Scene XXVII: Starbucks, that same night
The latest Adam Snadler movie was just what the doctor ordered. Jen hadn't laughed that much in a very long time, and Drake was more than bearable. He's a very considerate movie partner; doesn't talk, and doesn't hog the armrest. After the movie, they decided to get a cappuccino at the local Starbucks.
Jen: I'll have a decaf triple venti non-fat no whip mocha, please.
Drake: That was a mouthful! I'll have a grande caramel cappuccino please.
Starbucks Girl: Will there be anything else?
Jen: No thank you.
Starbucks Girl: Ok, that will be $9.74.
Drake reaches for his wallet. Jen beats him to it by handing the cashier a twenty. Drake looks at her with confused eyes. Jen shoots him a sly smile and accepts her change.
When they get their coffees, they choose the two comfy chairs at the back of the café. They sink into the chairs and enjoy their first sips.
Drake: You didn't have to pay for me, you know.
Jen: I know. But since you paid for the movie, I felt it was only fair.
Drake: You made me pay for the movie! Remember?
Jen: I know. I was being annoying.
Drake: Yeah, no shit!
Jen: Drake, can I ask you a question?
Drake: What.
Jen: Why are we behaving like this?
Drake: Behaving like what? The key word is not "we" but "you".
Jen: Me? There's two of us here, you know.
Drake: I don't know what you're talking about. You've been not so nice to me since you got here.
Jen: I've been nothing but gracious to you. I didn't have to stay at the house; I could have stayed at a hotel. But Uncle Walter insisted that I stay with you guys. I couldn't possibly get away with being a bitch. I can't bite the hand that feeds me.
Drake: Well…. Ok, here's the deal. I wasn't expecting anyone to be moving in with us. I was enjoying the Parker's outnumbering the Nichols'. When you came into our lives and evened the score, I felt crowded. I guess it's my way of keeping people at arm's length.
Jen: And why would you think that I was crowding you? I'm a guest. A temporary guest.
Drake: Temporary? You've been with us for over a month now. I hardly call that temporary.
Jen: Do you think I planned all this? Do you? I don't get what your problem is. Are you ashamed to be living with someone with a "mental illness"? Is that it?
Jen was feeling very offended. What happened to the Drake that sat by her side the night she almost killed herself? Now that she's out of the hospital and functioning, she's automatically all better? She divorced Charlie because of shit like this. But it's easier to sever ties with Drake than it is with her ex-husband.
Drake sighs heavily; obviously exasperated with the resistance he's getting from Jen.
Drake: That's not what I meant.
Jen: Then what did you mean exactly?
Drake: Well, I have a hard time adjusting to new situations. You don't know how long it took me to fully accept Josh and Walter into my life.
Jen: Yeah, I kinda do. I heard all about it in realtime.
Drake: Oh yeah, I forgot. You and Josh talk a lot.
Jen: Yes we do. It's important for family to stick together in times of stress.
Drake: Well, I wasn't sure how much of a part of the family you'd become. Even though you're now living in San Diego, I figured I'd only see you at holidays, funerals and weddings.
Jen: Drake, family is more than that. I have no one here. My parents don't speak to me anymore. Josh and Walter are all the family I have. My brother's in Iraq right now, so it leaves me with not much. But they are the best family members anyone could possibly hope for. And since meeting Aunt Audrey, you and your sister, I have felt like my family has expanded. I just don't know what you're problem is with me.
Drake: I don't have a problem. Really I don't. Well, maybe a small one.
Jen: Here it comes.
Drake: Well, the time you jumped down my throat about my dating habits. It was your first day there. That was ridiculous. You didn't know me. You had no right voicing your opinion like that.
Jen: Drake, you're right. I apologize for offending you. But you do have to admit that there was some iota of truth to what I was saying. I mean, you had that date with Sally. That's her name, right? You came home in quite a huff. What happened?
Drake: Well, I decided to take your advice. And, guess what? It came back to bite me in the ass. The one girl that I thought would appreciate my behavior, and she was the one expecting a quick lay and to be dropped off at her house, never to be called again.
Jen: But, the point is is that you took my advice and tried it on a girl. The fact that you didn't reap the results that you wanted doesn't mean that you didn't succeed. How did you feel when you were on the date before it went sour?
Drake: Actually, it felt good. I paid attention much more than I usually do. She was very interesting to talk to. I learned more about her in one evening than I've learned about all the other girls collectively. It was a pretty awesome date until she turned into the Psycho Slut from Hell.
Jen: Well, don't let that discourage you.
Drake: Sure…
Jen: Is there anything else bothering you?
Drake: No, not really.
Jen: Are you sure? Since I came back from the hospital, you've been acting weird. I'm not blaming you. I just want to be able to help you.
Drake: Well, I've never known anyone to be in the…
Drake tried to say psychiatric facility. Jen knows what he wants to call it.
Jen:… "wacky shack"?
Drake: I really didn't want to call it that. I didn't know how you'd take it.
Jen: Well, you need to get to know me better. I'm the first one to call it that, and I'm the one with experience.
Drake: I kinda lied. I do know someone who's been in a …. Psychiatric facility.
Jen: Oh? A family member? You know that mental illness is hereditary.
Drake looked at her somewhat offended.
Jen: Stop. I'm just pulling your antenna. It's a joke we inpatients make all the time.
Drake: Oh… ok. Well, actually, and you can't say it to anyone else, but Josh's girlfriend Mindy was in what she called a "mental rehabilitation clinic". I don't know how comfortable she is with that kind of information made public.
Jen thinks to herself last week when she ran into Josh at Michael's. Is that why he wanted her to join him and Mindy for a scrapbooking session? She felt horrible for completely blowing him off.
Jen: I had no idea. Wow. I wish I had known that earlier. It would have made me feel more comfortable.
Drake: Well, you know now. Just don't repeat it, ok?
Jen: I don't betray trust with anyone.
Drake: Cool.
Jen: Drake? Are you uncomfortable being around me?
Drake: Well, I wonder if you're going to get really depressed again. That night in our room really spooked me. I've never been around someone like that before.
Jen: I'm sorry that you had to see that. I wish I could control it better, but sometimes it happens. I can't control it because it's a chemical imbalance. Only medication can keep me from going up and down so drastically.
Drake: You go up too?
Jen: Yes. Really high up. There's bipolar people who go to the top of high buildings and jump off thinking they can fly. I've never done that. But I have driven down the interstate at like 100 mph and wanted to flip the car. Not because I wanted to die, but because I thought it would be fun. I figured I'd walk away from the wreck. I'm really glad I didn't.
Drake: Oh my God! So that's what it means to be bipolar.
Jen: Yup. But, as long as I am compliant with my medication, and continue therapy, I can catch myself way before the symptoms get too severe. So, I'm not as "crazy" as you think.
Drake finishes the last of his cappuccino, and looks at Jen for a minute. He's thankful that he and Jen had this little talk. It really cleared the air. It was time to head back home.
Drake: Hey, thanks for the java. It was good.
Jen: No problem, mi hermano. Anytime…
They smiled at each other, threw out their empty cups, and headed out the door.
