Veronica
It’s me. Veronica.
Charles
This isn’t funny.
Veronica
What are you talking about?
Charles
just leave me alone, whoever you are
Veronica
Why are you being like this
Veronica
is it something I said?
Charles
Josh? Is that you?????
Veronica
Veronica Powell.
Veronica
Junior at Campden High.
Charles
fine. I’ll play along.
Veronica
What are you up to right now?
Veronica
It’s a Friday night.
Veronica
Why aren’t you out with the boys??
Veronica
Or on a hot date?
Charles
look, whoever this is you need to stop.
Veronica
You don’t sound surprised to hear from me.
Veronica
I’ve been missing for a week
Veronica
The cops have had no luck
Veronica
I disappeared, as they say, without a trace
Veronica
They think I ran away.
Veronica
I’ve always been a little crazy.
Veronica
Like maybe I’m in New York City now or something.
Veronica
That’s a stupid question, Charles.
Veronica
You know exactly where I am.
Charles
I really don’t, actually.
Veronica
Remember the last time you saw me?
Veronica
We went as a group. You. Me. Chelsea. Stefan. Josh. Sara.
Veronica
In Stefan’s dad’s Escalade.
Veronica
You were wearing that dumb purple tie
Charles
You said you liked it!
Veronica
Anyway we all had a blast on the ride there.
Veronica
Chelsea had a flask, remember?
Veronica
She was wearing that AMAZING dress. She looked so glamorous.
Charles
I don’t really remember what she was wearing.
Charles
Got mad shitfaced that night.
Veronica
Whatever. She looked good.
Charles
She’s kind of busted, tbh
Charles
You’re much hotter ;)
Veronica
um, thanks, I guess?
Veronica
What else happened that night?
Charles
Like I said, I was wasted.
Veronica
Not too wasted to slow dance with me
Veronica
It was the first time we’d really spent time together since our breakup
Veronica
What song were we dancing to, again?
Charles
That “All of Me” song.
Veronica
Right. You do remember SOMETHING, then.
Charles
Yeah, I guess, now that you mention it.
Veronica
So we’re dancing. And you take me by the hand and we walk out of the auditorium. It was so cold that night.
Veronica
There was a winter storm warning but everything was so still right then.
Veronica
Next thing I know we’re talking in Stefan’s dad’s car. Having a heart-to-heart.
Veronica
What was it I said?
Charles
You said that you thought I was cute but you’d gotten over me and were in love with Josh.
Charles
We drove up to the Lookout.
Charles
Bad idea, me driving.
Charles
Where are you now? Everyone is really worried.
Veronica
If you were that worried you would have called the police by now
Veronica
And shown them this exchange we’re having.
Charles
What makes you think I didn’t?
Veronica
Because you aren’t so in control of your sanity
Veronica
You are, after all, involved in a text message conversation with your ex.
Veronica
That’s enough to put anyone on edge
Veronica
But texting with your DEAD ex girlfriend—that’s just crazy. Like mental institution crazy.
Charles
they don’t know you’re dead.
Veronica
Let’s go back to that night again, shall we?
Veronica
We drove up to Lookout.
Veronica
Come on, Charlie. Humor me.
Charles
There was this annoying song on the radio, I remember.
Charles
I told you to turn it off but you wouldn’t.
Charles
You turned it up louder and started singing along and dancing.
Charles
I just wanted you to shut up. I was so pissed at you for what you’d said earlier.
Charles
It was like you were TRYING to hurt me.
Charles
I put my hands around your neck
Charles
I drove to the lake.
Charles
Pushed you in. You floated away
Charles
The ice storm came the next day and the lake froze.
Veronica
You know they’ll find me when it melts.
Veronica
So what happened afterwards.
Charles
I drove back to the dance.
Charles
Said I’d taken you home.
Charles
Stayed out with Chelsea and Josh and Stefan and Sara til 1 or 2am.
Veronica
You’re crying right now, aren’t you.
Charles
How did you know?
Veronica
I’m a ghost. I know these things.
Charles
Oh god Veronica. I’m so sorry.
Charles
I didn’t mean for it to happen like that.
Charles
Please forgive me.
Veronica
Hm. I don’t think so.
Charles
I’ll do anything.
Veronica
Will you turn yourself in?
Veronica
Pro tip, Charlie
Veronica
When you throw your ex into a freezing lake
Veronica
Make sure her phone goes down with her
Veronica
Make sure her best friend doesn’t find it in the back of Stefan’s dad’s car and start texting her best friend’s ex from said phone a week later
Charles
is this Chelsea????
Veronica
I’ve been holding on to V’s phone because I KNEW there was something wrong when I found it in the car that night. She couldn’t go 3 minutes without it.
Charles
about what I said earlier
Veronica
About me being “busted”??
Veronica
Because if anyone’s BUSTED right now, it’s you.
Veronica
Or is it about your little confession??
Veronica
Anyway, I’m sure the police will love to hear your side of things, especially after I show them our convo.
Veronica
Have fun in prison!
