My Love

Characters:

Jessie: a girl who is shy, clumsy, and awkward. She's sweet, but can't find words to express her feeling very well.

Alex: The boy Jessie has a crush on. He's a bit clueless, but a nice guy. He's the school's number one soccer player.

Act 1

Scene 1

[Stage is dark. Light turns on, showing Jessie at her seat staring dreamily at Alex in front of her. The bell rings and she doesn't snap out of it until after Alex leaves.]

Jessie

[Groans.] Not again. How is it I keep messing up? All I have to do is go up to him, and scream, "I love you!" Just three little words. Come on Jessie…you've been in love with this guy since day one of high school. We're seniors now! You only have a week left of school.

[Alex comes back into the room to pick up his backpack. Alex glances at Jessie, who quickly turns away.]

Jessie

Oh my gosh…he just looked at me! This is my chance…just say "hi." [Turns back around. He's gone. She groans and bangs her head on the desk.]

[Blackout.]

Scene 2

[Desks are taken away. Spot light turns on.]

Jessie

So I can't talk to him. I mean, with him staring at me with those gorgeous blue eyes, contrasting sharply with his sleek black hair, my heart won't give me the time to say anything with all the thumping. What can I do? I'm almost out of time! [Thinks.] Love letter? Love letter! If I can't say it, I'll just write it out. Nice…

[Takes out pen and paper.]

Jessie

Okay. Let's see. [Pen touches paper. Jessie hesitates.] So embarrassing… [Hides herself behind the paper. She shakes her head and looks back up, determined.] No. Snap out of it! Just tell him how you feel. "I lo-lo-" [Sighs.] Whew. Calm down. "I lo-lo-love yo--yogurt." Yogurt? That's not right! [Throws paper out and get a new one.] Let's do this again. I'll start with his name first. It might be easier that way. "Dear Alex." No, no…sounds too formal. "To my love." Too creepy… "Alex?" Is that too straightforward?

[After every mess up, she throws the paper away, making a pile on the ground. She does this for a while. Throughout all this, the lights slowly dims until the stage is completely black.]

Scene 3

[Spot lights on. Jessie is standing in front of Alex. She hold's out a letter to him.]

Jessie

This is for you. Please read it! [Alex takes it and starts reading. As he is reading…] I worked all night on it. I hope you'll accept it… and my feelings.

[Alex is still reading. When he is done, he throws the letter to the ground. Jessie looks at it sadly. Suddenly, Alex grabs Jessie.]

Alex

I didn't know you felt this way about me.

Jessie

I didn't want to bother you with my feelings. But since there's less than a week left of school, I didn't want any regrets.

Alex

Why didn't you tell me sooner?

Jessie

I was afraid you would reject me…like you did my letter just now.

Alex

Reject you? How could I ever reject a girl like you? So pretty and smart.

Jessie

You really think that? That I'm pretty and smart?

Alex

Ever since I saw you in my freshman year's English class, I knew you were special. I couldn't stop staring at you the whole day.

Jessie

Same with me. When I walked by the soccer practice after school, I knew you were the one. You looked so amazing.

Alex

Before I met you, I was addicted to caffeine. But now, you are my caffeine. You keep me up all night thinking about you!

Jessie

Oh Alex! Does this mean…

Alex

Yes. I love you.

Jessie

But you threw my letter away…

Alex

So my hands can be free to hold you.

[Alex and Jessie embraces.]

Jessie

Oh Alex…

Alex

Jessie…

[Goes in for a kiss. But…stage goes dark.]

[Spot light on but directs on Jessie, who looks like she fell off the bed. She looks around, confused. Sits up.]

Jessie

I woke up again...

[Stage goes dark.]

Scene 4

[Lights on. Bell rings. Jessie is walking into the room, sleepily. Alex is at his desk, looking through his backpack. Jessie stares at him.]

Jessie

After last night's dream, I wouldn't dare give the letter to him in person! So this morning I put it in his backpack…

[Jessie walks to her desk, all the while staring at Alex. Jessie sits. Alex finds the letter.]

Alex

What is this?

[Jessie squeals and tries to see his reaction, but because she sits behind him, she couldn't. Alex opens the letter and the page is so long, it scrolls away and off the stage. Alex reads all of it. He looks confused, and reads it again. After he is done, he folds it back up and puts it back into his backpack.]

Alex

There was no name on it.

[Alex walks away. Jessie smacks herself. Lights off.]

Scene 5

[Lights on. It's after school, and Jessie is sleeping at her desk.]

Jessie

[In her sleep] Oh Alex…marry you? It's too fast…I can't possibly…

[Alex walks in, ball under his arm. Looks as if he just finished practice.]

Alex

Anyone still in here?

[Alex sits at his desk. He packs things away into his backpack.]

Jessie

Phmm…

[Alex turns around. He taps Jessie.]

Alex

Are you asleep? It's getting late. Wake up.

Jessie

[Swats his hand away and turns her head. She's still asleep.] Let me sleep a little bit longer mommy…

Alex

Mommy? [Laughs. Grabs desk.] Are we the only ones left at school? Jessie, wake up. [Sees Jessie still sleeping. Looks at her fondly.] You're the girl who always comes by during soccer practice, aren't you? It's been about four years… I never got the chance to talk to you… [Leans back on his chair.] I wonder what kind of person you are.

Jessie

[Still asleep.] Just a kiss goodnight…

Alex

[Chuckles.] I wonder what you are dreaming about… [Looks around.] It really is getting late. Should I just take you home? [About to pick her up. Stops.] I don't know where you live. [Put Jessie down. Grabs backpack.] Good night Jessie. Sweet dreams.

[Lights out.]

Scene 6

[Lights on. Jessie is sitting down, stage left, watching Alex dribble a soccer ball, stage right.]

Jessie

School is almost over. There's only three days left of school now. Maybe I should bring my game up. [Pause. Jessie just stares at Alex.] Bring my game up…up…Up? That was a good movie. How did the couple in Up get together?

[Thinks and runs off stage. She comes back with a balloon. She ties a pencil to the balloon and writes "I Love You" on the balloon. She tries to push it towards Alex. The balloon barely moves.]

Jessie

Come on balloon. Don't you want me to find happiness?

[She starts blowing on it. She tries different ways to have the balloon float towards Alex. All the while, Alex is concentrating on his soccer ball. The balloon finally floats, but off the stage and into the audience. Jessie looks horror-struck.]

Jessie

Oh no! [Walks off stage and retrieves the balloon from whoever took it.] Sorry. Forget what it says. It was for… [Points at Alex and apologizes. Walks back on stage with the balloon, talking and hitting herself.] Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[Jessie looks up and realizes Alex is gone. Jessie drops the balloon. Lights off.]

Scene 7

[Lights on. Jessie is behind a counter, putting cookies in a box. She is powdered with flour in her face and hair. She is smiling and humming.]

Jessie

[In a singsong voice] La-la la. I'm making cookies for my la-la-love. [Takes a bite. Smiles.] This is my first time baking a cookies. I'm glad I took Foods this year. My mom would never let me use the kitchen! [Examines the box of cookies.] I hope Alex will like it!

[Bell rings and Jessie walks with the box balanced on her hands. Alex walks on stage. Jessie's face lights up.]

Jessie

Alex!

[Jessie steps forward but trips to the ground. The cookies lands all over her. Alex notices, laughs, and helps her up. Jessie is embarrassed but takes it.]

Jessie

Thank you.

Alex

You should watch where you are going. Are you okay?

Jessie

Fine…just fine.

Alex

Well, see you later.

[Alex walks off stage. Jessie is still on stage, putting away the cookies. She sobs a little. She looks back behind her, where Alex walked off.]

Jessie

Well, at least it tasted good...

[Lights off.]

Scene 8

[Lights on. Jessie is lying down on a bench, looking at her diploma.]

Jessie

I never got to tell him. [Put down diploma.]School went by too fast. [Sighs. Sits up.] I guess it's not the end of the world. I wish I could have told him how I felt though. So I don't have any regrets. It's better to be embarrassed but true, than be hesitant and regret not telling my feelings. [Jessie sits up, determined. She doesn't realize Alex was walking by behind her. He stops slightly behind her and listens.] Alex, there's something I have to tell you. I've wanted to say it for a very long time, so please listen, and don't laugh at me. Do you remember freshman year? On the first day of soccer practice, I was walking by, on my way home. I stopped to watch the practice, thinking about how horrible the first day of school was. I hated all my teachers, an upperclassman canned me, and I had no friends. But then I heard the coach's whistle and heard him yelling at you to stop messing around. You were just sitting there with dirt all over your face, laughing as you wiped off the sweat away from your eyes. I couldn't take my eyes off of you. Every move you made, I would unconsciously copy. And when you laughed, it made me happy. Ever since then, you have been on my mind. [Takes deep breath.] So, what I'm trying to say is…I love you.

Alex

W-what?!

[Jessie is startled. She looks around. Her eyes land on Alex who was standing behind her, shocked. They stare at each other, both embarrassed.]

Alex

[Coughs.] Hi.

[Jessie hides her face in embarrassment. Alex walks around and sits next to her, taking a hand away from her face and tries to hold it. Jessie shakes her head and pulls away but then she takes his hand and holds it. They stare at each other. Jessie looks down at her lap, smiling, while Alex looks away, smiling too.]

[Blackout. Fin.]