"I flipped the script."

When Arizona arrived at the tattoo parlor, she pushed open the door, and the bell above jingled softly. The dimly lit room smelled faintly of antiseptic and ink. In the far corner, Hawk and Moon were entwined in an embrace, lost in their own world. Arizona rolled her eyes playfully and cleared her throat.

"Okay, okay, break it up," she joked, trying to keep her voice light.

Moon pulled away from Hawk and turned to face Arizona, her eyes widening at the sight of her friend's tear-streaked face. "Ari! What's wrong?" Moon asked, her voice full of concern.

Arizona took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. "I'm worried Miguel wants to break things off with me..." she admitted, her voice trembling.

Moon frowned, immediately moving closer to her friend. Hawk's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Arizona, that's impossible. He's practically in love with you," he said, trying to reassure her.

Arizona felt her heart flutter at Hawk's words but quickly shook her head, her insecurities creeping back in. "I don't know about that..." she murmured, staring at her feet and nervously fiddling with her fingers.

Moon noticed Arizona's anxious behavior and gently took her hands. "Arizona, have you taken your medicine today?" she asked with concern, her eyes searching Arizona's.

Arizona shook her head, looking even more distressed. Moon squeezed her hands. "Please take it. You're gonna have a panic attack," she urged gently. Arizona nodded and pulled out a small bottle of Xanax from her bag, popping a pill and swallowing it quickly.

Hawk sighed, watching the scene unfold. He wrapped his arm around Moon, offering his silent support. "So, what are we doing? Are you gonna flip the script and show off to Tory that she can't take your man?" he asked with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood.

A spark of determination appeared in Arizona's eyes, and her expression shifted. "Exactly! I'm done being nice," she declared, her smirk matching Hawk's.

"Attagirl!" Hawk cheered, giving her a supportive nod.

           Arizona reclined in the tattoo parlor chair, her heart racing with anticipation. The buzzing of the tattoo machine filled the room as the needle touched her skin, sending a mix of pain and excitement coursing through her. She couldn't help but giggle nervously, the sensation both foreign and thrilling. Hawk, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, watched her with a supportive grin.

         "I really hope this is the right choice for her," Moon whispered to Hawk, her eyes filled with concern.

         "It's the best. She's shy, just like I was. She needs the confidence. Maybe this could help her anxiety," Hawk replied, his tone reassuring.

            Arizona glanced down at her arm as the tattoo began to take shape. The intricate design of a sun slowly emerged, and with each stroke of the needle, she felt a little more empowered. When Rico, the tattoo artist, finished, he carefully cleaned the area and applied a special wrapping to protect the fresh ink.

          Arizona stood up, her heart swelling with pride. She fist-bumped Rico and turned to Hawk and Moon, who were beaming with pride.

          "Looking good, Arizona!" Hawk exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with approval.

           "It's so pretty," Moon added, her voice filled with genuine admiration.

           "Thank you, guys... Do you know any good hairstylists?" Arizona asked, feeling a surge of courage.

           Moon's eyes lit up with excitement. "I know a place! It's Eli's aunt's hair salon!" she exclaimed, grabbing Arizona's hand and pulling her toward the door. Arizona giggled, letting Moon lead the way to Melanie's Cauldron Hair Salon, just a few blocks away.

           The bell above the door jingled as they entered the salon, and a vibrant woman with a welcoming smile approached them. "Moon!" Melanie exclaimed, enveloping her in a warm hug. She then turned her attention to Arizona. "And you are?"

           "Arizona. Hawk's girl best friend," Arizona replied, shaking Melanie's hand.

           "What can I do for you today? Luckily, I've got an opening," Melanie said, her eyes twinkling with enthusiasm.

          "I want my hair cut short, and I'm thinking of some pink streaks," Arizona explained, her excitement bubbling over.

           Melanie's face lit up. "I love it! Come on over, let's get started," she said, leading Arizona to a chair.

         Moon settled into a nearby seat, watching intently as Melanie draped a cape around Arizona and began to work her magic. Arizona's heart pounded as the scissors snipped away at her long locks. With each cut, she felt a weight being lifted off her shoulders, both literally and figuratively. The pink dye was applied with precision, and Arizona could hardly contain her excitement as the transformation unfolded.

          When Melanie finally finished, she spun Arizona around to face the mirror. Arizona's eyes widened in delight at her reflection. The short, chic cut framed her face perfectly, and the vibrant pink streaks added a bold touch of personality.

         "Oh my god, I love it!" Arizona exclaimed, running her fingers through her new hair.

        "You look amazing!" Moon cheered, clapping her hands together.

          Melanie beamed with pride. "I'm glad you like it. You look fantastic, Arizona."

          Arizona stood up and hugged Melanie tightly. "Thank you so much. This means a lot to me."

           As they left the salon, Arizona felt a newfound sense of confidence and excitement. With her new tattoo and fresh haircut, she felt ready to face anything. Hawk and Moon walked beside her, their support and friendship giving her the strength she needed to embrace her true self. They strolled down the street, chatting and laughing, the bond between them stronger than ever.

           The trio decided to grab some ice cream to celebrate Arizona's new look. They found a cozy little ice cream shop and sat down at a table outside. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the city. Arizona couldn't stop smiling, the events of the day replaying in her mind.

           "I can't believe how different I feel," Arizona said, taking a bite of her ice cream. "It's like I've shed a layer of my old self and stepped into someone new."

           "You've always had this in you, Arizona. You just needed a little push to let it out," Moon said, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand.

             Hawk nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're way stronger than you think. This is just the beginning."

            Arizona looked at her friends, her heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you, both of you. For everything."

             They finished their ice cream and walked back to their cars, the day ending on a high note. As Arizona drove home, she couldn't help but reflect on the incredible journey she had embarked on. With her new tattoo and haircut, she felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing she had the support of her friends and the strength within herself to overcome anything.

          When Arizona got home, she placed her purse on the kitchen table and heard a gasp from the living room. Furrowing her eyebrows, she turned to see her dad, Alexander, sitting on the couch.

         "Hi. Do you like my new hair?" Arizona grinned, running her hand through her freshly styled pink streaks.

          Alexander nodded approvingly but hesitated. "I love it, sugar bean, but..." he trailed off, causing Arizona to raise an eyebrow. "But what?" she asked, crossing her arms defensively.

         "Why didn't you ask me?" Alexander questioned, a hint of frustration in his voice. Arizona scoffed and walked into the living room. "You're seriously trying to be my father now? I haven't seen you since I was six! I can do whatever I want, and this was with my own money," she retorted, her tone sharp.

          Alexander's expression shifted to one of disappointment. "Don't talk to me like that! Go to your room," he shouted, his voice echoing through the house.

         Giving him one last glare, Arizona stormed upstairs to her room. She slammed the door shut, threw herself onto her bed, and jammed her earbuds into her ears, blasting her favorite playlist to drown out the world. She stared at the ceiling, her mind racing with anger and frustration.

          After a few minutes, she heard muffled voices outside her room. She looked over and saw her little brother, Diego, standing in the doorway.

         She took one earbud out. "I love your hair, sissy," Diego complimented with a bright smile before leaving her room.

          Arizona's heart softened at Diego's words. She sat up and pulled her knees to her chest, feeling the weight of the day settle over her. She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her contacts, contemplating calling Moon or Hawk, but decided against it. Instead, she switched to a calming playlist and tried to focus on her breathing.

         There was a soft knock on her door a few minutes later. She looked up to see her stepmother, Daniella, standing in the doorway with a concerned look on her face.

          "Can I come in?" Daniella asked gently.

           Arizona nodded, and Daniella walked in, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I heard what happened downstairs. Your dad is just worried about you, you know," Daniella said softly.

          Arizona sighed, her anger dissipating a little. "I know, but it's not fair. He wasn't around for most of my life, and now he wants to control everything."

         Daniella nodded understandingly. "It's a big adjustment for everyone. Maybe you can try talking to him when things calm down."

        Arizona shrugged. "Maybe."

        Daniella gave her a comforting smile. "Just know that we're here for you. And for the record, I think your hair looks amazing."

        Arizona smiled, feeling a bit better. "Thanks, mom."

        Daniella stood up and gave Arizona's hand a squeeze before leaving the room. Arizona lay back down, her thoughts swirling. She knew things were complicated with her dad, but Daniella's words gave her some hope. Maybe things could get better, with time.

        She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, letting the music wash over her. She was just beginning to relax when her phone buzzed with a text from Miguel.

       Miguel: "Hey, Ari. Sorry I've been distant lately. Can we talk tomorrow?"

      Arizona's heart skipped a beat. She quickly typed back, her fingers trembling slightly.

      Arizona: "Of course."

      Feeling a mixture of relief and anxiety, she set her phone aside and tried to calm her racing thoughts. She knew she needed to talk to Miguel, to clear the air and understand what was going on between them. For now, though, she focused on the present, on the comforting music, and on the hope that things might just get better.

ASH SPEAKS!

so sorry for not updating for awhile!! been super busy. i don't think im gonna be able to get season 2 done by season six will be out but i got lots of ideas for this book!!