Almost Friends

You can make this happen. You're Charlie Brenner.

I think that's the problem.

You are Charlie Brenner. And who is she?

Just another girl working at another coffee shop making shit coffee.

Shit coffee.

Shit coffee. Shit coffee!

Can I help you?

Small coffee, please.

Cream or sugar?

Oh, that'd... That'd be great. Both.

Dollar fifty.

Here. That's all right.

Hey! Forgot your keys.

Oh.

- Thanks. - No problem.

Wait...

Don't I have to prove they're mine?

What happens if I'm just saying they're mine, but they're really not?

I mean, they are my keys. I'm not a thief or anything.

I don't take other people's keys, but I-i...

I'm just saying that you never know these days.

Have a good day.

What... what's your name?

- Amber. - Amber.

I'm Charlie.

Yeah, I don't mean to catch you off guard or anything,

but I just wanted to tell you that I see you in here all the time

when I come in to get my coffees,

which are really good, and I just...

Yeah, I think you're really...

You're really... something.

Something?

Something good.

No, obviously, i...

No, it's... I mean, you could have said something worse.

That's what I was thinking. I wanted it to be...

Yeah. Uh... Have a good day.

Wait. These aren't really my keys.

It's... thanks.

- Doctor. - Doctor.

Smells good.

Mmm. Almost ready.

What?

Nothing.

Isn't that that card game? You don't need the cards.

- Mom? - Yes?

Have you ever wished anyone was dead?

Dead? No, honey, of course not.

Why would you ask me that?

Oh, Charlie! Charlie!

I mean, really? Charlie!

- I love you, mom! - Steven!

Honey, why would you even ask me something like that?

'Cause I heard dad say it the other day.

He overheard me on a business call.

Yeah?

The kid's 10. He knows I was joking.

Yeah, next he'll run through the house with six hand grenades.

Well, he does, he does. God forbid the boy follow his heart.

Nice, Ross. Really. Classy.

Oh, wow. Brilliant. Brilliant.

- Oh! It hit the table! No! No! - Oh. Hot potato, am I right?

No!

Charlie, are you depressed?

You're crazy, mom. I'm fine.

Have you thought anymore about finishing up that application?

That restaurant over on Vernon?

I know, I know. Mind my own business. I'm annoying.

Your father called today.

- What did he want? - Who knows?

I hung up before he could launch into a speech.

- Is he all right? - I doubt it.

That's Heather.

- Oh, okay. I got it. - You sure?

- Yeah. Have fun. - Yeah.

- Thanks for making dinner. - Yeah.

Oh, please, please, please! Oh! Oh! No, no, no!

Oh, so nice, you guys.

- Hey. - Hi.

Are you going to brook's tomorrow night?

- Everyone's gonna be there. - Oh, great.

Maybe I can explain to everyone individually that I still live at home

when they're about to run their own companies.

Oh, come on, Charlie.

They're still the same idiots they always have been

and always will be, just fatter.

- What is on your face? - No touching.

Okay, okay, sorry. Freak. I was just getting a crumb off.

Come on, you should go tomorrow. Ben's gonna be there.

Oh, is Ben my lover?

You say that as if he isn't.

Think I could bring somebody?

Yeah, you can bring me. Duh.

Who else would you bring?

Hey. Did Brad call? My phone died.

Uh, maybe. I haven't been picking up the phone.

- Why not? - 'Cause I'm testing myself

to see how long I can go without modern appliances.

Like a caveman.

You're watching TV.

I am.

- Are you drunk? - Yup!

Move please.

Thank you.

Yoo-hoo! I'm home!

How was your meet today?

After Brad finished the 100 meter I thought we were screwed

but then Adam Smith won the 200,

and Adam Bedilia came in second at 110, so we were fine.

Adam Bedilia?

Yeah, he's short. Kind of skinny, I guess.

Hmm. I thought that was Adam small.

No, Adam small is small but Adam Bedilia is short.

Okay.

I spilled a whole pot of tea at work today. It was everywhere.

Are you okay? You didn't burn yourself, right?

No, I'm fine. It was just really embarrassing.

Oh, there's Adam green too, come to think of it

but he's a freshman so it's like a whole other story.

I'm pretty sure his dad's a booster and bought him a spot on the team.

- Right. - He's so slow.

- Hey, sorry we're late. - Hey!

- Hey, how are you? Good? - Good. How are you?

Good. What's up, my man?

- Hey. - Hi.

- Hi! - Hi. How are you?

Good.

How was your day?

Good! I got my orientation stuff today.

Aw.

It's our last few weeks together.

- Really makes me sad. - I know.

But we'll still see each other during breaks.

Yeah, I know. But do you think we'll still be us?

- What do you mean? - I don't know.

I've just been thinking a lot lately

about how much we're gonna change

and I just hope that my future self still likes your future self.

Okay, well, don't think about that stuff.

We still have some time.

Yeah, and then the next thing you know

you're a grandmother and you're dead.

I don't know. I was kind of hoping there was something in between.

Well, there's always track and field.

Mm.

Just come out and ask her, man.

She just serves coffee.

- Shitty coffee at that. - Terrible coffee.

- It's awful. The worst. - Yech. She doesn't even deserve

to talk to me after serving coffee that horrendous.

She deserves to die for it.

Oh, hi.

Hi.

Last time I was in here you were mopping too.

Actually, I was sweeping.

That's right. Yeah, sweeping.

Yeah, you were sweeping, come to think of it.

Hey, listen, I didn't mean to weird you out or anything a couple of days ago.

It's fine.

You from... where are you... where are you from?

- From here. - Oh, yeah? Me too.

Oh, nice.

You in school, or...

Uh, well, I'm going to college in the fall.

- Uh-huh. - Yeah, I'm going to NYU.

That's a good one. I've heard of that.

Uh, New York university. Listen, I was just...

Okay, have a nice day!

So? She's coming to the party, right?

Eh, whatever.

You know, she served me this latte last week... it just was gross.

- Can we just get out of here? - Yeah.

For here or to go?

To go.

What was that all about?

Just some guy.

You don't hide from just some guy, so...

I have a boyfriend, so...

So it's not cheating just to talk to the poor bastard.

Was I being mean? I'm sorry, I'm just...

I don't know. I'm not really good with stuff like that.

Stuff like what? Being nice?

Thank you, sir.

I hope you enjoy your beverage, and have a wonderful day.

Yeah. Whatever.

You see? Nice.

Okay. Listen. Stop.

- Baby. - -Hey, can you get that?

Yeah!

How's it going, Jack?

It's going.

- Hey. - Hi.

Be gentle. I'm queasy again.

Hey, do you mind if we go to that new Italian place tonight?

I gotta get my carbs in for tomorrow.

Well, I thought we were going to Amanda's sister's thing tonight.

No, I can't. I have to run tomorrow.

I don't know. I was excited about tonight.

Come on. Don't be selfish.

Hey, we're going to some party if you wanna come with us.