Bittersweet Candy Bowl

37. A Different Side, original chapter posted 7/4/07

Page 14 of 16

Transcript

*Lucy, Mike and Tess watch Jay leave.*
Mike: He left as fast as he came..
Lucy: What was THAT all about..?

*Tess looks pensive.*
Tess (thinking): He didn’t seem very comfortable..

Tess (thinking): No.. I don’t think..
*Abbey and Paulo sit together. Abbey watches Paulo, who’s curled up in a ball with his bangs covering his eyes.*

*Mike attempts a smile.*
Mike: Well, hey! At least you know he’s gonna leave you alone now, right?
Tess: Yeah, I guess so..

*Tess cringes, looking away.*
Tess: Do you guys respect me less now you know what I did?
*Mike smiles widely.*
Mike: Not at all!
Lucy: A bit.

*Mike turns to scold Lucy.*
Mike: Lucy!
*She shrugs.*
Lucy: What? I’m being honest.
Tess: …

*Lucy jabs a finger in Tess’ direction.*
Lucy: You bullied a lot of people, that’s a fact. You shouldn’t expect some kind of overnight change simply because you feel sorry for yourself.

Lucy: They have a right to be mad at you. But.. that doesn’t mean everyone else does. All we really know is what you did, and who you are today.
*Tess looks dismayed.*
Tess: …

*Tess looks down.*
Tess: Y-you’re right.. I shouldn’t expect you to treat me the same as before.
Lucy: Relax. They might not get over it, but you have friends here…

Lucy: … Mike and Paulo and Abbey and David and stuff.
*Mike blushes while Tess smiles nervously.*
Mike: Guh..
*Tess flinches.*
Tess (thinking): Is she not counting herself..?

*Mike leans toward Tess and whispers.*
Mike: That’s usually about as upfront as she gets.
Tess: If you say so!
*Lucy frowns in the background, tilting her head.*
Lucy: ?

*Tess sighs, warmth in her eyes.*
Tess (thinking): It really is a big relief to have finally told you all..

Tess (thinking): Although.. I still kinda wonder..
*The scene transitions to Abbey and Paulo, sitting on the grass in the distance.*

*Abbey sneers at Paulo, who’s huddled up on the ground.*
Abbey: Did Daisy’s words really get to you..?
Paulo: .. Yeah.

Abbey: Well, they should. I’ve been trying to tell you..
*Paulo twitches.*

*Abbey looks to the side, gritting his teeth.*
Abbey: And it might be too late to convince her otherwise, now.
*Paulo looks to him with worry.*
Paulo: …

*Paulo frowns, a look of regret on his face.*
Paulo: …

*Daisy closes a door behind her.*
Paulo: Daisy…

Author commentary

Veronica: You don’t think, Tess? Maybe it’s worth thinking about.. I think you might be onto something, actually..

I used to be bothered by Mike’s original line of “this is the closest Lucy will get to saying that she likes you” because come ON, she’s not a robot! She’s expressed genuine kindness in the past! She definitely has trouble with being upfront about certain things, but if you want some bluntness, you absolutely get it from Lucy. She’s also reached out to people like Daisy in the past, and she’s certainly been there for Mike A LOT!

The earlier dialogue just felt like generic dialogue you would say about a tsundere. I feel what he says now makes sense now, even though it still doesn’t give Lucy enough credit.

Oliver: And, after all, Mike’s speaking from his own Lucy experiences.