Burnouts 2: Without Butterflies

What Did You Expect From Me?

Scene 1: Addington High

Leo Rylin

Jordan leans his head back against the lockers and closes his eyes.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked.

"I was up with Angela all night."

"Never mind," I said quickly to avoid any unwanted details.

"No, she's sick. Flu season and everything. You should get a shot."

"I never get it." The shot or the flu.

"She said she's gonna stay in bed all day. I tried to make sure she was comfortable before I left, but I should get back."

Speaking of making someone comfortable.

Heather walks past us with a friend I don't know.

"What?" Jordan followed my eyes.

"I'm gonna give the Discman back to her."

"Why?"

"I don't want me keeping it to send a message." She doesn't have anything I gave her when we were together.

"What are you going to say?"

I shrugged. "I'll think of something."

"Go." He nodded toward where they were by the water fountain.

"Not right now."

Jordan squinted his eyes in skepticism, like he believed I was scared or something...I'm not scared of Heather.

"Well, I'm sleeping." He leaned his head against the locker again and shut his eyes.

"Dickhead," I insulted, and then took the Discman out of my bag and held it at my side while I went over to Heather.

She seems pretty happy today. What are the chances of her taking this too personally?

"Hey, can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure." She waved off her friend before coming away with me. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, uh— thanks for the ride last night, that was cool of you."

"Anytime."

"Probably no time soon, though." I hand her the Discman. "Elle isn't comfortable with me being friends with you."

"Why?"

"You know why," I said, trying to laugh off any memories that come to mind. "There's too much history."

"Oh...I'm sorry?"

I shrugged. "It's the past."

"This was a gift." She brought it out to me again.

I shook my head. "You gave mine back."

"That was different."

"No, it wasn't."

"It's too late. It clearly doesn't mean anything anymore," she said, defensively.

"Give it to Adrian."

Heather rolled her eyes. "He has one. You didn't-"

She opened the CD player and suddenly didn't look too angry anymore.

I left her mix in there.

She stares down and the CD and then back at me.

Why do you look so betrayed?

That's the opposite of what this is...

"Couldn't exactly play it for Elle..."

Heather turned and walked off like we weren't ever speaking.