six - pretty

the art of being pretty

- - -

"If I'm being honest, Saint, I don't think skinny jeans and a button up is dinner appropriate."

"I'm not wearing a suit to go to a fuckin' diner," I called out to Hendrix, grabbing my wallet and phone before making my way into my living room. Hendrix and Ali had decided that an unwarranted visit was appropriate.

Kareem was due to arrive at any minute.

"Babe, a suit seems a little overdressed." Aaliyah added in from her spot on the couch. I nodded in agreement.

Hendrix frowned at us both before digging into her bag and pulling out a digital camera. My mouth dropped open but Ali didn't even look surprised.

"What the fuck is that?"

Ali jumped up, escaping the situation as quickly as possible as somebody knocked on my door. I heard her greet Kareem and invite him in, but I kept my eyes on Hendrix and her fucking camera.

A camera.

A digital, oversized freak of a camera.

"Don't overreact- What the hell are you wearing?" Hendrix threw her arms up in exasperation, very nearly flinging the camera across the room as she looked at Kareem. "A leather jacket? Really? Am I the only person who cares about you both looking presentable?"

"You have green hair!" I spluttered back, skin heating up as Hendrix started mumbling. "And the leather jacket looks fine!"

"Maybe you should just let them do what they want, babe." Ali said as she walked over to her girlfriend, wrapping an arm around her waist. Hendrix leaned into the touch as Aaliyah pressed a kiss to her temple.

While they'd been speaking, I'd gestured for Kareem to follow me and we'd silently been edging closer and closer to the escape when Hendrix noticed our retreating forms. "Hey!"

Painting an innocent smile onto my face, I turned around to meet Hendrix's very stern expression. I stifled a laugh as Ali looked on in amusement.

"You're not taking a photo of us. That's weird."

"You're weird."

"Classic."

"You know I like documenting things." She whined, like literally whined. Like a dog.

Giving in because I didn't want to spend the rest of my life with Hendrix complaining to me, I tugged Kareem towards the doorway and stopped us both in front of it.

"Can I put my arm around you?" He asked lowly, so neither of the girls could hear him. I nodded, fighting the grin off my face as his hand curled around my waist.

Nudging closer to him, I wrapped my arm around his back before leaning in. "Do you still have the information for the Dog Shelter where you got King?"

His eyebrows furrowed as he turned away from the camera direction and met my eyes. "Why?"

A smirk swept wide across my lips. "I'm thinking of putting Hendrix up for adoption."

The booming laugh that escaped Kareem made my heart sway with happiness, electricity buzzing around my stomach as he threw his head back, eyes crinkling as his shoulders shook with laughter. Just as I was grinning at his reaction, a flash went off and left black spots in my eyes.

Hendrix whistled, effectively ruining the moment. "Damn bitches, that's what I'm talking about!"

"Can we leave now?"

"Yes," She ushered us out of my apartment, grabbing Ali and standing by the door with a grin on her face. "Have fun you sexy motherfuckers."

I just shook my head as I followed Kareem out of the building. She better lock my damn door.

"Is the diner near Dexter's still okay? We can go somewhere else if not." He asked, opening the passenger car door for me so I could climb in.

Thanking him, I nodded my head. "Yeah of course, whatever you want."

He smiled at me from the driver's seat, eyes crinkling as he gripped the steering wheel and put the car into drive. "Thank you for agreeing to go out."

I snorted, "Thank you for leaving your number in an empty pizza box. Hendrix was delighted."

"More so than you?" He raised his eyebrows in question, turning on the radio but keeping the volume low. I looked out of the window as the houses passed by us, kind of thankful that it was only a short drive.

"No," I answered honestly, softly. "Not even a little bit."

The way his eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. There was something so encapsulating when it came to his dark eyes - a never-ending abyss that I could just fall into happily. The smudge of dark lashes flickered as he smiled, facing away from me as he parked the car. Before I could even blink, he was moving towards the other side of the car and opening the door for me.

"Can I?" He trailed off, holding his hand out in invitation.

Grinning up at him, I interlocked our fingers and climbed out of the car, letting him direct me towards the Diner and took me over to our booked table.

We ordered our food quite quickly before settling into a gentle conversation. Around halfway through one of my sentences, however, I'd noticed a small child standing near our booth alone.

Following my gaze, Kareem's eyes flickered over to the kid. She looked startled at the sudden attention, and seemed to shrink into herself. I scanned over the diner quickly, trying to find her guardians.

"Hey, bubs." Kareem started off softly, stepping out of the booth and taking a few steps forward slowly to not intimidate her. "Are you okay?"

She nodded her head demurely before stepping forward.

The little girl stared up at me, eyes wide with her mouth slightly open. I almost cooed at her expression, marvelling at the small braids that adorned her tiny face. Kareem seemed to be loving it as he kneeled down next to her, pointing to me.

"He's pretty, isn't he?" He whispered to her, but it was loud enough for me to hear him. Heat rose up my neck.

The girl just nodded her head slowly, turning to look at Kareem as he grinned at her.

"I'm Kaz, what's your name?" He asked gently, holding out his palm to high five her.

"Maison." She let out softly, dark-skinned palm meeting Kareem's.

"That's such a beautiful name. Maison, where's your Mommy-?"

"Maise!"

A young woman that couldn't be more than twenty five rushed over to us, picking up Maison and holding her tightly.

"Baby, you can't run off like that, okay? Mama was so worried." The woman said as she clutched her daughter's head, pressing her up to her side. She turns to us, sending us both tiny smiles. "I hope she didn't bother you too much."

"Not at all." I said smiling at Maison, "It was nice to meet you, Maison."

She let out a mini squeal before hiding her face in her mother's shoulder. Kareem laughed as the mother thanked us again, walking off to another table.

As Kareem's attention moved back to me, I cocked my eyebrow up in interest. Kareem's eyebrows furrowed as I failed to hide the smile etching it's way onto my face.

"Ugh, Saint. I think there's something wrong with your face."

"Can't be too much wrong with my face if you think I'm pretty." I teased, making him break out into a laugh. His shoulders shook as he threw his head back, the sound lingering in my ears so much that I almost failed to notice the slight pink hue of his cheeks as he looked back at me.

"I mean," He shrugged nonchalantly, despite the grin playing on his lips. "You're average."

I raised my eyebrows, deciding to play along with his little game. The awkward tension between us had dissipated, and it seemed like our conversation catalyst had been in the form of a small child. Leaning forward and resting my elbows on the table, I cocked my head at him. "Average? Hm, so what would that make you?"

"I'm just a humble person trying to roll my way through life."

"And I thought Hendrix was weird." Shaking my head, I just stared at him incredulously. At that very moment, a waitress brought our food to us. I stared in awe at the plate, completely magnified by the pure beauty.

God, I love food so much.

Just as I was about to start eating, I noticed that the waitress was still standing next to us. Her eyes fixated on Kareem. Her perfectly shaped nail is twirling her hair around as she directs all her attention to Kareem.

"Hey, Kaz. How've you been?" She said lowly, the flirtatious tone not being lost to me.

Oh for God's sake.

Immediately, I was uncomfortable. Regardless of the fact she sounded sweet enough and the smile on her face appeared genuine, I couldn't help but feel out of place. But all shreds of discomfort were eliminated when Kareem just sent her a polite smile, saying hello back before facing me. She seemed to realize that he wasn't interested and instead walked away, while Kareem just started to eat his food as if nothing had happened.

He must be used to this, I mused. He was built like a soldier, ink decorating his skin and his face was simply gorgeous. None of this I'd ever admit to him because, like Hendrix, I'd rather not build someone's ego without reason, but he really was one of the best looking humans I'd ever seen, if not the best.

"Where are you from then?" I asked, not being able to place his accent despite the distinctness.

He sipped his drink, finishing chewing his food before answering. "Philadelphia. Can't you tell?"

I scrunch my nose up. Can't you tell? "It wasn't obvious but I could tell you weren't one of us."

He chuckled, "Thanks, I did a lot of travelling. You kind of lose it along the way. Whereas you're a true Yank."

"We don't use that word." I corrected him teasingly, "Plus, I'm not from the city so it's not a typical New York accent."

"Same thing," He shrugged, "So how long have you worked at Dexter's for?"

"Since I was eighteen." I answered, "Hendrix's grandmother, Jenny, owned it and I started working for her when I started at NYU. We both bought it from Drix's parents after Jennifer died three years ago."

"Wait, shit, you own it?" He asked, eyebrows raised. "Damn, that's impressive."

"Legally, we co-own it but how I've managed to keep it going with Hendrix in my corner is something I'm still trying to figure out." I joked, knowing deep down that I wouldn't have been able to keep the place running without her. Hendrix made all the job stress so incredibly worth it. We built it up together: It was ours.

"You both seem to be doing a pretty good job. Those cupcakes are addictive."

"My brother always tried to steal them. I swear he likes my baking more than my actual cooking." I groaned. Sacha always ate anything I ever baked at home but barely touched actual food and then questioned why he couldn't run a mile without almost collapsing.

"Wait, you bake them all too? You must have to do like a hundred per day." He whistled, an impressed look in his eyes. "Is there anything you can't do?"

The question was purely rhetorical but, as always, I had to make a list.

Refusal to have normal social interactions? Check.

Maintain seventeen year old Saint's trust issues? Check.

Panic every time a remotely cute boy speaks to me? Double check.

"What about you then? Why New York out of the other forty eight non-Philadelphian states?"

He cocked his head to the side, a thoughtful look painting his face at my question as he gave me a soft smile.

"I grew up in Foster Care." He started off, meeting my eyes directly. I didn't tear my gaze away. "Jumped around homes until I was eleven when I got put in a permanent group home. I kept my head down, didn't really talk to anyone. I met another kid when I turned fifteen. She was quiet but she had this aura around her, you know? Like she could reign hell. We ended up talking and she was five years younger than me. We became close."

As he explained his childhood, I couldn't help but be surprised at how easily he spoke of it. Every single media representation of Foster Care that I'd even been exposed to spoke of the cruelty and abuse these kids faced, of how they despised talking about it and were 'irreparably fucked up'. Kareem didn't seem angry at his circumstances. They weren't out of the norm for him, so why do so many people see it as a taboo?

"I stayed there until I turned eighteen, and then I joined the army."

Shit, I wasn't expecting that one. My mouth literally dropped open.

Not only was he built like a soldier but he actually was one.

"Kezziah was thirteen and I promised I'd come back for her once I was out. I finished my fourth tour about five months ago, went back to Philly and asked around until I found out she'd been moved up here." He explained easily, as if he hadn't just dropped an entire truthbomb on me. "I brought her to the bakery the other week. Remember, the day you were hiding from me?"

My cheeks flushed the moment he finished, and I slammed my head down onto the table with hope that it'd knock me out. "You're never going to let that go, are you?" I asked, words muffled.

"Nope." He laughed, popping the 'P'. "She liked the brownie she got, if that's any consolation, and Kezz hates everything."

"Well I'd love to take the credit but Drix handles brownies."

He smiled, eyes crinkling as they lit up with something I couldn't place. This smile felt different somehow, from all the ones he'd given me before. Something more relaxed, more personal.

"Well, it looks like I'll have to stick with my cupcakes then."

I was surprised to find Hendrix on my couch when I got home. Sacha was next to her with a bowl of popcorn.

"So how was it?" Hendrix immediately asked the moment she spotted me, pulling herself up by using Sacha. He cried out when her elbow dug into his thigh.

"How was what?" My little brother asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"It was good," I hummed, biting back a smile as I headed towards the kitchen, hoping to escape her questions. I'd happened to forget ( quite purposefully) to inform Sacha of my earlier plans, given the fact that my little brother had a tendency to be a bit over the top.

My attempt to subdue the beast didn't work. I heard her jump up from behind me and follow me, with Sacha shuffling behind.

"I'm confused."

"Saint!" Hendrix exclaimed, climbing onto the mantelpiece with her legs dangling beneath her. "You need to tell me if that sexy hunch of a God kissed you or not!"

"What! Ew!" Sacha shouted, as I shot Hendrix a look. My brother rounded on me instantly, eyes wide. "Why did she just say that? Where have you been?"

"I-"

"He was on a date!" Hendrix grinned, "God, Kazza looked so good, didn't he?"

"Why are you here?" I asked, trying not to groan at the onslaught of questions. Sacha still looked baffled. "You don't live here, Drix."

"She turned up an hour ago and wouldn't leave," Sacha stated, "You were on a date?"

"She's exaggerating, it wasn't a big deal." I told him, not wanting to get my hopes up. I thought back to what Kareem said to Maison and it only intensified the army of butterflies swarming in my stomach. "I just went out for dinner with someone I met at the bakery."

Hendrix scoffed, but Sacha was speaking before she could interrupt. "What? Why is this the first I'm hearing about it?"

My eyebrows raised at his tone, "Since when did I have to tell you my plans?"

"Since Dad isn't here to interrogate you!"

As if Dad would care anyways, I thought, biting back a snort.

"You're seventeen." I deadpanned.

"I've not been seventeen for ten months, idiot. Now tell me who this bastard is."

"He's heavenly, Sach." Hendrix hummed contently, "Honestly, I would consider it if it wasn't for Ali."

"Don't put that thought in my head, Drix."

She smiled at me sheepishly, "Oops?"

"I need his name, his age, his address and his social security number."

"You need to go sit down and continue coloring and learning the alphabet like the other five year olds." Hendrix waved him off, before flicking his forehead when he didn't walk away.

"Ow! Fuck you, Dexter."

"Maybe next time when you're legal." She winked, "Saint, please. I'm dying here."

Refusing to give anything up, I stubbornly shook my head and walked towards my bedroom.

"At least tell me when you're seeing him again." She pleaded, hands together as if she was praying.

Indulging her for a second, I just shrugged and said. "Next week."

The last thing I heard before heading into my room was Hendrix's squeal.

A/N

i love kids and i love sacha 😌

hope everyone's doing okay!