The Girl Next Door

Chapter 14

WILKERSON PREP - Beyoncé's CLASSROOM - DAY

Rain pummels the windows as Beyoncé works alone at her desk. Kelly enters with a FLOWER ARRANGEMENT.

Kelly: Looks like Jay is up to his old
tricks again.

Beyoncé: Oh, aren't they gorgeous?
She opens the card: "Please give me another chance."

Kelly : What's going on?

Beyoncé: He wants to get back together.

Kelly: And? You told him no fucking way,
right?

Beyoncé: I said I'd think about it.

Kelly: So that's it? He drops a bundle at
FTD and you melt like some lovesick schoolgirl? I can't believe you're falling for this bullshit.

Beyoncé: I've been married to this man for
seventeen years, Kelly. You haven't had a relationship last more than six months. Maybe it's time you worry about yourself for a change.
Kelly steps back, sunned by her venom. Beyoncé's edge softens.

Beyoncé: He messed up, okay? Everybody
does. Sometimes you have to try to get past it.

Kelly: I sure as hell hope you know what
you're doing.
She walks out. Beyoncé picks up her cellphone and dials.

RESTAURANT - DAY
Packed with a noisy lunch crowd. Jay dines with several businessmen when his phone rings. He sees it's Beyoncé.

Jay: Excuse me.
He moves to an equally loud LOBBY AREA and answers.

Jay: Hi.

Beyoncé: Did I catch you at a bad time?

Jay :Not at all.

Beyoncé: I wanted to thank you for the
flowers. They're beautiful. He presses his finger to his free ear.

Jay :What's that?

Beyoncé:
I said thank you. For the flowers.

Jay : Flowers?
She's struck silent, her mind racing.

Jay : Bey?

Beyoncé: You know what? I've got to go.
Let me call you back.
Beyoncé hangs up and glares at the flowers. She picks them up and stuffs them into the waste basket.

WILKERSON PREP - DAY

Still raining. Kids huddle under the eaves waiting for rides. Beyoncé pulls up in the SUV and honks. Blue runs toward her.
As soon as Blue hops in, Beyoncé pulls away from the curb.

Blue: Hey, what about y/n?

Beyoncé :What about her?

Blue: We drove her this morning. How's
she gonna get home?

Beyoncé:
If she wanted a ride, she should have
been out here on time.

Blue: But she's counting on --
She looks at her in the rearview mirror, her face stern.

Beyoncé:
I'm not arguing with you about
this, Blue.

Blue:Look out!
Beyoncé looks to the road and sees y/n standing directly in front of them. She slams on the brakes, missing her by a hair.
Y/n and Beyoncé exchange an intense look through the rain- streaked windshield. Blue opens the door, calls to y/n.

Blue : Come on. Get in.
Y/n gets into the back seat.

Blue: Sorry, man. We didn't think you
were coming.

Y/n: My fault for being late.
Her eyes meet Beyoncé's in the rear view mirror. Accusing her. Beyoncé's eyes dart away.
Beyoncé pulls in. Blue and y/n jump out with their backpacks and run into the house. Beyoncé sits there watching the rain before forcing herself to go in.
Beyoncé enters to find y/n waiting for her.

Beyoncé : You need to go home.
Beyoncé heads toward the kitchen but y/n blocks her way.

Y/n: What's wrong?

Beyoncé : I think you know.

Blue: Mom, are there any more of those quesadillas?

Beyoncé(calling to Blue): Be right there.

Y/n: No, I don't. I swear.

Beyoncé: Those flowers, y/n. What were you even thinking?

Y/n: a peace offering.

Beyoncé: You expect me to believe that?

Y/n: Well, yeah.

Beyoncé: Okay, assuming that's what it was,did you think for one minute about how it would look? A student sending a teacher flowers?

Y/n: That's why I didn't sign the card.

Beyoncé: Oh, you're a real piece of work,
you know that?

Y/n: Okay, maybe sending flowers was a
bad idea. But give me a break. I have no idea what you want me to do here.

Beyoncé: I want you to stop it!
(lowering her voice)
I want you to forget any of this ever happened.

Y/n: Bey, listen --

Beyoncé: No. I don't want talk about this
again, y/n. Not ever. And from now on, you're to call me "Mrs. Knowles-Carter."
She turns and walks out.

- MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT
Beyoncé reads in bed when she hears the sound of pebbles hitting the window. She gets up and sees Jay down in the yard. She opens the window.

Beyoncé: Jay ? What in the world ...?