Damian- ....and thats why we must preserve our innocence. It's not just a fleeting juvenile emotion. It's also an essential trait of healthy evolution. Thank you.
[The whole class claps as he finishes his presentation. The teacher applauds his pitch and calls over his group project members for a group photo. All five students including Amy goes to stand next to Damian. The teacher takes a photo of the group, their working model and pastes the photo it in the yearbook log.]
Amy- that was amazing.
Damian- thanks.
Amy- i think we did better than the angels.
Damian- you think so?
Amy- i mean look at Amanda's face. She looks like someone stole her food. You jealous now Amanda?
Amanda- go to hell.
Damian- hahaha...
Amy- see now?
Damian- ... yeah.
Amy- ...
Damian- ...
Amy- still can't forget Alice can you?
Damian- ...bye Amy.
[Damian leaves her side and goes back to his seat, looking very nonchalant about what was asked.]
Amy- what a loser.
[ later during recess, Amy sits next to Damian in the cafeteria. Alice notices from her far orr seat but doesn't stare for long. She leaves soon enough and Damian notices her leave.]
Amy- Hey.
Damian- hey.
Amy- I'm sorry for bringing her up. I'm sure you're not in a great mood nowadays.
Damian- ...not really.
Amy- also sorry for that day at the funeral. I didn't mean to have a breakdown.... just that, shits been so hard on me lately. I can't shake the feeling that Melvin is still alive. Yesterday i was thinking of waiting for him at the bus stop cause I basically grew up with him.... I am sorry if i said something rude that day.
Damian- It's not your fault. Everyones on the edge lately. It's also very hard losing a loved a loved one.
Amy- you know? Have you lost any loved ones?
Damian- i saw my grandma and grandpa die in the same week.
Amy- oh my god. I'm so sorry.
Damian- yeah.
Amy- do you still miss them?
Damian- i miss grandpa. He taught me some good stuff.
Amy- like what?
Damian- like riding bicycle, bargaining at the corner shop. We used to play cards and chess. He liked to gift me books every Christmas even when i didn't want books.
Amy- what about grandma?
Damian- she didn't like me too much. She did make some nice sweaters though. She also baked the best stuff even when she just learned it from tv or the internet. She was cool too i guess.
Amy- how did they die?
Damian- grandma died first. She had lung disease. Grandpa died a week later in his sleep. They were very close. No one could separate them. Not even God.
Amy- they from dad's side of the family?
Damian- yeah.
Amy- my grandfolks barely visit us. They live in Snowtown and Fintwith. We talk and meet in Thanksgiving dinner at my cousins house which is closer to them.
Damian- why your family live here? Snowtowns in the other side of the country.
Amy- it is. I guess work might be the reason.
Damian- hmm...
Amy- why are you sitting here all alone? Where are your friends? Wheres Brian?
Damian- Brian left school cause he was arrested. And Caleb and others are doing annual day practice.
Amy- oh.. anyway, hows hosting going on? You're still the host of annual day right? You and Rose?
Damian- not that good. Hahahaha... Rose pisses me off.
Amy- oh... so. How did you know about Brian?
Damian- how could i not? I am his friend.
Amy- did he... did he really do it?
Damian- you wanna know what really happened?
Amy- yeah. I stopped listening to rumors. 50% are lies anyway. Everyone just laughing it off. That's the kind of society we live in.
Damian- that's just how things work.
Amy- ok but can't you be at least descent when talking about a dead person?
Damian- i guess don't.... just don't listen to them? They didn't know Melvin anyway.
Amy- yeah right...
Damian- Melvin was drugged at the small house party that he held a few days before his death.
Amy- ...wow.
Damian- hmm. He was not in a good shape cause his mom and dad had a very nasty fight that day. He said so himself when he got drunk. I think he also broke up with you around that time. I was there and other girls were too but he told this to the boys especially. We were sitting in his bedroom and drinking some hard liquor. He even cried tons and the boys started mocking and slapping him around. I was not feeling the vibe so i simply left the party at 9.30 or something.
Amy- really?
Damian- yeah. I think Brian , Lucas and some other guys stayed over that day. They even texted about it in the boys chat group, sent photos and shit. Everyone knows they were there. And then something happened that night or the day later. Who knows man. Shits crazy. And then....he was too sad and he killed himself.
Amy-...but why jump from the building?
Damian- maybe cause he was high.
[Amy sighs and weeps profusely.]
Damian- yeah that's all i know. I couldn't help him. I don't think he came to school after that party. Investigations still going on so nothings final.
Amy- ....oh my god...
Damian- ....
Amy- ....
[Amy leaves the cafeteria and goes to the bathroom to gag and vomit. Few girls and the janitor look worried who are already there before she entered. She gotta to the infirmary after a while and then takes an early leave to go back home.]