Scene 3: May 22nd, 1986, Hailey’s bedroom 5:30pm

There are two people in Hailey’s room - Hailey and Willow. They are sitting on Hailey’s bed, occupied with math homework, but Hailey’s eyes seem to be elsewhere, and Willow is just gossiping at this point, giving no attention to the incomplete homework in front of her. 

Willow: Yeah- I’m like 99% sure there is nothing platonic about their relationship. The teachers will have a field day with rearranging the seat arrangements. They sit next to each other in almost every single class and -

Willow stops abruptly and looks up, noticing Hailey’s distant eyes and how she seems to not be listening, or even acknowledging what Willow is saying.

[Zoom close to Hailey’s face].

Hailey is having a flashback from when she heard the news about her father’s death. 

[FLASHBACK]: March 30th, 1986 – Living room

Hailey is sitting on the couch, writing something in a journal. It reads, “Dad is THE WORST!! Sometimes I wish he could just die. Yesterday, he hit badly..He’s getting worse. I don’t know what to do. Luckily, whenever Willow comes over, he acts normally. Willow knows there’s something going on, though. I can see it in her eyes whenever she talks to him. She’s uncomfortable around him. I’m so lucky to have her as a best friend, and I want to tell her, I really do.”

Aunt rushes into the living room where Hailey is sitting. She is out of breath, and panting.

Aunt: Hailey! Oh, Hailey, I’m so sorry.

Tears trickled down her aunt’s face.

Aunt: It’s your father. He- he got into a (voice breaks) nasty accident. 

Hailey’s mood drops, and she’s just sitting there, eyes widened and mouth ajar. She cannot believe this has happened, and she feels guilty in a way- guilty for the way she wrote about him because now he really is dead. 

Aunt pulls her into a hug and Hailey stays unmoving - she is confused, guilty, and angry all at the same time. 

[FLASHBACK END]: Back to present

Willow: Hailey? 

Hailey’s head jerks up from the place she was staring at on her bed.

Hailey: (stumbling over her words a bit)What? - Oh, uh, yeah? 

Willow’s eyebrows furrow slightly, concerned.

Willow: You okay? You’ve been zoning out lately. And I know that your dad’s death has been hard on you, even though-

Willow is cut off with Hailey’s sharp voice. 

Hailey: I’m fine! (silence for a moment before she says again, quieter) I’m fine.

Willow’s face drops a bit, her eyes looking downward. 

Willow: Right. I’m going to…leave now. I was just about finished with my math homework anyways. I’ll still see you for the picnic tomorrow. ‘Kay?

Hailey’s eyebrows furrow slightly, and she opens her mouth to talk.

Hailey: I- 

Hailey closes her eyes, hesitating, before opening her eyes again.

Hailey: Yeah. Yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow.