That's not when it started

Scene 10

INT. A CLASSROOM AT UNIVERSITY – LATE AFTERNOON, FALL

Lucas (now 21), who looks noticeably older than before with his beard, is in his last class of the day. He looks bored. There are Halloween decorations in the room. His phone vibrates in his pockets and he looks at it. The notification says "ARI – I'm so sorry". Lucas's eyes widen, he grabs his stuff and runs out of the room.

LUCAS - (Muttering as he runs to the nearest women toilets) Fuck, fuck, fuck...

(He kicks open every stalls, she is not here. Still muttering.)

Come on, where are you? Come on... Please, Ari...

(He runs out, sees the library signs, shakes his head, grabs his hair as he is pacing. He frowns, then runs through stairs and corridors again, to a remote part of the university, and stops in front of a single toilet door. He knocks.)

It's me. Please, let me in.

(Door clicks open. He steps in and locks the door behind him. He turns and instantly looks sad. Ariane is seating on the toilet lid, arms around her knees, looking extremely distraught. Her face and eyes are red and puffy. He gently picks her up and sits down on the ground with her in his lap.)

I'm here, Ari. I'm here. Talk to me.

ARIANE - (She silently and slowly crawls away from him and sits down against the opposite wall. When their legs touch, they make eye contact then look away. He clears his throat and tries to move his legs but it gets more awkward. Her hand is twisting around in her sweater's pocket.) I'm so sorry, Lu...

LUCAS - (His hand goes up as if he was about to comfort her, but he places it back down in his lap. His eyes never leave hers.) Just tell me what happened.

ARIANE - Life happened, shit happened. I messed up.

(She pulls the object out of her pocket. A pregnancy test. Lucas's eyes widen. His fingers are twitching. She looks up at him, lower lip trembling. Her voice is only a whisper.)

I'm scared.

LUCAS - (Takes a deep breath.) Don't be. Who is...?

(She looks right in his eyes with a heartbroken look. He is shocked and does not move or say anything.)

ARIANE - (Whispering.) The 'Back to School' party, remember?

LUCAS - (Frowning slightly.) But we were fighting that night. I was getting a drink and you pushed me.

ARIANE - Okay, I did not push you! It was packed and I accidentally bumped into you! But later, we...

LUCAS - We were both outside. You got mad at me because my friends were talking about you.

ARIANE - (Very unimpressed with him.) They were saying I am mentally unhinged, and you didn't defend me.

LUCAS - (Scoffs with an eye-roll.) Whenever I've tried to defend you, you'd push me away. You've always been so scared of someone seeing any weakness in you.

ARIANE - (Looks to the ceiling, talks in a detached voice.) Then we yelled at each other. I was mad because I thought that mess was your fault.

LUCAS - (Looking down with guilt.) And I said it was yours because I wasn't responsible for you fucking every guy you laid eyes on.

ARIANE - (Chuckles sadly.) And I punched you. You looked so shocked... I was so mad at you. And then we... I mean I... we...

LUCAS - We kissed like our lives depended on it and ran back to mine. Next morning you were gone. I thought it had all happened in a dream.

(Slowly nods his head. He takes a deep breath, scoots closer to her and gently cups her cheek with his hand.)

You are going to be fine. Whatever you decide, you will be fine. I'll make sure of it. I promise you, it's going to be alright. I'll always be there for you.

(He kisses her forehead.)