(3 years ago)
Charlie is in his room, sleeping in his bed. He begins to wake up.
CHARLIE
Oh man. What time is it?
Charlie looks at his clock and it reads 8:00 a.m.
CHARLIE
Oh shit! I’m going to be late!
Charlie quickly gets out of bed and rushes to the bathroom. He takes a shower and brushes his teeth. From there, he rushes back to his room, sprays some cologne on himself, and puts some clothes on before heading down stairs.
CHARLIE
Why didn’t my alarm go off?
He goes into the kitchen and sees his mother fixing breakfast.
CHARLIE
Morning mom.
Charlie walks to the refrigerator and opens it. His mother turns around to face Charlie.
MOM
What do you think you’re doing?
CHARLIE
I’m about to make a sandwich.
MOM
Do you not see me making breakfast?
CHARLIE
I see that.
MOM
And?
CHARLIE
And what?
MOM
So, you’re just going to skip out on breakfast?
Charlie closes the refrigerator.
CHARLIE
Mom, I have to go. I’m going to be late for school.
MOM
And whose fault is that?
CHARLIE
But mom-
MAN''S VOICE
Listen to your mother, Charlie.
Someone walks into the kitchen from the living room.
CHARLIE
But dad, today is really important.
ALBERT
Is it more important than your family?
CHARLIE
I guess.
MOM
You guess?!
ALBERT
What’s so important that you have to skip out on breakfast with your family?
GIRL''S VOICE
It’s probably that girl I seen him talking to the other day.
Someone else walks into the kitchen from upstairs.
CHARLIE
Shut up, Kate!
KATE
Don’t be such a drama queen.
Charlie''s mother and Albert starts smiling.
MOM
Oh...I see.
CHARLIE
There’s nothing to see.
ALBERT
My boys becoming a man.
CHARLIE
I’m 17 years old.
Charlie''s mother moves close to Charlie and bumps him on the shoulder.
MOM
So, who''s the lucky girl?
KATE
Her name is Josaline and she’s white.
CHARLIE
Kate!
ALBERT
White? Looks like someone is following behind their old man’s footsteps.
Charlie''s mother turns to Albert.
MOM
What do you mean? I’m Hispanic.
Albert faces her.
ALBERT
I’m just saying, Judie, our son doesn’t have any preference among the women he likes, just like me.
Judie turns away from Albert and looks at Charlie.
JUDIE
Ignore your father, Charlie.
ALBERT
What just happened?
JUDIE
As long as you’re happy, it doesn’t matter who you go out with, sweaty.
CHARLIE
Thanks, mom. But I really got to go. Come on, Kate.
Charlie grabs Kate by the wrist.
KATE
But I haven’t eaten breakfast yet.
CHARLIE
You can eat when we get to school.
KATE
But I don’t want to eat that garbage!
CHARLIE
Deal with it!
Charlie rushes out of the house while dragging Kate along.
JUDIE
You two have a great day at school. I love you.
ALBERT
And don’t do anything I would do.
Judie looks at Albert.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
JUDIE
Albert!
Albert looks at Judie and shrugs his shoulders.
ALBERT
What? That’s called inspiration.
Judie turns away from Albert and goes into the living room.
ALBERT
Was it something I said?
Charlie and Kate arrives at Peach Creek High, the high school they are attending. They are walking toward the school’s entrance.
KATE
Let go of me!
Kate snatches her wrist away from Charlie’s hand.
CHARLIE
OK...jeeez!
KATE
I don’t even know why we are here.
CHARLIE
We were going to be late.
KATE
For what? School doesn’t start for another 30 minutes.
CHARLIE
Well, I needed to get to school and you know that I have to take you to school when I leave for school.
KATE
You should’ve just left me home.
CHARLIE
Don’t be like that, Kate.
Charlie looks at Kate and puts his hand on her shoulder.
CHARLIE
I’ll make it up to you. After school, let’s go get some ice cream.
Kate slaps Charlie’s hand off her shoulder.
CHARLIE
Hey...
KATE
Do I look like I''m 5-years-old to you? I don’t want ice cream.
Kate notice some of her friends waving at her.
KATE
Hey guys! I’m on my way!
Kate and Charlie stop walking.
KATE
Remember, If you see me in school, don’t talk to me. I’ll see you after school.
Kate runs off to her friends.
CHARLIE
...Bitch.
GIRL''S VOICE
Hey, Charlie!
Charlie looks at the entrance of the school and notice one of his friends.
CHARLIE
Hey, Cindy.
Charlie runs over to Cindy.
CHARLIE
How''s it going?
CINDY
Never mind that. Did you do it?!
CHARLIE
Do what?
CINDY
You didn’t do it, did you?
CHARLIE
Do what?!
CINDY
Read the manga.
Charlie smacks his forehead.
CHARLIE
Oh yeah! I completely forgot about that.
CINDY
You’ve been forgetting for the past week.
CHARLIE
I’m sorry, Cindy. My homework has been keeping me distracted from doing other things.
CINDY
Dude, come on. That new manga is a must read.
CHARLIE
I kind of fell out of that manga series a long time ago.
Cindy’s eyes gets wider.
CINDY
WHAT?!
Cindy grabs Charlie by the Collar of his shirt, pulls him to her level and mashes her face into his while staring in his eyes.
CINDY
Nobody...falls out...of that...manga! NOBODY!
CHARLIE
OK. I’ll…read…it.
CINDY
Do you promise?
CHARLIE
Cindy...I…can’t…breathe...
Charlie starts to turn red and purple.
CINDY
PROMISE ME!
CHARLIE
I…promise...
CINDY
OK.
Cindy releases Charlie and he falls to the ground, gasping for air. She looks at him with a worrisome expression.
CINDY
(worried)
Charlie, are you OK?
CHARLIE
(Cough.) I’m fine, Cindy.
CINDY
Let me help you up.
CHARLIE
NO! I mean…that’s OK. I got this.
Charlie slowly stands up.
CINDY
Are you sure you’re OK?
CHARLIE
Yeah, I’m good. You just need to watch your strength.
CINDY
Sorry about that. When it comes to anything that’s manga, I get a little…anxious. I really don’t know my own strength.
CHARLIE
All is forgiven. I’m going to go to class.
Charlie begins to walk inside the school.
CINDY
Why? Class don’t start for another 25 minutes.
CHARLIE
I know. I’ll see you in class.
CINDY
OK. See you in class.
Charlie gets to class and spots another one of his friends talking to girls around them.
CHARLIE
The womanizer himself, Frank.
Charlie walks over to Frank.
FRANK
And then I said, "Suck it, douche-bag."
Frank and the girls start laughing.
CHARLIE
What''s up, Frank?
Frank and the girls stop laughing and they look at Charlie. The girls walk away.
FRANK
Wait! Where you going?!
FRANK
(disappointed)
Nice going. I was this close to hooking up with them, but then you had to show up.
CHARLIE
All of them?
FRANK
It''s not considered a party if there''s only one person.
CHARLIE
That''s why it only takes two.
FRANK
Whatever. Just know that you ruined my groove.
CHARLIE
You have no groove, Frank.
GIRL''S VOICE
Precisely.
Charlie and Frank look at the person who said that. They see one of their friends heading their way.
FRANK
Shows what you know, Candice...I''m handsome.
CANDICE
Just know that I will never fall for your tricks.
FRANK
I wouldn''t go after you anyway. You''re not my type.
CANDICE
And you think those girls you were just talking to are?
FRANK
Bingo. If there is one thing you guys should know about me, it''s that I''m awesome.
CANDICE
Hardly.
FRANK
Black chick says what?
CANDICE
What?
Frank begins to laugh which confuses Candice. Charlie closes his eyes in disappointment for Frank. Suddenly, Frank spots four guys who does not belong in their class and stops laughing.
FRANK
Who are those four?
Charlie and Candice face toward the guys.
CHARLIE
I have no idea.
CANDICE
(surprised)
Not those guys again.
FRANK
You know them?
Candice closes her eyes, bows her head, and grabs onto the bridge of her nose in disappointment.
CANDICE
(Sigh) Unfortunately, I do.
Candice looks at Frank.
CANDICE
You should remember them too.
Frank looks at Candice.
FRANK
I should?
CANDICE
Those are the guys that you beat up years ago.
Frank looks at the four again and he remembers who they were.
FRANK
Oh yeah! I remember now. Those are the four who were beating you up. I had to come and save you. Good times.
CANDICE
(angry)
I didn''t get beat up by all of them. It was only by one person and he caught me off guard.
FRANK
By tickling you.
CHARLIE
You got caught off guard by getting tickled? By who?
FRANK
By him.
Frank points at the smallest guy of the group and Charlie looks at him.
CHARLIE
A...Are you serious?
FRANK
Yeah. But he was shorter back then.
Charlie looks at Frank and then they both start laughing at Candice. Candice punches both Charlie and Frank in the head. They both stop laughing and grabs their head in pain.
CANDICE
You two, shut up!
CHARLIE
You didn''t have to hit us.
FRANK
Yeah.
KORN
We don''t want any trouble. We are just here looking for one person. We heard that they''re in this class.
Candice looks at the four guys who came into the class room.
CANDICE
Hey, bozos!
The four guys look at Candice.
KORN
There you are.
The four guys walk over to Candice, Charlie and Frank.
KORN
We''ve been looking for you, Candice.