2022 PFC Anthology | Page 15

CHARLIE ( After a pause , Charlie slouches in defeat .)
So … how ’ s life ?
NOAH
( Noah tears up and begins having a panic attack .) Are you kidding ? I ’ m about to die stuck in a cave with some random idiot . I ’ d rather at least be with someone who cares about anyone but himself . I ’ m going to die . We ’ re dying . We ’ re dying . I can ’ t even call my parents .
CHARLIE Calm down ! What do you know ? If anyone ’ s self-centered , it ’ s you ! You know , just because you ’ re the quietest kid doesn ’ t mean you ’ re the only one with problems .
NOAH You ’ re just proving my point ! And I ’ m not saying I ’ m the only one with problems because you clearly have some too !
CHARLIE Stop ! Just stop ! I don ’ t want to spend my last hours fighting ! That ’ s not how I planned it !
How you planned what ?
NOAH
CHARLIE No , that ’ s not what I — … I was gonna handle it myself . But I guess the universe is doing it for me .
What do you mean ?
NOAH
CHARLIE
( Charlie struggles to speak .) I was going to … I was gonna end it . Why am I telling you this ? I guess I can say whatever I want now , anyway . Not like you ’ ll go spreading it around .
NOAH I ’ m so stupid , I ’ m sorry . Ugh , what is wrong with me ? I can ’ t even socialize normally right now .
( Noah breathes deeply and counts on his fingers to calm his state of panic . He kicks a