BETWEEN THE TWO OF US
ACT 1
The school bell rings, and a blue-haired girl is seen rising from her seat at the front of the class. The teacher asks to speak to the girl, before waiting a moment for the class to clear out.
MRS GRANT: Hey, Chloe. How are you getting on today? I noticed that you didn't do as much work as you normally do.
CHLOE: I'm never really getting on okay. But I guess today is even worse than normal.
MRS GRANT: You can always talk to me if you want to, Chloe. You know that, right?
CHLOE: Yeah. Yeah, I know. *Small pause* Thank you.
Chloe walks towards the classroom door.
MRS GRANT: You're welcome. And Chloe… if it was my choice, I wouldn't have put you at the front of the class. I know that you're a good kid.
Chloe nods, and opens the door into the hallway. She walks briskly to the canteen, and steps in line for food – just in front of a hazel-eyed girl about Chloe's age. As she gets nearer the front of the queue, the blue-haired punk pulls out her phone. She stares at her lock screen for a while – a picture of her and her dad when she was younger – before entering her text messages and selecting 'Max Caulfield'. 'Last text 3 years ago'. Chloe's thumb lingers for a while above the touch keyboard.
CHLOE: (Under her breath) Fuck it.
She stumbles to put her phone in her pocket, as she realises she's about to be served.
SERVER: What can I get you?
CHLOE: One of them pretzels will do.
The server moves along the counter and grabs a pretzel. He puts it on top of the counter and processes it through the cash register.
SERVER: That'll be *he extends the 'e' sound, while checking the register* three dollars, please.
Chloe jingles change in her hand and sighs.
CHLOE: Where? I must have- *tuts* I'm ten cents short.
SERVER: It's happened to all of us at some point.
CHLOE: Any chance I could-
SERVER: Not my rules. Without the money, I can't let you have it.
CHLOE: Dude, its ten cents. They won't even notice.
SERVER: Not my rules.
CHLOE: I'm having a shitty day, okay? Just give me the fucking pretzel, dude.
SERVER: *Raises his voice* Swearing at staff is-
The hazel-eyed girl interrupts the conversation, with an offering hand.
GIRL: I've got this spare. Have it.
CHLOE: Wow.
Chloe takes the ten cents and shows it to the server, in a sarcastic manner.
CHLOE: A wild ten cents appears.
Chloe hands over the money, as the server begrudgingly gives her the pretzel.
GIRL: You okay, girl?
CHLOE: Yes. Perfectly fine.
The girl has a look of sympathy on her face, as Chloe walks away, towards a table. The punk begins walking slowly, sighs, and reluctantly turns back towards the queue. She approaches the hazel-eyed girl, interrupting her and the server.
CHLOE: Hey… you. I know I'm just some *she pauses momentarily* some random weirdo to you, but would you mind sitting with me for lunch?
The girl looks ever so slightly puzzled.
GIRL: Yeah, why not?
She finishes her purchase, and begins walking alongside Chloe, towards a table. After an awkwardly silent moment too long, the hazel-eyed girl breaks the ice.
GIRL: I like your hair…
The girl motions softly as if to say 'go on'.
CHLOE: Chloe.
GIRL: Ah, your name suits you.
CHLOE: Thanks… I think.
GIRL: Aren't you going to ask my name?
CHLOE: Well, it looks like I'm about to find out anyway.
GIRL: As you so clearly want to know, my name is Rachel Amber.
END OF ACT 1