Chapter Text
ORION & FORREST: THE PUSH AND PULL OF THE NEWLY IN-LOVE
Written by
OWEN LAMONT
INT. LECTURE HALL - DAY
Forrest Birchtree is sitting near the front in the middle of a busy sounding hall. It was the start of another new school year. The Formalsville Media University was full of budding script-writers and young, starving artists waiting for their first film history lecture. Forrest looked nervous, tapping his sharp claws on the desk as he waited for the professor to arrive.
FORREST BIRCHTREE (V.O.)
I really hope someone sits next to me, the lecture’s about to start.
Forrest leans his head into his hand as he watches the variety of people walking in. He looks down at his desk and then over to the single open seat to his right. It is very quiet around him. The focus stays on him for a moment too long before quiet footsteps can be heard.
ORION MCMONT (O.S.)
Hey, do you mind if I sit here?
Forrest looks up at Orion, nodding quickly. Orion is wearing a yellow sweatshirt, sky blue jeans and the giddiest smile a bumbling bee could have. Forrest swiftly and politely moved his things along, despite them not being in the way at all.
FORREST BIRCHTREE
Yes, of course you can!
ORION MCMONT
(Quiet)
Thank you!
Orion sat down onto the chair as he spoke, still smiling. He looked at Forrest up and down, clearly eager to say something to him. Forrest was looking at the desk again, seeming a bit irritated with himself.
ORION MCMONT (CONT'D)
If I may, you do look quite proper. Your fur is very well-groomed.
Forrest’s fur glowed as he looked up to Orion, looking grateful. Orion’s accent was very distinct and proper, just like the average Formalsvillian, which Forrest clearly noticed.
FORREST BIRCHTREE
Why, thank you! You’ve got very...
As Forrest tried to find a compliment to throw to Orion, the camera panned over to Orion’s positive looking face, gleaming with positive anticipation, with it slowly zooming into his eyes.
FORREST BIRCHTREE (CONT'D)
Bright eyes!
Orion smiled again, flushing as Forrest complimented his eyes.
ORION MCMONT
My goodness, you’re such a charmer... My name is Orion, what’s your name?
FORREST BIRCHTREE
(awkward)
I’m Forrest! Your name is… great!
Orion smiled at the compliment, looking extremely smitten at Forrest’s slightly, leaning more into Forrest as he spoke.
ORION MCMONT
So is yours! You sound like you’re from here. Are you from here? I’m from here! I live right over that way.
Orion pointed over to his right, looking extremely engaged in the conversation. Forrest chuckled slightly at Orion’s cute behaviour. He smiled jokingly, with no signs of his previous awkwardness.
FORREST BIRCHTREE
I live the other way. Sorry.
ORION MCMONT
No no no, you’re fine! I love that side of town! It’s so cute over there. All of the people have those nice voices… those clean hairstyles like yours, everything!
(Beat)
(Serious)
It really suits you, you know.
The camera goes onto Orion’s face, making him look extremely serious and well-meaning, almost as if there was no possible undertone that he may or may not have wanted Forrest to notice.
Forrest’s face flushes to a shade of light pink barely visible underneath his fur, he looks at Orion, taken-aback. His eyes stay on Orion for a little while, somehow feeling more tender than tense. Really? This guy? Just as Forrest begins to mould his lips to say something, a loud voice can be heard. The other voices in the room also quieten down.
PROFESSOR (O.S.)
Students, today we’re going to be… (unintelligible)
The professor’s words fizzled out as everyone around Orion and Forrest got their laptops and notebooks out. Forrest pulled out a small A5 size book, while Orion pulled out a bright yellow iPad. Orion looked eager, whereas Forrest began to audibly fiddle with his bag on the floor. His face disappears from view for quite a while. Orion looks over to Forrest.
ORION MCMONT
(Concerned)
Are you okay, Forrest?
Forrest’s frustrated frown and downturned eyebrows were prominent, making him look so disappointed with himself. Orion couldn’t help but feel bad.
FORREST BIRCHTREE
Yeah…! I just…
The camera went back to Orion, looking sad for Forrest. It was like they were the only people in the lecture hall.
FORREST BIRCHTREE
(Whispering, Sad)
I forgot my pen.
ORION MCMONT
(Eager)
That’s fine! I have a spare! Let me get it.
Orion looked giddy, happy to help his new friend. He was buzzing as he pulled a royal-looking fountain pen, his hand trembling slightly from excitement as he passed it.
As he held it out towards Forrest, the focus went to his shaking hand. Forrest’s palms were visibly wet, most likely due to nervous sweating. Forrest took the pen, but suddenly began to lose grip, his face sank, but before he could even react, the pen was already making a sharp turn towards the carpet beneath them. The ink began to spill out of the now-broken nib.
FORREST BIRCHTREE
(Whispering, regretful)
Holy shit!
Orion let out a stifled whine, covering his mouth with both of his hands. Forrest picked up the pen, which was still leaking ink. The nib was visibly broken. Forrest’s cheeks flushed yet again and he put the pen on the desk.
ORION MCMONT
(Quiet, Emotional)
That was my favourite pen… Awh
FORREST BIRCHTREE
I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to! I can always-
ORION MCMONT
(Interrupting, Voice breaking)
That was my favourite pen and now it’s gone. It’s all gone!
Orion began to sniffle quietly, covering his face, clearly going through quite an ordeal over some pen. Forrest seemed extremely embarrassed; everyone that was in the shot was staring at the situation. At least the professor was clearly undeterred. He began to go through his bag, pulling out a £5 note and sliding it over to Orion.
FORREST BIRCHTREE
(Rushed & hushed)
Hey, you’re fine! It’s all fine. Buy a new one with my money. Keep the change.
The camera focused on the person next to Forrest wore a particularly vicious look on her face. Forrest leaned into desperately Orion, who was still sobbing like crazy.
FORREST BIRCHTREE
(Whispering, pleading)
Orion… people are staring.
Orion lifted his head out of his hands slowly, still trembling a little, but eventually getting ahold of his emotions. He slowly looked around to the other students, who either seemed to be typing with unbroken focus or nervously avoiding Orion’s quick looks around. Forrest put his head down bashfully, with his forearm covering most of it.
ORION MCMONT
I’m really sorry everyone. I’ll stop. I promise!
FORREST BIRCHTREE
(Loud whisper)
Shh!
ORION MCMONT
Okay… I’m sorry.
(Looks around, mouthing)
I’m really sorry
After a few seconds, most people lose interest in the situation, leading to the 2 just focused on each other. Orion put’s the £5 note in his hand, looking at it for a second. Orion tapped Forrest on the shoulder.
FORREST BIRCHTREE
Mhm?
ORION MCMONT
(Whispering)
Are you sure I can have this? You really don’t need to.
FORREST BIRCHTREE
Um… oh yeah, whatever, just buy another pen with it or something.
ORION MCMONT
Thank you… I’ll pay you back.
FORREST BIRCHTREE
No, you’re fine, really. It’s the least I could do.
Forrest looked a bit shy as he finished speaking, happiness returning. Orion noticed, wearing a small smirk on his face.
ORION MCMONT
So, what are you going to do now?
Quickly, Forrest looks alert and turned his attention to the professor, his ears perking up. He opens his textbook and places his other hand on the desk, before getting a slow look of realisation. Orion couldn’t get over how cute Forrest was acting, resisting the urge to kick his feet.
FORREST BIRCHTREE
Ah…
ORION MCMONT
It’s okay, don’t worry. I can send you my notes! Maybe you can help me write them?
Orion loudly shuffles his chair next to Forrest, their sides now touching. Forrest’s face visibly flushes as a handful of people start to look towards them again, but Orion looks innocently happy as he continued to type stuff up onto his iPad.
FORREST BITCHTREE
Um… How do you know what to write so fast?
ORION MCMONT
I know most of this beginner stuff already, so it’s basically a recap.
Forrest looked a little self-conscious; he didn’t know most of what the professor was hammering on about. Orion felt Forrest’s arm shift and watched it begin tapping on the table. Orion looked down at Forrest.
ORION MCMONT (CONT’D)
You know… some of this stuff was hard for me to understand as well. It can be really hard. I can always tutor you if you want. Maybe it would help the both of us.
Forrest wasn’t paying attention to what Orion was saying, just looking sorry for himself and feeling like a gay waste of space. He was still tapping his claw on the table anxiously. Suddenly, Orion pulls Forrest with his free arm towards his shoulder, making his head cradle in his neck. He loved to make his friends feel welcomed—even if it would eventually lead to his own detriment.
ORION MCMONT (CONT’D)
See…? Isn’t this fun, just us studying like…
(Beat)
good friends… maybe we could do it soon?
Forrest immediately grew an embarrassed, almost repulsed look as he jolted off of Orion’s shoulder. He glanced over at Orion’s cute face. His massive eyes… he really did know how to convince. Orion looked embarrassed as well; he assumed that he was rushing too quickly yet again. He didn’t want to scare away his first new friend at such a prestigious place like this, especially when everyone could see it.
FORREST BIRCHTREE
(Shy, impatient)
I don’t know, maybe. Maybe at some point, but not right now.
Orion immediately began to smile, completely missing Forrest’s implicit sign of disinterest. He was practically gleaming with newfound excitement, even if he was likely getting his hopes up far too soon.
ORION MCMONT
Yay! I’ll give you my number!
Orion began to type up his phone number in the Word document, sliding over the computer to Forrest. Forrest slowly pulled out his phone and began typing it into his phone. Orion waited with a severe lack of patience.
FORREST BIRCHTREE
There. I added you, and I’ll text you if I need anything. Thanks.
Abruptly, Forrest began to put his stuff in his bag, looking a bit frustrated. Orion was a little disappointed with the sudden tone change. He looked concerned.
ORION MCMONT
Are you leaving…? Why?
Forrest shrugs, pulling his backpack up to his knees.
FORREST BIRCHTREE
(Quietly)
I just… I might as well just go. I’m not gonna learn anything here.
ORION MCMONT
I’m sorry.
Forrest looked a little confused. Why was he saying sorry? He looked right at Orion again, trying to combat any unnecessary sorrow that he felt for that bee in the moment.
FORREST BIRCHTREE
It’s fine. See you later, Orion.
Forrest waded through the chairs, wanting to sink into the ground as other people watched him leave for a split-second. Orion was left there, in the busy, yet now much quieter lecture hall. It was harder for him to focus on the lecture for the rest of the hour, feeling like he had smothered his new friend to the point of chasing him away almost immediately. He stayed in there for the rest of the hour, hoping Forrest would ask to come over some day soon. He was left without any confirmation, only a frivolous feeling.