It was cold on this particular day, yet the adrenaline I felt riding around Brooklyn on the motorcycle with Kalia kept me on a high. I haven’t felt this carefree in a really long time; ironically, I’m feeling this way hanging out with my ex-girlfriend—
My ex, ex-girlfriend? Fuck it, my girlfriend.
Kalia and I were able to hang out in the little time I had left before school started again. Kalia was staying with her biological mom for vacation before having to go back to filming in Sweden. It was nice to go out on dates again; get dressed up and buy her flowers and do all that cute shit we used to do when we were first dating. Kalia seemed very relaxed in public, which was something she hasn’t been since embarking her acting journey outside of her own father’s successful career. I know there are just some things I know I won’t get to see Kalia ever do again, but I’m so glad I can still feel the reasons why I loved her in the first place.
Today, we stopped at the lounge since it was my turn to pick the spot to hang out tonight. I take my helmet off and begin to help Kalia take off hers; she looks at the building in front of us.
“This is a… cool spot,” Kalia said, not sounding convincing whatsoever. I look at her and laugh.
“What’s the problem with it, because I can hear it in your voice,” I immediately said as I get off the motorcycle in it’s parked spot. “Little Miss Sweden can’t take a milkshake and a show in the cold weather?”
“Shut up,” Kalia said before laughing at me. “Who wants to drink cold ice cream on a 32° winter day anyway? Only psychos.”
“Well then I guess I’m a psycho,” I playfully said, kissing her cheek before heading into the lounge. Once I opened the door for Kalia, she looks around the lounge, not really knowing where to go next. I guided her to one of the tables in the back; the place was getting pretty crowded very quickly.
“Is there a show tonight or something?” Kalia asked as she continued to look around.
“An open mic,” I answered, looking at the menu that was placed on the table.
“Like a poetry slam?” she continued to ask questions.
“An open mic, Kal,” I emphasized. “Rap, sing, poetry; whatever people want to do.”
“Are you performing tonight?”
“Nah,” I said, looking up at Kalia. “The open mic was a plus.”
“Oh,” Kalia simply answered. She didn’t sound interested in tonight’s date, which kind of disappointed me. This was one of those times that I realize that Kalia is different, and her interests have definitely shifted as she got older.
“Who knows,” I began to say. “Maybe I want to perform something for my lady.” Kalia’s eyebrow instantly goes up.
“Yeah?” Kalia simply answered.
“Hey, it’s been a hot minute since you’ve seen me perform something,” I mentioned. I instantly remember the last time Kalia came to a show. That was the first show Rosie went to; she was the one that told me Kalia left. “I’ve worked on a couple of new things since then.”
“Well, now you have to perform something tonight,” Kalia teased. “Maybe give me an encore later tonight?”
“Only if it’s highly demanded,” I teased back, leaning in towards the table. It’s not long after that I hear the waitress come to our table.
“Welcome back to the Oxygen Lounge, Salem,” the waitress greeted. She looks at Kalia and then back at me. “Looks like you brought company this time.”
“His girlfriend,” Kalia spat back. The waitress rolls her eyes and takes her notepad out of her apron pocket.
“What can I get for you two tonight?” she asked.
“The usual for one,” I answered and look at Kalia for her order. “How about you?”
“The peanut butter cup milkshake is what you usually get, hun?” The waitress asked Kalia.
“No,” Kalia answered back. “I’m allergic to peanuts.”
“My apologies,” the waitress mentioned. “I must’ve mistaken you for another woman of Salem’s.” Kalia looks disgusted, and I immediately try to get off this subject.
“She will have the Shirley Temple; virgin,” I told the waitress as she wrote it in her notepad.
“Ahhh, underage?” the waitress said under her breath, thinking I didn’t hear her.
“No, responsible,” I said to her back. She doesn’t say anything afterwards; she walks away from the table. I finally look over at Kalia; clearly this is not how I wanted tonight’s date to go.
“So, other girls, huh?” Kalia finally said. She was definitely annoyed. “And ‘Salem’? You have other girls calling you by your first name now?”
“It also so happens to be my stage name, Kal,” I mentioned. “You know this is where I typically do my shows at.” Kalia doesn’t say anything after that. It’s not because she doesn’t have anything to say, but she is most likely because she doesn’t want to start an argument with me. I sighed, putting my hand on top of her arm on the table. “Kalia–“
“It’s fine, Micah,” Kalia interrupted. “I can’t be upset about your life as a musician. You just gotta do what you gotta do to make it, y’know?” I look at Kalia as she speaks. What does she mean by that? Sure, you have to do things you don’t want to do in order to get ahead in the business you’re in, but what did she know about that? She was born into a famous family; she had her whole life planned out for her even before she was able to speak. Kalia looks at me and comments on my facial expression. “What’s with the face?”
“Nothing,” I answered, adjusting in my seat.
“Clearly you’re annoyed with something I said,” Kalia hounded on the issue some more. Now I was getting annoyed with her.
“Kalia, can we just go one night without coming for each other’s throats for once?” I finally said out loud. It was the truth; Kalia and I have tons of work on regarding our relationship, but all I wanted to do tonight was have a good time with her. I look over towards a table in front of me; I’ve noticed that every now and then the person sitting there would randomly watch Kalia and speak. I don’t want to freak Kalia out, but I have a feeling it’s an undercover tabloid. I look back at Kalia, placing my hand on top of her arm and smiled. “Let’s just enjoy the night.” Kalia pulled her arm away, clearly not over the argument.
“We’re literally out at a place where you brought other girls at; you expect me to just be okay being here?” I look at Kalia and the back at the tabloid guy who’s taken notes and secret photos with his camera. I look back at Kalia, trying to change her mood before the guy gets a bad photo of us sitting together and runs some bullshit story tomorrow.
“I brought you here because I wanted to share a place that means the most to me,” I began to say, placing my hand on top of her arm again. “I’m telling you the truth; I never brought any other girl here before.” Lies; I never brought any other girl here before Rosie. “The waitress is just hating because she has a crush on me and I wouldn’t pay her any mind.” Kalia’s face softens before she lets out a deep sigh.
“I’m sorry,” Kalia finally said. “To be honest, I’m just not used to being around when you’re doing music stuff, so people knowing you as Salem and stuff, it just makes me feel like I missed such an important part of your life.”
“How could you’ve missed it when you were here when it started?” I said, smiling at Kalia. “You were the one that encouraged me to get a mixer to start making beats in high school.” Kalia smiled as I spoke; I was happy that I was able to make her feel better… but most importantly, I was glad to not give this tabloid what he wants.
“I remember that,” Kalia said, still smiling. “God, we were just kids. Now we’re considered young adults… I miss being a teenager sometimes. Times were simple.” The tabloid guy finally leaves the table he was sitting at; I finally let out the breath I was holding in the entire time.
“Yeah,” I mindlessly answered back. “Me too.”
Letters From Liz. 