Nicki and Danny walk hand-in-hand in the lunchroom towards the groups’ usual table. She stops in front of it when seeing Milo and Jennifer sitting there, looking bummed out.
Nicki: *nervous* Hey, guys.
Milo & Jennifer: *monotone* Hey.
Nicki looks up at Danny, and Danny looks down at her. He clears his throat before anything else.
Danny: I’m going to practice in the West Wing for class; I’ll see you guys later. *to Nicki* Bye, babe.
Milo and Jennifer look shocked after Danny’s “babe” comment.
Nicki: Bye.
Nicki turns back around to see Milo and Jennifer staring her down.
Nicki: What?
Milo: “Babe?”
Nicki: It’s a nickname–
Jennifer: For a girlfriend.
Nicki doesn’t say anything. Jennifer sighs, adjusting in her seat.
Jennifer: Must be nice to have someone actually like you for you and not judge you for your past.
Nicki, confused, is speechless at first.
Nicki: Thank you?
Milo: I agree; it must feel good to have someone actually not think you’re this big, bad villain of some sort.
Jennifer: Right? Like I’m sorry I’m not this perfect human being that can always meet your perfect expectations all the time!
Milo: Exactly! Like don’t make me out to be this mean and nasty person when really you’re just reading into things too much!
Jennifer: Dude, finally! Someone who just gets it!
Milo smiled slightly, looking at Jennifer as she spoke.
Nicki: *uncomfortable* Okay… I guess things have been… challenging for the both of you.
Jennifer: *to Nicki* Boys just suck, that’s it.
Milo looks at Jennifer, confused to what Jennifer was talking about.
Nicki: What happened?
Jennifer: I met up with Nate to see the rehearsal space for these next couple of practices–
Milo: *interrupts* Wait, what rehearsal space?
Nicki and Jennifer looked at Milo.
Jennifer: *sighs* I went out with Nate this past weekend to check out his studio space.
Milo: *concerned* By yourself?
Jennifer: *annoyed* Why wouldn’t I? You were busy doing your band class crap–
Milo: You mean my performance–
Jennifer: Whatever. *looks at Nicki* Anyway, Nate had his brothers there, you know the ones in his band?
Milo: *annoyed* You were by yourself with three other guys?
Nicki and Jennifer turn their heads to look at Milo. Jennifer, visibly annoyed, turns her entire body toward him.
Jennifer: Yeah, and what about it?
Milo: *growing angry* The fact that you’re alone with three dudes that you barely know wasn’t a concern for you?
Jennifer: What, you think I was gonna let them “gang-bang” me or something?
Milo furiously gets up from his seat, grabbing his stuff from the table.
Nicki: Pep!
Jennifer: What? It sounds like Milo is implying that I would just let any cute, random guys bang me—
Milo: Do you even have a fucking brain in that thick skull of yours?! You don’t know Nate. He sings a couple of lines in vocal and you just fucking swoon for him—
Jennifer: *gets up* No, you don’t know Nate, and think every guy with an instrument in their hand also has their other hand up my skirt or something!
Nicki: *nervously* Guys, please—
The bickering is now causing the lunchroom to look in Milo and Jennifer’s direction.
Milo: I don’t have to know a guy to see that they invited you to his private rehearsal space, alone, without the rest of the band, just to check out the place—
Jennifer: And clearly you don’t know me to see that I wouldn’t just let some guy take control over me like that—
Milo: You did once, what’s not a second time?
Jennifer slaps Milo across the face, which now has the lunchroom rowdy in excitement. Milo holds the spot on his face where Jennifer slapped him.
Milo: *in shock* Did you really just fucking slap me?
Jennifer: Fuck you, Milo! You’re just jealous because every girl that you ever liked never liked you back! Get over it and stop projecting your insecurities onto me!
Milo walks up to Jennifer, sizing her up. He wouldn’t hit her, but he’s also fuming in anger for what she said.
Milo: So that’s how you feel, huh?
Jennifer: Yeah, and what are you gonna do about it?!
The two teens continue to yell at each other before two of the lunch aides break up the fight. One of them takes Milo in one direction, the other takes Jennifer outside of the lunchroom. Jennifer is still shouting as she gets escorted out, Milo puts his hands up for the lunch aide, letting her know he’s fine.
Milo looks at Nicki, sitting at the lunch table with her hand on her head. She shakes her head before looking back up at Milo.
Nicki: Why didn’t you just let her speak, Milo?
Milo: *defensive* Am I the only one that cares about Pep’s well being whenever she’s out doing crazy shit?
Nicki: *upset* Milo! She’s not yours to protect!
Milo and Nicki stare at each other momentarily. Milo knows what Nicki meant by that.
Milo: She’s my best friend, I’m suppose to look after her—
Nicki: If you don’t drop your feelings for Pep, you’re going to end up ruining your friendship with her.
Nicki walks away from Milo, leaving him alone in the lunchroom. Everyone goes back to their tables after the fight ends, and Milo is left standing there. He grabs his things and decides to leave the lunchroom for the day. As he passes the table closest to the exit, he notices Gwen sitting there, looking at him.
She definitely just witnessed this whole mess go down.
Letters From Liz. 