Seeing Stars: A Blake Gray Story

3- Los Angeles

When you land at LAX, you barely have made it off the plane when you see Addison's face smiling ear to ear across the gate. You hadn't seen her since Christmas and she looked so different. She dressed like a model and had perfectly styled hair and nails. Before you could turn and run back to the safety of the plane, Addison saw you and her smile got even bigger. You didn't really have any reason to be mad at her, it was more the betrayal of feeling like she left you to deal with your parents all on your own.

Addison: "Oh my God!!! You're here!"

She just seems so happy to see you that you can't hold onto the grudge that just a moment ago felt heavy enough to sink the plane that brought you here.

Addison: "I missed you!!"

You: "Well, here I am."

Addison: "Are you hungry? Let's go grab some food."

You had to admit, the thought of not being trapped at home for the next 4 days was lifting your mood. The least you could do was make the best of it. Addison drove you through LA for two hours and you tried to stay grumpy, but it really was cool. She drove you past the Hollywood Walk of Fame and tried to tell you about a lot of celebrities you didn't recognize who had stars there.

As you rode up Rodeo drive you saw designer shops you had never even heard of. There were a few that you recognized from your local mall, but they certainly seemed fancier here.

She passed a restaurant that had a ton of paparazzi out front and as your head turned to watch the flashes of light, Addison told you that's where she planned to take you for dinner. On the drive outside of town to her apartment, you were able to see water just on the other side of the hills. You stuttered out:
"Is that a lake?"

Addison: "No silly, that's the ocean."

You had never actually seen the ocean before. Of all the things you were secretly looking forward to this trip, seeing the beach topped that list. You drive past houses bigger than you'd ever seen and wonder how in the world Addison affords to live near them. Soon after she pulls into a small apartment complex that looks more like a motel than anything and that answers your question.

Addison: "I know it's not the coolest complex, but it's close to school and close to the action of LA, and best yet close to the beach."

You unload your bag from the trunk and wonder if there's even going to be enough room for you in an apartment so tiny. As she unlocks the door you breathe a sigh of relief that it's actually pretty nice inside.

Addison: "See not so bad."

You: "Where should I put my bag? Am I sleeping on the couch?"

Addison: "Oh no. There's a second bedroom."

You: "How can you afford a 2 bedroom in Hollywood?"

Addison: "I have a roommate that also goes to UCLA but she's home with her family right now. You can stay in her room."

It felt really weird being out on your own. Even if technically your sister was your keeper for the long weekend, it wasn't the same suffocation you'd been feeling with your parents lately. You threw your bag on the bed and started to unpack your stuff into piles on top of the dresser. Using someone else's drawers just seemed too personal and you didn't want to do that. Addison knocked even though the door was open before peeking her head in. She's a lot happier than you remember her being in high school. You can't help but think that has something to do with getting out of the small town you were raised in together.

Addison: "Soooooo... I was thinking. That steakhouse we passed is like a Hollywood hotspot and that's where I'd really like to grab dinner."

You: "Can you afford that?"

Addison: "Well Mom and Dad felt so bad I paid for your airfare myself that they sent me $1,000 which is way more than I spent on the ticket. So I figured we should go out and blow their money together, like old times."

You were totally on board with that but when she suggested you borrow some clothes from her, you wanted no part of it. Just because she got a new look doesn't change that you were perfectly happy with dressing casual. She pulled up to the curb in front of a restaurant called BOA Steakhouse and you were shocked to have the door opened for you and watch her hand the keys to the stranger.

Addison: *seeming to answer your confusion*
"Oh everything in LA has valet parking."

Over dinner, Addison pointed out so many different celebrities.

You didn't get in from dinner until after midnight and then you stayed up facetiming Avani for another few hours telling her all about your trip so far.