Violent Delights

Why is she looking at us like that?

Whatever, just ignore her. She’s a loner. She just sits at the edge of the playground every day at recess.

Um, she’s walking towards us fast. And she does not look happy.

Huh?

Wait! Watch out!

Oh my god! Someone get the teacher! His nose is bleeding a lot!

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Why would you do that, Jade?

I don’t know.

Apologize to him.

I’m sorry.

Good. Mrs. Booth, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to attend this meeting. I need to inform you that your daughter can’t return to school for 3 days.

Yes, I understand.

Additionally, if another situation like this occurs again, you will need to find another school for her. We have a zero-tolerance policy against bullying at River Meadow Elementary. 

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Sweetheart, why did you hurt that poor boy?

He has friends.

What does that mean?

I don't know.

I need to call your father. Go sit in the car.

Okay.

I don’t know what’s wrong with her. She has never been able to make friends, and now she goes and hits another child. What am I supposed to do with her?

Look, kids get in fights. It happens.

Jake, can you take this seri– shit. The director is calling me, I left in the middle of my scenes. We’ll talk about this later.

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Jade, what the fuck!

Did she really just push Rowan off the stage?

Rowan took her role. Why wouldn’t she?

Shh, they can hear you.

Oh, she’s running away. She must’ve done it on purpose.

That looks bad. I think she actually broke her leg.

Wow, what a bitch.

Poor Rowan.

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Ah! You scared me. Jade, are you okay?

I’m gonna throw up.

Okay, that was gross. What happened? Or do I even want to know?

Mind your fucking business, Mick.

Okay, okay, sorry that I’m trying to be a caring brother.

Caring?

Yes…

What a fucking joke.

Well, fuck you, too. I don’t see why I fucking bother, you’re a wreck.

Yeah, I’m a fuck up. I can’t even do the one fucking thing that I’m decent at without hurting someone. 

Wow, okay, I was just mad. I didn’t really mean that.

Yeah, right.

What happened, Jade?

I did what I do best.

What?

Run away.

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Break a leg.

Rowan, don’t think about her. Jade’s just trying to get a rise out of you.

Well, it’s working.

Just… you’re going to do great up there. This is your first big role since… the incident from last year.

Yeah, the incident where Jade broke my fucking leg. And now she’s my self-centered co-star. I can never escape her.

Well… I remember when you had heart eyes—

Shut up. That was before everything.

Okay…

Rowan, it’s almost your queue.

You look perfect. Now get up there.

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O, speak again, bright angel, for thou art

As glorious to this night, being o’er my head,

As is a wingèd messenger of heaven

Unto the white-upturnèd wond’ring eyes

Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him

When he bestrides the lazy puffing clouds

And sails upon the bosom of the air.

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?

Deny thy father and refuse thy name,

Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,

And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.

You wouldn’t think Jade and Rowan hated each other as easily as breathing the way they’re acting up there.

They’ve always been weirdly obsessive about acting- and each other. That’s just how good they are. 

Still, Jade as Romeo and Rowan as Juliet? The director was evil for that.

I’ll say. 

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What’re you doing in here?

Relax, just grabbing my clothes.

Yeah, okay. I’m just going to watch until you leave. Can’t be too careful. You might come at me with a knife or try to break my leg again.

Dramatic. Fitting for a beloved actress like you.

Why do you hate me so much? I never did anything to you.

I don’t.

What?

I said, I just do.

That is not an acceptable answer.

You really think you’ve never done anything to me?

…

… You actually don’t, huh?

What did I do that was so bad? 

You are so irritating. You come into this university with no experience, knowledge, or ambition for acting, and you watch one play, and suddenly, you’re this great actress who will go onto Broadway.

Hey-

You know, I’ve been acting since I was five years old? I’ve clawed my way here, suffering through countless sleepless nights. I even broke my finger in middle school but kept shooting a commercial as if nothing had happened. I have bled myself dry just to get here. But you skipped in here and were somehow born an actress. On top of that, everyone seems to fucking love you! No one even bats an eye in my direction. Even my parents have given up on me, barely speaking a word to me when I’m in their vicinity.

Wait–

So, why. Are. You. So. Fucking. Special?

You have got to be fucking with me. That’s why you hate me? I was thinking I must have done something fucking horrible to you, but you hate me because you’re jealous?

Don’t laugh at me. You’ve stolen a lot from me. I would be in your position right now if you had never shown up.

So you break my leg?

That was an accident.

Then why did you run away?

I don’t know!

That’s not an acceptable—--

You make me so fucking angry and nervous. Your voice is so grating whenever you speak, and your curly hair is so annoying, you know? Why don’t you ever tie it up? You are always on my mind. Why can’t you ever leave me alone?

Did I just hear that right?

I’m leaving.

Wait, no. Stay. Come here.

Why? Are you going to stab me in the eye with your makeup brush?

Now, wouldn’t you say this kiss was a little different from the one up on stage?

I.. You.. What?

You’re so stupid. Just shut up and lock that door.

I still hate you.

I know. I hate you, too.