Nicki and Danny sit at the lunch table in the cafeteria together. They are discussing something in one of Danny’s notebooks; possibly music related. They both look up from the book when they see both Milo and Jennifer walking towards the table, smiling. Nicki is taken aback.
Nicki: Well, this is a rare sight.
Jennifer rolls her eyes as he sits down; Milo laughs.
Milo: Maybe the world is truly ending in 2012.
Nicki: Oh please, you believe in that conspiracy crap?
Jennifer: *to Milo* Watch out, you’re about to push a button on Nicki that no one should be pushing!
Nicki is now the one rolling her eyes; Danny smiles at the two best friends.
Nicki: It seems like you two are finally friends again; did you guys have a kumbaya session or something?
Milo: We spoke our differences out and we’re good now, right Pep?
Before Milo can even turn his head to face Jennifer, she’s already lined up a the lunch line, ready to get her tray for the day. Milo shakes his head and turns back forward to his friends.
Danny: I’m gonna head to the library to do some studying for this test next period; Mrs. Hernandez already told me if I don’t pass this test, she’s gonna tell Mr. Harrison to take me out of band.
Nicki: She’s always been such a bitch.
The two boys look at Nicki, surprised to hear her cuss.
Nicki: She once gave me a hard time about the ages of Mesopotamia not realizing that her prehistoric data on the subject was incorrect.
The boys don’t say nothing, but Danny does get up from his seat and kisses Nicki on the top of the head before he leaves. Milo watches the interaction and smiles.
Milo: Seems like you and Danny are officially a thing, huh?
Nicki: We confined in each other when you and Pep were fighting non-stop in band practices.
Milo rolls his eyes as Nicki scoffs.
Nicki: I’m glad to see you guys talking again. What made you guys finally talk things out?
Milo: I mean, despite that I’ve been staying at her house while my parents are away, I just finally realized that we don’t have enough time to be upset at the people you care about.
Nicki cocks an eyebrow up, seeming confused.
Nicki: You mean, you don’t want to waste your time being mad at someone you love?
Milo: No, I mean we don’t have enough time in the world to be mad over stupid, pointless things. Pep and I have been friends since we were 4 years old; that feels like it was just yesterday!
Nicki tries to follow Milo’s thought process. Milo sighs.
Milo: I missed having Pep around. She’s really, like, the only person that knows the real me and—
Nicki: *interrupts* Are you in a fight now with your other best friend?
Milo: *confused* Other best friend? I only have one, Nic.
Nicki: I’m talking about Gwen.
Milo is now he one taken aback by Nicki.
Milo: What makes you think I’m best friends with Gwen?
Nicki: *shrugs shoulders* I feel like in the time you were being mad at Pep, you hung out with Gwen more.
Milo: Can’t I be friends with more than one person? I mean, I’m friends with you–
Nicki: That’s not what I mean.
Nicki looks over Milo, which makes him look in the same direction she’s looking at. They both look at Jennifer grabbing a tray and going down the assembly line for food. Milo turns back around to face Nicki.
Nicki: Don’t get caught up and use Gwen as a rebound just because you and Pep are friends again.
Milo: *frustrated* What are you even talking about–
Jennifer comes back to the lunch table with a pile of food on her tray. She sits next to Milo as he clears his throat.
Jennifer: So, what are we talking about?
Milo: I was just bringing up the fact that Nicki and Danny can rejoin the band now that we’ve made up.
Nicki gives Milo a look before responding to Jennifer.
Nicki: Danny couldn’t stay around, but it’s a possibility that we can come back if you do are serious about moving forward.
Jennifer: Milo and I had a long talk the other night about this, and we both agreed that we want better for the band because we love it, y’know?
Jennifer rambles on about the importance of the band and everything that was related to it. Nicki didn’t stop looking at Milo, which made him uncomfortable.
Both teens snap out of it once they feel Jennifer grab them into a huddle.
Jennifer: Even with Nicki being with Danny and me with Nate–
Milo is caught by surprise, as Jennifer never mentioned her being with Nate.
Jennifer: And Milo just being Milo…
Nicki side eyes Milo.
Jennifer: Still, everything is going back to the way it was and no matter what, we will always have the three of us as friends.
Milo and Nicki don’t say anything back. Once Jennifer breaks the hug and sits next to Milo, Milo looks around the cafeteria; wondering if anyone saw their cringey interaction. He immediately notices Gwen looking inside of the cafeteria in his direction. He freezes in place as she walks away.
Jennifer: Earth to Milo!
Milo: *snaps out of it* Huh?
Jennifer: I said that we’re going to be starting up band practice for the gig in a couple of weeks, right?
Milo watches Gwen leave the hallway area through the exit door.
Milo: *not enthusiastic* Yeah.
On the way home after school, Milo sneaks away from his friend group and goes in the opposite direction of them. Once he gets to the block he’s been looking for, he walks down the street and spots something familiar: Gwen’s treehouse. He feels his heart beating out of his chest.
He walks closer to the treehouse, looking up to see if she was in there.
Milo: Gwen?
No answer. Milo sighs.
Milo: Gwen…
He hears a voice saying “What” behind him. He quickly turns around and sees Gwen standing there. He notices that Gwen doesn’t have on his beanie anymore.
Milo: Hey, Gwen; I was looking for you–
Gwen: For what?
Milo is taken aback by Gwen’s annoyed tone.
Milo: I barely got to see you in school today–
Gwen: Like the way things were?
Milo: *sighs* Gwen–
Gwen: I’m not surprised you made up with your best friend.
Milo: *annoyed* What’s that suppose to mean?
Gwen: What it exactly means. You can be angry at her all you want, but don’t come running to me about how unfair and messed up she is when you enable it to happen.
Milo: You don’t even know what you’re talking about. I came here because I wanted to hang out with you–
Gwen: Why? Didn’t you get what you wanted out from me?
Milo blinks his eyes, not believing where this was coming from.
Milo: Dude, where is this even coming from?
Gwen: Dude— you sound just like her…
Milo: What the hell is even wrong with you, Gwen?
Gwen walks past Milo to climb up the treehouse. Milo’s initial reaction is to place is hand on Gwen’s shoulder. She immediately reacts, swatting his hand away.
Gwen: Don’t you dare touch me!
Milo: Gwen–
Gwen starts to climb the ladder towards the treehouse. She enters it without looking back at Milo. He looks up, sighing.
Milo: Gwen, just talk to me–
Gwen: *from the treehouse* I don’t want to!
Milo thinks of his next move before he speaks; he knows exactly how to get Gwen to talk to him.
Milo: *in an unserious way, begins to climb up treehouse* Wow, that’s such a Pep thing to say; you sure you aren’t secretly best friends with her? It would make sense on why I haven’t been able to get a hold of you since–
Gwen pokes her head out of the treehouse doorway, looking directly at Milo.
Gwen: Stop!
Milo and Gwen look at each other; nothing is said for a brief moment.
Milo: Gwen, just tell me what’s wrong.
Gwen: Everything is wrong.
Milo doesn’t say anything in response; he’s confused at Gwen’s answer.
Milo: What happened?
Gwen: Nothing, Milo. Forget that I even brought it up–
Milo: *stern* Stop.
Gwen is now the one looking at Milo with a confused expression on her face.
Milo: We don’t do that in our friendship. We don’t shove things underneath the rug in hopes that we both forget about it, or move on without any resolution. You are not Pep.
Gwen: Fine. It stings knowing that we shared such a heart to heart together over the weekend, and instead of finding you in the West Wing to rehearse for band, you’re at lunch with your friends and… I don’t know, it made me feel like you got what you wanted and just went back to the way it was.
Milo lets out a sigh before he looks at Gwen again.
Milo: I wouldn’t do that to you.
Gwen: I know, but it felt like that to me, especially after…
Milo and Gwen go quiet, knowing exactly what’s being discussed.
Milo: Regardless, I wouldn’t ever do that to you because I genuinely care about you. What you saw in the lunchroom was me just trying to make things right with Pep, and to get the band back together before our show at the end of the month.
Gwen doesn’t look convinced, and Milo knows that. He slowly leans in and kisses Gwen on the forehead for reassurance.
Milo: Am I now allowed in the treehouse?
Gwen rolls her eyes and smiles, moving out of the doorway to let Milo crawl inside.
Letters From Liz. 