Author`s Note: Thanks for all the reviews so far. I guess nobody really
likes the name-changing thing. I didn`t do it because the names are hard to
pronounce or anything (cause they`re not). The movie could be made in Japan
and clearly take place in Japan, with the same names, or it could be made
in America with the names changed. Personally I`m just kind of attached to
the idea of it being made into an American movie because that would get not-
so-open-minded audiences possibly interested in the manga. I feel like if
the setting and names were the same then mostly fans of anime and manga
would go see it because it would be so obvious that that`s what the story
originally was in the form of. I tried to make most of the names sound
similar, hence Harumi = Hanna and Rika = Rita. I changed Rei to Leo because
it has the same number of letters, and because I don`t think Rei seems like
a Ray kind of guy, and because the atrological sign Leo fits Rei`s
character a lot. Anyway, enough explanations. I hope you enjoy this next
installment.
P.S.-I did mispell "Geez" at the end of the last part. No, Rei is not
looking at a flock of "geese" in the sky, lol.
17- KIRA`S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Kira sits on the floor against a wall with a sketchbook in her lap. She is flipping through the pages, looking at work she did earlier in the book. POV shows a close view of each drawing that she turns to: some lovers holding hands on what looks like a bus, a woman throwing crumbs to birds, a young girl with a doll on her lap facing her. Then she turns to a drawing of a woman kneeling on the ground smiling and picking up one of her children as her other child laughs and pulls at her sleeve. It is the people Kira was watching in the park the day Leo approached her. Kira sets down the sketchbook and crawls over to the window to peer out of it. POV shows the bench she was sitting at through the window. Cicadas can be heard as the POV goes outside to show the bench closely from the back, so that Kira`s house is seen in the background.
18- SCHOOL ART STUDIO - DAY
Leo comes into the studio looking out of place among several students that are painting and drawing in the room. He looks around and finds who he`s looking for; Kira sitting and drawing faced away from him. He walks up behind her.
LEO: Kira.
She jumps and a box of pencils falls from her lap, spilling pencils all over the floor. Several students look up and spy on them as she stands and they both pick them up.
LEO: (laughing) Sorry I snuck up on you. I should have realized you were concentrating.
KIRA: (unsure how to respond)...Yeah. Um. What are you doing here?
LEO: Oh, here. I brought you this.
He holds up a clear folder with Kira`s drawing in it and hands it to her.
LEO: Sorry, I`m afraid I had it folded in my pocket for a while. I didn`t know there was a drawing on the back, so...
KIRA: It`s okay. This was just a rough sketch. I was just going to toss it out once I painted it, anyway.
LEO: (mouth dropping) You mean you`re making that into a painting?
KIRA: Yeah.
LEO:...Oh. Well. I don`t suppose you...well...what I`m saying is...
She raises her eyebrows questioningly.
LEO: You think I could have the sketch when you`re done with it?
KIRA: (shrugging) Yeah. Sure. If you really want it. You can have the painting when it`s finished, too.
LEO: (grinning)...What? You`re kidding, right?
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: (slightly overlaps with Kira`s following line) What`s this other side I`m seeing in him? He smiles like a little boy...
KIRA: No, it`s fine.
LEO: But you can`t just give it to me. That would be robbery. Well then again, I don`t have any money to give you either. Let`s see, there`s got to be something I can do for you.
He thinks for a moment and then points at her.
LEO: I`ll protect you.
KIRA: Protect me?
LEO: Yeah. You know. I`ll stand by you if anything happens. That`s about all I`m good for. (turning to leave) So yeah, if you need anything, you know how to find me.
As he leaves Kira`s mouth opens to say something, but she hesitates. A couple classmates are still watching her, their eyes raising from their easels. Then she runs out the door into the hallway where Leo is walking away.
KIRA: Leo! I need something!
Leo stops in his tracks in surprise, turning and looking surprised that she followed him out.
LEO: That was fast...What-
KIRA: You don`t just have to protect me. There`s something else you`re good for.
LEO: (putting his hands up)...Woah, wait. What are we talking about here?
KIRA: (takes a few steps closer to him) ...I want you to model for me.
Leo`s face twists into surprise.
19- SCHOOL ART STUDIO - DAY
Leo sits in a chair.
LEO: Is there any specific way you want me to sit?
Kira is seating herself behind an easel in front of him.
KIRA: No, any way you want to is fine. You just have to sit still.
LEO: (scratching his head) You know, I was kind of freaked out for a second `cause I thought you wanted a nude model.
Kira looks up in surprise and Leo laughs.
LEO: Actually, I wouldn`t have much of a problem with that. One time I snuck into the pool downstairs and went skinny-dipping with Aaron and the guys. It felt awesome. Hey, you should come next time.
She looks up from drawing and gives him the same shocked expression.
LEO: I`m kidding. Sorry, I should have warned you that I`m not exactly sincere. You`re too fragile; I shouldn`t be fucking around with your head.
KIRA: It`s okay. I kind of figured it out.
LEO: That`s who I am, you know. You shouldn`t believe anything I say. I live everything in the moment. It`s about having fun with what comes at me. I don`t like to think about much.
KIRA: Is that why you`re not afraid of anything?
LEO: (looking suddenly serious)...I`m afraid of a lot of things.
KIRA: You sure don`t seem like it sometimes.
LEO: ...Am I intimidating to you? Is it true that you don`t like guys?
KIRA: ...Do people say that about me?
LEO: (after a long pause) Maybe to you I just seem like some larger-than- life fearless idiot.
She stops drawing once more to look him in the face. POV goes to the corner of the room nearest to them where the statue of Mars sits, filling up half the screen so that Kira and Leo are just small figures in the background.
LEO: I`m a real person, you know. Unlike that guy.
Kira looks at the statue briefly, looking alarmed that he said that.
LEO: It`s so easy for people to think you`re not scared of anything if you show that you`re not afraid of dying.
KIRA: You mean you don`t fear death?
LEO: If I feared death I wouldn`t race motorcycles. I don`t know...It`s not like everyone who rides is like me. I just see it differently. Death interests me. And racing gets me closer to it than most people ever get without actually dying.
He looks up for the first time in a while to be confronted with her sad eyes.
LEO: Sorry if I`m scaring you.
KIRA: ...What scares me is to think about what you *are* afraid of.
She looks back down nervously. Leo blinks for an instant and-
a flashback lasts for less than a second of a scarf falling through the air by the side of a building, snow falling in the background.
Kira draws quietly and Loe sits clamly.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: I never imagined I would have Leo model for me. Is this really the same person who used to seem so reckless and unapproachable to me? That one drawing...It turned him from someone I didn`t like into someone friendly.
She looks up at him and now he is tiredly looking down at the floor. Camera view moves to show the statue once more.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: When he kissed that statue of Mars...I know he was just playing around, but I saw him in a way I never had before. Seeing him there with the statue in front of that burning sunset...he looked so beautiful.
POV shows the door where Tina, one of Hanna`s friends, is looking through the window looking confused. POV shows what she sees of Leo and Kira.
20- SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
HANNA: Leo was doing *what* in the art studio?!
TINA: That`s what I saw. Believe me, I`m just as confused as you are.
Aaron walks by and sees the two of them.
AARON: Morning, girls. Hi, Hanna.
HANNA: (grabbing him by the arm) Hey, you better knock some sence into Leo before he starts falling for the needy type.
AARON: (confused) What?
HANNA: I`m talking about Kira Webber. What the hell is he doing?
AARON: Shit, I don`t know. Hey, why is it always what Leo`s up to when you address me? How about a nice hello?
TINA: (waving) Hello, Aaron.
Aaron sighs hopelessly.
21- SCHOOL HALLWAY - LATER
Kira unloads books from her locker and Leo walks by casually talking with Aaron. Hanna comes up to join them, almost as if to distract Leo from the fact that Kira is right there. They talk right behind her where she can hear.
HANNA: Hey, Leo, I missed you this morning in Fletcher`s class. Where were you?
LEO: You know, I was up to the usual. Walking around the block naked, that sort of thing.
HANNA: (laughs loudly) Liar.
AARON: You know, maybe he hasn`t done that yet, but it`s still a wonder Leo`s never been arrested. He`s gonna get caught being up to his usual shit some day.
HANNA: Not if he`s seen by a female cop. I think you`ll get caught by a modeling agency before you ever get thrown in jail.
LEO: Well, unfortunately I`m already with my own modeling agency.
With those words his eyes drift to the side to glance at Kira almost unnoticeably. Even though Kira is faced away from them, a small, hidden smile quivers on her face. But Hanna, standing with her arms crossed, notices. Kira shuts her locker and as she walks by Hanna subtlely puts her foot out and trips her so that she falls onto the floor.
HANNA: Oh, I`m sorry. My foot must have caught you.
LEO: (moving behind Hanna to get to Kira) What`s wrong with you, Hanna? You clutz.
Hanna`s eyes turn angry as he bends over and helps Kira up and gathers her stuff. Leo picks up a barette from the floor that matches one Kira`s wearing on the right side of her head.
LEO: Looks like this fell out.
Kira puts her hand out expecting him to hand it back to her, but instead he gently puts it back into her hair on the side it fell from. Aaron and Hanna watch in surprise and look at eachother questioningly.
22- OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL - AFTER CLASS
AARON: What the heck are you thinking treating Kira like that? Are you insane?
LEO: What`s your problem with it?
AARON: Leo, how can you be so ignorant? There are tons of girls in this school who are dying for to just look at them and you just toss them all to the side. And now you actually stop and give attention to a social outcast who doesn`t even talk?
LEO: (after a moment of thought) Aaron...do you like Kira?
AARON: (turning his head in surprise) What?! No!
LEO: Oh. It was just a thought.
AARON: Huh? What was just a thought?
LEO: Oh, you know...If I could hook you up with her that would be a pretty good deal. I kind of owe it to her to take the liberty of helping her out in that area.
AARON: Owe it to her? For what?
LEO: Never mind that. But you should think about it. You should go for Kira.
Aaron looks thoughtful, rubbing his chin.
AARON: Me and Kira, huh?
Leo grins deviously.
23- OUTSIDE BACK OF THE SCHOOL - SAME TIME
Kira is walking outside through the back entrance to the school and sees Tina and Hanna`s friend Laurie standing there waiting for her.
TINA: Hi, Kira. You think you could come with us for a moment?
KIRA: What? Where?
Laurie and Tina each grab one of her arms and pull her around a corner where Hanna is waiting by a dumpster.
LAURIE: Oh, we just want to have a little chat, that`s all.
They throw her against the wall and Hanna walks forward to stand in front of her.
KIRA: Well, you`ve had quite an attitude lately, Kira. You must think you`re pretty cool just because Leo`s been a little nice to you.
KIRA: (shaking her head) What? Is that what this is about? But-
HANNA: You don`t actually think you have a chance with him, do you? Do you have even an inkling of what you are?
KIRA: What...what I am?
HANNA: Yes! You`re a pest! An annoyance! You`re so dull and gloomy, and you never speak. Just looking at you makes me sick. You`re an eyesore.
KIRA: But I`m not trying to take anything away from you. Me and Leo aren`t really...I mean, he`s just modeling for me. There`s nothing more than that.
Hanna`s hand flies across her face, slapping her. Kira gasps and shrinks back against the wall, holding her hand to her cheek.
HANNA: That`s what I`m talking about! Who do you think you are to have Leo model for you? I better not hear about that kind of shit again or I`m not going to be easy on you next time.
Hanna turns away and crosses her arms angrily as Kira begins to make quiet sobbing sounds, her face buried in her hands.
TINA: Oh, that`s too bad. We made her cry.
LAURIE: See, you`re just as lame as everyone thinks you are. Did you think talking to someone like Leo would change that?
KIRA: (wiping her eyes) Of course not...I just-
LAURIE: (grabbing her hair) Shut up, skank! Do you want another slap in the face?
HANNA: No. (looks down at Kira`s feet.) I`ve got a better idea.
24- OUTSIDE SCHOOL - SHORTLY AFTER
We see Kira`s bookbag sitting at the bottom of the dumpster filled with garbage. Her two shoes are thrown in to join it, falling in one by one as laughing is heard from outside.
By the dumpster, Kira is sitting against the wall now with nothing on her feet but socks. Hanna, Tina, and Laurie are walking away into the distance, laughing. Kira stands up, wipes her eyes dry and breathes in heavily, trying to recover enough to move. She walks slowly with her head down around another corner to the front of the school.
LEO (from a distance): Hey, Kira!
She gasps and turns around to see Leo walking with his helmet under his arm a distance away. She immediately starts running away from him and goes through the front school entrance. She runs through the halls, looking around for somewhere to hide, and then darts behind a line of lockers. Leo`s footsteps are heard near and then we see him walking and looking around for her.
LEO: Kira?
He sees some of her hair sticking out behind a locker. Smiling, he walks over until he can see her standing there.
LEO: There you are. Why are you running from me?
KIRA: Um...I`m not.
LEO: Why are you hiding?
Kira says nothing and walks back out into the hall, starting to walk back toward the door. Leo looks down and sees her socked feet.
LEO: (laughing) Where are your shoes, girl?
She stops walking, giving up, and lowers her head silently, her shoulders hunching. Leo`s smile drops to a displeased expression.
LEO: Who got you?
KIRA: (avoiding eye contact) Why do you care? (turns to look at him) It`s not any of your business, Leo.
He looks alarmed by her words and has no chance to say anything before she turns back away and starts leaving.
LEO: Hey! Wait a minute. (runs up to walk next to her.) Is it really none of my business? (light-heartedly) I`m supposed to protect you, aren`t I?
Kira stops again and looks at him sadly, and his frown returns again.
LEO: (looking down at her feet) You`re not walking home like that, are you?
KIRA: What else am I supposed to do? Besides, it`s not like they broke my legs. I can still walk.
LEO: (smiles) You`ve got more of a backbone than people give you credit for. And I just thought you were fragile...
She looks down at the floor in silence. He takes her arm and starts walking her out the door.
LEO: Come on, I`ll take you home.
KIRA: What? You mean on your motocycle?
They walk outside and make their way over to the lot where Leo`s motorcycle is.
LEO: Yeah. I`ve only got one helmet, but that`s okay. It`s fun to ride without one every once in a while, as long as you don`t run into a cop.
He hands his helmet out to her and she looks down at it. She reaches her hand out but then it freezes in place as she contemplates.
Flashback of Hanna talking to her.
HANNA: I`m not going to be easy on you next time.
Slowly, Kira reaches forward and weakly takes his helmet. He turns away from her to get onto his bike and Kira turns the helmet and looks at it so that her face is reflected in the visor.
KIRA`S REFLECTION: What are you doing?
Kira slaps her hand over the visor and turns the helmet back around somewhat aggressively. Leo looks behind his shoulder at her.
LEO: This is okay, right?
HANNA`S VOICEOVER (FLASHBACK): Who do you think you are?
KIRA: ...Yeah.
She puts the helmet over her head and unsurely gets behind Leo on the back of the motorcycle, loosely gripping Leo around the waist.
LEO: Hold on tight.
Close-up on Kira`s hands tightening around him.
25- OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL - DAY
Aaron is drinking a bottle of soda as he waits for a ride on the side of the block. The sound of a motorcycle is heard and he turns his head and drops his jaw at what he sees.
AARON: You`ve got to be shitting me.
From the left Leo roars by on his motorcycle with Kira riding on the back.
LEO: Hey, Aaron!
He reaches his arm out as they pass and hits Aaron`s bottle so the side, spilling soda all over Aaron`s shirt.
AARON: (calling) Leo, you sadist! I`m gonna kill you!
On his motorcycle, Leo laughs as Kira just smiles in silence.
LEO: (shouting so Kira can hear) I`ll try to go a little slower than I`m used to. If we die, I`m sorry.
Kira is leaned close against his back, holding him tightly. Camera closes up on Kira`s eyes. Through the tinted visor it looks like her face is inside a red world. Her eyes look sad as they close.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: I don`t care if I die...
Everything goes quiet except for a soft sound of rushing wind. We see the world whizzing by as Kira sees it, everything tinted red.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: The world is different this way. It`s always changing but at the same time unchanging, so that everything is safe and secure. Everything is so simple; everything is just a path down a long road.
POV of brances of trees rushing by in a blur above with a beautiful bright sun-lit sky beyond them.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: I want to keep going forever.
26- OUTSIDE KIRA`S HOUSE - DAY
Leo rides up in front of Kira`s yard and slows to a stop. He looks behind him and shakes Kira gently by jolting back.
LEO: Hey, Kira.
Kira opens her eyes and sits up from leaning against him.
KIRA: Oh...We`re here.
LEO: (in disbelief) You weren`t asleep, were you?
KIRA: (takes off the helmet and slides off of the bike) No...I just got a little too relaxed.
LEO: (laughs) You`re lucky. I can`t afford to zone out when I ride.
KIRA: Is that why you always sleep in class?
They both laugh. Leo gets off the motorcycle to stand in front of her. She hands the helmet back to him.
KIRA: Thank you for the ride.
LEO: It`s no problem. I should thank you for braving the peril. Thanks for trusting me with your life.
Kira`s eyes immediately sadden, and he looks confused as she lowers her head into her hands and her eyes start to tear.
KIRA: I...I`m sorry. I can`t help it. I know you weren`t giving it any thought. You were just living "in the moment." But when you said you would protect me...It made me feel stronger.
Leo`s eyes soften a little as she starts to cry, covering her face shamefully. He slowly reaches his left hand out, and POV closes in on his hand as it almost touches her head...
MOTHER (from a distance): Kira!
Leo`s hand drops and Kira looks up, rubbing her eyes. Kira`s mother is standing in the doorway of her house, and she runs out to them and immediately gets on Leo, who coils back in surprise.
MOTHER: (pointing a finger at him) Whatever you did to her, I`m warning you! If you bother my daughter again, I`ll-
KIRA: Mom! (takes her mother`s arm and pulls her back) Uh, mom...This is Leo. A friend from school.
Her mother`s eyes widen and she looks back and forth from Leo to Kira sheepishly.
MOTHER: Oh. I...guess I had the wrong idea. I`m very sorry.
LEO: It`s fine. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Webber. (puts his hand out and shakes hers.) You have a beautiful home. And your daughter is very talented. I`m sure you`re very proud.
Kira`s mother, still confused, looks down at Kira but Kira just looks at the ground as if saying "Don`t ask me."
MOTHER: I`m sorry, what are you doing here again? (to Kira) And young lady, where on earth are your shoes?
LEO: I gave Kira a ride home. Her shoes were...stolen.
MOTHER: Stolen?!
LEO: Yeah...(as Kira gives him a scared look from behind her mother`s shoulder) Locker theft. It happens all the time.
MOTHER: Oh. Well. I`m not going to dare ask what your shoes were doing in your locker instead of on your feet. (to Leo) Well, this doesn`t happen very often. I mean, please come inside for a drink or something.
LEO: That`s allright. I better get going. Though I would love to see the inside of your home sometime. (gets back on his motorcycle) See you tomorrow, Kira.
He puts his helmet on and rides away, the noise of his motorcycle clashing with the serenity of the nieghborhood. Kira`s mother looks at her and she just smiles fakely.
17- KIRA`S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Kira sits on the floor against a wall with a sketchbook in her lap. She is flipping through the pages, looking at work she did earlier in the book. POV shows a close view of each drawing that she turns to: some lovers holding hands on what looks like a bus, a woman throwing crumbs to birds, a young girl with a doll on her lap facing her. Then she turns to a drawing of a woman kneeling on the ground smiling and picking up one of her children as her other child laughs and pulls at her sleeve. It is the people Kira was watching in the park the day Leo approached her. Kira sets down the sketchbook and crawls over to the window to peer out of it. POV shows the bench she was sitting at through the window. Cicadas can be heard as the POV goes outside to show the bench closely from the back, so that Kira`s house is seen in the background.
18- SCHOOL ART STUDIO - DAY
Leo comes into the studio looking out of place among several students that are painting and drawing in the room. He looks around and finds who he`s looking for; Kira sitting and drawing faced away from him. He walks up behind her.
LEO: Kira.
She jumps and a box of pencils falls from her lap, spilling pencils all over the floor. Several students look up and spy on them as she stands and they both pick them up.
LEO: (laughing) Sorry I snuck up on you. I should have realized you were concentrating.
KIRA: (unsure how to respond)...Yeah. Um. What are you doing here?
LEO: Oh, here. I brought you this.
He holds up a clear folder with Kira`s drawing in it and hands it to her.
LEO: Sorry, I`m afraid I had it folded in my pocket for a while. I didn`t know there was a drawing on the back, so...
KIRA: It`s okay. This was just a rough sketch. I was just going to toss it out once I painted it, anyway.
LEO: (mouth dropping) You mean you`re making that into a painting?
KIRA: Yeah.
LEO:...Oh. Well. I don`t suppose you...well...what I`m saying is...
She raises her eyebrows questioningly.
LEO: You think I could have the sketch when you`re done with it?
KIRA: (shrugging) Yeah. Sure. If you really want it. You can have the painting when it`s finished, too.
LEO: (grinning)...What? You`re kidding, right?
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: (slightly overlaps with Kira`s following line) What`s this other side I`m seeing in him? He smiles like a little boy...
KIRA: No, it`s fine.
LEO: But you can`t just give it to me. That would be robbery. Well then again, I don`t have any money to give you either. Let`s see, there`s got to be something I can do for you.
He thinks for a moment and then points at her.
LEO: I`ll protect you.
KIRA: Protect me?
LEO: Yeah. You know. I`ll stand by you if anything happens. That`s about all I`m good for. (turning to leave) So yeah, if you need anything, you know how to find me.
As he leaves Kira`s mouth opens to say something, but she hesitates. A couple classmates are still watching her, their eyes raising from their easels. Then she runs out the door into the hallway where Leo is walking away.
KIRA: Leo! I need something!
Leo stops in his tracks in surprise, turning and looking surprised that she followed him out.
LEO: That was fast...What-
KIRA: You don`t just have to protect me. There`s something else you`re good for.
LEO: (putting his hands up)...Woah, wait. What are we talking about here?
KIRA: (takes a few steps closer to him) ...I want you to model for me.
Leo`s face twists into surprise.
19- SCHOOL ART STUDIO - DAY
Leo sits in a chair.
LEO: Is there any specific way you want me to sit?
Kira is seating herself behind an easel in front of him.
KIRA: No, any way you want to is fine. You just have to sit still.
LEO: (scratching his head) You know, I was kind of freaked out for a second `cause I thought you wanted a nude model.
Kira looks up in surprise and Leo laughs.
LEO: Actually, I wouldn`t have much of a problem with that. One time I snuck into the pool downstairs and went skinny-dipping with Aaron and the guys. It felt awesome. Hey, you should come next time.
She looks up from drawing and gives him the same shocked expression.
LEO: I`m kidding. Sorry, I should have warned you that I`m not exactly sincere. You`re too fragile; I shouldn`t be fucking around with your head.
KIRA: It`s okay. I kind of figured it out.
LEO: That`s who I am, you know. You shouldn`t believe anything I say. I live everything in the moment. It`s about having fun with what comes at me. I don`t like to think about much.
KIRA: Is that why you`re not afraid of anything?
LEO: (looking suddenly serious)...I`m afraid of a lot of things.
KIRA: You sure don`t seem like it sometimes.
LEO: ...Am I intimidating to you? Is it true that you don`t like guys?
KIRA: ...Do people say that about me?
LEO: (after a long pause) Maybe to you I just seem like some larger-than- life fearless idiot.
She stops drawing once more to look him in the face. POV goes to the corner of the room nearest to them where the statue of Mars sits, filling up half the screen so that Kira and Leo are just small figures in the background.
LEO: I`m a real person, you know. Unlike that guy.
Kira looks at the statue briefly, looking alarmed that he said that.
LEO: It`s so easy for people to think you`re not scared of anything if you show that you`re not afraid of dying.
KIRA: You mean you don`t fear death?
LEO: If I feared death I wouldn`t race motorcycles. I don`t know...It`s not like everyone who rides is like me. I just see it differently. Death interests me. And racing gets me closer to it than most people ever get without actually dying.
He looks up for the first time in a while to be confronted with her sad eyes.
LEO: Sorry if I`m scaring you.
KIRA: ...What scares me is to think about what you *are* afraid of.
She looks back down nervously. Leo blinks for an instant and-
a flashback lasts for less than a second of a scarf falling through the air by the side of a building, snow falling in the background.
Kira draws quietly and Loe sits clamly.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: I never imagined I would have Leo model for me. Is this really the same person who used to seem so reckless and unapproachable to me? That one drawing...It turned him from someone I didn`t like into someone friendly.
She looks up at him and now he is tiredly looking down at the floor. Camera view moves to show the statue once more.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: When he kissed that statue of Mars...I know he was just playing around, but I saw him in a way I never had before. Seeing him there with the statue in front of that burning sunset...he looked so beautiful.
POV shows the door where Tina, one of Hanna`s friends, is looking through the window looking confused. POV shows what she sees of Leo and Kira.
20- SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
HANNA: Leo was doing *what* in the art studio?!
TINA: That`s what I saw. Believe me, I`m just as confused as you are.
Aaron walks by and sees the two of them.
AARON: Morning, girls. Hi, Hanna.
HANNA: (grabbing him by the arm) Hey, you better knock some sence into Leo before he starts falling for the needy type.
AARON: (confused) What?
HANNA: I`m talking about Kira Webber. What the hell is he doing?
AARON: Shit, I don`t know. Hey, why is it always what Leo`s up to when you address me? How about a nice hello?
TINA: (waving) Hello, Aaron.
Aaron sighs hopelessly.
21- SCHOOL HALLWAY - LATER
Kira unloads books from her locker and Leo walks by casually talking with Aaron. Hanna comes up to join them, almost as if to distract Leo from the fact that Kira is right there. They talk right behind her where she can hear.
HANNA: Hey, Leo, I missed you this morning in Fletcher`s class. Where were you?
LEO: You know, I was up to the usual. Walking around the block naked, that sort of thing.
HANNA: (laughs loudly) Liar.
AARON: You know, maybe he hasn`t done that yet, but it`s still a wonder Leo`s never been arrested. He`s gonna get caught being up to his usual shit some day.
HANNA: Not if he`s seen by a female cop. I think you`ll get caught by a modeling agency before you ever get thrown in jail.
LEO: Well, unfortunately I`m already with my own modeling agency.
With those words his eyes drift to the side to glance at Kira almost unnoticeably. Even though Kira is faced away from them, a small, hidden smile quivers on her face. But Hanna, standing with her arms crossed, notices. Kira shuts her locker and as she walks by Hanna subtlely puts her foot out and trips her so that she falls onto the floor.
HANNA: Oh, I`m sorry. My foot must have caught you.
LEO: (moving behind Hanna to get to Kira) What`s wrong with you, Hanna? You clutz.
Hanna`s eyes turn angry as he bends over and helps Kira up and gathers her stuff. Leo picks up a barette from the floor that matches one Kira`s wearing on the right side of her head.
LEO: Looks like this fell out.
Kira puts her hand out expecting him to hand it back to her, but instead he gently puts it back into her hair on the side it fell from. Aaron and Hanna watch in surprise and look at eachother questioningly.
22- OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL - AFTER CLASS
AARON: What the heck are you thinking treating Kira like that? Are you insane?
LEO: What`s your problem with it?
AARON: Leo, how can you be so ignorant? There are tons of girls in this school who are dying for to just look at them and you just toss them all to the side. And now you actually stop and give attention to a social outcast who doesn`t even talk?
LEO: (after a moment of thought) Aaron...do you like Kira?
AARON: (turning his head in surprise) What?! No!
LEO: Oh. It was just a thought.
AARON: Huh? What was just a thought?
LEO: Oh, you know...If I could hook you up with her that would be a pretty good deal. I kind of owe it to her to take the liberty of helping her out in that area.
AARON: Owe it to her? For what?
LEO: Never mind that. But you should think about it. You should go for Kira.
Aaron looks thoughtful, rubbing his chin.
AARON: Me and Kira, huh?
Leo grins deviously.
23- OUTSIDE BACK OF THE SCHOOL - SAME TIME
Kira is walking outside through the back entrance to the school and sees Tina and Hanna`s friend Laurie standing there waiting for her.
TINA: Hi, Kira. You think you could come with us for a moment?
KIRA: What? Where?
Laurie and Tina each grab one of her arms and pull her around a corner where Hanna is waiting by a dumpster.
LAURIE: Oh, we just want to have a little chat, that`s all.
They throw her against the wall and Hanna walks forward to stand in front of her.
KIRA: Well, you`ve had quite an attitude lately, Kira. You must think you`re pretty cool just because Leo`s been a little nice to you.
KIRA: (shaking her head) What? Is that what this is about? But-
HANNA: You don`t actually think you have a chance with him, do you? Do you have even an inkling of what you are?
KIRA: What...what I am?
HANNA: Yes! You`re a pest! An annoyance! You`re so dull and gloomy, and you never speak. Just looking at you makes me sick. You`re an eyesore.
KIRA: But I`m not trying to take anything away from you. Me and Leo aren`t really...I mean, he`s just modeling for me. There`s nothing more than that.
Hanna`s hand flies across her face, slapping her. Kira gasps and shrinks back against the wall, holding her hand to her cheek.
HANNA: That`s what I`m talking about! Who do you think you are to have Leo model for you? I better not hear about that kind of shit again or I`m not going to be easy on you next time.
Hanna turns away and crosses her arms angrily as Kira begins to make quiet sobbing sounds, her face buried in her hands.
TINA: Oh, that`s too bad. We made her cry.
LAURIE: See, you`re just as lame as everyone thinks you are. Did you think talking to someone like Leo would change that?
KIRA: (wiping her eyes) Of course not...I just-
LAURIE: (grabbing her hair) Shut up, skank! Do you want another slap in the face?
HANNA: No. (looks down at Kira`s feet.) I`ve got a better idea.
24- OUTSIDE SCHOOL - SHORTLY AFTER
We see Kira`s bookbag sitting at the bottom of the dumpster filled with garbage. Her two shoes are thrown in to join it, falling in one by one as laughing is heard from outside.
By the dumpster, Kira is sitting against the wall now with nothing on her feet but socks. Hanna, Tina, and Laurie are walking away into the distance, laughing. Kira stands up, wipes her eyes dry and breathes in heavily, trying to recover enough to move. She walks slowly with her head down around another corner to the front of the school.
LEO (from a distance): Hey, Kira!
She gasps and turns around to see Leo walking with his helmet under his arm a distance away. She immediately starts running away from him and goes through the front school entrance. She runs through the halls, looking around for somewhere to hide, and then darts behind a line of lockers. Leo`s footsteps are heard near and then we see him walking and looking around for her.
LEO: Kira?
He sees some of her hair sticking out behind a locker. Smiling, he walks over until he can see her standing there.
LEO: There you are. Why are you running from me?
KIRA: Um...I`m not.
LEO: Why are you hiding?
Kira says nothing and walks back out into the hall, starting to walk back toward the door. Leo looks down and sees her socked feet.
LEO: (laughing) Where are your shoes, girl?
She stops walking, giving up, and lowers her head silently, her shoulders hunching. Leo`s smile drops to a displeased expression.
LEO: Who got you?
KIRA: (avoiding eye contact) Why do you care? (turns to look at him) It`s not any of your business, Leo.
He looks alarmed by her words and has no chance to say anything before she turns back away and starts leaving.
LEO: Hey! Wait a minute. (runs up to walk next to her.) Is it really none of my business? (light-heartedly) I`m supposed to protect you, aren`t I?
Kira stops again and looks at him sadly, and his frown returns again.
LEO: (looking down at her feet) You`re not walking home like that, are you?
KIRA: What else am I supposed to do? Besides, it`s not like they broke my legs. I can still walk.
LEO: (smiles) You`ve got more of a backbone than people give you credit for. And I just thought you were fragile...
She looks down at the floor in silence. He takes her arm and starts walking her out the door.
LEO: Come on, I`ll take you home.
KIRA: What? You mean on your motocycle?
They walk outside and make their way over to the lot where Leo`s motorcycle is.
LEO: Yeah. I`ve only got one helmet, but that`s okay. It`s fun to ride without one every once in a while, as long as you don`t run into a cop.
He hands his helmet out to her and she looks down at it. She reaches her hand out but then it freezes in place as she contemplates.
Flashback of Hanna talking to her.
HANNA: I`m not going to be easy on you next time.
Slowly, Kira reaches forward and weakly takes his helmet. He turns away from her to get onto his bike and Kira turns the helmet and looks at it so that her face is reflected in the visor.
KIRA`S REFLECTION: What are you doing?
Kira slaps her hand over the visor and turns the helmet back around somewhat aggressively. Leo looks behind his shoulder at her.
LEO: This is okay, right?
HANNA`S VOICEOVER (FLASHBACK): Who do you think you are?
KIRA: ...Yeah.
She puts the helmet over her head and unsurely gets behind Leo on the back of the motorcycle, loosely gripping Leo around the waist.
LEO: Hold on tight.
Close-up on Kira`s hands tightening around him.
25- OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL - DAY
Aaron is drinking a bottle of soda as he waits for a ride on the side of the block. The sound of a motorcycle is heard and he turns his head and drops his jaw at what he sees.
AARON: You`ve got to be shitting me.
From the left Leo roars by on his motorcycle with Kira riding on the back.
LEO: Hey, Aaron!
He reaches his arm out as they pass and hits Aaron`s bottle so the side, spilling soda all over Aaron`s shirt.
AARON: (calling) Leo, you sadist! I`m gonna kill you!
On his motorcycle, Leo laughs as Kira just smiles in silence.
LEO: (shouting so Kira can hear) I`ll try to go a little slower than I`m used to. If we die, I`m sorry.
Kira is leaned close against his back, holding him tightly. Camera closes up on Kira`s eyes. Through the tinted visor it looks like her face is inside a red world. Her eyes look sad as they close.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: I don`t care if I die...
Everything goes quiet except for a soft sound of rushing wind. We see the world whizzing by as Kira sees it, everything tinted red.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: The world is different this way. It`s always changing but at the same time unchanging, so that everything is safe and secure. Everything is so simple; everything is just a path down a long road.
POV of brances of trees rushing by in a blur above with a beautiful bright sun-lit sky beyond them.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: I want to keep going forever.
26- OUTSIDE KIRA`S HOUSE - DAY
Leo rides up in front of Kira`s yard and slows to a stop. He looks behind him and shakes Kira gently by jolting back.
LEO: Hey, Kira.
Kira opens her eyes and sits up from leaning against him.
KIRA: Oh...We`re here.
LEO: (in disbelief) You weren`t asleep, were you?
KIRA: (takes off the helmet and slides off of the bike) No...I just got a little too relaxed.
LEO: (laughs) You`re lucky. I can`t afford to zone out when I ride.
KIRA: Is that why you always sleep in class?
They both laugh. Leo gets off the motorcycle to stand in front of her. She hands the helmet back to him.
KIRA: Thank you for the ride.
LEO: It`s no problem. I should thank you for braving the peril. Thanks for trusting me with your life.
Kira`s eyes immediately sadden, and he looks confused as she lowers her head into her hands and her eyes start to tear.
KIRA: I...I`m sorry. I can`t help it. I know you weren`t giving it any thought. You were just living "in the moment." But when you said you would protect me...It made me feel stronger.
Leo`s eyes soften a little as she starts to cry, covering her face shamefully. He slowly reaches his left hand out, and POV closes in on his hand as it almost touches her head...
MOTHER (from a distance): Kira!
Leo`s hand drops and Kira looks up, rubbing her eyes. Kira`s mother is standing in the doorway of her house, and she runs out to them and immediately gets on Leo, who coils back in surprise.
MOTHER: (pointing a finger at him) Whatever you did to her, I`m warning you! If you bother my daughter again, I`ll-
KIRA: Mom! (takes her mother`s arm and pulls her back) Uh, mom...This is Leo. A friend from school.
Her mother`s eyes widen and she looks back and forth from Leo to Kira sheepishly.
MOTHER: Oh. I...guess I had the wrong idea. I`m very sorry.
LEO: It`s fine. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Webber. (puts his hand out and shakes hers.) You have a beautiful home. And your daughter is very talented. I`m sure you`re very proud.
Kira`s mother, still confused, looks down at Kira but Kira just looks at the ground as if saying "Don`t ask me."
MOTHER: I`m sorry, what are you doing here again? (to Kira) And young lady, where on earth are your shoes?
LEO: I gave Kira a ride home. Her shoes were...stolen.
MOTHER: Stolen?!
LEO: Yeah...(as Kira gives him a scared look from behind her mother`s shoulder) Locker theft. It happens all the time.
MOTHER: Oh. Well. I`m not going to dare ask what your shoes were doing in your locker instead of on your feet. (to Leo) Well, this doesn`t happen very often. I mean, please come inside for a drink or something.
LEO: That`s allright. I better get going. Though I would love to see the inside of your home sometime. (gets back on his motorcycle) See you tomorrow, Kira.
He puts his helmet on and rides away, the noise of his motorcycle clashing with the serenity of the nieghborhood. Kira`s mother looks at her and she just smiles fakely.