Malory and Kyle must participate in the annual April Fest production as the leading co-stars. If they can cooperate by the end of the production, their long records of uncivilized behaviour towards each other will be forgotten. 
Malory and Kyle attempt to cooperate, grabbing the opportunity to make a positive impact on their own future. In the process, they become entangled in the chaos of the other’s personal life. Malory learns of Kyle’s disturbing reality, and Kyle learns of Malory’s scarring past. Can these two brilliant but messy teens learn to rely on each other in the face of their silent battles?

Between The Lines

 It’s Tuesday. I’m walking to the literacy room with a handful of rolled up charts. I have a bit of setting up to do there before the Youth for Animal Rights Club has their debate this evening. 


 It’s still early –only minutes past seven- and I spot Adrien in the distance, jogging on the field. 


 I pause and decide that two minutes of talking wouldn’t hurt. I walk towards him. 


 At the opposite end of the field, he spots me and waves with a big smile. It’s impossible for me to wave back because my hands are full, but I hurry towards him. We sit on the bleachers. He drinks some water out of his big bottle and then pours some over his head and on his face. I scoff. 


 “What’s with the morning jog?” I ask. 


 I look down at the charts and laugh. “I’m leading a debate for the animal rights club this evening. I have to stick up all these charts in the literacy room for some group presentations. It’s tough work being the president and all but,” I shrug, “I love it, so I don’t give up.” 


 There’s a short silence between us as I smile into the distance thinking about it. 


 “Hey, Malory, about yesterday...” 


 “-Before you continue...” I say, “just know that he’s a doofus and it doesn’t matter what he says about me.” 


 “He... seemed pretty upset about the whole friendship thing,” Adrien says carefully. 


 He’s not my friend and I’m not his problem. 


 Whatever I do and whoever I hang out with is my business. 


 And there’s no way Kyle could’ve been jealous. We don’t care about each other half that much. 


 “He’s always pissed when I’m in a good mood,” I say. “It’s like my joy triggers him.” 


 Adrien nods in agreement. “Was it okay that I did what I did, though? Wrap my hand around you or call you Mal like everybody else?” 


 “It’s cool with me. I don’t see the problem with it. You are, after all, my friend.” 


 I did mind it. I was a bit uncomfortable. But what’s the harm? It’s not a big deal. It just happened once. 


 He listens, nodding and taking another gulp of water. He stares across the field. 


 “Today’s my seventeenth birthday,” he says. 


 I smile at him brightly. “Really? And you decided to come to school?” 


 He manages a laugh saying, “I think you’d have done the same thing.” 


 “…True. So... how are you celebrating? Is your dad taking you somewhere? Are you gonna hang out with a couple guys from school... or what?” 


 “I’m...” he pauses in thought, “not planning to celebrate... at all.” 


 He forces a laugh and takes another sip of his water, “Nobody really cares. I’ve spent a lot of my birthdays alone, anyway. It’s no big deal.” 


 Everyone should enjoy their birthday. 


 “Well, you don’t have to spend it alone today,” I tell him. “Come sit with Olivia and me. Ron’s not coming today so I can’t exactly ask him to join in on the fun. He probably sensed that Davidson was going to be extra prickish today and decided not to come.” 


 He genuinely laughs this time and then our conversation comes to such a low that we just decide to head back to our tasks. 


 When I’m done sticking all the charts up in the literacy room, I think about Adrien. 


 ‘Nobody really cares. I’ve spent a lot of my birthdays alone, anyway. It’s no big deal.’ 


 I frown, pulling out my phone to call Olivia.


Brewing Angst [3]