Jennifer sits on the sidelines of the auditorium next to her dance members within her academy. It’s the night of the end of year recital; something she’s been working on in addition to her school activities. She bounces her leg in place, nervous as she watches the other dancers perform their numbers on stage. She continues to look back into the audience, still only noticing her family, and Nicki with Danny a couple of rows behind them. She shakes her head, annoyed that the one person she wants to be here, isn’t.
…
A couple of hours before the show, Jennifer is getting ready in her bedroom, listening to music on a tiny speaker as she focuses on putting her hair in numerous Bobby pins. There is a slight knock on the door, in which enters Nicki.
Nicki: Look at the pretty ballerina!
Jennifer: *rolls her eyes* I do more than just ballet, Nic.
Nicki: I know, but your hair is in the tightest sock bun I think I’ve ever seen on a person, and I should know since I have AP English with Mrs. Peter’s.
Jennifer looks at the door, which makes Nicki turn around to look as well.
Jennifer: Milo, it’s okay to come in; no girls are naked in this room.
Nicki: Milo’s not here.
Jennifer scrunches her brow, looking at Nicki.
Jennifer: You didn’t meet him at his place?
Nicki: *shakes her head* Mrs. Kamalani said he wasn’t home. Maybe he’s meeting us at the show?
Jennifer: He always meets me here before a show… where the hell did he even go?
Jennifer grabs her phone from her vanity and flips it open. She notices that Milo isn’t signed on in AIM.
Jennifer: This is so weird; he never signs off of AIM; that’s how we communicate…
Nicki: Maybe he’s just doing something before he comes to the show. You know Milo has never missed one of your dance shows.
Jennifer ponders in thought before she sighs, continuing to do her hair and makeup.
Nicki: Forget about Milo; is Nate going to your show?
Jennifer: He said he can’t; him and his family are in New Jersey right now.
Nicki notices Jennifer’s excitement on her face fade away, Nicki takes it upon herself to turn the chair around to face her. Jennifer looks up at Nicki.
Nicki: Things happen, Pep. It doesn’t mean it should make you less excited for your dance performance. I know how hard you worked on this piece.
Jennifer: Yeah, but what good is it even if your best friend is M.I.A and the guy that you like can’t make it?
Nicki bends forward to give Jennifer a hug.
Nicki: You have me and Danny cheering you on! It’s not the entire group, but we’ll be loud enough so that it feels like the entire group is there.
Jennifer smiles and returns the hug before Nicki steps back.
Jennifer: Is he out in the hallway because he’s afraid there’s naked girls in here?
Nicki: Oh no, he’s meeting us there; I told him I needed some girl time with you before your show.
The girls laugh as Nicki turns Jennifer’s chair back around, helping her put in the last hair clips in Jennifer’s hair.
…
The audience claps their hands after the first dance number is done. The girls on stage bow before exiting to the right side of the stage. Jennifer’s dance teacher comes out toward the stage with a microphone.
Madison: Thank you ladies for that beautiful rendition of Fergie’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” Next on our program, we have another one of our girls from our senior division dancing a lovely contemporary piece to Kelly Clarkson’s “Beautiful Disaster”. Give a round of applause to Jennifer Ann Castro!
The audience claps, with a few voices cheering as Jennifer walks out on stage. She looks out toward the audience one last time, hoping to see Milo in the back somewhere. The music starts. She doesn’t see him.
Jennifer dances her piece, hitting every beat with each move that she rehearsed. Her mind is everywhere but on the dance floor. In the audience, Nicki watches Jennifer, noticing how distracted she looks on stage. Danny rubs Nicki shoulder for reassurance.
Jennifer finishes her piece, and the audience begins to applaud. Her family stand up to give her a standing ovation. Jennifer bows solemnly as she exits to the right side of the stage.
…
Nicki, Danny, and Jennifer sit in a booth at the pizza parlor. Nothing is said between the three friends, but Nicki looks at Danny for some guidance with this situation. Danny clears his throat, looking forward at Jennifer.
Danny: Your dance was really nice, Pep.
Jennifer: Thanks.
Danny and Nicki look at each other, bickering on what to say next.
Jennifer: You guys don’t need to try to make it better, you know.
Nicki: Pep, you’re clearly upset that Milo didn’t show.
Jennifer: *angry* He didn’t even message me to tell me he wasn’t going! He never missed a show without telling me!
Nicki: It had to have been something serious then.
Jennifer scrunches her eyebrows together as she looks at Nicki.
Jennifer: Are you seriously taking his side right now?
Nicki: *defensive* I’m not taking sides, Pep; I’m trying to rationalize why he would do what he did—
Jennifer: Because he’s a horrible fucking best friend! It’s as simple as that!
Nicki: *sighs* You guys just got on good terms…
Danny: *to Jennifer* I may not know the exact extent of you and Milo’s friendship, but that guy cares about you a lot.
The two girls look at Danny.
Danny: I’m just stating what I’ve seen.
Jennifer: You know what I’ve seen? Milo spending all his free time with Gwen.
Nicki: What do you mean?
Jennifer: Come on, Nic. An idiot can see that whenever Milo isn’t with us, he’s with her. *annoyed* If you didn’t introduce him to her, he probably would’ve made it to the show.
Nicki: *annoyed* Don’t put that on me, I’m sure Milo would’ve spoke to her considering they play in the same section in band…
Danny puts his hands out, trying to be the peacemaker.
Danny: We’re not blaming no one but Milo for his actions, guys. *to Pep* I’m just saying that knowing what I’ve seen from Milo, he cares about you a lot and probably has a good reason why he missed the show tonight—
Jennifer: Oh, I guess you’re taking the side of the person who thought you were a piece of shit after what happened last year—
Nicki: Pep—
Jennifer: *sighs* Look, I appreciate you guys for coming to the show tonight. I know it may not look like it now, but I really do appreciate it. I just… want to be left alone for a bit before I go home.
Nicki and Danny look at each other before Nicki ultimately stands up. Danny gathers their stuff as Nicki looks at Jennifer.
Nicki: Just let us know when you get in the house, Pep.
Nicki and Danny are about to leave the pizza parlor when the door opens. Coincidentally, Milo enters the pizza parlor, surprised to see Nicki and Danny standing here. Milo looks at the booth before the two teens exit the parlor. Milo slowly walks over to the booth where Jennifer is sitting. She looks up at Milo before she rolls her eyes dismissively.
Milo: Pep–
Jennifer: Oh wow; look who finally showed up after being M.I.A for the entire day! Seriously, why are you even here? To apologize?
Milo: Pep…
Jennifer: *not listening* I didn’t know it was hard to send out a simple message letting me know you couldn’t make it, or is that asking for too much from the person that’s supposed to be my best friend–
Milo: I… I know, and I’m sorry; really…
Jennifer: You never missed a show! You’re always there in the crowd cheering me on and we always go and get pizza afterwards and then we walk home and hang out and *takes in a deep breath* You promised things wouldn’t change between us, no matter what.
Milo doesn’t say anything, he just looks at Jennifer with a certain look. She takes notice of it. It wasn’t an apologetic look; his face was pale and ill-looking. She scrunches her eyebrows together.
Jennifer: Why do you look like that?
Milo takes in a deep breath and shifts in his seat. Jennifer’s brows soften, realizing that something else is going on.
Jennifer: Milo?
Milo finally looks at Jennifer. He takes a moment before his eyes revert back toward the table, letting out a deep breath.
Milo: Gwen’s pregnant.
–End of Tape, EJECT.–
Letters From Liz. 