Beauty 24/7

Kaylay sighed as she opened the door to her salon, keeping the 'closed' sign turned the right way round. She'd learnt to do this from past experience when too many people had tried to muscle their way in for an early trim. She was always in the shop at eight and oened at nine, no customer could come in a minute earlier. She flicked the lights on and went out to the ktichen, she wasn't too sure who would come next but everybody had a drink before they started the day.

Jack Dawkins.

Jack leaned against the main desk. It was nine o'clock in the morning - just turned so. For the next rough hour, it would be calmer - while everyone was sleeping in despite the lovely Saturday weather. He could say he was envious of those getting long lies, but he really was not. He loved his job. He had prepared everything he needed for his work - he had been in since a few minutes before eight; so he was just waiting now for the first customers to come through the door.

James looked through his folder once more and took a deep breath before entering teh Beauty 24/7 salon. He looked around nervously and saw someone at the main desk, walking over slowly he smiled.
"hi...um, I'm looking for the manager?"

Kayley sat at the desk and trawled through her emails.

"Jack, get me a coffee?" She asked as she sifted through the junk to get to the legitimate stuff.

"Ooh sale on bedhead...delete. Tres Semme...delete." She sighed. "Why oh why do you send me all this crap?" She asked, rollling her eyes. Once she had finished sifting through the emails she pulled the appointment book out to check what was going on today.

Kayley glanced up at the kid in front of her.

"I'm the manager, can I help you?"

Jack Dawkins.

Jack nodded at Kayley. He pushed himself up from the desk, nodding politely at the boy, before walking off towards the kitchen. He let the door swing behind him. A smile wormed across his lips; his whole stance brightening up. He moved over to the fridge; pulling the door open, and picked the carton of milk from the inside of the door. He then withdrew the coffee tub from the top cupboard, and peered out around the door, calling out to Kayley, "Strong or weak?"

James smiles slightly, nerves still bothering him seeming as he'd done this before and failed. He stood at the edge of the table and offered his hand to shake.

"Hi. My name's James...I was wondering if I could talk to you about an apprenticeship?"

Inwardly, James flinched and prepared himself for the usual decline. He'd already tried seven places so far and each of them had looked at him for about three seconds before declining. Sure, the lapis lazuli pendant was a little unusual and the fact he wore kemp instead of nylon was a little different but it still bothered him that they'd be so dismissive.

Kayley craned her head to the back of the shop.

"Just a dash of milke Jack." She called once the kid had finished speaking before looking huim up and down. He semmed like a new age hippy or something. She pulled out another book and glanced up at him again.

"What kind of apprenticeship are you looking for?" She asked.

Jack Dawkins.

Jack nodded. He disappeared into the kitchen a second time, fully taking out the milk. He boiled the kettle, finally finishing the preparation of the coffee. After a few moments, he walked out with three mugs of coffee on a small tray. Approaching the counter, he set the tray down, handing Kayley her drink, and took his, leaving one for the kid. "Here, you'll probably need that," he informed, chuckling.

James was about to say something along the lines of 'Well thanks for your time' when he realised the woman had given him a chance. He smiled and thanked the man, supposedly named Jack, for making him coffee; not stupid enough to ask if it was fairtrade in a situation like this.

"Well, I'm studying relaxtion therapy at the local university and I need to undertake a Massage Apprenticeship. I'm trained to work I just need the experience to complete my course." he explained, "I've brought my cv and references if you need them."

Kayley nodded at Jack and took a sip, oh that was better. She glanced down at the books where she kept details of all her apprenticeships. Tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear she pursed her lips slighly. They hadn't had a masseuse apprenticeship for a while. She glanced up at James.

"Pull up a chair James and let's see that paperwork." She said kindly. "This is our BEautician, Jack Dawson, he'll be helping me with the decision of taking you on or not." Kayley said, so Jack wasn't co-manager he'd been in the salon long enough to know what was good in there and what wasn't.

Jack Dawkins.

Jack flashed a grin, warming his hands up around the steaming mug. He stayed standing, though leaning greatly against the counter. He thought the boy looked like he had potential; but they would have to see what he said during his interview. He knew, better than most, the ins and outs of interviewing a person- what you should say, what you shouldn't, how you should act, your posture - if you were nervous or confident. He watched the boy, occasionally looking over at Kayley.

James took a seat as instructed and placed his folder on the table. He smiled to Jack as he was introduced and had to metnally pinch himself. They were giving him a chance. This was his opportunity...if only he wasn't so bad with words. He would have to watch himself during this talk, he could either make this work or put his foot in his mouth and hop back to square one.

"Nice to meet you, Mr Dawson." he greeted with a friendly smile as he opened the folder, "Well, this is the course I'm undergoing at the moment with the speciality courses I've taken. They just basically state that I'm qualitifed to perform massage at a professional level, along with Aromatherapy and Crystal Healing." he explained, only then aware of how strange he was as an individual.

[ I got lost. Is my character the Masseuse?]

[[yes, it's what you said you'd be, why are you lost?]]

[[I would be your apprentice]]

[[hey how're you online here but not on msn woman??]]

['coz I looked at the wrong part of the list of characters. : Sorry.]

[[lol ohh dw bout that we all make mistakes, you wanna rp??]]

[Sure. Want me to start?]

[[sure go ahead stay on the same day apprenticeship's been accepted so tehy have something distinct to talk about xD]]

Oliver entered the shop, of course a bit late, but who wanted a massage this early in the morning anyway? He ran a hand through his hair and plopped his 'suitcase'- that really only contained gloves and things that the store didn't buy for him- beside the door, smiling at all the lovely ladies.

Kayla glanced up as Oliver walked in and glanced at the clock.

"Ooh would you look at that? Only two minutes out, I win." She grinned, the whole salon knew of Oliver's lack of time management but it was damned hard to find a good masseuse nowadays. It's why she liked taking apprentices on.

Oliver laughed and stuck his tongue out at her. "Yeah, yeah. I wasn't that late, dock it off," he teased, finding his area, then taking a seat. "Anyone new today?" he asked as he spun in his chair.

He fancied Kayla when he first started working here and honestly still had a bit of a crush, but he didn't expect anything to happen.

[idk why, but I imagine him with a New York accent. ]

Kayla chuckled and shook her head.

"One step ahead of ya." She informed him, with Oliver it was easier to have a system. Instead of trying to remember the hours he worked she paid him for each customer he brought in. Luckily for him he'd earned quite a good reputation and he was possibly one of teh best paid workers in the salon.

Kayla nodded, not that he would have seen it due to the spinning, and smiled to herself. "Actually we do, come out the back, I need a coffee." She said calling one of the older apprentices not doing anything to watch the desk. Kayla didn't wait for Oliver, she jsut strrode ahead, stopping by customers to see if they wanted a cup of tea or coffee while they were being treated.

[[hehe he'd be a long way form home if he did with the sdalon being in London and all xDD I don't really know what a NY accent is so i can't imagine it but it'd be pretty funky]]

Oliver raised an eyebrow as he watched her walk, then followed soon after. So, they did have someone new. Every time he heard that, Oliver grew a bit nervous. He really didn't like the thought of his job being taken, but he tried to keep in mind that the people weren't out for his job, but just to be trained a bit and say they have been.

[ Yeah. London's fine as well.]