Context: High School was rough for you like it is for many others. You had a friend in Oliver who wasn't always the best but, when he was around, fun was sure to be had. Sadly, you two fell out after graduation and you haven't seen or heard from him since. It's been ten years and you are attending your high school reunion, not a care in the world. You wonder who else might be there tonight...

Setting: Maple Leaf High

Tags:[M4A][Enemies to More?][Reformed Bully Speaker][Fluffy Bullied Listener][Reunion][Mild Angst][Confession][Apologies][Redemption Arc][Ex-Bully x Victim Listener][Time Skip][Flirting?][Kind of Himbo][Reminiscing][Spicy][TW: Mentions of Bullying]

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[A] = Principal Hopskitch. No, not like the game.

[O] = Oliver, your seemingly remorseful ex-bully

[Scene opens in a high school gymnasium]

[SFX: Fade-in on appropriate High School Reunion music/party ambiance and chatter]

[You survey the gymnasium of your old high school. It has changed frighteningly little in a decade]

[SFX: Speakers squealing slightly as the [A] Announcer takes over]

[A] “Whoops, sorry about that, folks! Welcome back to our graduating class. Some of you might remember old Principal Hopskitch and for those that do, a very special welcome back! To the rest of you, a normal welcome back! Haha, I kid, I kid. Please, enjoy the festivities, food and drink, as well as catching up with your classmates! Go Flying Squirrels!”

[SFX: The music kicking back in]

[You go back to people watching for a [Pause] length of VA’s discretion with [SFX: Fill-in party ambiance]

[Pause]

[O] “Arty? Arty, is that you?”

[Pause?]

[You turn and see a familiar man in jeans and a biker jacket standing by uncertainly. Unfortunately, you recognize him]

[Pause.]

[O] “Yeah, it’s… It’s Oli. Man, I can’t believe you showed up! Glad for it, mind, but still surprised.”

[Pause…]

[He sighs, eyes down]

[O] “No, I know… I shouldn’t have even bothered you in the first place. I just saw you and walked over before I could think… I’m sorry.”

[...]

[Oli snorts, still downtrodden]

[O] “Yeah, I bet hearing an apology from me is weird. I wasn’t very good at it as a teenager, was I?”

[Pause.]

[O] “Mmh, being a ‘chuckleheaded clown of a bully and a bad friend’ sounds right, yeah…”

[He lingers, hands in his pocket and eyes down]

[...]

[O] “...I am sorry, for what it is worth… I tried to think of how to reach out for years and years, but I could never think of a way to do it that didn’t sound like I was doing it for myself. I don’t want your forgiveness unless you feel comfortable giving it if you ever do at all. If not, I get it. One hundred percent. You owe me nothing.”

[Pause…]

[O] “I do mean it, Arty… It doesn’t make it right but, three years after graduation, I started mentoring bullied youth. Their stories… Yeah. I learned real damned fast the amount of harm I had potentially done.”

[Pause…?]

[O] “Honestly, I’d give anything to take it back… I fell into a deep depression that lasted four years, or so. But I felt I’d earned it, so I let it linger… Let it push even more people away until I realized slowly killing myself solved nothing.”

[...?]

[O] “...We can talk outside, yeah.”

[SFX: Them making their way outside the gymnasium/nighttime ambiance]

[You follow Oliver outside and the cool night air washes over your face]

[O] “Phew. Lot cooler out here… Heh. Did you see Randall trying to break dance?”

[Pause <3]

[O] “I know, right? He’s been saying he can do it since Freshman year! Don’t think it’s going to happen when you’re nearly thirty, you know?”

[Pause]

[O] “Eugh, yeah. I miss not having back pain, too. And being able to glance in a donut’s general direction without gaining five pounds.”

[Pause <3]

[O] “...Stop me if this is too painful, but… do you remember the night we tried to row out onto the lake together and the boat tipped?”

[Pause]

[O, with a sigh] “Yes, OK, fine. I’ll admit it! Yes, that time I dragged you out of the water, yelped, ‘Oh my gosh I can see your nips!’, and nearly dropped you back out of the boat while you sat there shivering in my coat and vehemently covering your chest. Yes, I was totally checking you out. Yes, the reason I couldn’t remember how to order a waffle at the cafe we stopped at was because I was one hundred percent gone to hormones.”

[Pause!]

[He laughs, raising his hands up]

[O] “Yes, yes, you win! You were right! I always thought you were incredibly hot. You, uh… might have given me a bit of a soft spot for fluffy partners.”

[Pause <3]

[He winks at you and your face heats]

[O] “I am saying I like my partners with extra padding, yes. Funny how you still resemble that remark so beautifully, isn’t it?”

[Pause…]

[O] “Oh, hush. I was never a real poet, just some edgelord bully that wrote shitty poems in his journal.”

[Pause?]

[He smiles]

[O] “I may still write one now and again, yeah...”

[Pause?]

[He pauses, a little taken aback and deeply sad]

[O] “Did I ever write any that might explain why I was so shitty to you during our last year together?”

[Pause.]

[He ponders for a moment, eyes upward and misty]

[SFX: Fill-in with nighttime ambiance]

[O] “...Yes.”

[...Pause?]

[O, with a sigh] “I can’t give it to you to read… I burned it years ago.”

[...]

[O] “...But I can just try to explain. I know I was super sensitive about your questions before, and I’m sorry. The short answer is… I was terrified of you leaving.”

[...Pause?]

[O] “I know I… wasn’t the best friend. But you were still my bestie, even if I wasn’t always yours. We had so many good times, and you had my back as much as you possibly could. So… by the time Senior year rolled around and I realized what had happened, I freaked out.”

[...Pause?]

[O, with a deep breath] “What happened…? I… realized I wanted you to stay here, with me, instead of going off to a different university. That’s why I got so clingy and jealous and… awful. Nothing I said or did made you stay, so I tried to make it hurt less by driving you away for good this time… It was the stupidest move I ever made.”

[Pause.]

[O, with a small laugh] “Hey… You aren’t meant to agree.”

[Pause…]

[O] You’re just surprised that was the truth I was afraid to admit to you? Uh… Well, it’s not the whole truth about why I acted the way I did…”

[...Pause?]

[He gives a sad, sheepish smile]

[O] “...I hate to disappoint but… yeah. It was pretty much for the most cliche reason possible.”

[Pause???]

[He nods, cheeks turning red]

[O] “I did. I had the biggest fucking crush on you back then. Also, I’m… not going to lie, seeing you now, after all this time? Wow…”

[...Pause]

[O, chuckling] “I’m glad you think so. I’ve kept working out, and I have a lot less acne on my face now. Hopefully, it’s a little less punchable, fast forward a decade?”

[Pause <3]

He chuckles again]

[O] “Hmhm, a little, huh? Heh… Fair enough.”

[SFX: Fill-in of party ambiance]

[You both watch cars drive by in the distance silently for a bit. Things are, surprisingly, comfortable between the two of you]

[O] “...Hey. Crazy idea?”

[Pause?]

[O] “Pfft, no, we’re not rowing out into the lake, quit. How about a burger at Danny’s? My treat, just like old times?”

[Pause…]

[O] “No pressure. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. It’s just… nice seeing you again.”

[...]

[It’s kind of nice to see him, too, oddly enough]

[Pause <3]

[His smile lights up his face and eyes]

[O] “Really? Yeah? Awesome! C’mon, I’m parked up front pretty close to the gym entrance. Let’s go get some real food!”

[He offers his hand]

[O] “Here, hold my hand, if you want to. It’s dark out and I don’t want you tripping.”

[...]

[You take his hand and the two of you march off toward his car and a night of the unknown]

[SFX: Fade out on them walking over gravel/improv chatter, if desired]

[To be continued?]

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Note: WTF, I think I accidentally wrote a normal