Jennifer runs into the house with her bookbag, dropping it next to the front door as she always does. She quickly runs past the living room, the kitchen, and up the stairs. She runs towards her bedroom and opens the door to see her sister hanging out with her best friend, Niko.
Jennifer: Oh! Sorry…
Maryette: *to Niko* Yet when she’s hanging out with her friends in here, I get yelled at.
Niko laughs as Jennifer rolls her eyes. She walks to the empty room next to their bedroom to find something. The two kids look at her.
Maryette: What are you looking for?
Jennifer: None of your business, Mars.
Maryette: Well, if it’s anything that was laying around in that room, Mom said she was going to throw it out.
Jennifer straightens her body upwards, quickly turning around to look at her sister.
Jennifer: What do you mean ‘throw it out’?
Maryette: *obviously* ‘Throw it out’ as in placed in a garbage bag and thrown out in the garbage…
Jennifer frantically searches the closet again, but doesn’t have any luck finding what she’s looking for.
Jennifer: I had a scarf in there! It was a scarf and it was there–
Maryette: Mom was cleaning up that extra room for the new baby.
Jennifer cringed at the thought. She takes in a deep breath before saying anything else.
Jennifer: Where is mom, by the way?
Maryette: She might be in the garage sorting boxes out.
Jennifer runs back down the stairs, toward the entrance of the garage. She sees both her mom and Justin chatting before being interrupted.
Lydia: Hi, Peppie–
Jennifer: Where’s the black and white scarf that you took from the spare room? I left it in there so that it doesn’t get ruined.
Lydia: Anything that was in that room was taken out; your father and I are looking to start putting together the baby’s room–
Jennifer: *angry* I just want to know where you put that scarf, mom!
Lydia: *defensive* Pep, it’s nearly 70 degrees outside; why the hell would you need to wear a scarf–
Jennifer: *louder* Omg, just tell me where it is!
Justin goes to one of the bins in the garage, near the band equipment that surrounded the room. Jennifer walks over to Justin, annoyed that he of all people was walking towards the one thing that is hers.
Jennifer: Don’t touch that!
Justin: *taken aback* I-I’m just grabbing the bin of things we moved from the room.
Jennifer doesn’t say anything; Justin places the bin in front of Jennifer, looking at her as he does. Jennifer opens the lid and digs through the bin, retrieving the scarf. She turns around and leaves the garage, unable to look at Justin in the face.
Justin: You’re welcome.
Jennifer slams the garage door behind her, still not saying anything to her father.
…
Jennifer sits in a booth at a McDonalds, laughing as she scoops a spoonful of her McFlurry in her mouth. Nate sits across from her, smiling as they talk.
Nate: You know, you look so much better in my scarf.
Jennifer: *rolls her eyes playfully* Of course you’d say that.
Nate: I only state the facts.
Jennifer smiles and puts the spoon back in her cup, crossing her arms to look at Nate.
Jennifer: You’re still working on your dual major project thingymabob?
Nate: *nods* We had a rehearsal at the school for the showcase the other day; Mr. Harrison practically demanded us to be at the rehearsal since some of the other dual majors were absent.
Jennifer: Really? You’d think being one of the top student groups at Waverly, you’d be on top of your shit.
Nate: I know, right? I feel like there’s so many people in the program that just don’t take it seriously. We are the first of its kind and there’s some people that really don’t deserve it.
Jennifer: It’s a shame. I didn’t even know there were people like that in the program. From the way Milo talks about it, it’s like it’s just another extra class on your schedule.
Nate looks at Jennifer with a visible perplexed expression on his face. Jennifer notices the change.
Jennifer: What?
Nate: Not to be in anyone’s business, but Milo was one of the people that didn’t show up to rehearsal the other day after school.
Jennifer tilts her head and cocks an eyebrow up.
Jennifer: He wasn’t?
Nate: *shakes his head* It’s annoying since he’s really one of the only string players in the dual major program, so it’s noticeable when he’s not there to rehearse. Mr. Harrison was pissed about it since we’re so close to the showcase.
Jennifer takes this newfound information in, piecing together a timeline of events.
Jennifer: That’s not like him. I can ask him about it when I see him later.
Nate raises an eyebrow at Jennifer. She rolls her eyes and shakes her head before speaking.
Jennifer: He’s staying with me and my family while his parents are away.
Nate: *discouraged* Oh.
Jennifer: His parents have been my mom’s friends forever–
Nate: Does that change anything?
Jennifer looks at Nate confused, tilting her head to the side slightly.
Jennifer: What are you saying?
Nate: *sigh* I see the way he looks at you, Jennifer. Friends don’t look at their friends like that.
Jennifer starts laughing out loud; other people around them begin to notice.
Jennifer: Yeah, okay–and one day we’re gonna get married–
Nate: *serious* Jennifer…
Jennifer: Do you see how ridiculous that sounds, Nate? Milo and I have always been best friends; nothing more. He’s like my brother from another mother in some way.
Nate: *leans back* I don’t want to feel like I’m in competition with someone you’ve known your entire life.
Jennifer: *reassuring* And you’re not. He doesn’t see me like that and I definitely don’t see him like that.
Nate doesn’t say anything back, he continues to eat his meal as Jennifer looks at him, noticing the shift in mood. She doesn’t say anything else to him.
Letters From Liz. 