CH-02 : THE FAINT

SCHOOL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

MARCUS stands frozen, watching Lucy walk away. His face has gone slightly pale.

MARCUS

(to himself)

She laughed. At my joke. An actual laugh.

THUD.

DANNY

(rushing over)

Whoa — MARCUS?!

Students gather around. Danny crouches down, patting Marcus's face.

DANNY (CONT'D)

Bro. BRO. Wake up.

RANDOM STUDENT

Is he okay?

DANNY

He's fine, he's just —

(muttering)

— he's just dramatic.

Marcus's eyes flutter open.

DANNY

You fainted. You FAINTED. Because a girl laughed at your sock joke.

MARCUS

(sitting up slowly)

It was a good joke.

DANNY

It was an okay joke. You don't faint over an okay joke.

MARCUS

(standing, wobbly)

I didn't faint. I got dizzy. There's a difference.

DANNY

You went down like a sack of rice, man.

MARCUS

(brushing himself off)

Don't tell anyone.

DANNY

Everyone already saw.

MARCUS

Danny.

DANNY

I'm telling everyone.

MARCUS

DANNY.

DANNY

(grinning)

Kidding. Mostly.

MARCUS'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Marcus sits at his desk, laptop open, video call with Danny already running. Danny's face fills half the screen, eating chips.

MARCUS

I was thinking a science demo table. Something interactive.

DANNY

Boring. Next.

MARCUS

It's not boring, it's engaging —

DANNY

Marcus. You want to impress a girl. Not pass an exam.

MARCUS

The booth isn't ABOUT impressing her, it's a class project —

DANNY

(leaning into camera)

Buddy. Come on. It has been about impressing her since the moment Ms. Alvarez said her name.

MARCUS

(sighs)

...Fine. What's your idea?

DANNY

Photo booth. With props. Everyone loves a photo booth. You stand next to her a lot, "adjusting the lighting," very casual, very normal —

MARCUS

That sounds like a plan to stand near her, not a booth idea.

DANNY

Same thing.

MARCUS

It's really not.

DANNY

Okay, okay — what does SHE like? You've been staring at her for three years, surely you picked up something.

MARCUS

(thinking)

She always doodles in the corner of her notebook. Little sketches. Mostly of plants and stuff.

DANNY

See, THAT'S useful. Art angle. Do a booth where people paint little pots or something. She'd probably run that whole thing herself.

MARCUS

(surprised)

...That's actually a good idea, Danny.

DANNY

I have my moments.

MARCUS

Don't let it go to your head.

DANNY

Too late.

A notification pings on Marcus's screen — a group chat.

MARCUS

(reading)

Ms. Alvarez added a new student to our class group chat.

DANNY

New student?

MARCUS

(reading)

"Everyone welcome Julian, transferring in from Westbrook."

DANNY

Huh. Mid-year transfer. Rare.

MARCUS

(scrolling)

He's already replied. "Hey, excited to be here — heard there's a Spring Festival thing happening, count me in."

DANNY

Ambitious for a first message.

MARCUS

(shrugs)

Whatever. Not our problem.

SCHOOL HALLWAY - NEXT MORNING

JULIAN (17, easy smile, confident walk, carries himself like he's already made friends with everyone) stands near the lockers, talking with MIA and ELENA like he's known them for years. Lucy walks up, curious.

LUCY

You're the new guy. Julian, right?

JULIAN

That's me. You must be Lucy — Mia already told me you run this whole hallway.

LUCY

(laughs)

I don't run anything.

JULIAN

Could've fooled me.

MARCUS and DANNY approach from the other end of the hall. Marcus slows down, watching the exchange.

DANNY

(quiet, to Marcus)

Who's that?

MARCUS

New kid. Julian.

DANNY

He's talking to Lucy like they're old friends.

MARCUS

(frowning slightly)

Yeah. I noticed.

Julian glances over, catches Marcus watching, and gives him an easy, friendly wave — the kind that somehow feels like a challenge.

JULIAN

Hey — you're Marcus, right? Heard you're running the festival booth with Lucy.

MARCUS

(caught off guard)

...Yeah. That's me.

JULIAN

Cool. Mind if I help out? I'm new, don't really know anyone yet — figured it's a good way to get involved.

Lucy looks between the two of them, unaware of the sudden tension.

LUCY

(to Marcus)

More hands wouldn't hurt, right?

MARCUS

(forcing a smile)

...Sure. Why not.

JULIAN

(grinning)

Great. This'll be fun.

He walks off with Mia and Elena, already making them laugh about something. Lucy follows after a beat. Marcus watches them go.

DANNY

(under his breath)

Okay. New plan. Photo booth idea's on hold. We've got a bigger problem.

MARCUS

(quiet)

Yeah.

DANNY

You okay?

MARCUS

(still watching Julian)

He seems... nice.

DANNY

That's what worries me.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***