Darla
I found something weird at work…
Darla
There was a love note on my car’s windshield.
Charlie
Yeah. A love note, huh?
Darla
Yup. I’m trying not to freak out in front of customers.
Charlie
Why would you freak about a love note?
Darla
You’re my bestie! You know how awkward I am.
Charlie
Well, I know you’re shy…
Charlie
And I know you THINK guys don't notice you…
Charlie
But now you know that someone obviously did!
Charlie
Tell me what the note says.
Darla
It’s too embarrassing.
Darla
Promise you won’t laugh?
Darla
“You have no idea that there’s someone who thinks you’re perfect…”
Darla
“Who loves your smile and can’t wait to see it every day…”
Darla
“Who aches whenever he’s with you…”
Darla
“Who wonders what you would do if you only knew how he feels.”
Charlie
That seems like a nice note.
Darla
Come on! This is crazy, right?
Darla
Who would leave ME a note?
Charlie
Why do you say it like that?
Darla
Because I’m just a dorky student who works in a comic book shop.
Darla
Whoever wrote the note must have put it on the wrong car.
Charlie
Hey — stop talking like that.
Charlie
We’ve been going to school and working together for months…
Charlie
And I’ve seen lots of guys notice you.
Charlie
Dar, I know you’ve been caught up in other things.
Charlie
Like keeping your grades up and work.
Charlie
But I don’t think you’ve seen what’s right in front of your eyes.
Has Charlie SEEN her secret admirer?
Darla notices a customer named Marcus who’s been around A LOT lately.
He’s pretty cute, with his dark hair and piercing blue eyes.
Marcus shyly smiles at her and then texts someone.
Darla
Maybe I DO see him.
Darla
Yeah. Maybe I just haven’t been paying attention.
Charlie
Jeez, SAY something, Dar.
Darla
Okay. This is him, right?
Darla subtly snaps a photo of Marcus and sends it to Charlie.
Darla
You’re right — I’ve never thought of Marcus that way before.
Darla
But maybe I should take a chance for once.
Darla
I’m gonna suck it up and ask him about the note!
Marcus wanders toward the counter.
Darla
He’s coming over here now.
Darla
Eeek! What do I say?
Darla’s phone vibrates with a new text.
But Darla puts it aside as Marcus stands in front of her.
He slides his purchase onto the counter.
She fumbles with the register scanner.
Marcus
Hey. How’s it goin’?
Could this be any more awkward?
Darla can feel everyone in the store watching them.
She tries to shake it off, giving Marcus a big smile since the note said he loves it.
Darla
So…you’ve been coming in here a lot lately…
Marcus
Yeah. I should be writing essays, but I’m procrastinating instead.
Wow, obviously he’s just as shy as SHE is.
Could this even work out between them?
Darla
Um, there’s…no other reason you’ve been in here so often?
Marcus
I guess I’ve been on a toy-buying streak.
Marcus
Is that what you mean?
If this is flirting, she hasn’t been missing out on much…
Darla
I think YOU know what I mean.
She gives him a conspiratorial look.
Darla
The note on my car?
She closes out the transaction and bags his toy.
Darla
Yeah. I thought it was a very sweet note.
Darla
It was about my smile and…?
As confusion clouds Marcus’s face, Darla nearly shrivels into herself.
Darla
You didn’t write a note, did you?
Marcus
Listen, Darla, I’ve just been buying these toys for my girlfriend…
Darla
Oh, hey, no problem.
Darla
Just kidding around, you know?
Darla
Who writes love notes nowadays anyway?
Everyone in the shop abruptly turns back to the comic bins.
Perplexed, Marcus leaves.
Darla starts hyperventilating, but then freezes.
Because if Marcus didn’t leave the note…
She looks at her phone to find the texts Charlie sent.
Charlie
I’m on my way there!
Charlie
Don’t say anything to Marcus!!!
Charlie
He isn’t the one who sent the note.
Charlie
I know who sent it, because…
Charlie
Well, just wait until I’m there and I’ll tell you.
A rush of heat consumes her as she hears the door open.
She looks up. Charlie is standing there with his heart in his eyes.
Darla’s throat tightens along with something inside her chest.
Charlie
You said something to him, didn’t you?
Darla
Yes. And evidently you said something to me…
As he saunters behind the counter, he doesn’t mind the customers.
Charlie
I didn’t know what you’d do if I confessed my feelings to you in person.
Charlie
So I wrote them in a note, just to test the waters.
Now he stands a whisper away.
Darla’s pulse stumbles, and she can’t breathe at all.
How could she not have known?
Charlie
Darla, I fell for you the first night we worked together.
Charlie
But you never seemed to see me.
Darla
I did, but I thought you were just…
Charlie
Being a nice guy whenever I smiled at you for no reason?
Charlie
Being your best buddy when I texted whenever you were on my mind?
Darla
You were always both of those things to me.
Something darkens his blue eyes.
Charlie
So you’re not interested.
Her heartbeat flares. She can’t let this moment pass her by.
Because though she’s always been nervous around guys, with Charlie…
She grips his arms, standing on her tiptoes and bringing him to her for a kiss.
Cheers sound from the customers, but she barely hears them.
As she pulls back from Charlie, there’s nothing but him.
Darla
I’m trying to say the opposite, Charlie.
Darla
Did THAT make it clearer?
He smiles and pulls her closer.
Charlie
Message received.
