I sat and sketched a few fashion ideas on a piece of paper–Goth ideas, mostly, although I can’t remember any specifics: just a lot of black–and then I decided I wanted Natalie Portman to star in my fashion shoot. She was sitting at a table with a number of people (some were other famous actresses, and I deliberated for a minute about which actress to approach). While the others were all away getting some food or something, so I walked over to her. She was wearing the perfect blazer to go with the outfit I had sketched–it was black with deep greens, blues, and a few burgundy tones, with long raw-edged chiffon ruffle trim, and it was long, like a gentleman’s frock coat, very much like a steampunk heroine would wear.

I came over and introduced myself. She looked at me with suspicion, clearly figuring me for a n obsessive fan, and when I held out my hand to shake hers, she started to put her hand out, thought better of it, then drew her hand back. She ignored most of what I was saying until I said, “If you don’t want to, that’s fine, too, I’ll just find some other pretty brunette to do it.” She realized I wasn’t stalking her and started to listen, then agreed.

I brought her back with me and realized I didn’t have any clothes or a photographer. She seemed to accept the delays. My friend showed me a sketch she had done of an outfit for the shoot: it was a flat-topped straw Easter hat with flowers trimming the brim. I thought it would be great if it were in deep, dark colors instead of the pastels you would expect from its sweet, conventional design. I wanted a dark green straw, almost teal-colored, and the flowers on it to be burgundy and black and dark gold, and other deep, saturated colors.

I couldn’t remember my Goth sketch I had thought would be such a great idea. Natalie didn’t seem to mind. She was tagging along as we were told by janitors that we needed to move our tables and chairs out of the way. She sat and hung out with my friends/colleagues and chatted. I found out she had been in a terrible mood earlier due to a fight with her boyfriend.

I went outside onto a roof patio and saw Gretchen. She came over to chat with me. I told her I thought my dad could be my photographer for the fashion shoot, or I could even do it.