Snip. Snip.

I looked down at Paige's hair carefully, then raised my trimming scissors again. Snip. Ah! Perfect. You have to be very careful when cutting hair, because once you cut, it's done, and not necessarily fixable. Except by me, of course: Anastasia McGill, hairdresser extraordinaire, better known as Stacey.

I took the cape off of Paige and sent her scampering back to her mother. I just love giving little girls haircuts, and seeing their big toothy grins when they like what they see in the mirror. When I was younger I (and all my friends too most likely) assumed I would grow up to be an accountant, or a businesswoman, or possibly a model. Hairdressing didn't occur to me until just a few years ago really. I went to college at Northwestern and did actually major in accounting. I made it about two years and finally admitted to myself that I was miserable. I didn't want to be an accountant. After much soul searching and some sound advice from my best friend Zoë, I switched to a business major. Not exactly a drastic switch, true. But as Zoë reminded me, I'd always had a love for beauty, fashion, and hair styling. She suggested that I get a business degree and open my own little beauty salon, which is exactly what I did. Zoë is a genius.

I was sweeping up the floor after Paige and her mother left when my phone rang.

"Hello, Stacey's Salon," I answered. (Creativity with names has never been my strong suit, but at least this way there's no confusion as to what I do!)

"Hiiiii Stacey!" a bright and cheerful voice squealed out. "It's Mallory! How are you??"

"Wow, hi Mal! I'm good – and I'd ask how you are but you sound so happy I don't really need to. What's up?"

"I'm invoking the pact."

"The Pact? That movie?"

"No, silly! The pact that the BSC made at our very last meeting. Don't tell me you forgot!"

"OH! That pact! Wow. I always kind of figured it was just a childhood thing that would never actually happen…"

"Oh. So does that mean you don't want to come?" Mallory sounded very disappointed, and I hated doing that to her.

"No, it doesn't. I was just being honest. I'd love to come out and see everyone. What's the occasion?"

"I can't tell you until the whole gang is together again. Sorry!"

"Well, okay, if you want to be mysterious. When is this happening? Chicago isn't exactly next door to Stoneybrook, you know – I need some time to make arrangements."

"We're hoping to do it next weekend. Is that enough time?" I thought for a minute.

"Well, it's a little short notice, but I should be able to make it. Let me check a few things and I'll let you know if I can't come. If you don't hear from me, then you'll see me next weekend."

"Okay. We're invading my parents' house because my apartment is too small. But don't worry, nobody else will be there. Mom and Dad will spend the night at my place, and all my brothers and sisters are either at college or in their own homes."

"Sounds good. See you soon!"

Wow. Imagine that - Mallory Pike, invoking that silly pact after all these years. I wondered what it was about. Knowing Mallory, it was probably something silly, or maybe even nothing at all. Maybe she was just lonely and wanted to see the whole group again, like old times. I couldn't imagine what her reasons were, but I decided that it didn't much matter. It had been a long time since I saw my old friends. I wondered what they were all up to these days. The only one I really kept in touch with much was Dawn, which is funny because when we were kids we weren't particularly close. I was best friends with Claudia, and everyone knew that. So while I was friendly with everyone, there was always this kind of unspoken acknowledgement that Claudia was the special one, and everyone else was something less.

After our big falling out in eighth grade things were never the same. We eventually got back on friendly terms, but the nature of our friendship had changed. She was no longer the one I called first with news, nor was she my first choice for a hang-out buddy. I became something of a loner. In high school I started writing letters to Dawn. I don't know why exactly – it was safer, maybe? It's easier to have a friend on the opposite side of the country, because it's pretty hard to fight through letters. I wouldn't have to run the risk of another huge falling out (because let's face it, the fight with Claud was pretty damn traumatic.)

When I came out my junior year of college, Dawn was among the first I told (even before my mother). She was so supportive of me, and made that whole time of my life so much easier to bear. Of course Zoë was great too. She'd become so much more than just my best friend. She's also my life partner, and now that gay marriage is legal in California we plan on going out there soon to get married officially. We don't want a huge and elaborate ceremony or anything. We just want legal recognition of what we've already been doing for the past six years.

Yes, I decided. It would be very good to see Dawn again. And all the others too. I just hoped they'd be as accepting of me (and Zoë) as Dawn was. I guess I'd just have to wait and find out.