-The scene opens to Johnny practicing a dance Nooshy taught him. He hears something on the news and stops practicing. He grabs the tv remote and turns up the volume and sits on the couch in front of the tv-
Male tv reporter: Now we go to the scene at Daze Oaks Street, where an apartment building has just gone up in flames.
Female tv reporter: Witnesses say the building just started emitting smoke from the third story who say they thought someone had just burned their dinner, but many say that they saw flames, not too long after.
Johnny: (Has a terrified look on his face. Runs over to the piano, grabs his phone, and calls someone. The phone rings then goes to voicemail after a while. Nooshy's voicemail can be heard. Johnny runs to the door, grabs his keys and jacket, and runs out).
-The scene shifts to Johnny driving fast in his truck-
Johnny: (Trying to call Nooshy again. The voicemail plays again) Damnit, Nooshy, pick up the phone.
-Johnny arrives at the building that was on tv-
Johnny: (Trying Nooshy again) Nooshy, please pick up the phone. I'm at your apartment and I. Am. Worried! Please, just...Call me back.
-Johnny runs up to the blockade and looks around frantically-
Cop: Excuse me, sir. Can I help you? (Walks up to Johnny).
Johnny: I'm trying to find a friend of mine. She lives in that building. On that floor (Waves his hand toward the burning building as the firemen try to put out the flames).
Cop: Alright. What's your friends name (Takes out his notepad and pen).
Johnny: Nooshy Wintering.
Cop: And you're name?
Johnny: Johnny Soul.
Cop: Okay. Well let you know if we find her (Walks away).
Johnny: Wait-Ugh! (Looks around to make sure no one is watching before he ducks under the blockades and runs behind a fire truck. Searches the crowd for Nooshy).
-Johnny looks at the building toward Nooshy's apartment and let's out a long sigh-
Johnny: (Whispers) Please, be okay, Nooshy. Please. (Hears voice chatter over a radio and sees the cop from before coming his way. Ducks behind a fire truck. Let's put a sigh of relief. Looks to his left and sees Nooshy speaking to a reporter).
-Nooshy is in her signature look, but her clothes are burned and charred black and covered in smoke and ash. Her white fur has been singed to look like Johnny's. She has a blanket over her shoulders, which covers only some of the burns on her arms, which make Johnny worry. After the reporter leaves, Johnny walks toward Nooshy-
Johnny: Thought I might find you here.
Nooshy: (Looks up and sees Johnny) What are you doing here?
Johnny: I saw what happened on the news and...I rushed right over. I also may have called you a few times.
Nooshy: Sorry. In all of the chaos I haven't been looking at my phone or paying attention to anything else, really.
Johnny: (Looks at Nooshy's arms and singed fur) Are you okay? (Motions to Nooshy's arms).
Nooshy: Your sweet, Johnny, but I'm fine. So, you came here because you were worried about me?
Johnny: Of course. I care about you, Nooshy. I don't wanna see you get hurt (Shoves his hands deep into his pants pockets).
Nooshy: Thank you, Johnny (Stands up and hugs Johnny).
Johnny: (Hugs Nooshy tightly).
Cop: HEY! What are you doing here?
Johnny: Uh-oh.
Nooshy: What did you do?
Johnny: We should go. Now (Grabs Nooshy's hand and starts running for the truck).
Nooshy: (Laughing as she hops In the passenger seat).
Johnny: (Starts the truck, backs up, and drives away).
-After Johnny and Nooshy are a safe distance from the cop, they are still laughing-
Nooshy: I can't believe you. Why would you sneak past the cops?
Johnny: I told you I was worried about you.
-Johnny stops at a red light and there is a silence. After a while, Nooshy breaks the silence-
Nooshy: Thanks.
Johnny: What?
Nooshy: Ya know. For caring so much as to come here. My apartments over an hour.
Johnny: Half an hour if I drive like how my dad taught me (Chuckles and gives Nooshy a wink).
Nooshy: (Laughs).
-Later that night; at Johnny's house-
Johnny: (On the phone with Ash in his room) Yeah. No, she's here. Yeah. I told her she could stay with me. No, Ash. Yeah. Yeah, okay. Bye (Sets his phone on the bed next to his jacket).
Nooshy: (Sitting at the piano waiting for Johnny).
Johnny: (Walks in the living room) Ash says "hi."
Nooshy: What about the others?
Johnny: They all said that they were happy you're alright. Rosita also said that you should be careful and get your burns checked.
Nooshy: Yeah, I don't really do that well In hospitals. Thankfully, you showed up before the paramedics got to me.
Johnny: Nooshy, maybe you should get your burns looked at. I can drive you to the hospital if-
Nooshy: Or...I could just bandage myself up here.
Johnny: Have you ever dealt with burns?
Nooshy: Not really (Gently raises her arm). How about you?
Johnny: I would prefer you going to the hospital but...(Sighs) come on (Stands up and starts walking to the kitchen).
Nooshy: (Follows Johnny).
-In the kitchen-
Johnny: Sit down (Points to a chair at the table).
Nooshy: (Sits down).
Johnny: (Goes into the bathroom and comes back with a burn kit).
Nooshy: You have a burn kit?
Johnny: My dad said it's best to have one on hand.
Nooshy: Why?
Johnny: Well...When I was younger and still living in London, me and Eric were with our parents when we were burned by a fire. Badly (Sits next to Nooshy and starts treating her burns).
Nooshy: Who's Eric?
Johnny: Ummm...Eric is...My brother.
Nooshy: You have a brother?
Johnny: Yeah. Twin brother, actually.
Nooshy: How come I've never met him? Or even heard of him?
Johnny: Well...He still lives In London with my mum. He wanted to stay in London to open a restaurant. It's been his dream since we were three.
Nooshy: Well...How were you two burned?
Johnny: We, uh (Stands up and walks to the sink to wet a rag)...We were just...When we were about six years old, we were at a park with our parents when we ran off ahead of them. We made sure our parents could see us; Like we always did (Walks back over to Nooshy and puts the rag to her arm to clean the burn). We went to that park a lot so...We didn't think anything would happen so long as our parents could see us. But...A bunch of teenagers were in the area and they had a fire going. Me and Eric got a bit too close and...Well, we were just stupid little kids who thought it was cool so...We went a bit closer and our parents were a bit behind so...By the time they got to us half of those teenagers were trying to put me and Eric out while the others had started running away so they wouldn't get in trouble by our dad. After that, Eric came out with only first degree burns (Bandages Nooshy's arm and lifts it for her to see).
Nooshy: How about you? (Looks her arm over).
Johnny: What about me? (Walks to the bathroom to put the burn kit away).
Nooshy: How badly were you burned?
Johnny: I, uh...I came out with third degree burns.
Nooshy: Where were you burned?
Johnny: Ummm...Eric was burned on his arms but I was burned on ummm...My-my back and chest.
Nooshy: Does it ever hurt?
Johnny: The burns stopped hurting when I was eight. So, about eleven years ago.
Nooshy: How big are the burns?
Johnny: They kind of cover my whole torso.
Nooshy: May I...See? I mean, you saw all of my burns...And about half of the fur on both of my arms gone.
Johnny: (Puts his hands deep in his pants pockets).
Nooshy: Please?
Johnny: (Thinks for a moment but then looks at Nooshy) Alright (Lifts his shirt a little to show Nooshy a small amount of the burns).
Nooshy: I thought they were bigger?
Johnny: (Loks away from Nooshy).
Nooshy: Hey (Grabs Johnny's hand). You act like I'm gonna burn you even more.
Johnny: (Closes his eyes and squeezes Nooshy's hand).
-Johnny takes his shirt off slowly and reveals burns covering everything from his hips to his shoulders on both his stomach, chest, and back. Johnny barely had any fur on his back and stomach. But his shirts always covered that. Even his tank tops covered his burns-
Nooshy: (Gasps) Johnny (Reaches for Johnny's hands).
Johnny: You should watch your arms. You wouldn't want to hurt them.
Nooshy: Why is this the first I'm hearing this story or seeing your burns? We've know each other for a year, now.
Johnny: I don't know. The only person in this whole city that knows any of this is my dad. Not even my dads friends know.
Nooshy: (Leans against a wall, crosses her arms, and raises an eyebrow at Johnny).
Johnny: (Sighs) I thought people would see me as a tall, scary, scarred gorilla. Well, scarier (Walks over to the living room and sits on the couch with his head in his hands).
Nooshy: (Sits next to Johnny and leans on his shoulder) I don't think you're scary.
Johnny: Please. You've never been scared of my appearance?
Nooshy: No. Do you wanna know what I do think about you?
Johnny: Why not.
Nooshy: I think you're cool, smart, funny, caring, a good friend, cute (Says the last word under her breath).
Johnny: What was that last one? (Doesn't look up at Nooshy).
Nooshy: (Let's out a soft chuckle and kisses Johnny on the cheek) I said, "you're cute." You've also got some fire in you...And on you (Nods to Johnny's burns).
Johnny: You kissed me.
Nooshy: Yeah. Look, I already know what you're going to say. "Nooshy, we can't be together because people tend to freak out when different species date different species and we are two completely different species. I'm a giant gorilla and your just a little Lynx and we shouldn't-
Johnny: (Kisses Nooshy on the lips to shut her up) You talk too much...And I would never say that because I have been wanting to kiss those lips since I met you.
Nooshy: There's that fire.