The room is quiet.

LAUREN stands near the window, holding her phone. Her thoughts are clearly somewhere else.

A knock comes at the door. She turns.

DAN enters. His expression is serious.

Lauren, I need you to come with me.

No, Dan. I don’t want to go with you.

Why are you making this so difficult? Just come with me. We need to talk somewhere private.

There is nothing left for us to talk about. I’ve made my decision.

And what decision is that?

I don’t want to go back to the way things were. I’m trying to move forward with my life.

Dan sits down, attempting to appear calm. Lauren remains standing.

Lauren, listen to me. I’m asking you to come with me because I want to fix things.

But I don’t want to fix them.

Why?

Lauren hesitates. Then she finally tells him the truth.

Because I like Wayne.

Wayne?

Yes. I’ve started developing feelings for him.

You actually have feelings for Wayne?

I do. Wayne makes me feel like I can be myself.

Dan begins pacing. His frustration is growing.

You don’t know Wayne the way you think you do.

Maybe I don’t know everything about him. But I know how I feel.

Lauren, I’m giving you one chance to come with me.

And I’m telling you no.

The room becomes completely silent.

What if I don’t accept your answer?

Then you’ll have to accept that you can’t control my decision.

Lauren walks toward the door. She reaches for the handle.

Lauren, wait. Come with me tonight.

Why?

Because I don’t want this to end like this.

Dan, I already told you. I want to be with Wayne.

And if you don’t come with me, I’ll find a way to get revenge for what you’ve done.

Lauren becomes visibly uncomfortable.

You shouldn’t talk like that. I don’t want any trouble.

Then come with me.

Lauren sits quietly, holding her phone. She looks at Wayne’s name on the screen.

You need to make a choice.

I already made my choice.

Then why are you still here?

Lauren finally stands and grabs her bag.

Fine. I’m only going because I don’t want this situation to become worse.

You’re coming with me?

Yes.

Dan walks toward his car. Lauren follows a few steps behind.

She looks back at her house, then down at her phone. Wayne’s name remains on the screen.

I’m sorry, Wayne.

She puts the phone away and gets into the car.

The car begins to move. Lauren looks out the window, lost in thought.

Wayne sits alone at his desk. His phone is beside him.

Lauren… where are you?

He picks up his phone and calls her. The call goes unanswered.

Something isn’t right.

He stands and grabs his jacket.

Lauren sits quietly in the passenger seat. Dan drives without saying a word.

Dan, where are we going?

Somewhere we can talk.

I don’t want to stay away from Wayne for long.

You still care about him?

Yes. No matter what happens tonight, I can’t pretend my feelings aren’t real.

We’ll see about that.

The city lights pass by.

Lauren’s heart remains with Wayne, even though she is now sitting beside Dan.

The car disappears into the night. Wayne is left wondering where Lauren has gone.

The night is only beginning.