Los Angeles can be a terribly confusing place if you don't know your way around. I didn't. I'd been in the city for less than a day, by myself, hoping to find anyone who could tell me where the hell to go. The hotel wasn't helpful; they just told me where all of the expensive touristy places were. That wasn't what I was interested in. Give me the local flavor any day.
I left the hotel and walked. I walked for hours, just trying to get my bearings and figure out where everything was. It didn't work, and by early evening I was hopelessly lost, and getting worried about finding my way back to the hotel. It seemed like a good neighborhood, but I've never been comfortable speaking with people I don't know. I waited as long as possible before approaching someone.
As I made the decision to ask someone where I was, I saw a man walking down the street smoking a cigarette. There were other people around, but none of them had that cloud around them that indicated they had suicide on layaway. I would have killed for a cigarette at that point. LA will do that to you; I think it's all the "no smoking" signs.
I couldn't tell what he looked like; all I saw was a slender figure with short, dark hair walking the other direction, wearing a dark jacket and slacks. I trotted up to him.
"Excuse me sir. I'm very sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you could spare a cigarette, and maybe some directions back to the Roosevelt?"
I almost collapsed when he turned around to look at me. I had just asked to bum a cigarette off of Michael Wincott! I thought maybe I was mistaken, but there just aren't that many people who look like him. The second he opened his mouth I knew I had been right.
"Sure, here you go," he said in that beautiful honeyed-vinegar voice, handing me an American Spirit. "The Roosevelt you say?" God, I had dreamed about that voice.
"Uh...um...yeah. The Roosevelt." I couldn't help stammering. I wanted desperately not to come off like a dweeb, and was afraid I was failing miserably.
"Are you who I think you are?" I asked stupidly.
"Yeah, probably." He held his arm out to light my cigarette for me. I couldn't read the look on his face in the light of dusk. The glowing neon of the bar sign next to us didn't help at all. It could have been appreciation, annoyance; I couldn't tell.
"Wow, it's a pleasure to meet you." I said, getting ready to make my escape. I was thrilled at having met him, but he's known for being somewhat reclusive, and I didn't want to be one of the myriad others who have probably bothered him. I've always felt sorry for celebrities in a way.
"You too."
I turned to start walking the other way. "Hey, didn't you want directions to the Roosevelt?" he asked.
"Yes, but I hate to bother you. I know you must get harassed a lot."
"It's no problem. You've been perfectly respectful. I was just going to a jazz club down the road for a drink; you can join me if you'd like." Apparently the look on his face earlier had been appreciation.
"I'd love to, but I'd really like to get back to the hotel before long. I only got to LA this morning, and I'd rather not be wandering around after dark in a city I don't know."
"Suit yourself, but I'll give you a ride home if you'd like. I can afford my own car, you know." A sly smile spread across his face, the strong lines of his cheekbones framing his eyes.
"Uh, sure. Great. My name's Lara, by the way. It's nice to meet you."
He laughed again, gravelly and deep. "You said that already."
Ah. So I had. So much for not coming off like a dweeb.
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