Authors: Cheryl Klam
The Pretty One (26 page)
I pick it up to get a better look. I can still see the insignia on the side of the box. “Aerosoles?”
“I wasn't sure if they were expensive or not. But I do know my mom's boots are happy to be out of the box and free in the back of her closet.”
If this was a year or two ago, and I had just done something momentous, Lucy and Simon would have been here with me. Instead, I have Drew. It would have been nice to have all three, but I'm learning the world doesn't work like that. Not for me anyway.
“I wasn't sure about Catwoman,” he says.
“I think she fits in perfectly.” I gently set the diorama back on the table.
Drew moves closer. He looks at me with a singular attention and adoration, the colors in his irises changing and crackling, like tiny fireworks exploding just for me. It's enough to make me feel like I'm in the spotlight again (but in a good way).
I reach out for him and put my hand in his, as much to steady myself as for his touch. For the first time I feel like I'm alone with Drew, just the two of us, the rest of the world having faded into the background.
“So you like it?” he asks softly, brushing a wayward strand of hair away from my eyes.
If ever there was a moment when it would be appropriate to burst into song, this is it. But fortunately for Drew, George Longwell has ruined impromptu singing for me forever.
“Yeah,” I say. “I like it.” And then I give him my openmouthed smile.
THE END
By Drew Reynolds
CHARACTERS
GIRL: A girl in her late teens.
GUY: A guy in his late teens.
PLACE
A public park.
TIME
A summer night.
(Lights up on PARK. GIRL is sitting on park bench, staring up at FULL MOON. GUY ENTERS.)
GUY | Hey. |
GIRL | (Looks up and smiles, surprised and happy.) |
What are you doing here? | |
GUY | I've been looking for you. |
(GUY sits down next to her. GIRL takes his hand. GUY looks at their hands entwined together and pauses a beat, before pulling his hand away. GIRL looks back up at the moon.)
We need to talk. | |
GIRL ( | When I was little I used to be afraid of full moons. |
GUY | I've been thinking aboutâ¦about what happened last night⦠|
GIRL | Don't you want to know why I was afraid? |
GUY ( | I know why. Because you heard that bad things happen on a full moon. That all the vampire lore, the werewolf stuffâthat it's based on documented truth. |
GIRL | That's right. There could be monsters in this park right now. Just because we don't see them doesn't mean they're not here. At least, that's what they say. Good thing you gave me that necklace, remember? |
GUY ( | Of course. |
GIRL | You told me that the Rune is the key to eternal life, that it would protect me even when you weren't around to do it yourself. I never take it off. |
(SHE pulls out necklace and shows it to him.)
GUY | Look, about last nightâ¦Iâweâit was a mistake. |
GIRL | Personally, I think there's something to it. The werewolves and vampire theory, I mean. |
GUY | Are you listening to me? |
(SHE doesn't answer but continues looking at the necklace.)
It never should have happened. And it can never happen again. |
(Stands up and begins walking away.)
GIRL ( | I remember the first time I saw you. You walked into class and I just felt somethingâ¦I can't describe it. I'd never felt like that before. |
( | |
I had such a crush on you. | |
GUY | Look, we both need to move on⦠|
GIRL | You didn't notice me at first. I was always trying to think of reasons to talk to you. And then one day you dropped your pencil and I remember, I remember I said⦠|
GUY | You're a nice girl, okay? It's just that, well, I think we're better off as friends. |
GIRL (
GIRL stands up and crosses her arms, angry
.)
Are you breaking up with me again? | |
GUY | It's not like we were ever back together. We just hooked up, that's all. |
GIRL | There's someone else, isn't there? |
GUY ( | Noâ¦no. |
GIRL (
GIRL sits back on the bench, as if defeated. She hugs her knees to her chest as she stares at the moon.)
I've heard rumors, you know. A rumor you were seeing Wendy. | |
GUY | So what if I am? Look, we had a good run, you and me. But we're young, you know? |
(GUY pauses a beat and turns to leave.)
GIRL (Desperately.) | Don't go. |
(GUY continues to walk. HE is almost offstage.)
GIRL | I'll die without you. |
(GUY abruptly stops walking. He turns around to face her.)
GUY | Don't talk crazy. |
(GIRL starts to cry. GUY sits back down next to her.)
You deserve someone who really cares about you. | |
GIRL | I remember the first time we got together. You told me that I was specialâ¦that you had never felt like this about anyone before. That you loved me. Remember? |
GUY | I remember. |
GIRL | Was it a lie? |
GUY | Of course not. |
GIRL | When you first broke up with me I was so devastated, I couldn't sleep. I couldn't eatâ¦I couldn't do anything. And then I thoughtâ¦I'll be okay as long as he doesn't date anyone else. As long as I know his heart still belongs to me. When I heard that you and Wendy were hanging out, I told myself that you guys were just friends. And last night, when you saw me talking to that guy, I could see the pain in your eyes and I knew you were jealous. I knew you still cared about me. And then you touched my arm. Remember? “I miss you,” you said. |
(GUY looks away. GIRL begins caressing his arm.)
You still love me. | |
GUY | But that doesn't change how I feel about us. I can'tâ¦I don't want a relationship right now. |
GIRL | So we won't call it a relationship. It's just about what feels good. And this feels good. |
(THEY kiss long and slow. Suddenly, HE breaks away, jumping to his feet.)
GUY | No! |
GIRL
(Standing up to face him.)
Why not? | |
GUY | Because I don't want thisâ¦us! |
GIRL | But you love me⦠|
GUY | Look, thisâ¦us, it's not love. It's something else⦠|
GIRL | You're wrong. It is love for me. I've always loved you. From that first moment I saw you. |
GUY | Don't say that. It's not love⦠|
(GIRL kisses him with all her might. HE resists before responding in spite of himself.)
GUY | I'm not denying that you're hot. I've always thought that. But what happened last nightâ¦it's not going to happen again. We had too much to drink. The moon, the beachâ¦we're only human⦠|
GIRL | Have you slept with her? |
GUY | This conversation is over. |
GIRL | Do youâ¦do you love her? |
GUY | No. |
(GIRL sits down and looks back up at the moon.)
GIRL | Are you going to tell her about last night? |
GUY | I'm hoping I don't have to. |
(GIRL pulls out her phone and dials a number.)
GUY | What are you doing? |
GIRL | I'm calling Wendy. |
GUY | No! |
GIRL ( | She needs to know the truth, that you and I belong to each other. Otherwise last night never would have happened. |
GUY | We don't belong together! We never did! For God's sake, you don't even really know me. |
GIRL | I know that you're the type of guy who says hello to people everyone else ignores. I know you're the type of guy who never makes fun of people less fortunate than you. I know that you like blueberries on your cereal and that you wear boxers not briefs and that you have a birthmark right⦠|
GUY | I'm the type of guy who has sex with another girl when my girlfriend is on vacation with her family. |
GIRL ( | What? What are you talking about? |
GUY | Over Christmas break when you guys were in Jamaica, I hooked up with a girl I met at a party. |
GIRL ( | No. You called me every night. You told me you were just staying home and watching TV. |
GUY | I lied. |
GIRL | Whoâ¦who was she? |
GUY | Just some girl. A friend of a friend. |
GIRL | What happened to her? |
GUY | She went back to college and, well, you came home. |
GIRL ( | No. I don't believe it. |
GUY | I could have gotten away with it. You never would have known. I'm just telling you now to, well, to make things easier for you. |
GIRL
(SHE looks back at the moon.)
You see? I was right. There was a monster in this park. And it was right in front of my eyes the whole time.
(GUY pauses a beat before turning and walking to the back of the stage. He is still visible although covered in darkness.)
(SHE takes the necklace off her neck and looks at it. She sets it on the bench and looks back up at the moon before leaving the necklace and walking away.)
FINIS
ALSO BY CHERYL KLAM
Learning to Swim
Published by Delacorte Press
an imprint of Random House Children's Books
a division of Random House, Inc.
New York
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2008 by Cheryl Klam
All rights reserved.
Delacorte Press and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
eISBN: 978-0-375-84637-3
v3.0