Chapter 1
I'll Always Be Here

Huey's POV:

I remember when things were simple. She was so full of life. Annoying as hell, yes but that's just Jazmine. I remember when her laughter was the first thing I heard in the morning and the last thing I heard at night. How her smile seemed brighter then the very sun in the sky. I remember how I used to love her. That was all before she met Tristan, her husband. At first everything was normal, if anything she was happier. Then it seemed like slowly she stopped laughing, then smiling, stopped being Jazmine all together. She did make something clear at that time, she didn't want me. So instead of getting married like all my friends I focused more on work and that's it. Things have definitely changed since we were kids. For the worse it seems.

I was sitting down scowling as I focused harder on a paper a student had wrote in my African American History class. I'm not sure where he was going with Pocahontas and John Smith sailing the Mayflower considering we are discussing the evil of B.E.T. Not only that it made no sense even if we were talking about regular American History. I shook my head and put an E on his paper in my bright red pen. I was moving on to the next one when I heard a light tap, tap, tap at my door. I sighed and stood up slipping on a white shirt and walking down the stairs. The taps became louder and more urgent. I knew immediately who it was. Sure enough when I opened the door Jazmine Dubios stood there. The puberty years had been good to her. She still had poofy hair but her figure curved out and her emerald eyes became bigger and more seductive. Unfortunately tonight they were covered by pink sunglasses. She had on a long black coat, blue jeans, and black boots. Snowflakes danced around in her hair. She smiled timidly.

I moved aside. "Come on Jazmine." I said.

She stepped inside stomping her boots out on the welcome mat and taking them off. I looked outside to make sure he didn't follow her then closed the door behind her. She sat on the couch wearing a long sleeved navy blue shirt looking around. I sat down next to her.

"Jazmine it's night time." I said looking at her sunglasses.

"Oh, I just wanted to-"

She stopped as I reached over taking them off. She had a black eye and they were swollen from crying so much. I felt the anger boil inside of me as she shrugged like it was nothing.

"Surprise!" she said her voice cracking like she was gonna cry again. I stood up going to the door.

Every night. Every fucking night she comes with new marks that sick bastard puts on her. I didn't give a fuck, tonight I was going over there. She stood up blocking my way.

"Huey what do you think you're doing?" she asked narrowing her green eyes.

"I think I'm about to go beat his ass." I said.

She pushed me away from the door. "No you're not, you can't." she said.

"Jazmine this is the 5th night in a row! He's gonna end up killing you!" I exclaimed.

"He loves me!" she yelled back at me. But she knew it was a lie, and so did I. "It was my fault anyways. I should have never invited Ceaser over without telling him."

"Ceaser is your best friend." I said.

She shrugged and sat back down. "It could've been worse." she said always trying to find the bright side of the shit he does to her.

I raised one eyebrow. I moved towards her taking her hands in mine and bending down to her eye level. She avoided my eyes and looked at the ivory couch. I took the hem of her shirt and started to pull it up. Just like every night I saw another set of cigarette burns right on top of her ribs. I rubbed around them lightly and she whimpered.

"I'm so scared to try and leave." she whispered.

"Jazmine please..."

She shook her head and put her fingers up to my lips. "Not tonight. Please Huey, let me just enjoy being with you." she said and as she removed her fingers she leaned forward he lips inches from mine.

I backed away. As much as I wanted to pull her forward and kiss her it seemed like I'd be taking advantage of her. I love her too much to do that, besides I know she doesn't really mean it. She makes it clear everyday after night that she still doesn't want me. She opened her eyes surprised that I moved.

"Let me at least take of those." I said as I stood back up.

She sighed and laid back down on the couch. "Fine Huey." she said.

I went to go get the cream and the Q-tips and mentally reminded myself no matter what happened tonight she still would want him. I didn't know why I struggled so hard to be nicer to her when even to my own family I wasn't. I came back downstairs and she had taken off her shirt. Let me say this again, puberty has been good to her. Her breast were probably D's now if not DD's. She wore a black lace bra and I wondered what she wore as underwear. "Huey don't do it. She has a husband, stop it." I thought mentally slapping myself to get control.

She turned around and smiled. Almost like she used to. "Doctor Huey to the rescue yet again." she said.

I felt my lips tug up into a small smile. I walked towards her. "Lay down Jazmine." I said. She did and I got on top of her straddling her. I breathed in slowly as her lips parted and a slight moan came out. I put the cream on the Q-tip and looked up at her. She was breathing quickly.

"Do it quick." she said.

"I can't. I need to make sure it doesn't get infected." I said.

"But it's gonna hurt." she said pouting.

"I wouldn't have to be doing this if you just left his ass." I said bitterness all over my voice.

She raised one eyebrow. "And then what? Come here and live with you and all your happiness?" she asked like it was the worst possibility in the world.

I pushed away the stinging feeling from her words. "No I guess not." I mumbled. "But you need to leave him." I said again.

"He loves me." she whispered.

I stopped realizing just like all the other times I wasn't gonna get to her. I let her grabbed my other hand while I twisted the Q-tip with the cream in it in her wound. She winced squeezing my hand tightly. I twisted it a little more then pulled it out rubbing more cream on top of it and putting a small bandage on top of it. I did the same to the other one. I finished and she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Better?" I asked.

"I always get better when I'm with you." she said and smiled sweetly. Even with her black eye Jazmine was beautiful to me.

I shook my head. "Don't do that Jazmine." I said scowling.

She sat up wrapping her arms around my neck and snuggling her head into my chest. Her eyes watered slightly. I didn't push her away even though I should have. I rested my hands on her hips and hugged her back. She pulled away and kissed my cheek.

"I'm sorry Huey." she whispered. She started to lean forward again puckering her lips.

It took more strength this time but I backed away. Instead I kissed her cheek too. She opened her eyes and looked even more confused. "Me too." I whispered back.

She tilted her head to the side and looked into my eyes. "You're a good man Freeman." she said sincerely.

"I wouldn't say that."

"You don't have to. I did." she smiled at me again.

I smiled back and got off of her stretching. It was late and I was getting tired. Jazmine sat up too putting her shirt back on.

"I think I should be going now. Tristan must be worried." she said.

"Right." I said unconvinced.

She looked at me frowning. "He loves me." she repeated sharply.

"Jazmine if he-" I stopped once I noticed the daggers she was shooting from her eyes at me. I sighed and shook my head. "Let me at least give you some ice for your eye." I said.

She was already putting on her jacket. "Huey really I'm-"

"Please Jazmine."

I guess she heard the desperation in my voice. She smiled and I took that as an okay. I walked quickly into my kitchen. The colors were plain black and white. I went to the freezer grabbing out ice and putting it in a zip lock bag. I went back into the living room where Jazmine was standing looking around the house like she's never been here before.

"Here you go." I said handing it to her.

She took it from me smiling and putting it on her eyes. She sighed once the cool ice hit her black eye. "Thank you." she said.

I nodded and grabbed a jacket as I walked her outside to her car. As soon as I opened the door the cold wind hit both of us. She shivered wrapping her coat tighter around her. The walk was silent. She parked a block away like always so it wouldn't raise too much suspicion.

"Christmas will be soon." she said finally.

"Hopefully it'll be over just as soon." I said.

She turned to me raising one eyebrow and giving me a crooked smile. "Huey you need to lose the 'I hate everything' streak." she said.

"I never said I hated everything. I care, just only about one person." I said stopping and looking at her.

She stopped too. "I bet that person feels very special." she said.

"She doesn't want me." I said as we started to walk again.

"She must be an idiot." she said oblivious that I meant her.

I smirked. "She really is."

She shrugged as we got to her car. "Her lost." she said. She reached forward hugging me. "Thank you so much Huey. I don't know what I would do without you." she whispered.

I pulled apart still holding her. The snowflakes fell on her long eyelashes and her emerald eyes danced and twinkled and for a moment it was like I had the old Jazmine back. The one that was always happy. Maybe that's why I ignored my instincts and kissed her. Maybe I just wanted some small piece of her if I couldn't have the whole thing. I don't know.

I do know that the kiss was soft and timid. It was sweet, the kind that was meant just to say I love you. We kissed like that for a while until she pulled back. Her eyes were wide open and her mouth formed a perfect O.

"Huey how could you?" she asked like I just stabbed her father.

"I didn't mean-"

"I'm with Tristan." she snapped cutting me off.

"He beats you every fucking night! Why are you so dense that you can't see he's not the right guy for you?" I yelled at her.

"Then who is? You?" she asked again like there was no possibility that was true.

I shrugged off the stinging feeling again. "I never said me. I'm just saying-"

"He loves me Huey." she said for maybe the 8th time tonight.

"So you've mentioned." I mumbled.

"Be my best friend Huey. Nothing more." she turned getting into her car and speeding off. The words we said lingered in the air like a paper waiting to be finished.

I watched until her bright blue Dodge Charger disappeared. All alone outside I took out the gray scarf I had once given Jazmine and wrapped it around my neck walking back home. I had nothing better to do but check papers so I just went upstairs taking my shirt back off and putting on a pair of black sweatpants. I climbed into bed and started to drift off.

As I did I thought about Jazmine. I love that girl but I know I will never be able to have her. She doesn't want me.

And that's what hurt me the most.

Author's Note: So heyy! This is the new story I'm working on because now since it's summer I have more time to work on all my stories. This is something...new I guess. I never thought about something like this happening to Jazmine, until I did lol. I like it and since I already have a few of the chapters update wise you guys don't need to worry. Anyways leave a review and tell me how you feel about it I love reading your opinions!

Reviews are Love :)