Afterlife of the Party

It's 75 degrees in sunny San Diego ,

and the number one song of the day is still "Blush" by Koop.

Whoo!

Whoo! It's my birthday! It's my birthday!

Whoo! Here we go! Here we go! Here we go!

Yeah! Whoo!

It's an impromptu dance party with my best friend since first grade!

Because it's your birthday!

Ah, ah.

Go, go. Work, work. Drop it low. Oh.

I love this song, but I'm very hungry.

Okay, I need your help.

Question. What do you think? Quarter-life chic? Or quarter-life crisis?

Huh. Well, right now, you're matching the lamp, so...

- Would a hat help? - No.

Rude!

- Here. - Thank you.

Okay, for my Cassie-palooza kickoff night, we are gonna start off at the club

where I've spent all afternoon decorating the VIP area.

- Hey, I have this crazy idea. - I'm listening.

Instead of going out for your birthday, what if we just stay home,

and we put on our stretchy pants, and we puzzle like we used to,

and we order more noodles?

No, no. We're not staying in. It's my birthday week.

I have to ring in 25 with style!

You've rung in the past four years with style. One night in won't kill you.

Besides, we haven't puzzled in weeks. I mean, look at Mona.

She is missing her smile, and it's kind of depressing.

I'm not bailing on my kickoff party. It is tradition. My friends expect this.

Well, your best friend has a huge week ahead of her.

I was just added as one of the junior research assistants

on a team studying marsupial fossil teeth.

I don't fully understand what that means, but congratulations!

I'm one of three assistants, so it's really not a big...

No, no! It is a big deal. You should celebrate.

- Because guess what? - Tonight is... a celebration!

Okay. I'm gonna go change. Again.

So should you. Tonight'll be fun, I promise.

We leave in an hour-ish.

Love you, my bestie since we were six!

Okay.

Whoo! Did I tell you how cute you look by the way?

Uh, yeah, I think you did, like, 19 times. Got it.

Good. I meant it every single time. You look adorable.

- I love this dress on you. - Thank you. So, who's coming tonight?

Okay. So Kayla's coming. Maddie's coming.

Moving in?

Oh, hi.

Of course you're moving in. I don't know why I just said that.

Hi, we're your neighbors.

I'm Cassie, and my quiet but highly intelligent roommate is...

Lisa. Lisa.

Um, I'm around dinosaur bones all day,

so I'm not really used to talking to people that much.

- Right. - Works in the Museum of Natural History.

Oh wow! Yeah, I compose music for video games all day,

so not a lot of human interaction for me either.

Oh.

Sorry, I'm Max, by the way.

Ordinarily, I'd shake your hand, but I'd almost certainly drop this,

um, and I desperately need these dishes.

- Oh! Here. Let me open the door for you. - Brilliant. Cool.

Cool.

Okay, we've gotta go, but, um, welcome to the neighborhood, Max.

- Yeah, thanks. See ya. - Yeah. Yeah.

- Oh, don't give me that look. - What look? I wasn't giving a look.

- You wanna play matchmaker? - I didn't say that.

Since you mentioned it, I did notice a spark.

- There was a spark? - Mm!

No, there was no spark.

I'm... I'm really focused on work right now, and I can't have any distractions.

Not even in the form of our new neighbor and his cute accent?

I'm not like you.

- Okay. - No, no!

I just mean you can juggle a social life. That's not me.

Yeah, well, I'm a party planner. It's built into the job.

Well, I'm on a path here.

Nail this junior research position, get promoted to field researcher,

and then work alongside my paleontologist hero.

Hey, I wanna introduce you to my friend Fun.

I don't know if you two have ever met.

Let me get through all of this stuff first, okay?

Ugh.

Downward Dad is out of control. He posts a different pose every day.

- I liked his flying crow. - Okay, do not encourage him.

What? Wait. It's not just me. Do you see how many people like his yoga studio?

Oh, I know. I've heard from everyone how amazing his classes are.

We should take one.

No, I'm good.

I got enough secondhand yoga from him growing up that I am centered for life.

I think it's sweet that he's on social media.

It's like he's trying to connect with you.

Yeah, I love him, but he's my dad, not my buddy.

I'm fine with our lives being separate.

Okay. Well, if you just left one comment, it would probably make his day.

Fine. I'll throw him a like, but no comment.

- You happy? - Mm-hmm.

So this is, like, our 19th Cassie-palooza kickoff.

It's gonna be the best ever!

Hey, Bob.

Good evening, Cassie.

- Thank you. - Ladies, welcome.

She's my favorite person. I love her so much.

Cassie's here!

- Wow. This is actually really pretty. - Hi!

- Happy birthday, Cassie! - Whoo!

Happy birthday! It's so good to see you.

It's not my birthday, Jeremy. Not my birthday.

You are the best!

Yes!

Cheers!

Cassie! Drink, drink, drink!

It's our song.

- It's Koop! - Yeah.

- We have to dance! - Okay.

Come on! Come on!

Whoo!

Go, girl! Go, girl! Go, go! Break it down. Break it down.

Go, Lisa! Go, Lisa!

Yeah!

Yes, Cassie!

I'm flying!

Careful! You're gonna get hurt.

- Drink! Drink! - Here! It's your birthday!

Should I do it? Should I do it? Okay.

Yeah! Whoo!

- More! More! More! More! - Oh yeah!

- So much fun! You! - You kept drinking shots.

Because you kept handing them to me!

You're crazy! You're... I can't keep up with you.

Okay, you guys, next stop is Roddy's house.

I rented a waterslide that goes from the roof into his pool!

Let's go!

What's wrong?

Ugh.

You're bailing, aren't you?

I bet you no one would notice if we snuck back home right now.

I would notice!

You know that these people are terrible, right?

They're just trying to have a good time, which is exactly what you should be doing!

- Come on. - I like having a good time too.

Only I wanna do it

with people who'd actually care if something happened to me,

or who would like me even if I didn't rent a very dangerous waterslide.

Don't tell me you're jealous.

I am not jealous of people who look filtered 24/7.

I don't know! Kinda sounds like you're jealous to me!

- Come on, Cassie, let's go! - Okay, one second!

You know, you're different when you're with them.

I'm what?

It's like you think you aren't worth anything if you aren't seen.

Well, at least I'm out making friends, and I'm not hiding at my desk.

Because I think that there is more to life than partying

or knowing all the names of bartenders in town.

Here we go! My life isn't as important because it's social.

Just because I'm not one of your science friends

doesn't mean I don't work hard.

- I didn't say that! - But you meant it!

I see how you only pretend to be interested

when I tell you about some event I planned

or your offhanded comments about how I'm never home.

Like you don't pretend to understand my life?

Tell me what I do.

You work at the museum.

But what do I do there?

I don't know. I don't understand that stuff.

And I don't understand your stuff.

Classic.

We never hang out anymore.

Just the two of us.

We're busy. We'll just have to get better at making time for each other.

I don't know, Cassie. I don't think being friends should feel like work.

I don't think it does, Lisa.

But I can tell from your face that you do.

It's fine.

I don't wanna stay best friends out of habit anyway.

I'm a habit?

Th... That's it?

You're just gonna say something like that and walk away?

Maybe it's time we both admit that we've outgrown each other.

Who's ready to go to Roddy's?

Let's do it. Sorry about that, guys.

Aw.

Mona's missing her smile.

Hmm.

Here's one.

Put this here.

That'll fix it.

Oh no.

No, no, no, no.

No. No, no, no.

So stupid.

So stupid.

Ow!

Ugh.

Ow!

Ugh.

Uh, hi.

Excuse me?