Tuesday - 5/31
SALEM HIGH SCHOOL
CLICK HERE to listen to the music that’s playing. Belle, Shawn-D and Mimi had arrived and were now mingling and dancing with their friends. Chloe, who as valedictorian was one of the first there, was also mingling. She was currently talking to her friends Susan Adamson and Penny.
CHLOE: It is so good to see you guys again!
SUSAN: You too!
PENNY: How are you? How’s Parker?
CHLOE: I’m good, and Parker is great. Sometimes it’s hard for me to believe, but he’s gonna be twelve later this year.
SUSAN: Oh, that’s so great!
CHLOE: Yeah! What about you guys? How are things?
SUSAN: Things are good! Really good, actually. I love being a guidance counselor!
CHLOE: I’m sure you’re great at it. You’re one of the most understanding, kind people I know.
SUSAN: Aw, thank you! Well, a big part of it was all the support you two and Belle gave me back in high school. You guys were, and still are amazing.
CHLOE: That’s so sweet of you to say!
Susan and Chloe hugged.
CHLOE: How are things with you, Penny?
PENNY: Pretty great, as well. I love being a lawyer, and in my spare time, I do a bit of photography.
CHLOE: That’s awesome! I’m glad to hear you’re both doing well!
PENNY: You too!
Jan pushed past the three friends. Susan did a double-take.
SUSAN: Is that…?
CHLOE: Yeah, it is.
PENNY: You mean they actually let her out?
CHLOE: Unfortunately. She got out a week or two ago.
All three sighed.
PENNY: Well, now I wish I’d shown up for the hearing. I wrote a letter against her release.
SUSAN: So did I.
CHLOE: A lot of people did. Don’t feel bad, the judge who let her out seemed more interested in getting the hearing over with than he was in actually listening to the truth.
Penny shook her head.
PENNY: I hate judges like that.
Chloe put a hand on Penny’s shoulder.
CHLOE: If it’s any consolation, she can’t come near us without an outside witness. The one good thing the judge did was put a restraining order against her for all of her victims. Unless there’s a neutral third party watching, she can’t interact with us.
PENNY: Well, that’s something, I guess.
SUSAN: Look, let’s not let Jan Spears ruin this. She already did enough of that during our high school days. Tonight’s about having fun, so let’s just ignore her as best we can and have fun.
CHLOE: I second that.
WOODS: It’s nice to see you both again.
BELLE: You too, Mr. Woods. I know we were here a few years ago for Claire’s graduation, but it still feels like forever since we’ve been here.
WOODS: I know what you mean. It’s hard for me to believe that this is the first class I saw go all the way from freshmen to graduated seniors, and here we are twenty years later.
BELLE: It’s crazy for us, too.
WOODS: How is Claire doing? I’m very sorry to hear about what happened.
SHAWN-D: She’s got a ways to go, but she’s doing okay.
BELLE: Thank you so much for asking.
WOODS: You’re welcome. She’s a wonderful young woman who takes after both of her parents. I’m sure she’ll pull through.
SHAWN-D: Thanks, man.
BELLE: So, you’re still assistant principal, right?
WOODS: That’s correct, and I’m also still teaching biology. As much as I enjoy my administrative duties, I love teaching far too much to give it up entirely.
SHAWN-D; Well, you were a great teacher.
Philip and Melanie were dancing.
PHILIP: Having a good time tonight?
MELANIE: I am, actually.
PHILIP: That’s good. I know class reunions can be kinda awkward. I would imagine moreso if you don’t know most of the people here.
MELANIE: Philip, I’m fine. I am having a good time. Your friends are all pretty nice. Most of them, anyway.
Philip sighed.
PHILIP: Yeah, sorry about Jason. I wish I could say he’s not always like that, but…
Melanie chuckled.
MELANIE: Don’t worry about it. I knew a dozen or more guys like that back when I was in Paris. Guys like him don’t bother me.
PHILIP: Well, good.
Just then, the music changed.
CLICK HERE to listen to it. Philip’s heart sank as he heard the opening bars to it. The fact that he tensed up had not gone unnoticed by Melanie.
MELANIE: Hey, you okay?
Philip looked up. Over Melanie’s shoulder, he saw Chloe, who was looking in his direction.
I wasn't expecting Maisy to be shot!
