CHAPTER 26

“You are looking at one of the stylists for the Essence shoot, young lady,” Tasha said, putting on a pair of latex gloves in the supply room.

“Congratulations. When did they post the list?” Natalie asked, taking off her apron. She had just finished her last morning client and had an hour break for lunch.

“Just now, in the technical room.”

“I’ll go in there and—”

“No need to rush. Your name is not on it.”

Natalie sucked in her breath.

“Really?”

“Yep,” Tasha said, smacking on her gum. “They going to pull us all together for a meeting later today. Jackie has already told me I have to tone down my look, whatever that means.”

Natalie saw a hint of red lipstick on Tasha’s chin and wondered how Yolanda could let this fool get an opportunity like this.

“I thought Yolanda was supposed to be looking out for you up there. What happened?”

“I don’t know.”

“Hey, well don’t get too down. Maybe she got you doing something even better.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Natalie said, grasping at straws.

“See you later,” Tasha said, leaving Natalie in the supply room. Maria was stacking thick white towels in the corner cabinet.

“Hey, um…Maria, have you heard anything about the Essence shoot? Maybe somebody talking about the stylists they were going to pick?”

“Miss Natalie, they say you too fat. Mess up pictures. In my ‘pinion, you prettiest of all.”

“Thanks, Maria. That means a lot,” Natalie said, looking up at the fluorescent lighting so tears wouldn’t stream down her face.

“Anytime, Miss Natalie.”

* * *

Natalie stood in front of the list of stylists for the Essence shoot, her anger at a low boil.

How could she do this to me? How could she leave me out in the cold like this?

Natalie remembered when she first met Yolanda at the salon six years ago. She was having lunch in the café and everyone was talking about the new girl working there. No one talked about how talented she was, or how great her clientele was. They all talked about Yolanda’s weight. Or lack of it. Natalie had to admit that when she first saw her, she had immediately thought of all those TV ads showing starving children in some Third World country. For just a dollar a day you can help save a child’s life. Yeah, Yolanda was that skinny. But all Natalie’s life she had been fat and hated being judged by it. She promised herself she would get to know Yolanda, and not judge her as so many others had judged her weight.

And now this. If Maria knows why I haven’t been picked, then Yolanda knows, too.

And it wasn’t the fact that her name wasn’t on the list.

It was the fact that after all these years, after all the times Natalie had stuck up for Yolanda, and rooted for her, just this once when Natalie needed her to get behind her, Yolanda wasn’t there.

She’d let this job go straight to her head.

Natalie knew there was a strict line between upstairs and downstairs. But she didn’t know that Yolanda, her best friend, wouldn’t cross it, that their friendship wasn’t important enough for her to stand up to people and say, “Yes, that’s my friend Natalie and we’re gonna eat lunch together!”

But Natalie had other things on her plate. I should actually be relieved that I won’t have to take time away from school for more salon work. But Yolanda doesn’t know about me going to school. She didn’t think I was qualified to tackle the job. I’m her best friend! Was. Was her best friend.

She was afraid, afraid she was losing her best friend.