Dialogues

"It's fine, Gus."
"Are you sure, man?"
"Yeah, seriously, it's fine."
"I just want to make sure we're cool, you know? I wanna make sure we're still friends."
"It's fine, Gus. Really. I don't care."
"OK, Al."
"'Alan.'"
"Peace out, dude."
"Yeah."
Alan decided he hated Gus, and should avoid ever talking to him again. Gus never noticed.

* * *

"Hi."
"Hey."
"How are you?"
"Good."
"Well, it's been a while. How have you been?"
"I've been good, Alan."
"That's good. I've been good, too. I mean, I've been all right. I've been OK. Been about the same. You know."
"That's good."
"Yep. Listen. Can I apologize? I mean, would that be, you know, appropriate for me to apologize? Because I'd really like to. But if that's gonna be too much for you or something, or if that would offend you or make you mad, then, you know, I won't apologize. But I just want you to know that... I want to apologize."
"It doesn't matter to me."
"OK. OK. I see. Well, then, in that case, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, Grace. I apologize for everything."
"Don't. It's not your fault."
"I know. I mean, but it is. But I know what you mean. I just hope you can forgive me, you know, for my part."
"I forgive you, Alan."
A pause.
"Grace. I think I'm still in love with you."
"What?! Please don't say things like that! I don't want to hear anything like that right now."
"I'm sorry. I don't know why I said that. I didn't really mean it."
"Yeah. Well. Oh my God, Alan! I can't be here right now. This is just really weird. I'm gonna go."
"OK. I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to sound weird."
"Forget it, Alan. Good bye."
Alan watched Grace get smaller and smaller and then disappear. He felt the emptiness of having arms just short of long-enough. They felt like chains. Grace calmed down. She knew Alan was lying. She thought he was, at least.

* * *

"I don't know what to tell you anymore."
"It's OK, Donald. It's not as serious as you probably think it is."
"I'm just worried for you, that's all."
"It just happens to me sometimes. Not all the time. You know that. You've seen me."
"I know, I know! But whenever I don't know for sure, I think you're being different. It's just hard to know for sure. Maybe I don't know Alan as well as I should."
"Trust me. I'm fine, Donald. I'm really fine. I'm not jumping out of a building tomorrow."
"I know that. Don't make fun of me. I just want to make sure you're OK."
"All right, sorry. Next week, though? No guarantees."
"Shut the fuck up, man. That's not funny."
"Just trying. Look. Thank you."
"For what?"
"Nothing. Just for you. Thank you. I really appreciate your concern. It means a lot to me. Thanks."
"Any time, man. That's what I'm here for. I'm here for you."
"Thanks."
Alan felt guilty for being annoyed at Donald. Donald knew he was being annoying, and appreciated Alan for not snapping at him. They became better friends, one out of guilt, the other out of appreciation.