Page 25 of Falling Off Script

A few guys laugh. One fake coughs “Not me.” The energy is a little twitchy, a little defensive.

And then—

“I’ll go.”

Matt.

He stands like a guy who bets on himself every day—and still braces for the loss. Mid-twenties. Shorter than most in the room. Compact frame—didn’t win the genetic lottery, but hit the gym anyway. He’s the kind of guy who meal-preps on Sundays and keeps showing up even when no one’s watching.

My favorite kind. Quiet engine. Long game.

Girls don’t see it right away. They clock the height, the glasses, the social hesitation—and miss the discipline.

But give him a year, some coaching, and the right shirt?

Different story.

“I’m tired of being the guy who doesn’t speak up until it’s too late. Tired of pretending I’m okay with being overlooked.”

He glances around like someone might heckle. No one does.

“I don’t want tricks. I want to be seen. But I don’t know if there’s anything worth seeing.”

Dead silence. The kind even dudes in gym shorts respect.

I nod slowly. Arms still folded. Trying not to show that I felt that one in the chest. “That,” I say to the group, “is what showing the fuck up looks like.”

They murmur. A couple nod. One guy claps once, fast.

Pack sees him now.

“There was this girl,” Matt says.

Heads turn. You’d think he just saidthere’s a bomb in the room.

He’s fidgety. Hesitant. But he’s standing. That’s the work.

“Coffee shop in Silver Lake. Saturday morning,” he says. “She was wearing, like... this tan coat thing. Big scarf. You know that vibe?”

“Autumn librarian?” someone calls out.

The group laughs — not mean, just relating.

Matt shrugs. “Maybe. She ordered a cortado with oat milk.”

I lift my hand. The room quiets like someone hit mute.

“Where were you sitting?”

“Corner. Charging my phone.”

“What was the vibe of the place?”

“Kinda quiet. Mostly laptops and headphones. Indie playlist, but not pretentious.”

“Did she look at you?”

He hesitates. “I think? Maybe once. Hard to say. I was watching through the lid of my coffee like a coward.”

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