I’m standing with Naomi in the bathroom off her bedroom. We are both putting the final touches on our Disneybounding outfits. Our tour guide is due to meet us any minute now, and it’s the moment of truth. I’ve got to decide. I’ve tried texting Lorelei for what she wants me to do, but she is not answering texts. I can see her phone is set to silent. I can only hope it’s not because she’s with Noah Greenberg.
Seriously.Noah?
I shake my curls in the mirror. I love what the stylist at the spa did with the trim and keratin. My curls are shinier and bouncier than I’ve ever seen them. And the facial I got seems to have worked some magic as well. My skin is perfectly clear and glowing. Even my eyes are sparkling. Perhaps it’s spending so much time around Rafe. His glow is contagious.
“If you ask me, I think you should be yourself,” Naomi says. “It’s ridiculous for your agent and your manager to ask you to keep up this facade of being someone who, on your own time, you are clearly not, Lorelei. You need to put your foot down and quit living your life for other people.”
Naomi somehow manages to look chic and pulled together, even when Disneybounding as the fairy godmother. She is wearing a simple, pale-blue, cotton trapeze top over a pair of capri-length, white leggings. A lightweight, lavender cardigan and hot-pink scarf, tied in a bow, complete the look.
“I say, leave the wig in the room and wear the hat and sunglasses without it. You’d be hot and uncomfortable all day in the wig. Plus, nobody is expecting you to be blonde.”
She’s right, of course. I glance at my phone one more time and make the executive decision to toss the wig back in its case. It wouldn’t have gone with my Aurora ensemble anyway. I’m wearing a silky, pink minidress with a gold vest, matching pink trainers, and pink-and-gold sunglasses. A pink sleep mask as a makeshift headband, and I’m good to go.
“We’re ready!” Naomi announces as she walks into the living room where Rafe, Rainey, and the plaid-vested tour guide are waiting. Her badge tells us she is Poppy from the UK, and when she greets us, she speaks in a posh accent, just like Mary Poppins.
“We’re going to have a spectacular day,” Poppy says, smiling. “I’m here to see to it that everything goes smoothly and that you have a magical experience. I’ll be sharing tips, tricks, park history, and secrets throughout the day. Does anyone have any questions? Shall we do introductions first? Is this Princess Tiana?”
Orly, who is wearing a Tiana costume, smiles shyly. Her hair is brushed and in a simple ponytail, but Rafe has told me one of the first stops today will be at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique salon where a stylist will offer to glam Orly up with some proper princess hair, complete with glitter.
Rafe is the most casual and the most surprising member of our party. He is wearing mirrored sunglasses and a Titanium Man baseball cap, along with a too-tight Titanium Man tee emblazoned with a plasticky image of the costumed hero. For added effect, he has on a tacky, silver chain with a large Titanium Man medallion. Even his belt buckle is self-branded.
“You’re really going out likethat?” his mother says. ”You look like a cheesy walking ad. It’s hardly inconspicuous.”
“Yeah, I know it seems like that, but it’s like click bait,” Rafe says, smiling slyly. “You know how you tune it out and scroll by superfast? The more I lean into the brand, the less people see me. They just think I’m a super-annoying poser and paint me out. Trust me. Reverse psychology.” He taps his head. “Works every time.”
I have to laugh. “That is absolutely brilliant.”
“You decided not to wear the wig?” Rafe asks.
“I did,” I say.
“Good. I like your natural hair. Much better than a disguise.” Rafe nods approvingly. “And I like your outfit, too.” His eyes rake over me, giving me the distinct impression that he isn’t only talking about my clothes.
“And what about me?” Naomi asks, doing a slow twirl.
“You make an excellent fairy godmother,” Poppy says. “Did I get that right?”
“You got it,” Naomi beams and waves her cell phone like a magic wand. “Now, let’s go make some magic before we all turn back into pumpkins.”
lorelei
I tryon at least a dozen outfits, trying to get ready for theDNDsession at Noah’s. I want to get it right. Of course, that’s not easy when I have no idea what my character will be. All I know is that Noah is planning to assign one of the non-player characters from his story to me. These are characters that are already in the story, but don’t have anyone acting them out. I just hope I’m going to get a good one.
I decide to choose an outfit that’s suitably Ren Faire without being too specifically elven or healer.
There’s not a lot to choose from in Kenna’s closet. Her clothes are all soboring. There are only so many ironic tees a girl can wear. I don’t have much choice. I’m going to have to sacrifice some of her housewares for the cause. I get out the scissors and get to work transforming some black, plastic placemats and bootstrings into a lace-up corset that I try on over a cleverly draped and pinned bedsheet. Theater camp costume design class for the win!
I waffle over whether or not to make myself elf ears out of a vaguely flesh-toned silicone trivet. In the end, I put the trivet back in the drawer. I don’t want to seem thirsty. I simply apply some deep-red lipstick and black eyeliner and call it a day.
* * *
There’s a black Sprinter van with tinted windows parked in the driveway and a few cars parked on the street. But other than that, you’d never know that magic is about to happen inside Noah’s house. I can’t wait to see how he does it.
When I ring the doorbell, a techie answers the door. He takes the bag of muffins I’m clutching from me and leads me to the stairs to the basement.
“First time, huh?” he asks.
“Do I look like a totalDNDvirgin? Does it show?” I ask anxiously.
