INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT

Savannah, Vance, Flynn, Tristen, Shae, Brandy, and Josh enter the hall and head toward a classroom.

SAVANNAH

He's right in there.

A group of sharks step out holding Mannie. Northpointe halts.

SHARK #1

Games over. Give us Nash and the mammoth doesn't get hurt.

TRISTEN

Okay. He's all yours. Vance, lead the way.

Vance smirks.

VANCE

Sure thing.

INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT

Torie, Abram, Mo and Eric are walking. Abram's carrying his guitar and backpack. Mo admires the paint in her hair.

MO

Blue might be a good look for me.

Torie plays with her own hair.

TORIE

I think I might go purple.

Eric looks over at Abram.

ERIC

Of course they'd turn a paint war into a fashion show. So what brought you out tonight? (re: Abram's guitar) Inspiration?

ABRAM

No. I'm pretty sure all the high school clichés have already been written.

MO

Torie says you're pretty good. You should come in the studio with us. You could even be on our debut album.

ABRAM

Wow. Sounds tempting, but I'm going to have to pass.

TORIE

Yeah, no, we get it. You're a one-track mind kind of guy. Maybe if you actually gave it a chance, you wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it.

ABRAM

It's nothing personal. Pop's not really my thing. It's shallow and it's all the same.

Torie reads between the lines.

TORIE

Just because it's popular that doesn't mean it can't be original. It just means more people can relate to it. So before you judge it, you can at least do your research.

ERIC

You guys are really passionate about your music.

MO

This feels like a private moment, so we're going to walk away now.

She takes Eric's hand and they go their own way.

ABRAM

What? You're mad because I turned you down? I hate to break it to you, but rejection is a part of life. The princess doesn't always get what she wants.

Torie refuses to let him get under her skin.

TORIE

I'm glad nothing happened between us. That's one less mistake I'd have to regret.

She walks away.