Chapter Text
1
I pull off a joint while laying upside down on my bed. Explosions from my roommate’s room echoing off the walls, I never saw him but always heard the noises of games and his streaming channel. But, even though it was annoying sometimes, I remember that I was lucky to have found this place last minute. I stare at the sky outside the window, getting consumed in my thoughts, trying to figure out how to make the city of angels my thing.
I never really planned this far out, I never expected to be sober—or cali sober—and I was still tossing back and forth if it was the near-death experience or the lock down, it’s hard to use when you can’t leave the house. By the time I was able to walk the streets freely—I was clean.
So, after hearing Lexi talk about how great LA was, I packed my one bag and left home.
And yeah sure, I didn’t think it through but, it’s been almost a year and at least I had a shitty job.
Just no plan.
No friends.
My phone vibrates somewhere underneath a pillow, and I search around for it in the dark and slide the screen open to a message.
Well I do have Lexi.
Lexi: I’m having a small celebration for my promotion to assistant II.
Before I could even respond cool or congratulations, there’s another message coming in.
Lexi: Yes, it deserves a celebration because I don’t have to go out and grab the coffee only deliver them to each higher up.
So, that’s how I ended up outside of Lexi place with my hands stuffed in my pockets, nervous. I hadn’t been around people in a while, minus Lexi, and that was rare but, I knew it was time for me to step out of my comfort zone plus, from the five messages and phone call Lexi would have been disappointed if I didn’t show.
I can hear noises coming from upstairs as I look for a place to lock up my e-bike. I sigh, I should have asked who was all going to be here, but, Lexi had changed the conversation on the phone so quickly I didn’t get a chance to ask. I finally lock up the bike and inhale before dragging myself up the stairs.
Before I even have the chance to change my mind the door is swinging open, “Who are you?”
“Um—”
“Rue.” Lexi pulls me into the small apartment. There’s people, not many, but enough—two is sitting on the couch and three more is in the kitchen having a conversation among themselves.
“Thanks for coming.” Lexi hugs me.
“Sure.”
I didn’t know how to fit into all of this and being present reminded me of how I really didn’t like meeting new people. But, for Lexi, I swallow my awkwardness and find a chair in the corner. Lexi introduces her friends as people who interns at WB with her. One of them sets up the snacks table, another takes everyone coffee orders, and I think I overhear one of them stating they do tours for the public.
The apartment soon feels stuffy and I stand and everyone eyes fall on me, I shift awkwardly, “Um—I’m going to get some fresh air.”
Where I expect everyone to go back to their own personal conversation, one of the girls agrees, and they all follow me outside to my horror. They set up a table and chairs by the pool and someone connects their phone to a speaker. It wasn’t a bad vibe but I still use the opportunity to sneak away. I lean on the rail and pull out a rolled joint and as I’m about to light it, I hear, “Rue?”
“Oh shit.” I jump and then drop the joint. “Maddy?”
Maddy is stunning is the first thing I think and of course she is. She’s holding a boutique of flowers and a pink card that probably holds a personal message. She looks down at the joint and then back up at me, in a questionable manner. She then pulls me into a half hug with her friend hand.
I pull back, awkwardly, and damn, she smells good, it’s something expensive and vanilla.
“Hey Maddy.”
“It’s been long.” She smiles.
“Yep.”
Maddy looks at me oddly and I internally kick myself because I looked as if I could barely hold a conversation. But, I also wasn’t expecting to see Maddy Perez out of all people. It’s been almost two years.
After high school, Maddy disappeared. It was rumored that she packed while everyone was walking across stage, that by the time the graduation parties started she was already in LA.
“You’re sober?” Maddy questions.
“Oh yeah, well…” I trail off. “California sober.” I can feel my face heating up embarrassed. “Covid actually did wonders for me.” I snort but Maddy cock her head to the side. “I mean obviously that’s not funny like people died…” I pause because that didn’t even sound better. I sigh. “I was just gonna smoke. Lexi and them are over by the pool.”
“Why are you being fucking weird, Rue?” Maddy questions. Then she pauses. “Cassie in there?”
“What no. It’s just some of Lexi WB friends.”
“Oh.” Maddy says it in a way like she almost—almost rather for it to been Cassie.
I fish for a lighter and ask, “Not a fan of Lexi friends.”
Maddy pulls a pink bedazzled lighter from her purse. I look at it oddly, twirling it in my hand, inspecting it.
“And make sure you give it back.” Maddy say.
I light the joint and hand it to her, our fingers brushing.
“I don’t need a bedazzled lighter, Maddy.”
Maddy roll her eyes and I ask, “You smoke?”
“No.” She replies. “I just hang around people who do—”
We stand there in silence, and I pull and blow the smoke in the other direction, happy to finally be able to have a normal conversation. “How’s life treating you post-grad?”
Maddy snorts, unimpressed, “Better for sure.” She leans on rail, holding the boutique and card close. “I don’t even think about it anymore, high school.” She snorts. “It seems so forever ago.”
“Yeah same.” I lie because sometimes I think about Jules which makes me think about the good times in high school, then the bad, and then I’m spiraling. I change the subject. “I’m still exploring the city.”
“I can show you some spots.” Maddy offers and it sounds genuine. “My job forces me to know the scene.”
Before I can respond, Lexi appears out of nowhere. Maddy hugs Lexi and gives her the gifts and I toss the joint stepping onto it. Lexi drags the both of us towards the pool and Lexi introduces everyone to Maddy and of course the interns is instantly enamored with Maddy. They all crowd around her and ask if she’s an actress, singer, something—I sit on the other side and I can feel Maddy eyes on me. So, when Lexi takes over the conversation I make sure to chime in with a cool or that’s great Lexi so Maddy could stop looking at me in that way.
—and sure, it’s not judgy like my high school peers, or disappointing like Jules, or scared like Gia. I couldn’t put a finger on it but I catch her every now and again just staring over at me, like she has a thousand questions. Maddy stands and announces her departure, and I choose the opportunity to leave.
I pull my bike from underneath the stairs and Maddy smiles at it, “You’ve upgraded.”
“Fuck off.” I roll my eyes playfully and look up to see Maddy wearing a smile. “It’s efficient and I’m helping the pollution with this fuck ass air quality. Plus, it almost looks like a dirt bike. That’s cool.”
Maddy laughs. “—or you’re too scared to get your license.”
“Mind your business.” I smile. “Don’t you have like work or something tomorrow morning?”
“I do.” Maddy lips curve and then she’s pulling me in a hug again. “It was good seeing you, Rue.”
The vanilla continues to swim around me as I watch her walk across the street, driving off.