Burnouts

The Way They Always Do

Scene 1: Madison Street- Zach's Apartment

Leo Rylin

"Peyton?" I knock on her bedroom door.

"Who is it?"

"Leo...from downstairs..." I said lowly, disappointed by the fact that my voice wasn't enough.

I'd know her voice even if I were blindfolded in a crowded room.

I heard her footsteps as she approached the door. "My high school boyfriend," She smiled once she saw me. "What's up?"

"Nothing really," I shrug, "I just wanted to come and talk to you."

"Shouldn't you be hanging out with my little brother, Leo." She playfully rolls her eyes.

"Matt's with him, he probably doesn't even know I'm gone."

"He looks up to you, you know. He has only one sibling and he seems to think that's you," Peyton spoke almost admirably.

"Well, I'm glad it's not. Zach's like a brother to me, but if we were actually related, how could I marry you?" I smiled at her, and she laughed lightly at my words.

"You're adorable, Leo and so sweet to me." She walks back into her room, leaving the door open for me. "Here, sit on my bed," She pats the spot next to her.

"Now what?" I say slyly.

"You know I'm too old for you, right?" She says in a way that seemed seductive to me.

"Oh, come on," I sigh. "What's two years?"

"A prison sentence, honey." Peyton placed a soft kiss on my cheek, "don't worry, Leo. You're going to make some girl very happy one day. You're a good guy."

"You're my girl," I glanced over at her while she stared back at me, clearly amused. "One day I'm going to make you very happy. You'll see."

I sent her one last smile before getting off of her bed and heading toward the door.

"Goodbye, boyfriend," She said the way she always did...like it was a joke.

"Don't tease me," I shook my head and continued walking.

I shut her door behind me and the hall became silent. Quiet enough for me to hear a conversation someone obviously wants to keep private.

"Now? Are you sure?" Zach said lowly. "I mean, yeah it's last minute, but if you want me to come over, I will." He sounded like he was trying not to smile. "Do you want me to bring anything?...Oh, yeah, I can sleep over, that's cool."

I pace slowly down the hall until I find Zach crouched down in a corner, the phone pressed to his face and the cord stretched down above him. "...what're you doing?" I chuckle.

"I'll call you back, okay?" He said quickly before hanging the phone up on its post.

"...who was that?"

"No one," He keeps his head down.

"Was it that girl you like?" He nods hesitantly. "She wants you to sleep over?" I smirk proudly, and he nods again. "Well, what are you doing on the floor? Get up, get ready, I'll take you over there."

"...I don't know, man."

"Are you crazy? You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain. Now get your shit, we're going," I nudge him with my shoe.

He takes forever to do it, but eventually he comes trudging out the door with his overnight bag hanging off his shoulder.

"I'm ready," He mutters.