Addington Class of 1998

Scene 1: The Helmsley Hotel

Heather Blakely

"Is that all you're having?" Audrey asked, concerned by my lone cup of coffee.

"I don't have much of an appetite."

"Last first day of high school." She smiled.

"Don't remind me." I let out a nervous breath.

"It's going to be such a good year," Audrey said while looking over at Natalia who hugged her close in response.

"I hope so."

"Everything's going to happen so fast. Think of all the things we have to do."

"College fairs," I replied blandly.

"The D.C. trip," she smirked.

"That is meant to be for educational purposes. We're being graded."

All seniors have to take government, and because of that, we do a week-long field trip to Washington D.C.

Of course, anyone only cares about the after-hours part of this field trip. They lock the entire senior class in a hotel and then do one bed check before ignoring whatever happens later.

"There's prom," Natalia puts forward.

"Great..."

"And graduation," Audrey continued.

"I can't drink this either," I sighed and walked my cup of coffee to the sink.

"Italy?" Audrey looks down at my shoes.

I nodded. "Italy."

"What else did you get there?" She smirked as if she knew something.

"This purse, but you're not talking about clothes, are you?"

"Why'd you extend your trip?"

"I didn't want to come back yet."

"Camille said you were having the grandest time with Adrian," Audrey teased.

"Oh, please." I rolled my eyes. "She wanted that to happen so badly."

"Was he cute?"

"Sure, but I didn't stay for him. Italy was a detox. Adrian just showed me around."

My mother made sure the entire family was privy to the whole breakup situation, so I was greeted with copious amounts of pity, advice, and wine. I felt like a middle-aged divorcee. Adrian got me out of that. He and his pretty, Italian, summer fling.

"What a waste."

"I'm not interested in dating anymore. I've done enough for a while."

"You see what happens when you date below your pay grade?" Audrey said to Natalia.

"Oh, my God." I groaned. "Are we going now?"

Scene 2: Madison Street

Leo Rylin

"Good morning, jellybean."

"Mm," I complained.

"I told you to go to bed earlier."

"I couldn't sleep."

"Excited?"

"Are you kidding?" I said while grabbing a bottle of apple juice out of the fridge.

She laughed. "Is Danny picking you up?"

"I called him and he didn't answer. I'm just gonna go get Elle and then catch the subway."

"Okay, see you later. I love you."

"Love you too."

"Tell her I said 'hello,'" she quickly adds before I'm gone.

I close the door and hear another one closing above me.

I glance up to see who it is, and Zach starts coming down the stairs.

"What's up?"

"Hey."

"You taking the bus?"

"Yeah," he sighed disappointedly.

"You're not a freshman anymore, be happy."

"If it's anything like last year, I should stay home."

Me too. "It won't be."

He snatches the bottle of juice out of my hand. "Thanks."

"No, give it back," I said, but he was already running down the rest of the stairs. "Zach!"

I chase after him, and we probably wake everyone else in the building up with our footsteps loudly echoing through the staircase. But when we race out of the door, he speeds up, making sure he's halfway down the block heading the opposite direction of where I'm going.

Forget it. I'm already late.

The air wakes me up more than the sugar would have anyway. I like when it gets like this, just a little cold in early September mornings.

Elle's building is a few blocks down from mine. If it were still a hot, summer afternoon, I'd see a bunch of old guys sitting in lawn chairs near the door. They always had something funny to say when I'd come by. Apparently, I remind every old dude I meet of their younger self.

I go up to the call box and press the button for her apartment.

"Hello?" She said through the intercom.

"It's me," I replied and heard the door buzz open after.

She lives on the first floor. I walk down the narrow hallway until I reach her door and knock.

Expecting me, she opens it fast.

"My mom says hi."

"You're late," she replied and let me step inside.

"I walked."

"Where's Danny?"

"I don't know."

She glances back at me and laughs to herself before coming closer.

"You look cute," Elle teased and gave me a short kiss on the lips.

"Yeah, right," I said sarcastically.

We lost the war against uniforms. If you don't wear one, you face disciplinary action— if you get in trouble too many times, you get kicked out. They finally got us, and now I have to wear a tie.

"Ready to go back?"

"We don't have a choice."

"Let me see your schedule again." She puts her hand out, and I reach into my pants pocket to grab the folded paper. Elle takes it from me and goes over to her kitchen counter to smoothen it out. "We can have lunch together and then I'll see you in English."

"Cool."

Elle smirked. "Can't wait?"

I chuckled. "Like I needed another excuse to see you all the time."

Scene 3: Addington High Hallway

Heather Blakely

"Being separated over the summer is hard enough. What am I supposed to do at college?" Alison pouted.

"If you get into one," Audrey said...rudely, of course, but Natalia nudged her with a stern look, and she sighed in response. "I'm sure you will."

"You can make new friends until you come back for the holidays," I suggested.

"And when I like them more than you all..."

Audrey scoffed. "As if Dartmouth girls are likable."

"You guys!" Lisa spots us walking from the other side of the hallway and comes prancing over.

"Hey, Lisa."

"I missed you. I went back to Beverly Hills to visit this summer and it just wasn't the same."

"You're a central now. What did you expect?" I said, and I'm sure she responded...

But all chatter faded into the background, and I lost any train of thought because...hi.

Leo.

We went from seeing each other practically every day of every week to not having seen each other in months.

And I could never forget your face, but this is a heart-racing reminder...reintroduction...hi.

I almost wave, but he's not looking in my direction.

Wait...

"Who the hell is that?" Audrey said, taking notice of where my eyes are fixated, and the girl whose hand he's holding.

I don't respond. I don't have an answer— and I'm stunned.

"Heather?" Lisa glanced at me worriedly. And my silence only drew more concern.

"Heather?" Audrey tried to tear my sight away from them.

"They're not even on your radar anymore," Alison linked our arms and quickly led me to a seat in the auditorium.

The headmistress holds a meeting at the beginning of the school year to welcome us back and remind everyone of the rules and expectations. She sneaks comments in about how we're special and have to succeed because our families are counting on us. It adds pressure, so we all ignore her until we're dismissed.

Isn't it great that I don't need to find something to distract me this time?

"I'm not bothered," I finally spoke.

Too soon.

Leo and the girl part ways as he goes to find a seat on the boys' side of the room, and she finds a seat in the row in front of us.

Who are you?

"Of course not, look at her," Audrey said a little louder.

"She looks like she crawled out of a sewer this morning," Alison played along.

"I wouldn't put it past her. She clearly stole her uniform off of someone's back."

"Does she not realize it's two sizes too big or did she show up dressed as a mangy nun on purpose?"

"The headmistress ran a donation drive for them so that money wouldn't be an excuse. Besides, this girl has never met a thrift store she didn't like," Audrey laughed.

"And money is definitely the excuse," Natalia added.

Audrey tapped on the girl's shoulder. "Can you move over a bit? I think I'm allergic to your perfume."

"I'm not wearing perfume," she responded.

"Hm...then why does it smell of poverty?" She looked from Audrey to the rest of us, taking in the stifled laughter and unwelcoming expressions before getting up. "Oh, my god," Audrey gasped and pointed to where she was walking. "Is she tracking dirt?"

"Ew." Alison recoiled.

"That's so gross," Natalia shakes her head as the girl storms out of the auditorium...

And a smile comes across my face.

Scene 4: Boiler Room

Alison Sinclair

Jace's hand is on my waist and the other around my neck. He moves against me, keeping me sealed to his body, kissing me, hungrily...always.

"Do we have to sneak around like this now?" Jace said, still close to my lips.

"Heather is back."

"I thought you were going to tell her."

"I thought she'd be back sooner. I didn't want to tell her before she left and rub salt in her wounds. She was already upset."

"Now what?"

"I— I'll tell her," I hesitated.

"Today?"

"...Today might actually be worse than before she left."

"Alison."

"Soon, I swear."

"Good because...we're not really doing the casual thing anymore," he spoke, earnestly. "This is turning into something..."

"Yeah..."

"Let me know when we're in the clear." Jace kisses me one last time. "See you later."

"Later."

He slips out of the boiler room, looking both ways to make sure no one important sees him.

I wait...not immediately following after him, and instead pacing around wondering what the hell I'm going to do.

Jace and I spent a lot of time together this summer. I feel...drawn to him— the way I was with Ethan and Trevor and any guy that I know I shouldn't get close to but I can't seem to help it.

My plan was to end everything before it became more than secretly making out from time to time, but time got away from me. And with everyone gone...all we had was each other.

I thought I'd have-

"Hey," Tony smiled and opened his arms

"Hey." I ran into them.

Oh, Tony, if only you stayed.

"What were you doing in there?" He nodded toward to boiler room.

"I needed some peace and quiet."

"Did you get my last letter?"

"Oh, no, I was going to open it this morning but I was rushing."

"It's okay, open it when you get home and then call me," he said, preparing to leave.

"Wait—tell me what it says."

"No, I want you to read it yourself."

"I can't wait that long."

"You'll have to." He leans down to kiss me on the cheek. "Bye." Tony smiled, walking backward so he could still look at me. "You have no idea how badly I missed seeing you."

Scene 5: Chester High

Zach Teeling

I look at Oliver smirking out of the corner of my eye.

Ten bucks says this guy isn't into me and I can't get us invited to the party.

Oliver believes differently, but I bet my lunch money on it.

"So, what are you doing this weekend?" I ask him, his name is Aiden.

"Uh," he chuckled and leaned forward in his chair. "Actually, I'm going to this thing in Brooklyn that you could be into."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," Aiden smirked. "Give me your number."

"Sure...where do you want it?" I ask, and he raises his eyebrow like I said something suggestive. "The number, sorry." My eyes shift down awkwardly.

"Here." He puts his wrist out and gives me a pen. "So I don't forget."

I nodded and placed my hand over his arm to steady it. As soon as I touched his skin, my whole body flushed with nervousness— like I was new to human connection or something.

Aiden noticed and tilted his head at me.

"Sorry," I mumbled again before gently inking my number on his arm.

The bell rings to dismiss class, and I hurriedly put the pen cap back on and hand it to him.

"I'll call you with the address."

"Thanks."

"No problem." He smiled, eyeing me in the process.

Oh, boy.

Oliver waited until he was out of the room before coming over to me. "So?"

"He'll call me to tell me where the party is."

"I told you. Now you owe me ten bucks."

I sighed and dug into my pocket for the cash. "How'd you know?"

"It's simple," Oliver smirked. "He asked about you."

"That's cheating,"

He laughed. "There weren't rules."

"I'm keeping my money."

"Sore loser."

We walked into the hall and headed toward the side door. I'm not 'allowed' to leave campus at lunchtime because I'm a sophomore, but Oliver is a junior, and I leave out with him as a shield.

"If you knew him, why wouldn't you just ask?" I questioned.

"Because making you be a slut is more fun."

"Hey, Zach!" Charlie grinned.

"Oh. Hey."

"Mr. Derell is doing sign-up for comic book club on Thursday."

"Yeah, I'm probably not doing that this year..."

"Why not?"

"I'm just...busy, you know?" I said, uneasily.

"Okay..."

I didn't hang out with him as much as I said I would. Meeting Oliver changed my plans to sulk all summer. His brother was right, he does make a habit of kissing whoever he wants, no attachment. But he's really fun to hang out with. He's always somewhere, meeting new people, doing things he probably shouldn't, and then going home like nothing ever happened. It feels good doing that.

Charlie could do that.

"But, there's this party we're going to Friday night if-"

"We're not supposed to be going," Oliver cuts in.

"It's a 21 and up place, but we can get you in."

"With a fake I.D.?" Charlie asked in excitement.

"It's too late to get you a fake. We'll just sneak you in." Been there, done that thanks to Oliver.

"Awesome. I'll be at your house on Friday?"

"Yeah."

"Great," he said, beaming.

I waved him 'goodbye' and hoped he wouldn't ask if I was going to the cafeteria with him.

He waved back before turning to walk in the direction of the library. Maybe that's where he's eating now.

"You're not going to want him there," Oliver argued.

"He's my friend."

"Okay," He said slyly. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

Scene 6: Jordan's House

Danny Cole

"Hey." I knocked on his room door. "You holding Oxy?"

"No, just weed."

"Do you know who is?"

"Are you selling...or buying?"

I shrugged. "What's the difference?"

"Suppliers..."

"Whatever. Give me all of them."

"I'll call around and see whose got it."

"Alright. Keep it on the low, I don't want my name everywhere."

"Alright."

"Don't tell them, you know," I motioned toward where our friends are. "Leo and shit."

"I'm not gonna say anything."

"Thanks."

"Hey-" Jordan called out before I could disappear. "Are you good?"

"Don't I look it?" I asked but didn't stick around for the answer.

He's one to have a fucking opinion anyway.

I walked into the living room as Leo was stepping through the door with Elle.

He put his arms out in confusion. "You skipped?"

"I overslept. Shoot me."

Leo scowled. "Ha-ha."

"You didn't miss much. They're still rich, they're still bitches and pricks," Elle said harshly.

"Weren't you all happy to go this morning?"

"No." She crossed her arms.

They met...here. It was a Fourth of July party put together last minute. I saw her around school before and he probably did too, it's not like there's a shit ton of us who go there, but we didn't talk until the party.

Leo had been depressed and holed up like a fucking vampire for weeks. We could hardly get him in the mood to do anything— but he wasn't sleeping through the fireworks. We got him drunk, we got him happy, and we got him to play truth or dare with the rest of us.

It was Jordan, I think, who dared him to make out with Elle in the closet, seven minutes in heaven style. They stayed in there longer than seven minutes.

Didn't think he'd date her, though.

"What happened?" He asked.

"Nothing," she grumbled.

"You'll tell me later?"

"Fine."

"How many uniforms did you guys buy?" Ned laid sprawled across the couch.

"Why the fuck does a new blazer cost 300 dollars?" Leo said.

Jordan walked in with a cigarette in his hand. "If you bought everything new, it'd run you up over a thousand bucks."

I laughed at the thought."My dad was pissed buying me used stuff that cost 50 dollars. He said he shouldn't have sent me to that pansy-ass school in the first place."

"You're gonna make him take you out if you don't show up," Leo complained.

"He won't. He already spent his money on the clown costume."

"So we all just have one then?" Ned said like it was funny. "And I got a fucking demerit for not ironing my shirt."

"Why didn't you tell us how uncomfortable it is to wear that shit all day?" Jordan asked Leo. "You wore it last year, didn't you?"

He shook his head. "Like 3 times max because of Heath-" Leo paused...and we all waited to see if he'd keep talking— it's not like it isn't obvious what he was about to say.

But I guess her name is a fucking punctuation mark now.

"Damn...you should've asked her if you could have it back— that's a brand new uniform for free. Ask her if I can have it," Ned suggested.

Elle rolled her eyes and got up from the couch, heading back out of the door.