Mom, can I ask you something?
Of course, Marc. Why do you ask that? It reminds me of when you were little. What's going on? You look troubled. Is it school? Is it too hard? You know we could change schools.
No Mom, it's not that. I feel… sad… or not good in my head…
Oh sweetheart. Are you depressed? Do you want us to see a doctor?
No. I'm just asking myself a lot of questions.
About what?
You can talk to us about anything. Are you on drugs?
Noooo Mom. No. It's just that…
Just what? Talk. You're starting to scare me.
I don't know where to start. It's all mixed up in my head.
At least give me the topic. School, friends, your birthday, girls?
Yeah… you could say that: girls.
Okay. Do you have a girlfriend right now?
No.
Are you still thinking about your ex?
No. Not at all.
Do you have someone else in mind?
Not really. Well, I don't know.
Ah. So you're asking yourself questions about a girl.
Yeah. I think so.
A girl from your class?
No. There aren't many.
A friend from your circle?
Mom… this conversation is getting awkward. I shouldn't have brought it up. I'm sorry. Forget it.
What I see is that you're worried and that it could affect your focus. You don't want to tell me more? Do I know this girl?
You're impressive, Mom.
Make fun all you want. I made you. I know you. So who is it?
Nah, it's nothing. It's stupid. I've been tired, I get attached to things that don't matter.
It's about Catherine, isn't it?
Moooom no! I said I didn't want to talk about it anymore!
So I'm right on target. Do you miss her?
It's a bit of all that. Let's stop talking about it, okay?
No, not okay. You need to express it. You'll make yourself sick.
I know I'm exaggerating. The problem is me. It's fine. Let's stop.
Marc. The best way to calm all this down is probably to talk to her directly about your feelings.
My feelings? What are you talking about?
Sweetheart. Please. You think I don't notice anything? I can clearly see how you look at her.
But isn't that weird? It's Catherine!
And?
We've always been like brother and sister.
Yes. But you're not. And you don't want to be anymore either, do you?
******************
So, Marc, did you enjoy this party weekend?
Yeah, a lot. Thanks, Mom, for everything you did. I'm exhausted but really happy we all managed to get together. For some of us, we hadn't seen each other since last year.
See? There was no reason to worry after all: you still managed to celebrate your trio-versary, just like always.
Yeah. That's true. But I realize that I actually miss my old friends.
Yeah, everyone's stepping into adult life. It's normal for your studies to pull you apart. But if they're true friends, you'll always find each other again.
Yeah, I hope so.
Were you afraid that Catherine would drift away too?
Maybe. It was the first time she talked about not celebrating our birthdays together. We'd already lost a lot of people, our schedules are crazy, and I was holding on to that little thing. Totally stupid. It made me believe that the three of us would stay like before. And then -bam- she prefers to go away with her boyfriend. That hurt.
Yeah. But did you think about her, about what she needed? Do you think you're the only one going through all this?
No. Of course not. But Catherine and Peter seem happy. And me, I'm completely lost.
Marc, you've grown up. Your lives are changing. And so are your feelings…
What do you mean, Mom? You think we're less attached to each other?
No. I think, on the contrary, that your feelings for Catherine scare you.
Not at all. Catherine is still like my little sister. I want to protect her.
You're not her big brother. And you don't want to be one anymore.
Mom…
Tell me: how long has it been since you last went out with a girl?
A few months. But I don't see the point. I just haven't met anyone interesting.
Why did Elena break up with you?
Because she was jealous all the time.
Jealous of who?
Of every girl who came near me. It was getting ridiculous.
Every girl? Or Catherine in particular?
Catherine was part of it, yeah.
There you go. The blur. You don't want to name things.
That's not true.
It totally is. You've been hurting since you realized that things with Stephane are serious.
Yeah. Maybe.
You're afraid she'll slip away from you.
Maybe.
But most of all, you've realized that you love her.
Not at all! What do you mean by "you love her"? It's Catherine!
So what? Who's stopping you?
That's insane, Mom. Can you imagine if I thought of Catherine that way? I'd risk destroying everything. And she doesn't have feelings for me.
How do you know?
She's in love with Stephane.
Or she thinks she is. Ask yourself the right questions. Why were you so angry about that hiking weekend? I want the real reason.
I was scared.
Scared of what?
That he'd hurt her.
Why would he hurt her?
I don't know. I don't like that guy. And I don't like knowing she's with him.
And that's all?
I was jealous.
Jealous of what?
That he'd get to spend time alone with her.
****************
Peter, I need to talk to you.
Ladies and gentlemen, make way, Marc is about to speak. A first! please everyone, listen carefully, thank you.
Don't screw around, please, this is already hard enough.
Sorry. Come on, let's go sit quietly on the terrace. Want a beer?
Yeah, I'm gonna need one.
Oh, it's that serious? Alright, I'm listening.
So… here it is. I haven't been feeling great for a while.
Yeah, that we noticed, Mr. Grumpy Face, thanks for the update.
Be serious, fuck, let me finish.
Sorry.
I thought a lot about our talk after the fight with Cathy. Yes, I used my brain, no need to joke, I'll do it myself…
Yeah, but I hadn't said anything.
Anyway, I talked about it with my mom too, who, like all moms, has a theory.
I'm all ears, you have my full attention. So what's this theory?
I have feelings for Catherine.
Uh… sorry, can you repeat that, slowly?
I have… feelings… for Catherine.
Okay.
Okay?
Okay.
That's it?
Look, if my answer doesn't suit you, just give me the script ahead of time so I can rehearse at home and we'll do it again, sound good?
No, no, don't get mad, it's just that I'm opening up to you, which doesn't happen that often, and you—who usually never shuts up—you answer me with a simple "okay." Sorry, but that feels weird. I almost think I would've preferred you to make fun of me.
I needed time for it to reach my brain.
Okay, and now, are we good?
So your overprotective side with Catherine, your jealousy toward her boyfriend, and your crappy mood all come from the fact that you're in love with Catherine?
"In love"… that might be a big word… I didn't say that either… I have feelings… let's say…
Having feelings for someone, Marc—what do you think that's called? That's being in love.
Well, however you want to call it, yeah. You think it's stupid, that's it?
I think your mom is a saint. Thank you, Marie, for telling him the truth.
What?
She's the only one who found the right words and got you to actually hear them. I had already given up.
What do you mean, you'd given up? You thought it too?
Yeah. That's what I meant when I told you we'd grown up, that we weren't kids anymore, that we'd changed. But I realize now I wasn't clear at all. I should've used simpler words.
…
Marc, you still there?
…
Well, apparently my answer still isn't the one you were hoping for. This is getting complicated.
Peter, do you realize what it means if I'm in love with Cathy?
That right now you're suffering because she's with someone else?
Yeah, that too. But mostly, if it's that obvious, I won't even dare be around you guys anymore. I think I'll have to avoid her since she really seems in love with that guy. I don't want her to be unhappy and even less because of me.
Yeah… this is not going to be an easy story… But above all, you have to talk to her. And soon.