TITLE: THE SECRET
EXT. SCHOOL OVAL – AFTER SCHOOL
The bell has long gone. The oval is quiet except for distant voices.
Four girls sit in the grass.
MIA, confident.
GEORGIA, sharp-tongued.
ELLA, thoughtful.
CHLOE, nervous.
They snack on chips and talk.
GEORGIA
Did you finish the science project?
MIA
Barely. I guessed half of it.
Ella laughs.
Chloe stays quiet, distracted.
Georgia notices.
GEORGIA
Why are you smiling at your phone like that?
Chloe quickly locks the screen.
CHLOE
I'm not.
Mia grabs the phone playfully.
MIA
Let me see.
Chloe tries to stop her.
CHLOE
Mia, don't—
Too late.
Mia looks at the screen.
Her expression changes.
MIA
Wait.
Ella leans closer.
ELLA
What?
Mia turns the phone toward them.
A message is on the screen:
"Had fun today. Can't wait to see you again."
— Josh
Georgia squints.
GEORGIA
Josh? A beat.
GEORGIA(CONT'D)
Josh Carter?
Chloe looks uncomfortable.
CHLOE
Maybe.
Ella sits up.
ELLA
You've been hanging out with Josh?
Mia frowns.
MIA
Since when?
Chloe hesitates.
That tells them everything.
TESS
Oh wow.
ELLA
You didn't tell us?
Chloe takes her phone back.
CHLOE
It's not a big deal.
MIA
It's Josh.
GEORGIA
The same Josh who embarrassed Ella last year.
Ella looks away.
ELLA
It's fine.
GEORGIA
No, it's not.
Georgia turns to Chloe.
GEORGIA(CONT'D)
And you're going out with him?
CHLOE
We're just hanging out.
MIA
That's not what that text looks like.
The tension grows.
GEORGIA
Why would you even like him?
Chloe snaps.
CHLOE
Because he's actually nice!
The girls fall silent.
MIA Nice?
GEORGIA
Since when?
Chloe stands.
CHLOE
Since you actually talk to him.
Ella speaks quietly.
ELLA
He wasn't nice to me.
Chloe softens slightly.
CHLOE
I know.
A pause.
CHLOE (CONT'D)
But people change.
Tess scoffs.
GEORGIA
Or maybe you're just choosing him over us.
Chloe shakes her head.
CHLOE
I'm not choosing anyone.
She looks at them.
CHLOE (CONT'D)
I just didn't think I'd need permission.
The words hang there.
Mia exhales.
MIA
You could have told us.
CHLOE
I knew you'd react like this.
Silence.
Ella looks between them.
ELLA
Maybe we should calm down.
Georgia folds her arms.
GEORGIA
So what now?
Chloe shrugs.
CHLOE
Now… you decide if you're really my friends.
The girls look at each other.
A long moment.
Then Ella stands.
She walks over to Chloe.
ELLA
Next time… just tell us.
Chloe nods.
Mia stands too.
MIA
And if he hurts you…
Georgia finishes the sentence.
GEORGIA
We're still allowed to hate him.
A small smile appears. The tension breaks.
The four girls walk off together across the oval.
Still talking.
FADE OUT.