After school hours, Cleave Hills High School. Elena and Zoey leave class, heading to their lockers to drop some stuff so they can have a less weighted school bag.
ELENA: Did you talk to Maxx today?
ZOEY: Nope, I haven't caught a glimpse of him all week. Everyone's busy with the general tests, you know.
ELENA: Right. Hardly seen my brothers during school hours since Monday.
ZOEY: How's Elvis holding up?
ELENA: He's studying, Eric's been helping out. If only he was in the sciences, he'd have helped Elvis in the practicals.
ZOEY: You sound like you have no faith in him.
ELENA: I do, but his regular grades are C's. My dad wants an A or a B+ at least.
ZOEY: Trust me, Elvis is gonna improve. Even jocks need to maintain some level of academic performance for them to remain on the team. They aren't just air heads in jerseys.
ELENA: If you say so.
(She smiles, looking at Zoey for a moment)
ZOEY: What?
ELENA: If I hadn't met Maxx, I'd have assumed you had a crush on my brother.
ZOEY: Shut up! (Laughing). Because I stick up for him doesn't mean I have a crush on him even though he's kinda cute and has a really really nice jawline.
ELENA: Okay that's enough.
ZOEY: But would you be mad if I ever had a crush on any of your brothers?
ELENA: That's ridiculous, why would I be? Except you're an enemy then I'd definitely be mad and I'd do anything within my power to keep you miles away from my family.
ZOEY: Hmmm. Intense... and protective.
ELENA: Oh well, my brothers are the protective ones.
ZOEY: As they should.
Elena chuckles, finally getting to her locker and opening it.
ELENA: Hey! These look familiar.
Looking at the floor, she stares at the two paper cards which just fell off the deck of her locker as she opened it.
ZOEY: Yeah, I remember, something similar to these dropped from your shopping cart at the grocery store on Saturday.
ELENA: Exactly! I still have the previous ones but these cards have different letters on them. One is [E] and the other is [V]. I don't get it, who put these cards in my locker? Who knows my password?
ZOEY: Okay, first of all, the locker room passwords aren't so difficult for a genius to decipher. And secondly, this could be a prank. There are crazy students in CHHS.
(Picking up the cards and handing them to Elena)
Elena collects the cards and puts them in her school bag, still pondering over it. She and Zoey leave the school premises, heading to the bus station. Zoey offered to show her some parts of Ashland city which she hasn't been to so they decide not to go with the school bus today. Elena's brothers aren't going home now, Elvis is occupied with the ongoing Physics practical for the 9th graders while Eric is locked down in the music room with the rest, having after school classes.
The two girls arrive at the bus station after a long walk filled with conversations and snacking. Elena is overwhelmed by the busy sight. People all over the place striding across, some boarding and dropping off, some waiting in queue to buy tickets, some hanging out and chattering, and the rest involved in other kinetic activities.
ELENA: Oh my geez. Zoey, look!
(Showing her a boy in tattered clothes, making a sketch on a canvas as they get to the bus station)
ZOEY: It's beautiful. Is he drawing a lady's face? (Admiring, she and Elena approach the little boy)
ELENA: Heyyy, nice piece you got there!
(The boy doesn't respond at first)
What or who are you drawing?
"No one. It's abstract"
ELENA: It's beautiful! What's your name?
"Paul"
ZOEY: Nice to meet you, Paul! You look so pale... and hungry. Are you hungry?
PAUL: I'm always hungry.
(Elena and Zoey chuckle)
ELENA: Where do you live?
PAUL: That old empty bus. (He points)
It's less cold at night.
ELENA: And dangerous!
PAUL: It's fine.
The girls feel pity, handing him a dollar bill each. He brightens up.
ZOEY: Here, get something to eat.
ELENA: How old are you?
PAUL: Seven.
ELENA: Same age with my sister.
(Rubbing is curly hair)
ZOEY: You don't have a sister.
ELENA: Shh! (She nudges Zoey, whispering)
I was just trying to establish some familiarity. I think I got some chips left in my bag, help me take it out and give it him, you should find it in the first zip.
PAUL: You both have made my day, thank you so much. (He flashes a pale smile, collecting the chips)
The girls bid him goodbye, walking away.
ELENA: Such beautiful gift wasting away. (Talking about Paul as they join a queue to buy their tickets)
ZOEY: Yeah, poor kid. Speaking of which... what's your gift? Or should I say talent?
ELENA: I dunno if I have any. But father Sebastian, a priest in a church in our former town, once told me that I could see things.
ZOEY: Things like what?
ELENA: I dunno, this was about two years ago. I didn't really understand him. And a lot of people say he's crazy.