Caleb

Setting: Gina and Lola are both high school students. Lola is sitting alone at a table in the cafeteria when Gina approaches her.

Gina: Hey, do you mind if I sit down?

Lola: Uh... sure.

Gina: *she sits* Look, I-- *sigh*

Lola: What?

Gina: Do you talk to Caleb anymore?

Lola: Sometimes, but not that much.

Gina: Oh.

Lola: Um... Why do you ask?

Gina: *she laughs* I'm sorry. I was just wondering because I'm going through a tough time and I don't think he loves me anymore.

Lola: *is shocked at her honesty* Oh. Well, he doesn't really talk to me that much lately.

Gina: Oh... So you had feelings for him?

Lola: Yeah, I did.

Gina: Sorry I brought that up.

Lola: That's okay. *laughs*

Gina: Still do?

Lola: Kinda. *hesitates, then quickly* ...but I'm not gonna, like, try to steal him from you or anything.

Gina: *laughs* I just don't know. I don't think he loves me like he used to.

Lola: Why do you say that?

Gina: Because... Well, we can't see each other like we used to and I think he's losing interest.

Lola: You two still aren't allowed to see each other?

Gina: We are, kind of. I mean, my mom is letting me slowly see him, and I guess it's not enough for him.

Lola: That's terrible.

Gina: I love him so much and I've been treating him as good as I can when I see him, and I give him my undivided attention and it's still not enough

Lola: Do you want me to talk to him or something?

Gina: Would you please? I don't know what he's ever told you about me.

Lola: Nothing really that bad, but I think the only reason I felt so negatively about you before was that the only time he would talk about you was when something bad happened, you know?

Gina: Yeah, I know. It's not like that, though. He's a hard one to be with. He has a really bad temper. Seriously, it's unbelievable how he lashes out for no reason. He's hit me before and I've hit him back. It's unlike me to do something like that, but I defend myself. I'm the type to jump right back with it.

Lola: Well, if you think you guys are going through problems, you should talk to him about it. Maybe it's something else in his life that's making him act strangely.

Gina: I've tried to talk to him, and he keeps everything in. The things that really bother him he keeps inside.

Lola: Yeah, he is like that... I really don't know what to say. I mean, he's a guy. Guys are like that... But, I'll still talk to him if you want me to.

Gina: Alright thanks. Like, I hope you don't have hard feelings towards me. I mean, I'm sure he's told everyone how bad of a person I am but I'm not

Lola: Don't worry about it. No hard feelings.

Gina: *smiles slightly* I don't know... Do you remember how he used to be? Back when he would have a new girlfriend practically every week?

Lola: A while ago, yeah.

Gina: Well, when we first started dating, I had never been in a relationship. I couldn't handle it when we started going out. Because he had a history of cheating, and I was scared and it bothered me he's gone out with so many people because I cared so much about him.

Lola: I understand what you mean. The fact that he's so experienced is kind of intimidating, and it's hard to feel like you're accepted by him. I remember when we used to hang out a lot he would always do this kind of scowl, and I never knew if it was because he thought I did something stupid or if it was just the look he happened to have on.

Gina: Yeah, he does do that. Anyway, I don't know where our relationship is going, He's changed a lot, like he's not how he use to be at all. He use to be so caring and sweet, and right now he's such an angry person. After he fought that guy, he became so aggressive.

Lola: Well, the reason he even fought him was because he had insulted the fact that you two were together, so I'd say he cares about you a lot to have gotten so angry.

Gina: I know, but now he just takes his anger out on me, and I don't even do anything. Like, he doesn't hit me or anything. Mostly I hit him. But he just yells a lot, and it's getting hard to put up with.

Lola: How long's he been angry for, would you say?

Gina: For a while now. Definitely since the end of May.

Lola: Oh... well, maybe it's just a phase. I know I've gone through really angry spots.

Gina: I really hope so, like right now he's hanging out with some girl named Molly Parting or something and I don't know if I should be worried or not. I mean, at first, he told me he was at Frank's place, but then later he told me the truth.

Lola: *laughs* Trust me, there is nothing going on between him and Molly. She's not really his type.

Gina: I hope.

Lola: Well, is there anything you've said or done lately that would upset him? I mean, like, even if it was good-intentioned, try to imagine it through his eyes. Is there anything that may have been one way and seemed another to him?

Gina: Not that I recall, the most I've been is depressed and cry to him. I don't know if he's angry about it.

Lola: Well, I don't know if that's it or not, but Caleb has always been really needy. He's usually the one who wants to complain. That's probably not it at all, but it's all I can think of.

Gina: I know he's really needy...

Lola: Gina, I don't know if you're trying to convince me of something, but I honestly don't know what to say. I know that he's needy, and I don't blame you for anything. Look, is there any reason you're telling me all this?

Gina: I'm not trying to convince you of anything, I'm just trying to find a answer from someone. I cant take this pain anymore.

Lola: Maybe you and Caleb could talk and I could act as a mediator or something, so we can get to the root of whatever the problem is. Other than that, I don't know how to solve this, mostly because I can't pinpoint the problem.

Gina: Me either... I was just wondering why all this is happening. I know that when he tries to convince me I'm being overdramatic but I know I'm not. I have a gut feeling there's something wrong, and I don't know if it's because of me or what. I wanted to talk to you because I know you two are really close.

Lola: Well, you guys have been together since, like, November, right? That's a really long relationship for high school. Couples usually start getting rocky at this point, so its not anything to worry too hard about. Maybe he's trying to put on a hard front because he feels so vulnerable.

Gina: I hope we're just hitting a bump in the road. Like, I notice when he starts hanging with new people he changes.

Lola: *laughs* Yeah, I know what you mean by that. My friend Georgia does that to an extreme.

Gina: Like, he's hanging out with Cam now and Jeff, and like he wants to do drugs. And he never used to.

Lola: I can see how that would happen. I hang out with Cam, too, and he kind of makes it seem like it's "the most fantastic thing in the world." I remember Caleb telling me about his panic attack when he did drugs, though. I think if he had to ultimately make a decision, he wouldn't do it. He's way too scared of having a health problem.

Gina: I don't know where his panicking started. I thought it was for attention for a while, because he does those things and I put up with it, hoping it goes away, but him panicking has been going on for months. Like it happened from smoking pot, and he freaked and he hasn't been the same and I think that him mom flipping out after she found out about it didn't help.

Lola: Yeah, I know his parents do put a lot of pressure on him.

Gina: Like, I love his mom, and I know she was just being a good parent, but I think she's messed up. And I know Caleb knows that, he's complained to me before about it.

Lola: Her mind works weird, I don't know how to describe it. Like, she doesn't really get certain things.

Gina: And she punishes Caleb for such small things. Like if he's home 2 min late without calling. He almost got grounded for letting the dog out today

Lola: that's insanity. *the bell rings* Well, we have to go to class, but I'll talk to Caleb when I can, okay?

Gina: Alright, thank you so much. I'll see you later, then.

Lola: Bye. *they both walk away*