[School Hallway – Morning]7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVY5hDCLVD
Ava walks in, hoodie up, earbuds blasting music to drown out the world. She keeps her head down, dodging groups of students crowding the hall.
As she approaches her locker, Jade is already there, messing with the combination.
Ava: Hey.
Jade: Oh… hey.
They stand in awkward silence for a moment.
Jade: Did you… have fun last night?
Ava: I guess. It was loud.
Jade gives a small laugh, but her eyes stay fixed on her locker. Ava notices how pale she looks like she didn’t sleep.
Ava: You okay?
Jade: Yeah. Just tired.
Before Ava can say anything else, Lana comes up behind her, slinging an arm around Ava’s shoulder.
Lana: There’s my little ghost girl. Ready for round two this weekend?
Ava: You’re already planning another party?
Lana: It’s what I do. Besides, Sienna’s hosting this time. You have to come.
Jade shifts uncomfortably, pulling her bag over her shoulder.
Jade: I’ll see you guys later.
Ava: What’s up with her?
Lana: Who knows? She’s always weird about parties.
[Classroom]7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZFL9i0zgG
Sienna sits in front of Ava, effortlessly charming the teacher during roll call. Ava watches her, noticing how perfectly put-together she looks. No smudged eyeliner. No messy hair.
Ava scribbles half-hearted notes in her notebook but keeps drifting off, replaying Sienna’s words from the party.
"If you fixed that up a little, you’d look prettier."
Ava’s leg bounces under the desk.
[Bathroom – Lunch]7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8UIEO8Uhv
Ava walks into the farthest stall, resting her back against the door. She pulls out her phone and scrolls through Instagram.
Random Girl 1: Did you see Ava last night? She looked like she hadn’t slept in days.
Random Girl 2: Right? And that eyeliner… such a mess.
Ava grips her phone tighter, staring at the screen without seeing anything.
[After School – Ava’s House]7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAteEwsLMEZ
Ava throws her bag onto the floor and heads straight to the bathroom. She wipes away the faint traces of eyeliner left from the day, but as she leans closer to the mirror, she feels too much and not enough at the same time.
Her phone lights up on the counter.
Lana [text]: Sleepover at Sienna’s tomorrow. Don’t bail.
Ava stares at the message, biting the inside of her cheek.
Ava [text]: I’ll think about it.
[Sienna’s House – Sleepover Night]7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0SYr7ehOe
Ava sits cross-legged on the floor next to Jade, who’s scrolling through her phone, avoiding eye contact. Sienna and Lana are painting each other’s nails, giggling about something.
Sienna: You should let me do your nails. Black is a little… harsh.
Ava: (glancing at her chipped black nails) I like it.
Lana: Don’t worry, Ava’s stuck in her emo phase.
Ava forces a laugh, but Jade nudges her gently with her elbow, sensing her discomfort.
[Scene 6: Ava’s Room – Later That Night]7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1CKiDpJkM
Ava lies awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. Her phone sits on the pillow next to her.
She types a message to Jade but deletes it before sending it.
Her phone buzzes.
Jade [text]: I hate those sleepovers too. You okay?
Ava stares at the message for a long time before finally replying.
Ava [text]: Yeah. Thanks.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjQxjbaKb8
