Bittersweet Candy Bowl

32. Follow Me, original chapter posted 2/18/07

Page 5 of 7

Transcript

*Girls dressed in swimsuits walk around the locker room.*

*Daisy, looking sullen and preoccupied with her thoughts, walks toward the pool. She sighs.*

David: CANNON BALL!!
*David jumps into the pool near Mike and the gym teacher. The gym teacher waves frantically at David.*
Gym teacher: HEY!!

*Abbey looks around the pool.*
Abbey: Where is she..

*Daisy swims past Abbey.*

Abbey: Ah, Daisy!
*Abbey reaches out, smiling.*

Augustus: Daisy!!
*Augustus, smiling and waving, appears from behind Daisy, surprising her.*
Daisy: Eh?

*Abbey’s face falls, seeing Augustus capture Daisy’s attention. Tess notices and frowns.*
Daisy: Oh.. Hi..
Augustus: How’ve you been? You still look a little down.

*Tess glares at Augustus as Abbey swims away.*
Daisy: It’s nice of you to ask.. I’m okay..
Augustus: You know, if you wanted, I could see you after school?

*Tess shouts at Augustus.*
Tess: Why do you insist on pestering her?!
*Daisy looks back, confused. Augustus stares blankly.*

*Augustus turns to Daisy.*
Augustus: I’m not pestering you, am I?
*Daisy blushes and looks at him shyly.*
Daisy: N-no..

*Tess angrily shouts.*
Tess: So what the hell do you want?!
*Augustus looks at her with a self-assured smile.*
Augustus: Friendship, maybe? Or is that not allowed?

Augustus: And what do YOU want, Tessa? Seems like you’ve already found a handy little group of defenders among these oblivious freshmen.. What’s next?
*Tess freezes in place, a scared, panicked look on her face.*

Tess: I-it’s nothing like that!!
*Augustus watches her with a sinister smile.*
Augustus: Then why be so cagey about your little secret?

*Paulo appears behind Augustus, scowling.*
Paulo: I thought I told you to leave her alone.
*Augustus, wide-eyed, looks behind him.*

Paulo: I don’t care WHAT the hell you’re talking about, freak show. Tess has been really cool to us.
*Augustus listens with a sly grin.*

Augustus: Hardly a surprise when you new kids are all she has left.
*Paulo stares, confused.*
Paulo: ..?

Gym teacher: Class! Get over here, we’re not just fooling around today!
Augustus and Paulo: …
*Augustus and Paulo stare each other down. Augustus with a smug smile, Paulo with a scowl.*

Author commentary

Veronica: God it sucked when teachers made you change in front of everyone else and not use the bathroom, how annoying was that? No consideration for people’s feelings!

You’re too slow, Abbey..

I do like that Paulo is getting a lot more protective of Tess, in not just a “friends look out for each other” way, I think he’s beginning to feel things.