Our Dream Looks Good on You

Hi, my name is Ben.

Knock, knock.

JEREMY: Hey.

Jeremy?

ME: Hey.

I didn't expect to see him. Certainly not at my office.

JEREMY: So this is the theater, huh?
ME: Yeah, this is it.
JEREMY: I can't believe it.
ME: Sometimes I still can't either.
JEREMY: Ben, the Artistic Director.
ME: Well, if things don't turn around, it'll be Ben the Homeless Guy.
JEREMY: Times are that tough, huh?
ME: Even during good times, it's hard keeping a theater this big up and running.
JEREMY: I can imagine. Still, this was the...you know, you and me--
ME: Yeah. I know.

Before too much nostalgia rushed in, I motioned to the seat in front of my desk.

ME: So is this about the reunion?
JEREMY: No, actually, but now that you mentioned it--
ME: I said I'd do it. Nathan doesn't want to, but I have to do anything that could be good for business, even if it is shockingly humiliating.
JEREMY: You think it'll be that bad?
ME: Ritchie's in charge.
JEREMY: Yeah, we're screwed all right.

It felt weird having Jeremy in the theater that he and I should have built together. Five years isn't that long, but when you shove so many events into it...

JEREMY: I wrote a play.
ME: Huh?
JEREMY: I wrote a play and I was wondering if maybe you'd be interested in producing it here at the theater.
ME: Uh...
JEREMY: If you think it's terrible, you don't have to do it, but if you could at least read it--
ME: To be honest, even if it is terrible, producing a work by a bestselling author would really please our subscriber base.
JEREMY: Oh, well, great. So--I'll e-mail it to you?
ME: Perfect.

We stood up. I went to shake his hand, he went for a hug, we laughed. Then we hugged.

Then there was this moment.

This "Are We Going to Kiss?" moment that happened, and then passed.

We laughed again, but it was a quieter laugh this time.

Then he moved towards the door.

But he stopped, turned around, and said--

JEREMY: By the way, thank Nathan for me. For saving my life--and you know, Jackson and Paige.
ME: Sure thing.
JEREMY: When did he become such a hero?

I smiled and shrugged, and Jeremy left, but in my mind I was thinking--

Yeah, when did that happen?