BY ~ Cm18 + oliviatats
~Cast~
Victim~ Haley
Victim’s Boyfriend ~ Tommy
Boyfriends Friends
Friend #1 ~ Cooper
Friend #2 ~ Zane
Friend #3 ~ Sam
Friend #4 ~ Carter
Friend #5 ~ Tyler
Murderer ~ ???
Policeman 1 ~ Officer Mark Delos
Policeman 2 ~ Officer Brady Keene
Victim’s Family ~
Dad ~ Jeremiah
Mom~ Angela
Sister ~ Katie
Prologue
Tommy ~ (Panting hard) Oh my god. I might lose my life today, just like my girlfriend did a few days ago. I am running for my life. Away. Away from my family. Away from my town. Away from Stanley’s Diner. Away from my life. Deeper and deeper into the woods I run. I hear him. I won’t come back. I can’t come back.. I will die here. Should I go back? No. I can’t stop. Their footsteps behind me are like stomps, rattling through my brain. What have I done? Why am I here? I guess I will have to tell you my story, that is, if I have enough time.
Scene 1 – The Diner
(In his apartment) I wake up to my alarm clock buzzing like a bee in my head. I sit up, staring into the hall of my apartment. It’s a normal day in Salt Lake City, Utah, just like every day. I stumble out of bed, annoyed that it’s Monday. I grab my uniform and walk to the bathroom. I do my morning routine. Brush my straight teeth, comb my soft, brown hair. Something seems different about today. I’m sure it’s nothing. I put on my uniform, looking into the mirror at a body I have worked very hard on. I go to the gym every morning after work at Stanley’s Diner. That’s where I work. I am a waiter, serving people and meeting them at the same time. I tie my shoes and wave my dog Hephaestus, a goodbye wave. He knows I am going to work and he knows I will be back at 4 in the afternoon today. I walk down the stairs to the parking lot where I park my truck every day. I hop in and turn the ignition, I see the sun just peeking over the horizon. I drive down the street a few blocks until I get to the diner so I park and walk into the building.
Stanley ~ Tommy! How are you, man?
Tommy ~ I’m doing good mister Stanley. How are you?
Stanley ~ For 60 years old, I am doing wonderful! Hey, uh, why don’t you go into the back and wash the dishes from yesterday eh?
Tommy ~ “Ok Mister Stanley!” Although, I didn’t really want to be washing dishes right now. It’s way too early. I would rather be serving all the customers who are here for their breakfast. I walk into the washroom and grab a dish towel laying on the counter. I start washing the plates and forks and spoons and cups. I’m very good at washing the dishes which is why Stanley gave me this job today. He says I am his best worker, doing what I should be doing and getting it done. After all the dishes are washed, dried, and put away, I lay down the dishtowel where I found it and head out into the bar where I can serve people their drinks. Some of my friends from school are here getting their meals and talking about girls and cars. I walk over to a gentleman and ask him what he would like. He wants some orange juice. I pour him a glass and glance toward the door and see a girl from my school with her friends. Her name was Haley, little did I know that she would soon be my future girlfriend. She looked over at me and smiled. I knew she didn’t like me but I smiled back. She and her friends walked over to the bar and sat down. They ordered their drinks and when I asked Haley what she wanted, she asked me what I think she should get. Ok, I was totally flirting with her because she has been my crush since 8th grade, and now in 11th grade, I knew I could try to be her boyfriend. I stuttered a little bit until I found my courage to say “You should get the blueberry smoothie. It’s very good!”
Haley ~ OK, I will have that. Thanks!”
Tommy ~ Now being a jock, I had to keep my cool. I am on the high school football team and the varsity wrestling team. A lot of girls like me, but not Haley. I try to let her notice me, but she never does. She never talks to me. Like ever. So this is sort of a big deal. I pour her smoothie and hand it to her with trembling hands. She takes it, thanks me, and smiles. One of her friends says that they have to leave to go on another one of their shopping sprees, but Haley stays behind. She sits there with her drink staring at her phone. The only other person in the Diner right now is an old man eating pancakes and reading the newspaper sitting on the opposite side of the restaurant so I walk up to Haley and sit down next to her. Immediately, she powered off her phone and turned to face me.
Haley ~ Hey Tommy.
Tommy ~ Hey Haley. What’s up.
Haley ~ Oh nothing much, I am just tired of all the drama in my friend group right now.
Tommy ~ Oh, that’s always fun.
Haley ~ I just don’t know what to do. I’m just so stressed and I just don’t even know how to act around them.
She put her head in her hands and sighed.
Tommy ~ Well, we could talk about it?
Haley picked up her head and stared into my eyes. I never noticed how pretty her eyes were until now.
Haley ~ WHat do you mean?
Tommy ~ We could have dinner tonight if you wanted?
I couldn’t believe that she was actually talking to me and I was keeping my cool until now.
Haley ~ I love that idea. It’s a date then!
Tommy ~ Ok, how about the Hard Rock Cafe. Tonight. At 7?
Haley ~ I’ll be there.
She leaned over and kissed my cheek. It was a little peck, but it was still a kiss. She stood up, smiled, and walked out the door to walk to catch up with her friends. I waited until she was way down the street before getting up and doing one of my little happy dances. I just made a date with the hottest girl in the school by keeping my cool the whole time! I was so excited that I didn’t even realize I would be late for a hangout with my friends.
Scene 2 –
I was on my way to the park where I would meet up with my friends. We were gonna play some basketball, which we do every Wednesday at noon. Our school is very weird. Every Wednesday, they tell us to come in at 12:30 instead of 7. It’s to help with getting up because our school has the worst reputation from people not doing well on our exams due to the amount of sleep we don’t get. So they pushed hours later, so we have a whole half a day to ourselves. The boys and I usually play basketball and hanging out and then we will ride together to school. I was hurrying a bit because I was running late from talking to Haley at the Diner. I met up with them and they asked why I was late.
Cooper ~ Dude, why you so late? You missed a whole game of basketball.
Zane ~ Yeah bro! What’s up with that?
Tommy ~ Look, guys, I’m sorry I was late. I just had some things to do.
Cooper ~ LIke what?
Tommy ~ Nothing important.
Zane ~ yeah I doubt that. If it was nothing important then why were you late then.
Tommy ~ I just don’t want to talk about it okay!
Zane ~ he is just a chicken. Some girl probably.
Cooper ~ Zane chill out! Tom is probably going through something right now so just leave him alone.
Zane ~ Fine whatever I am getting a drink.
Tommy ~ Thanks dude you saved me back there from getting me embarrassed.
Cooper ~ It’s fine, unless you tell me why you were late.
Tommy ~ Well if I tell you then I have to tell everyone else.
Cooper ~ Than do it.
I didn’t really want to tell them what happened at the dinner but I guess I will have to tell them sometime.
Tommy~ Ok guys, this is what happened. So I was at Stanley’s working my morning shifts when Haley Comrose from school walked in with her friends, so I served them their drinks. Then all Haley’s friends left so it was just me and Haley and,
Sam ~ Whoa whoa whoa! I know what’s gonna happen! They kissed!
Tommy ~ Actually, no, we didn’t kiss. But we talked and set up a date for tonight. At the Hard Rock Cafe.
Sam ~ Tommys got a girlfriend! Tommy’s got a girlfriend
Tommy ~ NO I DON’T!!!!!
It got quiet real quick. I didn’t mean to lose myself there, but if I am gonna go out with a chick, I need my friends to support me, not make fun of me.
Sam ~ Jeeeeezzz dude! calm down I didn’t mean it to be mean. I was just joking around.
Cooper ~Sam stop you need to learn self-control. If Tom’s gonna have a gf, we need to be good friends and go with it. Ok?
Tyler ~ Heyyy, if your gonna start going out with Haley, you could hook me up with one of her friends!
Carter ~ Yeah! Me too!
Tommy ~ Guys, guys. I’m not gonna hook all you guys up because of me and Haley. Look, I got Haley fair and square, you guys need to do the same if you want hotties.
Tyler ~ Toms a wuss.
Tommy ~ Oh Forget it guys, I’m going to school.
Carter ~ Bye then.
Sam ~ Yeah, bye sucker.
Uh, I couldn’t believe these guys. I am just really frustrated right now. Like, what if I mess up tonight and I make a big fool of myself in front of Haley? Or what if she is just going to show off to her friends? Or what if I spill something on my clothes in front of her?? Oh man, I’m a mess right now. I really need to talk to someone. Now. I walked across the street to the school, which in fact was very big. I always had a hard time managing my way through that place.
It’s a few hours later in the day and I am almost done with school. I have to meet Haley at seven so I am going to go home, shower, shave, and take a nap. I need to be already and put together for tonight, I can’t blow this.
To be continued…
The Middle Seat 