I roll out of bed, groaning.
My head is pounding like a drum.
I can hardly remember anything about last night.
But what I know for certain…
Is that I wasn’t a good girl.
I barely have time to reflect on my colossal screw-up, when all of sudden…
I get a FaceTime call from Jeremy.
Oh, god.
Do I answer?
It’s nearly noon.
If I don’t answer…
He might get worried and call my friends.
I decide to pick up.
We’ll just have a nice, normal conversation.
Then I can call him back once I’ve gathered my thoughts.
I run into the living room.
Ugh, I feel like I’m going to throw up.
Then I take a deep breath.
And I answer the call.
June
June
Hiiiiii.
Jeremy
Jeremy
Hey, babe.
Jeremy
Jeremy
Jeez, look at you…
June
June
I know, I know…
Jeremy
Jeremy
Fun night last night?
June
June
I went to a party.
June
June
I think maybe I overdid it.
Jeremy
Jeremy
I’ll say…
June
June
How are you?
Jeremy
Jeremy
Pretty good.
Jeremy
Jeremy
The sun just set here in London.
June
June
Cool.
Jeremy
Jeremy
I miss you.
June
June
I miss you too.
I say it fast, nodding my head…
Trying to ignore my guilt.
Jeremy
Jeremy
I was thinking, I—
All of a sudden, Jeremy stops.
Jeremy
Jeremy
Uh…what’s that?
June
June
What’s what?
I turn around.
And my heart sinks to the pit of my stomach.
It’s a hat.
And not just any hat.
Jeremy
Jeremy
Hey, I know that hat.
Jeremy
Jeremy
That’s Mike’s hat.
June
June
Oh…yeah…
Jeremy
Jeremy
What’s Mike’s hat doing there…
Jeremy
Jeremy
In your apartment?
I feel the weight of the world collapsing in on me.
I can’t lie. I just can’t.
I close my eyes and grimace.
June
June
Okay…
June
June
I need to tell you something…
Jeremy sits up straight.
A worried look comes over him.
June
June
Last night…
June
June
I, uh…
June
June
Well…I ended up kissing Mike.
Jeremy
Jeremy
I knew it…
Jeremy
Jeremy
The second I saw the hat.
June
June
I’m so sorry, Jeremy!
June
June
I was drinking, but that’s no excuse.
June
June
It was wrong no matter what.
Jeremy stands and begins pacing around his room…
Muttering to himself.
Jeremy
Jeremy
I can’t believe this.
Jeremy
Jeremy
I just can’t believe this.
Finally he whips around, furious.
Jeremy
Jeremy
I mean, what is wrong with you?!
Jeremy
Jeremy
I’m studying abroad for five months!
Jeremy
Jeremy
It’s not like I’m going to be gone for years in the army!
June
June
I know.
June
June
I don’t know what to say.
June
June
There’s no excuse.
Jeremy
Jeremy
Do you love him?
June
June
Of course not!
Jeremy
Jeremy
Do you love me?
June
June
I — it’s—
June
June
It’s complicated.
Jeremy
Jeremy
How is it complicated?
Jeremy
Jeremy
I’m your boyfriend, aren’t I?
Jeremy
Jeremy
We’ve been together over a year.
Jeremy
Jeremy
You should know if you love your boyfriend.
June
June
Yes, I love you.
June
June
I’ll always love you.
June
June
I’m just…
June
June
I’m not sure if I’m *in* love with you anymore?
I wince as I say the words.
But they’re the truth.
Jeremy takes a deep breath.
He flops back down into his chair…
Holding his head in his hands.
Jeremy
Jeremy
Wow…
June
June
I’m sorry, Jeremy. I—
All of a sudden…
A blonde girl barges through the front door behind Jeremy.
Her arms are filled with groceries.
Girl
Girl
Sweetheart!
Girl
Girl
I’ve got strawberries, champagne, and whipped cream!
Girl
Girl
I say we make a night of it, darling!
She stops dead in her tracks when she sees me.
Girl
Girl
Uh-oh…
Jeremy leaps up.
Jeremy
Jeremy
Other room. Other room, please.
Jeremy
Jeremy
I’ll be there in a second.
June
June
Who is that?
Jeremy
Jeremy
No one.
Girl
Girl
I’m no one?
He turns to her.
Jeremy
Jeremy
You know that’s not what I mean.
June
June
Then what do you mean?
Jeremy’s shoulders slump.
He slowly turns back to his computer.
Then sighs heavily before saying to himself:
Jeremy
Jeremy
D***…
Jeremy
Jeremy
June…
Jeremy
Jeremy
This is Tessa.
Jeremy
Jeremy
Tessa…
Jeremy
Jeremy
This is June.
Jeremy
Jeremy
Who I told you about.
June
June
I see…
June
June
And, um…
June
June
What exactly are you two to each other?
Tessa leans in boldly.
Tessa
Tessa
We’re dating.
Jeremy closes his eyes and grimaces.
June
June
I see!
June
June
Wow.
June
June
Now isn’t that fascinating?
June
June
Jeremy, quick question for you…
June
June
Were you planning on telling me about Tessa…
June
June
After you ripped me apart for kissing Mike?
Jeremy doesn’t say anything for a moment.
He quietly bows his head in shame.
June
June
Because I admit…
June
June
What I did was wrong.
June
June
But at least I told you.
Jeremy
Jeremy
You’re right.
Jeremy
Jeremy
I should’ve told you about Tessa.
Jeremy
Jeremy
I’m sorry.
June
June
How long has this been going on?
Jeremy
Jeremy
Two months.
June
June
Two months?
June
June
You’ve only been there for three months.
Jeremy
Jeremy
Yeah…
Jeremy
Jeremy
I don’t think it’s working out between us.
Jeremy
Jeremy
Is it?
I can’t help but chuckle.
Jeremy
Jeremy
What?
My chuckling quickly turns into laughing.
Which turns into belly-rolling, unbridled cackling.
Jeremy
Jeremy
What’s so funny?
June
June
This! All of it!
I try to speak between my laughs.
June
June
*Clearly* I’d say it’s not working out!
Jeremy smirks.
Then…before I know it…
He begins chuckling, too…
Then laughing uncontrollably.
And soon…
The two of us are a howling mess…
Like we were when we first got together.
Just a couple of people who love to laugh.
Jeremy
Jeremy
Oh my god!
Jeremy
Jeremy
I can’t breathe!
June
June
Me neither!
Jeremy
Jeremy
We both cheated on each other!!
June
June
Amazing!
Jeremy
Jeremy
Well, I guess technically you and Mike just kissed.
Jeremy
Jeremy
So it’s not as big of a deal.
June
June
Yeah, so, um, listen…
I finally calm down enough to get this part out.
June
June
About that…
I call out:
June
June
Hey, Mike…?
Jeremy’s eyes widen.
Jeremy
Jeremy
No way…
Then, all of a sudden…
Mike emerges from my room.
Stepping into the frame behind me…
In just his underwear.
He’s timid and cautious.
Mike
Mike
Hey, Jeremy…
Mike
Mike
Um, I slept over.
Everything is quiet for a moment.
For a second, I wonder if I’ve taken things too far.
Then…
Jeremy bursts into roaring laughter.
Jeremy
Jeremy
That is unreal!!!
Jeremy
Jeremy
I cannot believe this!
I start laughing again, too.
June
June
Me neither.
June
June
We should never have been dating.
The laughter eventually dies down.
Jeremy
Jeremy
I guess not.
Jeremy
Jeremy
But what do you say…?
Jeremy
Jeremy
Friends instead?
I nod.
I’ve never appreciated him more.
June
June
Friends.
We both smile.
June
June
Enjoy your strawberries and champagne.
June
June
Nice to meet you, Tessa.
Tessa
Tessa
Um…yeah…nice to meet you, too?
Jeremy
Jeremy
Enjoy your hangovers.
Jeremy
Jeremy
Good to see you, Mike.
Mike
Mike
Cheers.
Then, just before I exit the FaceTime…
Mike jumps up.
Mike
Mike
My hat!
Mike
Mike
I was wondering where that was!
I palm my face.
Jeremy giggles.
Something tells me…
This will be the best break-up of my life.
June
June