IN MY HEAD

_____________

A Ten-Minute Play

by Jasmine Perez

Student: Jasmine Perez

Grade 12
G-Star School of the Arts

Teacher: Brian Edgecomb

G-Star School of the Arts
2030 S Congress Ave, Palm Springs, FL 33406
Bedgecomb@gstarschool.org
(765)-532-7983
 Cast of Character

Alec: A highschool senior who is conflicted about her feelings for her friend,
Zeno because she fears emotions for others. Only Alec can see Zeno and
he feels real to her, even though the one she’s talking to is a figment of her
imagination of the real Zeno.

Zeno: A high school senior from Greece who isn’t looking for a relationship, and
has a greek accent. Zeno is a real person but in this scene, he is apart of
Alec’s imagination/subconscious.

Scene
In Alec’s mind

Time
The Present
 SETTING: In the darkness that is Alec’s mind

AT RISE: ALEC is sitting, looking around, but

there’s nothing there. She takes a deep breath and
exhales...

ALEC
I don’t get it. Why? Why do we have emotions? Why do we have to feel? I don’t want
this feeling. This feeling drives me insane. I begin seeing pictures and playing out
what-ifs. My stomach explodes with butterflies all because of a stupid crush. It’s
disgusting. All it’s going to do is set me up for disappointment. In the end, I get my hopes
up for nothing. Besides, I didn’t ask for it. I tried to fight against it, and the minute I let
my guard down... bam! I like this kid! His name is Zeno, aka Greek Boy. All the
freshmen are ready to just give it to him. A good-looking tall guy with an accent, of
course, everyone is going to like him. We were raised on the fairytale idea that good
looking guys fall for the normal girl. We were set up for an unrealistic trap, and I fell in.
Every time he sees me he has the same stupidly-cute smile...

(ZENO enters, crosses over and hugs ALEC

from behind.)

But the other girls don’t care what he has to say, they just stare in awe at his abs; and
when he hugs you, he feels soft. I don’t know how to explain it. He’s a nice guy, really
nice. It’s abnormal really.

ALEC ZENO
Guys are usually assholes Guys are usually assholes

(ZENO crosses away. They are now facing

away from one another.)

ALEC
But he’s not.

ZENO
But I’m not exactly. See I’m what I like to call the classy asshole. We’re a rare breed.
Basically, we‘re nice and all, but not pushovers. We have fun with teasing and stuff, but
not to offend. It’s for our entertainment.

ALEC
Shut up! He is nice and attractive. This kid is in a damn modeling agency in Greece. He
can also act and dance. Plus, he’s like genuinely taller than me.
I’m a tall girl, but I actually have to look up at him. I hate it, but I like it at the same time.

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 (ALEC listens to ZENO speak)

ZENO
I like my girls to be quite tall, but also short enough to manipulate in bed.
(ALEC scoffs)
She has to almost represent me as a man. I represent her, she represents me. She should
be well behaved, but also have a mischievous side. A squared jawline would be nice, but
you know you can’t really pick at people’s appearance in order to know how you feel.
That’s just shallow. Although gray eyes, symmetrical breasts, and a nice ass would be
great. Oh! And also, I find it really attractive when a girl has those two pack abs on top…
(ALEC grabs her stomach and faces away
from ZENO)
That’s just hot, man! In all honesty, I just want to have fun. Be a little stupid and childish.
Somebody, I can feel young with who makes me forget about all the crap in this world.
It’s not that hard, yet at the same time... it is.

ALEC
Oh my god, I am dead-ass none of that. My two-pack is like pudding cups; I do not work
out. I enjoy my bed. Crap! I’m never going to tell him. Why ruin something so good over
nothing. Why let myself get...

ALEC ZENO
Hurt Hurt

ZENO
You know when you break-up with someone you love for the first time and you feel that
heart-tugging pain? Then they come to see you and say, “I want to give us a try again,”
and the chance of you two being together makes you happy again. Yeah, don’t go back.
I’ve been with this girl for three years, on and off. I loved her so much; she was my first
everything. I sometimes contemplate if what she and I had was a spark of true love. One
time, when we were fighting she sent me a picture of her in an ambulance. She had
broken her arm pretty badly and had to get surgery. It was midnight but I found the next
train that would take me to her.

ALEC
I swear to God he’s like a Disney prince. This should be illegal!! Why can’t I be like,
“Oh, I don’t want to like you so…”
(ALEC flips an imaginary switch)
It sounds so simple, but it’s not.

ZENO
I want to go to college and get a degree in something, you know, a stable job. I’m
thinking of hotel management. I would work my way into that while modeling on the
side. I also want to travel, maybe with my brother.

2
 ALEC
Holy crap we’re more alike than I thought!

ZENO
What do you mean?

ALEC
I mean, I want to get a degree in social work and pursue acting on the side. I'll still have a
job where I can help kids escape their home in hell. I may not get paid much, but I just
want to help people. I may have never been in love, but I always question what it would
be like and how I would know. I grew up around so many toxic relationships... I'm afraid
I would just hurt people I try to love.

ZENO
But feelings are important. If you don’t feel, then you’re not living life. I allow myself to
feel my feelings. Not every day is a good one and not every emotion is a great one, but
it’s what makes you, you.

ALEC
I've been screwed over so many times that it's cost me my mental health and sanity. I've
also seen the worst in people, and in me. I don't want that. I don't want to sit here
suffering just so I can feel some stupid feelings.

(Silence erupts as they just look at one

another for a little bit. ALEC gets frustrated
and attempts to exit but ZENO blocks her)

ZENO
Okay, listen! You have a crush on me, yes?
(ALEC nods her head)
And I don’t like you back, correct?
(ALEC nods her head again)
Then why are you letting it eat you alive? It’s just a crush. Literally one of the dumbest
things to worry over. Why cry over something that never existed. It’s all in your head.

ALEC
Where do you think we are! Narnia?
(ZENO tries to speak, but ALEC interrupts)
What do you think you are? Real?
(ALEC laughs)
No, no-no. That’s funny. Me having the balls to talk to you in person about how I feel.
Ha! Hilarious.

ZENO
Why don’t you talk to me in person?

4
 ALEC
Because this is do-able. Plus I’m using an imaginary you to work on not liking the real
you.

ZENO
Then just don’t like me, simple.

ALEC
It’s not that e-

(ZENO cuts ALEC off)

ZENO
I know, I know it’s hard, but just flip the switch. “You don’t like me,” flip. A crush is
nothing, and if I don’t like you, then move on. It’s my loss, not yours.
(Pause)
Although I am pretty great.

ALEC
Shut up, you’re gross!

ZENO
I’m just telling you as it is.

ALEC
Egotistical ass.

ZENO
Come on you know I’m just messing with you.
(ZENO goes to hug ALEC. ALEC turns her
back to him.)
Alec?
(ALEC doesn’t respond.)
Alexandra!

ALEC
(Frustrated)
The reason I put off being friends with you in the beginning, was that I knew if I got to
know you better feelings would develop and I’m tired of that shit.

(ALEC sits on the floor and hugs her knees.

ZENO sits next to her)

ZENO
What do you mean?

5
 ALEC
It’s stupid. I don’t want to talk about it.

ZENO
Yeah, you do. Don’t try and trick me. I’m a part of your subconscious.

(ALEC smiles)

ALEC
I like you for you. I didn’t fall for ’Greek Boy’, I fell for Zeno. I like how you’re genuine
with your feelings and you don’t try to be this tough guy who feels nothing. I like how
when you make egotistical comments, you enjoy everyone’s reaction because you’re
being a playful puppy. It’s adorable. You’re caring and there for people when they need
you. You listen and help to the best of your abilities. You’re loud and silly. You’re you.

ZENO
I’m me?

ALEC
Yeah. I remember when you got that Disney audition and when you talk about Greece,
you just start to glow. Your smile becomes contagious, and your eyes start to squint - you
smile with your eyes. It’s honestly when you’re the most attractive.

ZENO
Now you’re being gross.

ALEC
(ALEC gets up)
I know! Your grossness is rubbing off on me!
(ALEC sighs)
I don’t want a relationship-relationship with you. I want our friendship. I want to have
you in my life forever because you're genuinely a good person as well as fun. Would a
relationship be cool? Sure. But, it's just fantasy, not reality.

ZENO
I understand, just stop thinking about me and I'll be gone.

ALEC
It's not as simple as you're making it seem. It takes me time. Yes, it may be a silly crush, a
fantasy, but my feelings are real.

(ZENO crosses over to ALEC, grabs her

hand and points her finger out. He makes
her flip and imaginary switch. ZENO exits
as ALEC puts her hands in her pocket and

6
looks down. ALEC takes a deep breath and
then exhales as she looks out.)

END OF PLAY