"The early twenties has never been so nerve-racking..."
21-year-old Jazmine nibbled on her toast noisily, humming a frilly tune as she sat. Her legs dangled from the high chair, so she swung them happily. Her significant other sat in a regular chair next to her, not minding that she was high above him. He sat quietly as always, scanning the morning paper for current events to rant about.
Jazmine watched how his eyes would dart across the clean print paper, or how his eyebrows would arch as he read. He would sigh heavily when he read something tragic or wrong, often wondering why such things were happing around the world. Then he would fold the page over, repeating this reading process.
The giddy mulatto didn't mind how quiet it was in the kitchen that morning, loving how the peacefulness would cascade around them. She cherished these moments, her nibbling on her toast and him reading his paper. It was nice, y'know? Like there was nothing more perfect. Then the Freeman boy opened his mouth, speaking for the first time that morning.
"If the government wants nothing to do with us, then why are they constantly raiding us for our money?" he said rather quietly, his brows scrunching together frustratingly. Jazmine didn't exactly catch that, not expecting him to speak so abruptly.
"Those pigs..." she said in response, not exactly sure what she was agreeing with. Huey did this so often that she adapted this as her go-to phrase, responding with it to agree with whatever political thing he was grumbling about at the time. Huey then folded his paper up neatly.
"Now can I read the comic section?" Jazmine asked with a smile, tiny bread crumbs decorating her cheeks as she looked at him. Huey didn't respond, checking his watch absentmindedly.
"Don't you have a doctor's appointment today?" he asked, glancing up at her with a frown. Jazmine widened her eyes, her smile growing cheesier as she swallowed her bread.
"A doctor's appointment? Nope, I don't think so," she said quickly, trying to hide the nervousness in her voice. Huey rolled his eyes, giving her an annoyed look.
"Why are you so afraid to go to the doctor? We've been through this. It's a tiny little check-up, and then you're free to go. Simple," he lectured, raising his hands in confusion.
Jazmine huffed. "I'm not scared of the doctor! I'm..I just don't like needles," she said defensively, crossing her arms and poking her bottom lip out. Huey pinched the bridge of his nose.
"It'll be quick. You won't even feel it!" he said exasperatedly.
Jazmine only shook her head stubbornly. "I'm not going."
"Jaz-"
"Nope."
"C'mon Jaz-"
"Not-uh."
Huey narrowed his eyes at her then, taking a deep breath. "Well, then I guess we can't see that new movie that you want to see so badly.." he said, shrugging his shoulders. Jazmine's mouth dropped in shock.
"What do you mean?! I have to see The Return of the Sparkle Pony! It's the sequel to the first one where Princess Sparkle had to defeat the evil witch doctor-"
Huey snorted and gave her a mocking look. "Why should I go with you to the movies if you won't do this one little thing for me?" he said.
Jazmine stopped swinging her legs in the high chair, furrowing her brows at him. She hated when he made valid points, often twisting her words around to make him right. She sighed heavily in defeat, rolling her eyes to show her frustration.
"Fine, I'll go to the dumb doctor to get an even dumber shot. Happy?"
"That's all I ask of you," Huey said simply.
"That's all I ask of you," Jazmine mimicked in a high-pitched voice, mocking him. Huey gave her the tiniest of amused looks before standing from his chair, a little proud that he won this little battle.
"Well then, I'm going to go take a shower-"
"Wait, you didn't eat any breakfast yet!"
"I'll pass on the burnt toast Jazmine."
"…But it's good burnt toast!"
Huey snorted, shooting her a questioning look before heading up the stairs to fulfill his morning routine. Jazmine pouted in response, now feeling lonely as she started to swing her feet again. The house's silence continued to drag out, making it seem louder when it really wasn't.
She finished off her toast, wiping the stray crumbs away, before hopping down from the highchair. Her rubber ducky slippers squeaked with every step as she headed for the stairs also, sighing grumpily.
She could hear the shower running as she stepped into their shared room. She noticed how the bathroom door was closed, Huey probably showering away. Jazmine then inched to the windows, opening the blinds to brighten the room a little. The TV was still on, meaning that they had forgotten to turn it off last night.
Jazmine then kicked off her slippers before laying down in the bed, stretching out with a yawn which was almost cat-like. She snuggled between the oversized silk feather-stuffed pillows, loving the immediate comfortableness. She pulled her night mask over her eyes, suddenly feeling the urge to go back to sleep just as a phone vibrated.
Jazmine removed the mask, looking over at the noisy phone.
It was Huey's.
She debated with herself a little, wondering if it would be okay if she answered it. She didn't wanted to seem like she was trespassing. But then again, they're so far in their relationship. I mean, they have a freaking house together! If they don't have trust, then what's the point?
Jazmine snatched the phone, suddenly eager, turning the device on. The lock-screen popped up, followed by the password block. She knitted her brows together, a little confused. What did he need a password for? He trusts her right? Hm, password, Jazmine thought confusingly as she stared at the bright screen.
What would his password be? Blackpower?
She typed it in.
Incorrect.
Jazmine huffed. Then she smiled a little. What if his password is my name?
She typed it in.
Incorrect. Try again in 5 minutes.
Rolling her eyes at that, she whistled through her nose. If she had a password on her phone, it would be his name! Isn't that what all romantic couples do? Oh, that's right, Huey's not romantic. Urgh. Why does he have to be so difficult?
That's when she heard the shower water turn off, meaning that Huey would be out in any minute. Frightened, Jazmine turned his phone off and threw it back on the bed. The last thing she wanted was to be caught by the Freeman boy looking through his phone like a creep. Jazmine quickly acted "natural", throwing her arms behind her head as she laid against a pillow. Within seconds, the bathroom door flung open.
Huey stepped out, holding a white towel around his waist with one hand, the other fluffing up his afro with his pick. He was fresh and wet, his silky mocha skin seeming to glisten. Jazmine just about squeaked, smiling nervously up at him from her awkward position on the bed.
Huey looked at her, raising a curious eyebrow at her weirdness. Jazmine's smile only seemed to get bigger, the nervousness seeming to make her squirm. She glanced at his phone. It was only inches away from her, face down on the comforter and everything. Huey followed her eyes, arching his brow up even higher as he made his way over slowly.
Noting his sudden approach, she quickly snatched up his phone sitting up. "Huey..wait!" she sputtered, holding the phone close to her chest protectively.
"Wait? Why? What's wrong with my phone…" he asked, inching even closer till he was hovering over her. She continued to hold the phone out of his reach. Huey furrowed his eyebrows, really wondering now what was going. Jazmine's eyes widened as he tried to peel it from her hands.
"No, it's—I, wait!" she cried, the phone slipping into his grip.
Huey then turned on the phone, holding it high above Jazmine's reach as he read the bright screen quietly. "Incorrect. Try again in five minutes?" he mumbled to himself. He looked over at Jazmine confusingly again, who held the most frightened look possible. "You were trying to get into my phone?" he questioned.
"Yes, but it was only because it vibrated! I just wanted to…I don't know..! "Jazmine exclaimed, throwing her arms up in protest.
Huey looked at her a little longer before shrugging. "Okay, whatever. It's no big deal."
Jazmine gasped at that, even more shocked. "No big deal? It's a very big deal! Aren't you upset with me? You should be outraged that I was trying to violate your privacy! You-"
"Jaz-"
"You should feel betrayed! Like I don't trust you or something like that-"
"Jazmine!"
She looked up at him. "Yes?"
"I'm not angry, outraged, or even upset. I glad you were honest with me. That's all that matters right? I trust you," Huey said calmly, looking down at her with his wine eyes. Jazmine blinked, not understanding why he was being so calm about this.
"Well, then if you trust me, why do you have a password lock?" she asked smartly, narrowing her kiwi eyes at him suspiciously. Huey rolled his eyes at that, letting out some air from his mouth in exhaustion.
"I couldn't figure out how to take it off," He said simply, giving his shoulders a shrug. Jazmine considered this before shrugging also.
"Okay. So, just so we're on the same page…what is your password?"
Huey's cheeks then brightened a little, darting his eyes to the side. "Well, I mean, it's a simple password…nothing complex or anything like that.."
Jazmine grinned, loving his tenseness. "Okay…and..?" she said, urging him to continue.
Huey scratched his head, looking around. "Gee..it's really hot in here. Want me to turn the air condition-"
"Tell me Huey!" Jazmine giggly demanded.
He sighed heavily in defeat. "It's Ju…" he mumbled.
"What?" Jazmine questioned, not catching the last part.
"Ju…" Huey repeated grumpily.
"Come again?"
"It's Juey!" Huey yelled then, throwing his arms up in frustration.
Jazmine tapped her chin in response..evaluating this. Then she grinned. "Huey plus Jazmine…equals Juey! Awwh, I love it!" she exclaimed joyfully, throwing her arms around his still wet back. Huey only sighed in response, feeling completely drained. Yeah, great talk Jazmine, He thought sarcastically.