Brock
I don’t know any other way to tell you this, Sierra…
Brock
So I’m just going to say it—
Brock
I’m breaking up with you.
Brock’s voice echoes over the music…
And the entire party goes silent.
Sierra
You’re…dumping me?
Sierra
In front of everyone?!
Brock
I’m just not that into you—
Brock
And, honestly, I don’t think I ever was.
I feel like I’ve been hit in the face with a wet fish.
But Brock doesn’t seem to care.
He just turns his back on me…
And starts talking with his friends like I don’t even exist.
I stand there with my fists clenched…
Wishing I could tell him off.
But in my humiliation, my tongue is tied.
It only gets worse when I hear two girls chatting behind me.
Party Girl #1
Poor thing!
Party Girl #2
Yeah, she’s ALWAYS getting dumped.
Party Girl #2
I guess that’s why they call her a DUMPster fire!
And it’s not just because of their cruelty—
It’s because every word is true.
I really am a dumpster fire.
This year alone, I’ve been shafted five times…
And I have absolutely no idea why.
Is it because I’m THAT unlovable?
Overcome with hurt, I rush outside.
There’s someone on the porch, leaning against the railing.
Cody
Wow…that was brutal.
Not long ago, Cody got kicked off the football team.
And Cody sure isn’t telling.
With his bad-boy swagger, he doesn’t seem to care, anyway.
He jerks his chin toward the screen door.
Cody
Brock was a real jerk to you in there.
Sierra
Yeah. I never knew he could be like that.
Cody
It’s too bad you had to find out the hard way.
Something dark fills Cody’s eyes.
It’s like there’s some bad blood between him and Brock.
But before I can ask, Cody shrugs.
Cody
You should just go back into that party…
Cody
And show everyone you’re fine without Brock.
Sierra
No way. Didn’t you hear what they called me?
Sierra
And it’s because every time I date a guy…
Sierra
Things blow up like hot trash.
Sierra
It’s happened so many times before…
Sierra
That I’m starting to think I’ll never find anyone who’ll date me.
Ugh. Too much information, Sierra!
But, shockingly, Cody doesn’t make fun of me.
He only watches me with something unreadable in his gray eyes.
Cody
There’s someone out there for you.
Cody
You just need to look a little harder.
He starts to say something else…
But he’s cut off by a sound from inside the party:
It’s Brock’s distinctive laughter.
It reminds me of every guy who’s ever dumped me…
And every guy who ever will.
I start walking away from Cody.
Sierra
I wish I could believe you…
Sierra
But I’ve been burned too many times.
With that, I leave him sitting there in silence.
After the weekend, I drag myself to school.
I mean, Brock will be there…
Along with everyone else who was at that awful party.
I brace myself as I skulk up to the entrance…
But then something catches my eye.
A bunch of kids are in front of the doors…
Looking at a big sign that’s hanging on the wall.
SIERRA, YOU CAN DO WAY BETTER THAN BROCK KEATON!
My jaw almost hits the ground.
Who would post something like that??
Before I can figure it out, someone tears down the sign.
Brock rips up the paper and glares at me.
Brock
Sierra, if you’re trying to get back at me with this—
Sierra
Wait. You think I made that sign?
Brock
Who ELSE would do it?
His face is an ugly shade of red.
Wow. What did I ever see in this guy?
I blow him off, walking right past him…
I smile as I think of the sign.
Someone at this school singled me out…
And said something nice about me.
Then I see more signs as I walk down the hall.
My heart starts drumming as I read them:
SIERRA, CHOOSE THE RIGHT GUY THIS TIME…
SOMEONE WHO APPRECIATES EVERYTHING YOU HAVE TO OFFER…
…LIKE HOW BEAUTIFUL YOUR SMILE IS…
Breathless, I start to read the next sign—
Only to be blocked by Brock’s massive body.
Brock
Give me a break, Sierra.
Brock
Everyone can see right through this ploy.
Brock
You’re just trying to make me jealous.
Sierra
I hate to tell you this, Brock—
Sierra
But you wouldn’t be worth the effort.
Brock
Whatever. Even if you did have a secret admirer…
Brock
He would still dump you…
Brock
Just like everyone else has.
And it’s only because I’ve thought the same thing about myself.
But then I hear Cody’s voice echo through the hallway.
Cody
You’re wondering who made those signs, Brock?
I look over to find Cody standing there…
Staring daggers at Brock.
Cody is my secret admirer??
With every step, my heart swells.
At the party, Cody said there was someone out there for me—
And he was talking about HIMSELF!
Brock
I should’ve known you were behind this.
Brock
But just admit it, Gibson—
Brock
You didn’t make these signs because you like Sierra.
Brock
You’re just using my ex to make me mad.
Brock
After all, I did get you kicked off the football team!
Then dives straight toward the ground.
I wait for Cody to tell Brock that he’s wrong—
That he really does think my smile is beautiful…
And that he really does think I’m smart.
But he’s only glaring at Brock.
Brock
See, Sierra? Your so-called secret admirer only wanted revenge on me.
Brock
You just got dumped once again!
I turn around and blindly walk down the hall.
This hurts more than any breakup I’ve ever had—
Because I actually believed Cody was for real.
Then use the door to shield my face.
That’s when the first tear falls down my cheek.
God, what is it that makes me so unlovable??
I lean my head against the next locker…
And as I do, I see the inside of my door.
There’s one more sign there:
I’M NEVER GOING TO BREAK YOUR HEART.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see someone standing there.
Cody stuffs his hands into the front pockets of his jeans.
Cody
I was just making sure Brock won’t be bugging you again.
I still can’t believe he’s being sincere.
Sierra
I don’t think Brock is my problem, Cody.
Sierra
You’re the one who just knifed me in the back.
But then I look into his gray eyes.
They’re filled with an emotion I’ve never seen before.
Cody
Sierra, it’s true that I wanted to make Brock mad.
Cody
He got me kicked off the football team…
Cody
And it was only because I was taking his starting spot.
Sierra
So that’s why you put up those signs?
Sierra
To get back at him?
Cody
I just wanted to show you that there is someone out there for you, Sierra…
Cody
And that someone is me.
I want to take a chance on Cody being my someone.
Sierra
It looks like you were right, Cody—
Sierra
I’ve been choosing all the wrong guys.
Sierra
But now I think I’m finally choosing the right one.
As Cody links his fingers with mine…
Something ignites inside of me.
But, this time, it’s nothing like a dumpster fire—
It’s a flame that melts my heart through and through.
