Category: Misc.

Milo sits at his desk playing with the phone in his hands. He looks down at it, nervous to open up the screen and see if Sophie messaged him. Every couple of minutes, he taps the screen to check; she never messages him.

He tosses the phone on the bed and holds his head in his hands. He keeps seeing the image of Sophie in the hallway, looking sad and hurt as ever. He feels horrible for turning his back on her, especially learning what Mollie did to her in the lunchroom.

He looks up and gets out of his desk chair and falls on his bed. He looks up at the ceiling until his eyes feel heavy and he drifts off to sleep.

…

The rain is pouring down the streets of Brooklyn. Two teenagers are running down the block, trying to take cover from the rain. They both run up the steps of a house.

Milo: Are you okay?

Sophie: *laughs* I’m alright, too bad we didn’t make it to a dry spot on time though!

Milo smiles and takes out his keys from his pockets. Sophie watches him.

Sophie: What are you doing?

Milo: Going inside?

Sophie looks anxiously as he turns the key into the front door. Milo notices.

Milo: You’ll be fine, Scout. Let’s go in to dry up.

Sophie doesn’t say anything, she follows Milo behind him as he enters the house. The teenagers kick off their shoes in the hallway. Milo walks up the stairs leading to the house. Sophie follows behind him.

Once they both reach the top of the stairs, Milo opens the door and holds it open for SOphie to walk in. She looks around as he closes the door behind her.

Sophie: This is a cute place.

Somebody walks out of the bathroom; a tall red-headed woman, Jennifer. She looks up at the teenagers and gets startled Sophie hides behind Milo.

Jennifer: Gosh, you scared me! Why are you guys all wet?

Milo: It started raining when we were hanging out.

Milo puts his head behind his back to grab Sophie’s. He slowly gets Sophie to stand next to him. He lets her hand go.

Milo: This is my friend, Sophie. *to Sophie* This is Jennifer.

Jennifer: It’s nice to meet you, Sophie. I might have some clothes you can barrow while I dry your clothes up.

Sophie smiles and nods her head.

Sophie: Thank you so much, Mrs. Kamalani.

Jennifer: Please, call me Pep.

Jennifer walks back to a bedroom while the teenagers stand in the walkway. Milo looks at Sophie.

Milo: She likes you.

Sophie: Huh?

Milo: Pep likes you if she’s allowing you to call her my her nickname.

Sophie: Why do you call your mum by her first name?

Jennifer walks out of the bedroom with clothes in her hand.

Jennifer: There you go, sweetheart. The bathroom is to your right. *to Milo* Remember to grab the clothes and put them in the dryer.

Jennifer walks into the kitchen to get the dryer ready. Milo walks into his room to get changed, and Sophie walks into the bathroom to do the same.

…

A little while later, the door of Milo’s room opens. Milo and Sophie walk into it as they overhear Jennifer yelling to keep the door open. Milo rolls his eyes as Sophie laughs.

Sophie: Mums can be overprotective, huh?

Milo: Uhm, yeah.

Milo walks to his desk to turn on his computer. Sophie sits on the edge of the bed, watching.

Sophie: Are you a gamer?

Milo: Nah, this is all for music. I record myself playing at times and see if I can become better. I gotta prepare for the Waverly audition.

Sophie: That’s exciting.

Milo: I guess.

Milo gets lost in his music while Sophie listens on. She’s amazed at how much Milo knows about the equipment and the different sounds to make everything come together. After awhile, he stops to take a break.

Milo: This is just a little bit of the things I work on.

Sophie: You’re so utterly talented, it amazes me. Who taught you all of this?

Milo: My dad. When I was a baby, he had his own recording studio in his apartment. Him and his band used to record demos when they were teenagers.

Sophie: Have you ever listened to it?

Milo: *shakes head* I haven’t. I feel like that’s something I have to do later, find my own sound, y’know?

Sophie: Well, what is your sound?

Milo looks at Sophie and ponders on the question.

Milo: I guess I still have to find out.

Sophie crosses her legs on Milo’s bed. She looks comfortable in his presence.

Sophie: Your mom is really nice.

Milo: Thanks…

Sophie: Her red hair is so bright! I wish i was able to dye my hair, but my mum would kill me.

Milo: Are you not allowed?

Sophie: *shakes head* In Korean culture, the longer and natural your hair is, the more beautiful and feminine you are. I mean, I call bullshit on that.

Milo: *smiles* You sound so tiny when you curse.

Sophie: *laughs* Whatever! If I could, I would be a leader instead of a follower, like you are!

Milo: I am no leader, Scout.

Sophie: Sure you are! You don’t try to fit yourself in what everyone wants you to be, you’re loyal to the friends that matter to you the most, and you are a style not all boys in our grade would ever have. That’s being a leader, Milo.

The conversation dies down and silence fills the room. Milo doesn’t look at Sophie when he begins talking again.

Milo: Jennifer isn’t my mom.

Sophie: What?

Milo: She’s not my mom. I never got to know my actual mom. She died when I was a baby.

Sophie doesn’t say anything, she sits there and waits for Milo to continue.

Milo: Sometimes… I feel like I don’t belong. That I don’t fit in. School doesn’t make it any easier. Everyone wants to fit in and then there’s me, not even fitting into my own family.

Sophie: Is you little brother…?

Milo: Mom and dad. They’re a family, and then there’s me…

Sophie: *stern* Hey.

Milo looks at Sophie.

Sophie: Family isn’t always blood, you know. Family is what you make it to be; those who love you no matter what you do in life, support you no matter how concerned they could be for you, and always welcome you with open arms. Jennifer is your mom, Milo.

Milo doesn’t say anything, he sits there and takes in what Sophie said. Moments later, Jennifer walks in with some folded laundry.

Jennifer: Alright, everything is cleaned and dried up for you guys.

Sophie: Thank you, Mrs– uhm, Pep.

Jennifer: Of course, sweetheart. Do you live far from here? Milo and I can drive you home since it’s getting late.

The two girls talk as Milo looks on, relieved that Jennifer takes a liking in Sophie and vise versa.

…

Milo’s phone lights up in his dark room. The vibration on his face wakes him up. He sees a notification from someone and instantly wakes up when he realizes who it’s from.

leesophie: Who would've thought you were the best friend to a mean girl, follower.

Milo unlocks his phone to write back a response when he sees Sophie has blocked him. Milo sighs in frustration.

The halls are busy with teenagers on this particular day; people chat in between classes and walk in their groups throughout the halls. Sophie opens her locker to take out her books when she suddenly gets nudged. She turns around quickly to see a careless teenage girl chatting with a guy. The guy looks at Sophie apologetically, Sophie proceeds to go on with her day.

In the present day, Sophie opens her locker to put her books inside. The halls are busy with students passing by, like any other day.

Before she’s able to put the rest of her books away, she gets nudged and her textbooks fall to the ground. She looks behind her and sees Mollie look back and head to her locker. Sophie doesn’t say anything, she just kneels down to pick up her textbooks from the floor. She sees a guy’s sneaker in front of her. She looks up.

Simon: Hey, Sophie.

Sophie gets up from the floor with her textbooks and puts them in her locker.

Sophie: What do you want, Simon?

Simon: Ouch, is that the way to talk to your best friend now?

Sophie rolls her eyes in frustration and locks her locker, she Looks at Simon, and pauses before she speaks.

Sophie: You’re not my best friend.

Simon: *holds heart* Ouch, just keep punching me in the heart.

Sophie walks away from Simon, and Simon follows.

Simon: What has you so annoyed today?

Sophie: Nothing, Simon. I just have to get to class on time.

Simon: I know when something isn’t right, Soph. You know you can always talk to me.

Sophie stops and turns around towards Simon.

Sophie: No, I can’t. You lost that privilege when you decided to date Laurie.

Simon: Soph–

Sophie: Bye, Simon.

Sophie walks into the classroom of her class. Mollie is behind one of the pillars, who is now looking in her phone.

Sophie sits in her usual desk with her friends. She takes out her notebook and looks up to see Milo walk in with Mollie. She smiles at Milo, but he doesn’t smile back. Sophie feels a little hurt by the response. While her friends chat around her, Sophie takes out her phone.

leesophie: Are you mad at me?

She waits for a reply, but never gets one. She puts her phone in her bag, now frustrated. The teacher quiets the class and begins teaching.

…

The bell rings and the lunch period begins. Sophie sits down at her usual table with her friends. She takes out her lunch from her backpack. Laurie and Simon come into the lunchroom, holding hands, walking towards their group’s table.

Laurie: *to Simon* I can’t believe you called this our song!

She takes out the earbud from her ear and kisses Simon on the cheek. It makes Sophie uncomfortable.

Simon: It’s just as beautiful as you, baby.

Sophie rolls her eyes and downs her water. The couple sit at the table with Sophie and a couple of their other friends. Theo comes and greets the table, and does his special handshake with Simon.

Laurie: Do you guys always gotta do that?

Theo: Don’t be jealous you and your friends don’t have a secret handshake.

Laurie: Oh bite me, Theo.

Theo: I don’t think your boyfriend would like that.

Simon punches Theo in the arm, Theo holds the area. Simon sits back down next to Laurie. Theo spots Sophie.

Theo: *playfully* Hey, Sophie.

Sophie: Bye, Theo.

Theo: Hey, what’s with the attitude?

He sits next to Simon across from Sophie.

Sophie: Because you’re a jerk.

Theo: Where’d you get that from?

Sophie puts down her water bottle, which makes a loud noise on the table.

Sophie: You didn’t have to do what you did at the Halloween party.

Laurie: *interrupts* It was so funny though! Plus, Mollie knew what she was getting herself into.

Sophie: *to Laurie* It wasn’t nice though. She didn’t do anything to you guys for you to do that to her.

Laurie: *annoyed* Are you actually standing up for that loser, Sophie?

Sophie: I’m standing up for what’s right, and Theo was wrong for doing what he did.

Laurie: Why don’t you go be friends with her and her loser best friend?

Sophie visibly is upset, and Simon catches it.

Simon: Hey, maybe it was alittle too harsh to do.

Laurie looks at Simon confused. Sophie is just as confused as Simon’s actions.

Laurie: Don’t act like you weren’t laughing when we caught her with him.

Simon: Still, I think Sophie’s right about this one, babe.

Laurie: *to Sophie* Now I look like the mean girl because of you!

Simon: Babe, she didn’t do anything; please relax.

Sophie smiles at Simon sticking up for her. Before the bickering can continue, a girl is seen standing on a lunch table. Sophie turns around and notice it’s Mollie.

Mollie: *yells* Attention, Beverly Junior High! I hope everyone had a lovely time at the Halloween party this past weekend!

Sophie doesn’t understand what Mollie is doing. She looks around to see if she sees Milo, but she doesn’t.

Mollie: I know you all saw the pathetic excuse that was a prank on me at the party, but it’s so sad that while they were so into doing this prank on me…

Everyone’s phone vibrates and in comes a message. Sophie widens her eyes in shock; Laurie is visibly upset.

Mollie: Beverly Junior High’s favorite couple, isn’t so perfect after all! Simon Hempstead ischeating on Laurie with her own best friend, Sophie!

Sophie is in total shock. This picture was taken not too long ago. She looks at Laurie.

Sophie: Laurie, this isn’t–

Laurie: You’re nothing but a slut, Sophie! I knew you still liked Simon all this time!

Sophie: Laurie–

Laurie: *yells* Get out of my face!

Sophie grabs her things and runs out of the lunch room. Mollie gets down from the table, feeling successful with her plan.

Sophie runs down the hall to her locker. All she wants is to grab her things and go home. She suddenly hears a voice.

Mollie: Too bad you got caught up in all of this.

Sophie slams her locker shut and looks at Mollie.

Sophie: I didn’t do anything to you! I don’t care if you don’t like Laurie, but why in the bloody hell get me involved?!

Mollie nonchalantly shrugs her shoulders.

Mollie: I don’t know, it was easy.

Sophie: You know you’re not any better than Laurie. You are just as much of a mean girl as she is.

Mollie: Whatever.

Milo walks down the hall towards the two girls. Sophie, with tears in her eyes, looks at Milo. Milo looks at Sophie, then back at Mollie.

Milo: What’s going on?

Mollie: Nothing, just showing a minion that she’s just as much of a target as her bitch leader.

Mollie turns around and walks the other direction. Milo stands there, looking at Sophie. Sophie now has tears running down her face.

Mollie: C’mon, Mi, we gotta get to class.

Milo sadly turns around and leaves Sophie standing there. She begins to quietly cry near her locker. Milo keep walking with Mollie, feeling sad and hurt.

Milo winces in pain as his father puts alcohol on Milo’s cut on his face. His father tries to keep Milo still as he tries to clean the wound with a cloth.

Milo Sr: Bud, I’m just trying to help you.

Milo: It doesn’t mean it hurts any less!

Milo Sr. puts the last bandage on Milo and throws out the trash after he’s done. Milo touches the bandage on his face. Milo Sr. looks back at him.

Milo Sr: So, are you going to tell me what happened before Pep gets home?

Milo’s eyes widen. Pep, or Jennifer, is the last person Milo wants to tell this .

Milo: Please no! *sighs* I got into a fight.

Milo Sr: That much I got from your principal. What else?

Milo: … It was Simon Hempstead.

Milo Sr: That kid again? *annoyed* Milo…

Milo: *defensive* What?! He came up to me first!

Milo Sr: Then you stay out of it and let a teacher handle it!

Milo: So I could be the laughing stock of the school? No way!

Milo Sr. holds the bridge of his nose. He takes a deep breath.

Milo Sr: What is it about him that just gets you like this?

Milo doesn’t say anything.

Milo Sr: Milo? I’m talking to you.

Milo: Can I just go lay down? My head hurts.

Milo gets off the bar stool and begins to walk to his room.

Milo Sr: This isn’t the first time you and that kid had an altercation like this. What is up with you and this guy?

Milo: Nothing, dad. He’s just a bully.

Milo walks into his room and closes it behind him.

A couple of months ago…

Milo and Sophie sit together on two separate swings at the park. Sophie’s hair flies in the wind as she swings; she laughs out loud with Milo as they come to a halt. They slow down and just hang out on the swings.

Sophie: That was immensely fun!

Milo smiles at her, in awe. He takes in the beauty that is Sophie.

Milo: It really was!

Sophie: Thank you for hanging out with me today.

Milo: I had fun! I don’t normally get to hang out with people like this.

Sophie: Really? Why?

Milo: I’m… constantly practicing. I also don’t have many friends.

Sophie: Practicing?

Milo: Yeah, I’m looking to get into the music program at Waverly High. It gets really competitive so I’m preparing for my audition before the time comes.

Sophie: That’s a whole year and a half from now, I’m sure you’ll get in just fine.

Milo: *doubtful* My dad works there, so I have to get in for my talent, not because of my dad.

Sophie: What instrument do you play?

Milo smiles, excited that someone actually wants to talk about this for change.

Milo: I play the guitar, Piano, and drums.

Sophie: *amused* Whoa! We got a triple threat here!

Milo: *laughs* Shut up, I’m not! *looks at Sophie* What are your plans for high-school?

Sophie’s smile fades. She looks at the ground.

Sophie: I’m not sure yet… Actually…

Sophie lifts her head up to look at Milo.

Sophie: I was thinking about auditioning for Waverly High as well.

Milo: *surprised* Really?

Sophie: I haven’t old anyone that I wanted to go, but… I really enjoy playing the violin and I would love to study more in high-school for it.

Milo: Do your parents not want you to go?

Sophie shakes her head shamefully.

Sophie: The guy I like wouldn’t want me to go to another school.

Milo’s heart sinks. He didn’t know Sophie even liked another guy, and if she did, she didn’t show anyone that she liked someone. He’s confused that a smart girl like Sophie would make a decision like that for another person.

Milo: Who?

Sophie nervously looks at Milo.

Sophie: You swear you won’t tell anyone?

Milo: *raises hand* Scout’s honor.

Sophie takes pause before she reveals the name of the person she likes.

Sophie: It’s… Simon. Simon Hempstead?

Milo: *shocked* The football guy?! *laughs* You’re kidding, right?

Sophie doesn’t smile or laugh. Milo notices just how serious she is.

Milo: He told you to not go to Waverly?

Sophie: He doesn’t want me to go to Waverly because he’s going to some sports school in the Bronx. He wants me to go there with him and become high-school sweethearts.

Milo: Has he… said he liked you too?

Sophie: Sort of. He gave me his lunch one day when I forgot to bring my own. He also likes my pictures on Instagram and we always text each other.

Milo doesn’t know how to take this information. He’s angry, upset, but he doesn’t know if he’s more upset over the fact that she’s letting someone else dictate her life, or if she likes someone that’s not him.

Sophie: Milo?

Milo snaps out of his thought. His attention is now on her again.

Sophie: I really should get going before it gets too late. Again, thank you for hanging out with me today.

She leans forward to kiss him on the cheek and walks away. Milo is in a state of shock. Did… did Sophie just kiss me? He holds the palm of his hand to his warm cheek. He blushes and has a huge smile on his face.

…

Milo lays on his bed, playing with a rubber ball by throwing it up about the ceiling on his loft bed. He’s bored, and he’s grounded so his phone is officially turned off and with his dad. He takes a deep breath and moves to his side. He winces in pain. After awhile, he finally decides to drift off to sleep, in hopes the pain he is feeling subsides in the morning.