✨Episode 1✨: I know this ain't no closet?
The new girl moves to town and quickly finds out not everything is what it seems... welcome to Los Angeles!
Spring time was finally here, which in Los Angeles meant 50 degree weather was now returning back to it’s promised 75 and sunny.
It’s one of the reasons I moved to the west coast all the way from DC. That, and because I’d finally ended things with my ex. It only made sense to kickstart the next chapter of my life in a new city; a decision made even easier when FLVR Mag, an up and coming culture magazine, promptly responded to my resume with enthusiasm to meet.
A week later, I was on a flight to LAX with nothing but a checked bag and carry on to my name. I’d donated most of my belongings, shipping only a box of books that arrived before I did to the airbnb I booked for the next six weeks:
“You can’t ship things here” my host/short-term roommate said as she opened the door to her downtown loft.
Her name was Felicia . She was a 30-something actor who offered me a discounted rate to rent her room if I booked off the website. It was a decision I immediately regretted the moment I walked in and saw the “Large Room w/ Private Bathroom.”
It was a closet. Filled with clothes, shoes, handbags, miscellaneous pieces lining the walls…
Felicia must’ve noticed the confused look on my face - “You good girl?”
“Yea, I’m just…. is this not your closet?” I said, careful to not offend given the fact, whether I liked it or not, I had no where else to go. It didn’t help that I paid her off line; good faith aside, there were no official terms and conditions here.
“My closet? Girl bye -” Felicia said nonchalantly, moving some things out of the way to show me an empty clothing rack.
“This entire rack is for you. Don’t forget there’s a bedside table over there with a couple drawers in it, and of course more storage underneath the futon too”
I tightened my grip on my luggage.
“Besides, I already gave you a discount since you booked offline”
I was between a rock and a hard place. I knew this was the most I could afford until my salary kicked in at FLVR.
Felicia must’ve read my mind -
“Girl don’t worry, the time will fly by. Plus $850 for a room in downtown LA? You really can’t do better than that!”
On the other side of town off La Brea, Maya sat in a casting office while she waited to audition for a Progressive commercial in a room full of other hopeful actors. She was trying her best to not overthink it, but couldn’t help it. The opportunity would pay six months of rent and the $3700 in credit card debt she’d gotten herself into.
It was the li[f]e most creatives in Los Angeles had: living off of money not yet made.
It didn’t help that the restaurant she worked at was cutting down on hours. The recent fires + recovering film industry + overall uncertain economy made everyone cut back. Even the finance hottie she met at work who would send her funds for fun disappeared.
“We’re ready for you” a casting assistant said, looking at her.
Oh fuck, she thought as her heart began to palpitate. She stood up and followed the lady into room #7. These are just normal people doing normal jobs she reminded herself while trying to forget the power they held over her financial future.
She walked in and was immediately taken aback by the casting director: tall, dark and attractive. A rarity in the casting world. At least the world she was used to. She could tell by the spark in his eye after a long day of auditions that he found her attractive as well.
She felt the sweat break out under her arm pits as the two locked eyes.
“And your name is…?” he said, holding back any sign of interest.
“Maya, Maya Jones”
“Maya can’t make it” Claude says, looking up from a text from her. “Apparently the director wanted her to read more lines”
“In other words, they’re fucking” Naomi smirks, before finishing her $12 spritz from the happy hour menu. They were at Soho Warehouse in downtown, enjoying an afternoon break before getting back to work.
“I highly doubt that” Claude responded, unsure of how highly she actually doubted it.
The three of them met in college and each made their way to Los Angeles soon after the other. Naomi moved first, since she was from Los Angeles and had a rent free apartment with her name already on it.
Claude soon after once she landed a job as an executive assistant at a top creative agency where she was mostly paid off of cool connections and decent perks. A Soho membership was one of them.
“You’re coming to the event tomorrow? Milk Makeup is the sponsor”
“Ugh, my aunt has me going on this dinner date”
“A date?” Claude says, eyes widening with excitement.
“Not that kind. Some new employee she wants me to meet”
Claude shrugs. “You can bring her if you want.”
“Yea maybe”
After 40 minuets and a $40 Uber later, I finally made my way to FLVR Mag headquarters in Inglewood. I was sitting in my new boss’ office across from my new boss Dianne who was distracted by everything in the world. There were papers stacked and tossed around the desk with post-its sticking on every open surface.
“We are so excited to have you starting with us” she said, while searching for something on her desk.
I couldn’t help but look around for the ‘we’ in question. Other than the front desk person who I’m pretty sure worked for the building, there was no one else in the office.
“How many writers on staff, are there again?” I asked.
“Just two.” Dianne says, “including yourself of course, but funny enough Leslie - the other writer - left two days ago for sabbatical. Something about needing time away from LA. Oh perfect -”
She pulls out a folder with my name on it. “Here’s all of the projects she was working on before she left.”
“How long is she gone for?” I took it from her.
“Oh don’t worry. She’ll be back in no time at all, a couple months I’m sure.”
Dianna picked up a brown bag and smelled inside, scrunching up her nose from the scent.
“Yesterday’s tunafish” she said. I must’ve made a facial expression.
“Sorry, things are just hectic right now. We just received a bunch of grants to fund us - including your job - until the end of next year. 80k we said, right?”
“Yes.” I nodded, thankful to have an income soon.
She gave me a wink while grabbing her keys on the desk.
“Anyways, listen, I have to head to my IVF appointment, but here are the keys - the space is all yours make yourself at home. The only thing I need from you is a write up by the end of the week.”
“Absolutely, I already have a couple of ideas about some political issues going on”
“About that -”
My ears perked.
“Since Leslie is gone and she’s our all things dating columnist - I would love if you could pick up the slack there”
“But I write political pieces”
“Of course of course - yes, and that is why I hired you. We’re excited to launch that branch of the magazine - oh! what if we called it Pop n Politics?”
She writes it down on a post it and sticks it to her computer’s edge. “Kind of has a catchy tune to it, no?”
My face remains blank. I think of the rooming situation and now this. Maybe moving cross country was a terrible idea.
“Either way, yes, absolutely, a politics department is definitely in the works, but I thought in the meantime, if you could help with some more cultural ‘fun’ pieces, that’d be great too.”
I nod slowly, unsure of what I’ve gotten myself into.
“Also! I thought since your new here it’d be great for you to meet my niece Naomi - she’s a stylist around the city and she’d love to get lunch with you sometime. She’s great can definitely show you around - how’s tomorrow?”
“Sure” I force a smile.
“Perfect! I’ll send a text! See you later!”
And just like that she was out the door.
Until next time…
