We Could Still Be Pen Pals (2024)

[bunniefuu]

And where is your end

of your paper, Sammy?

My dog ate it, Miss Lewis.

You don't have a

dog, Sammy.

My paper is finished,

Miss Lewis.

Why, thank you Stacy.

Hope it's okay.

I'm sure it is.

You're a talented writer.

Well, we learned a

lot of new things

this year, didn't we?

Yes, Miss Lewis.

Okay everyone, have

a great summer.

And remember to always be

Eager Explorers!

That's right.

Okay, check the lost and

found before you leave.

Yes, Damien, what is it?

I'm going to sixth

grade next year.

It's middle school.

I know, it's exciting.

Yeah, well, I had a question.

I was wondering,

maybe you could come teach

at the middle school.

Teach all of us for sixth grade.

I'm sorry. Damien.

I'd love to keep teaching you,

but you're going to

have new teachers

teaching you all kinds

of new things.

I know.

Damien.

Do you remember when we learned

how to write letters

to each other?

Oh when you assigned

us pen pals?

It was fun.

My pen pal was Stacy.

Her letters were always small,

but they were funny.

Well, this is my address.

What if you wrote some letters

to me sometime?

Would you like that?

I'd be your pen pal?

Yes. You could write

and tell me all about what

it's like at your new school.

All right.

And I'd get mail back from you.

Yes.

I'll write and tell you all

about my new classes.

Won't be as good as us, though.

I'm sure they won't.

Bye, Miss Lewis.

Have a good summer.

You too.

But, when did he say he

wanted to see you?

He said sometime next

week.

Hey, how was the last day?

It was good.

I'm writing a letter

to my teacher,

Miss Lewis.

Oh, that's nice-

Are you okay, mom?

I'm all right.

Dear Miss Lewis,

Today's the first day

of summer vacation.

I'm so excited for summer

and for being pen pals.

I can't wait to get your next

letter back.

I'm excited to start

sixth grade,

but also scared a little bit.

Anyway, hear from you soon.

Your student. Damien.

Dear Miss Lewis.

Today I started middle school.

There are a lot of people,

and I have a new teacher.

Her name is Mrs. Clarke.

I'm excited to learn more

from sixth grade.

I miss my old class though.

Damian, this time

of your life

is such a great time

to learn new things and

explore. Have you tried out for

any new sports teams?

I don't think sports

are for me.

Or music class.

I like the writing

classes, though.

We're learning to write

short stories.

I have one about a

red robin bird.

I have a copy here.

I hope you like it.

I'm sorry to hear

about your mother, Damien.

Writing is the only

thing

I can really understand

in my school.

I wish I could do it

as a job one day.

My dad says it's a soft

subject, though.

Writing is so

beautiful.

You can put into words on paper

sometimes things we don't feel

we can say in real life.

Never stop writing.

Damien, if you like to write,

then it is 100% what

you should pursue.

Always remember--

Creative writing,

Damien?

Could you have picked

a more unreliable future?

I don't know dad, I was thinking

about becoming a content creator

this semester.

Relax, dad.

It's too late for a

change now anyway.

And when did you make

this decision?

I don't know, must have been

first semester, sophomore year.

Look...

I was making my way

through my G.E.'s,

and I needed to pick a focus.

So I picked what I love doing.

And why am I just now hearing

about this now?

When I reach out to

my law contacts,

do I hear that you have wasted

the past three years

of your education?

I don't know, maybe

because you never asked.

I didn't--

I didn't think you'd care.

Of course I care, Damien.

We had a plan. Pre-Law.

It's reliable.

Flexible.

Good. I get it all right,

Dad, you love law.

You love your job

and your office so much,

you spend more time

there than you do at home.

But I don't.

All right. I don't.

Thanks for the catch up.

I'll see you at Thanksgiving.

Damien.

Oh, that look like a fun

conversation with your dad.

Yeah, I don't really want

to talk about it.

Okay, good. Me neither.

That sounds like a drag.

I think we should talk

about Saturday night.

Oh, it's the first week

of the semester.

Surely your coked out

friends haven't had time to plan

one of their obnoxious

parties out there.

Okay, well,

we can just hang out

with your friends

if you prefer.

Oh.

Only issue is you

don't have any.

Oh, okay. Cut deep,

why don't you.

I just.

I just feel like you're

not really trying to participate

in this relationship.

Um, I'm sorry,

Does participating in

this relationship need to just

be

parties and drinking?

Look--

Okay.

I'm--

I'm trying to figure out

my future here, Stacy.

You are too.

Ah, come on.

-Fine. Okay.

-Yay!

But, I am not playing beer pong

with those meat heads

Jessica is always bringing

around, alright?

Okay. Thanks, babe.

I'm gonna go catch

up with Jessica,

-but I'll see you later

-Okay?

sh*t.

I just feel like he

doesn't

communicate with me anymore.

It's because there's

nothing

to communicate.

You just keep making up

drama in your head.

No, there's stuff to talk about.

There's plenty.

All right, what do you

wanna talk about?

The incident with your

mother to start.

Okay, you said you weren't

going to bring that

up again, Cheryl.

Cheryl.

We discussed that last week.

Now, it seems to me

that both of you

are talking to each other.

But neither one of

you is listening.

So that's what

we're going to focus on next.

Let's take a minute

to work on some true

one on one listening.

Each of you is going to have

exactly one minute to speak,

and the other person

can only listen

until it's their turn.

Understood?

Okay, Kevin,

let's start with you.

Well, I just don't see why

we have to keep rehashing

the same conversations

over and over and over again.

See you both next week.

You look busy.

Oh, I am. So much typing,

so many emails to respond to.

Mm-hmm.

Wow, that looks like

a k*ller email.

Fine.

I finished scheduling

all your next week's

appointments an hour ago

and now I'm just k*lling time.

Yeah, doing it

much too efficiently to be

eavesdropping I'm sure.

What do you expect me to do?

I can't afford your prices.

And a girl needs relationship

advice

sometimes, too.

Marcy, you're not even

in a relationship.

Wow, Lindsey. So kind.

You'll find someone.

If you don't get arrested

for breaking privacy laws first.

I'm pretty sure

they don't arrest

people for that.

But you never know.

Prison could turn out

to be a k*ller dating ground.

You never have to worry about

what to wear on first date.

Exactly.

Anyway, the Smiths

were boring today.

Communication. Really?

All relationship problems

can boil down to communication

and trust.

Put that on a T-shirt.

Mmm.

Hey, it's almost five.

You want to grab drinks later?

You can invite Josh.

Josh is busy tonight

and I can't.

I have to clean up

my grandmother's.

Cleaning out your dead

grandmother's house alone.

Sounds depressing.

Might not be party plans,

but it's necessary.

Not when you have a super hot

and sweet boyfriend

who would totally move

all those dusty boxes for you

if you need it.

I am not dating Josh

for free labor.

I'm pretty sure that's

in the dating

contract, actually, so.

Oh. Oh, do I sense some

relationship troubles

with the relationship therapist?

Have I been working for

a fake all along?

No.

You're looking for drama

where it doesn't exist

because you're bored.

You're probably right.

I still think you should wait

for Josh to get off.

I mean, moving

all those boxes by yourself

sounds kind of exhausting.

Empathetic, as always.

Will you lock up for me?

I'm on it, see you Monday.

I have letters for Miss Lewis.

Oh, I'm not.

I'll take these though.

Have a great day.

Thank you.

I just started my

senior year

in my university

creative writing program.

It's been a great program,

but I don't really know

where I'm going with it.

Stacy keeps telling me

I'll figure it out, but

I'm not so sure.

And she isn't really

a great person

to talk to anyway.

I feel like she used to be.

We used to have great

conversations, but

I feel like we've

lost our touch or something.

Anyway, I've ranted too much.

How are you doing?

Any exciting birdwatching

trips recently?

Your student, Damien.

Damien.

It is nice to meet you.

I'm Lindsey, Miss Lewis's

granddaughter.

I regret to inform you that

my grandmother has passed away.

I'm very sorry

you had to find out like this.

I know she always loved her

pen pal relationships,

and she loved getting to hear

from past students.

Again.

I am sorry you had to

find out like this,

but I wish you luck

in your future endeavors.

Yours,

Lindsey.

Oh, I sound like a grocery

store sympathy card.

Oh, boy.

I hope you don't hate

me for this, Grandma.

Damien.

Relationships are all

about communication

and trust.

They're hard to navigate

and even harder to predict.

However,

there are some important

practices

you can do to try

to open the lines

of communication in

your relationships.

I would advise...

Above all,

remember, open and honest

conversations are the best way

to grow in your relationship.

Oh, and another thing.

I've moved recently

to be closer to my

granddaughter.

When you write back to me,

please use the address

listed below.

Your friend, Mrs. Lewis.

So what are you wearing

on Friday?

Okay.

Hey. Good morning, gorgeous.

Oh,

I'll see you Friday.

Okay.

You're looking better.

New outlook on life, I guess.

Oh, hey,

I was thinking after

the party on Friday.

Say, Saturday morning,

we can get breakfast. Just

the two of us, to talk?

Oh, I have my recital

on Saturday.

Remember?

Right. Uh, yeah.

Of course.

After?

Uhmm.

I don't know, we usually go out

as a group after recital, so.

Then dinner.

Look, I feel like we just.

We haven't really gotten

the chance to talk.

Just the two of us.

We talk all the time.

You know what I mean?

I'm talking about real

conversation.

Not with the backdrop

of some college party.

But do you remember

freshman year?

And we would just

sit in the back of the car

and talk about anything

and everything?

Well, I did that because I

didn't know anybody else.

And we never got invited out.

Uh, right.

So you didn't enjoy our talks?

No, no.

Of course I did.

I just,

I mean, gosh, Damien,

you want to sit in the car

all night and just talk?

Don't you have more fun

out with other people?

I have fun with you.

You're cute.

You're cute.

Um.

Okay.

How about next weekend?

I mean, we're just.

We're just too popular

for our own

good this week.

Fine.

Oh, I'm going to be late, but,

I'll see you around.

Okay.

Okay.

You too popular, you mean.

Josh!

You freaked me out.

I thought you were working

an overnight tonight.

It's nice to see you, too.

I told you, I was on

call for an overnight tonight.

I never got called in,

so I thought I'd come

over and make you dinner.

I...

thought you giving

me this meant that

I can come in and surprise you.

But if it makes you

uncomfortable,

I can always text first

to make sure it's okay.

No. It's fine.

I want you to make

yourself at home.

I want you to make

yourself at home

at my place too.

Hmm.

Yeah.

I like your place.

It feels cozy.

It's almost as if

we should just have one place

that we both can come home to.

Mm.

Lindsey,

are you listening to me?

Mhm.

Is that your case of

identity fraud?

It's not identity fraud.

She was my grandmother.

It's just so weird.

This kid thinks he's

been writing to a dead woman

for the past six months.

Josh, you don't

get to make this

decision for me.

I...

I never try to make these

decisions for you.

I know,

I'm sorry.

I feel like this is dangerous.

How's this kid going to react

when he finds out the truth?

He's not going to find out.

He's struggling

in his relationships

with his dad, his girlfriend,

and I really think

I can help him.

This is what I want

to do with my life.

I want to help people.

I know. I love you.

Thank you.

Who's ready?

I made my specialty.

Pasta and sauce.

Why is that a specialty?

Because even I can't

screw it up.

I'm trying to be more open

with communication.

That's such ambiguous

advice, though.

Starting something

like this can be hard.

Give it time.

It didn't used to be as hard.

We had such ease with

each other before.

Hmm.

You can't keep people

from changing.

I know she loves me.

We've been together

for over two years.

It's just.

Lately, she's been

acting like this.

How are things going

with your dad?

My dad's always been distant.

It's just kind of

how our relationship works.

Maybe you should try talking

with him more too.

Yeah, I really don't think

that would work.

He's been kind of the same

ever since mom passed.

I'm sorry about that.

Yeah, well,

it was a long time ago.

Writing to you helped me

through that a lot, actually.

Of course.

I remember that.

I just wish I could

go back to a time

where things made more sense.

Do you think a time like that

ever really existed?

Hey, why don't you tell me

about some of those

communication games

I should try?

They're less of games, really.

Hello? Can I help you?

Yeah.

I was looking for one

of your teachers.

Mrs. Lewis.

Oh. Sorry.

She was one of my old

elementary school teachers.

Kind of taught me a lot.

I was hoping to get

to speak with her.

Do you know if she's around?

I'm sorry, dear.

Mrs. Lewis isn't

with us anymore.

What do you mean?

She retired years ago.

Oh.

And,

well.

I'm sorry.

When was this?

Over six months ago.

I'm sorry.

Can I keep this?

Of course, yeah.

Thank you.

It doesn't make any sense.

There's no way.

Mrs. Lewis.

You have got to fill me

in on your skincare routine.

You look at least

50 years younger.

Tea's ready.

Do you wanna move to the couch?

No.

It's more comfortable.

Yeah.

I don't want to be

more comfortable.

But I want to know,

is how I've been managing

to communicate with a dead woman

for the past six months.

I mean,

who even are you?

How did you get my letters?

It's a long story.

Yeah they usually are.

Okay, uh...

Mrs. Lewis was my grandmother.

After she passed, I

got one of your letters

talking about some Stacy.

And I'm a relationship

therapist.

Selena,

Mrs. Lewis,

was always really good

with people, and

I don't know, I thought

I could help.

She loved her pen pal

relationships.

She had talked about you before.

Look, I didn't mean for this

to go on as long as it did.

And I never meant for

you to find out.

I'm sorry.

Well, I,

I just needed to know.

Well wait, don't go.

I still want to talk.

How are you? How are,

how are things with Stacy?

The usual.

I guess.

I tried taking your suggestion.

I'm taking her out for lunch.

Just the two of us. But,

she just wants to go to

another one of her

stupid parties.

Hmm.

Sorry, do you need to get that?

No. It's fine.

He'll understand.

This is more important.

What is?

You.

So a party?

Yeah.

Some friend of hers.

Did you say you'd be there?

-I mean--

-It's not good

to back out of a commitment,

even if it is track

down your pen pal.

Hey, with all due respect,

I mean, not an easy

one to track down.

Kind of took me a while.

You know what?

Let's go.

What?

You made a commitment.

Let's go to that party.

Wait. You want to go with me

to Jessica's party?

No, I don't want to

go to a college party.

What I want is for you and Stacy

to have a conversation

with each other.

Yeah, I don't think

that's a good idea.

I don't think it's

the right time.

You know.

If you keep waiting around

for the right time,

it's never going to come.

Don't worry about it.

I'll coach you on the car.

Come on, let's go.

Let's go.

Oh, college life.

Yeah, isn't it great?

Okay.

Remember what I told you.

Clear communication.

Good.

You have just as many rights

in this relationship

as she does.

Don't forget that.

Wait. Are you telling me to

break up with her?

No, of course not.

My job is to help fix

relationships.

But.

I'm sorry, but?

Just know when you have

a relationship

worth fixing.

Okay.

Alright.

Hey,

aren't you going to come in

and join the party?

No.

I'm just dropping someone off.

Oh, you don't want to come in

and have some fun?

You're sweet, but I

have a boyfriend,

and I am not in college anymore.

You don't look a day

over 40, ma'am.

Thank you.

I'm 35.

Never too old to have some fun.

And I don't think your

boyfriend would mind,

with such a lucky catch.

Hey. What's up?

What's up?

Hey you, you showed up!

Finally.

Nice to see you, Jess.

I'm gonna be by the pool.

-Hey.

-Hey.

Sorry I'm late.

I didn't think you were coming.

I almost didn't.

So I'm assuming you

want to talk about our

relationship.

Am I that repetitive?

It's all you always want to do

these days. Talk.

Okay.

Well, I mean, it

is, how we grow,

you know, in our relationship.

Progress.

Progress.

To what?

I don't know, but just progress.

Yo, yo yo.

Guys. Guys.

What's up?

Kind of in the middle

of something here.

Come on.

Yeah, come on.

Get your ba*ls out of my face.

That's what she said.

What, you wish

I was more like those guys?

No, no, no.

I mean, you know,

not as obnoxious, but I mean,

I like it here.

Loosen up a little, you know.

Have some fun.

I'm- I'm sorry is that

all our relationship is to you.

Is fun?

Relationships are supposed

to be fun, Damien.

I know I get that.

But--

there needs to be

something more.

Or else as soon as it's

not fun anymore,

there's nothing to fall back on.

Damien. I'm in college.

All right.

If I'm not worrying about grades

or school, then I want

to be having fun.

Okay. That's not.

No, I think that if you

just want someone

to sit around

and talk about life with you,

you don't want a girlfriend.

You want a therapist.

Stacy,

that's obviously not-

I'm going to be by the pool.

I'm gonna be living my life

and having fun doing it.

And if you want to join

me, that'd be great.

And if you don't, then you

can just go back to doing

whatever you were doing

before you got yourself here.

Okay.

Stace.

Why is the world

spinning around?

-It's not.

-Excuse me. Guys.

I mean, you know--

Move.

Hey.

Really?

You've got to be kidding me.

Grandma! Grandma! Grandma!

Watch the ledge.

That was fun.

I told them I was only 35.

They wanted to call me grandma.

I was gone for, like,

ten minutes.

Your school is really nice.

Look, just wait here.

Wow.

My alcohol tolerance has

dropped since college.

Well,

that was a waste of time.

Did you find Stacy?

Oh, yeah.

Just in time

to watch our relationship go.

,

Oh, sorry, oldie.

You're out of it.

Shut up.

I'm not that old.

Right. I'm sorry.

You're not actually

a grandmother.

You're just impersonating

one. Right?

My God, I said I was sorry.

What more do you want?

You know,

you weren't the only

one who lost her.

Selena meant a lot

to a lot of people.

Losing her was the worst

I've ever felt.

And I,

I didn't want someone else

to feel that way.

Is that what got you into

therapy?

She was really good

at reading people and

knowing how to help them.

And

I thought if I went

to school for

psychology, I'd be able

to help people

like she did. Except,

she never needed to study

that, for her,

it was-- it was natural.

Yeah, she was

she was special.

She must have had a million

students, but

to each one of us, she

was like, a parent.

She was.

But you didn't have to lie.

I know.

I'm sorry.

So did you figure it out?

What?

Her gift.

How to read people.

College teach you that?

I'm realizing that's

not something

that can be taught.

Sometimes,

I can't even handle my

own relationships.

I'm a fake.

And we're talking about

Josh, right?

He wants to get married.

And you don't?

I don't know.

Damn.

Like, to him,

or at all?

I don't know.

I'm sorry, but being an adult,

aren't you supposed to

like, have the answers

to these kinds of things?

It does not work like that.

You just get bigger questions.

Okay, I guess, but

you either love him or

you don't, right?

It doesn't seem that simple.

Like.

I love him.

Now,

but promising to forever?

I don't have the answers,

but I do make money off of

people pretending that I do.

Do you want to go back?

God, yes.

Or.

Or?

This is so much better.

I can think clearly again.

You shouldn't drink

on an empty stomach.

Yeah, I can't relate.

I don't drink at all.

Really?

Wait, really?

Doesn't that ever get boring?

Uh-mm.

God, I miss being young.

Yeah, it's definitely not that

great.

Yeah, but when it is,

everything just

feels right.

You definitely have a case of

rose colored glasses there.

Maybe.

It's normal to miss her.

How close were you?

My mom didn't always like

the idea of kids.

She was more of a "friend

mom" than a "mom mom"

So Selena was the person

I went to for advice.

My mom died

when I was in middle school.

I know.

Sorry.

You know, my dad.

He always wanted kids.

And, you know, was such

a good parent.

When my mom was alive.

He still is.

You know, it's just.

It's not like that.

It's just the.

I mean, he loves me.

And everything.

I just think that.

I think he kind of lost

his enthusiasm

for parenting.

After my mom died.

I have-- I have two letters.

Two letters

that I never responded to.

I wish that I responded--

I wish I responded before

she died, and--

I don't know, maybe--

Maybe she would have known

how much it meant to me.

I'm sure she knew.

Thanks.

So--

what's next?

What do you mean?

Well, I mean,

the game is up.

But I've got to say,

it would feel weird

to just never write

to you again.

Well,

we could still be pen pals.

Yeah.

Oh, how about

we use our real names this time?

Yeah.

Okay. Deal.

Hey, Lindsey.

We are friends, right?

Yeah.

I'd like to be.

Gotta say,

it feels weird being friends

with such an old woman, though.

Oh my God.

Shut up!

You let him just sleep

over?

You barely know this kid.

I know him, okay?

We've been writing for months.

So this is why you were

ignoring me last night?

To get drunk at some

college party?

Josh, you and I can

talk any time.

He needs my help.

Whatever.

Call me when you feel like it.

I guess.

Good morning. How are you?

All right, better

than you I guess.

I actually slept great.

Hangovers just don't look too

good on your gal.

Uh, thanks.

Yeah.

I'm going to get dressed,

but there's somewhere

I want to take you.

Selena always loved her birds.

We used to go birdwatching

here all the time.

Yeah, she used to write

to me about them.

Did she send you that book

she wrote a while back?

The one about the Christmas

ornament

birds that come to

life at night.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I forgot about that.

Every year for Christmas,

we would decorate the tree

with these beautiful

glass birds.

And then she'd always tell me

that they'd come to life

and fly around the house

at night while we slept.

She was,

she was special.

Yeah. She was.

So.

Do you want to talk about Stacy?

-Oh.

-Come on.

Free therapy man, I'm not cheap.

I don't know,

I don't even know what

questions I'd have.

You know, we used to

get on so well.

I don't know if she

changed, or...

I did.

Maybe you both did.

I guess it's

it's wrong to be in a

relationship with someone if

the idea of the future

with them doesn't,

doesn't make you happy.

I guess it depends

on what you think

the purpose of a

relationship is.

My mom used to say that dating

was like interviewing

for marriage.

That is one way to look at it.

And another?

Each relationship

serves a purpose.

Sometimes you have to be

with someone to know

what you even want in a partner.

So you mean that even if--

even if it doesn't work out,

it wasn't a waste.

I don't think any

relationship should be

considered a waste.

Even one with no future?

No, because it teaches

you something.

I'm sorry, but how do you know

when you've found

the one worth sticking

around for?

That is something that

I am still figuring

out for myself.

But I don't think that

any relationship

that truly mattered to you

should be considered a waste.

Look, there it is.

-Is that...?

-Yeah.

Redwing Blackbird.

Selena's favorite.

Wow.

Hey Marcy, I totally forgot

about that couples session this

week,

Do you think you could

call them?

Hey.

Everything okay?

Yeah. Just, "hangover brain".

I'll be right down.

Oh boy.

Well, that was a disaster.

Why do you have my letters

to Mrs. Lewis?

Damien, we've been over this.

I said I'm sorry, okay?

No, these are from

before she died.

They're old letters.

I took a lot of things

from her house,

when I cleaned out.

Okay.

And you decided to take

my old letters

and keep them by your

desk. For what?

Bit of light reading?

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God,

you've been lying to me

long before she died.

She couldn't write, Damien.

She could barely speak.

By the time she passed.

How long, Lindsey?

How long?

I don't know.

She wrote to you for

years, I know that.

And then when she couldn't

hold a pen anymore,

I wrote for her, and

she would narrate.

But eventually,

she didn't have the mind to.

Oh, well.

So you thought you'd

just pick up

and pretend to be her?

For years?

Huh?

She didn't know who I was.

She barely knew her own name

by the end.

I just wanted to help you.

-I want to help people.

-No, no, no.

That might work for

for six months.

Maybe.

But that doesn't work for

however long this was.

This is wrong, Lindsay.

I know!

How long was I writing to you?

Years.

There is something seriously

wrong with you.

Finally, did you get lost?

Oh.

-Lindsey.

-Hey,

Can we talk?

Yeah.

Yeah. Come on in.

Thank you.

So what's up?

Oh, no no, no.

Don't cry.

Okay? Just talk to me.

I'm a fake.

I'm a therapist

who can't handle relationships.

Okay.

Okay. Let's relax.

Okay? And start over.

Is this about Josh?

Yeah.

And others.

Well,

just because you're a therapist

doesn't mean that

you need to have

a perfect grasp on relationships

all the time.

We think doctors never get sick.

Lawyers never get sued.

With Josh, we were

in the honeymoon phase

for a while, and,

and then we weren't.

And now I don't know

what we are.

What do you want to be?

I don't know.

I just don't want to hurt him.

What makes you think you could?

Have you ever felt like,

like maybe you were

the toxic one.

You lose so many friendships

and relationships that

after a while,

you start to wonder.

That seems really harsh.

I keep telling myself

I want to help people,

but then I end up hurting

the people I care about most.

You're not the toxic one.

How do you know?

Because I do.

Toxic people, they don't--

they don't want to

become better.

They don't break down

because they're worried

that they've hurt

those that are close to them.

If you're worried about

being toxic,

chances are you're not.

Some people are just...

bad together.

Maybe that doesn't mean

that one of them is the bad guy.

It's just...

It's life.

Some people work and some don't.

Do you think that's

what's happening with Josh?

I don't know.

I just know that I've

hurt him with...

my words and

my lack of commitment

and not knowing what I want.

Why don't you know

what you want?

Because I'm not ready

for what he wants.

Like.

He wants to move in together.

Oh.

Well, um,

what did you say?

I didn't. I blew him off.

I didn't know what to say.

Well, what do you want?

I don't know.

That's the problem, I--

I'm not ready for marriage

and life together forever.

Don't think about

forever, Lindsay.

Think about right now.

What do you want right now?

I love him.

You want to be with him?

But will I always love him?

Maybe not.

-Marcy.

-What?

It's the truth.

But the future is just

made up of "nows".

If you love him now

and tomorrow, now and

next week now,

then one day you're

going to wake up

married and living together

and wondering

what you were so worried about.

It's like

eating healthy.

If you think about

eating vegetables

every day for the rest

of your life,

you're going to hate it.

But if you do it one

day at a time,

it becomes a lifestyle.

I don't think Josh

would like that

comparison very much.

Maybe not.

But if you really love someone,

you will spend

every minute of every

day with them,

and you'll fight

to be together.

Thank you.

He might appreciate it more

if you were honest with him

about how you're feeling.

I know.

"Communication and trust

are the keys to a good

relationship".

That sounds familiar.

Yeah I don't know where

I picked it up.

Excellent.

Do you want pizza?

This guy is so late.

It is going to be stone cold.

I know it.

I do like cold pizza.

Yeah you do. You freak.

Come in.

Hey.

You doing okay?

We need to talk.

Yeah. Of course.

-Brought you your favorite.

-Thank you.

So you said you wanted

to talk?

Why are we still together,

Stacy?

What kind of question is that?

I mean,

I don't know, Stacy. We don't,

We don't want any of

the same things.

We don't.

Why are we still together?

I don't know.

We've been dating for

so long that I just--

Got used to us.

Yeah. I don't--

I don't think that's

a good reason

to stay in a relationship.

I don't regret anything.

Me neither.

You were a great

first boyfriend.

Thank you.

Yeah.

No.

Ha!

Surprise!

Not as fun when it's

on you as it.

I brought a second

one, just in case.

Come on. Really? The

silent treatment?

Leave me alone, Lindsey.

Not until you've heard

me out, and

a minute of your time on

your phone gets it.

What do you want?

I just want to talk.

See, sugar brings

people together.

Sugar.

Communication and trust

are the keys to a good

relationship.

I lost your trust though.

Damien, I'm sorry.

I wanted to help you

with your dad and with Stacy.

And I was trying to fix

everybody else's problems

instead of focusing on my own.

What do you want from me?

What?

I mean, what are you to me?

You're the granddaughter

of my old

elementary school teacher who,

who's dead now.

So--

what are we to each other?

We're friends.

We don't need to be

more than that.

People are friends for less.

Listen, those letters

you got over the years,

they weren't from Selena.

They were from me.

So whether you like it or not,

we're friends.

You were right you know,

when you said I have problems.

-Lindsey, I-I-

-No.

I have problems with commitment

and with relationships.

Maybe if I had seen

somebody sooner,

I would have been

able to fix it.

But I didn't.

Sometimes you need somebody

to point out that

you have issues.

And I'm glad you did.

Josh and I talk now more,

which is what I'm always

telling my clients.

It actually works.

So I guess therapy isn't

a scam after all.

For the price, I'd hope not.

Still, I--

I'm really sorry

for what I said.

I shouldn't have.

I'm sorry too.

For lying and

for being immature.

I really don't want to

be an adult sometimes.

I want someone else

to have the answers.

So did you decide on a job?

Graduation is months away.

That's a May problem.

And Stacy?

Oh.

No. We--

We're not together anymore.

Oh, I was wondering if

you, maybe wanted

these back, or...

-they are technically yours.

-Nope.

Okay.

I never should have

been reading them

in the first place.

Well--

I'm glad you did.

I'm just happy

I had, you know, someone

to write to during that time.

I just wish I could have said

goodbye.

Never hide your emotions

from a therapist.

We like those.

Oh.

Hey, Mrs. Lewis.

It's been a while.

Sorry I didn't make

it to your funeral.

I didn't really know

it was happening.

Look,

I just wanted to say thank you

for all you did for me

as a teacher.

Okay.

You taught me to write,

And not just well,

but to really love doing it.

I don't know how much

my letters actually

meant to you.

I know you probably got a

ton of them, but.

They meant a lot to me.

Anyway, I just wanted to tell

you that.

Thank you.

So how do you know

this woman again?

She's a friend.

From?

School.

Well, kind of.

Her grandmother was

my old elementary

school teacher.

And you met her granddaughter?

Because she took over her

grandmother's pen pal identity

-after she died.

-Right.

Of course.

Here.

Hand out.

Thanks, Dad.

Thanks for coming.

Seriously.

It's good to come visit you,

even if it's for an odd

occasion like this.

Listen.

I know I don't always understand

your life choices.

And I know

that we haven't been

close since.

Dad.

It's okay.

I'm gonna try.

-Okay?

-Okay.

Your mom--

would have liked

that you found something

that makes you happy.

Excuse me.

Mind if I borrow you?

For a second. Thank you.

-What?

-Oh,

The struggles of being

a short person.

You guys are lucky.

You don't have to wear

heels at an event

to make your legs look great.

Yeah. No one forced you to

wear heels.

Then I wouldn't be able

to look down on people.

Or even eye to eye

with them, really.

I mean, the downfalls

of being five four.

I'm guessing this

is not a struggle

you can relate to.

Yeah,

not as a healthy six foot

person, I'm afraid.

Lucky you.

I still have the whole reception

to get through.

So,

Josh or Lindsey?

Sorry?

Who invited you?

Oh, Lindsey.

Yeah, we're friends.

Pen Pals.

Oh, wait.

Are you the guy that she duped,

by writing to you under

her grandmother's name?

What?

she just told

me the whole story.

I mean, I gotta say,

that's a rough move.

And I love Lindsey, with

my whole heart.

Yeah.

I mean, I've got to say,

it was a bit of a shock.

But--

of course I wouldn't have

made her as a friend

otherwise.

I'm glad I have her.

She's--

special.

She's also taken there,

big guy.

I know, I know.

Josh is a lucky guy.

So.

Pen Pals.

What's that like?

Writing letters in

the 21st century

when we have phones and

emails and all that?

Yeah, I know it's--

it's different.

Writing--

I don't know,

it gives you a deeper connection

that you just can't really get

with those things.

You sound like my grandma.

Well, maybe she had

a point sometime.

Could be.

I would definitely

recommend it.

You wouldn't happen

to know of anyone looking

for a pen pal?

Would you?

Are mailing that off?

Yeah.

Great. It'll go out with

tomorrow's mail.

Okay. Thanks.

These came for you today.

Perfect.

Thank you.

So.

I see you two are still writing.

Yeah, we're still pen pals.

I'm using my real

name now though.

Well, I'm glad it all

worked out.

Me too.

So.

So.

Are you gonna tell them

the truth now too?

Oh, do I have to?

Yeah.