Pasture Child ☆Dominic Fike☆

24 Hours

December 28, 2019

Waking up in this big city reminds me exactly why I left my small town in Montana. Even though I call that state home, nothing will ever top the fresh sea breeze and smell of smog-like California.

I've been here for approximately 24 hours and never want to leave. And I know everyone always says, 'California is the best place ever,' but I mean it when I unpack my last box and say "California is hot as fuck".

I throw the box on the floor, admiring the utter disaster my new room is, at least to me. Clothes are everywhere, and God, I'm missing the mood-swing weather of Montana. I'm hot but dry... This feels wrong. "Well, well, well, what have we here?" Elysse said. Here is some information on Elysse: We met through school, if you can call it that. We were pen pals, and even though the project was only a 1-time thing, we turned it into a long-distance best friend thing, and over the last two years, we were determined to be together as soon as possible. So when the opportunity came to move out to California when her old roommate left to move in with her boyfriend, and Elyse needed help running her cafe, I couldn't say no.

"Thank God you're back. I need a break." I roll onto my bed, shove my face into a pillow, and let out a deep sigh. Elysse laughs and jumps onto my bed, lying down next to me. "Well, lucky for you, we have an overnight shift tonight." She sighs and then shoves her head into the pillows, making a mildly concerning sound. "That is not the kind of break I had in mind. Why is it an overnight shift?" I roll to face her.

She sat up and grabbed her phone from the floor. Opening what I assume is her schedule, she said, "It's a moon party. We start prep at 6, and then the part starts at 10 and goes until 4 a.m." She rolled her eyes. I Know deep down. She's excited because moon parties are kind of her thing, but in a bit like this, it is ours and hours of prep, which means hours and hours of pretending to like people for both of us.

"Well, I guess we had better start getting ready." I roll over so we're both lying on our backs. "What the actual fuck is the moon party, though?" She turns to look at me. "You shall see." She jumps out of bed and skips out the door. "Wear something sparkly and scandalous; it's time to mingle." She giggles down the hall towards her room, leaving me to my thoughts.

Making friends has always been challenging for me, but I grew up in a tourist town where I tend to talk to many strangers. Does that make talking to people easier? No, but do I still do it? Yes, of my own free will. It was my first day in LA, and hopefully, it will be the start of some great friendships. (We shall see.)

Fast forward; it's now 5 o'clock as we pull up to 'Venus,' Elysses' most prized possession. Her holy place. It's a little cafe tucked away along the PCH and a hotspot for all things LA with a peaceful atmosphere and a sea view. 'This is what heaven feels like,' I think as I help her carry the boxes of supplies up the stone path to the building. There's a tranquil feeling when you reach the top of the path. It sits on the cliffside, giving you the most fantastic ocean view. Money can't buy happiness like this, but it will tonight for some.

"Okay, bitch let's keep this party moving T-minus 5 hours till party time." She grabs the box from me, and we head inside. "Put me to work, madam." she throws a finger towards the kitchen. "There, now it's time to whip up some of your signature focaccia and brownies; yes, they will need a sweet treat."

"Doesn't everyone need a sweet treat?" I make the focaccia for the charcuterie board and throw two batches of brownies in the oven. "So please explain what a moon party is exactly," I say, pulling up the strap of my shimmery gold slip dress that Alysse insisted I wear. And at first, she insisted I wear a mini skirt that I tried and barely covered my ass, but I decided on this dress and a new pair of gold kitten heels. Give me at least a month to adjust to the new sense of fashion that will inevitably come with my new LA address.