Ex-Girlfriends Page #2

They don't remember her.

Tou only dated for a few months,

and you're not the type of guy to introduce

a girl to all your friends right away.

You expect them to react a little more

to the strangeness of the situation,

but no one really seems to

think it's that significant,

and it's disappointing.

The last time you heard her name

was when another ex-girlfriend,

now a friend, Kate,

mentioned that she was dating someone who had apparently gone out with Laura.

You had given Kate a copy

of one of your short stories,

and he saw your name

on the title page.

You know this guy?

Yeah. He's my friend.

He wrote a story.

This guy, he dated my friend Laura.

He totally broke her heart.

Oh, cool.

He kept going on and on about how

you broke this girl Laura's heart.

And I was like, "Yeah, fine,

all right, already.

Can we get back to boning?"

Wait. He said that Laura was heartbroken?

I know. Who would be heartbroken over you?

Always dangerous to become

friends with ex-girlfriends.

They know too much, and they're

not afraid to be brutally honest.

Or maybe that's just

the way it is with Kate.

Are you guarding the drinks?

Hey.

Just trynna make some tips.

Are you... avoiding someone?

Yeah.

Okay.

It's this guy I used to go out with,

and...

it's really awkward.

There's another person that

you went out with at this party?

Yeah.

Um... and I didn't end things well,

and it's just really uncomfortable.

It's kind of embarrassing.

- Wow!

- I just don't know if he saw me and...

or what, but...

Is he looking over here?

I don't know.

Who are you talking about?

He's, um... behind me.

He's got the blazer and the hair.

Ben?

You went out with Ben?

I mean, it was for, like, two seconds.

And...

I just...

I didn't return his phone call,

and I felt like a jerk,

and I just...

Is he looking over here?

Did he see me?

You know, I mean, he's pretty

much staring at you, so...

Oh, good. Great.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

- You went out with Ben?

- How do you know him?

Through Sam.

God, it's such a small world.

All right. Now, here's a plan, okay?

You walk out the door.

I'll meet you in the hallway.

We'll go get a drink somewhere else.

I would love to, but, um...

one of my girlfriends is over there,

and she kind of got cornered by this guy

that she used to hook up with,

and...

Ouch. Yeah.

- He looks like a winner.

- Yeah.

Um...

And I... I should say hi to...

- Yeah.

- ...Ben.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No.

But we should catch up sometime.

Yeah.

Um... maybe get a coffee?

Yeah, coffee.

Coffee's great.

I love coffee.

Me too.

Have it all the time.

Yeah, you still have it at that place

that you used to write at?

Yes.

Nothing has changed at all.

Awesome.

Maybe I'll see you there.

I'll be there.

Okeydokey.

Well...

- Good luck with that.

- Thank you.

You say as you watch her walk away,

knowing that you won't hear from her again.

You don't even have her phone number, anyway.

You'll see each other again

at the same party next year

and have the same conversation,

wondering how time passes so quickly.

It's weird. I didn't even know

that you guys knew Laura.

Yeah, crazy, right?

Yeah.

Oh, thanks.

Well, it was great seeing you tonight.

Yeah.

- It's good to see you guys.

- Thanks for coming.

And...

be safe.

Thanks.

And give me a call

next week, yeah?

Sounds good.

Okay.

- All right. Take care, bud.

- Bye.

Hey.

Hey, Ben.

Well...

Hey, dude...

did you go out with that girl Laura?

Yep.

That's so weird.

I mean, I thought you did from Sam,

but when I asked her about it,

she said you guys just had,

like, a one-night stand.

Wait.

She said what?

She said you guys just had a one-night stand.

That's weird, right?

I mean, why would she lie about that?

I don't know.

That's weird.

How long did you guys go out for?

Five or six months.

Yeah, that's longer.

Did she say anything about me

or...

No.

Okay. Cool.

How long did you guys go out for?

I don't know, man.

I don't know when you're going out with someone,

or like just going on a few dates,

or seeing someone or dating

someone or together.

What does that mean?

You know, I have no idea.

Cool.

Okay.

All right. Well, I'm gonna...

Are you?

- You're going that...?

- Yeah.

Oh. I'm gonna go that way, actually.

All right.

Cool.

All right, man.

- Good to see you.

- Yep.

You walk away...

in the opposite direction from Ben,

even though the subway is

in the direction he's walking.

You walk all the way home,

even though it's 30 blocks.

This is the more dramatic thing to do.

You wish that she could see you

walk all those blocks

with your hands in your pockets,

thinking about things.

But you know that she's asleep

and thinking about something totally different.

You think about e-mailing her

when you get home,

but you're not quite sure what to say.

After all, you've said it all before.

Comments?

I just thought it was problematic

in plot and character.

Just the way that everyone

coincidentally knew each other

and it was all interconnected

seemed unrealistic.

What does he want?

What does he want?

I think he wants the girl.

Is that enough?

I mean, what does getting her

do for him?

It will do a lot.

So, wait.

Why is it in second person?

I think that just

kind of felt like the way I should write it.

You should think about writing more...

...in the first person.

Yeah. Editing is important for every writer,

especially you.

Yeah.

What I am hearing...

when I hear these words

is a sense of alienation

between these people who...

know each other but who

don't really know each other.

In a sense,

the character doesn't know himself.

He has an...

outside voice speak for him,

giving him instructions,

because in a way, he doesn't really feel

in control of himself.

He's essentially...

failed,

as a... human being.

I mean, he's unable to...

connect,

and open up to the people around him.

He's unable to really reconcile

with his own nostalgic,

idealized notion of the past

with his lonely present.

Well, I... I wouldn't say lonely.

He is very lonely.

And ultimately, unable to

be honest with himself

and have a genuine moment.

See, I don't...

I don't really know if, uh,

that's what I was going for.

His walking home is an act performed for...

not himself, but...

someone who's not even watching.

I don't think that you've really reached

the core of who this character is.

I think you need to dig deeper.

And I think you should work on it

and bring it back in next time.

Thanks.

And why Laura?

Because she's beautiful?

Because she's smart?

Because you like her personality?

Aren't there other beautiful,

smart girls with nice personalities?

What makes her different?

Because she's your ex-girlfriend?

Because you wanna

make it right this time?

Also because she's beautiful,

and funny,

and sweet.

and life would be better

if you were together.

and she's read "War and Peace."

and those eyes.

No, there's no way to go back.

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