The next day at school, Jay was on edge. He couldn't shake the image of Erin hugging Alex, and he was constantly looking for signs that Erin was losing interest in him. He tried to act normal, but he was distracted and preoccupied.
During lunch, Jay saw Erin sitting alone at his usual table. He cautiously approached him, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Hey, Erin," Jay said, trying to sound casual. "How was your weekend?"
Erin looked up at him, his face a little pale. "It was okay," he said, his voice soft. "How was yours?"
"Fine," Jay replied, trying to hide his anxiety. "I just... I wanted to talk to you about something."
Erin looked at him, his blue eyes filled with curiosity. "What's up?" he asked.
Jay hesitated for a moment, then he took a deep breath. "I saw you talking to Alex yesterday," he said. "And... and I saw you hug him."
Erin's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, yeah," he said. "Alex is really nice. He's been helping me get settled in at school."
"Yeah, I know," Jay said, his voice trembling slightly. "But... but I couldn't help but feel a little jealous."
Erin looked at him, his face filled with concern. "Jealous?" he asked. "Why?"
"Because... because I like you, Erin," Jay said. "And I don't want to lose you."
Erin's eyes widened even further. He looked down at his feet, a blush creeping up his neck. "I... I don't know what to say," he stammered.
"Just tell me what you feel," Jay said, his voice filled with urgency. "Do you feel the same way about me?"
Erin hesitated for a moment, then he looked up at Jay, his eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and sadness. "I... I do like you, Jay," he said. "But... but someone else confessed to me yesterday."
Jay's heart sank. "Who?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"It was... it was Alex," Erin said. "He said he liked me."
Jay felt a wave of despair wash over him. He had been so worried about losing Erin to Alex, and now it seemed like his fears had come true.
- Scene: School cafeteria.
- Characters: Jay, Erin.
(Jay approaches Erin at his table.)
Jay: Hey, Erin. How was your weekend?
Erin: It was okay. How was yours?
Jay: Fine. I just... I wanted to talk to you about something. I saw you talking to Alex yesterday. And... and I saw you hug him.
Erin: Oh, yeah. Alex is really nice. He's been helping me get settled in at school.
Jay: Yeah, I know. But... but I couldn't help but feel a little jealous.
Erin: Jealous? Why?
Jay: Because... because I like you, Erin. And I don't want to lose you.
Erin: I... I do like you, Jay. But... but someone else confessed to me yesterday.
Jay: Who?
Erin: It was... it was Alex. He said he liked me.
(Jay is devastated.)