In 2007, Mia attends a New Year’s party at a mutual friend Richie Fournier’s apartment, where she mills around looking for a drink. In the kitchen, she encounters an attractive guy her age, and they flirt. Mia hadn’t even planned to celebrate New Year’s, but Sasha had convinced her to come out when she dropped by the other night. While the friends chatted about the holiday, Sasha remarked on the numerous perfume samples around Mia’s room, which Mia had gotten through her job at Details magazine. 

At Richie’s now, Mia continues chatting with the young man, learning his name is Marco. When they part ways, Mia is disappointed to see him meet up with another girl.

Marco rejoins his childhood friend Gina at the party. Their parents have been friends for years, and he promised her mother he would look after Gina on New Year’s. They chat about mutual friends, including Theo, Mitch Reynolds, and Alison Lieu. Marco hadn’t planned to celebrate New Year’s until his new roommate Richie insisted on hosting a party, promising it would be small. 

When Gina heads out, Marco ends up back “in the kitchen, surrounded by people and feeling completely alone” (24). Soon, Richie emerges from the bathroom with cocaine on his face, whining about another friend named Courtney Paulson. Marco informs Richie he’s heading out for more mixers and ice before midnight, asking him about Mia before leaving. Richie shares an anecdote he heard about her from a Russian literature class, intriguing Marco.

Sasha’s boyfriend Theo leaves the party early, complaining he isn’t feeling well. Sasha stays behind to celebrate. She rejoins her friends, and they tell her about hearing Annie again. Annie is a ghost Sasha made up to hide the fact that she has been sneaking out of her, Adam, and Mia’s apartment to hang out at hotels in the middle of the night. 

Sasha has been feeling discouraged ever since her boss at the gallery, Wally Roebling, said her generation was as useless as “a used condom hanging limply off a Styrofoam cooler” (34). Ever since, Sasha has dealt with her upset by sneaking out at night and exploring the city alone.

Mia runs into Courtney and Mitch outside the kitchen. During their conversation, Mia recalls kissing Mitch in college and muses on how strange it is that Courtney is talking to her; they have never gotten along. Then Courtney remarks on Adam coming out, teasing Mia for being in love with him. Mia insists Courtney is in love with Nina Guzman, which upsets her.

After breaking away, Mia rejoins Sasha and their friends, asking what she knows about Richie’s new roommate before stepping outside for a cigarette.

When Mia steps outside, and Sasha goes to the bathroom, Adam studies the dirty space and starts tidying up. He’s tended to be people-pleasing since he was a child. Ever since his parents died and his aunt took him in, he has tried to be useful to others. 

Meanwhile, he muses on his relationship with Richie. They have hooked up a few times, but Adam isn’t sure what their dynamic really is. Then Sasha emerges, and the friends start a new game of quarters, throwing coins into drinks. While playing, Adam and Sasha chat about how to respond to different text messages. Adam worries he was too enthusiastic when Richie texted about the party. Sasha advises him to play hard-to-get, which is what she did with Theo.

Richie stands outside looking for a cigarette, trying to calculate when he smoked his last one and how much he’s had to drink. Then Nina surfaces. Annoyed, Richie insults her and ends the interaction.

Richie joins his friends in the kitchen, but feels bored by their game, conversation, and energy. He even feels disappointed by Adam, recalling their various hookups. He remembers how good their sex was the last time. He invites Adam and Sasha to smoke weed with them. They sit together in the bedroom. Richie’s mind wanders, considering whether or not he should leave and go to a club instead. Before leaving the room, he and Adam kiss, and he decides to stay home and see what happens.

Mia and Marco run into each other outside. They have a smoke and run to the bodega together for ice. On the way, they share a pleasant conversation, and Marco clarifies that Gina is just a friend. 

Mia is surprised to learn that Marco just moved back to the States from Bogotá. They talk about their upbringings, jobs, and lives in New York. After they find the right bodega and buy what they need, they return to the street, realizing that it’s already past midnight. Marco kisses Mia, surprising and delighting her.