Kaitlyn Chow                                                                                  

ELA-Writing Project For Social Awareness                                                             

Short Dramatic Scene

#5

         I'm standing outside leaning against the cool brick building getting some air when a red range rover comes into view. The truck comes to a stop in front of me as three familiar faces get out of the car. My fellow classmates from West High. I catch a whiff of smoke as they walk towards me.

         "Yo Doug, I got that good stuff right here." Jeff says, holding up two huge bottles of alcohol like they are his prized trophies.

         "Yeah man. Take some. We'll give it to you no charge." Bruce says with a lit cigarette in hand.

         "I can't, I, um, I have this important job interview in the morning. Can't get hung over tonight." I say. My voice trembled a bit. I hope they didn't notice. I’ve never drank before.

         Katrina laughs. "You’re cute, Doug. A couple of swigs won't do nothing. You'll realize it when you try some. Don't sweat it." She says, taking a bottle from Jeff and opening it. She takes a long gulp and offers it to me. "C'mon Doug, I know you can take it."

         I can't take it. I know I can't. I'm not gonna do it.

         "Don't even think about it bro. This ain't even the real hard stuff, Doug." Bruce says, abandoning his cigarette to the ground and leaning on the hood of a car.

         "I told you, I have this important interview tomorrow. I can't screw it up." I start walking away. I don't even know where I'm going. Anywhere but here.

         "You won't screw anything up bro." Jeff says, catching up with me. He grabs the hem of my hoodie rather aggressively.

         I stop walking. I’m too scared to move.

         "Drink." Katrina says, thrusting the bottle into my hands.

         I look around. Tension is in the air. Bruce stands up, like he’s ready for a fight.

         If I don't drink, they're going to do something bad to me. I don't want to find out what that is. So I drink.

         "Atta boy. It's not so bad now is it?" Jeff says. Or screams. I'm not sure which because the world is spinning.

         "Try this bottle. I like it better." Bruce says, taking it from Jeff and giving me the other.

        

         But I can't tell if I'm holding it because I'm having trouble seeing. Tears are streaming down my face and my throat has gone raw. I drop the bottle and run, blindly.