5

Young Chris:

*Sitting at Piano

*Watch Tyler's dad grab his arm and start dragging him out of the house

*Tears start to well up in his eyes.

Tyler's father:

*Irritated

Come on Tyler! Stop making such a fuss. Let's go home.

Young Tyler:

*Crying.

*REALLY upset

NO! I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE!!!

THIS IS HOME!

THIS IS MY FAMILY!!!

NOT YOU!

LET ME GO!!

I WANT TO STAY WITH CHRIS FOREVER!

Young Chris:

*Badump

*wide eyes

*Door slams shut

*Chis's tears begin to fall

Chris's mother:

*Knit brows/concerned

Chris…?

Young Chris:

*calmly crying

I want Tyler…

Chris's mother:

To stay with us again?

Chris's thoughts:

Yes. And…

Chris's mother:

His father will be leaving again in a week or so, I'll let him know that he can stay with us again. I'm sure they'll both be relieved.

*Smiles warmly

Chris:

*wipes tears

I'm going to practice…

Chris's thoughts:

He always smiles when I practice…

I want him…

I want him to smile always…

Current Tyler:

*Poking at slice of cake with fork

*Focused on cake

Tyler's thoughts:

His summer showcase is next Thursday…

I bet that's when he is planning to kiss her…

Lucky girl…

He's so handsome, and brilliant, and kind, and…

And…

Chris:

*swallows cake

I've been thinking…

We should go to the park soon.

Tyler:

*Still poking at cake

Mmm, sure…

Chris:

*Smiles calmly

We could hike the hill.

Swim in the lake.

This Friday there will be a bunch of live bands out there…

Tyler's thoughts:

We've done all of those things before…

So why does it feel different when he asked this time?

Tyler:

Sure. Sure.

Did you like the cake?

Chris:

*Suddenly in front of Tyler

*Smiling

*Soft eyes

Tyler's thoughts:

He's such an eager student…

he must like her a lot…

Maybe he's in love with her…

Chris:

Very much. Carrot cake is my favorite.

*Peck on the cheek

Tyler's thoughts:

He's just using me.

He's just using me for her.

He isn't feeling the same warmth I'm feeling when his lips touch mine.

Once the showcase is over and he starts kissing her this will be over and we can go back…

To…

Being…

Just…

Chris:

Thank you

*Kiss

Tyler's thoughts:

Silence—————

Chris:

*Pulls Tyler up from chair by face

*Wraps arms around Tyler's waist

*tongue into mouth

*Separates from lips

*Kisses Tyler's cheek

*Kisses Tyler's neck