Bittersweet Candy Bowl

35. Under Pressure, original chapter posted 3/17/07

Page 8 of 10

Transcript

Tess: I don’t wanna make any rash decisions.
Paulo: Sure, babe. I’ll still give you a night to remember!

*Tess glances down the hallway and rubs the back of her head.*
Tess: Well, there’s my hallway.. I gotta split..
*Paulo looks confused.*
Paulo: Hm?

*Paulo leans close to Tess looking a little concerned. Tess looks up at him guiltily.*
Paulo: You’ve been skipping the normal route for weeks now. What happened?

*Tess waves Paulo off, worry on her face.*
Tess: This way is just.. quicker. We’ll talk later, okay?
*Paulo frowns.*
Paulo: Tess..

*Tess turns back to him with a bright smile.*
Tess: I’ll give you a call when I get home! See ya, Paulo!
*Tess waves goodbye.*
Paulo: Bye, then..

*Paulo starts walking to class. He passes a group of huddled students.*
Paulo: ..?
Students: whisper Tess whisper whisper
Paulo: Hmm?

*Paulo looks nervous as he realizes all the students surrounding him are whispering to each other.*
Students: whisper terrible whisper whisper nasty whisper freshmen whisper whisper deserves it whisper
Paulo (thinking): Uhh? What..?!

Paulo (thinking): I’m probably just hearing things..
*Tess runs down a hallway.*

*Tess looks terrified as she runs.*

*Tess rounds the corner. A dark figure waits for her in the foreground.*
Tess (thinking): That wasn’t him, was it? I thought he..

*Noah bursts out in front of the shocked Tess, cutting her off. He looks furious.*
Noah: Stop HIDING from me!!

*Noah gets uncomfortably close to Tess and backs her into a wall. Tess is trembling.*
Tess: Uh.. h-hi, Noah..
Noah: Took you by surprise, did I?

*Noah grabs her hair, scowling.*
Noah: Thought I’d forget you? You cut your hair! So you HAVE been trying to hide!

*Noah puts his hands on the wall on either side of Tess.*
Noah: As if I’d ever forget you and Roger in gym class last year..
*Tess looks at his hands, frightened.*
Tess: Leave me alone!

*Tess looks frantic as she thinks, tears welling up in her eyes.*
Tess (thinking): What can I do?! School’s over, teachers are at meetings..

*Noah snarls at Tess. In the background, Jessica smirks nastily as she walks away.*

*Tess is terrified, clenching her teeth.*
Tess: Anyone.. Please..

*The panel goes black and the only thing to be seen is Tess’ scream.*
Tess: HELP!!