#sweetee

Ethel’s words tugged at Sweet Pea’s heartstrings. He thought it was unfair that she should always be so down on her luck, that little things never went her way. It was why he knew she was his kind of person—disenfranchised, castaway, unloved and weeded out—someone who could relate to how he felt, stuck in a devil town. In both of their encounters the day before he’d used all his self control to keep from reaching out to her, denying them both for the sake of personal space when he really should have tried to make a connection. Sweet Pea didn’t allow himself to second-guess himself this time. He caught the sleeve of Ethel’s sweater and let his palm rest gently on her elbow.

“I see you,” he said simply. “And I don’t think you talk too much.”

“That’s not very nice,” she mumbles, ripping off the piece of scotch tape she’d just laid down and turning the poster right-side up. “You distracted me, trying to make this a competition.” 

“Think that’s the whole point, Curly Sue,” he replies, in a conspiratorial kind of voice—and, with a slam against the locker that nearly makes her jump three feet, Sweet Pea presses the opposing Vote Bughead! poster directly over the corner of her own pro-Josie poster. 

And when he grins mischievously and meets her eye, she can’t help but think—unlike most boys she knows, he’s actually taller than her. Huh. 

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Liz, Jose, and Lindsay discuss five new productions beyond Broadway in New York City:

Say Something Bunny! by Alison S.M. Kobayashi at UNDO Project Space (00:36)

Ghost Light by Zach Morris from Third Rail Projects at LCT3 (08:53)

Sweetee by Gail Kriegel at Ford Foundation Studio Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center (27:21)

Cost of Living by Martyna Majok at Manhattan Theatre Club (36:37)

Streepshow! by Jay Stull at The Connelly Theater (44:28)

What we’re looking forward to: (55:04)

God Of Obsidian by Mac Rogers at The Brick

Fulfillment Center by Abe Koogler at MTC

Assassins, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman at City Center

Marvin’s Room by Scott McPherson at American Airlines Theatre

Betty Odessa by Kev Berry at The Tank

Works on Water presented by New Georges with 3LD Art & Technology Center and Urban Water Artists in collaboration with Guerilla Science at 3LD Art & Technology Center

(Not) Water by Sheila Callaghan at 3LD Art & Technology Center

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“You didn’t even have to tell them how high,” Ethel observed, “they just jumped.”

A chuckle fell from Sweet Pea’s lips as he slid over so he was seated right across from Ethel. “That’s how you know you’ve made it, when you can mystify seventh graders.”

“I wouldn’t know.” Ethel shrugged. “I’ve never mystified anyone. Well, maybe my cat, Mr. Snuffleupagus.”

Previous chapter: Chapter 1

It just occurred to me that Sweet Pea is sitting under Ethel's poster in 2x22. Sadly, this is also the closest they will ever get to each other in canon.