Charades
Charades and pretty lies
They hide what's deep inside me.
Charades do disguise
All the love I keep inside me
~ Grease 2
Lennox Drive was the typical American middle class neighborhood. Partaking in its normal weekend fashion of rambunctious children playing amongst their selves as fresh gossip spread like fine butter on bread by the Saturday Morning Gossip Club.
Running with stories of the neighbor's downs the streets and the unfaithful housewife two doors down. All the while watching like a hawk for anything that could be turned and made into a wonderful story. Conversation coming to a halt only when the neighborhood children were becoming too disruptive or when something of interest caught their eyes.
Going three houses down and two houses from the corner was a small two-story house with a two-car garage. The siding was painted light green, as the panels were painted a pale yellow, and the banister was a freshly coated white. There was one single window on the upper half of the house and below it was three art deco windows with a beautiful crimson door with an art deco window in the middle.
The porch hardwood was polished to the point that you could see your reflection on it. Scattered around the porch were beautiful blue and white oriental pots of different sizes that held all sorts of various flowers within them with a stunning wind chime hanging above the porch.
All in all this house was the best looking house on the block all except for the eyesore of a lawn that was in dire need of a cut.
And this was how Kaia was going to spend her Saturday morning doing yard-work until she hit the town later on.
Her father had past six years ago due to an accident; it was only she and her mother. Since her mother worked ungodly hours at the hospital Kaia took it upon herself to maintain the house and the yard work. After all it was all she could do for her mom for keeping everything down and steady for the both of them.
Wearing a pair of cut out jeans, with a graphic tee that was tied in a tight knot in the front, her hair was place in a high ponytail, and wearing worn out pairs of Chuck Taylors she was ready for work. Kaia walked around the house towards the garage approaching the sliding door she pulled out her key an unlocked it.
She couldn't fight the smile when she looked at her baby; her gold 1969 Corvette Stingray 427 that once belong to her father.
She noticed that she needed to go to the car washed after she finished with the yard work. Walking towards the back she grabbed the lawnmower and pushed it out towards the front.
Reaching the front of the house Kaia moved towards her Boom box turning to her favorite radio station to make the work seem quick.
Pulling the lawnmower string three times tell it rumble to life Kaia begin to do the yard moving down each lane of tall grass.
Finished with the front and the side of the house she moved the lawnmower and her Boom box in the back of the house to do the backyard. All the while she was mowing the yard she inattentive wonder how a certain someone spent their Saturday morning.
The western district of Washington Heights; was where the prestigious and influential residence of the town resided or as the other residence of the town called it Rich Haven; where everyone goes to the same country club, have a winter home at Andrew Hills, and blew money out their ass happily.
There on the street of Lake Shore Drive stood a house that in every essence breath power and wealth. Styled in the manner of the great country estates of England; placed on 90 acres of land the 20,000 square feet house was imposing and beautiful wrapped in one enormous package.
The exterior of the house was sandstone with ivory and moss that covered certain parts of the house to enhance the beauty along with the slate roof and stone shingles to bring a stately charm.
The back of the estate the landscape of the gardens bought out the traditional long view; further down the gardens was a manmade lagoon with a patio overlooking it. On the left hand side of the house were a ten-car garage and a cottage; while on the right of the house were the powerhouse and other buildings.
The house was the symbol of the McKee's strong roots within the community and Steff was going to wreak it before the day was over,
When people looked at the McKee's House they saw the long history of the McKee's family, their wealth, and power.
When Steff saw the house he saw the pure bullshit that was the house and the ideas it was built on.
He hated hearing the many compliments that people gave this house. He couldn't stand how people would look at the house with admiration and envy.
The one thing he hated most when people said; "I wish this was my house, "or "You are so lucky too live in such a beautiful house."
It took everything in him to say, "You can have this shithole," or "Luck? Sorry, but it feels more like hell."
So he took it as a personal duty to have at least a party every Saturday or whenever his parents were away on business in the hopes that the house would be completely ruin.
Steff parties were infamous amongst the labels from the uptight Richie to the unfashionable Nerd everyone knew that if you wanted to have some serious wasted fun you went to Steff parties.
Free liqueur by the barrel, plenty of food to eat, numerous rooms to smash someone, and he had the best marijuana in all of Washington Heights. Most importantly Steff house had its own street, so who would snitch on them and call the police?
No one, especially since this was Steff McKee who would even dare call the police on a McKee?
So on this Saturday morning Steff lounged around the house it was times like this that he hated the weekends and wished that the weekday's roll around, for that meant he could see Kaia.
He knew never to ask Kaia to come to one of his parties; he wouldn't even dare allow her to see the debauch antics of the very people that thought they were way much more proper then others of the lower class.
She was above such antics; she was someone who could have fun in a more refine way yet not seem tight-lipped about doing it.
He still hadn't figure out a way to approach her to go out with him. If she was any other girl he could simply ask her out and be done with it not needing a validation from her.
But Kaia was different from them so he couldn't do that; after all she was something more than someone he could sleep with and be done. She was in all truth the only person that he respected and that was barely on one hand he could count.
The more he thought of ways to approach her the more it seem to be completely ridiculous; which further annoyed him and he became even more darker by the suffocating feeling being in this house.
He had to get out this damn house before he lost his mind. He simply needed to take a ride to clear his mind and take in some fresh air. Hopefully he might receive a miracle on how to approach her next week.
She loved the smooth and powerful feel off the stirring wheel beneath her hands as she drove through the town. After taken her shower and getting dress Kaia jumped in her car and headed towards the city.
The first place was the $2.00 car wash to get her baby washed when her 69 Corvette Stingray 427 came out polished and clean Kaia open the one half of the roof playing Baby I'm A Star by Prince from her favorite cassette Purple Rain.
Tonight she was going to The RITZ to listen to her favorite band play then after's she was going to see a late night movie and head home. Until then she was going to kill sometime and probably go to the shopping center downtown shifting the gears she speed off downtown Washington Heights.
Seth didn't know what possessed him to walk around the shopping district of downtown. His plans were to kill time by driving around, but something internal made him park his car and walk around as if searching for something or someone.
Walking down the avenue nonchalant Steff didn't waste his time to go to the mall knowing that he might see few of his associates. After all he was going to see them later on tonight at his house.
Placing a cigarette in between his lips he started to light it when notice a 69 Corvette pulled in front of TRAX record store.
He knew all to well who own that car and he couldn't fight the smirk that came to his lips when he watch her step out the car and head inside the store.
Not wasting anytime he threw the unlit cigarette to the ground and proceed to cross the street.
She knew she wasn't suppose to be in here, she had promised herself that she wouldn't spend any more of her money on records unless she most definitely had too.
She was simply going to browse and if there so happens to be a few records that caught her attention…will she couldn't just pass it by. And by now she had found two records that had caught her attention.
She was reading the cover notes on one of the albums that she had picked when…
"Well look what the cat drag in."
She could feel her heart accelerate as her body became stiff leaving her the inability to move or for that matter look up.
There was no way in hell that he was right there next to her in the one place she would never even imagine him to be at.
"This would be first time I've seen you quiet and I must say it's very pleasant you should do it more."
That was all he had to do for her to gain control of her bodily functions. Kaia raised her head daringly as she was face to face with Steff.
"Steff, once again you surprise me with how much you don't have anything to say," she smiled as she walked away.
"And how long did it take you to come up with that response?"' he said nonchalant as he walked beside her.
"What do you want Steff? Aren't you suppose to be hosting an orgy of some sorts at your palace up the hill?" she said in a deceiving sweet voice as they walked to the cash register.
"Despite popular legend amongst everyone I don't have that much power to control a person actions."
"Really? I never thought I would hear the day that Steff McKee would admit that he couldn't control people's actions," she said as she turned towards the cashier.
Steff didn't waste his time to look he knew who was at the register and he wouldn't waste his time to acknowledged that persons presence.
He took his time to admire Kaia; he noticed that she was wearing form fitting black jeans that showed her assets very well.
The belt seem to squeeze her waist and he wonder was she even comfortable then a sudden image of him unbuckling her belt with her exhaling slowly in his ear came to mind.
He mental shook himself as he placed back his strong indifferent faced back up. He couldn't show any weakness of any sort. His eyes traveled up, she was wore a light gray shirt that was tucked inside her jeans the short sleeves were rolled up. All in all she was looked absolutely beautiful.
"Don't tell me you expect the worst of me?" he said leaning against the counter to have a better view of her.
He was expecting Kaia's signature smirk and stance, but he wasn't expecting this look.
There was no smirk nor was there a smile on her face, her body didn't stand strong it was more relaxed, and instead of the laughter in her eyes he was met by something of question and something else.
"I never expect the worst from you…but sometimes I do wonder what you expect from yourself then anything."
Crake.
That was the noise of the first puncture of the masked that was Steff.
And Kaia had delivered its first blow.
He couldn't say anything, for the first time in his whole life Steff was speechless.
Kaia on the other hand didn't know what possessed her to say something like that. She didn't mean to speak out her thoughts, but the way he was looking at her in this one moment she had told him what she truly thought of him.
Her checks begin to warm and without any hesitation she turned leaving the store. Steff watched as she walked away from him and towards the door never once did she turn around.
He could see her jump in her car and speed off.
He straightens up his posture he turned towards Andie who was still holding Kaia's records. In her heist she forgot to pay for her records.
"How much?" he said pulling out his wallet.
"Fourteen dollars," Andie said clearing her voice as she placed the records in a brown bag that had the store name written in red bold letters.
Giving her the correct amount as he took the records from her never sparing another glance at her.
Watching him leave the store Andie couldn't fathom to what just happen five minutes ago. And she couldn't help but feel a strange wave of déjà vu hit her when she a sudden memory came to her.
Once he had lean against her car bold asking her when they were going to get together.
She had dismissed him and even such a thought of going out with him. And being typical Steff he had called her out of her name and walked away.
As she watched him and the girl…she forgot her name but she knew she went to their school.
There was something about them…there was sophistication with there banters and called her crazy but could it be said that Steff even respected the girl?
It was simply strange to see Steff pursuing another girl that was beneath all the social order.
She had to ask Blaine did he know the girl later on tonight. But what was strange about all of this was the tightening feeling she felt with the look that Steff gave the girl.
Odd was the only correct description to use at this moment.
Steff was inside of his car; his curiosity took a hold of him as he looked to see what music caught her fancy.
The first album was Parade by Prince and the second was Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. He had to admit she had wonderful taste in music; placing the albums back in the bag he placed them on the passenger seat.
Then something hit him like a tons of bricks he turned and looked at the bag filled with her records. He had found the little help to asked her out.
As a plan begun to formulate within his head on to finally have Kaia Davis for himself. The pure anticipation for next Monday was the only thing he could think about.