True Beauty lies Beneath the Skin (Phan)

So Long and Goodnight

What's the worst that I can say?
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight...

"Did you ever think about just being nice to the guy?" Iesha asks Phil as she sits on his couch, once again flipping through one of his magazines, "People tend to open up to people they're comfortable around, and they tend to be comfortable around people that are nice."

"I was nice!" Phil calls from his bedroom, "I offered to get him coffee and everything!"

"Not nice in a 'I wanna sleep with you' kind of way; nice in a, you know, descent human-being kind of way."

"I don't know if I want him to actually open up to me; I don't even know the guy. I just, I don't know, wanna know what his deal is."

"Maybe he's got a tragic back story that's caused him to be incapable of love. Oh, wait, that's you."

Phil walks out, dressed and actually looking decent. He gives Iesha a deadpanned look.

"You're hilarious."

"I know," Iesha says.

"I was being sarcastic."

"Again, I know."

"I'm not incapable of love, I just..."

Iesha softens, "You were betrayed by it."

Phil sighs, "Yeah."

"Well, maybe he was too. You never know. You always get pissed when people judge you before they get to know your story, so don't do the same with him."

"I'm not judging him, I'm just...curious about him. There's something off about him."

"Why can't you just let it go? I haven't seen you this invested in someone since..." Iesha starts before trailing off, knowing not to finish her sentence.

Phil rolls his eyes, "You can say her name, she's not Voldemort."

"I know that, but I also know she's a bit of a touchy subject."

"What are you talking about? We're still friends to this day. We still talk!"

"Okay, but still..."

"And I wasn't invested in her, I..."

Phil pauses, then sits down on the couch next to Iesha.

"I lusted after her," He says, "I treated her wrong, tried to do the right thing when it came down to it, and still ended up screwing everything up."

"But it wasn't your fault - "

"Let's not have this conversation now. I don't need to be a mess when I go in for my appointment."

"Sorry."

Phil sighs, "It's fine."

"But hey, you just admitted your mistake! That's another step in the right direction there, Phil. Now you know what mistakes not to make."

Phil pauses, then nods, "Yeah, I guess."

"You're making progress, Phil. You didn't go out clubbing with the guys one time during the tour."

Phil manages a small smile, "I haven't read that many books since I was a teenager."

"Maybe we could go to the book store before your appointment today and you can get even more for our European tour coming up."

Phil's smile grows, "I like that idea."

"Great! The weather is going to be nice today, so we should head out and enjoy it 'cause it'll be cold out soon and I don't like the winter nearly as much as you do."