Joel and Emma make their way through the busy hallway towards their classroom.
Emma:
Here it is.
He enters. He sees that most of the seats are occupied. There are only two seats in back and front available. He asks her where to sit.
Emma:
Let's grab those ones in the back.....
Before she can finish the sentence, a girl rushes past Joel and flops into one of the seats.
Meghana :
Yay! I got my favourite chair! ( she sees towards them and says) you snooze you loss. This one's for me and that one is for Mithun.
A guy following her tries to get past Joel but accidentally bumps into him. He(Joel) just gives him a blank stare.
Mithun:
Like what you see?
Joel:
I wasn't...
Mithun:
No worry. Sorry I bumped into you I was just trying to get to my seat.
Joel:
Excuse me?... How thoughtless of me!
Mithun:
Really? You're just gonna roll over without a fight?
Joel:
Pretty much. It's just a chair who cares?!
Mithun:
Jeez. Now you're making me look bad. But I'm still taking the seat.
As Mithun takes the seat Joel turns to Emma and says
Joel :
Looks like it's the front row for us.
Emma:
I... I can't sit there!
Joel :
Don't worry.. It's not so bad!. I mean, sure, you might get called on a little often...
Emma:
It's not that. It's just.... I can't sit next to Charan.( his gaze shifts over to take in a guy with a huge smile talking with his friends in the front row)
Joel:
Oh that guy? The tall one? He just looks... Meh.
Emma:
Oh... I just meant... I mean.. I think he's - -
Joel:
Oh... Oh .. you mean.... you like him?
Emma:
Shhh..... Not so loud! Charan is... out of my league. He's the college's star wide receiver. And super nice. And funny. And handsome.
Joel:
So, the golden football god. Got it.
Emma:
Just.. You take the seat next to him.. I'll sit in the other dummy!
As Joel sits down Charan turns to him and smiles.
Charan :
You must me new! Welcome. I'm Charan!
Joel:
I'm Joel Matthew!
Charan:
Really? I have a dog named Joey!... So where are from?
Joel :
I'm from Mumbai.. I just moved here.
Charan:
That's cool! I spent my schooling there! I guess we're pretty much getting to know each other better.
Joel:
I think we're destined to be friends!
Charan :
You can tell already huh? ( chuckles)
Joel:
I got a sixth sense about these things.
Charan:
Cool maybe you could read my fortune sometime.
Joel:
Well what do you want to know?
Charan:
I guess. I'm curious. Do you think I'll end up together with my girlfriend, Zara? Like forever....?
Joel:
Girlfriend? I didn't realise that you - -
Joel was interrupted as the guy behind him looks up from his phone and groans.
Benny:
Bro are you still taking about Zara? You're way too hung up that chick. I'm mean yeah.. She's hot... Like super hot. But you talk like she is your wife or something.. And wives are just.. boring.
Charan:
Buddy, one day you'll fall in love. And you'll realize that boring can be the greatest thing in the world.
Benny:
You sound like my mom the uncoolest person I know.
Joel:
Wow!
Benny:
(Looking at Joel) You got something you want to say me?
Joel:
Nope! not a word just don't want to mess with it.
Benny:
That's what I thought. You know I'm a big fan of people who know when to keep their mouth shut. You should totally come to my party tonight. All the best people will be there trust me. If you do come don't bring your sidekick with you( pointing at Emma), she's just a wussie!
Emma :
I'm not! why are you dragging me into this?
Benny:
Because you're just a loser and losers are not invited to my party.
Emma feels bad... She gets up and walk towards the door..
Emma:
I.... I'll be back a minute!
Benny:
That. Was.. hilarious. Please tell me someone got that on video.
Charan:
You don't have be such a jerk all the time, you know.
Benny:
Dude... come on... It was funny.
Ms. Abhilasha walks through door. As she walks Emma is leaving the class wiping her face . Ms. Abhilasha says, " my dear class is going to start where are you going?" and she replies that she'll be back in a min. Then Ms. Abhilasha meets her eye on Joel and then casually drops a hall pass on the desk and says, "seems like maybe someone go check on her..." Joel stands up and start walking towards the door. Ms. Abhilasha asks you to make it fast.
Out in the hall he(referring to Joel) spots Emma going to the girl's restroom. Seeing that he says to himself, " this is not how I pictured my first day would be at school..." He thinks that anyways Emma needs me now. He enters the restroom and finds her crying by the sink.
Joel :
Emma? Are you OK?
Emma :
Joel? What are you doing here?
Joel:
Uh, maybe checking on my only friend in the college.
Emma:
It's OK.. You should go... I'll be fine.
Joel:
I'm not going anywhere.
Emma:
Thanks ( she feels better). But still you shouldn't have followed me. You've still got a chance to be someone at this college... To actually have a life.
Joel:
I don't get it. There's nothing wrong with you, as far as I can see.
Emma:
Don't you get it? It's always been this way.. I'm on the outside looking in. I spent all of last year working on homework, reading trashy novels and doodling pictures of Charan in my notebook... I have never been to a party.. I've always told myself that's its by choice.. That I wouldn't even want to go to one.. When Benny said that.. I knew I'd been lying to myself.
A tear streaks down her face.
Joel:
Don't worry! How fun could it possibly be if he's throwing that party, right.?
Emma:
He may be a jerk... But everyone else will be there including Charan.( she jets out a deep set sigh)
Sorry I'm just tired and tired of being a loser. Anyways what's going to change? People like me are supposed to suffer through high school. I'm nervous... Awkward.. That's me. So guys like Benny will always be there to remind girls like me that we don't belong. It's just the way it's always been.
Joel:
Not anymore. What's past is past... But I'm here now. Forget everything you thought you knew. It's a brand new world.
Emma:
You really think so?
Joel:
I know so. Stick with me.. Your life is about to get a whole lot better.
Emma:
One last thing why are you doing all this?
Joel:
That's because you're my friend!
Emma pulls him a big hug.. Just then the bathroom door opens.
Maisey:
Are you aware that it is a girl's restroom?
Joel:
Is there a good way to answer that question?
Maisey:
GET OUT!
Joel:
I think we should get back to class.
A few mins later... They head back to the class and continued with the lecture. As class ends the guy who walked past Joel earlier catches up with you outside the door.
Mithun:
Hey.. I juts wanted to say that.. That was pretty cool of you! You didn't have to go after her like that.. I wouldn't have..
Joel:
Uh... Thanks...?
Mithun:
Sorry, I'm not used to giving compliments. Bad upbringing you know?
Joel:
Is it so? You seem like you have brought up well.
Mithun:
Heh.. That shows how little you know about me..! But thanks. Even if you don't know what the hell you're talking about.
He says these and moves by him and exits through some door.
