The Best Place For Coffee And Best Friends
Tulsa, Oklahoma. Saturday afternoon. Balmy, overcast, spring day. Java Dave’s Coffee Shop.
Spotlight on Emma, plain, but pretty girl with long, curly red hair and blue eyes, medium build, average height. Emma is sitting at a table in the front of the coffee shop near the window. Takes a sip of her latte, as she turns the page of her novel. Looks up to see a tall, blonde, wiry-built man [Isaac] walk through the door. Smiles and shakes her head.
Isaac: [approaches table] Oh, my god, Ems, I’m so sorry.
Girl looks up from her book and looks pointedly at Isaac Hanson.
Emma: Yeah, whatever. I’m used to it.
I: Aw, don’t say that.
E: Well, it’s not as if my attitude is unfounded.
I: I guess…[sheepishly]
E: Let’s hear the excuse this time.
I: [embarrassed] I…um…
E: [laughing] You were reading fanfic again, weren’t you?
I: Okay, okay…you got me. Taylor was all excited about this one story that he read, and he insisted that I read it. It was so good. I couldn’t stop reading it.
E: [rolls her eyes] And I thought you guys weren’t like all those other celebrities. Turns out you’re as self absorbed as the rest of them.
I: Hey, that’s a low blow! It was really good writing.
E: So good that you couldn’t meet your best friend, who you haven’t seen for three months?
I: [dejectedly. Looks at her with pouty lips] I’m sorry, Ems. I know I suck.
E: [laughs] I’m just kidding, you big nut!
I: You always get me, don’t you?
E: [smugly] That’s why you love me.
I: [laughs] Yup, that’s right.
Slight pause. Isaac and Emma look at each other, smiling.
E: Well, go get your coffee, so we can talk.
I: Okay, be right back. [stands up and walks to the counter]
Emily goes back to reading her book. Isaac returns with mocaccino, overflowing with whipped cream. Emily puts down her book.
E: Enough whipped cream?
I: Can never have enough whipped cream. [licks at foam]
E: Why do you drink such girly coffee?
I: Girly coffee?! Hey, I’m not Taylor. I don’t need to drink black coffee to get more hair on my chest. Besides, it tastes good. [takes a sip]
E: [giggles] That’s a good one!
I: I know. [smugly]
E: Okay, enough making fun of your diva brother. How are you?
I: Good. Happy to be home.
E: I’m sure you are.
I: [wistfully] Ems, you don’t know how good it’s going to feel to sleep in my own bed tonight.
E: Eh, but you’ll miss the groupies warming your bed.
I: Ems! You know I’m not like that!
E: Sorry, I mean you’ll miss those hot Norwegian buns warming your bed.
I: [pouts]
E: [laughs] hehe…that was too easy.
I: You’re mean. I’m leaving now. [pretends to stand up]
E: [grabs his arm] I’m sorry, Ike. I just had to do it. Forgive me?
I: [grumbles] If you weren’t my best friend, I’d have smacked you by now.
E: Well, so tell me about the past three months! What have you troublemakers been up to?
I: Well, we just finished recording the album. We’re going to be back in Miami in two weeks to start mixing.
E: Right. I know all that.
I: [looks at her suspiciously] Did I tell you that?
E: All I have to do is go online to track your whereabouts. Your fans are better at keeping me up to date than you are. I want to know the juicy stuff!
I: Like what?
E: Like what’s with the Sundance Film Festival?
I: What about the Sundance Film Festival?
E: I seem to remember reading and hearing about a roof peeing incident.
I: [laughs] Oh, that. Yeah, that party was pretty fun.
E: I bet it was. Did you get plastered?
I: [sheepishly] Um…no.
E: You lie!
I: Yeah, okay…I’m lying. But it’s not like it was my choice. These girls just kept buying me drinks.
E: Oooh, my Isaac is a ladies man, eh?
I: [tugs on his collar] Yup, that’s me.
E: But why’d you let Tay get all the glory by playing guitar for those girls?
I: Well, you know…he started playing, and I didn’t want to step on his toes by taking over with my superior guitar-playing skills.
E: Riiiight.
I: Damn right.
E: We wouldn’t want to deflate Taylor’s ego, now would we? [rolls eyes]
I: [laughs]
E: Did you really party with Stephen Jenkins?
I: Sure did. He’s a pretty cool guy.
E: [wrinkles nose] He’s so pretentious and egotistical. He’s the one that corrupted you boys, isn’t he?
I: [laughs] Nah…Stephen’s nice. He’s just misunderstood.
E: Whatever.
I: [shakes head] Always the cynical one, aren’t we?
E: Well, I just have to protect my boys from those Hollywood types.
I: Right.
E: Seriously, I wouldn’t want you guys to end up all corrupt and messed up.
I: [smiling] And you don’t think we’re not already?
E: Well, there is that twitch that Zac gets every now and then. Does he still hide from the throngs of groupies?
I: Nah, he’s getting to be a big boy now. He can protect himself. And besides, I think he likes it when they touch his hair.
E: Speaking of Zac…he really is growing up. [sighs slightly and looks up dreamily] He’s such a hottie now.
I: [shocked] Ems! Don’t you think that you’re a bit old for him?
E: [punches Isaac on the arm] Don’t be silly, Ikey. I’m not going to seduce your little brother.
I: You better not.
E: [glares at him] You gotta admit that he’s getting to be really handsome these days. And he’s got the muscles that you and Taylor will never have.
I: You know, I should take that as an insult, but it’s totally true. You really are going to seduce him, aren’t you?
E: [taps him on the arm] Ew, I don’t think so! I grew up with him. I watched him when he was little and changed his diapers. I don’t think that that’s going to happen. Besides, it would like going out with…you!
I: Gee, thanks. And what’s wrong with going out with me?
E: Nothing. For the right girl.
I: What’s the ‘right’ girl?
E: Oh, let’s see…Isaac Hanson’s perfect woman. Hmm…Someone who’s beautiful, someone who’s caring, loyal and honest, someone who’s just as intelligent as him, someone who’ll make him laugh and laugh at all his stupid jokes, someone who loves his family, someone who supports his music, someone who’ll keep him from getting corrupted by the evil industry that he works in…Gosh, it would take some girl to be your perfect woman, Isaac.
I: I guess it would. [reaches out to take her hand] But I think I know someone who might fit the bill. So why aren’t we going out again?
E: [quietly] Because you’re a rock star, and you have to be away from Tulsa most of the year, and I have to finish school here, and I couldn’t handle all the screaming girls and a million other reasons.
I: Right.
E: But I’m your best friend, so you still get some of me. [winks at him]
I: [squeezes her hand] Yeah. The best part.
Emma and Isaac sit quietly for a few minutes. Finally, Emma lets go of his hand, smiles at him and takes a big sip of her coffee.
I: [takes last sip of coffee] Well, babe, I gotta run. Taylor was saying that he’s got a song idea he wants to work on. [stands up]
E: Eh, whatever, I know you just want to get back to reading your fanfic.
I: [shakes his head, exasperated]
E: No? Oh, your Norwegian honey is expecting her good night call?
I: [rolls eyes] Ems, why do I put up with this abuse again?
E: [bats her eyelashes] Because you love me.
I: That I do, my darling. [kisses her on the cheek] I’ll give you a call tomorrow. Mom wants you over for dinner.
E: Sounds good. Love you, Ikey-poo.
I: Love you too, Emmy. See ya. [leaves]
Emma watches Isaac leave the coffee shop with a small smile on her lips. She looks up, deep in thought, laughs lightly, and then goes back to reading her book.