"Stage rehearsal for the music festival," Kaz answered politely, shrugging the shoulder he had the guitar strap slung around for emphasis. "I'm really late though, Mr. Grey, so I can't stay for breakfast," he added quickly before beginning to jog for the door. His uncle sighed, staring into his coffee for a long moment. He had tried to convince Kaz to call him by his name, but his nephew seemingly wanted nothing to do with him. He was good with kids, wasn't he? The sound of the door opening snapped the older man out of his thoughts, and he suddenly realized he had totally forgotten to tell Kaz something.

"Kaz, hold on a minute! Do you need these?" he called, fishing a small, cheap mesh case out of the pocket of his suit. Kaz backtracked, resisting the urge to sigh irritatedly.

"What is it?" he asked, walking hurriedly back to the counter. Though his annoyance quickly turned to gratefulness at the sight of his contacts. "Oh, yeah, definitely need those," he said, all but snatching the case out of his uncle's hands before turning to almost run out the door. "Thanks, Mr. Grey!" he called before slipping silently out the expensive redwood door. He ran down the steps of the lavish home, watching the ground beneath his feet as he struggled not to trip or scuff his shoes. His breath fogged around him, the early morning air crisp and welcoming as he ran through the enormous lawn. "Why the hell do they need a front yard this big?" Kaz muttered, his breath coming out in puffs of swirling mist that clung to his glasses in obscuring splotches.

"Oi, lateass! Over here!" came a voice from down the road behind large wrought iron gates, barely audible over the sound of music blaring from expensive speakers. Kaz breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Alex's flashy old Mustang pulling up in front of the house, sunlight glinting blindingly off its freshly waxed surface.

"Calm down man, I'm here!" Kaz shouted over the roar of noise coming from the vehicle, punching in the code that opened the enormous, elaborate gates hurriedly. They swung open without a sound, the eerie silence of the hinges a stark contrast to the noise of the outside world. Kaz pushed the gates closed again before jogging over to the passenger seat of the car, pulling one of the back doors open to set his guitar inside gently before sliding into the passenger seat.