Ext. Arco Gas Station, Culver City. Day.

Our protagonist, (i.e. me), pulls up to a pump. Very shortly thereafter a young man pulls up on the opposite side.

Him: Hello, how are you?
Me: I’m good. How are you?
Him: Good. So do you live around here?
Me [balancing honesty with stranger danger]: Umm…sort of.
Him: Oh, are you from here?
Me: Yes. You?
Him: Philadelphia.
Me: Oh, are you on vacation or–
Him: No, I live here now, for five years.
Me [with a slight chuckle]: You moved for the weather, huh?
Him: Yeah. [slight pause] You’re very pretty. You’ve just got it all going.
Me: Wow. Thank you, that’s very sweet.
Him: I mean, I have a girlfriend but, I just wanted to talk to you.
Me: Did you hear the first thing you said? Because I did.
Him: Oh no I wouldn’t tell you I had a girlfriend if I was trying to get at you.
Me: Ha! You might be surprised.
Him: No, I just wanted to bring some positivity to your day.
Me: Well, thank you. More people should be like you–well, in this way at least.