*October 2011 - Lindenwold, NJ*

Malik is relaxing in his room while getting dressed, glancing at the mirror door. As he picks up the key and his phone, he carries his bag, ready for his shift at the nearby diner. He briefly checks his outfit, including his new taper fade haircut. After closing the mirror door, he leaves his room as Andie sits nearby, writing in her notebook with a glass on the table. Malik enters the dining room to check on her and gently holds her close.

Andie: Ready to get out of here? *feels his arm*

Malik: Sure, I am. *holds her*

Andie: *stands up and kisses him* Good luck out there. Be safe.

Malik: But I was going to say something different. Stay safe. *kisses her back*

Andie: *smiles softly while sitting back down*

In Philadelphia, Franklin is the only one driving on the road, which is where he's on his way to the skating rink to meet up with someone. He drives around to make a shortcut, avoiding the need to block other cars; he doesn't mind the time limit or being hurried. As he makes it on time, he parks right in front of it.

Franklin: *goes inside, seeing everyone chilling or skating during afternoon skating and looking for Ty*

Ty: *confronting other people*

Franklin: *walks over to the register and sees him* Ty?

Ty: *turns around* Lord, have mercy, Franklin. I'd called when you knew you were coming to my place.

Franklin: Sure, as I came here to give a little advice before I jet.

Poe was riding his bike down the street, heading somewhere to drop off the small item from his coat pocket. He kept pedaling the bike while watching two people arguing—Abigail and Marty. He continued pedaling.

Later that night, Malik, Franklin, and Poe got out of the car and headed to Jenny's house, as it was her birthday. She was throwing a party while Lucy had been making her cake for about an hour, still working on it. The three boys chatted among themselves as they walked onto the porch.

Franklin: What was the last time you were visited before you headed to Philly?

Poe: I have to ride out around in New Jersey a little closer to Philly.

Franklin: Give me a break; you've been riding the bike all over the road. You should have watched out for the cars.

Poe: I just did. Any of that will be as fantastical as my shifts into something good.

Malik: Y'all buggin. *ringing the bell*

Poe: What the fuck was I bugging for?

Malik: You needed a car.

Poe: I need to see my boy from Pennsauken; that's what I need to see.

Franklin: Bullshit, if it weren't for you, I would have dropped your ass off.

Malik: *sees the door open and goes inside*

Franklin and Poe: *follows him*

The three boys entered the house looking for Jenny, splitting up with Franklin to search for her, while the other two relaxed and mingled at the party.

Poe: Actually, what did you say? I couldn't hear you saying shit. *holds the cup and drinks it*

Malik: *watching him drink* To see many things, how are you feeling better now?

Poe: Because of the water, except for beer or soda.

Malik: I wondered if Lucy or Sandra was around here somewhere.

Poe: Lucy is about to pick up Sandra after she finished making the cake; they're on the road.

Malik: She texted you earlier.

Poe: *nods softly* That's what she said.

Malik: *walking around and looking at the phone*

Danielle: Malik! *walks over to him*

Malik: Hey, Danielle. What are you doing at the party?

Danielle: I'm not here alone, but...William?

William: What's up? *walks over to her while holding her*

Malik: So, are you guys telling me you're together?

William: No, Malik, we're not confirmed.

Malik: Speaking of the relationship, you were holding her.

William: We're chilling. You know that we're celebrating Jenny's birthday without a fight.

Malik: *hearing*

Later, Sandra comes over to Poe and Jenny at the table, pouring a cup of soda while these two were giving out the drink.

Sandra: The party has set you free. *looks at Jenny*

Jenny: My party is already lit; I have many friends. This is crazy, look at this.

Sandra: I know; I wish I had more than you. *sits right next to them*

Poe: Be careful what you say; sometimes those friends are just fake, and they can turn against you.

Sandra: *hearing*

Poe: After we've done everything, cleaning up from the city, those blocks are cool and calm. Sometimes they want to let it go, or people still give out the drugs, hanging out like that.

Sandra: *drinks*

Franklin: *walks over to the kitchen with Malik and Lucy* Is this cake ready or what? I'm about to get back to my crib.

Lucy: In a minute; this is not the time yet.

Malik: Frank, we could agree if we stay a little longer.

Franklin: Changing my plan now.

Malik: *looks at him*

Lucy: You're a jerk, Franklin.

Franklin: What should I do if I keep staying longer but get tired recently?

Malik: Don't worry about her. I wasn't really planning to go to the party much; I honestly did more in the past, bro. Including the club.

Lucy: Eat, sleep, and be tired. *grabs the cake*

Malik: Be careful with yourself.

Franklin: Definitely, this ain't a time. *sees two boys arguing with each other*

Sandra: There goes the party. *does the same reacted*

Zeke: *pushed him*

Zion: Come on, bitch. *does the same*

Zeke: Or what?

Zion: This ain't your birthday, it's my birthday.

Zeke: Bitch...

Zion: You stupid? Are you dumb? *points his finger to his head*

Zeke: Yo, I'll fuck you up!

Jenny: Uh-uh, uh-uh; take that shit from out there!

Zion: Take your bitch with you. Oh yeah, she can stay though. *looks at Zeke while turning around at Bryony*

Bryony: *looks at Zeke while crossing her arms*

Zeke: You can have her. I'll catch your ass if I see you.

Zion: Yeah, whatever.

Zeke: Fuck you! *leaving*

Bryony: Do you think you're gonna take me home after you're done with this party? *gets closer to Zion*

Zion: Yeah.

Lucy: Listen up, party people! The time is now.

As Zeke leaves the house, he hears the crowd inside singing "Happy Birthday" to Jenny. Disinterested, he quickly returns to his car and drives off. Meanwhile, Jenny gazes at her cake, feeling it improves, thanks to her favorite Vanilla and Strawberry cake mix and the candles. She makes a wish before the crowd claps.

*the next day*

Jenny falls asleep on the couch and wakes up with the blanket, not realizing someone had covered her. She looks around the living room, tidying up the mess before William comes downstairs.

Jenny: William, are you still here?

William: I've been cleaning up all night after you knocked out.

Jenny: Thank you.

William: I know everybody is left except these two.

Jenny: Sandra and Franklin?

William: Not even close.

Poe and Sandra are still having sex in bed, whether they are feeling better because they're enjoying good sex together in the late morning after they got up. The two of them are glad they stayed on the bed together at night after Sandra saw Jenny sleeping on the couch last night, when she had a chance to sleep in Jenny's bed.

Poe: *holds her*

Sandra: I hope we better get the hell out of her bed before she comes up here.

Poe: What if she sees us and she doesn't care?

Sandra: Poe, for some damn reason, doesn't want to get messy on the bed.

Jenny: *comes upstairs and goes to the room while seeing them ready to leave*

Sandra: What's up, girl? Happy belated birthday.

Jenny: I'm glad I can sleep more comfortably. *walks slowly to her bed and lies down*

Poe: She can appreciate when she sleeps well.

Sandra: Can you just go? Before I lose my damn temper.

Poe: You ain't got no temper. What are you talking about? *leaving*

Sandra: Call me as soon as you get up. *looks at Jenny and leaves*

*Pennsauken, New Jersey*

Zeke steps outside his home, grabbing his keys as he heads out. As he walks toward his car, someone hiding behind the house next door sneaks up on him. They pull him towards the car, and Zeke, caught off guard, is stabbed three times before Zion is finally revealed.

Zion: I'm not gonna find you, not anymore. I'm just me, and I don't care if you don't like what you see. I'm the vision they didn't know they needed.

Zeke: *looks at him*

Zion: *stabbing him again*

Zeke: *falls on the ground*

Zion: *leaving and putting the hoodie back on*

*Camden, New Jersey*

At college, Swish and Jenelle hurried to the other campus after they ran outside; they were being followed as they made their way to the office to meet the guidance counselor. As soon as they arrived, Jenelle went first, while Swish encouraged her to go ahead, and Jenelle sat down in a chair.

Swish: Break a leg.

Jenelle: I will.

Swish: *opens the bookbag and checks out the money*

Jenelle: *walked to the counselor's office*

Swish: *playing the money for a second and puts his money back in the bag*

While Zion was out on the road, he was observing the corner store, noticing few people in the area. A woman named Lilian was nearby, involved in drug activity at times, as she's a crackhead and somewhat of a regular in the neighborhood. She has been around that area for quite some time. Zion kept riding past the store and headed to another city.