THE FIVE OF US

Chapter One: Two Years Behind

Tears blurred Chloe Carter's vision as she stared at the glowing screen of her phone.

"Year Three, here I come! God has been so faithful!"

The picture showed Becca standing proudly in front of a university lecture hall. She wore a navy-blue departmental hoodie, her student ID hanging around her neck while her friends crowded around her, flashing bright smiles at the camera.

More than two thousand people had already liked the post.

"Congratulations!"

"See you in final year soon!"

"God did!"

Chloe swallowed the lump in her throat and locked her phone before another tear escaped.

Three years ago, she and Becca had sat side by side in the same classroom, sharing snacks during lessons, whispering through boring classes, and promising each other they would both get into their dream universities.

Life had kept its promise to Becca.

It hadn't kept it to Chloe.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror.

Dark skin.

Petite frame.

Soft brown eyes that looked unusually tired that morning.

"You need to stop crying," she whispered to herself.

"Your story isn't over."

She splashed cold water across her face, took one deep breath, and walked downstairs.

The Carter family lived in a modest two-storey home on a quiet street.

The front section of the building belonged to Chloe's mother.

Large purple letters stretched across a white signboard outside.

LEILAH'S BEAUTY STUDIO

The salon had its own entrance for customers, but a connecting door inside the house led directly into it. Chloe had grown up surrounded by the scent of shampoo, hair creams, and hair spray, while the constant hum of hairdryers had become the soundtrack of her childhood.

As soon as she stepped through the connecting door, laughter filled the room.

"There she is!" Aunt Rita exclaimed, pointing dramatically at Chloe. "The celebrity hairstylist has finally decided to show up."

The women in the salon laughed.

Chloe placed a hand over her chest and pretended to gasp.

"Celebrity?" she asked with a grin. "Aunt Rita, if I'm a celebrity, where's my security?"

"You've become too expensive," Aunt Rita replied, folding her arms.

"I charged you the same price as last month."

"You smiled while collecting my money. That's emotional manipulation."

The salon burst into laughter again.

Standing beside one of the styling chairs, Chloe's mother shook her head with an amused smile.

"I don't know where this girl gets all her jokes," she said.

"From you, Mum," Chloe answered, wrapping an apron around her waist. "Dad says you're the funniest person in the house."

Her mother laughed.

"Your father says many things."

One of the customers, Mrs. Daniels, smiled as Chloe walked toward her.

"I've been waiting for you," she said. "Nobody touches my hair except you."

Chloe bowed dramatically.

"Madam, your royal hairstylist is at your service."

Mrs. Daniels laughed so hard she nearly dropped her handbag.

"You see?" Aunt Rita said, pointing at Chloe. "This girl should've been a comedian."

"No," Mrs. Daniels replied. "She belongs right here."

Chloe smiled as she gently ran her fingers through Mrs. Daniels' hair.

Hair made sense to her.

People often said she had gifted hands.

Children who cried for everyone else sat quietly in her chair.

Women travelled across town just to book appointments with her.

Men refused to let anyone else cut their hair.

She had never gone to beauty school.

She didn't need to.

She had learned everything from the woman standing only a few feet away.

As Chloe began braiding Mrs. Daniels' hair, the salon settled into its familiar rhythm.

Hairdryers hummed.

Women exchanged stories.

Someone laughed loudly from the manicure section.

A little girl admired herself in the mirror after getting her hair done.

It was ordinary.

It was beautiful.

It was home.

Yet somewhere deep inside Chloe's heart, a quiet voice refused to let her settle.

She loved the salon.

She loved making people feel beautiful.

But she couldn't shake the feeling that her journey was only beginning.

She just didn't know how close she was to the first page of a brand-new chapter.