Try to Hold On

Scene 1: Homeroom - Chemistry

Heather Blakely

"Hydrogen gas forms as the metals react with the acid to form salts. However, not all metals react with acids. Be prepared to write your formulas while we conduct these experiments."

"Can you repeat the names of the acids?"

"Yes," Mr. Vogel grabs the chalk and writes on the board, "we have hydrochloric and sulfuric acid in their diluted forms."

"Can we use any metal?"

"Sure, if any of you have items you want to test for reactiveness, add it to an empty test tube," he said. "I don't want to spoil anything, but you'll get a good reaction out of magnesium."

Chattering starts up around the room as people put together things useless enough to dissolve.

I open my purse to see if I have anything.

Most of them took out coins and old keys, the caps of lipstick tubes, and whatever else they could find in their bags.

All I have is the necklace.

And there is no point anymore, is there?  The meaning has dissolved, so...

I dangle the chain over the glass until the butterfly makes its way in— but the necklace is snatched out of my hand before I let it go. "What the hell, Heather?" Leo said.

"Is there an issue?" Mr. Vogel directed his attention to us.

"No..." he backed away from the table. "She just had something of mine."

"Okay..." and the bell rang before he could express his skepticism. "You're dismissed, everyone. I hope you're excited about next class. See you Friday."

I packed my things quickly to keep up with Leo. He tries to be the first out when he's not in trouble.

I walk behind him and grab his arm once we're out in the hall. "What are you going to do with it?"

"Why do you care? It's not yours anymore," Leo brushed me off and kept walking.

"Don't give it away..." I said...not too loud. I'm not sure if I wanted him to hear me, but he turned back to look at me, anyway.

Scene 2: Central Park

Jace Kendal

"Where have you been?" I ask when I find Trevor sulking on a bench.

"Figuring things out."

"What things?"

"Where I'm going to live in 6 months and if I'll have enough money saved over for around-the-clock bodyguards."

I sit next to him. "What are you talking about?"

"I did something, Jace. Something genius and yet so naive," he said in a serious tone.

"Okay..."

"Vivian...she was a liability, so I got rid of her, but my tactics were flawed."

"Your dad figured it out?"

"If he did, he'd kill me. And I fear, he will soon enough." Trevor sighed.

"...what's going on?"

"She's pregnant."

"Oh."

"But between me and my father, I had sex with her last."

"Oh," I say in shock, realizing the gravity of the situation. "Did you use a condom?"

"Not entirely."

"...Not entirely?"

"Not in the beginning, no."

"Are you insane?" I shouted in a whisper.

"I didn't want the setup to be too obvious...that, and I was spiteful, it seemed more insulting to my father to not use protection."

"It will definitely be an insult if the baby comes out looking like you."

"Especially since I look like my mother."

"What are you going to do now?"

"Wait." He shrugged. And I can tell he hasn't made peace with this despite the time he's spent mulling over it. We sit in silence...in wait. I feel bad that I can't help him...and kind of offended he didn't tell me about this before it blew up in his face. "Why were you in search of me?"

"Never mind. It's nothing in comparison to what's happening with you."

"That's no surprise but consider it a distraction," he suggested.

"Alison..."

"Ah, yes, the queen of broken hearts." Trevor smiled.

"I like her, but I know she tends to...like a lot of people."

"It wasn't a problem when I was with her. If anything, she was worried about how many people I enjoyed. She's a loyal wife, but after the separation, she'll have another guy before the divorce papers are signed. Alison hates being single."

"I don't want her to be single. But it doesn't seem like she's with me."

"Well, she did skip over Tony to get to you. I'd consider that unresolved."

"Tony has a girlfriend. They go on kiddie dates for ice cream and then walk home holding hands and probably don't even kiss goodbye."

"Oh, Milligan." Trevor chuckled. "But just because he has a girlfriend now doesn't mean he isn't who Alison wants, it means she wasn't who he wanted."

Scene 3: Lucky Market & Heroes

Leo Rylin

"You guys are running off business," Tommy complained as we all hung around the register.

"I don't think so," I nod toward the group of junior high girls who've been standing in the candy aisle whispering and glancing at us.

"They're probably eenie meenie miney mo'ing to figure out who's actually gonna come up here and check out. Move."

Once we're far enough, the girls do go to the check-out counter. We laugh to ourselves about it but don't say anything until they're out of the store.

"Are we scary?" Danny said in confusion.

"You sure the fuck are." I pushed him.

"Fuck you."

Matt raised a bag of chips up. "Can I have these?"

"Gonna pay for them?" Tommy answered, and Matt went and laid a handful of change on the counter. "You ain't got nothing better to do than have me counting pennies on a Wednesday night?"

"No, it's a Wednesday night."

"Where are your girlfriends?" Tommy asked and then looked at Matt. "You still working that girl you like?"

"Whoa, what girl?" Danny said.

"Who is it?" I smirked.

"Since when can you keep a secret?"

"You didn't tell them?" Tommy furrowed his eyebrows.

"How many times do I have to say she has a boyfriend?"

"Steal her," Danny suggested.

"Yeah, the fuck is he going to do about it?" I asked.

"You two single?"

"No," I replied.

"Eh," Danny shrugged.

"Mm..." Tommy raised an eyebrow at Matt.

"I don't want to steal her. Her boyfriend's a good guy."

"Fucking pacifist," Danny teased.

"Be quiet." Matt laughed but it's obvious that he was feeling down about this.

"Hey," I shake my head and bring the necklace out like it's a cautionary tale. "You're better off single."

I've had my hand in my pocket with the chain wrapped around my fingers pretty much all day.

"She finally gave it back?"

"I took it. Heather tried to turn it into salt."

"What?" Matt snickered.

"We were doing this experiment in class. Some metal turns into salt when you add chemicals and shit. She was going to trash the whole necklace."

Danny sucked his teeth in annoyance. "'She was fucking with you. Otherwise, she would've thrown it away a long time ago. Until she leaves, she's never gonna let you forget you were with her. You regret it now, don't you? I told you it was a stupid idea. That's why I never liked her."

"What do you mean she's leaving?"

He looked at me and then sighed like he didn't mean to say that. "She's moving."

"Since when?"

"She told me she was moving, I don't know."

"Why didn't you tell me before?" I huffed.

"You didn't need to know."

"Who said that was your decision to make?"

He scoffed. "Me since you needed a fucking messenger just so you wouldn't have to talk to her face to face."

Scene 4: Sinclair Residence

Alison Sinclair

"Oh, your dinner is in the refrigerator, darling." My mother said when I entered the kitchen. She's standing around with the other wine moms who live close enough to make sure none of them have to drink alone.

"Is dad here?"

"No, and you should learn not to expect him to be," she replied, taking a large sip from the glass.

"When my husband started coming in late, I started taking vacations alone to the Maldives. Two can play at not coming home," Eileen laughed.

"I never was a team player. I talked him into having another kid— and suddenly he was spending even more time in the office," Paula admitted.

My mother nodded. "We get to a certain age when we have to just ask: Why? Why would he come home to his wife when instead he can indulge in someone young and beautiful who's too clueless to realize just how uninspired he is."

"You believe he's having an affair?" I never thought she suspected...

"With his assistant, no less. I used to look just like her."

"...A woman?" I added, trying not to let my face give away what I'm thinking.

"A girl, they hire them fresh out of college, so they are doe-eyed and foolish."

"It is solely ego-based. They go from collecting trophy wives to collecting validating girlfriends until they're old enough to be grateful you stayed with them," Eileen poured more wine into her cup. The second bottle is almost empty.

"As long as I never have to work again. So be it."

"Are you feeling okay?" I asked, watching her sluggish movements.

"I'm fine. How are you?" She responded, dazedly.

"Isn't it a new school year?" Paula questioned.

"Her last."

"God, I miss being her age."

"You shouldn't," I sighed. If we're being candid in tonight's gossip session..."It's another semester and I'm still the school slut, apparently."

Eileen gasped and smiled. "I was too!"

"Granted that title was fair when it was given to you," Paula smirked.

"I embraced it. It's when you seem disparaged that it actually causes harm," Eileen explains. "Men want you to think lower of yourself and in turn lower your standards so that when they decide to cheat, you may be willing to give them a chance, you being who they really wanted in the first place. It's a ploy. They don't want you to realize that you have the power."

"Feeling bad about yourself only gives them an in they wouldn't have gotten without your vulnerability. I doubt there's one boy at that school who wouldn't walk barefoot on nails for your attention," my mother puts a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"It's not only boys calling me names."

"The girls whose boyfriends are gawking at you?" Eileen snickered. "Yes, I'm sure they say plenty."

"At least I know to blame Dalton." She slid her glass toward the center of the island. "I need to lie down."

"I'll take you to your room," I wrap my arm around hers.

"The sofa is fine," she said tiredly and let me guide her out of the kitchen.

"Do you want a cup of water?"

"No, thank you, honey." She lays back on the cushions. "I'm okay, now."

I watch as she lets out a breath and tries to get some rest.

"...Dad isn't cheating with his assistant."

"Mm..." She shields her closed eyes from the light. "I know you love your father-"

"I swear...he wouldn't. Not with her...not with a woman."

Scene 5: The Helmsley Hotel

Heather Blakely

It's been two minutes since I received a call saying he was downstairs. All 120 seconds have been spent trying to slow my breathing.

You make me physically unwell.

"Hey," he stood in the doorway of my room. "Thanks for letting me come up."

"Why are you here?"

"You're moving?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"California."

Leo's face flushed for a moment. "...when?"

"In a couple of months."

"Oh." He breathed out. "That kinda sucks."

"...It makes no difference to you."

"Nah, you don't really believe that," Leo replied...and my heart is growing tired of beating so fast. "Look, I don't get what the hell is going on. You broke up with me, and we were supposed to be on good terms, right?"

"I know."

"So, why are you fighting with my girlfriend all of the time now? And I know I shouldn't have snapped on you like I did, I'm sorry. We could've just talked it out, but I didn't give you the chance, and I think I might've owed you that, but, Heather," he sighed, defeatedly.

"I know...I'm sorry. It won't happen again," I said, solemnly.

"What happened?"

"I was...upset. Seeing you with her for the first time, it felt like I was only gone for a week and you had already moved on. My friends were only trying to make me feel better, but...I should've stopped them."

"You weren't gone for a week, you were gone the whole summer, and you said you were done with me."

"I remember, Leo. Okay? I'm sorry."

"Yeah, I know," he nodded. "Because you're not a bitch you're just acting like it." I rolled my eyes and scoffed. "Roll them all you want, you know I'm right."

"You've always been so annoying."

"You too."

And we held eye contact without it inciting anger. Yet, it feels shameful to peacefully stare at you.

"Go away now," I say softly and tear my eyes from him.

"No." He pulls his hand out of his pocket and holds out my necklace. "What the fuck was this about?"

I don't answer...but I'm fixated on the butterfly in the middle of his palm.

How nauseatingly symbolic.

"Give it back..."

"Why'd you bother keeping it?" He asked...another question I can't bring myself to answer.

Instead, I glance back and forth from the necklace to his face.

"Please..."

But he closes his hand.

I want so badly to hate you.

He walks out of my room and grabs the doorknob to close it behind him. "I don't look at her the way I used to look at you. You just forgot the look."