Page 12 of The Perfect Melody

“Seconded,” I agree.

Liam gives an overdramatic sigh. “You make a girl watch one horror comedy?—”

“The people literally exploded,” Bailey argues. My lips twitch but I do my best to hide my amusement. This clearly isn’t the first time they’ve had this discussion.

“They were the bad guys.” Liam gives a nonchalant shrug.

“Yeah, but theyexploded. Save the horror flicks for your guys nights with my brother.”

Sensing they could continue the familiar routine of their bickering for some time, I decide to chime in, “How about that new fantasy one, I think it’s calledThe Dragon’s Flame, or something?”

Bailey claps her hands together. “Oooh, yes. The trailer looked so good, but we didn’t make it to the cinema for that one. Plus, that Alexander whatshisface is in it—so hot.”

Damn, I forgot that jerk was in it. Whatever. If I avoided media with every cocky dude Miranda tricked me into photo ops with I’d never listen to or watch anything new.

“I’m sitting right here,” Liam says giving her an unimpressed look.

She rolls her eyes. “Fine, you would make a hotter dragon shifter—happy?”

Liam snorts a laugh. “Ecstatic.” He types in the first few letters until the film comes up as a suggestion. “Damn.” He murmurs giving the poster an appraising look.

Bailey snickers. “Told you he looked good in this.”

“Yeah, alright—that guy’s jawline is so sharp it could murder me.” Liam’s thumb hovers over the remote. “So, dragons?”

“Dragons,” Bailey and I agree simultaneously.

Chapter Five

Cassie

As promised,Bailey perches on the edge of the bath while I methodically spread the dye she bought along my roots and then through the ends of my hair.

“Try slightly smaller sections,” she instructs.

I let go of the hair I just gathered, then try again with half as much. “Like this?”

“Perfect.”

Fifteen minutes and several reassurances from Bailey later, I’m confident I’ve thoroughly covered my roots and switch to coating the ends of my hair with the remaining dye.

The whole process was much easier than I feared it might be but I’m still grateful for Bailey’s calming presence. After so many years of being told what to do, when to do it, and how to act, I didn’t realise how much trying something new would put me on edge. I’m glad Bailey and Liam are close by for my first baby step towards freedom.

“Does this look right to you? There’s still some dye left.”

She gives my hair a once-over. “You’re good. Don’t worry about the little bit left in the bottle, all of your hair’s covered.” She offers me a claw clip. “Here, you should put your hair up.I know you’ve got the towel round your shoulders, but this will keep the dye off the back of your neck.”

“I didn’t think of that, thank you.”

Bailey leaves me to it, and I get comfortable in a cross-legged position on the floor to wait the thirty minutes the dye needs to take effect. When the timer on my phone goes off, I get in the shower, tilting my head forward to rinse off the dye like Bailey recommended. Watching so much dark water run from my hair is alarming at first, but eventually it runs clear.

Normally I let my hair dry naturally on the rare occasion I’m left to my own devices but I’m too excited to see the result of my efforts to wait. Not wanting to spoil the reveal for myself I sit on the bed and blow-dry my hair without using a mirror. Ten minutes later it’s time for the moment of truth. Letting out a slow, controlled breath, I cross the room to stand before the mirror hung above the dresser.

I freeze. My mind scrambles to wrap itself around what I’m seeing. Delicate, gold wire-frame glasses rest on the bridge of my nose, and my hair, now a dark, coffee-brown, hangs in a sleek curtain down past my shoulders. I’ve not looked more like myself in years, yet the sight is so unfamiliar it’s like a stranger is staring back at me.

A light knock at the bedroom door breaks me out of the staring contest I’m having with my reflection. “Cassie, is everything alright?” Liam asks. “You’ve been in there a while.”

Pulling my phone from my jeans pocket I’m surprised to learn I’ve been lost in thought for longer than I realised. “I’m good. You can come in.”