James is waiting for the bus stop when he’s approached by Elijah and his posse

Elijah:

Look who it is… James O’Connor, long time no see!

James:

Why can’t you just leave me alone, Elijah?

Elijah:

Ohhhhh c’mon James, lighten up a bit, I just wanna talk! Think of it as a little catch-up, ya feel?

James:

No actually, I don’t “feel”.

Elijah gets a good laugh out of James

Elijah:

Alright James, just watch yourself because I know how much of an easy target you can be.

Elijah and his group give James an intimidating look as the bus approaches

James walks through the halls minding his own business thinking about more important things than school

Lily catches James as he passes by

Lily:

Hey! James is it?

James:

Uh, yeah and you are?

Lily:

Oh my god right, how rude of me, the name’s Lily.

Lily reaches out to shake hands, but James is hesitant as this is uncharted territory for him.

James eventually reaches out to return the favor whilst trying to keep his cool and not ruin the opportunity

James:

Well, nice to meet you Lily, I wish I could talk more but I have to get to class.

Lily:

Oh, okay.. Well hey we should talk more, you seem really nice.

James:

Yeah for sure, you as well.

They both share a moment as they look at each other before they depart for their classes.

Lily:

Well I don’t want to keep you, I should probably get to class as well.

James:

Alright, well I’ll see you around sometime

Ms. Bags and students wrapping up class.

Ms. Bags:

Alright, so you’re homework is to read pages twenty-two through sixty-eight, please come see me if you have any questions.

Bell rings as students storm out quicker than ever, James drags behind.

Ms. Bags:

James, do you have a second?

James:

Um, yeah, sure Ms. Bags. What’s up?

Ms. Bags:

How’re you… Holding up?

James:

I’ve been better…

Ms. Bags:

Of course… I’ve noticed that you’ve been getting behind recently… Not only in this class but also your other classes…

James:

Wait, how’d you--

Ms. Bags:

Word gets around really easy and fast here. Also some teachers just don’t shut up in the teachers lounge, so it’s hard not to catch on to things.

James:

Ha, It sure seems like it.

James emits a facial expression as if he already knew word spread fast

Ms. Bags:

Is there something I should be concerned about, James?

James takes a moment to answer

James:

I’m just-- No, there’s nothing you have to worry about.

Ms. Bags:

Are you sure?

James:

When are we ever sure?

Ms. Bags doesn’t know how to respond.

James:

I appreciate you being concerned, but what’s happening in my life is my problem to fix, not yours.

Before Ms. Bags can get another word in James exits

The bell rings as a warning for students to get to class

As students hurry to their classes, Elijah bumps into James intentionally

Elijah:

Watch where you’re going-- James…

Under his breath James jabs back, but he wasn’t quiet enough

James:

Watch where you’re going yourself.

Elijah:

What did you just say to me?

Elijah moves even closer into James, but James doesn’t budge

James:

I said watch where you’re going yourself

Elijah:

You’re going to regret saying-

Lily:

Hey Elijah, I need some help with something. Oh sorry am I interrupting something?

Elijah:

No, not at all. I was just checking up on our buddy James here, seeing how he’s holding up. Right, James?

James doesn’t answer immediately

Lily:

James? Everything ok?

James:

Um, yeah, of course.

Lily:

Alright, well do you want to tag along? The more brains, the better.

Elijah gives James a look of warning

James:

Actually, I should really get going to class, I can’t be late again.

As Elijah turns around James looks at Lily like he wants to tell her something but can’t.

Elijah:

Would you look at the time?

Elijah looks at his wrist

Lily:

Elijah. You don’t even have a watch. Do you even know what a watch is?

Elijah:

Shut up Lily, I can tell time.

Lily:

That’s not what I asked…

Elijah:

Just… What did you want me for?

They all exit

Students file into the lunchroom with haste and hunger

James is the last to enter as he realizes there seems to be no more seats

James:

Here we go again.

James surveys the lunchroom looking for somewhere to eat

Lily:

Hey stranger, over here!

James looks over to see Lily eating with a seat open next to her

James:

Thank you so much, I didn’t think there were any seats left

Lily:

Well, you’re here now so I think you just fulfilled that expectation

This makes James giggle a bit which gives him a sense of relief

James:

Good one, you’re right about that.

Lily:

I sure am…

There’s a brief pause before Lily continues the conversation

Lily:

So, what was all that about in the hallway?

James:

Oh nothing, just Elijah being Elijah.

Lily:

Oh yes, Elijah sure does love to be Elijah. Just as I love to be Lily, and you love to be James.

James:

Do we though?

Lily:

Do we what?

James:

Love to be who we are.

Lily:

Well, I sure hope so… Do you?

James:

I don’t know. I’m trying to figure that out.

Lily:

Well hey there ‘I’m trying to figure that out’ I’m ‘here for moral help’.

James doesn’t seem to find this as funny as Lily thought it was.

Lily:

No? Okie Dokie then…

James:

What did you need some help with earlier?

Lily:

I didn’t need help with anything.

James:

Oh alright, so you can’t tell me?

Lily:

No, I literally didn’t need help with anything. I knew what Elijah was about to do and you don’t want to be on the receiving end of that.

James:

So you lied to Elijah to help me?

Lily:

What do you think I’m saying Sherlock?

James:

Well thank you, but why? Why help me?

Lily:

Because I know what a person who’s going through something looks like, and I know that it’s important to have people there for you. So, I want to be that for you.

James:

You would do that for me?

Lily:

Of course I would, why wouldn’t I?

James:

Thank you, same goes for you.

They both smile and continue to eat their lunch as they lip sync speak

James along with a few boys enter as it nears the end of the day

Nick:

Hey James, what’s the deal with you and Lily?

James:

Nothing that’s your business.

Nick:

Alright, well just a word of advice, I’d watch your back if I were you. Elijah has had a thing out for Lily, and he’s not going to let anyone ruin his chance.

James:

Well you can tell him he has nothing to worry about.

Elijah:

Well look who doesn’t have Lily to back him up. Nick doesn’t have to tell me anything because I heard every word.

James:

And what was it you heard exactly?

Elijah:

Enough.

Elijah rounds up for a punch as it goes dark.

END OF ACT 1

James tries sneaking into the house, but wasn’t quiet enough with a bruised face

Samantha:

My god, what happened to you? Who did this to you?

James:

I just took a tumble, you don’t have to worry about anything.

Samantha:

Yeah, well I’m worrying and nothing you say is going to change that.

James:

Alright, it was-

Samantha:

Elijah?

James:

How’d you-

Samantha:

A friend of yours came by, I think her name was Lily or something like that?

James:

Oh my god, I’ve got to go

Samantha:

Where are you going?

James:

I’m going to handle this!

James storms out of the house leaving Samantha all alone again

James waits impatiently for what seems like an eternity to him

Lily exits the door of the house

Lily:

James, what are you doing here?

James:

Did you ever think to talk to me before telling my sister, my guardian about Elijah?!

Lily:

I thought that I was helping…

James:

You’re only making it worse!

Lily:

James, I-

James:

Do you know how it feels? To be scared to go to school everyday? The thought of being abused verbally everyday by the same kid? You think we’re the same, but we’re not.

Lily:

We have a lot more in common than you think, James.

James:

Why should believe you? How do I know this isn’t the first time you’ve gone behind my back?

Lily:

Okay James, I literally have nothing else to go behind your back for, so I think we’re good there.

James:

I’m going to need you to back off for a bit… I need to figure this out myself.

Lily:

Look how that turned out for you last time!

James:

Lily, I just need time…

Lily:

Fine.

They both exit

James knocks gently on Ms. Bags’s room

James:

Heyo, Ms. Bags? You in here?

Ms. Bags:

Over here James, what can I do for ya?

James:

I’ve realized that I need to start making a difference in my life, and I decided that it starts with my grades.

Ms. Bags

That’s very wise of you, James.

James:

So, when are you available?

Ms. Bags:

How does now sound?

James:

Now sounds beautiful, thank you.

Elijah and his group of misfits are sitting at a table in the library

Elijah:

Ha, yeah did you see what I did to James? He’s just too easy.

Cole:

Yeah, but was that really necessary?

Elijah:

Excuse me Cole?

Cole:

Like “what did he do to you?” is basically what I’m asking.

Elijah takes a good moment to think about this

Elijah:

I never thought about that… I just didn’t really think about how he must’ve felt. I was so busy wanting what was best for me, I found myself literally beating James up for it.

Cole:

Hey man that’s a really great realization!

Elijah:

Shut it!

James and Elijah both find themselves walking in the same hallway

Elijah:

James.

James:

Elijah I really don’t want to-

Elijah:

Shut up, just let me get this out before I regret it. I was wrong. To treat you the way I did, and to hurt you, I was wrong. I never thought about what you could be going through before me, and I now realize how bad of a person that makes me. I will not ask you for your forgiveness because I don’t want it. I just wanted you to hear me say it to you face to face.

James:

Thank you Elijah I-

Elijah:

I think there’s someone who wants to talk to you. Take care of yourself James.

James looks behind him to see none other than Lily

Lily:

Hey stranger...

James:

Howdy stranger. Listen, I shouldn’t have lashed out at you like that. You were just trying to help, and at the time I didn’t notice it, but you really did help me.

Lily:

I did?

James:

Yeah, you really did. Thank you.

Lily:

Of course. So what now?

James:

You still up to being that person for me?

Lily:

Only if you’ll let me.

They hug and walk off together

THE END