[Amy enters a classroom full of students whispering among themselves.]
Amy- what happened?
Girl- Mini don't tell her.
Mini- you really don't know?
Amy- what?
Another girl- Melvin killed himself.
Amy- what?
[Amy notices Lucas facing head down on the table. She asks Melvins other friend Kenney. ]
Amy- what the fuck! What happened to Melvin?
Kenny- he texted us in the group chat. He wrote a suicide note at 12 am. We thought it was a prank. We tried calling him and he didn't pick up his phone so we went to sleep. Now Lucas is telling us that he's no more.
Amy- how come... i literally live a floor above his.... no way.
[Amy remembers the police cars and ambulances inside her apartment complex before boarding the bus. She didn't pay any attention until this moment. Amy sits on her bench and weeps silently. Some of the girls come over to calm her down. More students enter class. Class starts after the teacher enters. He announces the news about Melvins death and asks the students to stand for one minute in silence. Some are unaware of what happened, some too sad to talk, the rest still joking about it. Alice and the others who were on her bus came in late because there was a road accident so the teacher pardons their late arrival. ]
Alice- what happened?
Julia- you don't know?
Alice- no. What?
Julia- Melvin killed himself.
Alice- what? .... for real?
Julia- he jumped from his apartment rooftop.
Alice- ...
[An hour later principal visits the class along with Mrs. J, the pt teacher and calls names of Amy, Alice, Julia, Monty, Lucas and Kenny. The whole class gossips as they leave the room like a bunch of prisoners. They take them to the principles office and interrogates them one by one. After interrogation is complete, they let all the kids go.]
Lucas- what did they ask?
Julia- how we were close to Melvin and shit.
Kenny- do you think they suspect us?
Monty- dude you serous. It was a suicide not a murder. We didn't kill him.
Kenny- how can you be so sure.
[Kenny points his gaze at Amy and Alice.]
Amy- excuse me!
Lucas- it can't be Amy. I know she was his best friend.
Alice- ...
Julia- hey you ok?
Alice- you guys keep going. i will.... get back later. Tell Mr. T that I'm still principals office.
Lucas- why are you going back?
Alice- i need to talk about Melvin.
Amy- well then... I'll stay with her.
Alice- it doesn't concern you.
Amy- like hell it doesn't.
Alice- suit yourself. But I'm not revealing anything to you guys.
[Alice sighs and goes back. Amy follows her. The others leave except Lucas. He waits with Amy. After a while Alice walks out of the principals office looking dreadful as ever.]
Amy- what was it?
Alice- ...there are... things that i know that might help with the case.
Lucas- look dude i didn't want to sound like i was blaming you... ok? I just thought maybe... you said something that might have made him sad. You're his ex afterall.
Alice- do you even know who he is? What he likes?
Lucas- what? The fact that he is gay? Yeah the whole fucking class knows. What about it?
Alice- and do you think the whole fucking class likes him after that?
Lucas- so you're trying say someone bullied him?
Alice- i don't know.
Amy- look this is all just wild assumptions.
Alice- yeah right.
Lucas- he told you too that he is gay right Amy?
Amy- yeah he did and then we broke up.
Lucas- did you say something that might have—
Amy- drop the act Lucas. You're not fucking Sherlock Holmes. In fact, you acting like this is all cool field trip is making me nauseous. How the fuck can you be so chill after—
Lucas- I'm not being any chill detective here. It's just crazy to think such a normal happy guy would do such a horrible thing.
Alice- yeah like hell he was happy.
[Alice sighs.]
Alice- i don't wanna go back. You guys go.
Lucas- me either.
Amy- where do we go then?
Alice- let's go to the field.
[The three go to the field and sit at the empty bleachers and discuss about Melvin while he was alive.]
Amy- i still can't belive he's gone. It's like I'm in a nightmare or something.
Alice- yeah.
Lucas- he had many secrets.
Amy- like his closet gayhood?
Lucas- no it's more than that. His dad isn't really a good guy.
Alice- everyone knows that.
Amy- He works in a bank. He earns a good 6 digit salary. He loves Melvin and his mom. He comes home at time and talks really nicely. There's nothing wrong with him. Dad knows.
Alice- you ever visited his house on Sunday evening?
Amy- Melvin never let me come in. He told me Sundays were forbidden. Dad is often invited to his dad's drinking party.
Alice- the drinking party huh?
Amy- so ? What about it?
Lucas- Melvin got beat up by his dad's friends once and his dad just sat there and did nothing.
Alice- yeah. I remember how much he got bruised... I don't fucking understand rich people.
Amy- as if your family isn't rich.
Alice- we don't spend as much. My dad's pretty strict with finances. He didn't buy a house until i was in class 4. He has worked hard a lot.
Amy- mine as well. Except he's strict all the time.
Alice- he might be strict but he rich-rich. Not just any family can afford a 10k apartment complex in Westwood.
Amy-...
Lucas- my dad's chill but we ain't that rich. He raised me and my brother all alone while living in rent. He works very hard cause he is a single dad.
Alice- hmm.
Lucas- you guys know Melvin was assaulted by one of his uncles or dad's friends. He didn't even say the name.
Alice- .....
Amy- what?!
Lucas- well I got to know from reading his suicide note in his diary. I later tried to talk to him about it but he didn't wanna reveal any secrets.
Alice- he told me though.
Amy- ....
Lucas- what?
Alice- that's what i was telling the police. They need to know what exactly is going on.
Amy- why didn't he....ever tell me...
Lucas- you didn't even know that he's gay until recently. He kept that a secret from you. Why would he reveal his assault.
Alice- he liked you until you cussed at him.
Lucas- can't belive I'm saying this but Alice won his heart way before you did.
Alice- well, he told me lots of secrets. Maybe didn't win his heart but trust definitely.
[Amy weeps alone. Alice and Lucas wipes her tears.]
Amy- i called him.... a faggot. I should have said sorry...
Lucas- ....wow....
[They all sit silent for a minute.]
Amy- i just don't understand gay. It seems so wrong. Maybe cause mom and dad never gave a good look at queer people. I always thought they are fine looking men dressed as women, dancing in street, everything good as long as they are not in our house. But actually facing someone in real life is a very different thing. Especially when it's someone so close. I don't understand them.
Alice- ...what's gone is gone. It's not like he will revive from your half arsed apology.
Amy- it's not half arsed you skunk!
Alice- damn Melvin is surely gaging from heaven right now. All you do is say half arsed shit Amy.
Amy- then what do you want me to do? Cuss at him again?
Alice- just face it. You are homophobic. That's it. Full stop. No need to bend yourself backwards.
Amy- god this is why i hate you.
Alice- same to you.
Amy- fucking slut...
Alice- of course...
Lucas- you're leaving?
Alice- i guess i shouldn't skip classes afterall.
Lucas- well then I'm leaving with you. But what about Amy—
Amy- fuck off.
[Amy dashes out and leaves before them. Alice and Lucas follow shortly after.]