That Night...

Padgen goes to his bedroom, and closes the door to get dressed into his pajamas. There's a knock on the door. He opens it to find Tamara outside, in her pajamas as well. Her shirt is only half-buttoned, and leaves only half a curiosity to the imagination.

Padgen
(Trying not to stare.) What's up?

Tamara
I just want to make sure you don't, uh... get the wrong idea, alright? This is just to make sure Adelaide doesn't box me in with her son.

Padgen
(Let-down.) Oh, yeah. That's okay, I understand. It's like TV, I'll play my role.

Tamara
(Relieved.) Good, cool. I just didn't want you getting too excited, you seem like you'd have a heart attack if someone actually did go out with you.

Padgen
(Laughing it off, but hurt.) Ha, yeah. I might. We good, then?

Tamara
(Uncertain.) Yyyeah. I guess so. You're a little too cool with all this, kid.

Padgen
(Sweating.) ((Be honest... this is backstage. Save the act.))

Padgen leans his shoulder against the doorframe, not to look cool but to show how tired he is.

Padgen
(Gently smug.) I don't expect good things to happen to me; I'm always surprised whenever they do. S'why I like TV in the first place, it tends to go the opposite way.

He points in quick gesture, one finger going each way, then lets his hands fall again. Tamara stands a little dumbfounded at what he just said, but finds nothing she can doubt about the look of him.

Tamara
(Confused.) ...huh. Alright... then. Good night, Padgen.

Padgen
(Polite.) Good night, Tamara.

Padgen and Tamara go in for a hug, then change their minds and go for a handshake instead.

Padgen
Sorry, your shirt is like-

Tamara
Yeah, you're living with two girls, dude. You're gonna have to get used to holding your nut when you see people's bodies.

Padgen
(Blushing.) I feel like you could have phrased that better, but yes, I see your point.

Tamara
(Blushing back, laughing.) Ha, okay. Maybe. Take care, dude.

Padgen
You too.

Padgen closes his door, and locks it. He stands against the door, and tries to catch his flustered breath.

Padgen
(To himself.) Why do I feel like she was going to...?

He sighs, and gets into bed.

Padgen
Whatever. This is closer than I've ever been to a relationship. I'll take it.

Meanwhile...

Brilly gets into bed, and finds Lector tapping on his phone on the other side of it.

Brilly
Hey, you uh... ready to start, um...?

Lector
Huh? Not right now, I'm checking my stocks. I think one of them just went down a point, and I'm getting ready to call my guy over it.

Brilly
Your guy? How old are you?

Lector
(Ignoring her.) Old enough to care about my future. You wanna be in it?

Brilly
(Playing excited.) Would I~? I don't know. Why don't you show me what it looks like?

Lector
Yeah, for sure. In a minute.

Ten Minutes Later...

Brilly unhappily washes her hands in the bathroom sink, and Lector is already asleep. She looks over at him, and his pants on the floor, phone still on his chest. Buzzing every thirty seconds or so.

Brilly
Whatever. This is closer than I've ever been to a relationship. I'll take it.