Violent Delights

(An empty school theatre. JESS stands center-stage, dressed plainly in black, with brightly coloured hair. ALEX enters, walking up the aisle. JESS notices him, but ignores his approach.)

JESS:
These violent delights have violent ends. And in their triumph die, like fire and powder; Which as they kiss... consume.

ALEX:
Romeo and Juliet, act two. You always hated theatre.

JESS:
I still do. Nothing's changed.

ALEX:
So why are you here?

JESS:
The festival's on.

ALEX:
(Sighs.) I know. Why are you in here? Where's Will? Aren't you two normally inseparable?

JESS:
(Jumps down from the stage.) He's busy with the festival.

ALEX:
So, are you just going to leave without him? Not staying for the rest of the day?

JESS:
Unless you have a problem with it. Are you coming, or not?

ALEX:
Yeah, okay.

(They exit the theatre, heading into a corridor that is lined with brightly colored banners. WILL is chatting with people near a stall, seemingly oblivious to their entrance. JESS and ALEX continue to walk, in the opposite direction.)

ALEX:
Do you want to... wait for him? It looks like he's finished.

JESS:
No, not really.

ALEX:
Well, I'm going to go back--

JESS:
He can meet us at the gates, if he's ready to leave. It's too crowded to stay in here.

ALEX:
(Grabs JESS'S arm.) Would you just stop for a moment? What's up?

JESS:
It's nothing, alright?

ALEX:
Are you two fighting again?

JESS:
Just drop it!

ALEX:
I'm not dropping it! What is it with you two? I shouldn't have to ask daily if you're still bloody well talking to each other!

JESS:
If it irritates you that much, then go get some new friends!

(WILL walks up to them, standing behind JESS)

WILL:
Hey, Jess... Alex. How are things?

JESS:
Hi, Will.

WILL:
I didn't see you at the performance. Where were you guys?

JESS:
Sorry. We were busy.

ALEX:
Jess was busy. I forgot. Sorry, man.

WILL:
It's alright.

JESS:
I'm out of here. Catch you later.

(JESS exits through the main doors, leaving WILL and ALEX standing in the hallway.)

ALEX:
Found her in the theatre. What's wrong with her?

WILL:
I... dunno. She's been acting strange since yesterday -- came by my place for like, ten minutes and was totally wigging out. Maybe she's into drugs or something.

ALEX:
Maybe. Follow her?

(WILL and ALEX walk out the doors too, nearly tripping over JESS’S feet. She sits hidden behind a pillar at the base of the stairs, badly beaten copy of 'Romeo and Juliet' in her hands.)

WILL:
Hey, Jess? You okay?

JESS:
(Standing up) Jesus Christ! I left for a reason! Do either of you understand what it means when someone says they’d rather be left alone?!

ALEX:
Maybe if you actually told us what was wrong we’d-

JESS:
It’s none of your business!

WILL:
Can we all just calm down?

JESS:
Just stay out of this! Both of you!

WILL:
Just tell us what’s wrong with you! We’re friends, right? We’re allowed to be worried when you start acting like this!

JESS:
Acting like what?! Like I’m scared? Upset? Worried? Jesus, do neither of you idiots understand anything?!

ALEX:
Just tell us what the hell is wrong already!

JESS:
(Stands up, leaving book on ground and looking angry.) You really wanna know? Fine. Nothing makes me feel more fantastic than coming home and finding Mum on the phone to the morgue because Dad finally died.

ALEX:
Oh, god.

WILL:
Jess, if we’d known we would’ve-

JESS:
Save your breath. I’m out of here.

(JESS runs off down the stairs, leaving ALEX and WILL standing together on the steps. WILL reaches down, and picks up the book, closing it.)

ALEX:
Shit, man. Should we go after her? Call her mum? Call someone?

WILL:
There is thy gold, worse poison to men's souls, doing more murders in this loathsome world, than these poor compounds...