Faye Orlove (Artist/Director)

I met Mean Creek on their video shoot for “Young and Wild.” I was setting up lights and helping with B-roll, and trying to seem cool around a bunch of musicians a few years older than me. I probably failed and acted like an idiot, but they invited me to their show the next night anyway. I remember putting on lipstick and riding my bike really slow so I wouldn’t get too sweaty. I definitely must have been trying to impress someone. I think I knew right away that I wanted them to like me.

Anyway, that show was one of the best shows I’ve ever been to. And I saw the Bangerz tour three times. I remember telling Chris a year later that I fell in love with him that night. I’d never seen someone perform so passionately. He took my adoration as an insult because he’s better at thinking people hate him than love him. But it was sincere and it was true, and think I’ll spend the rest of my life amazed by his charisma.

I stayed up really late with Chris a few nights after that. It was summer. We were fighting about movies and music and drinking warm beers on my stoop. I don’t know why I remember that night, but I do. I remember wishing it wouldn’t end because I’d never before talked to someone who cared about things so much. I think that’s why Chris is so special. He really, really, really cares.

Later, I started working at the Middle East with Erik. I thought he hated me for a while because he’s got this vibe of having everything all figured out. It can be intimidating. But one night I made him laugh by dancing like a weirdo, and from that moment he seemed less scary. One night we took whiskey shots together but I took a big gulp of air too soon and ended up spitting all over him. He didn’t even get mad. And later, when he told me he was going to be a father, I remembered how he didn’t get mad. My eyes got all teary ’cause I knew what a great dad he’d be. I guess that’s not such a great story—but it’s what happened. I painted blocks for his baby girl, Lily, when she was born. I got to hold Lily before she was even a month old. After a while she got heavy to hold but I didn’t want to let go.

One day in the middle of winter, Mikey handed me a pair of new shoes. He said he saw them at Berks and thought of me. I still have those leopard platforms and I wear them all the time because they make me feel tall and make me think of Mikey. He gave me drum lessons once and made me feel talented even though I knew I wasn’t. Mikey has a really special way of making people feel special. I miss that. He was sad one night about a girl and got kind of drunk in Union Square. Erik and I walked him home and up his icy driveway. He lived really close to the bar, but I remember thinking I’d have walked anywhere to make sure he got home safe.

I liked Aurore long before she liked me. With Aurore, you have to chip away at this tough exterior because Aurore is the last person on Earth to realize how amazing Aurore is. She still may not have figured it out! After a while she gave up on “not wanting people around” and now she loves me and she even admits it. We Gchat all the time and make plans to meet at the Dubai Miracle Garden. I don’t know when I’ll actually see her next, but I like that we always make plans. She’s really good at making the world feel really big and really magical and full of really beautiful things (even if she refuses to admit she’s one of them).