Chapter Text
MONDAY, 18TH NOVEMBER, 08:58
EXT. ENTRANCE, BACA
“Life In Italics” by Clout From Grandma’s Closet plays as we see a backshot of JAKE walking towards the school door, his hoodie hood up, passing by small group of people. He looks all around, not seeing anyone he knows. He closes his eyes and keeps on walking.
INT. HALLWAY, BACA
JAKE walks in, in slow motion, and looks across the hallway to see ELEANOR pulling ALISTAIR closer to a group of girls, all of them laughing as ALISTAIR laughs along, looking to the opposite end of the hall.
JAKE’s gaze hardens, as he starts to walk towards him. A GUY bumps into JAKE, knocking his headphones out, stopping the music.
GUY
Sorry.
JAKE looks at him like “please just fuck off”, and he does. JAKE puts his headphones into his pocket and looks over to ALISTAIR. In front of him, NICK is waving for him to come over to him, JAMES and THEO.
NICK
Dude!
JAKE smiles awkwardly and waves, walking slowly over to them.
NICK
Theo, are you free for the morning?
THEO
I have ICT.
NICK
Well, that’s just homophobic.
JAKE
What-- What are you guys doing?
JAMES
Me and Nick are gonna nap.
JAKE laughs.
JAKE
With each other?
JAMES
Yeah. We’re bros.
JAMES holds out his fist and NICK bumps it with his own, JAKE trying not to look too uncomfortable.
NICK
Fisting!
THEO
Hey, don’t say that.
JAMES
It’s okay, we just have to say no homo.
JAMES holds NICK’s hand and looks into his eyes dramatically, THEO beginning to laugh, JAKE still not entirely clear if this is okay or not.
JAMES
No homo, my love.
NICK laughs too, slightly awkward, but only JAKE seems to notice.
NICK
No homo, bro. Hey, speaking of no homo, guess who talked to Rori?
THEO gasps dramatically and JAKE smiles, genuinely happy for him.
JAKE
Nice!
THEO
Wait, I already knew that, ‘cause you told us twice.
NICK
But not Jake though! Okay so, she was alone, right? Dancing, having fun, then I started dancing with her, also having fun… And then I kissed her, and she wasn’t grossed out! We just kept kissing and it went on for two! Whole! Songs!
He grins, very proud of himself, as JAKE nods, not as interested as NICK thinks he is, but still trying to pretend to be.
JAKE
Cool.
JAMES
Dude, she likes it when you play with her hair, it’s cute.
NICK nods, as THEO tilts his head at JAKE.
THEO
You okay, dude?
JAKE points at himself and THEO nods, like “yes, you idiot”.
JAKE
Yeah. Yeah, I’m-- I’m just chilling.
THEO
Okay, cool. Thought you died Friday.
JAKE laughs, trying to cover up how he actually feels about that night, and the bell rings.
THEO
Have a nice nap, nerds.
He walks off, and NICK begins to walk back out the door, JAMES staying still.
NICK
You coming?
JAMES
One sec.
NICK waits, leaning on the wall, as JAMES looks at JAKE, JAKE nodding awkwardly.
JAKE
Uh, I can't cuddle right now. I have to study.
JAMES
Yeah, yeah, just-- You know we’re cool, right?
JAKE nods, looking anywhere but JAMES’s eyes.
JAKE
Yeah, yeah, totally. Um, I gotta get to, uh, the library. Big English project.
JAMES nods, smiling encouragingly as JAKE walks away, rolling his eyes, frustrated at himself as he gets lost in the crowd.