Our Script

Chapter 17

Stephen's P.O.V

1 month had passed since I last spoke to Illiana, at first it was really hard then fighting this feeling to go run up to her and tell her I'm falling in love with her but I got use to this longing feeling. I would watch her from a distance, that sounds super creepy, it might be depending on how you look at it.

From what I heard from reliable sources (Illan and Shay) she's doing pretty well. The plays opening night is coming up in a couple of days and she's so excited. Her families also been around. I'm really happy for her.

I was chilling with Kyle, who happens to be the understudy for one of the main characters. I've been helping him practice. I've been busy with the snow white play as well so I had things to distract me. Mia and I haven't really spoken I'm pissed off that she painted Illiana out to be some evil person so our almost friendship ended before it even started, but I guess she didn't get the memo cause she's been trying to speak to me.

I walked into my history class. My teacher seemed super bitchy, he probably didn't get his happy pills. . .

"History teaches you about the past, but the past has a major effect on the present. Most people in our town are privileged and the rest blame the system for there situation. See in the past there were always 3 sides the ones that were in the wrong the ones that were in the right and the ones who who complained. These sides stayed the same, I mean look at the other side of town. . . All those people do is complain" He explained.

Ryder raised her hand everyone knows Ryder as the badass with no past. No body bothers to ask or speak to her.

"You see it's easy to act like people have no reason to complain but our system has it's flaws. A lot of people in our community have the ability to take a risk but not the means to. Do you know how many children are born in the street and need to collect peanuts to survive and they barely do, but hey I guess it's not your fault you're still living on old money, I mean if you lost your job today would struggle?" Ryder waited for a response

"Of course not you could wipe your ass with dollar bills. While some of the other less privileged teacher are wripping their hair out trying to figure out what they can do to put food on the table, you're saying no one should complain. The only reason most people complain is due to the fact that they need to voice their frustration before they lose their mind, until you understand that you should shut the fuck up and sit on your privileged ass!" She said.

"You think your so smart most of the. . . So called unprivlaged people you're speaking about are selling drugs, robbing people I'm sorry I don't have any sympathy" he scoffed.

"Oh wow. How is it that we have an uninformed piece of shit educating the youth. First of all crime doesn't pay much unless you're on the top of the power chart, even crime doesn't pay a lot. It brings in an extra pay check so your kids won't have to come to school in wripped clothing. We only have one proper school in this crapy town, most of the government's upgrade only gets better security. The security is just there to torment us and lord forbid we retaliate cause that gives them a right to put a cap in us." Ryder stated.

"You live on the other side of the track so what's your problem." He spat.

"'Ha! Now because I'm not part of that group I should be as ignorant as you are? I'm sorry I think God gave you all of  the idiocracy. You're the type of man who can buy drugs form 'thugs' and then start a petition to get imprison them" she shot back.

"Go to the principles office!" He yelled.

"But sir she's not wrong. . .about the whole privileged thing. My mom has a soup kitchen down town and you'd swear it's not the same town. The amount of children and single mothers and other people you see dressed normal but are literally starving. I'm not saying they're helpless but sometimes everyone needs help." I explained.

"You can join her in the office too" he said.

"So you're sending me to the office cause I disagree with you?" I said shocked.

"No, I'm sending you to the office cause you're getting on my last nerve" he said.

I decided not to argue so I stood up and walked out. Ryder followed she seemed annoyed but then she gave me a look.

"So. . . A soup kitchen?" She asked.

"Yeah, the lady that cleans my house lived down there" I explained.

"Oh so, you think feeding people in the neighborhood helps solves all their problems?" She asked.

"Well no, my dad also has a debt forgiveness program and no I don't believe it fixes the problem but it helps lessen the load." I said.

She pulled out a yo-yo and started playing with it.

"So what your deal Stephen Stone?" She asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"You seem like a silver spoon type guy, athlete, nice house, nice cars, probably have the perfect family, the perfect girlfriend.  .  . Well you had one, then boom you seem to be woke, at least for a privileged white boy. . . Not being racist or anything but what's you're deal." She asked.

"I know not everyone has the same access, ability or type of family as I do. So I guess my 'wokeness' comes from observing" I explain.

"Oh so you feel bad for the less wealthy?" She asked.

"No, it's not sympathy.  .  .it's empathy. I also don't feel bad for the less wealthy. They are capable of changing their lives but sometimes they don't know how or maybe they don't have the freedom to" I said.

"So what you provide them with a plan?" She asked.

"No. They have to figure shit out, life has a question mark at the end and no one knows the answer. Each individual has to figure out if they're going left or right but regardless of which way they choose it will have it's own struggle. Giving someone the answer robs them from specific experiences and steals their potential growth." I responded.

"Well. . . I like the way you think." She said with a smile.

I kept quiet at this point we were a corner away from the office and I really didn't know how to respond.

We walked into the office and the Principal was in a bitchy mood her. She gave us both community service on Saturdays.

But I didn't even do shit wrong, she didn't care to listen her mind was made. Guilty till proven innocent I guess.