Aliyah drove her Subaru Outback whenever she went out in secret. She liked how it blended into traffic while still feeling like the outdoors. The sleek white body put Kelvin’s Honda Accord to shame. His car was gray and rusted along the wheel wells.
She pulled up to the bank and parked behind him. The guys were skating in the parking lot. They were too far away to see her, but they checked the time and figured it was her. Kelvin headed over slowly.
Aliyah fiddled with her disguise as he approached. She adjusted her hat, pushed up her sunglasses. She wrapped her hair under a silk scarf to hide it. Only the ends of her curls stuck out. The knot pressed into the back of her neck. She thought the ensemble looked cute, although it’d already given her a headache.
“You got this,” she whispered to herself, “Just take the day. You can afford that.” She left her phone in her glove box but grabbed her pocket knife just in case.
Kelvin rushed to her door once he realized it was her. She got out and met him at the curb, trying to smile. It was weak. On her way here, she told herself she wouldn’t act around him. He got her real side that day or no side at all.
“I like your disguise,” he said, “I hardly recognized you.”
“Thanks. That’s kinda the point.”
He chuckled then shut her door.
Her inner voice scolded her for being so snarky. Real side or not, she didn’t need to be at her sharpest.
They headed into the parking lot afterward. He walked beside her but kept his distance. His hair fell in his face. He re-tucked it in his hat. He wore an oversized T-shirt and baggy jeans that took her back a couple years.
“Hey, that isn’t the hat I signed, is it?”
“Nope, I’m never wearing that one again.”
“What, why not? Are you embarrassed or something?”
“Hell no, the exact opposite. I got that thing enshrined, glass case and everything.”
“You did not.” She shoved him. “Boy, you are such a dork.”
While they crossed the parking lot, Miguel and Oakey watched from the far end. They sat on the same staircase where they started that morning. Their boards were by the curb. Their bags and equipment lay in the bushes. Miguel held the camera in his lap. Oakey snacked on some cookies.
The spot reminded Aliyah of Triple Flip. Her co-star skated professionally and did most of the stunts for the film. The B-roll included a lot of staircases and handrails.
Kelvin introduced everybody when they arrived. His buddies stood up to greet her but didn’t shake her hand or anything. Aliyah could tell they were nervous. She was, too. She brought up the camera to break the ice.
“So, Kelvin said you guys are doing a video.”
“Yeah,” Miguel said, “But you don’t have to worry. We won’t get you in it.”
Aliyah raised her brow. Her sunglasses slid down her nose. A minute ago, she wondered if his buddies would play nice. She was putting a lot of trust in them today.
“Thanks, guys. It ain’t a big deal, though. I’m in disguise, so I can just be some chick in the background.”
“Hardly some chick,” Miguel said, checking her out.
Kelvin slapped his arm. “What the hell does that mean?”
Aliyah brushed it off. She left that morning in a V-neck T-shirt and a pair of short jean shorts. In other words, she knew her disguise wasn’t hiding her figure.
“Nah, Kelvin, it’s nothing. I get it. Let’s just keep it about the skating, okay?”
That was something everybody could agree on. Miguel passed the camera to Oakey then grabbed his board and ran up the stairs. Oakey took a spot at the top and focused on the handrail. Aliyah and Kelvin sat in the grass. The bushes hid them a little. Oakey checked how far he could pan the camera before getting them in the shot.
“Action!” He snickered.
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