Finding Kia

by Airicka Phoenix

  “Two tickets to the pier carnival for this weekend!” She bit her lip, barely suppressing her giddy excitement as she stared widely into my eyes. “Happy birthday!” she squealed loudly, throwing her arms up into the air as if she’d just lunged out of a cake. “It’s the last night before they shut down so we have to go.”

  I laughed, taking the tickets from her to see for myself. “Oh my God, Nessie! Where did you get these?”

  “I have my sources.” She flipped a piece of hair off her shoulder. “You game?”

  “Yeah I’m game!” I gave her a hug. “Thank you.”

  “What?” Her smile faded about the same time as mine did. “You don’t like them? You don’t want to go?”

  “No! No, I totally want to go. I love it. I just …” I cleared my throat. “I was hoping we could do something else this weekend for my birthday.”

  There was a pout on her glossy lips, but her eyes were curious. “Like what?”

  I’d had a full speech prepared in my head for when I asked Nessie, but as I sat there, trying to find the words, my brain was blank.

  “I, uh, was hoping you’d go shopping with me.”

  Nessie’s frown deepened. “Okay …?”

  There was no easy way to do this so I just blurted it out. “I want a makeover.”

  I’d only ever seen that many levels of facial reactions on TV, but it was literally like watching a movie in slow motion. Her face went from curious, confused, shocked and finally, the moment I was waiting for, she squealed, leapt off her stool and slammed into me.

  “Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!” she screamed into my ear as she hopped up and down while squishing me to her. “I never thought you would ask!”

  “Ms. Chaves!” Mrs. Pang barked, stomping into the room. “Take your seat, please.”

  Nessie gave me a hard shake before taking her seat. She was still grinning much too widely to be considered safe without irreparable damage to her face. Her eyes danced with excitement that was only ever present when there was a sale on shoes. I could tell it was costing her a lot to keep from screaming again, which only made me laugh.

  “We’ll go shopping Saturday morning and then hit the pier with your hot new look,” she told me, barely able to keep her voice down.

  Saturday couldn’t come fast enough, in my opinion. My decision to become a new Kia was a bit of an overnight, spur of the moment decision, but I figured why not? What harm could it do? It wasn’t going to change how I was inside. Would it hurt if I changed what was on the outside? That was the part people saw most, wasn’t it? No one really cared what sort of person you were inside if they didn’t like how you were on the outside first, which made me wonder, did I want people to start noticing me? I liked my bubble of isolation. It had always been a choice thing. But then, so was this. Maybe it was time I took a step out and saw what the rest of the world had been up to in my absence.

  Chapter X

  New Skin with a New Face

  I had a very strong hatred for the perfume aisle. It stemmed deeply from being sprayed and hounded by perky saleswomen brandishing the most dangerous weapon in history—the perfume bottle. I got the whole they’re working on commission thing, but no one was forcing them. No one was holding a gun to their heads, telling them to spray every passerby who crossed their paths. Wasn’t that a kind of assault?

  “I smell like a hooker,” I decided as I followed Nessie through the angry jungle of smells to the makeup department.

  “Well, soon you will look like a very high priced hooker,” she replied and snickered when I glowered at her.

  “Where are we going again?” I asked.

  “To see the God of all things beautiful!”

  “Did I hear someone call my name?”

  The guy reminded me of a genie. Everything from his stylishly swept to the side hair, to his curled goatee screamed flamboyant. He popped out from behind a makeup counter with his arms open wide and a dazzling smile in place. He flounced out the way a runway model took the catwalk and embraced Nessie like they were long lost friends. Gold flashed from his fingers and from the strings around his neck. He wore loose trousers with a white dress shirt that complimented his mocha colored skin and dark eyes. He pulled away from Nessie, keeping his hands on her shoulders as he took her in.

  “Girl, you are a sight for sore eyes! Where have you been?” The last part sounded like an accusation.

  Nessie rolled her eyes. “Got booted from Bore Academy. Mom and Dad axed my spending privileges.”

  The man drew a long, almost comical pouty face. “Well, you were severely missed around here.”

  Grinning, Nessie turned away to face me. “Deron, this is my girl Kia. We’re here for your magic touch.”

  Curious eyes shifted from the gorgeous dark head to me and blinked. The shock of having me next to Nessie had that effect on people. It was like they were expecting a supermodel to have a supermodel friend … and then they got me.

  “Hi,” I said, breaking the increasingly awkward silence.

  Deron came out of his surprise with the same flashy attitude as a peacock spreading its wings. “Darling!” I swear he pronounced every letter in the single word. Kind of reminded me of Cruella de Vil just before she kidnapped the puppies. “Where have you been?”

  I assumed that was a rhetorical question, so I refrained from answering. Thankfully, he didn’t wait for a response as he grabbed my elbow and forcibly dragged me around the glass counter to the stool on the other side.

  “Sit. Sit!” He shoved me into it. “Let me have a look at you.”

  I was never into bugs, but sitting there with the guy staring at me, judging me quietly in his head, I felt like one.

  “You have beautiful skin,” he decided at last. “Which is a perfect canvas to work on. Your eyes.” He pulled off my glasses and set them on the counter. “Do you have contacts?”

  I nodded.

  “Do you have something against wearing them?”

  I shook my head.

  “Good. Start.”

  Yes. Sir. I stopped short of saluting him.

  He went on, pointing out all the flaws I’d already made note of in the mirror, plus adding a few new ones for me to worry about while simultaneously offering me compliments about my lashes, the fullness of my lips and the elegant arches of my eyebrows. It was confusing how delighted and depressed he could make me all at once. The conflicting emotions in no way seemed to extend to Nessie. She stood on the other side of the counter, bobbing her head as though Deron’s every word was taken directly from the bible and reverent.

  It took several hours, and I knew this because my butt had already fallen asleep, before he finally ceased his assault. He drew back with a brush clamped between his teeth, a set of tweezers in one hand and a pair of scissors in the other. It would have been impressive if I wasn’t half asleep.

  “Oh, Kia!” Nessie gasped, clapping her hands over her mouth.

  Panic shot through me “What? Is it horrible?” Had it been too much to hope that a professional could fix me?

  “Darling, nothing I do is horrible.” Deron pushed a gilded mirror into my hand and stepped back.

  My hand shook as I brought the mirror up. My image blurred and it took me a moment to remember I wasn’t wearing my glasses. I fumbled for them, never taking my eyes off the black smudge in the glass. Nessie helped me set them on my nose and I blinked to focus my vision.

  I had no idea who the chick in the mirror was, but she had my hair and my bone structure and that was all. Her eyes were a warm, dark chocolate fanned by thick layers of lashes that swooped back to brush neatly plucked eyebrows. Soft, brown tones illuminated her eyelids, making her eyes appear smoky and mysterious. Her skin was flawless and kissed with just the right hint of blush. Her lips were bare, but shiny. It hardly looked like she … I was wearing makeup at all, but I knew I was, because I did not look like that on a regular basis.

  “Wow,” I murmured, awed.

  “You look gorgeous!”
Nessie breathed, looking a bit star struck.

  “Of course she does!” Deron huffed, swooping down and randomly pulling out little white boxes from the display case. “Now these are all the products I used on you today. I’ll throw in a set of instructions to help you maintain this fabulousness all the time.”

  There were like ten boxes on the counter and I didn’t need to look at the prices to know I could maybe only afford one.

  “Uh …”

  “I’m buying!” Nessie thrust out her arm, wielding a sleek, gold card.

  “No!”

  She nimbly dodged the hand I shot out to grab her. “My treat. It is your birthday after all.”

  Nimbly plucking the card from Nessie, Deron gasped. “Well, Happy Birthday!”

  I ignored him. “Ness, this is too much.”

  “Well, you can pay me back by buying me lunch. I’m dying for some Greek.”

  “But—”

  “Here you are!” Deron had Nessie’s receipt and my newly purchased items in a bag. “You ladies enjoy the rest of your afternoon.”

  “Come on!” Nessie had the bag in one hand and was beckoning me with the other as she started out of the makeup department.

  I faltered slipping off the stool, invisible needles pricking me through the soles of my feet. “Thank you,” I told Deron. “I really appreciate your help.”

  Deron was wearing a look I had come to recognize as deep contemplation. “You’re welcome. Enjoy the new you.” He offered me a slight smile. “But don’t forget the old you. She’s important, too.”

  Thanking him again, I hurried after Nessie.

  “So, do you want to hit the salon next or take a break and look at shoes?”

  “I want to talk about paying you back for all that stuff,” I replied.

  Nessie sighed, exasperated. “You can’t pay me back for a gift. That defeats the rule of gift giving. Besides, I’ve been wanting to make you over forever! So shut up.” She thrust the bag at me. “And enjoy.”

  I took the bag, feeling a ball of emotion lodge in my throat. “Thank you.”

  She beamed. “Welcome. Now, hair or shoes?”

  I laughed. “Hair. It won’t take as long as you looking at shoes.”

  “True.” Nessie looped her arm through mine and propelled me in the proper direction. “I know just the perfect style to complete your new look.”

  There wasn’t much anyone could do with short hair, or so I thought. But the moment Rosa, my stylist, shoved me into the chair, she was inspired. With guidance from Nessie, Rosa went to work hacking away at my hair. At one point, I actually began to panic. Were they going to shave me bald?

  “Relax!” Nessie kept telling me.

  So I squeezed my eyes closed and prayed for it to end soon.

  “Finished!” Rosa chirped, whipping off the cape from around my shoulders with flourish. She shook it off and turned my chair towards the lighted mirror.

  “Holy shit …”

  I looked fun and sassy and, dare I say it? Sexy! I looked sexy. The hair was styled in bold layers that feathered around my face. The length was the same, but there was life in the strands.

  “Do you like it?” Rosa asked.

  “I freaking love it!” I declared, daring myself to touch the choppy bangs swept over my right eye.

  Nessie squealed, hopping up and down clapping. “You look so hot!”

  I laughed.

  “Come on.” She grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the salon.

  “Hey! Wait. I haven’t paid.” I dug my heels into the ground.

  “It’s Mom’s gift,” Nessie said. “She told me to get you something from her.”

  I bulked. “I’ve never met your mother. She can’t buy me a haircut.”

  “Rosa knows my mom. I told her to put it on her tab. It’s not a big deal.”

  I gently pried myself out of her clutches and took a step back. “It kind of is.” I sighed. “Look, thank you for the …” I held up my bag of makeup and wiggled it. “Makeup and tell your mom thank you for offering, but I think I’d like to pay for this one.”

  Nessie shrugged. “Okay.”

  I hurried back and pulled out a little more than three months of allowance and handed it to Rosa, along with a generous tip. I thanked her and hurried to catch up with Nessie.

  “Are you angry?” I asked her.

  She shook her head. “Angry? No. Confused? Yes. But I knew when I became your friend that you were a total weirdo, so, no biggie.” Her arm snaked through mine. “Shoe time?”

  I laughed. “Shoe time.”

  We never made it to the shoe department. Part of the way there, Nessie got sucked into a clothing store where I was bombarded with an armload of clothes to match my new sassy and sexy makeover. I’d like to add that there wasn’t a single sweater amongst the lot, which was sad and unnerving. I always bought at least one sweater when I went shopping. At the front counter, I pulled out my wallet and winced at the few crumpled bills at the bottom. Not nearly enough to cover the cost of the mountain in front of me.

  With a sigh I hoped no one else heard, I dug into the back of my wallet for the debit card I kept hidden there. It was attached to a separate account my dad opened for me when I started high school. I was to only use it in case of an emergency or school items, including clothes. I had never used it, not in the five years since I’d had it. I considered this making up for lost time.

  I shouldn’t have been surprised when it went through. Dad put money into the account every week and after five years, I probably had enough to pay for college, but it still surprised me when the girl passed me the receipt and wished me a good day.

  I used the card once more for three pairs of shoes and a new set of notebooks and then stashed it away for another five years.

  “I am exhausted!” I moaned as we hiked our way to the bus stop.

  Still with an irritating skip in her step, Nessie giggled. “Hopefully not too exhausted. We still have a full night of fun ahead of us.”

  I’d nearly forgotten about the carnival. The thought of it had a surge of adrenaline pulsing through me. I boarded the bus with a bounce to my step.

  “Kia!” Mom tackled me the moment I stepped through the door. “Look at you!”

  I blushed, biting my bottom lip. “Do you like it?”

  “Like it? Sweetie, I love it!” She dragged me by my arm into the sitting area. “Joanne, look!”

  Sitting on the sofa, surrounded by a tower of law books and loose papers, Joanne glanced up. She nudged her reading glasses higher on her nose and squinted at me.

  “Kia?” She blinked. “Oh my God!” She leapt off the sofa, sending pieces of paper and pens scattering. She replaced Mom’s hands on my arms and shook me. “You look incredible!” Her gaze dropped to the twenty or so bags in my hand. “Have fun?”

  I winced, turning to my mother. “I used Dad’s card.”

  Mom’s eyebrows scuttled up her brow giving her face a look of horror. “Did you buy crack?”

  I blinked. “What? No!”

  “Condoms? Marijuana? Heroin? A hot male stripper?”

  I stared at her like she’d lost her mind.

  She shrugged. “Well, I’m just making sure that when your father comes barging over here, demanding to know what you spent your money on, that we have all our bases covered.” She laughed at my glower. “The money is there for you to use, Kia. I’m honestly surprised you hadn’t used it sooner.”

  “Yeah, I know.” I wrinkled my nose. “I just don’t … I don’t know.”

  Mom rubbed my arm. “Take your stuff upstairs. It’s fine.”

  “I’ll help.” Joanne bounced after me. “I want to see what you bought.”

  In my bedroom, I emptied the bags onto my bed and showed her all the new tops and jeans and dresses I’d bought. She gasped and marveled at everything. It was exciting to see her reactions, which made my decision to remake myself less frightening to handle.

  “Why couldn’t we be the same size?”
she whined, holding one of the boots I’d bought. “I’d kill for these.”

  I laughed from my place on my bedroom floor, ripping price tags off the clothes. “I think I’m going to donate some of my old stuff,” I decided, glancing at my closet. “To make room for the new stuff.”

  Joanne nodded, setting the boots aside. “That’s a good idea. Let me know if you need help.” She picked up one of the new tops and folded it neatly. “Kia?”

  I glanced up. “Yeah?”

  She met my gaze squarely. “You’re not doing this because of that boy, are you?”

  I dropped my gaze, not from guilt, but because of shame. “Maybe a little, but not entirely,” I confessed. “I think the only thing Adam helped do is make me realize that maybe it was time for a change. I don’t want to be invisible for the rest of my life. I’m seventeen and I had my first real kiss a week ago. The only time a guy gives me a second look is when I’m running in gym class and that’s only because of the girls. I have one friend, and I know I shouldn’t be friends with people who only notice me for my looks, but it’s the first thing people see before they talk to you.” I picked at a tag on a pair of jeans. “I think I want people to notice me a little. I mean, I’m getting older and I can’t go out into the world looking the same way I did when I was five. You know?” I looked up at her. “I think this might be good for me.”

  Joanne nodded slowly. “Well, all right then. You know your mom and I will support you in whatever you decide to do.”

  I smiled at her. “Thanks.”

  With a grin, she rose to her feet and stepped over to me. Bending at the waist, she brushed a kiss to the top of my head and then left.

  I sat staring at the mess around me and sighed. Clothes didn’t change a person, I told myself. I could still be me in different clothes. But who the hell was I?

  Chapter XI

  The Witch Never Dies

  I waited for Nessie at the carnival entrance. The night was warm despite the creep of approaching winter. The wind was sprinkled with the scent of sea salt and blew in time with the rush of waves crashing onto sand. Overhead, the carnival arch shone like an old man’s smile. The majority of the bulbs were burned out and those that worked, flickered. Tinkling music drifted over the riotous laughter and cries of excitement. It wrapped around the scent of cotton candy, hot dogs and machine grease. I breathed it all in, my own excitement bubbling in the pit of my stomach. I anxiously tugged on the hem of my newly bought shirt.