The Girl Next Door

Chapter 10

Y/N's  HOUSE - BEDROOM - MORNING

LEBRON JAMES comes in and out of focus. As Beyoncé tries to focus her vision seeing the poster on the wall.
Beyoncé looks to the other side of the bed. Empty.... She gets to her feet and pulls on some clothes while scanning the room: trophies, team pennants, sports memorabilia. She stares at a collection of BOBBLE-HEADED CARTOON CHARACTERS. She touches one and watches its head bob, her face grim.
Then she sees: A PHOTO OF y/n AND her mom. They're hugging and smiling. Y/n looks about twelve. Her mother is not a day older than Beyoncé . Beyoncé gapes at it, the horror of what she has done crashing in on her. Y/n enters, sports bra and boxers on, toweling her wet hair.

Y/n: Morning.
She sees her wan face.

Y/n: What's wrong?

Beyoncé : I have to go.

Y/n: I thought we could spend the day --

Beyoncé : This was a mistake.

Y/n: You're having second thoughts.
It's normal.

Beyoncé: This isn't normal. Nothing about
this is normal.
She searches for her shorts, her shoes.

Beyoncé: Damn it. Where are the rest of my clothes?

Y/n:  Downstairs. Remember?

Beyoncé races down the stairs, y/n at her heels.

Y/n: Would you stop for one minute?
She finds her shorts, puts them on.

Beyoncé: I am old enough to be your mother.

Y/n: We have a bond, Bey. Age
doesn't matter.

Beyoncé: It most certainly does.

Y/n:  Did it last night?

Beyoncé: I wasn't thinking clearly last
night. I got swept up in the moment. In you. You're very ... sweet. And I've been so ... it was flattering.

Y/n: It was more than that.

Beyoncé: I know this is hard for you to
understand right now. But someday when you meet the girl of your dreams --

Y/n:  Oh my God ...

Beyoncé:-- a girl your own age, you'll
realize this wasn't meant to be. And I don't want you to think any of this is your fault. I'm the adult. I'm the one who should have --

Y/n: Stop it! Just stop acting like we
did something wrong. No matter what you say, it wasn't wrong.

They stand silent for a long moment.

Beyoncé: I hope we both can move past this. I mean, we're neighbors and ... I would like us to stay friends.

Y/n looks away, struggling with her emotion.

Beyoncé: Are you going to be okay? Y/n?
Please look at me.

She slowly turns to her, mustering a pathetic smile.

Y/n: Don't worry about me. I'll be
fine.

Beyoncé : Okay, well ...
She gives her an awkward one-armed hug, which she halfheartedly returns. She picks up her shoes and slips out the door.

Beyoncé sprints barefooted across y/n's lawn. Beyoncé bursts in her house and slams the door shut. She leans against it, breathless and shaking.
Beyoncé enters, ripping off her clothes. She turns on the shower and catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
She stares at her image -- her hair a tangled mess, brush burns on her face, a faint hickey on her neck. A total stranger to her own eyes.
She stumbles into the shower and stands under the water. Suddenly, she lets out peals of hysterical laughter that just as quickly turn into tears.
In a frenzy of guilt-abating activity, Beyoncé tends to bubbling pots on the stove and puts the finishing touches on a homemade cake.
A CAR HORN BEEPS in the driveway. She looks up with dread.
Jay and Blue get out of the car. Beyoncé steps out, a big smile plastered on her face.

Beyoncé:How was it? Did you have fun?

Blue: I caught seven trout.

Jay: she didn't look at her PSP once.
How'd it go here?

Beyoncé: Oh, fine. Uneventful.

Jay hands Blue her duffle bag, and gives her a hug.

Jay: See you later, kiddo. I had a
great time.

Blue: Can you stay for dinner?
(to Beyoncé ) Please, Mom?
Blue and Jay regale Beyoncé with stories of their weekend. She seems more relaxed now.

Blue: So Dad forgot all the cooking gear.

Jay: I could have sworn I packed it.

Blue: Lucky for us I saw this video on
YouTube. This mountain dude who lives in a shack in Montana cooks all his food on a shovel wrapped in tin foil.

Beyoncé : Oh ... disgusting.

Jay : No, it worked.

Blue: Seriously, it was like the best
meal I ever had. No offense.
They chuckle together, like a family. Beyoncé's eyes twinkle.

Beyoncé: Well I don't know if it'll meet
your rigorous standards, but I made a cake. Anyone interested?

Jay : Sounds great.
Blue and Jay trade a look of surprise as Beyoncé gathers some plates and heads through the swinging door.
Beyoncé places the cake on a tray with silverware and plates. She smiles at the laughter of father and daughter coming from the other room.

Beyoncé: You want coffee Jay?

Jay: Only if you're having some.
She fills a coffee pot with water when ..

THE DOORBELL RINGS