confess. "I'm so happy we're doing the list together." Everyone smiles simultaneously and it seems we're all happy with the outcome of today. "Now come on! We're at the beach! Let's get ice cream!" I take off running towards an ice cream stand a few yards away. I hear shrieks behind me as they sprint after me, and I hear my own as Lincoln grabs my waist and swings me over his shoulder. "Linc!" I yell as the world turns upside down. I pop my head up to see Daisy cartwheeling in the sand and Matthew attempting to as well. Ava laughs at their circus act and I giggle as well. I wish I could capture this moment forever, but I'll have to keep it in my heart and not on my Polaroid light wall.

Author's Note: My friend alexandmeg helped write most of this chapter, and I in turn helped write one of her chapters on her book The Vault. Go check it out! Thanks so much S! Love you!