SMILE // Ireth Fefalas
Summary: 'I am determined not to look back as I pass him by, but the fresh press of vivid colors steals my resolve, and I twist backwards to catch another glance of the garden on his skin.'
Warning: Homosexual content, light cursing.
Rating: Teen for some romantic adult content and light cursing.
Notes: Written for my Creative Writing class in April/May. My first play, so I'm not sure how it measures up to standards. I really like the dailogue though and I think it flows nicely.

smile
Act 1, Scene 1

The scene opens in a large classroom. Students are scattered around the room, heads bent over their papers, busy working and whispering. The teacher is helping a group of students, and does not notice one of her students, a dark-haired boy, casually drifting from one group of students to another. The bell rings.

Teacher: Wait, wait! You do have homework!

Student 1: Are you kidding me?

Teacher: No, Mr. Jones, I am not. Finish reading the passage and that worksheet I gave you! It is due tomorrow! And do – raises voice – do not forget your paper is due next Monday! That gives you only the weekend to finish any revisions you may have! Remember: I will not be taking late papers – hand in late, and you get a zero!

As the teacher talks, the students begin to pack up. Some wait for the teacher to finish talking; others leave, eager for the weekend. Some students take their time: a group of girls, an Asian student with glasses, and the dark haired student.

Student 2 (leaving the classroom): Ahh, crap, I’m not even half way done!

Student 1: Yeah? I’ve only got the intro done!

Student 3 (groans): Oh, there goes the party Saturday night! We’re never going to make it!

Student 1: Jesus, god-damnit, Adams, it just has to be Monday, doesn’t it?

Student 2: Hey, hey, guys, it’s not that bad, we go to the party Saturday night, and pull an all-nighter on Sunday, we’ve done it enough times…

Asia (adjusts glasses, muttering): Oh, yeah, sure, just throw your academic life out the window for a party, no problem there. It’s not like it’s the research paper…

Asia searches through his bag and pockets.

Asia: Damn, where the hell did I put my keys?

The last student exits the classroom. He runs up behind Asia, a pair of keys jingling in his hand.

River: Hey! Hey!

Asia turns around.

River: I think you dropped something; these are yours, right?

Asia: Yes, thank you, they are.

Asia reaches up for keys; River pulls them up higher.

Asia: What are you doing?

River (smiling): Say you’ll go with me to the party Saturday night and I’ll give you your keys. What are they for, anyway?

Asia (nonplused): Did you just ask me out?

River grins and ruffles his hair.

River: So are you saying yes?

Asia: No! Wait, what? Are you seriously asking me out?

River: Yes, Asia, I am.

Asia squirms, shifting from foot to foot.

River (surprised): What? You didn’t know I was gay?

Asia (huffs): Well, I’m sorry for not keeping abreast with the newest gossip on your sexuality.

River: Apology accepted. So, yes?

Asia (exasperated): No, I will not go with you. Now give me my keys.

Asia steps forward to grab the keys from River’s hand. River takes a step back and raises his hand higher, dangling the keys.

River: No? Wait, why?

Asia: Because I said so, so hand me my keys before I do something drastic.

River (grins): Com’n, I can take you.

River dangles the keys in front of Asia’s face. Asia tries to snatch the keys; River pulls them back last minute.

River: Do you really want them?

Asia: Yes!

River: Catch ‘em!

Asia: Wait, what?

River turns and runs through the hallway. He holds his bag in one hand, and the keys in his other hand, up above his head. The people still in the hallway shift back to let him through. He is halfway down the hallway before Asia picks up his bag and runs after him.

Asia: RIVER, GIVE ME MY FRICKIN’ KEYS!

smile
Act 1, Scene 2

The scene opens outside a large three-story high-school. The parking lot is mostly empty and the asphalt is hot. Asia and River are lying on the asphalt, sweaty, panting for breath. Their bags are some feet from them, as if thrown, and the keys can be seen clenched in Asia’s fist.

Asia: You know… That probably wasn’t the smartest move in persuading me to go out with you. Actually, I think it made me kind of angry.

River: Yes, maybe, but you’re not angry anymore, are you?

River turns his head to face Asia, who is looking back at him. River smiles brightly and Asia quirks his lips up.

Asia: No, I’ve simmered down to a mild irritation.

River: See, no harm done. Besides, I even copped a feel or two while you were practically straddling me five minutes back.

Asia sits up abruptly.

Asia: What?!

River (laughs): Relax, I didn’t steal your virginity.

River sits up, leaning back on the palm of his hands.

Asia: You copped a feel?!

River: No, not really. I was just wondering what you would do.

Asia is stupefied. In silence, he shakes his head.

River: Honestly. I’d swear by it on the Pope, but he’s not around right now.

Asia laughs and River smiles.

River: So, where are we going next?

Asia: I am going home. As for yourself, I can’t say.

River: Hmm. Excellent point, young Asia.

Asia laughs and stands up, dusting off his pants. River looks up at the sky, eyes squinting in the sunlight. He brings a hand to his forehead to block out the light.

River: Can’t I go home with you?

Asia turns back, leaning down to look at River sitting on the asphalt, looking up at the sky.

Asia: …Sure.

River (surprised): Really?

Asia: Yeah, really.

They smile.

Asia: Come on, get up, time to start walking.

River (alarmed): We aren’t walking there, are we?

Asia: Relax, it’s only to my car.

River (visible relief): Oh, thank God.

Asia laughs and walks to a near-by car. He unlocks the car and opens the driver seat door. He pauses.

Asia: Are you getting in, or what?

River: Yeah, I’m coming.

River stands from the asphalt and brushes himself off as he walks to Asia’s car.

River: Jeez, nice car.

Asia: She should be, I paid for most of her.

River ducks down to get inside and pauses.

River: “She”?

Asia (frowns): Just get in.

Asia slides in and starts the car. River is laughing as he gets in.

River: So does she have a name?

Asia shifts the car into gear and backs out of the parking spot.

Asia: Bitch.

River laughs.

smile
Act 1, Scene 3

Hidden Valley is full of comfortable looking homes. The yards are fresh green, and the trees are blooming. A car drives down the road and parks in front of 30 Spring Avenue, a house with red-brick walls and terra-cotta roof.

Asia and River step out of the car. The car beeps loudly as Asia locks the doors.

River: Home sweet home?

Asia: Yeah, home sweet home.

Asia and River walk up to the door. River waits expectantly while Asia gets out his keys.

River: You’re a latch-key kid?

Asia: Yeah. My dad’s always at work, you know, doesn’t come back till it’s practically midnight.

Asia unlocks the door and the two of them enter.

Asia: Don’t forget to take off your shoes, thanks.

River: Right, Asian household and all that.

Asia laughs.

Asia: Yeah, all that Asian culture stuff, right?

The two of them move past the foyer and into the living room. The floor is oak, with a shaggy rug, and the walls are cream-colored. Framed pictures hang on the wall, plants here and there. There is a modest-sized television pushed back against the wall, half-hidden by the leaves of a plant. On the coffee table is a messy pile of half-done pictures and a 24 pack of Crayolas.

Asia: Do you want something to drink?

River: No, I’m fine. What about your mom?

Asia: What?

River: You never fully explained why you’re a latch-key kid.

Asia: Oh. My mom, she died last year.

Asia sits down at the coffee table, quiet. River sits down next to him, back to the coffee table.

River: My parents are dead too.

Asia looks at River in shock.

River: I’ve been an orphan for five long years.

Asia: …I’m sorry.

River: I know. It kind of sucks, doesn’t it?

Asia smiles briefly, before looking down. River shifts to face the coffee table, sitting arm-to-arm with Asia. Asia looks up again and smiles. River picks up a picture of a stick figure with a triangular skirt flying a kite. Next to her is a taller stick figure with black scribbles for hair and skewed glasses. The two of them are smiling. River smiles.

River: I suppose this is you?

River rocks gently to his side, knocking his elbow against Asia’s side. Asia takes the picture, and groans.

Asia: The cumulative sum of Joyce’s artistic abilities.

River laughs and Asia hands the picture back to River.

River: I like it. Is she your little sister?

Asia: Yeah, only in third grade. She hasn’t gotten quite past the standard stick figure yet, though last week she drew me a picture of a cat with actual legs, so she might bet getting there.

River laughs.

River: Oh, come on, she’s got it perfect. She got your hair just right, and that smile, whew, it made me weak to my knees.

Asia frowns. River puts the picture down and turns to be facing Asia.

Asia: My hair isn’t that bad, you know, it’s just when she was drawing it I just got out of bed, and – wait, did you just say my stick-figure smile makes you weak to your knees?

River: All honesty, swear by it on the Pope.

Asia (snorts): I’m honored, but I doubt the Pope would let you. Stick-figure me has a smile worse than mine, and that’s saying a lot.

River (laughing): Yeah?

Asia: Yeah.

River: I dunno, I think you could beat him, and that’s saying a lot. His made me weak to my knees; can yours?

Asia fidgets, discomforted. He leans back on the palm of his hands.

Asia: Nope.

Asia quirks a smile.

River: Ooh, close.

River shifts closer to Asia.

River: Try it again, only this time, with more feeling.

Asia: Are you hitting on me?

River: I might be. Smile.

Asia laughs and smiles somewhat nervously. River smiles back.

River: Yeah, I’m definitely hitting on you.

River leans closer. He puts his arm on the other side of Asia, and leans forward, supported by his hands on either side of Asia. Their bangs touch.

River: I think this is the part where either you tell me you’re not gay and push me off of you.

Asia doesn’t move. River arches his eyebrow and smiles lopsidedly.

River: I guess not.

River leans forward and the two of them kiss. Slowly River pulls back.

Asia (murmuring): No, I guess not.

Asia smiles. River hums contently.

River: See, there’s that smile. I knew you could beat stick-figure you.

Asia laughs.

Asia: Had it in me the whole time?

River: Had it in you the whole time.

River pulls back completely from Asia and flops down to sit next to Asia.

River: So, do you want to come with me to that party?

Asia smiles again, long and slow.

Asia: Convince me.

River (surprised): Are you hitting on me?

Asia: I might be.

River laughs and kisses him again.

Asia: Yeah, I’m definitely hitting on you.