The Boy Downstairs Page #3

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What do you want to...

what do you want to

do with the battery?

I want to put it in my mouth.

Oh, well, all right.

Ow.

Oh, that's good.

That is good.

Um...

Um...

I also filled the

bath tub up with water.

You did?

Yeah, just in case

they shut the water off.

My bathroom?

So we, um, water to flush the

toilet or for drinking water.

Oh, for both of those.

For both.

And I got...

From the same bathtub.

...baby wipes for

our body, yeah.

Wait.

You got baby wipes?

- Yeah.

- I love baby wipes.

I know.

That's why I got them.

I carry them, like, in my...

in my tote bag.

What, in your tote bag?

[music stops]

- Oh, my God.

- It's happening.

You were right.

[giggling]

Are you warm enough?

Mm-hmm, just getting cozy.

Good.

So in my, um, sociology class...

Mm-hmm.

Uh, our professor asked us to

write down our vision of life,

like, a exercise.

And, um...

That's super cheesy.

Yeah, I guess.

But I don't know.

It seemed like...

I don't know.

It just kind of

caught me off guard.

You know, does it make

you think of anything?

Um, no.

I don't know, no.

You don't have...

you don't have dreams?

No.

You don't have

dreams in there?

I have dreams.

I have dreams.

And I don't like to

say them out loud.

Why?

I don't know.

Um, OK, when I was

in the fourth grade,

I had this epic, epic crush

on this boy named Dale.

His name was Dale?

Yes, his name was Dale.

OK.

Anyway, I planned to take

this secret with me to my grave.

But then Stephanie Jacobs

had this slumber party.

And we were playing

truth or dare.

And she asked me point blank,

do you have a crush on Dale?

And I had to say yes.

And then on Monday,

she told everybody,

including Dale, who came up to

me at recess and asked me out.

But it was a joke.

And then he started laughing.

And then all of his

friends started laughing.

And then everyone was laughing.

And then he, um, pantsed me.

Oh, my God.

That... he pantsed you?

Dale is an a**hole.

I know, totally.

But he did teach me, um,

the invaluable lesson

that the only way to protect

yourself from deep pain

and humiliation

is just to, like,

bury your feelings

deep within your soul

and never let them out.

That's horrible.

I'm just... I'm kidding.

I'm... I mean, I'm...

I'm OK.

You're doing great.

Do you... do you need a cuddle?

Sure, I'll...

Like, a little one?

I'll... I'll take

a little cuddle,

only a little one, though, OK?

Do you want to know what

my vision for life was?

Hmm?

Yeah, sure.

You're gonna make fun of me.

Probably.

I don't know.

I kind of want, like,

what my parents have,

like, I don't know, being

with someone for decades

and still being in love.

[knocking]

Amy?

Hi.

Hi.

Hey.

I'm sorry.

Is Ben moving?

No.

Oh, OK.

Um, sorry.

Uh, why are you here?

Uh, Ben?

BEN:
Yeah, is it the pizza?

Oh.

Hey.

Um, yeah, I was just

wondering if you knew what

was going on with the, um...

It's a scheduled power cut.

They're doing

maintenance on the lines.

Yeah, they... they

sent out a letter.

Gotcha.

I should, um, probably

check my mail more often.

I'm sorry.

Are you... are you guys dating?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Cool, great, that's cool.

I'm sorry.

Did... did you know

that we dated when

you showed me the apartment?

No.

Right, because

that would be crazy.

Yeah, obviously,

I didn't know.

Obviously.

[awkward laugh]

Yeah, well, goodnight.

- Yeah.

- Goodnight.

- Enjoy your pizza...

- Goodnight.

...when it arrives.

- Yeah, all right.

- See ya.

Bye.

This is disgusting.

Why did you make me get this?

It's so good.

It's disgusting.

You're crazy.

I am not crazy.

You're bananas.

Um, what's going on with Ben?

Um, nothing, what do you mean?

Like, have you talked to

him or Meg since the blackout?

Uh, no, I haven't

really seen them around.

What's happening with Marcus?

Mm, nothing, he's an a**hole.

Well, yes, for any

specific reason this time?

I texted him high,

like, four weeks ago,

and he never replied.

So, yeah, done with him.

Do you promise?

Diana.

OK, OK.

Yes, I'm serious.

OK, I believe you.

He's just so

friggin' charming.

And when we're together,

he's very complimentary.

Gabs, I get it.

But it's not real, and then

it goes away really fast.

And it leaves you

feeling like sh*t.

And you're settling,

and you know it.

OK.

- I should get back to work.

- OK.

I love you.

I love you.

I'll see you later.

OK.

I'd date you if I was a boy.

Treat you better than Marcus.

Hi.

Hi.

Oh, it's good to see you.

You, too.

How was London?

Oh, it was great.

London was great.

Good.

How are you?

Good, listen.

The short stories

you sent me were

very funny and very engaging.

That's so great

to hear from you.

Thank you.

But this... this is not short.

Uh, no.

This is a novel.

Yeah, I hope so.

I am assuming it's a

work in progress, yes?

Oh, yes, yes, 100%.

Because right now, the

story seems scattered.

OK, yeah.

Firstly, the character,

I don't understand

her motivation for anything.

I mean, the friendship

part is very good.

It's fleshed out.

It's very nice.

But that man...

Hugo.

He just seems like a jerk.

Right.

Why don't we go

through specifics.

- OK.

- All right?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You know what?

Let's start at the top, even

this just whole beginning.

- So send me your next draft.

- I will, I promise.

OK?

Yeah.

Thank you, Susan.

Bye.

Bye.

(SINGING) I can take you higher.

I can take you home.

Hey.

Hey.

They have candy corn here.

Awesome.

What's wrong?

I just... I don't

understand who has

a rooftop party for Halloween.

It's October.

It's freezing.

I'm fine.

Um, I did see some really cute

boys in line for the bathroom.

How cute?

Like, really cute.

Like potential

husband material cute?

Potentially.

Tonight could be the night.

I mean, I feel like tonight

probably is the night.

We'll just turn this night

upside down and make it...

Oh, my God, Marcus is here.

...the night we

meet our husbands.

Gab?

Hello.

[chuckling]

Sorry.

Hi.

I'm Eliot.

I admit, that

was kind of creepy.

Uh...

Well, it's Halloween.

Chin chin.

What?

Chin chin, it's,

like, a British thing.

Sure, sure.

Cool.

So do you have any,

like, hobbies or...

Uh, yep, yeah.

Nice.

Um, I have hobbies.

They, um, are I...

I like to eat.

Uh...

OK, controversial.

Hey, hey.

Oh.

Oh, my God, how are you?

Hi.

I'm good.

How are you?

Great, yeah, really good,

it's so good to see you.

You seem weird.

Are you... are you...

are you OK?

No, I'm... I'm fine.

Yeah?

You look beautiful.

Thank you.

Would you, uh, do you want

to come over to my place

or whatever or...

Uh, I... I can't.

- I'm here with Diana.

- Oh, come on.

I miss you.

Well, how about we go

on a date next Friday?

I... uh, next Friday, I just...

I've got some plans.

But, I mean, maybe definitely

afterwards, like, I could...

you know, you could like

come through my crib.

Or, like, I could call you or...

Yeah, OK, just let me know.

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