Colleen
Kelsey? Help — I don’t know where I am.
Kelsey
Coll! We’ve been trying to reach you for an hour. You don’t remember?
Colleen
Kels, I’m in a strange car with a killer headache —
Colleen
Just tell me what happened.
Kelsey
You met the delivery man in the street because he couldn’t find the rental house.
Colleen
Okay, yeah, I remember that. Then what?
Kelsey
We don’t know! You never came back.
Colleen
No shit I didn’t come back!
Colleen
Thank God I didn’t say anything when I woke up —
Colleen
I don’t know WHAT the driver would have done to me.
Colleen
I mean, there’s a huge bump on my head. Do you think the delivery man hit me?
Kelsey
Oh God, I don’t know. Where are you guys?
Colleen
Idk. But the car’s moving pretty fast and all the doors are locked.
Colleen
You called the cops, right?
Kelsey
Yeah, of course. Steve called them.
Kelsey
Maybe we can get to you first —
Kelsey
Can you see anything out your window?
Colleen
Kels, it’s 9PM in the Berkshires.
Colleen
It’s pitch black out here — not that I’d recognize anything anyway.
Colleen
I knew this ski trip was a bad idea.
Kelsey
At least Steve knows the area.
Colleen
That makes one of us.
Kelsey
Well, maybe there’s another way to find you…
Kelsey
You have tracking in your phone, yeah?
Colleen
Of course. Hold on.
Colleen
Where’s my boyfriend in all of this anyway?
Kelsey
Oh God, Noah’s in tears. It’s really hard to see.
Kelsey
He’s so worried he’s completely debilitated —
Kelsey
So I’m here with him while Steve looks for you.
Colleen
Okay. Ugh, thanks for that vote of confidence, Noah.
Colleen
This is exactly why I texted you instead of him.
Colleen
Shit, don’t tell him I said that.
Kelsey
I know you want to blame your problems on Noah, but let’s DO something instead.
Colleen
Easier said than done.
Colleen
What the hell am I supposed to do?
Colleen
Wait — the car is stopping.
Colleen
OMG there’s someone behind us.
The driver gets out of the car and throws open the door next to Colleen.
He grabs her arm, pinching the nerve. Tingles run down through Colleen’s fingertips.
As he drags her, Colleen’s numb feet stumble forward.
There’s a figure standing next to the nondescript black car behind them —
But Colleen can’t quite make him out.
When he speaks, Colleen instantly recognizes his voice.
Steve
I’ll take her from here, man. Thanks.
Colleen
Steve? Oh, thank God!
Steve looks directly at Colleen. His black eyes gleam in the darkness.
Steve
Do you seriously think I’d help you?
Steve
I know what a monster you are.
Colleen
Steve, where…where is this coming from?
Steve
Like you don’t know.
Steve
You know you treat Noah like shit.
Steve
Do you honestly think I’m going to let some bitch walk all over my friend’s heart?
Colleen
Whoa, Steve — I’m sure there’s another way to handle this.
Colleen
Maybe we could all t—
Steve
I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!
Steve
You’ll come in, with your big words and Ivy League education…
Steve
While Noah and I sit there, taking your shit.
Steve
I’m not letting you do this to us anymore.
Steve
You thought wrong. All you stupid girls do.
Steve
You act like you like us and then you treat us like garbage.
Steve
Do you know what it does to us —
Steve
When you slice into us, bit by bit?
Steve
You’re just like Michelle.
Colleen
Michelle? Who’s Michelle?
Steve
She broke up with me two days—
Steve
You know what? I don’t have to tell you this.
Steve
Just give me your damn phone.
Steve lunges toward Colleen —
With surprise on his side, he instantly wrenches the phone from her hands.
Then he throws it on the ground and stomps it to a pulp.
Steve
There. Now the police can’t track you.
He grabs Colleen, wrestling her forward, but this time —
She’s ready for his attack.
She ducks her head down and bites his hand.
Steve
Oww! You little bitch!
Steve pivots away, and Colleen can still taste the rubber of his gloves in her mouth.
Oh God, she instantly thinks, he’s wearing gloves —
But then another thought flashes through her mind —
She sprints down the icy road and into the night.
In a burst of euphoric adrenalin, she yells at Steve over her shoulder.
Colleen
You know what? I AM a bitch —
Colleen
I’m the bitch who’s getting away.
She turns back — running furiously — but she can’t see three feet ahead of her.
And she can hear Steve’s voice close behind her.
Steve
You can’t outrun me!
Steve
I was a three-season varsity athlete, remember?
Colleen’s heart drops. He’s right.
She won’t be able to stay ahead of him.
But then, like a mother’s call, comes the most comforting sound —
Colleen starts screaming at the top of her lungs.
Colleen
I’M HERE!! OVER HERE!!
She jumps up and down, waving her arms.
By some combination of luck and sheer will, she gets the police to stop.
They get out of their cars with flashlights,
Hours later, when Steve has been imprisoned…
And both Noah and Kelsey have covered Colleen in hugs and kisses…
The crew sits together, rehashing the night.
After some time, Kelsey gets up to give the couple space.
Noah
I just can’t believe—
Colleen
I don’t want to talk about it anymore.
Noah
But he’s my friend! I mean, I THOUGHT he was my friend —
Noah
And he almost hurt you. Badly.
Colleen
But I’m not hurt, see?
Colleen
Look, I’m not going to blame you for what Steve did.
Colleen
I know that you didn’t know he was like that.
The couple sits in shocked silence. The events of the night still haven’t worn off.
Colleen wrestles with a niggling thought.
She has to ask Noah. He’s her boyfriend. That’s what couples do, right?
They talk about the things that bother them.
Colleen
Noah, am I ever…mean to you?
Noah leans forward, clasping his hands around hers.
Noah
Is this about Steve?
Colleen
Well…yeah. He said he wanted to hurt me because I was treating you badly. And…
Colleen
Am I mean to you?
Noah
He said that? I think I know what this is about…
Noah leans back and crosses his arms, rubbing his jawline with one hand.
Noah
Steve recently got out of a very bad relationship.
Colleen
With Michelle, right?
Noah
How’d you know that?
Noah
It doesn’t matter. It’s just — she was horrible.
Noah
She yelled at him all the time. It was…
Noah
I mean, no one thinks this happens to guys, but it was borderline abusive.
Noah
I think that maybe, because Steve was in such a low place…
Noah
When he saw you be even a little bit testy with me, he just…broke.
Colleen
But I haven’t been testy, Noah…
Colleen
I’ve been MEAN to you.
Noah
It’s not mean, Coll. You’re tough —
Noah
And honestly, it’s one of the things I admire about you.
Noah
I mean, if you weren’t so tough, you wouldn’t have…
Noah
I’m just so, so sorry this happened tonight.
Before, Colleen always thought it was a little strange that he was so sensitive…
But her whole body is quivering right now —
And she can’t help but find Noah endearing.
He really cares about her.
Colleen shifts her arm out from under blanket to put her hand in his.
Noah lifts his head up. Looks her in the eyes.
And with one simple sentence, Noah gives Colleen all the assurance she needs.
Noah
I love you too, Colleen.
