Pink Shadows

Felix pressed his back against the brick wall of the alley, his blonde hair whipping around his face as he peered around the corner. The sound of electric clippers buzzed from Miss Lolly's hair salon across the street, making his stomach twist into knots.

"There she is again," he whispered to his bandmates. Vic adjusted his glasses nervously, while Nat pulled his black hair lower over his forehead. Adam just shrugged, strawberry blonde locks catching the Melbourne sunlight.

Through the pink-tinted windows, they could see Miss Lolly styling another customer's hair. Her pink hair bounced as she moved, and her Sanrio-themed outfit sparkled under the salon lights. Four local girls - Yasmin, Jasmine, Anastasia, and Alani - sat in the waiting area, giggling and flipping through magazines.

"She's got those torture machines in there," Vic muttered, pointing at the clippers hanging on the wall.

Felix's mushroom ring caught the light as he clenched his fist. "The Buzz Kills don't back down from anything," he declared, though his voice wavered slightly.

The clippers' buzzing grew louder, and all four boys took a step back.

The Messenger

Felix's phone buzzed with a text from his mom. "Hair appointment at 3pm today. Don't hide!"

"No way," Felix whispered, showing the message to his bandmates. They had gathered in Hosier Lane, studying the street art while keeping an eye on Miss Lolly's salon.

Vic's glasses fogged up. "Your mom booked you there? With her?"

"She says my hair is getting too long for school," Felix groaned, tugging at his blonde locks.

Adam kicked a pebble. "Just don't go."

"I can't skip it. Mom will ground me for a month." Felix stared at the salon's pink door. "Maybe I can sneak past without her noticing the clippers."

A hummingbird suddenly zipped between them, its tiny wings creating a soft whirring sound. It hovered near Felix's mushroom ring, then darted toward the salon's flower boxes.

"Even the bird's braver than us," Nat muttered, pulling his black hair lower.

Felix checked his phone again. Two hours until doom. "We need a plan."

The hummingbird returned, circling them once before disappearing down Collins Street. In the distance, Miss Lolly's laughter echoed from inside her salon.