Brooklyn Baby - The Beginning of Lana Del Rey

Part 18 - California

"Lana! Action in 5!" a crew member called across the set to the music video for my new song Ride.

"I'll be right there!" I yelled back, waiting for my hairstylist to put on the finishing touches. She finished, praising her work, and then stalked off towards the snack table.

I was admiring the big dark curls that she created when my phone rang. I slid it off the counter and noticed a familiar name. 

Arthur, it read. I hadn't thought of him in forever. I was surprised I had his contact information in my phone, especially since I got a new one. 

I hesitated before hitting the accept button. 

"Hello?" I asked uncertainly.

"Lizzy?" he said on the other end. Clear and husky, just how it was all that time ago.

"Arthur?"

"Wait do I still call you Lizzy, or is it universally Lana now?"

I laughed, "It's Lizzy to people who know me."

"God, it's been like, what, 5 years?" he said.

"Something like that," I said shaking my head in disbelief. I sat down on the director's chair, settling in for the summary of the last half-decade. "What's been happening with you?"

"Well, I would like to announce that I am officially sober," he said proudly, I could hear him smiling. "It just reminded me of you, so I decided to announce the good news."

"Wow! That's so amazing. I'm glad I motivated you, and that you're finally clean."

"Oh. Uh..." he paused. "Don't get me wrong Liz, I really appreciate that you were the one to call out my problem, but I met someone." Expecting a wash of guilt or jealousy, I didn't say anything. But nothing came. I felt happy for him. Someone had been able to stick with him and accept him with his issues. 

"She stayed by me for 3 years, and made sure I never resumed."

I didn't say anything because the rush of guilt came, and I wasn't sure how to act.

"Anyways," he said after a pause of silence. "We are getting married, and I wanted you to come."

"Really?!"

"Yea, and before you say anything, I would like to acknowledge all of the classic Ex-Girlfriend Worries."

"There's no need," I interrupted. "I would be perfectly happy to attend."

"I'll email you the invitation. Same email address still?"

"Yeah, sparklejumpropequeen at yahoo," I laughed.

The director came out of the bathroom and made a strange face when he noticed his chair was occupied.

"Where are you?" Arthur asked when they did a microphone test.

"I'm actually on my music video set."

"Oh! I'm not keeping you from anything, right? I wouldn't want to delay you."

"They can wait for me. It is my music after all. I'm kidding."

"I'm so happy for you. This was your lifelong dream."

"Yours too!" I said, not wanting to sound superior.

"No, the band and I didn't know what we wanted to do. We just choose something in the moment. But you, you had this desire that was stronger than all of us combined."

I didn't know what to say, so I just let the noise of the production crew fill the speaker.

"I'm really sorry we couldn't work out Liz."

"Me too."

He hung up first.

"Lana! We're waiting!" the director called from the set.

"Coming!" I yelled and walked to the fake stage. Blood-colored curtains swooped across the center, and deep blue and red lights were pointed towards the old microphone.

I posed in front of it as the camera crew situated their equipment in front of me.

"Action."

***

As I arrived at my house in LA, I thought about how my strange life was now. How was it that 5 years ago I was living in a trailer park, messing around with random guys?

I pulled a cigarette out of the pack in my jacket pocket. Lighting up, I walked into my lounge room. My songbook was laying open on the empty table that was positioned in the middle of the room. Grabbing a pen out of the drawer, I thought of the lyrics that had been swimming around my head today.

Well my boyfriend's in a band

He plays guitar while I sing Lou Reed

I've got feathers in my hair

I get down to Beat poetry

And my jazz collection's rare

I can play most anything

I'm a Brooklyn Baby.

I'm a Brooklyn Baby.