This week in class we were working on dialogue. Our task was to create a scene with as many characters as we wanted, using the prompt "I told you not to go in there". Our tutor told us to think about a tension between the characters that wasn't explicit and roll with it. This is what I came up with:
"I told you not to go in there." She was sympathetic, which made it worse.
"Shut up," he mumbled.
"But I did tell you."
"I said shut up," he said, clearer this time.
Neither of them spoke. She dug the toe of her shoe into the ground next to the ball, scuffing it further. He shivered, lip trembling. A bird cawed overhead, directing her attention upwards. She noticed the red tinge to his nose.
"It won't be that bad," she tried.
"Yes it will."
She knew he was right. "I'll tell her it was my fault."
He looked at her then. It was her fault and they both knew it. She was older, smarter, braver - she wouldn't be the one who got in trouble.
"She won't believe you. She'll say it was my fault, because I'm stupid and I always do stupid things."
"No she won't," she lied. "You're not always stupid, only sometimes." She grinned and he attempted to smile back. It was unsuccessful. She threw her arm around his shoulders, smearing the mud on to her skin. She gave the ball a nudge forward.
"Come on," she said, "let's go home.
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