SCENE 1:
INT. QUEER NIGHTCLUB, LOS ANGELES – NIGHT (2019)
VEGA (22, long brown hair, tan complexion, arm filled with miscellaneous doodle-like tattoos) waits at the bar, twirling a marker between her fingers. POP MUSIC drowns out the CHATTER of bar goers.
AVERY (23, short black hair just shaggy enough to escape a “bowl cut” moniker, cuticles shredded out of habit) blows on her arm cast to dry the freshly Sharpied signature.
INSERT – CAST
“VEGA” written in angular capital letters
The bartender winks at Vega before taking another guest’s drink order.
AVERY
I always wanted a hoop like that
VEGA
Huh?
AVERY
(Trying to yell over the music) I always wanted a hoop like that!
She lightly touches the top of Vega’s right ear.
AVERY
For this piercing right here.
She tucks back her fringe to reveal a cartilage piercing kept by a plain silver stud. Vega struggles to quickly take the hoop out of her ear.
VEGA
Have it!
AVERY
(Laughing) It’s fine! The hole’s gonna close up!
VEGA
Happy birthday!
Avery swaps out the jewelry. The two share a brief, reminiscent smile.
SCENE 2:
EXT. ROOFTOP OF SKYRISE BUILDING, DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — NIGHT
(2018)
Vega sits on the dusty floor of a hotel rooftop while Avery leans back on the railing. Vega’s hair is grown out to mossy dipped ends. She swishes the last sip of red wine around a plastic cup. A SIREN sounds from the street below, red and blue lights quickly project on the building behind them. Avery turns
her head to catch the flash but just misses it.
VEGA
We’re both dating libras now
She half heartedly laughs.
VEGA
Now what does that say about us?
AVERY
(Through a forced soft chuckle) That one of us is tired of always being the romantic one all the time.
Vega sits up defensively.
VEGA
And one of us can still see things for how they really are.
AVERY
I mean aside from Rayna still being obsessed with her ex she makes me feel more seen than you ever did.
Vega nods her head and throws back the last bit of wine.
AVERY
Not to sound harsh but c’mon. I was doing exactly what you wanted. You never wanted me to really get you, you just wanted someone to lo—
VEGA
No I totally get it.
AVERY
Sometimes it was like I was just, like, a fan with benefits
VEGA
Okay that’s not what I—
AVERY
And that was okay! I mean half the fun was trying to get through to you.
She laughs at her own admittance.
AVERY
I wasn’t, like, suffering. I was happy. I had someone to pay attention to, make my friends laugh, take out. Whatever you, like, decided to give me definitely kept me occupied. Then it was like that time we went to the beach and I swam all the way out and you hadn’t even gotten in the water yet.
VEGA
You got so sunburnt that day.
AVERY
What happened?
VEGA
You’re haole.
Avery tries to fight a smile, both sick of and fondly reminded of her dry humor.
AVERY
You wanted me before you knew me.
SCENE 3:
INT. CAR, DRIVER’S SEAT — DAY (2017)
Vega’s on the phone with Avery while parked in the driveway of her home. Her arm is only partially decorated with tattoos, hair dark green and lobbed at the shoulders.
VEGA
I don’t think you’ve thought it through.
AVERY (O.S.)
I think you think yourself out of joy!
VEGA
You’re gonna move across the country, move in with me, and we’ll be together forever? That’s your entire plan?
AVERY (O.S.)
Well. Yeah.
Vega’s expression keeps cold but her face tightens.
AVERY (O.S.)
That’s exactly what I want.
She squints her eyes and pinches the bridge of her nose.
AVERY (O.S.)
Maybe I just want this more than you, I’m okay with that.
VEGA
You shouldn’t be.
SCENE 4:
EXT. ROOFTOP OF SKYRISE BUILDING, DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — NIGHT (2018)
AVERY
It’s like you put an expiration date on us. Like, you were the only one that knew it was going to end.
VEGA
You moved so fast!
Vega softens.
VEGA
I mean we knew each other, what, for like six months and you wanted to move across the country for me?
AVERY
We were together for six months. And I saw you like once, twice a month?
VEGA
I always felt out of control with you.
AVERY
What?!
Avery tightly closes her eyes in an effort to tame her frustration. She continues in a haughty whisper.
AVERY
You always had control. I gave it to you.
SCENE 5:
EXT. MUSIC FESTIVAL – NIGHT (2017)
The two rest their foreheads together. Avery wraps a scarf over their hugging bodies. A deep rhythmic BASSLINE thumps through the ground. Neon light bleeds through the cracks of their hair, green and black wisped across their faces. Their pupils overtake their irises. Purple and pink light bounce off their eyes.
AVERY
I hope this never ends.
VEGA
I think this is going to end well.
SCENE 6:
EXT. ROOFTOP OF SKYRISE BUILDING, DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — NIGHT (2018)
AVERY
Because I knew that’s what you wanted. It’s the only thing you care about.
SCENE 7:
INT. VEGA’S BEDROOM – DAY (2017)
Avery stands between two duffel bags. The window behind her reveals a cloudy, rainy sky. Vega’s zigzagging around the room collecting books and shoving them into a backpack.
AVERY
Do you hear yourself? I don’t need you to fucking pencil me in! (pleading) It’s Valentine’s Day, can’t you just be happy that I’m here?
Vega hurriedly unclasps the necklace from around her neck.
VEGA
And I don’t need this!
She dangles a thin chain with a single diamond pendant in front of Avery’s face.
VEGA
I don’t need you to show up unannounced with gifts, making plans without me! You have no idea what I want!
AVERY
You don’t want anything!
VEGA
(In a low stern whisper) My fucking parents are here, Avery. You knew they were coming.
AVERY
Yeah and I thought—
VEGA
That you can just fly in without asking, and meet my family?
Vega turns away from her and puts the necklace back on. She slings her bag over her shoulder and turns back to Avery, eyes aimed at the floor, chewing her nails.
VEGA
I have to be a lot of things for a lot of other people.
She starts toward the bedroom door. She unhooks the keychain from her pants and sets it on the dresser.
VEGA
Here’s my house key. (beat) I’m sorry. I promise we’ll do something tonight.
Avery watches her leave the room. She keeps her eyes on the empty doorway until the front door shuts.
SCENE 8:
EXT. UNDER THE SHADE OF A LARGE TREE, COLLEGE CAMPUS — LATE AFTERNOON (2017)
The young couple lay on their backs watching a plane fly between the leaves.
VEGA
I’m glad you came.
Vega turns her head to her and smiles softly. A leaf falls between their heads. She picks it up and traces Avery’s eyebrows.
AVERY
I love how we always pick up right where we leave off.
Avery turns to meet her gaze.
AVERY
I hope it’s always like that.
She leans in for a kiss when MICHAEL (23, Avery’s childhood friend from North Carolina, Vega’s college roommate, their unassuming matchmaker) appears.
MICHAEL
Hey, piggies.
Vega gasps.
MICHAEL
Am I interrupting something? Oops!
He sits down at their feet. Avery laughs off her surprise.
AVERY
You’re all good. What’re we getting up to?
MICHAEL
Well while you guys were being so brave with the PDA I was being h-crimed at Jimmy Johns. So I’m organizing a protest.
VEGA
You literally said you were boycotting them after they forgot your pickle.
MICHAEL
Um, ever hear of a second chance? But they forgot my pickle again so we’re going out tonight. In protest.
He grabs the leaf out of Vega’s hand and walks ahead for his audience of two. Avery and Vega share a sweet kiss, spots of sunlight dotting their heads.
SCENE 9:
EXT. ROOFTOP OF SKYRISE BUILDING, DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — NIGHT (2018)
VEGA
I know I didn’t make it easy.
AVERY
But it felt so easy at the time
VEGA
That was all you.
AVERY
Wait, are you giving me credit?
VEGA
Okay.
AVERY
Some long-deserved credit?
VEGA
Okay! I was always so jealous of how lucky you were. Everything came so easily for you. And everything you did was always so grand and exciting a-a-and easy. I didn’t want you to, like, wake up one day and realize I was fucking up your momentum.
AVERY
Momentum? Vega, what are you talking about?
Avery sits down in front of her and places her drink down.
AVERY
Things with you came easily. It was lucky that we even met in the first place.
VEGA
It was. (Annoyed with her inclination to share) I kinda stole your bit.
She pulls a folded scratcher out of her back pocket.
VEGA
I forgot to give you this at the bar. I had this whole speech about how we had to split it if you won, but I rather not taint your chances.
Avery lays the card on the ground and scratches at it with her thumb nail. Nothing. She smiles at the small mismatched images. She pulls out her phone and skips a few seconds into White
Ferrari by Frank Ocean.
VEGA
What are you—
Avery grabs Vega’s hand and holds it to her chest. Her fingers are reluctantly balled up into a limp fist. Avery, with a musing smile on her face, mouths the lyrics: “We were so, familiar…”
She sways side to side to the slow-burning melody. Vega rolls her eyes and tries to take her hand back. Avery doesn’t let go, swaying side to side with her eyes closed. Vega looks around and
up at the warped light of the full moon. Her hand softens flat on her chest.
She looks back at Avery, still swaying and lip synching: “I care for you still and I will forever. That was my part of the deal, honest.” Vega gives in to the theatrics. She closes her eyes and mouths along: “We got so familiar”. Avery opens her eyes to Vega swaying with the music with her eyes shut and brow furrowed. She frees her hand to lightly smooth out Vega’s forehead with her thumb.
AVERY
Will you see me on my next birthday? We can make it, like, a thing.
VEGA
Like, a thing?
AVERY
Yes, a little tradition.
VEGA
I don’t know… We are really good at celebrating, though.
AVERY
It was like the only thing we were good at.
Vega frowns playfully.
AVERY
But seriously it doesn’t have to be romantic. I mean obviously if Rayna and I are still together and you and, uh…
VEGA
Funny.
AVERY
For real, if we don’t commit we’ll probably never see each other again.
VEGA
I can do birthdays.
MUSIC FADES. END.
Selena Kuikahi is a twenty three year old filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California. The semi-recent film school graduate now alleviates her newfound corporate monotony with freelance writing and PA gigs (joy, no really). She dedicates her time to darning, her grandma, and Tracy Chapman Radio on Spotify.