Chapter 1: Only A Memory


Disclaimer: I do not own The Boondocks or the characters involved.

A/N: I've always had this in mind with one of my first OTP's. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1: Only a Memory


At one point, everything in life seemed to be prefect for a certain young mulatto. Her beauty was unparalleled, exotic, and her confidence was humbling. Jazmine Dubois, a senior attending Woodcrest High School is not just any young girl- she is one of the most popular in her ranks.

She's a force amongst her peers and Jazmine couldn't ask for more; she was ready to finish her senior year, the world was for her conquering, and she should be feeling ecstatic.

Surprisingly, even with all her prospects, she couldn't deny the fact that she just wasn't happy.

As Jazmine came home Saturday night, from hanging out with her friends, she was once again reminded of her blissful childhood. As she stared at the Freeman residence, she couldn't help but wish she was ten again and listening to Granddad's wild stories of his conquest with young women, Riley's constant attempts at trying to be "hood" and at the thought Jazmine couldn't help but giggle.

However, her spur of happiness was cut short as she remembered the last but certainly not least Freeman boy.

He was always there for her even when he pretended like he didn't care. She remembers when he helped bail her dad when he was charged with homicide, warning her about Mr. Wuncler's abuse of her lemonade stand, and even let her be a part of his survival plan during the chicken pandemic scare.

It wasn't that long ago but yet it felt like ages have passed by and she realizes how bitter she has become on the inside. But Jazmine learned the hard way that something's will never be the same, and no matter how nice you are, how much you work to be a good friend, you can never force someone to like you.

It was foolish of her, really, to like someone who was not compatible with her in almost every aspect. Even then, he was all she could think about- back when they were best friends.

She looked forward to hearing his conspiracies, even though she didn't want to believe most of them. She wanted to give him hope where he saw none; she wanted to make him smile when he felt he couldn't.

But it was an unrealistic dream; she should have known she was in over her head. Eventually, she found out her feelings were only one-sided as well as their friendship. She should have never invested so much time listening to Mr. Freeman's crazy stories, followed Riley's adventures at trying to be a "gangsta", but most importantly she shouldn't have ever fallen for Huey Freeman.


"Jazmine, you should go to Amber's sleepover. She invited you, aren't you even somewhat excited?" Mr. Dubois was at a loss; he couldn't believe his daughter didn't want to hang out with girls her age. Don't all girls want to go to sleepovers?

Jazmine rolled her eyes. Her father's constant meddling in her life has become obnoxious. "Daddy! I can't! I promised Huey and you didn't let me go last time either because it was 'late', we need to hang out for our secret meeting."

Sighing, Tom asked, "Honey, what are you two planning?"

She snickered, "I can't tell you, it's a secret!"

Of course, Tom should have known by now that he wouldn't get Jazmine to reveal any details over their "secret meetings".

At first, it worried Tom to no end to think his little girl was spending a substantial amount of time with an alleged retired terrorist, especially one that kept to his self and seemed to hate everything.

Though once he got to know Huey he realized he isn't as radical as most believed him to be- yes, his beliefs were but he would never hurt anyone . . . well at least not Jazmine.

Tom came to the conclusion that what really bothered him about Huey was the attachment Jazmine had towards the boy. Jazmine looked up to Huey, would talk about him constantly, and seemed to prefer his company to his and that made Tom jealous.

Feelings aside, Tom knew that his daughter still needed to socialize with girls of her age.

"Sweetie, you and Huey can plan your secret meeting any other day. Don't you think it would be nice to hang out with girls your age? You might have more things in common."

"But I like hanging out with Huey and I actually like his weird hobbies" Jazmine seemed to be lost in thought at this point, "a lot actually." She was of course persistent and to be frank she barely knew Amber and her group of friends. If she hung out with those girls she might be left out and she was already comfortable with Huey.

Her father interrupted her thoughts, "Look Jazmine, I asked Amber's parents for Amber to invite you."

Jazmine was not expecting that and to say she was pissed off was an understatement, "You did what?"

"You need to learn to talk to girls your age."

"I have friends that are girls, Dad! Huey is my best friend and he just happens to be a boy and there's nothing wrong with that!"

"Please Jazmine, just this one time- for your Dad? It would make me really happy to know you're being more sociable."

And how could Jazmine say no to her dad? She really didn't want to go but she couldn't stand seeing her father so desperate, she hated seeing her father this upset. She then concluded, "Fine, just this one time."

Tom was beyond relieved, "Thank you honey. I'm sure you'll have fun." He gave her a kiss on the cheek and ruffled her top hair. "Go get ready, I'll be taking you in an hour."

"Okay, but I'm going to go tell Huey I won't be able to make it."

"Why don't you just call?"

Jazmine couldn't repress the blood rushing to her face; "I haven't seen Huey all day."

Tom shook his head but gave his daughter an approving hand gesture, which prompted her to run out of the house as fast as she could. It happened every time; her legs felt like putty, her stomach felt like there was a million butterflies rumbling, and she just felt so happy.

Once she arrived at the Freeman house, she felt her nerves rising as she rang the doorbell but no one answered, not even the second time. I guess no one is home.

"What are ya' doing here, halfy?"

"Uh, Mr. Ruckus, hi!" Jazmine didn't like because she didn't know whether or not he hated her. She was half black and half white, so where she stood in Uncle Ruckus (no relation) perspective was beyond her.

"Them niggas ain't here, probably out lootin' a store!"

Immediately, Jazmine felt her enthusiasm be sucked out she really wanted to see Huey, especially considering she hadn't seen him in a while now. "Oh, I wanted to tell Huey that I won't be able to hang out today."

Out of character, Uncle Ruckus did something that if Jazmine weren't there to see it she wouldn't have believed it-he smiled, "Don't worry half-breed, I'll let the darky know."

Jazmine was left speechless she never thought he would ever be willing to do anything for her, especially something that would concern Huey Freeman. Nonetheless, she wasn't going to turn down any offer of kindness.

"Thank you Mr. Ruckus! I would really appreciate it", and to her surprise she was honestly very thankful.

"No problem, now you go head back to yo' beautiful white momma, and wannabe white dad."

I guess you can't ask for too much. Jazmine figured the gesture was nice enough and to look past the old man's racist comment.

There was some battles you had to choose and she felt this one was one she would never win-you should never fight against ignorance because ignorant people never want to learn. Without responding she ran back home to get ready for her forced sleepover.

By the next day, once the sleepover and morning goodbyes were over, Jazmine was back home. She wasn't going to lie the night out wasn't that bad. From watching Disney movies, eating candy and pizza, and even self-manicures it was overall a good time until the girls started styling each other's hair.

She wouldn't have minded their curiosity over her hair as much if it weren't for the invasion of her privacy.

Really? Who just comes up to someone and starts petting her like a damn domesticated animal. She wasn't some pet, she was a human being and she didn't give the girls permission to start touching her hair and the worst part was that she could feel the subtle judgmental looks.

But other than that she did have a nice time, still she would have preferred to have spent the night with Huey. After she unpacked and had lunch she decided to go over the Freeman residence and hang out with the boys.

Once again, she was back on the Freeman porch ringing the doorbell. But once again, nobody opened the door and she impatiently rang the doorbell hoping anyone would come to the door. Oddly enough, she swears she could hear a small but distinct mix of mumbling sounds and light footsteps across from her but then the noise just stopped.

The door didn't open and she was about to leave until she heard the door slightly creak revealing Riley in the narrow opening, he looked pissed but Jazmine decided not to comment because she was grateful someone finally opened the door.

"Riley!"

Dryly he responded, "What do you want Jazmine?"

Something was going on and Jazmine didn't like that she had no idea what was going on. She meekly said, "I was wondering if Huey was home."

"Nah, he's busy with shit." The thing was that Riley isn't a friendly person to begin with but he has never been rude to her.

"Can I just talk to Huey? I haven't seen him for a while and I-"

"Damn nigga, why is it he gotta be there but not the other way around?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Look, do him a favor and stop pretending to be all nice and fuck, no one's buying your shit anymore!"

"Riley, you're not making any sense! Just let me talk to Huey becau-"

He yelled at her, "Jazmine!" Which made her flinch back, she has never been in the receiving end of Riley's fury.

It seemed to pain Riley when he saw her reaction but he looked away and continued, "Jazmine . . . just go."

"But I-"

"I'm sorry, but he ain't going to talk to you."

She didn't get to say anything else as Riley closed the door on her face. Jazmine stood staring at the door speechless, her body felt numb, she was so confused, but most of all she was hurt.

After who knows how long, she sprinted down the street without really knowing where it was she going. Eventually, she found herself on top of their hill, where she sat in front of the large tree, where her and Huey usually spend their time together.

Finally, Jazmine's emotions caught up to her and she started bawling, holding her hands to her face at an attempt to keep her composure but it was a lost cause. She couldn't catch her breath, she was crying so much she her vision became blurry, and her sobs were so loud she couldn't hear anything around her. She just couldn't stop.

For the first time in Jazmine Dubois life her emotional state caused her physical pain and the worst part was that she didn't know why she was crying. Why would Riley be so rude to her? Why would he not even give her an explanation and worst of all why would Huey not want to talk to her?

What happened? Was he really that mad that she went to a sleepover? It wasn't her choice, her dad had forced her, but he wasn't even giving her an opportunity to explain herself. What the hell was going on?

All she did was cry that night. She lay by the tree and cried to her limit, cried until she couldn't produce any more tears and lost her voice. Eventually, she went back home and was fortunate enough that she didn't have to face her parents; she lifelessly dragged herself to her bed and collapsed. That night she managed to cry herself to sleep.

Jazmine doesn't stop contact like Riley asked her to do at first. Once a day, she would call the Freeman residence hoping Huey would answer. But he never did, it was always Granddad giving her the conventional, "Sorry sweetie, he isn't here."

They both knew he was there and they both knew he didn't want to talk to her. Two months had passed by and her calls became less frequent.

Jazmine has been trying so hard and to continue to be ignored was driving her to a depression that even made her parents suffer. The Dubois figured something must have happened between her and the Freeman boy but even when they tried to get any information from her or the Freeman's no one would answer.

Finally, Sarah decided to step in to help her daughter, "Sweetie, what's going on, you're not yourself anymore."

Jazmine whimpered, "Huey doesn't want to be my friend anymore."

Affectionately, Mrs. Dubois asked, "Why?"

She was ready to cry, "I don't know."

"You haven't talked to him?"

"He is avoiding me . . ." Jazmine couldn't help but feel embarrassed that she was being ignored so harshly.

"Did you do something to make him ignore you?"

"No, I didn't" Did I?

Sarah sighed, "Sometimes people change, and there really isn't anything we can do about it. I'm sorry honey that you're going through this but you can't force people to be your friend."

"I guess you're right."

Sarah smiled and took the house phone Jazmine had been clutching to her chest. "Besides, you were too good for him anyway!"

Funny, Jazmine thought, I always felt he was to good for me.

"C'mon Jazmine, let's go to the movies, I'll buy you some chocolate what do you say?"

Jazmine nodded and faked a smile following her mother out of her room and it took all of her will power not to think about the time she went with Huey to the movies. Even though Huey told her that day it was going to be "the worst day of her life" boy was he wrong.

She went on doing her best not to think of the Freemans and their secret meetings, fake charities, the hilltop, and how surprisingly warm Huey's hugs were.

From that day on Jazmine stopped calling, she stopped crying, but most of all she lost a part of herself.


Tom called out, "Jazmine, what are you doing outside at this hour?"

"Huh?" She was caught off guard; she didn't know what to respond considering she knows she shouldn't be thinking about frivolously matters. Still all these years had gone by and she still finds it difficult to ignore so many memories once she's in eyeshot of the house.

"Had so much fun with the girls you didn't want to come back home?" Tom joked.

Not really. Jazmine shrugged not knowing how to respond without mentioning what was really keeping her planted outside on her front lawn- she never was a good liar.

"Come on home sweetie, you have to go to finish up your homework and get ready for school tomorrow!"

"Right!" Jazmine quickly jogged back to her house fighting internally not to look back. Why should she? There was nothing for her there anyway.

Monday morning came around and Jazmine was ready for her weekly routine in school: she would go to first period, talk with Amber and the girls, lunch, go to her environmental group meetings, homework, and with social media all in between.

However, today wasn't going to be the same for Jazmine it never was going to be the same for her ever again. As Jazmine walked through the school hallways she was confused to be greeted with silent stares and suppressed giggles.

What the hell?

She dismissed the previous atmosphere and headed to her locker to get her biology textbook for first period. As Jazmine opened her locker she was shocked to find a white slick sheet of paper on top of her textbooks.

She began to worry; nobody knew her locker combination so how the hell was there something in there that wasn't put by her. Maybe it was a school board message. As she picked up her textbook with one hand and reached over to grab the paper with the other she was dreadfully shocked to see the contents of the sheet.

There it was clear as day two pictures printed side by side: the right side had an alleged shot of Jazmine, in the complete nude, on her knees with her rear end facing forward as her head was looking over her back to face the camera, as the other picture had her front bare with her hands behind her head.

WHAT. THE. FUCK?

She scrunched the paper and threw it in her bag at an attempt to hide it, but it was futile. As Jazmine turned around, she was surrounded by her peers, all of them staring at her, judging her. Shortly, someone from the crowd shouted out, "Hey Jazz, nice tits!"

The crowd erupted in laughter and Jazmine bolted through the crowd trying to run away from the laughter and crude comments. She ran towards the farthest restroom and locked herself in the first stall she could find. She felt sick and she felt like she was going to vomit.

She unfolded the scrunched up paper from her bag and stared at it with confusion, anger, and mostly shattered heart, "This isn't me..."


-Any reviews and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!