Danny and Nicki begin to set up the practice space for band, something the gang hasn’t done for a couple of weeks since school ended. Jennifer walks into the garage, holding three water bottles in her hands. The couple look at Jennifer, who has been uncharacteristically quiet.
Nicki: Pep?
Jennifer: *turns around* What?
Nicki doesn’t say anything back, not really knowing what to say. Jennifer rolls her eyes and turns back around, adjusting the mic stand. Nicki looks at Danny, who then clears his throat.
Danny: We just want to know that you’re doing okay.
Jennifer: *stoic* I’m fine.
Nicki: It’s okay to not be, Pep.
Jennifer turns around, annoyed at the conversation being had.
Jennifer: With all de respect Nic, you have absolutely no idea what I’ve been going through these last couple of weeks.
Nicki: Okay, but we both know one of those things has to do with Milo.
Jennifer: *annoyed* I don’t give a shit about whatever is going on with Milo–
Nicki: *defensive* I don’t know who you’re trying to fool, but clearly it’s bothering you.
Jennifer: If it was bothering me, this stupid practice wouldn’t be happening in my garage.
Before Nicki can respond, the side door to the garage opens. Milo walks in, noticing everyone looking directly at him. He sighs and walks to his position without saying anything. Nicki has had enough of the two, walking directly to the front to address them.
Nicki: We are not starting practice until we resolve this tension in the room.
Danny: *nervous* Nicki–
Nicki: No. I did not give up my Saturday to sit around and see you and Milo avoid each other for practice. I also did not work my ass of to get us this summer gig for you two to just avoid the obvious.
Jennifer: Like I said earlier, I don’t have any issues. We are rehearsing in my garage–
Nicki: After Nate said him and his family are going away on vacation.
Jennifer rolls her eyes and doesn’t say anything back.
Milo: No issue over here, just… dealing with a lot of things on my end–
Jennifer: *blows up* Yeah, and who’s fault is that?!
Milo: *annoyed* Was I talking to you?
Jennifer: You’re the reason why everything is fucked up in the first place!
Milo: *yells* I didn’t do anything to you!
Jennifer: You’re living a double life with some girl your best friend doesn’t even know!
Milo: You know who Gwen is though!
Jennifer: *yells even louder* You got her pregnant, Milo!
Nicki: *screams* Stop it!
Milo and Jennifer look away from each other, not making eye contact.
Nicki: Do we need to have a friend group intervention?
The two teens suck their teeth, whining at the suggestion.
Milo: That’s not going to fix anything this time.
Nicki: Why not?
Jennifer: Because this isn’t something we could fix in a conversation, Nic. At the end of the day, Milo has to live with the fact that he made possibly the stupidest decision ever in his life—
Milo: *to himself* Yeah, you would know…
Jennifer turns her head toward Milo, hearing what he said.
Jennifer: Excuse me?
Milo: You make stupid fucking decisions all of the time! And I’m always there to help you get out of them, Pep! The one time I fuck up, you’re nowhere to be found besides judging me for the same exact thing you did last year.
Jennifer doesn’t say anything after that; she’s actually quite speechless, unable to put her thoughts into words. Danny’s sigh is what breaks the silence.
Danny: Milo is right.
Jennifer: *shocked* What?
Danny: Instead of us bashing him for what happened, we should be grateful that he shared something as scary as that. We’re all gaining up on a person that is trying to keep everything together.
Milo looks just as shocked to see Danny sticking up for him.
Danny: I’m not saying your feelings are invalid, Pep; you have every right to feel the way that you do with this situation, but… you also wanted support from your friends when you went through what you went through.
Jennifer: Milo wasn’t left in the dark though. I feel like I was completely left in the dark when it came to Gwen. I don’t know anything about her besides the fact that all of you are in band class together. Where was that sit down together introducing me to your girlfriend?
Milo rubs the back of his neck, visibly uncomfortable.
Milo: Gwen isn’t my girlfriend.
The three teens looked at Milo, surprised.
Jennifer: You got some random girl pregnant?
Milo: She’s not some random girl, she’s… my friend.
Jennifer: A friend?
Milo: A close friend.
Jennifer: It must be some new thing to get your close friends pregnant, huh?
Milo: *defensive* It’s not like that, Pep.
Jennifer: Then explain it. The floor is all yours.
Milo looks at Danny and Nicki, who seemingly look like they are also waiting for him to explain. Milo sighs and gets up from where he was sitting, and walks to face the three teens.
Milo: I… I like Gwen. A lot. And… she likes me back.
Nicki cocks an eyebrow, taking in this new information. Jennifer isn’t amused.
Milo: We were just friends at first, I promise. We would rehearse and hang out whenever I didn’t have practice or when she didn’t have her after-school things to do. We got to know each other, and…
Jennifer: You fell for her?
Milo: *quickly* I didn’t fall for her, but I did start to like her.
Jennifer stares at Milo intensely as if she was interrogating him.
Jennifer: So one day, you guys confessed your likings to each other and then what? You guys took your clothes off and fucked?
Nicki: Pep.
Milo: No, it wasn’t like that—
Jennifer: And then to lose your virginity without protection for just someone that you liked–
Milo: Shit, happens! My god what am I suppose to say?!
Jennifer: I want you to tell us the truth! Do you love this girl?
Milo is taken back by the sudden question.
Milo: What?
Jennifer: Are you in love with Gwen?
Milo doesn’t answer right away. He doesn’t know how to answer the question. He looks over at Danny and Nicki, who patiently wait for his answer. He looks back at Jennifer as her arms are crossed along her chest and she has this look on her face. This… worried look. He can’t get himself to say it, or believe it at this point.
Milo: No.
The three teens are shocked by Milo’s answer.
Milo: We simply got carried away and now we have to face the consequences of our actions.
Before anything else can be said, the side door of the garage opens; in walks Jennifer’s mom, Lydia.
Lydia: Peppie, I need you to pick up Mars from Niko’s house in a few.
Jennifer: Why me?
Lydia: *rubs stomach* Your father and I have a doctor’s appointment at 2 and won’t be back in time to pick her up.
Jennifer rolls her eyes and sighs.
Jennifer: Yeah, whatever.
Lydia smiles and greets the other teens in the garage. Once she leaves, Jennifer starts packing up.
Jennifer: I guess we wasted another practice doing absolutely nothing…
Milo: Pep–
Milo looks up and sees Nicki visibly mad at him. She gathers her things with Danny right behind her. Nicki storms out of the garage. Danny follows her out.
Jennifer continues to put things away, not speaking to Milo. He stands there and sighs, beginning to help Jennifer clean up.
Jennifer: I don’t need your help.
Milo: I didn’t ask if you needed it.
Jennifer stops what she’s doing and looks back up at Milo. They are both dangerously close to one another, making Milo sweat a bit.
Milo: Can we talk? Just us two?
Jennifer: Why?
Milo: Because you’re my best friend, and I need to talk to my best friend about something that’s eating me alive.
Jennifer doesn’t say anything back right away. She sighs, putting the music stand down in its place.
Jennifer: Fine. At the pizza parlor.
Letters From Liz. 