(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.

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.