The next afternoon I drove to West Hollywood to meet with Leah's stylist friend Daniel. Daniel owned a large office on Santa Monica Blvd, where he housed racks of clothes, shoes, and accessories. Daniel styled many A-list celebrities, and I met him on a few occasions through Leah, when he styled us for her parties.
"This is Phoenix," Daniel said, introducing me to his friend.
Phoenix, twenty-six, skinny, neon yellow buzzed hair.
"Phoenix designed all the pieces for Leah's gold party," Daniel informed me.
"Oh wow, I love the chainmail stuff...it's incredible." I said, excited to be meeting the person who created the amazing clothes our group wore at the party last year.
"Thank you." Phoenix said, "I am launching my own line over the next few months, and Daniel and I think you should be our model. If you are interested."
"Yes, of course," I answered.
"Excellent." Daniel said, " Phoenix will be featured in Details and Nylon magazines, and we will be shooting his clothes for the online look-book, additional magazine ads, and in-store photographs.
"I am opening my first boutique right next door in the space next to Daniel's", Phoenix said, waving his hand to the wall on our right.
"Cool. Just call Joe at LA models, and set it up." I told them, as I left the office and headed to meet Andrew at the gym.
*
Leah, Andrew, Carrie, Simon, Julia, and I sat around the gigantic table in Leah's dining room Wednesday night.
"Fifty guests have already RSVP'd to the event," Leah announced.
"Are we really doing it at the caves?" Carrie asked, looking excited.
"Yes, it's going to be sick," Julia answered.
"What are the caves?" Simon asked
"You'll see," Leah said.
Leah continued to explain the details.
"Everybody needs to stop by Daniel's studio in West Hollywood to get fitted and styled for the party."
"What? Why?" Simon asked, annoyed.
"It's best to just do what she says when it comes to this stuff, trust me," Andrew said to Simon.
Carrie started to explain about the gold party, but Leah cut her off.
"This is my vision for the caves. Cauldrons of potent potion will be served. Fire pits built. DJ Venom is booked. Dress code for the guest is black or white. None of us will drink from the cauldrons. The potion will be very strong and laced with a touch of...magic. We will encourage the guest to drink and have a good time. Everyone is expecting us to be zany and crazy. We will exceed their expectations."
"Our attire...army greens, and dark bruises under our eyes. Like military zombies. We'll be outfitted with outdoorsy back-packs and boots, a secret flashlight strapped to each of us. As usual, we will stand out from the guest and they will love and hate it. At the climax of the party, when everyone is good and drunk we will make one last impression before making a dramatic exit. Biting on blood capsules at once we will start yelling and screaming like a pack of wolves, blood dripping from our mouths. A few minutes after we go crazy, the fires will be extinguished and we will disappear into the night. Deserting the guest in the dark woods. Drunk and confused.-"
"As a group." Leah finished staring at Simon.
"We're not really doing that, are we?" Andrew asked in disbelief.
Leah continued to stare at Simon, waiting for a reaction.
"I'm in." Simon finally said, smiling.
Julia, Leah and I cheered loudly in celebration. Carrie joined the cheer and finally, Andrew smiled, forced to play along.
"You guys are nuts," Simon said, as Andrew and Carrie said goodbye and headed to her house for the night.
"Is that bad?" Leah asked.
"I don't know." Simon replied, "Are those two as bland as they seem?" he asked, gesturing towards the door Andrew and Carrie just shut.
"Yes." Leah and Julia said at the same time, laughing.
Simon seemed to be warming up to Leah. I don't know how she knew her wacky party idea would interest Simon, but it worked. Leah had a gift with these insane events.
"Do you ever speak?" Simon asked me, waking me from my reverie.
"Sometimes," I said.
"He's not as shy as he seems," Julia said.
Simon looked at me, his mind not made up yet.
"I'm sorry for calling you dumb," he said, looking uncomfortable.
"Who says I'm not?" I asked him.
Simon smiled.
"The wizard is a riddle," Julia said.
"Not as dumb as the two who are gone." Leah began.
"But stupid enough to seem like something is wrong," added Julia.
"Probably I just smoke too much of the bong." I finished.
Simon laughed hard.
"Who doesn't?" he asked, still laughing.
The four of us finished the night in Leah's room, smoking weed with Simon, teasing him and each other, while successfully breaking the ice and hoping to begin to chip away at the tough exterior he obviously held up between him and the world.
