When my best friend Dylan FaceTimes me—
Dylan
Are you ready for our double date?
Chelsea
Actually, I need to talk to you about that.
Dylan
But I already fixed you up with the new guy on the football team—
Dylan
And you set me up with your new friend.
Dylan
We can’t ditch them at the last minute!
Dylan
Chelsea, I get why you’re suddenly nervous.
Dylan
I mean, you haven’t gone on a date all summer.
Chelsea
Neither have you.
Dylan
Right, and that’s why we decided to fix each other up—
Dylan
Because our social lives needed a boost.
Chelsea
Well, now that I’ve had time to think about it…
Chelsea
A double date on FaceTime is a terrible solution.
Dylan
We know each other better than anyone else in this world…
Dylan
And if best friends can’t find perfect matches for each other…
And pray that Dylan doesn’t sense the truth:
That *he’s* my perfect match…
And that’s why I haven’t dated all summer.
God, why did I have to go and fall for my bestie?
Dylan flashes me another adorable grin.
Dylan
Just come on this date, Chelsea.
Dylan
You won’t regret going out with him.
Okay. Maybe if I started dating again…
I could move on from this stupid crush on Dylan.
Yeah, maybe this will work!
Chelsea
All right. I’m in.
Someone else pops up on our group call.
It’s Antonia, my doe-eyed, pretty new friend—
And the girl I fixed Dylan up with.
I paste on my best double-date grin.
Chelsea
Dylan, meet Antonia.
And check each other out.
I keep grinning until my face almost breaks.
Dylan gets things started.
Dylan
Hey Antonia. Chelsea said you two met at the beach.
Antonia
Yeah. I really love it there.
Dylan
I mean, I’m going to major in marine biology in college…
Dylan
So I guess it kind of goes with the territory.
Antonia’s eyes get dreamy.
Antonia
A marine biologist?
Antonia
Wow. You must be really smart.
But Dylan is only smiling at her politely…
So that makes this torture slightly more bearable.
Dylan
Did Chelsea tell you she’s majoring in marine biology, too?
Chelsea
Dylan and I both want to go to UCSD.
Dylan
We’ve been planning it since we were kids.
Chelsea
Yup, ever since fourth grade.
Dylan and I smile at each other…
And, for a moment, it’s like the world disappears.
But as I tear my gaze away…
I know it’s all just in my head.
But then Antonia’s smile dims.
Antonia
Gosh, that was weird.
Antonia
That look between you two.
Antonia
Maybe you guys should be on this date…
Chelsea
No way. We’re just friends.
Dylan
Yeah. Totally just…friends.
But the way he says it seems…odd.
Before I can mull that over…
Another person pops up on the screen.
He’s got blond hair and a charming smile.
His eyes search the screen.
Tim
Nice work setting me up, Dylan!
Gosh, he sure seems eager.
And as Tim keeps looking at me with googly eyes…
Dylan narrows his own gaze.
If I didn’t know any better…
Tim leans closer to the screen.
Tim
Chelsea, I know this seems impulsive…
Tim
But let’s just skip this double date.
Tim
I mean, I’ve got Netflix and popcorn…
Tim
And a whole lot of other hot stuff at my house.
Dylan
You might want to slow your roll, man.
Dylan
I told you Chelsea likes laid-back guys, not…
Tim
Whoa, okay, Mr. Chastity Belt.
Tim
I think I know how to handle a date.
Antonia clears her throat.
Everyone blinks as if remembering that she’s still here.
Antonia
Now I know something is going on with you two.
Antonia
Like I said before…
Antonia
You and Chelsea are into each other.
Dylan
You’re wrong, Antonia.
Dylan
Chelsea and I are just—
Antonia
Ever since Tim got here…
Antonia
You’ve been bristling like a porcupine.
Antonia
And Chelsea, girl?
Antonia
Just look at yourself.
Antonia
Your cheeks go red every time Dylan even says something.
Antonia huffs out a breath.
Antonia
Tim, if you’re still offering Netflix and popcorn…
Antonia
Clearly I’m available tonight!
She hangs up, disappearing from the screen.
Tim
Yeah, so…I think I’m gonna take her up on that.
Tim
You two kids have fun.
Dylan and I just sit there.
His expression is unreadable.
Dylan
Well, that was…interesting.
Chelsea
Yeah. Can you believe what Antonia said?
Chelsea
I mean, how ridiculous, right?
OMG, he’s thinking of a way to let me down easy.
I am about to be destroyed.
Numbly, I stand from my chair.
Chelsea
Let’s just forget Antonia said anything at all, okay?
Dylan
Is that what you really want, Chelsea?
Dylan
Because I don’t want to.
There’s something warm and breathtaking in Dylan’s eyes.
Dylan
No, I don’t want to forget anything that just happened.
Dylan
I’m actually glad we had this disastrous double date…
Dylan
Because it made me realize that…
Dylan
Well, I feel something for you, Chelsea.
I wilt into my chair, speechless.
Dylan looks intensely into the camera.
Dylan
It all started when Antonia showed up.
Dylan
She’s exactly the kind of girl I would’ve liked before.
Dylan
But as I talked with her…
Dylan
I suddenly realized that she wasn’t my kind of girl at all.
Dylan
And then when Tim started flirting with you, I—
Dylan clenches his hands.
Dylan
Something just snapped inside of me…
There’s so much I want to say…
But I’m too shocked to find the words.
And in the time it takes me to fumble around for them…
Dylan
You’re not saying anything.
Dylan
God, why didn’t I just shut my mouth?
As he buries his face in his hands…
I finally find my tongue.
He looks up with sad eyes.
Chelsea
Do you know why I’ve been so sad this summer?
Chelsea
It’s because I was feeling something for you.
Chelsea
But I thought the situation was hopeless.
His gaze gets a little brighter.
Dylan
Are you saying that…
Chelsea
Let’s just put it this way:
Chelsea
Whenever I’m around you…
Chelsea
My heart beats until I can’t hear anything else.
Chelsea
And whenever I’m not around you…
Chelsea
It feels like my heart doesn’t beat at all.
Chelsea
Oh my god, that was so corny.
I still give him an unsure look.
Chelsea
Will you just promise me one thing, Dylan?
Chelsea
Even if things have changed with us…
Chelsea
Tell me we’ll always be friends.
Dylan
That goes without saying.
Dylan
We know each other better than anyone else in this world.
Dylan
That means we belong together.
Dylan touches the screen…
Almost as if he’s touching me.
As I press my fingers to his, I feel our connection…
Knowing it truly won’t ever disappear.
