Mr. Hawthorn: The project for this week will the dangers of hazing and spreading false accusations!

Filan: [Raising his hand.] What’s hazing?

Mr. Hawthorn: An act where people force someone to do something humiliating or dangerous to fit in.

Filan: Oh. That doesn’t sound too bad.

Mr. Hawthorn: [He fixates his chair and stares directly at Filan.] Oh really? Would you like to have an A on this project automatically, Filan?

Filan: Boy would I!

Mr. Hawthorn: If you want an A...you have to kill Cirel.

Filan: [His eyes widen.] Huh?

Mr. Hawthorn: If not, then you have to do the project. [Filan slowly looks at Cirel. He looks back.]

Cirel: [Forms a drop of sweat.] Please don’t.

Filan: It’s a free A.

Mr. Hawthorn: Now your project can be a presentation, a speech, or anything as long as it’s about hazing, false accusations, or both. I’ll be putting you all in groups of three, with one group having four. Group 1 will be: Filan, Elise, and Cirel.

Cirel: [He looks two desks down.] Psst, Elise.

Elise: [She turns around and looks at the direction Cirel is at. She smiles] Yes?

Cirel: Please don’t let Filan kill me, man.

Elise: [She continues to smile.] I can’t promise anything.

Mr. Hawthorn: Group 2 will have: Natalie, Kimberly, and Hideo.

Natalie: At least one of my friends is in my group. [Mr. Hawthorn continues to put the students in their respective groups.]

[Hideo groans, scratching out things on a sheet of paper.]

Hideo: No, no. This simply won’t work. [He bites down on his eraser and an idea comes up.] Oho...yes. [Rapidly scribbling] I’ve got it. My project will be a PSA!

Kimberly: [Grins at Natalie.] We lucked out. Our partner is a film student.

Hideo: I’m a director, mind you. But lucky you are, because we are going to make a ten minute PSA on the horrors of spreading lies!

Natalie: [Gasps and holds her hands close to her mouth in excitement.] That sounds amazing! Can I act in it?

Hideo: That’s the plan.

Kimberly: But how can we have a PSA with only one actor?

Hideo: [Raises his hand.] Mr. Hawthorn, can we get outside help to act in my short film?

Mr. Hawthorn: Sure!

Hideo: Sweet. Now all we need is an actor.

Kimberly: But who?

[Scene cuts to Oliver and Lucinda, who are sitting outside next to the academy with a picnic set up.]

Oliver: Lucinda...are we best friends?

Lucinda: Why do you ask?

Oliver: Because in all of these episodes, we are either dating or we’re hiding our feelings for each other.

Lucinda: Oh,do we?  But in all honesty I- [She is cut off by Hideo, Kimberly, and Natalie walking to them.]

Hideo: Hello there.

Oliver: [Smirks] General Isogai. You are a bold one interrupting my lunch.

Natalie: You two know each other?

Oliver: That is correct! We met at the Bi Awareness Parade a few weeks ago-

Hideo: [Suddenly interrupts] I was interviewing the people there. I was not a part of it. [Awkward pause for a few seconds.] Anyways, I was wondering if I ask for a favor.

Oliver: [Grinning] Sure! What is it?

Hideo: My group is making a PSA for my class project, and I want you to play a major role in it.

Oliver: [He tilts his head.] What is it about?

Kimberly: [Keeping a straight face.] The dangers of hazing. Spoookyyy.

Oliver: That sounds very interesting. Okay!

Hideo: Sweet! Just come with me and we can all work on what the plot is. [Points at Natalie.] Natalie over here will be your co-star.

Natalie: [She does a formal wave, grinning with a bubbly attitude.] Hiiiii!

Oliver: [Blushes a little.] It’s great to meet you…

Hideo: Now let’s not waste any time. Come forth, my pink star!

Oliver: Aye, aye! [He stands up.]

Lucinda: [Reaching out for Oliver.] W-Wait! What about our picnic? [Gives off a fake smile.] At least take your sandwich with you.

Oliver: Oh, silly me. [He takes some of the food with him.] I’ll see you in a few hours I hope!

Lucinda: Okay…[She watches the four exit.] S-See you tomorrow…


[Hideo’s Dorm.]

(The four are seated in Hideo’s small living room. Kimberly and Natalie are on his couch, while Hideo and Oliver are on fold up chairs.)

Hideo: So should there be an antagonist? Because I feel like the words are the true villain of this story, with the students just being mere victims falling for the trap. I managed to get a few more students from other classes in on our collaboration, and Oliver got someone else so that’s already fantastic… [Continues to ramble on.]

Oliver: [Leaning over to Kimberly.] Gosh. I never took Hideo for an Ultimate Talker.

Kimberly: [Rolling her eyes.] He does this with everything he’s passionate about. Like we watched some movie about talking cells, and when we were given a three hundred response question, he wrote a novel.

Natalie: [Butting in] But it’s still admiring! It warms my heart to see people gushing over what they like!

Kimberly: [Snickers; covering her mouth.] Like when Cirel freaked out over the eurobeat in Isak’s presentation?

Natalie: [Starts getting more excited.] And when Nahee saw the farmer petting those cows on that one short film!

Hideo: -And I have the rough draft for you two already! [He hands Oliver and Natalie two stacks of a few pages.]

Oliver: [Scoots back, completely flabbergasted.] Huh? H-HOW?

Hideo: I’m serious about this! Although I think I worked myself into a night coma, so you two have the rest of the night to go over your lines. I highlighted all of your parts individually.

Oliver: What about Kimberly? Doesn’t she have a role?

Kimberly: [Scoffs] I got my own script coming up.

Natalie: Cool!

Hideo: Okay bye-  [Falls immediately asleep.]

Kimberly: [Grimly] Now let’s kill him.

Oliver: [Jumps back, looking at Kimberly.] WHAT?

Kimberly: Huh? What? Yeah we should all leave. Practice good, you two.

(They all exit.)


[Natalie’s Dorm]

(Oliver and Natalie sit at her kitchen table and have gone over their lines twice so far for act one.)

Natalie: Just please don’t believe any of those rumors...please. It feels like everyone is against me, I feel so alone in this.

Oliver: [Pats] Don’t let this get to you, first. Rumors like this will eventually fade, and within a couple of days, the majority will fall for some other scandal that may or may not be true.

Natalie: [Smiles] Thank you. [She puts down the script and giggles.] That was great, Oliver! I didn’t know you were so talented, no offense.

Oliver: None taken. And besides, there is a reason why. Have you by any chance seen Kangaroo Farm?

Natalie: YES! I watched that all the time when I was seven.

Oliver: Well...six year old me was Roger.

Natalie: [Gives an astonished face.] NOOOO…

Oliver: [Nods] Mhm. And I also played Joe in the first dub for Gachaman 1.

Natalie: [Her astonished face continues.] NO. WAY! YOU ARE LIKE THE GREATEST PERSON EVER!

Oliver: R-Really? I mean I thought I was alright-

Natalie: No! Nonsense! You are incredibly talented and never tell yourself otherwise! You’re young, yet you have so much experience!

Oliver: [Rubs the back of his head.] Thank you...I don’t think I should say this.

Natalie: Huh? [Tilts her head.] You gotta tell me.

Oliver: Okay...uh…[Blushes slightly] I’m kind of maybe a fan of you...for the past three-ish years.

Natalie: Oh. [Grins] That’s no reason to be shy! I don’t want to sound prideful, but quite a few people at this academy are fans too! Most are male, but still big fans! I’m glad to hear that, though.

Oliver: [His heart starts beating a lot.] Uh...thank you. Yeah, I tried to hide it when I first saw you earlier today. (ACT COOL, OLIVER!)

Natalie: That’s totally natural! Oh! If you are need of a costume change or something like that for the PSA, I got plenty of outfits that can fit you. Your body’s so perfect! Well, every body is perfect in their own way, but you happen to fit into a lot of the gender neutral clothes I have!

Oliver: C-Cool! That’s great…

Natalie: Oh, you are such a cute and talented person. I’m sure anyone would be lucky to have you for sure!

Oliver: [Looks down.] Yeah…


(Saturday)

Oliver: Lucinda! [Approaches her]

Lucinda: Huh? Oh, hey Oliver.

Oliver: [He sighs] I apologize for suddenly ditching on you yesterday. It was very rude of me, but I want to make it up. I have to get a few things for Hideo, but go to the first floor mess hall. Everyone will meet there and we will begin shooting a few scenes.

Lucinda: [Smiles at Oliver.] Okay. I’m sure you will be amazing in this, Oliver.

Oliver: That means a lot to hear. I’ll see you in like ten to twenty minutes! [Exits]

(Lucinda sits down in the dining hall. She’s alone at first, but someone enters. She looks up and grins but it fades quickly.)

Lucinda: Who are you?

Virgil: I’m Virgil. Some pink haired boy got me on for some PSA.

Lucinda: Oh you’re with them! Oliver’s the best. I purchased an ice cream cake from Ibis.  [She holds it up.] It’s strawberry. As soon as Oliver and the crew shows up, I’ll express my love for his work and...I just want him to be happy.

Virgil: ‘kay.

(They wait for a minute.)

Lucinda: Unfortunately the fridge is locked so I can’t keep this cold.

(They wait a few more minutes.)

Virgil: The clock on the wall is broken.

Lucinda: I’m sure it won’t be long.

(A minute passes)

Virgil: Do you have your phone at all?

Lucinda: Yeah, but I won’t reach for it until I get any notification.

(Another minute passes)

Virgil: Can I have some cake?

Lucinda: No.

Virgil: ‘kay.

(They wait a few more minutes.)

[Nighttime]

(Lucinda is still sitting, the ice cream cake melting on her lap, seeping to the ground. Virgil is dead on the floor.)

[Daytime]

(Lucinda is still sitting, the ice cream cake is completely gone or is on the ground. Virgil is back sitting up, completely fine.)

Virgil: I don’t think he gave us the right address.

Lucinda: [She stares at the wall, heartbroken.] Oliver...