Bittersweet Candy Bowl

39. Love My Way, original chapter posted 6/27/07

Page 7 of 22

Transcript

*Tess, blushing, stares at Paulo, stricken. The crowd mills around in the background.*
Tess: …
Tess: Paulo.

*Tess gazes sadly at Paulo, who gazes at her longingly.*
Tess: Come on..

*Tess looks away, closing her eyes.*
Tess: You don’t have to make this serious.
*Paulo leans in, looking pleadingly at Tess.*
Paulo: Why not? Why can’t I..

*Tess raises her voice, sternly addressing Paulo.*
Tess: Paulo, you’re just a kid!!

*Paulo jerks back, a hurt look on his face.*
Paulo: !

Tess: I’m about to be a SENIOR! I’ll be graduating sooner than you think!
*Paulo frowns and flattens his ears.*
Paulo: We can work around that!

*Tess glares at Paulo. She leans close to him.*
Tess: Work around WHAT?
*Paulo looks uncertain. He puts a hand to his chest.*
Paulo: I dunno, maybe you could wait for me and-
Tess: That’s RIDICULOUS!
Paulo: Dammit, I love you!

*Tess looks away, conflicted. She’s shaking.*
Tess: .. No.. No, you don’t. You think you do but you don’t understand..

*Paulo slams his fists on the table, looking anxiously at Tess.*
Paulo: What?!
*Tess looks down and rests her arm on the tabletop.*
Tess: It’s best to just enjoy the moment, alright?

*Tess looks up at Paulo with a small, resigned smile.*
Tess: Paulo.. you got your whole life for LOVE, you know? You only just started high school..

*Tess looks into the distance. She leans both elbows on the table and clasps her hands together thoughtfully. Paulo watches her, distressed.*
Tess: Next year is my last. We’re not going to finish school together.. We’d just drift apart..
Paulo: …

*Paulo leans towards Tess, continuing to plead.*
Paulo: No, we could find a way! It can work if we try!
*Tess frowns.*
Tess: Paulo, I don’t want to try!

*Paulo scowls. His face reddens.*
Paulo: What am I here for then?! Why’d you get me to take you here if that’s what you think?
*Tess is taken aback.*
Tess: !

*Paulo looks away.*
Paulo: What AM I to you?

*Tess stares at Paulo, considering his question.*
Tess: …

*Tess looks down at the table, miserable.*
Tess: I just wanted to be with you tonight.. I wanted to make good memories together, that’s all..

*Tess turns to Paulo, holding a hand to her chest.*
Tess: Years from now, that’s all we’re gonna have. Can’t we make them as friends?
*Paulo looks down at the table, tears in his eyes. He’s shaking.*
Paulo: …

*The scene transitions to a view of the prom in full swing. Music fills the air and several couples are on the dance floor, close together.*
Tess: Don’t you want that too? Why do we have to have this conversation?

Author commentary

Veronica: It’s nice to see Tess put her foot down because of the age difference.. Paulo is kind of in over his head and even though Tess likes him very much, they’re in such different stages of their life.

Oliver: Or about to be. There’s something melancholic about Paulo’s futile “it can work if we try!”