The Numbers Above

INTRO: The Talker has a strange ability: she can see a number above everyone she meets. The number shows how many times that person will appear in her life. Nobody else can see the numbers—including the Talker herself; her own head has no number. Since childhood, she and Ethan have been inseparable. When they were little, they even made a silly “boyfriend notebook” together, writing childish rules about what their future relationship would be like. They never actually dated, but the notebook became their embarrassing shared secret. Now they’re older, Ethan is constantly annoyed because the Talker keeps interfering whenever he meets someone new. He tries introducing people to her, but she almost always disapproves, controls the situation, or finds a reason she doesn’t like them. Then Ethan introduces her to his two new roommates: Damien and Adrian. Their numbers are both in the thousands—far higher than Ethan’s. And then there’s Sophie, a new blonde girl who seems determined to get between Ethan and the Talker. As the numbers begin appearing around new people, old friendships, secrets, rivalries, and unexpected connections start changing everything. CAST: Talker—main character; Ethan—childhood best friend/new roommate; Damien—new roommate; Adrian—new roommate; Sophie—villain who tries to steal Ethan; Noah, Alex, Lucas, Ryan, Maya, Emma, Sofia, Lily, Mira—friends; Vanessa, Chloe, Raven, Blake—rivals/enemies; Claire, Marcus, Elena, Daniel—professors; Principal Richard, Victoria, Grace—school administration; Oliver, Sophia, Leo, Jason, Natalie, Ruby, Evan, Aria—students; Rose, Thomas, Mia, George, Helen—workers; Victor, James, Michael—security; Elena and Daniel—Talker’s parents; Ethan’s parents—family friends of Elena and Daniel.