And Just Like That

Scene 1: Elle's Apartment

Leo Rylin

"Come on," I sighed.

"No, screw you."

"You spent time on it."

"Yeah, and I spent more time waiting for you and you couldn't even bother to show up." She threw the entire 'congratulations' cake into the trash. That was the surprise. She baked it herself to congratulate me on getting a job.

"I'm sorry."

"Save it for Matt, asshole."

"Why was he even there?" I sighed.

"So you would know someone!"

"I'm sorry..."

"Sorry," she mimicked.

"You know what? Let's talk since you're such an angel. Danny saw what you did in the library."

"What did I do?" Elle crossed her arms.

"Where is it?"

"What?"

"Whatever you took from Heather."

"I didn't take anything from her," she said, her voice raising in pitch. A tell. I crossed my arms in return. "She threw it away."

"You're a dumpster diver now?"

"It was recyclables."

"Yeah, sure, Oscar the Grouch. Hand it over."

Elle huffed and went over to her book bag. She grabbed a folded paper out of the front pouch and held it tightly in between her fingers. "Are you going to read it?"

"Why would I need to? You already did."

"And for good reason, she-"

I take the paper away. "Forget it. This is fucked up Elle."

She scoffed. "I'm pissed at you, remember?"

"Yeah, we've always had a lot in common."

"I wouldn't have done anything at all if I didn't hear that you're always with her in class acting like her best fucking friend."

"Who the hell said that?" I asked. "Claudia?"

"You're not denying it."

"Yeah, I am. We get paired up sometimes, it's not my fault. I'm not choosing her."

"I told you that I'm not-"

"You're not comfortable, I heard you. But I won't flip her off whenever I see her, okay? I'm not comfortable when you do shit like this." I hold up the contraband.

"I don't like how you're turning this on me."

"I'm sorry I didn't go to the sleepover, I know it was important to you, that's on me. But this is on you, and now I have to give it back to Heather and apologize for what you did."

"Give it back?" She sounded offended. "Throw it away. That's where she wanted it."

"I'm not gonna hide that this happened."

"She doesn't have to know."

"You'd want to know."

"So, what? She's not me."

"You don't want her to know you stole it because you're scared she'll come after you again?" I questioned.

"I am not scared of her."

"Then what?"

She quickly snatched it out of my hand and tore it in half two times before letting it fall to the floor. "Fuck her."

Scene 2: Chester High Cafeteria

Zach Teeling

"Zach, my man," Nick puts a hand on my shoulder as he walks by.

"What's up?" I nod, pretending to be cooler than I am, at least until he's far enough.

Nick Dalton is one of those guys who doesn't do anything to be popular other than win the genetic lottery. He even gets to date Tatum Reese— I think I would've liked her too if Nick wasn't more my type.

"You really got put on the map, huh?" Oliver teased.

"It's not funny."

"You're almost popular. You have to use this before people get bored."

"Yeah, and when everyone finds out I'm gay so there's no way I hooked up with a girl in a school bathroom, then what?" I asked, rhetorically. "Besides, this is bad for Karlie and it would make me a bad friend."

"Suit yourself."

"You don't need me for popularity. Use Lucas."

"It doesn't work like that. We've got the sibling dynamic thing going on. One always has to be more popular. I'm Tia, he's Tamera."

"You're not twins."

"I know, I'm better looking," he said, arrogantly, and I rolled my eyes. "So, party at your place?"

"I can't have a party."

He puts his fingers close together. "Small party."

"I'll be grounded for life. No."

"Grounded for life?" Oliver scoffed. "I'm talking a get together not studio 54."

"No one would even come."

He smirked and stood up. I was expecting the dramatic, standing on top of the table to make an announcement scene, but thankfully he just walked over to the table in front of ours.

"Are you going to that party at Zach's Thursday night?" Oliver asked one of the guys.

"Yeah, I'm gonna be there," he nodded as if he were invited ages ago.

"A school night?" I harshly whispered as Oliver made his cocky return.

"Yeah, so everyone who shows up is either neglected or borderline juvenile. You know, the cool kids."

"What if the cops come? My mom will kill me."

"We'll keep the noise down."

I shook my head. "I don't have space."

"We'll move some stuff."

"I don't have snacks."

He shrugged. "So, we'll buy food."

"I don't have money."

"Leave it to me."

"I don't want to."

Evan sat down at the table. "You're having a party?"

"Oliver!" I huffed.

"Of course he told the jocks. They're the ones who bring alcohol."

Evan nodded. "He's right."

"Tell him the party is a good idea."

"It's not."

"Judas," Oliver gasped.

"Can you help tell people it isn't happening?" I pleaded.

"I'll try."

"Your stuff is at risk too. Remember that."

"I don't have a lot, but everyone's going to see your posters and toys and realize you're such a geek," Evan laughed.

"You gave me some of those," I defended.

"Prove it."

"I think I wrote your name on the bottom of some of the action figures, Andy."

He smirked. "That's adorable."

"That isn't..." Oliver said, looking in the direction of the door, "crisis alert, 3 o'clock."

"Oh, no, Karlie," I said, shocked. I remember that date we went on, her nails were painted orange and green. Now it looks like she'd spit on a color that dared to be that bright. It's fitting that they're black now. And she cut her hair...a lot of it.

"Don't stare," Oliver mumbled and avoided eye contact when she got closer.

"Hey," she spoke. I'm half convinced I have no idea who this person is.

"Did you do something different with your hair?" I asked as if it wasn't obvious.

"Kind of," she touched it self-consciously.

"I think it looks good," Evan complimented.

"Really?"

"Shows your face more."

"Yeah..." she looked down like that sentiment only made her more insecure.

"You're pretty, don't worry."

Scene 3: Milligan Townhouse

Jace Kendal

"I'm surprised you're allowed to have a computer in your room."

"Why?" Tony asked.

"Aren't bible thumpers afraid of pornography?"

"My computer is clean."

"That's a relief," I said as I looked at my hands touching the keyboard.

"Can you focus on researching, please?"

"We have enough information. You're only creating more work by piling it all on."

He rolled his eyes, and my eyes went back to the screen. I've been playing solitaire, but I'm sick of it now. Tony acts as if he can't multitask, so any side conversation is kept to the bare minimum.

I'll talk to someone else then.

AOL login.

Screen name: J4C3411

If I'm bored enough with a computer at my disposal, I enjoy peering in on the weirdos of the world. Some people get on here to have keyboard sex with each other. It's sad.

Alien Abductions Chatroom?

A bunch of awkward virgins who need something to believe in?

I'd love to help.

When I enter, someone by the name of "Lizpiracy88202" is telling a story about their car stopping randomly while they were driving in the desert. Apparently, they blacked out after that and only came to sometime after midnight and happened to be laying on the roof of their car.

Sounds like a bender, Liz.

"I've had a similar experience," I lied. "But I remember it all. There was no blacking out. I wanted to tell someone but was afraid they wouldn't believe me."

"You're safe here," another person wrote, getting comments in agreement from others who want to hear of my so-called experience.

"I was taken to a mysterious planet. Very far from earth. For a moment it was only me there under this dome where they observed me," I began.

"Did others show up?"

"Yes, a woman. She's a famous actress, but I don't want to expose her identity. Just know...she's very famous on their planet."

I smile, connivingly— waiting for a reply so I can finish the story.

Venus1486: "That happened to me, as well. The species called themselves Tralfamadorians."

"Yes, exactly!"

"They stripped me of my clothes so they could examine me like a zoo animal. Humans are pets on Tralfamadore," Venus continued.

"They were curious about human mating. The actress and I had to give them a show. We're the first pornstars to do it on another planet."

GreenKing11111: "Are you mocking us?"

"FALSE BELIEVERS!"

I started to type "obviously, you aluminum foil wearing dorks-" but I'm banned from the chat room before I could hit 'send.'

Some people cannot take a joke.

Venus1486: "They haven't read Kurt Vonnegut but still assume someone wants to probe their brains?"

I guess she was kicked out too.

I laughed to myself. "Perhaps they'll come across E.T. while he's dieting."

"Low-calorie brains?"

"He's watching his carbs."

"I thought we were talking aliens not zombies," Venus responded.

"Right, wrong chat room."

"You know there are ones about the impending apocalypse?"

"A subcategory for dooms day cults?"

"Don't knock 'em until you try 'em."

"I wasn't. I am trying to recruit you for mine," I joked.

"I'm in," Venus put, simply. "So, did you read Slaughterhouse 5 back when it was originally published?"

"In the 60s? Is this your unsubtle way of asking for my age?"

"Guilty."

"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."

"I asked first."

"Touché," I typed. "14x66-907."

"You're the worst."

"Your turn."

"I'm a year older," Venus admitted.

"And good at math."

"Not my best subject, actually."

"I'd offer to help you, but this is probably our first and last chat, Venus."

"Just when I was beginning to like you."

"Were you?"

"Unfortunately."

"You'll find someone else," I sent.

"So it goes."

Tony peers over to look at the screen. "What are you doing?"

"Chatting," I said as I exited out of my messages.

"Pedophiles are on there."

"Yes, I realize you have an account."

"Very funny," he sighed and went back to his studies. "Just don't give out any addresses."

"Oh, my apologies, sweet pea, did I hurt your feelings?"

"Do your work, Jace411."

Scene 4: Bedell Wellness and Rehabilitation Center

Danny Cole

"Good afternoon," Heather chimed. Even when she's late, she never misses an appointment.

She hands me a paper bag and I look inside it.

"What's this?"

"Chocolate croissant," she replied, French accent and all.

"Thanks."

"How was group today?"

"I did individual therapy."

"Do you like her? We can get you someone else if you don't feel compatible."

"She's cool. Ex-addict with an addict parent. I can't complain." And I most definitely would if my therapist was just some college grad with an office.

"Great," Heather said, contented.

I look at her for a moment and feel bad about her good mood. Look at you being happy for me and just happy about life.

I don't really like you. And I wouldn't say we're friends. But you show up when you don't have to, and you're nice as shit to me whether it's real or not—so I can't let you get blindsided if I can help it.

I sighed deeply. "I gotta tell you something."

"Yes?"

"I really don't wanna get into this shit, whatever it is, but I feel like I owe you some loyalty or something."

The concern starts to show on her face. "I don't understand..."

"Just wanna let you know Elle fished that college readiness paper out the garbage. In case it matters."

"...what?"

"That's what you threw away, right? In the library?"

"She read it?" Heather asked in a panic.

I nodded. "She took it."

"Oh, my god." She puts her face in her hands.

"She's not getting points for it or anything," I said to make her feel better, but she only got worse by the second. "...alright, calm down. Leo's handling it."

"Oh, my god," Heather said again, this time more despaired.

"What was it?"

"He hasn't told you already?"

"I don't know if he got it from her yet. What would he tell me?" I asked, and she shook her head, standing up as if she were getting ready to leave. "Heather?"

"I have to go. I'm sorry."

"What?" My eyebrows draw together. "What does it say?" I called out as she walked out of the room.