MASKED

Chapter Six

Where is the doorbell?', Lexy thought to herself as she ran her hand instinctively over the large gates looming before her. She pressed the red rose flower instinctively; that was the only thing she saw closest to a doorbell. And it actually was.

"You have reached the Sam residence. Please identify yourself.", the computer's voice droned mechanically.

"Oh....uhhhhh.....,"Lexy said nervously. Katie hadn't told her she had to go through an identification procedure to enter her house when she had invited her over for the Saturday shopping.

"I'm Lexy, Katie's friend. I'm here to meet her. We’re going shopping.”

"Please wait while your information is confirmed."

Thankfully she didn't have to wait for long as the gates snapped opened before her.

Lexy gulped. The mansion was huge. The parking lot itself was twice the size of her entire house and it looked like a car sale. The hedges, neatly trimmed, were a work of art. The different variety of flowers and thousand butterflies that fluttered gaily around the garden coalesced with the stone water fountain, giving it the scenery of a fairy tale. Two large spotless pools were being cleaned by about 5 men. Shiny stones arranged to perfection lined the walkway to the house itself. It was as if she were walking on a disco ball as they glittered in the early morning sun. Lexy was left agape.

Before she got to the door, Katie bounded out of the house and ran towards her, almost knocking her off her feet.

"Hey Lexy, sorry for the bouncy welcome.", she giggled. "Come on in."

The interior decor was fabulous.

The living room was so huge it caught her by surprise at first. There were both miniature flowers and real ones, freshly cut in vases of water. There were 3 chandeliers, an enormous fully stocked wine case, plush white sofas, two very ancient and expensive looking grandfathers' clocks, one at each end of the room, rows and rows of paintings; meticulously designed vases and artifacts and for a last touch, an acoustic guitar leaning next to a potted chrysanthemum.

"Can you play that?", Lexy asked curiously.

"A little. It's my dad’s.", Katie replied.

"I do wish mum and dad were here to meet you, Lexy, but sad enough they're not. Yes, I know it’s a Saturday but still, who can blame them totally for choosing work over rest?" she added with a sigh before coming back to her excited demeanor. “Let me show around.”

Katie took her around the house and by the time they were through, Lexy was a panting wreck. Katie had insisted they use the stairs instead of the elevator because she wanted Lexy to see all the family portraits on the walls. Despite the arduous work involved in climbing all those flights of stairs, Lexy was very impressed by the tour.

Last stop was Katie’s room. It was equally elegant, complete with a four poster bed, a lava lamp, chaise longue and her very own desktop and TV. One door led to a cute pink bathroom and the other, a balcony overlooking the garden. The last led to her closet, which was as big as Lexy's room.

'Does she wear all those shoes?', Lexy wondered as she awed at Katie's shoe collection.

Without Katie's friendliness, Lexy was sure she would have felt completely out of place in the mansion.

"Your room is so amazing, Katie. It's cool the way you blend the purple with black. I love it"

Everything in the room was a shade of the two colours.

"Thanks, Lexy. Glad you like it.", she said, drawing the venetian blind. "One of these days we'll have a sleep over, just you and me."

"That'll be great", a bemused Lexy said. She sat gingerly on the soft bed while Katie fixed her long black hair into a tight bun. Even in just an anorak and shorts she looked like a model on the runway.

"You need a makeover, Lexy", she said suddenly and tossed her a denim jacket. It still had its price tag on it.

"This Katie?? No... I can't wear this."

"Huh? Why not? You don't like it?"

"No, not that. It's just that........well.......its......It's too expensive Katie!", Lexy stuttered.

"What??," she laughed. "Not to brag or anything but that jacket is the least expensive of my clothes, Lexy. Somehow I figured you'd say that. That’s why I chose that particular one. You should have seen the one I picked earlier. I should’ve removed the tag."

"Still, we’re just going to the mall, Katie." She prostested.

"Yeah, I know we're going to the mall, Lexy. Who knows what might happen, maybe we might get caught up in some issues and be featured in the news or something. So, we've got to look our best."

"For news sake? Be real, Katie ", Lexy couldn’t help but smile.

"I am being for real. You never know.", she said with a wave of her hand. "Quit whining and just put the jacket on!"

Lexy couldn't possibly hope to win an argument against Katie especially with matters like these and so eventually she had to give in.

10 minutes, a bracelet and pearl earrings later, Lexy and Katie were ready. Down in the living room, a golden retriever bounded up to Katie wagging its tail.

"Oh wow," Lexy cooed, "he's so cute"

"I didn't know you were a dog person. Well Lexy ,let me introduce you to the bestest dog in the world, Champagne!", she announced.

Lexy almost gagged. "Champagne??"

"Yeahh yeah, I know, wierd name for a dog, isn’t it?", Katie rolled her eyes.

"Well, come to think of it, Champagne is not such a bad name for a dog.", Lexy admitted.

"I have a cat too, but that lazy Snowflake is probably asleep somewhere; the fat furball. She has no care for anything in the world, I tell you!".

They spent a few minutes petting Champagne who took a particular liking to Lexy so much that it was hard letting go of him.

At the parking lot, a handsome man stood waiting for them. He nodded slightly at Lexy and she returned the gesture with a polite smile.

"This is Mark. He's going to drive us today.", Katie introduced him.

"Miss Katie, the hatchback or the convertible?", his voice was very deep yet soft.

"Well Lexy? Which one do you want us to ride in?", Katie turned the question over to her.

"Oh uh.... anyone would do, Katie."

"Okay Mark, the convertible it is".