Meanwhile, inside the house, Alice approaches Alida…
Alice: I wish you all could join Peri in Sulani for the summer. I’d love to have time to get to know Merit.
Alida: It would be nice, but I have a lot of things I want to accomplish this summer. I’m thinking about creating my own video game, and the summer is the best time to get started so that it’ll be complete before the holidays.
Alice: Well, send Merit. Let us keep him for the summer. He’d be out of your hair, and you’ll surely get more accomplished.
Alida glances over at Merit, remembering what Alice was like with Peri last summer when they stayed in Sulani. Alida can imagine Merit being unrecognizable when he returned if she sent him there for the summer.
Alida: No…he’d miss his friends too much. Maybe we can visit during Winterfest or something.
In the kitchen, Q and Coa strike up a conversation and discover that they attended the same high school and happen to know some of the same people.
Quincy: I don’t hang around with any of those guys anymore.
Coa: Not even Roman? You two used to be tight!
Quincy: Well…there’s a reason why I don’t see him much anymore, but I won’t get into that. It’s all about work and family for me now, anyway.
Too much kissing can easily lead to more with Byron. I can feel a strong desire swirling around inside. This is not the time or place, so I back away from him.
Prosperity: I’m going to miss you so much!
Byron: I’m going to miss you too.
Prosperity: I’ll miss seeing your fine ass face. *gets a good idea* Hey, can I paint you?
Byron: Paint me?
Prosperity: Yeah…then I’ll be able to see you every day.
I lead Byron over to the easel.
Byron: Um…okay. No one has ever painted me before. Are you any good?
Prosperity: You’ll just have to see, right? Stand right there and keep being cute.
Merit is bored of being in the house with only adults. He wishes Roni was here so he’d have someone to play with. As usual, it’s hot outside, so he goes out to lounge in the kiddie pool and to see what Peri and Byron are up too. If only Peri would spend more time with him, instead of with Byron.
Coa announces that she has to leave for work and gets up to go. Alida has been observing her for a while. She seems nice enough, especially towards Q. Alida continues watching as Coa walks out of the front door.
Alida: You two were awfully chummy.
Quincy: Chummy? Who even says that? But yeah, we have some friends in common. We attended the same high school.
Alida: Friends in common, huh?
Quincy: Jealous?
Alida: No…just an observation.
Changes the subject…
Alida: So your mom wants us to send Merit to Sulani with her for the summer, but I turned her down.
Q stands, and Alida walks over…
Quincy: Why?
Alida: You know why. You remember what she was like with Peri when we were there. Next thing we know…Merit will come back all snobby looking down at his nose.
Quincy: *chuckles* You’ve got a point there, but she raised me, and I turned out okay.
Alida: *joking tone* Well, that’s debatable.
Quincy: *chuckles and grabs Alida’s hands* Debatable? We’ll have to see who wins this debate a little later.
Alida: Are you flirting with me?
Quincy: Yes, and you know you like it.
Prosperity: So, you still down for hanging out at the Orchid A-Go-Go with Ro, Miracle, and me later? That’ll be my real birthday celebration.
Byron: Was that today? You know I have a hot date later, so…
Prosperity: Don’t play.
Byron: Just messing with you. What time again?
Prosperity: Around six
Byron: *checks his phone* That’s in about an hour. I should get changed real quick. See you there?
Prosperity: Yep. See you in an hour.
I wave and watch as Byron leaves the balcony. My painting is complete, so I figure I’d better change too or I’ll be late.
(Generation 2 Chapter Summaries)
