Unnamed Character

There is a pathetic moment. So Lincoln Center Station, we're waiting for the train. It's like some crazy 20-minute wait. Where the words actually come out of my mouth, you know, hey, if you ever want a film critic as a boyfriend, you just let me know. I think we were talking about, it fit into the context of the conversation somehow, but I can't think of anything more pathetic.

There is a pathetic moment. So Lincoln Center Station, we're waiting for the train. It's like some crazy 20-minute wait. Where the words actually come out of my mouth, you know, hey, if you ever want a film critic as a boyfriend, you just let me know. I think we were talking about, it fit into the context of the conversation somehow, but I can't think of anything more pathetic.

She just kind of laughed and was like, yeah, okay, okay.

She just kind of laughed and was like, yeah, okay, okay.

Music's so loud, and it's kind of fun. You know, it's a great night, and we're dancing. I actually started dancing for once. We leave the place. We're going to go get some greasy food because we're hungry and we haven't eaten. And I have my bag and everything. So we walk into the burger joint.

Music's so loud, and it's kind of fun. You know, it's a great night, and we're dancing. I actually started dancing for once. We leave the place. We're going to go get some greasy food because we're hungry and we haven't eaten. And I have my bag and everything. So we walk into the burger joint.

You know, there's, what, five tables here? It's tiny. And so I remember just kind of throwing my bag down, and then I pull out my phone just to check, and it's one of those weird nights, right? Like, I just haven't checked my phone almost any night. Any night, 99% of nights, you know, your phone's right next to you. If it's buzzing, you hear it. If it rings, you hear it.

You know, there's, what, five tables here? It's tiny. And so I remember just kind of throwing my bag down, and then I pull out my phone just to check, and it's one of those weird nights, right? Like, I just haven't checked my phone almost any night. Any night, 99% of nights, you know, your phone's right next to you. If it's buzzing, you hear it. If it rings, you hear it.

I don't know if I had bad reception in the place because it's kind of an older building. But I look down that I swear to God, I have like 22 text messages. And I'm like, what? And they're all from Emily. And so I run out of the burger place to the street. Let's go outside. All right, so you rush out here. I rush out here, and there's not exactly a lot of room. I mean, there's not room at all.

I don't know if I had bad reception in the place because it's kind of an older building. But I look down that I swear to God, I have like 22 text messages. And I'm like, what? And they're all from Emily. And so I run out of the burger place to the street. Let's go outside. All right, so you rush out here. I rush out here, and there's not exactly a lot of room. I mean, there's not room at all.

So this is a crowded... Like, this is where you hang out until 4 a.m. So I rush out, and I start reading through the messages. And it starts very kind of innocently, very... Like, hey, what are you up to tonight? Oh, are you... Oh, maybe you're out? I was wondering if maybe you wanted to, like, get a drink or something. And then... And then it starts escalating like, wait, are you not texting me?

So this is a crowded... Like, this is where you hang out until 4 a.m. So I rush out, and I start reading through the messages. And it starts very kind of innocently, very... Like, hey, what are you up to tonight? Oh, are you... Oh, maybe you're out? I was wondering if maybe you wanted to, like, get a drink or something. And then... And then it starts escalating like, wait, are you not texting me?

Or why aren't you texting me back?

Or why aren't you texting me back?

Because I was totally into her. And then it started being like, it started getting a little more paranoid. And then I think she started thinking I was on a date or something.

Because I was totally into her. And then it started being like, it started getting a little more paranoid. And then I think she started thinking I was on a date or something.

And the last text message said, maybe we need to talk about this whole not dating thing. I just, I thought like, this is it. Like whatever's about to happen, like this is the moment. And so I immediately called her. I immediately just hit dial. I didn't quite know what I was gonna say. And I think she picked up the phone, said hello, and I just kind of started going into it.

And the last text message said, maybe we need to talk about this whole not dating thing. I just, I thought like, this is it. Like whatever's about to happen, like this is the moment. And so I immediately called her. I immediately just hit dial. I didn't quite know what I was gonna say. And I think she picked up the phone, said hello, and I just kind of started going into it.

Like, I don't know what to say here. Like, yes, I want to date you. And what have we been doing? You know, I'm like screaming in the street. The cars aren't moving. People stop walking by me. They just stop to see, like, what's going on here. Because I'm screaming, like, I love you. I don't know how to be clearer. Like, I love you. And so I'm screaming this.

Like, I don't know what to say here. Like, yes, I want to date you. And what have we been doing? You know, I'm like screaming in the street. The cars aren't moving. People stop walking by me. They just stop to see, like, what's going on here. Because I'm screaming, like, I love you. I don't know how to be clearer. Like, I love you. And so I'm screaming this.