IN THE SCHOOL HALLWAY
Maya's trying to find her locker but bumps into Jack.
"Hey, Maya, what are you up to?"
"Hey, Jack." She showed him the paper.
"Ohh! Follow me." He led the way.
"Viola! We're locker neighbors." They giggled
"What club are you joining?"
"Honestly? I'm confused."
"Then we'll go club hunting."
"What?"
Jack grabbed her hand.
"Come on. You'll see."
---
IN THE ART CLUB
Sofia was painting a distressed woman.
Jack and Maya entered.
"One minute per club, then next!" Jack said
Maya is stunned by the artwork. She stepped closer.
"This is beautiful. The world should see this."
"Indeed," Jack replied, but he's staring at her.
Maya turned and caught his eyes. Jack quickly looked at the painting. Maya and Sofia exchanged waves.
Sofia gestured: What are you doing here?
Maya mouthed:" I don't know." with a smile
"Time's up," Jack said
"Onward, my lady!" They dashed off.
---
IN THE. KITCHEN
Olivia, stunned.
"When did you find out?"
"When she turned six."
"That's why you keep wiping her memory..."
"Yes, Mum. I'm trying to protect her. I want Maya to have a normal life." Her voice broke.
Olivia touched her shoulder.
"Oh, Wendy... but is that what she wants?"
"What do you mean?"
"Take a seat."
---
IN THE SCHOOL CLUB ROOMS
Jack and Maya tour music, dance, science clubs, and pause at poetry club.
Jack led her to a seat and stepped forward. He locked eyes with her.
"Over the stars,
that's how high I'll raise the bars,
just for you, my rare star...
I'd drive you around the world,
I'd have to buy a car..."
(Laughter from the room)
"So take my hand, my moonlight,
being with you takes away my plight."
Applause. Maya blushed.
---
IN THE HISTORY CLUB
They walked in. Ancient photos, statues, and relics adorn the walls.
Maya walks from picture to picture, naming legends, years, and events.
Jack just watched her, with admiration.
"What?" Maya asked
"Beauty and brains is hard to find... but look at you."
She blushed and tucked imaginary hair behind her ear.
"Why is no one here?"
"We used the whole time club-hopping. My bad."
"No, it was really..." She paused and locked eyes with Jack, looked away and locked eyes again "fun." She smiled.
"What are you doing this weekend?"
"Sofia and I are having a sleepover."
"Cool. Can I come?" Jack laughed
"Just kidding. But there's a party next weekend at mine. Games, food... if your mum allows."
"Sounds fun. I'll ask her."
"I wanna show you something," Maya said, revealing a lunchbox labeled Lunch.
Jack busted out in laughter
"How?"
"I didn't want you to feel like the only baby."
"Maya, you're the best friend ever."
Maya's smile faltered. She hid her disappointment.
Jack noticed.
"Are you okay?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I..."
Sofia arrived.
"There you are! My brother's here—let's go."
"Bye, Jack."
"Bye, Maya. See you around."
---
EXIT SCHOOL DRIVEWAY
Sofia teased:
"Spill, Maya. You're in loooove."
"No, I'm not. He sees me as a friend."
"Do you see the way he looks at you?"
Steve honks.
"Let's go, girls!"
---
Jack buried his face in his hands.
"Why the hell did you say that?"
He looked up, determined.
"Next time I see her, I'll tell her."
INT. PRINCIPAL'S HOUSE – NIGHT
Ding dong.
Ms. Shelby peers through the peephole.
"Fuck," she muttered.
She opened the door.
An FBI detective flashes a badge.
"Mind if we come in?"
---
IN SHELBY'S LIVING ROOM
"We have questions about your brother."
"Last I saw him was my last visit."
"He's escaped. We believe he had outside help."
She stiffened.
"I had no idea. He's a killer, a psychopath. I'd never..."
The detective noticed her trembling hands.
"Are you okay, ma'am?"
"Yes. Anxiety. I have pills."
They exit. She exhales sharply, clutching her chest.
---
IN WENDY'S HOUSE – NIGHT
Maya, Sofia, and Olivia in pajamas, playing Monopoly.
"I win!" Olivia dances.
"Grams, you cheated!" Maya accused, and laughed
Wendy walked in.
"It's late for Monopoly."
"It's Saturday tomorrow, and Grams said we could have a sleepover!"
Wendy eyes Olivia.
"Can we talk? Privately?"
In the hallway:
In a hushed tone:
"What were you thinking?" Wendy asked her mum
"It's safer if she's here. We can watch her."
Wendy shook her head.
"Feels like I'm raising two kids."
"Take a look in the mirror, Wendy. You're trying to fix your childhood through Maya. Grow up."
---
IN THE LIVING ROOM
Olivia clapped her hands.
"Makeover time, girls..upstairs!"
"Yay!"
Sofia whispered:
"Your grams is cool."
Maya chuckled
"I'm right behind you. Need something from the kitchen."
In the kitchen:
"Hey mum, you okay?"
"Yes." (Fake smile)
"You told me to be proud for making a friend... yet you've been hard on yourself for days."
"I know, gummy bear."
They hug. As Maya leaves:
"Mum?"
"Yeah?"
"What's the slogan?"
Wendy chuckled:
"Always keep your head up high."
Maya nodded and went upstairs.
Down in the quiet of the house, a hand slowly turned a doorknob it was the basement. Ms. Shelby descended into the dim space, the cool air brushing against her skin. She moved toward her late husband's toolbox, her steps deliberate. As she opened it and reached for a screwdriver, the walls around her suddenly began to shift and turn. The dark-painted basement transformed into metallic walls and a massive, high-tech space.
She walked toward a voice-activated door and said firmly,
"Sergeant."
"Welcome, Sergeant," the automated voice replied.
She stepped inside and smiled at the man seated on the edge of the bed.
"Hello, brother," she said.
---
Upstairs, Wendy went to check on the girls. She paused at the doorway, blinking in surprise. Sofia, Maya, and Olivia had their faces painted with lipstick, blush, and dramatic eyeshadow.
Ms. Wendy, do you want to join us?" Sofia asked with a grin.
"Oh! No, no, no... I couldn't," Wendy laughed nervously.
"Okay, I understand," Sofia replied sweetly.
"Mum, could you help us roll up this lipstick? It's stuck," Maya said, holding out a tube.
"Grams is here to help!" Olivia chimed in.
"Mum, Grams is the cool one. You're the strong one. She already tried," Sofia added with a mischievous smile.
Olivia turned to Sofia, wide-eyed at the comment. Wendy chuckled, stepped forward, and rolled the lipstick up with ease. As she looked back at their smirking faces, realization dawned.
"Makeover time!" they all screamed in unison.
---
The week went by quickly, and Maya and Sofia grew very close. Maya began to avoid Jack, choosing instead to spend time at Sofia's house. One evening, Maya arrived with her pajamas and pillow, ready for a sleepover.
They played games, giggled about boys, and laughed late into the night. Around 11 p.m., Sofia suddenly removed her pajamas to reveal a short dress underneath.
So did Maya.
"I haven't done this before," Maya said, both excited and nervous.
"Our parents wouldn't let us go out... but remember, we're partners in crime."
Together, they snuck out the window and took a cab.
The place was packed, music blared, and the crowd was much older than them.
"Maybe this was a bad idea," Sofia muttered.
"Yeah... let's go," Maya agreed.
But just as they turned to leave, two guys blocked their path. Sofia tried to move left, one followed.
"We're leaving. Got the wrong address," Maya said coolly.
"Looking this hot? You're at the right place," one of the guys leered.
They stared at the girls like predators.
Maya instinctively stepped in front of Sofia.
"Touch her, and I'll rip you apart," she growled.
Even Maya seemed shocked by her own outburst.
"Wow. She's fearless. And how are you gonna do that?"
"I'll show you," said a calm male voice from behind.
The two guys turned, saw him, and immediately scattered.
The girls looked at their unexpected hero, a tall, blond guy with blue eyes and the hottest body they'd ever seen.
"Come with me," he said. "It's not as bad as it looks."
They hesitated until a boy tripped on his skateboard while others chanted:
"Again! Again!"
"Inside is better. I promise."
Inside, they found even more shirtless guys. Sofia leaned in and whispered,
"I think outside is safer."
Maya nodded.
"Please, where can I get water? I'm suddenly dehydrated," Sofia said.
Their hero pointed her to the kitchen and turned to Maya.
"I'm Alex. And you are?"
Maya chuckled.
"I'm Maya. My friend's Sofia, and I could barely do anything earlier."
Alex smiled.
"Come on, I want to show you something."
Upstairs on the balcony, Maya shivered slightly.
"Could you please put on a shirt? It's... very distracting."
He smirked.
"Really? How distracting?"
He moved closer, just a foot away.
She was mesmerized.
He pointed to the sky.
"Do you see that?"
"The moon… it's beautiful," Maya said.
"Not as beautiful as you, Maya," he said, still looking at the sky.
"I'm not even looking right now, yet I can tell, you have a beautiful smile. Your beauty reflects in and above the moon. I can feel your energy... strong, but you haven't realized it yet."
Maya blushed, her eyes wide.
Alex leaned in, just an inch away.
"What can you sense about me?" he asked.
"A lot of mystery... I should be scared, but I'm intrigued."
He pulled back slightly and kissed her hand.