Free The Hairdresser Diaries by Jessica Miller

ridiculous in there it took me forever to just get through the crowd.”
    She was right. Sometimes it took a while to get out with all those people. I shot her an, ‘I’m sorry for snapping at you’ look.
    “Okay Landon, can you please put me down now,” I pleaded.
    He reluctantly did so just as Alex, Kelly, and Nate walked out of the club to see if I was okay.
    “Oh my god, you’re bleeding!” Alex squealed.
    Until then I had forgotten I fell into the wall and cut my face.
    “I’m fine,” I said waving it off like it was nothing.
    “Why don’t you guys take her in to the bathroom and help her get cleaned up,” Nate said looking at me like I was a lot worse then I felt.
    The girls pulled me into the bathroom pushing everyone out of the way. I took one look in the mirror and wow, I did look rough. I had blood dripping down my face and lip. My arms and legs were covered in dirt, scratches, and they were already showing bruises.
    Alex handed me some wet paper towels and I started wiping the dirt off my arms and legs.
    “Who would have thought you of all people would be the one to get into a fight,” Peyton said laughing.
    “You should have seen her. If I ever get into a fight I definitely want you to have my back,” Kelly said smiling as she handed me more paper towels.
    I smiled back at her and winced from the pain it caused my cheek and lip. I turned back to the mirror checking out the cut and hoping it doesn’t leave a scar. I wiped gently at the cut and saw it wasn’t as bad as I thought. It was a small cut with some bruising and swelling that would go away eventually. My lip was the same. Apparently I’m a bleeder.
    Just as I was finishing up, there was a knock on the bathroom door. Alex opened it up and I peeked over Kelly to see it was Nate and Landon. Landon handed me a pack of ice that I instantly put on my lip. The boys just stood there for a moment and I could tell by the looks on their faces they had to tell me something I did not want to hear.
    “Um, Tatum, the cops need you to come outside and talk to them,” Nate said.
    “Talk to me or arrest me? I more or less asked myself. I took a deep breath and walked outside to talk to one of the officers.
    “Tatum?” I heard a familiar voice say. I knew who it was before I even looked up. It was Officer Chris O’Neil, whom I’ve known since I was little. He was one of my brother’s good friends.
    “Hi Chris,” I said a little embarrassed and switching the ice pack to my cheek so I could talk.
    “Well, well, well. You would be the last person I’d expect to cause such a ruckus,” he said trying not to laugh. I gave him a look and he cleared his throat going back into cop mode. “I’m sorry Tatum, but I’m going to have to take you in.”
    “What! That’s not fair!” Alex and Peyton protested. “It was the other chick who started it.”
    “According to her statement you started it,” Officer O’Neil said looking up from his notebook.
    “No she pushed me,” I said.
    “She claims, you hit her boyfriend and she was defending him.”
    Now I was laughing. “Uh, whatever.”
    “Did you really hit him?” Officer O’Neil asked me.
    I straightened up and cleared my throat. “Yes I Did,” I said proudly.
    Officer O’Neil looked around to make sure no one was watching closely and put his hand out for me to hit it. I gave his hand a tap and he quickly did it back me and then turned all serious again. I just smiled to myself.
    Another officer walked over and pulled Officer O’Neil aside. They talked briefly before heading back over to me. “Ms. Carver, you’re going to have to come with me,” the other officer said. “Please put your hands behind your back.” Everyone was about to protest again, but I shook my head to let it go.
    “Are handcuffs really necessary?” I asked now realizing the embarrassment of being cuffed in front of everyone. The officer didn’t say anything. He just walked me over to the cop cruiser and put me