Cut Your Bangs [S.Barber]

chapter five

Forest was actually having a good time with Stanley and his friends. They were all so nice, even if she could sense some tension between Bradley, Stanley, and Sydney. She sat with them at lunch everyday.

"Syd." Stanley began. He sat across from Forest and Sydney, while Brad and Dina sat to his right. "Yeah?" Sydney ate a fry.

"You got paired with Noah for the film project, right?" Stanley leaned forward and stole a fry from Forest. She didn't bother to get angry. Instead, she did the same with his potato chips.

Stanley glanced at her for a moment with a smile, then looked back to Sydney. "I did." Responded the girl. "What's your idea?" Forest joined in gleefully. She leaned her chin on the palm of her hand.

Stanley stared at the girl without really noticing. His gaze softened with a faint smile. "We have no clue yet, actually." Sydney laughed. "We haven't gotten around to talking about it. I'll probably try and contact him after class."

"Well, we've got an idea." Brad grinned. He wrapped an arm around Dina and smiled to her. "It was a blessing you two were paired together. Who else would be able to bare being this guy as a partner." Stanley bantered as he looked to Brad.

The group laughed. Bradley scoffed. "Wanna tell them our idea, babe?" Brad smiled down at Dina. "Sure." She nodded. She turned to the others.

"It's a—"

"Wait. Don't tell me. It's a love story." Sydney interrupted with a guess. Forest giggled. She looked to Stanley, who was already looking directly at her. Only now noticing that he was staring, Stanley looked away.

Dina playfully rolled her eyes. "I knew it. I knew it." Sydney ridiculed. Bradley and Dina became embarrassed. "It's gonna be good!" Dina objected. "Oh, yeah. No doubt." Stanley prattled.

"Alright, well, Forest and Stan, what have you guys got?" Questioned Dina. "Oh, don't get him started." Forest groaned and hid her face in her arms.

"It's a groundbreaking idea." Stanley stood up from his seat for dramatic effect. He stepped one foot on the seat, and the other on the table.

"Stan, people eat on this." Complained Forest. Stanley didn't listen. "Joanna Widworth, twelve years old." He exclaimed loudly. "Played by the amazing actress, Forest, of course." Stanley gestured to the embarrassed girl. "Twelve?" Sydney questioned, but Stanley did not answer.

"Last time you called my acting sloppy." Forest intoned. "Heat of the moment, dear Forest, heat of the moment." Responded the boy. The others watched with foolish grins.

"Now, where was I?" He looked up at the ceiling. "Joanna Widworth, twelve years old." Sydney reminded. "Right!" Stanley now stood fully, with both of his feet on the cafeteria table. This grabbed the attention of some of the other students around.

"She's auditioning for this movie, then, plot twist—"

"We're two seconds in and there's already a plot twist?" Puzzled Dina. "That's not the worst part." Muttered Forest. "Exactly, because there is no worst part." Stanley added. "I like your thinking, partner."

Forest huffed. "So, plot twist, this elf called Elf Man comes out—" Stanley was interrupted once more. "An elf?" Dina furrowed her eyebrows. "Called Elf Man?" Added Sydney.

"Exactly what I was saying! He also calls everyone 'earthling', like, how stupid is is that?" Forest expressed. Stanley ignored them. "Elf Man, played by yours truly, comes and tells her he wants to show her something. He leads her to his planet—"

"Stanley."

"What now." He groaned. He rolled his eyes and looked down at Sydney. She pointed behind him. He turned around. One of the lunch ladies was standing there. She looked down at his feet that stood on the table.