Episode 3
School library. Morning. Eli sits in the back, earbuds in but no music playing. A thick poetry book is open in front of him. His phone is face down on the table. He keeps glancing toward the windows behind him
Eli Whitter
Someone's watching me.
I’m not being paranoid, I can feel it.
Eli Whitter
First the message. Then the box that showed up on my porch this morning. No label. Just a single red ribbon and a little note inside. *looks around*
Eli Whitter
*He pulls the note from his pocket and reads it again, barely breathing*
Eli Whitter
"You are surrounded by liars. I’m the only one who sees you.” hmm
Eli Whitter
*quietly to himself* Who the hell are you?
Cafeteria. Eli sits alone with his tray. His eyes scan the room. Students laugh, talk, shove each other in line. Then his gaze lands on Alec, sitting by himself in the far corner, eating slowly, eyes on his tray.]
Eli Whitter
Alec Roman. Doesn’t talk much. Always sits in the corner. No one seems to know him. He’s just… there
Eli Whitter
Something about him has always felt off. But today, he’s not eating. Just… pretending to. Is he watching me?
Alec slowly lifts his eyes. Their gazes meet for the first time.
Alec Roman
*quickly adverts eyes*
Alec Roman
(He looked at me. Really looked!!)
Alec Roman
(He suspects something now. I have to be careful. No more anonymous messages...at least not for a while)
Alec Roman
(But the gift… he kept it. I saw it in his bag)
Alec's hands twitch under the table. He slips a folded paper from his pocket, unfolds it. A sketch, a quick pencil drawing of Eli’s face in profile. It's been folded and unfolded dozens of times.
Alec Roman
Sixteen days... Maybe less if you keep staring at me like that.
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Eli’s bedroom. Night. He sits at his desk with his laptop open. A chat window is open with his best friend, Sydney.
Sydney
If someone left a box at my door with no return address, I’d call the cops, dude.💻
Eli Whitter
Thought about it. But it’s weird… it’s like whoever’s doing this knows me. Like… really knows me💻
Sydney
That’s not comforting💻
Eli Whitter
Yeah, well. Neither is the way Alec looked at me today.💻
Eli Whitter
Is it crazy that I kind of don’t want to be wrong? Like… at least someone’s paying attention💻
He stares at it for a while before deleting it and closing down his laptop.
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Alec’s bedroom. Night. The walls are more covered now polaroids, poems, wrappers, receipts, drawings. He’s kneeling in the middle of the room, hands resting on the black gift box he gave Eli.
Alec Roman
You didn’t throw it away
Alec Roman
You didn’t run.
Alec Roman
The world lies to you, Eli. But I won’t. I never will.
Alec Roman
*He lifts a marker and writes on his mirror in tight, sharp handwriting*
THEY CAN'T LOVE YOU LIKE I DO.
Author
WAIT, they don't love you like I love you!
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