I was brushing my hair out that night when a solid weight bounced on the bed. I glanced behind me to see Pinkie hopping up and down on her knees like she was six.
Actually, she does a lot of things like she's six. When she's not working she skips everywhere humming to herself. I don't mind that, though. It's part of her charm, and part of why I love her the way I do.
"Say, Ari," she said, flopping forward onto her arms, chin in her hands. "I always wondered why you cut your hair."
I turned, smiling as I put the brush down. "Three years and you're just now wondering why?"
"Well, we've taken a huge step, after all," she said, waving the hand that bore a simple gold band and a ring with a gem made from the shards of my old Song. "And I just never got around to asking."
I walked over to the bed and hopped on, giving a bounce or two just to set her grinning. And though I'd never tell anyone but her, it felt good to not act my age for a moment.
"Well, Pinks," I said. "I hadn't planned on it, really..."
I fidgeted with one of my pigtails while I waited, staring at the mannequins with all the clothes in various states of completion. Rarity made a few more notes and pinned the paper to a dress that looked like nothing more than a handful of cloth squares pinned together.
"Now then, Aria," she said as she sat, reaching for the tea kettle. "You said you wanted some help changing your look?"
"Yes," I said, fingering the blue stone that now hung from my neck. "I figured that since things are changing...have changed, rather, that maybe a change in other aspects would be nice as well."
"Well, you certainly came to the right place," she said, sliding a teacup over to me. "So, do you have an idea on what style you'd like to try? You do a marvelous job with the whole grunge look, but maybe if we try something a tad more modern. Oh, I know I have some amazing..."
"Rarity," I tried to interrupt.
"And if we paired that with these simply adorable fringed boots I saw the other day at the mall..."
"Rarity..."
"And I think I have a purse that will work nearly done. It may not be the right color, but..."
"Rarity!" I shouted.
The fashionista shook her head as if suddenly realizing she had a guest. "Yes?"
I pulled one of my pigtails forward. "I was thinking more along the lines of a haircut."
Her face fell for a moment, then brightened again.
"Well, why didn't you say so?" she said, leaning forward. "Let it loose, darling, let me see what we have to work with."
I started to undo my tails as the other girl rose and brought a straight backed chair over and set it in the center of a cleared out area. She patted the seat as I finger combed my locks.
"Have a seat, Aria," she said. "Better light here."
I got nervous as she paced around me, like a tiger stalking its prey.
"I must say, you have wonderful volume," she said. "It could make one quite jealous."
"I'm just glad it's straight," I said. "This was enough trouble stuffing into a hood. Don't get me started on Adagio's hair."
We shared a giggle at that. Being with Pinkie had made it easier to loosen up around my friends.
That thought was still odd, but welcome. Friends.
She knelt in front of me and toyed with my hair.
"Maybe something around the shoulders?" she suggested. "With a bit of layering?"
"Not too short," I said quickly. "I want to keep a good portion of the length."
"I understand," she said. "So not a bob, maybe long bangs and shoulder skimming ends?"
I gave her a blank look. "One reason I only got trims was because I hated spending more than five minutes on my hair," I said simply.
She grinned. "Then I know just the style then," she said, standing.
"So," I asked. "How long?"
"Oh, I have no idea?" she said. "I'm a seamstress, not a hairdresser." She grabbed her keys and purse. "We're going to see someone that knows what they're doing. I'll just go for moral support."
"Which is how I wound up with this style," I said, rubbing Pinkie's shoulder as she cuddled into me.
"Time for a change," she echoed. "Well, you sure made it look good. Though I got to admit, sometimes I miss your long hair."
"I do too," I admitted. "But it's hair. It grows back. Maybe I'll wear it long like that again, though it will take a while."
She nodded, giggling. Her phone buzzed, announcing a text message.
"It's Marble," she said after reading it. "Wants to know if we're ok with lunch tomorrow to talk over something."
"Maybe Macintosh finally got around to proposing," I joked.
"Nah, I'd know if that was it," she said.
"Oh?"
"Yeah," she said. "Pinkie Sense. And I haven't had an ear twitch, toe curl, hiccough combination yet."
"If Pinkie Sense is that strong," I said, frowning. "How come you didn't pick up on my proposing to you?"
"I'm not perfect," she said. "And sometimes I like the surprises in life."
"Well, you were a great surprise for me," I said, leaning down to rub noses with her.
"Aw," she sniffed before giving me a hug that made my ribs creak. "Love you, Ari."
"Love you too, Pinks."