California, April 30th 2017

On my way to the employees room to change my clothing to my normal clothing I find Ansel.

He's kind of a creep, always lurking behind doors and following me to the employees room.

Like he wants to peek at me or something. It seems like he has some kind of voyeur kink.

After I changed my clothing I get out of the employees room and knock on the door of Ansel's office.

Ansel (muffled sound) – Come in.

I open the door and stand by it, I don't intend to come in.

Ansel – I said come in.

Jordan – Thank you but I just wanted to say goodbye to you.

Jordan – And to let you know that even though my post at Starbucks is at your hands.

Jordan – That doesn't mean you have the right to abuse me.

Ansel – How did I abuse you?

Jordan – It's a manner of speaking. Gosh you're so literal.

Ansel – Enlight me then.

Jordan – Well, first you're always lurking behind the employees room like you're trying to peek at me.

Jordan – Then you ask me to be your luxury escort and then proceed to be so sexist by assuming I'm a sex freak.

Jordan – Let alone, you spoke about my past relationship with your cousin in a way that sounded like I was a gold digger.

Jordan – That's what I'm talking about.

Ansel – Oh well I see you're quite mouthy.

Jordan – Don't change the subject!

Ansel – Alright. Yes I was a complete jerk by doing that. But I'm not wrong.

Jordan – So you won't admit that you're controlling me?!

Ansel – Well I'm not controlling you. I'm just stating facts.

Ansel – The offer, yes was kind of a low blow, like when I called you a sex freak too.

Ansel – But about you being a gold digger, I'm not wrong about that.

Ansel – I saw my cousin in here today. And which barista served him?!

Ansel (punching the desk) – You did!

Jordan – I'm not seeing your point. The other baristas were serving other costumers so.

Ansel – Well don't fool me. I saw that he gave you a ticket.

Ansel – Now tell me about the ticket!

Jordan – I don't have to explain you nothing about my personal life.

Ansel – You're right.

Ansel – But remember that your personal life is something that you should be dealing outside my store.

Ansel – And everything that happens here I have to know about.

Jordan – Okay. But I won't tell you about the allegedly ticket.

Ansel – You're really bad at lying. Pity because you're an actor aren't you?!

Ansel (evil) – Oh I forgot. You're a washed up actor. So that's the reason why.

Ansel – I know everything. I have eyes and ears everywhere.

Ansel – Is that ticket a train ticket to New York?!

Ansel – Just answer me yes or no!

Jordan – I don't know why you're doing this. You're an awful person.

Jordan – You know what?!

Ansel – What?

Jordan – I've had it. I quit.

Ansel – I didn't think that you were a quitter.

Jordan – Usually I'm not. But I learned that sometimes you have to quit toxic environments.

Ansel – So you will use that ticket, won't you?!

Jordan – It's none of your business.

Jordan – I would sue you but I don't want nothing more to do with you.

Ansel – Are you sure that you want to quit?

Ansel – There's no turning back, if you quit the doors won't be open to you anymore.

Jordan - I quit... Gladly.

I slam the door shut and try to hold the tears since I have to walk through a lot of people to the exit.

Margot is at the door smoking and she sees that I'm devastated and come near me.

Margot – What happened Jordan?

Jordan – I quit my job at Starbucks.

Margot – Why?

I look at her in a traumatized way.

Margot – That Ansel, he is no good.

Margot – I knew he would try to get you fired or for you to quit.

Jordan (between tears) – How did you know?

Margot – Well, he's a blabber mouth and when I talked about you so you could get the job.

Margot – He told me that you were his cousin's boyfriend.

Margot – He was always jealous of his cousin.

Jordan – So you knew about it all. Why didn't you warn me?

Margot – I should have. But you seemed to need a job so bad.

Margot – I thought you would get through what he would do to you.

Jordan – Well I should have to. I was tough. Once.

Jordan – You know I was studying Dramatic Arts at NYU when I met Sam, Ansel's cousin.

Jordan – But as I succeed in classes and plays I let all that get in to my head.

Jordan – So the day Sam graduated I dropped out of NYU because I couldn't get through NYU without him.

Margot – Really?! You must go back to NYU. Get your degree, you deserve to be an actor.

Margot – I don't know much of your work but I guess you're pretty good.

Margot – No one should quit pursuing their dreams.

Jordan – I don't think so, you know some dreams aren't meant to be.

Jordan – As I was telling you, I dropped out and entered in a play version of Swan Lake and I fell and got into a coma.

Jordan – Since then I'm really weak. I mean I take things so hard and then fall apart.

Margot – Wow, you have lived a pretty interesting and sad life.

Jordan – I hear that a lot.

Margot – Do you want me to drive you home?

Jordan – I'm okay. I'll take the subway, I have a friend who will meet me at my house.

Margot – Okay then.

Margot – I hope this isn't the end of our friendship.

Jordan – Of course not. Here's my number, you can call me whenever you want and we will hang out.

Jordan – To all the places but Starbucks.

Margot – Right.

Jordan – See you forever.

Margot – See you forever.

I leave Margot at the street and go home. On my way home I just keep rewinding the clash I had with Ansel.

And should I go to New York?! Should I use the ticket that Sam bought me?

I'm at home. After a long tiring day. Physically and mentally drained.

I'm ready to relax and wait for Roderick to meet me. I hope that we aren't going to clash too.

Because I'm so weak that I may have a breakdown and go back to an asylum or something like that.

Tears are streaming down my face. I'm broken again.

The bell rings. I clean my eyes and try to look decent.

Jordan – Who's there?

Roderick (from outside) – It's me Roderick. Open the door please.

Great, this either can be a great moment or another devastating one to put on the pile.

I open the door. And Roderick is looking amazing and he has a long box in his hand.

Jordan – Come in Roderick.

Roderick – Hi.

I guide him to my living room and tell him to seat.

Jordan – Would you like to drink something? There is a lot to choose, from wine to tea, from coffee to sodas.

Jordan – You choose.

Roderick – Actually I bought a bottle of Dom Perignon for us to drink.

Jordan (mumbling) – For fucks sake.

Roderick – What?!

Jordan – That was the champagne that I used to drank with Sam.

Roderick – Oh, oops.

Jordan - It's alright. It's just a champagne and you would never know about it.

Jordan – And it would be really childish of me to be affected by a drink.

Roderick – I hope it is really okay with you.

Jordan – Pop the bottle boy! I'll get some glasses.

Roderick opens the bottle, I go grab some glasses and we are about to have some fun.

Roderick – So...

Jordan – Yes?!

Roderick – I owe you an apology.

Jordan – I'm all ears.

Roderick – Yes I was a complete prick with what I did to you. It wasn't right.

Roderick – I used two people, toyed with their feeling and that is not right.

Roderick – But you have to understand why I did it.

Jordan – Go on.

I grab my glass and take a sip.

Roderick – My parents were in bad times. They were going through a divorce.

Roderick – And my father is quite conversative. For me to tell them that I'm bisexual would create a bigger storm.

Roderick – So I "dated" Morgana and introduced her to my parents.

Jordan – I see your point. I kind of understand it but you should have done this in another way.

Jordan – You see. I'm not giving you all the reason that you should have. You shouldn't fake a relationship.

Jordan – You shouldn't have fool me.

Jordan – If you loved me then you should wait until your parents storm would went away and then tried to introduce me to them.

Roderick – You're right. I failed totally. But I still love you.

Jordan – What am I supposed to say?! Should I say that I love you too?!

Roderick – If you feel that way.

Jordan – I can't. You hurt me really bad. I was wrecked.

Roderick – Is there still a chance for us to be together again?!

Jordan – I can't answer you to that question. I don't want to say no because I do love you.

Jordan – But if I say yes I risk being fooled and hurt again.

Roderick – I won't do that never again, I promise.

Jordan – You can't promise me anything. Promises are always broken.

Roderick – You're tough.

Jordan - I'm flattered. Sadly I have to be tough, hard to love because so many people hurt me.

Jordan – I'm not one to let people get into my life so easily and if I let you, know that you are really special.

Jordan – So when I let people in and they hurt me I get really sad. And that's what makes me tough.

Roderick – You have all the reason to act like that.

Roderick – But please, I'm not here asking you, I'm begging you.

Roderick – Begging you to give another chance. Please.

Jordan – Let's start with just being friends, okay?!

Roderick – That's alright to me. We'll do it at your pace.

Jordan – Thank you.

Jordan – Now let's drink this bottle until the end.

Roderick – Let's do it!

My phone rings and I look at the screen and it is Sam. Oh great. I let the phone ring.

Roderick – Aren't you going to answer it?!

Jordan – No, it's no one that important.

Roderick – Okay.

The phone keeps ringing.

As much as I don't want to answer the phone, the ringtone is bothering me so much.

Roderick - God, that person is insisting too much.

Jordan – I will hung up. I hope that he doesn't call again.

Roderick – He?!

Jordan – Yes. It's Sam.

Roderick – Oh, I see. You should answer it.

Jordan – He is going to tell me to go to New York.

Jordan – He bought me an one way ticket to the Big Apple.

Roderick – Oh, now the tables are turning.

Jordan - Don't jump the gun. I didn't say I would go.

Jordan – And I don't intend to. I won't let myself be engulfed by the blind search for fame.

Roderick – I'm not saying this because I want you to be with me. But I guess you're doing the right thing.

Jordan – I'll answer the phone and tell him that.

Roderick – Do you want me to go to another place?!

Jordan – If you don't mind.

Roderick – I don't.

Jordan – Thank you.

Roderick goes to my kitchen and closes the door.

I answer the phone that is been ringing nonstop.

Jordan (on the phone) – Hi Sam. Sorry for the wait, I was really busy. How are you?

Jordan (on the phone) – Good to know. I'm good as well.

Jordan (on the phone) – Well I thought long and hard about your offer.

Jordan (on the phone) – And though it was a kind and great offer. I have to refuse it. I can't go back to New York.

Jordan (on the phone) – Neither NYU. I know I will get on the web of the spider that fame is. I'm so sorry.

Jordan (on the phone) - I know. I'm sorry, I'm glad that you bought the ticket thinking I would accept the offer.

Jordan (on the phone) – But I can't. I will refund you the money. Please don't be mad.

Jordan (on the phone) – Sam?! Sam?! Are you still there?!

Jordan – What?! Did he just hung up on me?! How rude!

Jordan – Roderick, come near me please.

Roderick opens the kitchen door and slowly walks with an awkward sad face.

Roderick – So how it went?

Jordan – Pretty bad. He didn't take my refusal that well and hung up on me.

Roderick – Geez. He's really sad about it. I'm not going to lie that I liked that you refused but you hurt him.

Jordan – That doesn't make me any happier. I don't think I will sleep well tonight.

Roderick – Do you still love him?

Jordan – No, I just care for him.

Roderick – So why would you go to New York to risk getting fame into your head and fool a relationship with him?!

Jordan – I didn't say I would go back to him.

Roderick – Eventually you would, trust me. He didn't bought you the ticket because of your degree in acting.

Roderick – He bought it so you could be near him and be with him.

Roderick – That's the main reason. You're so naive!

Jordan - I guess you're right. But now he is hurt.

Jordan – And I know how bad it is to be hurt by someone else.

Jordan – It's so hard to live with being hurt and to hurt someone it is even harder.

Roderick – Can I be cut throat?

Jordan – Yes.

Roderick - You'll get over him as he will get over you too.

Roderick – So don't hold on to someone who doesn't make part of your life anymore.

Roderick – There's people in your life to love and to cherish and to have fun with.

Roderick – And the future will bring you even more people. So move on.

Roderick – Don't hold on to the past. Just let life unfold itself and what comes with it, it's either a prize or a lesson. You never lose.

Jordan – "I never lose. I either win or learn".

Roderick – Preach!!

Jordan – Would you like to stay for dinner?

Roderick – I'll call my mother and tell her I won't eat at home.

Jordan – Alright.