SCENE: SCHOOL HALLWAY – MORNING

Jamie’s walking in, sipping on a matcha he barely ordered correctly. His pink hair is fluffier than usual. He’s scanning the halls like his life depends on it (because it kind of does).

Jamie: (to himself) Okay. Casual. Normal. Nico will walk in, probably scowl, say something dumb, I’ll make it gayer—perfect.

He spots Max by the lockers.

Jamie: “Hey, where’s Nico? Haven’t seen his dramatic entrance yet.”

Max: (shrugging) “Oh—he’s not here today. Took the day off or something.”

Jamie freezes. Blinks twice. Glitches.

Jamie: “I’m sorry, what do you mean not here? Like... vanished? Like… off the grid? Is he sick? Did he get kidnapped? Did he finally run off to join that illegal band he keeps joking about??”

Max: “Chill. He just said he’s ‘handling a situation.’ Whatever that means.”

Jamie: (gasps) “A situation? What kind of situation? Emotional? Existential? Romantic?? Did he meet someone new? Is he replacing me?? I mean—I mean replacing his bestie. Totally platonic.”

Max: “You good, man?”

Jamie: (already texting Nico: “You alive? I will call the UN.”) “No. I’m spiraling. And I hate it here.”