The Way the Stars Align

Brooke Ringstad

Email: Ringsta3@msu.edu
INT. AINSLEY'S BEDROOM - NOVEMBER, 2000

AINSLEY and GINA are sitting on the floor of Ainsley's

bedroom working on a diorama of the solar system. They are
long term best friends.

AINSLEY
(wholesomely)

Y'know I really kind of hate school

and you're one of the only things that
make it bearable Gina.

GINA
I know right? I don't think I can
stand anyone there except for you. We
might as well start dating at this
point

Gina laughs and continues working on the project.

AINSELY
Haha, yeah maybe we should.

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - SEPTEMBER 2001

CLOSE UP SHOT OF AINSLEY CENTERED. Ainsley walks down the

hallway holding a stack of books in her arms

AINSLEY (V.O)
(bitterly)

Well, look at us now Gina.

BY THE LOCKERS

Gina and TOMMY standing at a locker together, looking at each

other and laughing. Ainsley walks up smiling.

AINSLEY
Hey guys! how was first hour?

GINA
(humorous and carelessly)

Honestly we were sick of it so we

skipped!

Gina and Tommy look at each other and laugh

 2.

GINA
You could always come with but like, I
know you wouldn't really want to
anyways

AINSLEY
Yeah yeah, you're right. Too much
anxiety

Ainsley laughs unsteadily

GINA
Okay well Tommy's gonna walk me to my
next class I'll see ya next passing
time!

AINSLEY
See ya!

TOMMY
(faded as they get further away)

See ya

MEDIUM SHOT OF AINSLEY CENTERED. Ainsley walks down the

hallway holding a stack of books in her arms

AINSLEY (V.O)
So you see what I mean?

INT. AINSLEY'S BEDROOM - EVENING

Ainsley lays in bed texting on her phone. The solar system

diorama can be seen in the background on her desk.

CLOSE UP SHOT OF HER PHONE IN HANDS. Ainsley is texting Gina.

AINSLEY (TEXT)
Hey, so I was thinking maybe this
weekend we could hang out? My house is
free if you wanted to sleepover too!
Lmk <3

Ainsley sets her phone down next to her in bed and gets up.
She sits at her desk and starts fumbling through a binder
full of school work. As she does this, her eyes wander to the
diorama in front of her. she sets down the binder in her lap
slowly and picks up the diorama studying it carefully.

BEGIN MONTAGE
 3.

INT. AINSLEY'S BEDROOM - EVENING

Gina and Ainsley are laying in Ainsleys bed on their stomachs

laughing with one another

EXT. OUTDOOR ICE SKATING RINK - NIGHT

Gina and Ainsley are holding both of each other's hands and
laughing as they try and keep themselves from falling

INT. SCHOOL BUS - MORNING

Gina laying her head on Ainsleys shoulder, asleep.

END MONTAGE

INT. AINSLEY'S BEDROOM - EVENING

DING!

EXTREME CLOSE UP. Ainsleys eyes open with a gasp as she hears
her phone go off. Ainsley gets up out of her desk chair and
sits on her bed to check her text messages.

CLOSE UP OF HER PHONE IN HANDS.

GINA (TEXT)
Hey girl sorry for the late response.
I honestly think I'm gonna be booked
with studying this weekend. Skipping
class with Tommy all the time can
really set me back (laughing emojis).
Love ya.

Ainsley sets down her phone angrily before responding. She

brings her knees up to her face. She isn't necessarily
crying, but contemplating how she should handle her feelings.
Ainsley picks up her phone and begins texting Gina back.

AINSLEY (TEXT)

Alright no problem! I'll see you in school tomorrow, love ya

too :)

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - THE NEXT MORNING

CLOSE UP SHOT OF AINSLEY CENTERED. Ainsley walks down the

hallway holding a stack of books in her arms

AINSLEY (V.O)
Is pretending really easier?
 4.

Ainsley turns the corner

EXT. UNDER THE BLEACHERS - AFTERNOON

Gina and Tommy are sitting under the bleachers passing a

joint back and forth.

GINA
(rude and humorously)

Did I ever tell you Ainsley came out

as gay to me once?

Tommy chokes on the joint

TOMMY
Nooo shit really?

GINA
Yeah but I told her it was whatever.
It's not like any girl is gonna be
into her anyways. She'll end up with a
guy no matter what.

Gina and Tommy laugh. Tommy puts out the joint and they both
get up and leave.

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - AFTERNOON

WIDE SHOT. people are congregating around their lockers and

socializing. a guy and girl walk by holding hands to the
left, while Ainsley walks by entering right.

BY THE LOCKERS

Ainsley walks up to her locker next to Gina and Tommy

AINSLEY
hey

Ainsley doesn't look at Gina and Tommy while she speaks, she
keeps her head facing the locker

GINA
(hesitantly)

Hey Ainsley

Ainsley stops and pulls a note out of her locker. The note
reads "Fag". Ainsley looks at Gina in disbelief who is paying
no attention to anything except Tommy
 5.

AINSLEY
(in disbelief)

Was this you?

Gina reads the note and her jaw drops slightly open

GINA
What? No! Why would I do that??

AINSLEY
(with increasing anger)

Then who did you tell?

Gina glances for a brief second at Tommy. Ainsley notices.

GINA
No one!!

Ainsley glances up at Tommy and back at Gina

AINSLEY
Right.

Ainsley slams the door of her locker and walks away. She
continues walking down the hall way and notices stares from
the people around her. She begins walking faster and faster.
Disregarding the school day, she walks right out of the front
doors of the school.

INT. AINSLEY'S BEDROOM - EVENING

Ainsley is in her bed, knees up to her face sobbing. Her

phone is getting texts repeatedly but she ignores them.
Finally, she lifts her head and picks up her phone. Her
phones reads strings of texts asking if it was true, calling
her names, etc. The last notification she sees is a missed
call from Gina. She picks up the phone and angrily dials
Ginas number in. Gina picks up.

GINA
Ainsley I am so sorry. I don't know
what to say. I didn't think this would
happen

AINSLEY (TEXT)
Oh give me a break Gina. You spend
24/7 with Tommy if you hadn't already
noticed, and yet you still have the
shittiest judgment of who to trust.
 6.

With MY secret to say the least. You

don't understand what my life is gonna
be like now. You never did.

GINA
(unsure of herself)

Ugh Ainsley don't be so dramatic!! No

ones gonna care.

AINSLEY
Oh really? Thats why my phone has been
getting blown up with messages all
night about it. And ONE missed phone
call from you. You don't understand
how much I care about you Gina. I
LIKED you! LIKED YOU! You couldn't
have stabbed me in the back any
harder. I'm sorry Gina but this might
be unforgivable

GINA
Hold on, what?

Gina laughs

GINA
You liked, ME? Oh honey THAT is what's
unforgivable. I'm sorry but don't try
and drag me into your fag bullshit
just because you're hurt. I never
cared about you being gay because it
didn't affect me. This is too far
Ainsley I'm sorry but I'm done.

AINSLEY
You're done?? What??-

Gina hangs up leaving Ainsley staring at her phone in

disbelief. She sends Gina one last text.

AINSLEY (TEXT)
I hope it was worth it. I hope Tommy
treats you the best. And I hope you
learn a lesson.

Ainsley sets her phone down and heads to the bathroom. The
water starts running and the door closes.
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