Who's Watching Us

(chimes tinkle)

(siren wails)

Everyone report to 97 Hickory.

(door slams)

- What? - You're late.

You know I have off campus 7th period. My bad.

(upbeat R&B music continues indistinctly on radio)

You all right?

Yeah. It's just a little cough.

I don't need you getting sick.

We supposed to be going to the game tonight.

I told you I had to babysit tonight.

Oh yeah. I forgot.

You seem to have been forgetting a lot lately.

I'm sorry. Let me make it up to you tonight.

You'll come once the kids are asleep?

Yeah. I'll come after the game.

Okay.

What hell you got planned for the weekend?

Girl, just JJ party tomorrow.

What time y'all leaving tonight?

Brandon should be home soon.

Amber's coming by at 7:30. Reservation's 8:30.

Girl, these babysitters are God sent.

I swear Ruth just left, and I wanna pay her to live here.

I cannot understand how she get these badass kids

to listen to her.

Ooh, trust me. I know. (Laughs)

But the kids love Amber, especially Micah.

Girl, did you hear that the Matthews

are getting a divorce?

Girl, you always have all the tea!

Look, let me finish getting ready and painting my nails

because I did not have time to stop by the nail shop today.

All right, girl.

Anyway, y'all have fun tonight,

and tell Brandon I said happy birthday.

Oh, I will. Thanks, girl.

(soft R&B music)

- You sure you good? - Yeah.

I think I'm coming down with something.

So why can't I drop you off at your house?

You know my parents don't want us seeing each other.

I have to get dropped off where the bus lets us off at.

It's lame.

They do know you're about to be 18 soon

and can do whatever you want.

As long as I'm in their house,

I have to follow their rules, which means not seeing you.

Fine. It's more fun to sneak around anyway.

Yeah, it's kind of poetic, like Romeo and Juliet.

Except we don't die, right?

I'm not trying to die for love.

Shut up.

So I'll see you tonight at the Harris house?

728 Ridge Point Lane,

but call me before you come so I know the coast is clear.

- Okay. See you later. - Okay.

Excuse me. Do you know where Ridge Point Lane is?

Oh yeah. It's just the next street over.

- Just the next street over? - Mm-hmm.

Okay, so let me give you a question.

All right.

How did you do on the math test?

I got a 88. You? - 100.

Hopefully this will convince my parents

to give me that new phone I wanted.

That's really good.

Sometimes I still get confused on dividing fractions.

Yeah, you have to remember to change to division

to multiplication and flip that second fraction.

Yeah, that's the part I keep forgetting.

Don't worry, girl. You'll get it next time.

Is that who I think it is?

Jas the Giraffe and Trashy Traci.

Just keep walking and ignore them.

- I know you hear me. - What, Stephanie?

Why don't you just leave us alone, huh?

See, I would, but your little friend here screwed us over

and gave us the wrong answers to the test.

I made a 57.

Oh, that's funny to you?

Well, maybe you shouldn't try to cheat.

Hey! Chill out, Stephanie.

Hey. Everything good here, Traci?

Oh, yeah, we're all good! Let's go.

Come on, Jasmine. I'll take you home.

All right. Thanks.

Safety belts. You already know this.

- (groans) Oh my gosh. - Whatever.

I don't wanna hear it.

Mama, I'm home!

I'm in the living room, sweetheart.

- How was school? - It was good.

I got 100 on my math test.

That is amazing, sweetheart. I'm so proud of you.

So does that finally mean I can get that new phone?

I told you, on your 13th birthday. You still 12, young lady.

(R&B music)

Go and put your test on the refrigerator

so your dad can see it once he gets home from work.

Wait, Dad went to work on his birthday?

Yes.

You know how he is, but we're gonna celebrate tonight,

and Amber's coming over to babysit tonight.

What? What's that face for?

It's just I'm getting too old for a babysitter, Mom.

Well, she's not just watching you.

Your brother's not old enough to watch himself, you know.

I guess. I watch Micah all the time for you.

Yeah, when I'm home working,

but we won't be here to monitor you.

Trust me,

I can't wait until you old enough to watch your brother

so we don't have to pay for a babysitter.

Wait, who said anything about not paying? (Laughs)

Girl, hush. Go in there and check on your brother for me.

What you doing in here?

Something you had no business doing jumping like that.

You scared me. You didn't knock.

Boy, please.

You're not old enough for someone

to be knocking to come in your room.

Anyways, Mom told me to check on you. You have any homework?

No, it's Friday. We don't have homeworks on Fridays.

I miss those days. (Chuckles)

You're lucky you're only in elementary.

- Is Dad home yet? - No, not yet.

Mom said her and Dad are going out for his birthday.

That means Amber's coming over.

Yeah, which is stupid.

I'm old enough to take care of myself.

Speak for yourself. She makes the best PB&J.

Oh, please. Grow up.

(dog barks in distance)

- Hey, you okay? - Yes.

Stephanie is a jerk. I don't let her get to me.

Yeah, it was pretty funny you giving her the wrong answers

- to the test though. - I know, right?

I could not pass that opportunity to get her back. (Laughs)

So did your parents finally say they'll give you that phone?

Well, she keeps saying I have to wait until my birthday.

It's unfair. Everyone at school has a phone.

Yeah? Well, your birthday isn't that far away.

What are you doing this weekend?

Nothing.

My parents are going out for my dad's birthday,

which means we're getting a sitter.

Oh. But don't you like Amber?

Yeah, I do. She's nice.

It's just I'm getting too old for a sitter.

Yeah, we're finally gonna be teenagers this year!

I cannot wait for my party.

(soft dramatic music)

(line rings)

- Hello. - Hey, baby.

Just leaving the construction site.

Okay. So when you think you're gonna be here?

I just wanna start getting ready.

About 20 minutes, then I'll be there.

Hey, what you wearing tonight?

Well, you just gonna have to wait