Chrysalis

Chrysalis is a story about Scarlett, a high school sophomore, and the struggles that she and her friends go through during their high school years. As they grow up in their metaphorical chrysalises, they steer through the uncharted waters of first loves, coming out, mental health and self-esteem, and the different ways they grow together and apart, all while getting into shenanigans and attempting to keep on top of their homework. On the first day of sophomore year, Scarlett, with freshly dyed hair, expresses a desire for change. A conversation with her friends, Carys, Angel, Jonas, and Laney, as well as a pretty unpleasant interaction with a guy named Carter, quickly crush her optimism. Meanwhile, Laney nurses an unrequited crush on Jonas. They make a pact that by the end of sophomore year, they both will be in a relationship, but Jonas reveals he's interested in a girl from his Spanish class. After a discouraging morning for all, the group has lunch together. Carys tells them that she's been hanging out with Carter over the summer and invites him on their annual first day of school beach trip. Much to Scarlett's chagrin, he accepts. Threatened by the equally dramatic and immature Carter, Scarlett argues with Carys about Carter's inclusion in their friend group. Scarlett suspects that Carys is interested in Carter, which she denies. An encounter with a girl that they both dislike puts the two back on the same page. Meanwhile, Carter wins Angel over with a display of goofy charm. Despite this, their after-school beach trip is understandable disastrous. Angel gives Laney some advice about her crush on Jonas as Scarlett's increasing passive-aggression towards Carter escalates into a yelling match. Insults are flung around, a Freudian slip is made, and a carton of ice cream is thrown so hard it breaks Jonas' middle finger. While Jonas' finger is repaired, the guilty parties, Scarlett and Carter, sit in quiet surliness in a hospital waiting room. Laney goes to Jonas' room and suggests that they should date in order to fulfill their pact. Unfortunately for Laney, Jonas thinks she is joking and suggests they call off the pact. Scarlett and Carter come to an agreement over whose fault the incident is, and Scarlett extends an olive branch, telling him she's really not good with change. Angel and Carys go to Jonas' hospital room as he's given a splint for his finger and told he's free to go, and the four of them come out to find Scarlett and Carter asleep with Carter's head on her shoulder. As Angel says, "Sophomore year is gonna be awesome."