Almost Friends

Charlie Brenner returns home after dropping out of college, feeling unmotivated about his future. He continues to work as an assistant manager at a small movie theatre and lives with his mother, stepfather Ross, and younger brother Steven. He leans on his best friend Ben for a sense of purpose.

He meets Amber, a local coffee shop barista, and finds himself drawn to her. Their early conversations hint at a possible change in his life as he imagines something beyond his routine. The attraction grows despite his self-doubt.

Heather invites Charlie to a party with their old high school classmates. He is hesitant but agrees to go, hoping to reconnect with others and maybe ease his own restlessness. The night becomes a turning point that pulls him toward Amber and her world.

Amber lives a precarious life, sharing a home with her mooching cousin Jack while dating a track star named Brad. She has plans to go to NYU in New York City but feels trapped and wants more independence. The contrast between her ambitions and her circumstances adds tension to her budding romance with Charlie.

During a party elevator moment, Charlie and Amber cross paths with Brad as Amber and Brad ride up with them. Heather publicly calls out Charlie for his inability to ask Amber out, while Brad persuades Amber to leave the party. The scene sows seeds of doubt and sets up later complications in their relationship.

Charlie’s estranged father Howard re-enters his life and persuades him to let him stay. Against his mother's protests, Charlie lets Howard sleep in his room and begins to confront the fragile dynamics of his family. The decision marks the first major intrusion of his father into his everyday life.

The next day Amber suggests they walk together, and Charlie learns more about her life. He discovers she lives with Jack because her parents moved to Florida, and she plans to finish her senior year in town. Amber reveals more about her past with Brad and her current uncertainties.

Charlie gives Amber his phone number, and she calls him. They have dinner at Charlie's house, where Amber learns about his early success with cooking. Family tensions surface as Howard and Ross argue, while Charlie and Steven's playful behavior seems to unsettle Amber, foreshadowing strain.

At a party for Ben, Charlie overhears Amber telling a friend that she sees him as lost and could never see a future with him. Humiliated, he leaves the party with his emotions in turmoil. This moment deepens the rift between them and pushes Charlie toward reassessment.

Days later, Amber comes to Charlie's house seeking comfort, and they end up kissing. Their moment is interrupted by Charlie's father, and they retreat to Steven's playhouse to talk. Charlie opens up about a traumatic traffic accident that derailed him after his junior year, explaining why he has been so unsettled.

Amber tells Charlie they can no longer be friends, a line that stings him deeply. In a separate moment, Howard lures the family out and clears the house of its furniture, signaling his intrusive control and escalating tension at home. The combination forces Charlie to confront his chaotic family life.

After track practice, Charlie confronts Brad and challenges him to a race; Brad collapses in pain from an injured leg, changing the dynamics of Amber’s social circle. Later, Charlie encounters Amber in the hospital and apologizes for how he treated Brad, while Amber and Brad confront Charlie’s behavior and the strain between them.

Charlie travels with his father to a hotel in New Orleans, where he discovers most of the stolen furniture is in storage and arranges for police involvement to recover it for his mother. Howard reveals two shocking secrets: Amber's abortion and Ben's failed bar admission. The revelations propel Charlie toward a decisive turning point.

Charlie returns home and takes steps to move forward. He contacts a NYC chef who had previously shown interest, lands an assistant chef position, and moves with Ben to New York City to pursue his dream. He finally embraces who he wants to be and what he wants from life.