Beverly Hills: Season 3

Season 3, Episode 16: You Can't Stop a Bullet

   "Who's ready for Palm Springs?" Harrow sing songs after the last bell of the day rings on Friday. Not only does that annoying ass bell indicate the end of the school day, it also means the start to spring break. Harrow counts this upcoming week as a holiday all on it's own. She doesn't need an excuse to get away from Beverly Hills for a bit but spring break is a perfect one and what better place than Palm Springs? She and Kai arranged a reservation at the resort for just about their entire grade and even some of the cool seniors who are just as cool as Harrow is. Harrow will admit that half the reason she set this entire thing up is to stir the pot for some people in ways that she wouldn't be able to do here. Why not see who will cheat on who or which girl will run around topless and expose her vagina to the entire grade? That shit is the stuff Harrow lives for.
   "I can see you are." Tabby replies as she watches Harrow put on her oversized beach hat.
   "I hope you have your bag with you." Harrow holds up her own striped Coach bag in her hand. She sees the graffiti on the wall to her right but she tries her best to ignore it. She has a feeling Emerson had something to do with the vandalism since her name was written on a window but she's not even going to entertain him by saying something to him. "I was hoping that we could leave right after school so we can get the best room."
   "That's the thing." Tabby shuts the door to her locker. "I won't be able to go to Palm Springs."
   Harrow's face falls. She was really looking forward to turning up with Tabby for a few days. It's not like they're going to be there the entire week. "Something tells me that you're not kidding."
   "Dalton has the flu and I really don't want to just leave him." Tabby explains as the two of them start down the hallway together.
   "Isn't that what your grandparents are for?" Harrow blinks, Tabby shooting her a look. "What? I'm just saying that you're young and free. It wouldn't hurt to have fun every once in a while."
   "I'm also a mom." Tabby reminds her and then wraps her arm around her. "I'm sorry. Don't have too much fun without me, okay?"
   "I'm going to have extra fun FOR you." Harrow sighs dramatically  and then spots Brooklyn and Anna heading for the side doors to the parking lot. They're cool for the most part but Harrow has never been a fan of a drama queen like Brooklyn. She got to know them both a little better thanks to Tabby being in that band with Anna so maybe they're not total losers. "Well I guess I should go be buddy-buddy with Anna and Brooklyn so I won't be a loner on my own trip."
   "Send me pictures." Tabby squeezes Harrow's hand before starting down a separate hallway.
   Harrow hurries up in between Anna and Brooklyn, wrapping her arms around both of them. "Hey girls."
   "Harrow?" Brooklyn looks closely at her face. "Are you okay?"
   "Yes." Harrow answers. "I'm not some druggie like you used to be."
   "What do you want, Harrow?" Anna squirms out from Harrow's arm as the three of them stop before the double doors.
   "Someone's a little salty." Harrow notices.
   "Her girlfriend was on acid and now she's in rehab." Brooklyn sums up. "Ryde Oaks is a good center though."
   "Don't go running around telling people." Anna hisses to her friend before pulling her cardigan tighter around her torso. "I'm still recovering from the breakup."
   "Poor thing." Harrow flashes a fake frown. "But I'm sure Palm Springs with turn things around for you."
   "No thanks." Anna declines. "I think I just want to continue my Gilmore Girls marathon with a few cartons of Chunky Monkey."
   "That is no way to be spending spring break." Harrow waves her hand at her. "I will help you guys pack. It'll be fun."
   "Why are you all of a sudden trying to be our friend?" Brooklyn blinks on confusion.
   "Because Tabby isn't going and it seems like you two come in a package together so I might as well make the best of it." Harrow throws her arms around them again as the three of them start out the doors together. "Spring break here we come."

~~~(No One's Here to Sleep by Bastille)~~~
   Emerson makes his way down the hallway after leaving his math class, the halls buzzing with eager students to start their spring breaks. He really doesn't care about spring break all that much. He's probably going to go on his usual boat trip with his family and maybe hang out with Colt- although he's dealing with a lot right now as it is.
   "Please tell me you're not trying to go to Harrow's spring break thing." Emlyn appears by his brother's side.
   "What spring break thing?" Emerson takes his ear bud out of his ear to hear. He's had ear buds in the entire day so he wouldn't have to listen to everyone making plans for the break. Sure, maybe he's a little jealous that no one is even trying to make plans with him but that's what his music is for.
   "Oh good, you didn't hear." Emlyn exhales. "They're all going to Palm Springs for a few days. But I'm glad you're not going."
   "Why would I want to go to a resort with people that hate me?" Emerson rolls his eyes after seeing Israel and Tatiana kiss each other before parting ways.
   "Not everyone hates you, you know." Emlyn disagrees. "I heard some sophomore dude saying he was in to you."
   "Guys are just what I need." Emerson says sarcastically. "See you at home?"
   "Yeah." Emlyn nods, staring up the main stairs for his locker.
   After getting home from school, Emerson drops his bag by the front door. "Hello?" Emerson calls, his voice echoing through the house. No answer. Emerson wanders down the hallway towards the kitchen, thinking about everyone hopping in their cars to go to Palm Springs to spend the first few days of break. He knows that if he was still with Harrow or even friends with Tatiana that he would be invited but nope. Everyone still hates him. He opens the doors to the fridge, looking inside with a blank expression. He blinks, looking at the red apples and the red jello his mom made last night. He closes the doors, picturing everyone climbing into the steaming hot tub and then crawling into the tall beds with dozens of pillows at night. His conversation with Colt the other night rides around in his head. Colt basically told him that he should stop being so nice and he shouldn't be trying to befriend any of those people at Seaview. He's absolutely right though. Emerson told himself after leaving Colt that night that being ruthless will do a lot more than being some nice guy.
   Emerson thinks to Harrow picking Israel's side over his. He thinks about Israel and harrow teaming up against him and getting him arrested. Harrow didn't love him back. She also didn't tell him about her pregnancy, only about the miscarriage. Emerson flashes back to Elenor ending things with him for being one of the bad guys. He remembers influencing Tatiana to stay off her medication to get more experience with her writing- that almost got them both killed. He even destroyed his brother's relationship with the only guy Emlyn ever felt strongly for. What kind of brother does shit like that?
   Emerson paces back and forth outside of the family study, his head getting filled with thoughts on the people who hate him most. Everyone at school can't stand him because of what he did but why are they all targeting him so much? Why do they forgive Brooklyn and Cambridge giving up their kid? Why do they not care that Tatiana almost burned down the school? Why do they disregard everything everyone else does but when he does something, he's shunned? He somehow feels like he's getting banned from the Amish country or whatever they do.
   Emerson takes out his phone, dialing Colt's number to stop him from whatever he's about to do. The phone rings over and over again before Emerson listens to the voicemail, clicking END instead of leaving a message. He takes a deep breath, shutting his eyes and remembering both Harrow and Elenor accusing him of being some sort of serial killer for taking them to that building they had vandalized together. Emerson opens the door into the study, slowly making his way across the maroon colored carpet. The drapes in front of the windows hang to the floor and the closer he gets to the cabinet on the other side, he feels more and more like he finally might catch a break. Like all these people talking about him might finally shut up.
   Emerson opens the cabinet doors, standing on his toes to take the box on the top shelf down. He opens the lid, looking down at the pistol his grandfather gave his dad when he was a teenager. Emerson scratches his fingernail against the side of the wooden box as his heart already races with guilt. He just wants them all to feel the pain they're inflicting. People cross to the other side of the hall when they see him. They whisper about him as they walk behind him. They stare when he goes into school. He feels like a constant target. Maybe it's time for them to feel like the targets. Maybe it's time for them to feel pain. Emerson takes the gun out of the box and holds it in his hand, surprised at how well it fits for him. He smiles down at the gun in his hand, enjoying the look before slowly shutting the box.
~~~(END SONG)~~~