Later that day, Hazel finds Jack during a free period.
Hazel
Can I…tell you something?
Hazel
I still haven’t really made any friends here.
Hazel
Most of the time, I just sit by myself and read my book.
Jack
Oh. Well, I mean, you’re new to school. It takes time.
Hazel
Yes, I am still new.
Hazel
You’re right. I haven’t gotten to know people that well yet.
Jack
At least you’re starting to know me.
Hazel
You’re the first one I’ve started getting to know. Which I actually don’t mind at all.
Hazel
We get along great.
Hazel
I’m not keeping you from your friends, am I?
Jack
No. They won’t care.
Jack
I usually only hang out with Brady.
He looks over at a table where Brady and a couple of other guys are sitting.
He points him out to Hazel.
Hazel
That’s him? With the red hair?
Jack
Yeah, we’ve been friends since elementary school.
Hazel
Is he your best friend?
Jack
I guess he’s my best friend. Never thought about it like that.
Jack
He’s a good guy, though. He always looks out for me.
Hazel
You and Brady seem to be rare exceptions. Most of the other guys I’ve met…
Jack
I know. But it’s also different with girls and guys.
Jack
You’ve got to be careful.
Jack
Why are you looking like that?
Hazel
You’ll just laugh at me.
Jack
No, I won’t. Tell me what.
Hazel
OMG, I’m starving. That’s what.
Jack
You’re holding an apple and a cheese stick.
Jack
Is that your whole lunch?
Jack
Will those be enough?
Hazel
I thought they would be, but my mind keeps obsessing over chocolate Pop Tarts.
Hazel
I’m addicted to those things.
Jack
You know they sell those in the school store, right? The little food mart next to the bookstore.
Hazel
What? No way. I always pass it, but I never look inside.
Jack
Wait right here. I’ll get some.
Hazel
You don’t have to! I’ve got these.
Jack
Go ahead and eat those, and I’ll get the Pop Tarts.
Jack
Stay here, so no one takes our spot. I’ll be right back.
Jack goes to the school store and on his way back, he gets a text.
Jack
You can’t be that hungry. It didn’t take me that long.
Jack
Don’t die. 🙂 Eat the apple.
Hazel
Mike came over to our table.
Hazel
With all his friends, too!
Hazel
He keeps telling me to break up with you.
Hazel
He’s being stupid. He keeps saying you’re too poor to date.
Hazel
I hate this guy so much!
Jack arrives, ready to face off against Mike.
Jack
Mike, what the hell, man?
Mike
Yeah, I should say the same to you.
Mike
I told you to back off yesterday.
Hazel
What is he talking about?
Jack
That’s enough, Mike.
Mike
I told him at his dumb ass trailer home yesterday…
Hazel
Is…is that why you were busy? Mike went to your house?
Jack
Can we talk about it later?
Jack
Listen, she’s not into you and you’re being an asshole.
Jack
Just stop. Seriously.
Mike
What? She can’t know the truth?
Mike
You embarrassed about your house?
Mike
You may as well light a match and set it on fire.
Mike
Hazel, you seriously want to go out with this guy? He’s got nothing to offer.
Mike
You should come out with me this afternoon.
Hazel
No way! Not after what you did the other day.
Mike
You’re the one that jumped out of my car.
Hazel
You told me to get out if I wasn’t going to kiss you.
Mike
That’s ridiculous! You took me too literally. I was just joking.
Mike
You shouldn’t have jumped out.
Hazel
You drove off when I did! I was lucky Jack came by.
Mike
Meeting Jack was the unluckiest thing that could happen to you.
Mike
Hazel, don’t go out with this guy…
Mike grabs Hazel by the arm.
Mike
Are you crazy? Just come talk to me without this guy around.
Hazel wrenches her arm free. Mike lunges after her again, trying to grab her a second time.
Mike
I just want to talk to you. I won’t hurt you.
Hazel
Then stop grabbing me!
Jack lunges, catching Mike square in the jaw.
Then he serves up another punch on the other side of Mike’s face.
Mike and his two friends dive in, punching Jack.
