Sydney’s phone rings on her nightstand.
She picks it up and sees that it’s a video call from her friend Ian.
Her eyes go wide with panic.
She looks in the mirror on the back of her bedroom door.
And the baggy old t-shirt she’s wearing is far from flattering.
Seconds later, the baggy t-shirt flies across the room.
She re-emerges in her favorite top and grabs a hair tie.
The phone rings once more.
Sydney skips across the room and grabs it.
She takes a quick breath to calm herself.
Then she puts on a smile and answers.
Ian’s face pops up on the screen.
Ian
I need a hundred dollars.
Ian stands against a grey wall.
Chattering voices can be heard in the background.
Ian looks over his shoulder.
Ian
I’m in the bathroom at Semolina’s.
Ian
I don’t have time for questions.
Ian
I need a hundred dollars.
Ian
You’re my best friend.
Ian
Will you please help me?
Sydney
What do you need it for?
Sydney raises an eyebrow.
Sydney
Why are you at Semolina’s?
Ian
That’s not important.
Ian
Could you just drive out here right now with the money?
Ian
I’ll pay you back when we hang out this weekend.
Ian
Just do me this one favor.
Sydney thinks it over for a moment.
Sydney
So you want me to give you money, but you won’t tell me why?
Sydney
You should call someone else.
She falls onto her bed and lets out a sigh.
A few seconds later, her phone rings again.
Reluctantly, she answers.
Ian
I’m with Tessa Shepherd.
Ian
I brought her here to try and impress her.
Ian
But I forgot my wallet.
Ian
Which is why I called you.
Ian
I can’t ask Tessa to pay for dinner on our first date.
Ian
I’ll look like a total idiot.
Ian
Plus, this is probably a pity date for her…
Ian
So I need all the points I can get.
Sydney looks away as tears well up in her eyes.
Ian
Sydney, what’s wrong?
Ian
Did I catch you at a bad time?
Sydney
No, Ian. You didn’t catch me at all.
Sydney lets out a big sigh.
Sydney
Look, we’ve been friends for like, forever.
Sydney
But lately it’s started to feel…different.
Ian leans in, absorbing every word.
Sydney
I thought you felt it too.
Sydney
I thought that was why we made plans for this weekend.
Sydney
You know, to talk about it.
Ian
Talk about what, Sydney?
Sydney covers her face to hide her embarrassment.
Sydney
And not just as a friend.
Sydney
And I thought you liked me, too.
Sydney
But now you’re out with Tessa…
Sydney
So clearly I totally misread everything.
Sydney
What are you doing?
The chuckle turns to a laugh.
Ian tries to hold it in but he can’t.
Sydney
I can’t believe you.
Ian
I know it looks like I’m laughing but…
He lets out another chuckle.
Sydney
Have a great time with Tessa!
Sydney hangs up and tosses the phone across her room.
The phone rings, but she’s too angry to even consider answering.
Sydney is back in her baggy t-shirt.
She’s on her bed with a carton of ice cream.
As she swallows a spoonful of Rocky Road, the doorbell rings.
A second later she hears knocking.
Sydney puts the carton down and walks out of her bedroom.
As she approaches her front door, she hears a voice on the other side.
She looks out the peephole to find Ian standing at her door.
Sydney
I have nothing to say to you.
Sydney turns and walks away.
A moment later, Sydney hops back onto her bed and picks up the ice cream again.
She denies the call and eats another spoonful.
She denies the call again.
The phone rings once more.
She finally gives in and answers.
Ian, standing outside her front door, pops up on the screen.
Sydney
What are you doing?
Ian
Did you mean what you said?
Sydney
Don’t make this worse than it already is, okay?
Sydney
There’s no need to rub it in.
Ian
And I wasn’t laughing at you earlier.
Sydney
Then what were you laughing at?
Sydney
I can’t do any more secrets today, Ian.
Ian builds up the courage to look back at her.
Ian
I never thought you and I could be a thing.
Ian
I thought there was some kind of code against dating your best friend.
Ian
So I took all the feelings I’ve had for you and buried them.
Ian
Sydney, I’ve been in love with you for years.
Ian
I think I’ve been in love with you since we met.
Sydney
Ian, we met in the third grade.
Ian
You wore those big red glasses and the little poofy things in your hair all the time.
Ian
I thought you were perfect then.
Ian
And I think you’re perfect now.
Ian
If you want to give us a shot, I’m all in.
Tears well up in Sydney’s eyes.
This time, they’re happy tears.
A smile creeps its way across her lips.
Sydney
I do want to give it a shot.
Ian
Now can I please come in?
With her phone in her hand…
Sydney starts walking out of her bedroom door…
When suddenly, a thought hits her.
Sydney
What happened with Tessa?
Sydney
At the restaurant?
Sydney
Did you leave her there?
