Trish
Did you steal a pair of my panties??
Trish
Well Stacy just saw you leaving my room…
Trish
Apparently with a pair of my underwear.
Mike
You probably shouldn’t hang out with her anymore.
Trish
Mike, you’re being ridiculous. Tell me the truth.
Trish
Did you steal my panties or not?
Mike
How? Am I supposed to empty my pockets in front of you?
Trish
Maybe you should. Where are you?
Mike
Just walked out of your dorm.
Trish
What? You never leave my parties early.
Trish
Come on, tell me what’s going on.
Trish
Mike, I can see you from the window.
Trish
You’ve got something in your fist!
Mike
Leave it alone, Trish.
Mike
Text me tomorrow when we can talk.
Trish
WTF! Are you some sort of pervert now?!
Mike
And frankly, I’m insulted.
Mike
We used to be best friends, you know.
Trish
Yeah, back when I had no idea you were a panty sniffer!
Mike
No, back before you started dating that douchebag Tony.
Trish
Maybe I should tell him about this.
Trish
Do you think he’s going to be happy?
Trish
Knowing someone was in his girlfriend’s drawers?
Mike
I don’t think he’d be too happy, no.
Mike
But not for the reason you think.
Trish
What’s that supposed to mean?
Trish
Ugh. You wanna pull the friend card, then I will too…
Trish
Friends tell each other stuff, Mike.
Mike
I said I will tomorrow.
Trish
Well I’m coming to your frat house.
Trish
Meet me outside and give me back the underwear.
Trish
We can pretend this never happened.
Mike
I’m not giving these back.
Trish
So you admit to taking them!
Mike
Go back to your party, Trish.
Trish
If you don’t give them back right now…
Trish
I’m telling everyone at the party that you’re a deviant.
Trish
Oh, yes I would. And then I’ll call your mom.
Trish
Maybe you should have stolen someone else’s panties…
Trish
Someone who didn’t go to your high school…
Trish
And sit with your mom at all your football games.
Mike
Are you kidding me Trish?
Mike
Only you would turn our twelve-year friendship into a threat.
Trish
Hey, I’m just trying to make good on my word.
Trish
I promised your mom I’d call her if you ever got into any trouble here…
Trish
And this is a serious issue.
Trish
I can just hear her now…
Mike
I’ll meet you outside.
Two minutes later, Mike slams open his front door.
Across the threshold, Trish glares at him.
Trish
Give them back, buddy.
Mike places a pink thong in her hands.
She looks down at it in confusion.
Trish
But…these aren’t mine?
Trish sees him swallow a few times.
Trish
What’s going on, Mike?
Mike
They belong to Stacy.
Mike
I accidentally walked in on her and Tony in your room earlier.
Mike
They didn’t see me…but I um…
Mike
I saw him taking those off her.
Mike
Afterward, he threw them across the room and they landed on his overnight bag.
Mike
Yeah. I went back a few minutes later…
Mike
Thinking I’d confront them, but they were gone.
Mike
The thong was still there, though.
Trish
But…why would they leave them?
Mike
My guess is she wanted you to find them.
Mike
Maybe so she could be with Tony or something?
But Trish’s heart is sinking.
She knows Mike would never lie to her.
Trish’s eyes fill with angry tears.
Trish
So you weren’t going to tell me?!
Trish
You were just going to get rid of the evidence?!
Mike
I was going to explain tomorrow.
Mike
Didn’t think it would be a good idea to do it in front of everyone.
Suddenly, Tony’s voice rings out around them.
Tony
What are you doing out here?!
Trish throws the underwear to the ground as Tony walks toward them.
She keeps her voice to an angry whisper as she urgently speaks to Mike.
Trish
Did he seriously do that to me, in my own room?!
Trish
They’re so gross, I can’t even—
Mike nods. His eyes are soft.
Mike
Want me to punch him for you?
Trish manages a small smile.
She’d missed Mike this past year.
He’d never been a fan of her relationship with Tony…
And they had drifted apart because of it.
Trish
No, you don’t have to punch him.
Trish
But can I ask you for a huge favor?
Trish can feel Tony approach the two of them. Her heart starts to pound.
Tony
Um, hello? I asked what you’re doing out here…?
Trish glares at Tony over her shoulder.
Trish
What am I doing out here?!
Trish grabs Mike’s face and crashes her lips to his.
Mike doesn’t miss a beat.
He puts his arms around her and pulls her tight against him.
A few seconds later, Trish rips herself away from Mike.
They stare at each other, both a little lightheaded.
Trish clears her throat and turns around.
Trish
What am I doing out here?!
Trish
I’m making out with a REAL man.
Trish
Too bad Stacy can’t say the same!
She reaches down to grab the pink thong.
Trish
Do these look familiar?!
Tony freezes. His eyes land on the underwear.
Trish
I know all about you two, you scuzz bucket!
Trish
And if either one of you tries to talk to me again…
Trish
I’m going to shove these down your throat!
But then he shuts it, wordlessly, before he runs away.
Trish turns back toward Mike.
His lips look swollen from her assault.
Trish
Had to give him a taste of his own medicine.
Mike grabs her hand in his and squeezes it for comfort.
Trish stares at their locked fingers and blows out a breath.
She feels the soft pads of his fingertips press into the back of her hand…
And again, the pace of her heartbeat picks up—
But this time, it’s for an entirely different reason.
Trish
I’m sorry for everything this year too.
Trish’s eyes jerk up, meeting Mike’s.
His irises are made of dark chocolate—
So soothing that Trish’s heart melts.
Trish
Listen…I meant it when I said I owe you.
Trish
Whatever you need. I’m your girl.
Mike winces and Trish takes a step back.
Her heart starts pounding louder, and for some reason…
The memory of their kiss leaps forward in her head as if it’s happening all over again.
Trish sighs, wishing it could.
Mike
You don’t owe me anything.
Mike
But…I still have to tell you…
Mike
That right now, I really want you to kiss me again.
She grabs the front of Mike’s shirt, pulling him toward her.
Trish
Because I was just thinking the same thing about you.
