1.18: The Beginning of Summer
Act I
Warm weather was on the cusp of turning into blazing hot weather on Kelley Avenue. And of course, school was ending. On the last day of school, Benny caught up with a few of his friends to give them party invites. The last in the group of invites was a group of girls he caught up with after school. He handed out invites (skipping Kim as he did so).
Benny: My 17th birthday party ladies, be there and bring the atmosphere to an acceptable level of fine.
Various girls: Thanks Ben.
Kim: I don’t get an invite?
Benny: Well, I thought you wouldn’t want to be seen at my party. People might think certain things that aren’t true.
Kim: Don’t be like that Ben.
(Benny threw her invititation on the ground and walked away)
Karen: That’s so your fault.
Sharice: What’s he so upset about?
(Kim picked up her invite and the girls started walking.)
Lina: Hello, were you at prom with the rest of us? It’s about time he came to his senses and centered his anger at the right person.
Kim: Shut up Lina.
Sharice: Yeah Lina, besides that fight was as much Harold’s fault as anyone’s.
Lina: Real nice defense of your boyfriend there.
Sharice: I know who my man is, okay. What do they say? Don’t hate the player, hate the game.
Lina: Harold’s not that simple, okay.
Sharice: Is he my man, or yours?
Lina: He’s my friend and I know him better than you ever could.
Stephany: This is new, you two fighting over Harold.
Karen: Please don’t, we don’t need anyone fighting over Harold.
Stacy: Can you blame them? The boy is fine.
Mie: And Harold’s a flirt, everyone knows that. I don’t know why Benny got so upset.
Karen: Cause he’s sick of being underestimated. He loves Kim. For Harold it’s all about game. No offence Sharice, but you were the new fly girl in school and he wanted to prove he could score before anyone else. With Benny and Kim, it’s not about being a ‘player’ or game, it’s deeper. And prom night made him feel like dirt, like his feelings were just getting trampled on again. And why? There’s nothing so great about Harold that anyone should be fighting over him.
Stacy: So you’d rather see your sister sweatin’ sub-par material like Benny. Please, he’s lucky he got a date with someone like her to prom, he shouldn’t even begin to think he’s on Harold’s level.
Kim: Why not Stace? He’s a good guy, he deserves to think so. He deserves a girl who sees him exactly the way I saw Harold.
(Stacy was shocked to hear Kim say this, but she let it go.)
