The Girl Next Door

Chapter 29

Beyoncé walks through the aisles, her eyes scanning for Y/n.
She seats herself at a faraway computer terminal and logs on.
She accesses the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper archives. She types in the name "Charles Y/L/N."
An OBITUARY from three years earlier pops up. A photo of "Charles, 55" depicts a stern man with flinty eyes and thin lips.
Beyoncé scans the article and reads the phrases: "SELF- INFLICTED GUNSHOT WOUND" and "RULED ACCIDENTAL."
Beyoncé gapes at the screen.

- WILKERSON PREP - CAFETERIA -
Beyoncé and Kelly huddle over their lunches in a faraway corner.

Beyoncé : And now she's threatening to show it to Jay if I don't continue to ... go along.

Kelly :Oh Jesus, Bey.
Kelly sits back, the wind knocked out of her.

Beyoncé: I can't go to the police. They
could arrest me for sleeping with a minor.

Kelly: That is such bullshit. She's not some
innocent little kid you took advantage of. She's practically a grown woman. And she knew exactly what she was doing.

Beyoncé: I'm not so sure everybody would see it that way.
They fall silent until a gang of rowdy kids passes.

Kelly: You have to tell Jay .

Beyoncé :I can't.

Kelly: You don't really have a choice here.

Beyoncé: He's been trying so hard. And this is the first time in years I feel like we're really connected.

Kelly: He's got to understand. You were
separated, for Christ's sake. If he hadn't cheated on you in the first place ...

Beyoncé: You can't blame him. I did this.

Kelly: Okay, but you said yourself that
people make mistakes. He loves you so damn much, let him prove it.

Beyoncé: And what if Y/n goes to the school with this video? Or to the police?

Kelly: Do you really think she's going to
put herself in the middle of a scandal like that?

Beyoncé: I don't know. There's something
not right about her.

Kelly : Yeah, no kidding ...

Beyoncé: No, I mean, all this time she's been pretending her father is alive. But I found his obituary. Y/n's father died three years ago. He accidentally shot himself while cleaning his gun.

Kelly : Christ.

Beyoncé: I can't take any chances with her , Kelly . I need to get that video.