INT. MABEE THEATRE - 12AM 2 Theatre students stand in a hallway around a broken vending machine. IAN MILTON drinks from a water fountain as ELENA NGUYEN approaches. IAN Happy birthday by the way! This is the first time he had ever spoken to her. ELENA Oh… Thanks! Elena can’t help but notice how cute and mysterious this guy is. ELENA Some of us are going out to Ihop Tonight for my birthday. I heard You wanted to join? I’m Elena by The way. IAN (starstruck) Oh uh, yeah sure ok I’m down. FLASHFORWARD: INT. ST JOE IHOP - 2AM Elena and Ian sit across from each other at the end of a table. Four other theatre students converse about the state of their current production. Ian stares at the floor, his heart racing a million miles an hour. Elena eyes him curiously as she joins the conversation. IAN Happy Birthday by the way… I…like your shoes. Elena turns to him. She doesn’t acknowledge this is the fifth time he has said this since they met in the hallway. Elena (chortles) Hahaha, thanks! Ian slurps on his hot chocolate, burning his tongue. Elena flashes her big brown eyes at him but to no avail. He still is staring at the floor. Little do both of them know, they are both infatuated with each other and refuse to make any sort of move. FLASHFORWARD: EXT. ON TOP OF NATALIE CLARK’s CAR - (A STARRY) NIGHT Elena and Ian sit on top of their friend NATALIE’s car. They are surrounded by a small field, and a slow wind blows by. ELENA I love the stars. It’s crazy to think the moon Could actually be a planet, cause of like, Pluto and stuff... IAN (laughing) Do you think the moon is made of mozzarella or swiss? ELENA (also laughing) Definitely swiss. IAN Did you know black holes actually result in spaghettification? Elena stares at him in awe. FLASHFORWARD: INT. THE SOUND BOOTH - 3pm Elena has Ian’s beanie after he left it in NATALIE CLARK’s car. She was tired of DMing IAN on Instagram. ELENA (frustrated) Where is the stupid tape? She climbs onto a stool and reaches to the top shelf. She tears off a piece of tape, scribbles down her number, and places it inside IAN’s beanie. She leaves the hat on the soundboard and then runs away to the costume studio. Her phone dings. FLASHFORWARD: INT. CAFE TRIO - 6PM A pianist plays a rendition of “Here comes the Sun” by the Beatles in a dimly lit jazz cafe. Ian and Elena are seated at a small table. Restaurant ambience. IAN: You look really beautiful. ELENA: (blushing, eyes twinkling) Thaannkkss. I,um, like your shoes. IAN: (laughing) Do you want to share this hummus plate? ELENA: I’d love to! What did you think Of the Nelson? IAN: It was so COOL, dude… Their conversation ensues. IAN tips the pianist (with Elena’s cash) as they leave. FLASHFORWARD: INT. Elena’s parent’s kitchen–9pm. ELENA: Do you want some wine? OH, AND WE COULD MAKE BROWNIES! IAN: (he sits on the counter) I’m down! Elena pours the wine and gets out the ingredients to start making brownies. Ian chugs the wine, and then plays some tunes. ”Honeybee” by Steam Powered Giraffe comes on. ELENA: (singing along, whisk as a mic) You didn’t have to Look my waaayyyy… IAN: (into the whisk) Your eyes still haunt me To this daayyy… They look at each other. A beat. He kisses her. They break apart and continue to make brownies. They watch Scott Pilgrim vs the World and eat brownies that were made with young love. Its now 10pm. Elena walks Ian to her front door. ELENA: I had a really nice time. Thanks so much for dinner. She leans in and kisses him. IAN: (softly) When can I see you again? ELENA: (beaming) Next weekend, I hope? Call me when you get Home. IAN: Always, baby. CONSEQUENTLY…they fell in love. Which was the start of a wonderful adventure—from surviving a blizzard, to Christmases in Oregon, to constant board games, attending weddings, and graduating college. Our lives would not be the same without the people that loved us through a wild beginning. Here’s to love!