Milo paces back and forth near the bus stop, sighing as he looks down at his cellphone. He sees various classmates walk out of the school; some in which he knows are in Jennifer’s 8th period class. He grows frustrated the longer he waits.
He immediately notices Nicki walking out of the school with Danny; he rolls his eyes as he walks away from the bus stop, knowing Nicki should know where Jennifer is.
Milo: Yo, Nic!
Nicki turns around and sees Milo. He walks over to her; she seems annoyed as she crosses her arms along her chest.
Nicki: If you’re here to talk shit about Pep, then–
Milo: *confused* Huh? No, I’m trying to find her.
Nicki’s face softens.
Nicki: She didn’t show up to 8th period?
Milo: I don’t know, but a bunch of her classmates in her 8th period class were already dismissed.
Nicki turns her head to the exit door, noticing the group of teens from that class hang out outside.
Milo: So, I’m guessing you don’t know where she is either…
Nicki: *sighs* The last time I saw her was at lunch, even though she did seem like she was in some sort of rush…
Milo sighs, growing more frustrated.
Milo: Perfect. I’m suppose to be staying with her and her family this week, and I have all my shit with me to bring to her place, and she’s nowhere to be found.
Nicki: I’m guessing she’s also not answering her messages on AIM either, huh?
Milo doesn’t answer; he continues to look around the area around the school until he notices someone else leaving the school. His face softens.
Milo: *sighs* I’m just gonna hang around until she answers me; if anything, I’ll just crash at my own place waiting for her.
Nicki sighs as she says goodbye to Milo for the day. They walk away from the school in different directions, but Milo is walking around the school, to meet up with Gwen.
Milo gets closer to where Gwen is standing; she finally notices him and waves.
Gwen: Hey, Milo; I thought you’d be half way home by now.
Milo: Yeah, about that…
Milo sighs; Gwen looks at him worried. He immediately notices the shift in her expression.
Milo: It’s nothing bad or anything, it’s just that my parents are out of town, which means I have to stay with Pep’s family for the time being, and she’s nowhere to be found.
Gwen: *annoyed* Oh.
Milo: Yeah… and Nicki hasn’t heard from her either, so–
Gwen: Nate wasn’t in 8th period today.
Milo and Gwen look at each other; nothing is said, but a mutual agreement is had.
Milo: Another day, another guy keeping her back.
Milo looks back at Gwen; she seems uncomfortable standing there. Milo sighs before he forces a smile.
Milo: She’s not my responsibility. *to Gwen* I was actually looking for you.
Gwen: Me? Why?
Milo: Well, since I have no way getting home, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out. Of course, if you don’t have your practices to go to.
Gwen: *teases* So, a rebound hang out?
Milo gets flustered as Gwen giggles.
Gwen: I’m totally joking. Of course we can hang out.
Milo smiles at Gwen and starts to walk away from the school.
…
Milo and Gwen continue walking down the streets of Manhattan before they finally get to Central Park. They walk until they find a vacant beach in the middle of the path, sitting down and placing down their bags next to them.
Gwen: Going on this walk wasn’t the greatest idea considering we have our instruments today.
Milo: Thankfully it’s violins and not, like a huge cello.
Gwen nods to agree. Milo clears his throat and looks around the area.
Milo: It’s so nice out here, it’s about time that we got some sunny days this month.
Gwen: Do you usually come to the park when it’s nice like this?
Milo: *shakes head* I’m usually stuck in some sort of practice.
Milo fidgets with his hands; Gwen takes note.
Gwen: Is everything okay?
Milo looks up and forces a smile.
Milo: Yeah.
Gwen: You’re such a horrible liar.
Milo scoffs before sighing; he’s surprised at how observant Gwen truly is.
Milo: I think the band is breaking up.
Gwen: *shocked* What? What happened?
Milo: Pep and I got into this huge fight at last week’s rehearsal, and both Nicki and Danny walked out… well, Nicki walked out, Danny followed behind her.
Gwen: What did Nicki say?
Milo: She’s just tired of Pep and I always fighting about something. I don’t blame her though; I’d be fed up if I was constantly in the middle between two best friends–
Gwen: *protective* You keep throwing around the fact that you two are best friends, but Milo I have to be honest with you; you guys seem like you are far from being that.
Milo: *defensive* It’s complicated, Gwen–
Gwen: It shouldn’t be.
Milo takes a moment to look at Gwen, trying to understand what Gwen was truly trying to say.
Gwen: I don’t mean to cross your boundaries, but it upsets me that you and her throw around this “best friend” word and you guys are constantly fighting–
Milo scrunches his eyebrows, confused.
Milo: “Her?”
Gwen: *annoyed* Yeah, in the girls’ bathroom, she made sure I understood that she was your best friend.
Milo grows annoyed at the revelation.
Gwen: *crosses arms* She’s made it very clear that she doesn’t like me.
Milo: You haven’t done anything to make her not like you though.
Gwen: I think she just doesn’t like the fact that you hang out with other people outside of your circle.
Milo: *annoyed* She hangs out with people outside of our circle all the time–
Gwen: I’m not telling you who you should hang out with or not, but if I’m being completely honest with you; she’s not your best friend. Why should you continue to act like you guys are best friends, when you’re not even allowed to do half of the things she does? It’s not right.
Milo sighs, taking Gwen’s words into consideration. He looks at Gwen one more time; she seems concerned rather than jealous or upset.
Milo: Let’s forget about Pep. Let’s forget about the band, school; everything that isn’t serving us purpose right now.
Gwen’s face softens up once she sees Milo smile at her. She sighs, looking out at the park, noticing the sun was beginning to set. Milo still looks at her.
Milo: Thanks.
Gwen: *turns around* For what?
Milo: For showing me what a best friend really looks like.
Gwen is taken back by Milo‘s statement. Milo smiles at Gwen, reassuring her thoughts. She smiles back.
Gwen: I just… really care about you. You’re not like any other person I know, so it hurts me when someone takes advantage of that.
Milo: *confused* Of what?
Gwen: Of your heart. You have such a big heart, and you care about the people you love so deeply, you sometimes don’t see that people can take that for granted. People think they have all this time in the world to get themselves together, like time is something that is granted for us.
Milo: I mean, we’re only 15, Gwen–
Gwen turns her head to face Milo, now serious. Milo instantly regrets what he said, knowing what Gwen meant by her response.
Gwen: I have to think this way, or else my life would’ve been meaningless. I accepted the fact that there’s going to be a lot of things I won’t get to experience, but that doesn’t mean that I live each and every day not doing the things I want to do, or say things without thinking there aren’t consequences behind them.
She looks at Milo as she speaks.
Gwen: Just know that I see how big your heart is, and I appreciate that you decided to go along with it and… even become my best friend.
Milo is now the one taken back by Gwen’s words. He starts feeling butterflies in his stomach when he’s with her. Milo gets up from the bench, gathering his bags. Gwen looks at him, confused.
Gwen: Are you leaving?
Milo: We’re going to Battery Park.
Gwen: *confused* For what?
Milo grabs Gwen’s hand, helping her up from the bench. He looks in her eyes, noticing how violet the color is in her eyes.
Milo: To see the sunset.
Milo continues to hold Gwen’s hand, power walking out of the park to go to the train station. Gwen doesn’t hesitate; she lets Milo lead the way.
Letters From Liz. 