Tia: Karen, have you seen Cecilia anywhere?
Karen: Not that I know of. Why?
Tia: Darn it. I wanted her to make a CD for me.
Karen: You mean of her solos?
Tia: Yeah, pretty much.
Karen: My twin always seems to disappear in times like these. Don't worry about it, Tia. I'll go find her myself.
*********
(Blaine is stretched out on the couch, hand over his face as he holds up a picture frame. In it is a photo of three teens smiling broadly. He sighs and places it back on the desk.)
Tika: Remembering what it was like back then?
Blaine: . Could you please stop sneaking up on me like that?
Tika: I'll try. (smirks)
Blaine: To answer your question, yeah……
Tika: Yeah, I remember it too. What it was like to be….
….normal.
"Race ya back home!"
"I can beat you anytime!"
"Guys, c'mon!"
They dashed down the sidewalk, laughing and jeering as they went. Tika was the first one to arrive at the driveway, only to be tackled by Blaine and Matthew. They struggled for a few minutes before finally getting up.
"Hey, guys."
"What?"
"You ever had a special wish?"
"Why would I need one?"
"Just asking."
"Well, then , you the one who asked. So, what's your wish?
"Mine….I want this summer to never end…."
"Ya know what?"
"Yeah?"
"I hope that wish comes true…"
Tika:…………….
Blaine:……………..
(An eerie silence goes between them. Tears welled up in their eyes as they reminisce on the rest of that day.)
Tika: [Why did it have to end that way? Why?]
*********
Blaine:………………..
Matthew:……………..
Tika: .
(The teens opened up their umbrellas as rain poured down around them. Tika hissed and pulled back her ears in disgust, since water was not her best friend.)
Matthew: Like we said?
Blaine: Sorry.
Tika: Dude, if I didn't bring these things…
Blaine: We get it. You hate water.
Tika: Obviously, somebody knows that.
Blaine: (pats Tika's back) I guess that's the advantage of having cat ears.
Tika: *sighs* Not in the mood for flattery today, Blaine.
(They arrived at the school positively drenched. Tuesday notices them at the door.
Tuesday: (points) Let me guess.
Blaine: (hand up) Don't say a word.
Matthew: Tika, you okay there?
Tika: (shivering) I'm so cold…..
Blaine: She needs something warm! Quick!
Tuesday (reluctantly) Here.
Blaine:…..Okay…you sre you need this?
Tuesday: (looks away) Take it. No, wait…
(He takes the jacket and lays it across her shoulders. Tika's cheeks turn a bright red.)
Tara:…………….*giggle*
Tika: Don't you even…
Blaine: You're blushing.
Tika: That's because I'm warm!
Matthew: You sure? Maybe it's from embarrassment, or even the other way around.
Tika: (leaps up) I'm serious.
Tuesday: Looks like you didn't need the jacket after all.
Tika: (in Tuesday's face) Shut up!
(The group exchange glances as they continue arguing.)
(Tika stares out the window at the pouring rain, As the class chatters on, her thoughts shifted to a previous year…)
"I understand."
"Now, you don't. I can't believe this. After all that…he…"
"Maybe it's because you made haste. That was pretty quick, you know. You let your emotions control you."
"I know. I don't think I'll be able to love anyone for a long time."
(Tika borrows her head in her hands. She feels a hand come upon her shoulder.)
Blaine: Tika…don't worry so much.
Tika: I can't help it. It happened so fast….(starts crying silently)
(Blaine pulls her head close to him.)
Blaine:*sigh*…….
Meanwhile....
Emery:……………….
Erin:……………
Emery: Hey.
(Erin pauses to notice Emery standing behind him. He continues getting books out of his locker.)
Erin: *sigh* What do you want?
Emery: You haven't noticed?
Erin: And that would be?
Emery: That Blaine….
Erin: (closes locker) What about him?
Emery: He seems to like Tara, doesn't he?
Erin: Where'd you get that from?
Emery: Just a hunch….
Erin: *sigh*
Emery: You don't care, do you?
Erin: Get to the point.
Emery: You had better be careful with Tara. She might…
Erin: Emery, if you say one more thing against my girlfriend, I swear I would slap you right now. And I'm not afraid to. I don't see why you're so jealous anyway.
(He walks off. Emery simply watches him, cursing under her breath.)
*********
Matthew: So, let's work together on this. Okay?
Kira: Yeah…
Tika (from a distance): Aw. Those two look so cute together.
Tara: A possible couple?
Tika: Probably not. Matthew has never fallen in love. EVER. It'll be a while before HE gets a girlfriend.
Maria: and you know that because?
Tika: I've known him since I was 6.
Tara: But why Kira?
Tika:…….I don't really know. She seems to have this innocence that most don't have.
Tika: *smirk* Such as yourself?
Tika: Pretty much.
Maria:………..
Kira: [This is perfect]
Matthew: (background) 28 inches.
Kira: What about the length?
Matthew: How about 40?
Kira: Sounds good.
(Both teens worked quietly, with Matt completely oblivious to Kira's slight crush on him. Maria found herself somewhat envious, but was amused by the thought.)
Tara: So, Tika, did you have any other boyfriends? You know, after Blaine?
Tika: Yeah....
Tara: (worried) What's wrong? Your mood totally darkened.
Tika: It's nothing, Tara. I mean, it's just really hard to explain and all....
Tara: ...I see....
Maria: Maybe we should change the subject. Like to the fact that you're paired up with Tuesday...
Tika: You can't be serious!
Tuesday: She is.
Tika: Ugh...
Tuesday: Let's just go ahead and get this over with.
Tara: Aww!!!!!
Tika & Tuesday: Don't even!!!!!
(Tika reluctantly leaves her seat to help Tuesday with the assignment.)
Tara: [Wow. they're quiet]
Maria: You've noticed it too.
Tara: They haven't said anything for the past ten minutes. I wonder what's up...
Tika: You know I can hear you.
Tara: She heard that. So, what's with him?
Tika: I have no idea. He wasn't talking so I didn't have anything to say about it.
(They look back at Tuesday, who is currently buried under the hood of his jacket, head down.)
