Chapter Two: Confusion

After dropping off Hiro and Jazmine, Huey had a hard time sleeping. He could not believe that Ming was back, but how come Hiro never told him that she was an Otomo? "This is going to be a long day…" Huey stated exasperated. The last time Huey saw Ming she was being wheeled into an ambulance van.

Huey wore a black long sleeve top, khaki pants and brown army boots with his everyday signature afro.

At School …

"Ey wassup brother?" Caesar asked while Huey was busy changing his books for his next subject. Caesar wore red jeans, his 'Mos Def' t-shirt and black Chuck Taylors with his dreads down.

"Nothing. What about you man?" Huey asked his best friend.

"I'm cool, but I can see you're not" Caesar pointed out.

Huey froze for a millisecond but then continued his task at hand. "May we talk about this later? I got Chemistry right now. We'll talk in African History."

"I'm down. Just don't lie to a nigga" Caesar said as he gave Huey dap before they departed. They were only people in their squad that was in the hallway currently because everyone else rushed to their classes early due to assignment tasks being handed out.

As Huey was walking down the hall to his class, the door in front of him flew open. He stepped back quickly and easily. He was ready to stare down the person that flung the door open. However, that would be slightly uncomfortable, because it was Ming.

"Gomen'nasai! I didn't mean to-"Ming stuttered as she realized she nearly gave someone a bloody nose. Yet, she cut herself short as she looked at the person in front of her.

Ming at first was a bit confused when she looked at Huey, because it hadn't come to her attention who she was looking at. After some time, her eyes widened and then shrunk slightly as she came to terms that Huey Percival Freeman was in front of her. They looked at each other for a while. Ming's dark shiny blue eyes looked into Huey's maroon ones.

"Hello Ming." Huey said.

"H-Huey Freeman" she stated a bit bewildered.

Ming Ayame Etsu Long-dou was part of the legendary Otomo and Long-dou Clan. Mai and Hikaru Otomo had four children. Their four children consisted of Mitsue, Kaminari, Natsuko and Kazumi. Kazumi met a beautiful American woman named Mirannda and had Hiro. Hiro was born and raised in Japan with his parents.

However, Natsuko who is Kazumi's older sister while working abroad in China met the love of her life, Huan Long-dou. They got married and had a baby girl, who is Ming. Huan's parents were extremely strict and made Natsuko fully emigrate to China to live with their family. This is why Ming's second and third name are Japanese: To keep the history of the Otomos in her name.

This also ended up with occasional visits to Japan where Ming learned her mother's tongue. Ming learned a lot from her cousin Hiro; like the cultures of Japan and life lessons as well. As they grew up, they became distant due to Huan's father forcing her to learn kickball, which she was surprisingly gifted at. Before Hiro and Ming could have moulded back what they had together, Hiro had emigrated to America at the age of nine with his parents.

"Ming, I am going to be late for class. Bye." Huey said flatly as he swift passed Ming walking to class. Ming did not move. Instead, she watched Huey shuffle quickly into his classroom.

In African History Class …

"Ready to tell a hommie wassup with a brother?" Caesar asked a bit impatient.

"It's Hiro's damn cousin" Huey answered bluntly.

"Who? Makie? The hot one who came to visit from Japan last year?" Caesar asked puzzled.

"No dumbass, Ming."

"Ming? I ain't never heard of no Ming in Hiro's fam. I only know about a girl named Ming who you played kickball with you when you were a kid…" Caesar was explaining until he caught on when Huey gave him that knowing look. "Ooooooooohh! … Oh, Oh, Oh snap! Wait what?! Hiro's related to that girl? What the hell? Since when?" Caesar rambled trying to get his head wrapped around things.

"I wondered all of this last night myself. I'm shocked that he never told us." Huey admitted.

"Well I haven't seen or met her yet." Caesar pointed out.

"You'll find out soon enough" Huey warned his friend.

At lunch …

Huey and Caesar were busy finding their table in the caferteria, until Caesar's girlfriend made it easy by calling him out. "Ey yo! Caesar! Over here babe! You too Mufasa!" Cindy shouted to the friends.

By the time they reached the table, Huey seemed irritated by what Cindy said and therefore scoulded her. "Don't call me that" he said sternly.

"Chill out Simba I was joking" Cindy chuckled.

"Cindy watch yourself" Huey warned her.

"Yeah yeah" she said just before she kissed Caesar on the cheek and took a bit of her sandwich. She was wearing her black bennie over her platted pigtails, a vibrant blue hoodie, black skinny jeans and red Vans.

"Yoooooo what it do, what it dooo?" Riley shouted approaching their cafeteria table with Jazmine. Riley wore dark green drop-crotch pants, white Airforce Jordans and a palm tree forest themed wifebeater. Jazmine wore classic three quarter capris jeans with a purple oversized boyfriend sweater that goes off her shoulder showing her black tank top underneath. She also wore navy blue Vans and her hair was tied up in a bushy high pony that showed off her golden hoop rings.

"Ey wassup yal?" Cindy and Caesar greeted back in unionism.

Huey quickly took a sip of his water before asking his brother and neighbour where Hiro was.

"He at the principal's office finalising some transfers with that Chinese wolf bitch of a cousin of his." Riley answered sitting down next to Jazmine who was sitting next to Huey.

Huey choked on his water while Caesar tried to seek fascination with his food. "Did you say transfer?" Huey asked clearing his lungs from the accidental intake of some water into them.

"Ugh, yeah. That what he told me though" Riley answered once more.

Jazmine patted Huey's back a bit and took out his lunch that she prepared for him. It had an apple, banana, almonds and a homemade veggie burger. "Thanks" Huey thanked Jazmine. This made her smile.

"You're welcome" she said before she took out her own lunch. It is not every day where Huey Freeman casually says thank you in front of people, so that made her feel special.

"Suuup" Skylar greeted as she approached the table and sat next to Cindy. She wore her wavy honey coloured hair down again today with a black and grey Taylor Gang snapback worn backwards on top of it. She also wore a slightly oversized black football jersey with the number 98 on it, a maroon flowy skirt and camo themed combat boots.

"Damn girl! You look hood!" Riley complimented generally.

"Thanks" she said with a smile.

"You look like you grew up in Brooklyn girl!" Caesar asked a bit stunned.

"The Bronx, actually" Skylar replied with simplicity. The entire table went silent, staring at her as if she came from Saturn.

"How the fuck is you from The Bronx but you still so behaved?!" Riley asked totally stunned.

"Ugh, well I was born in Madison, Wisconsin and moved to The Bronx at thirteen. I guess my manners never really changed-"

"Until you get the bitch angry" Cindy cut her off just before taking a sip of her Dr Pepper.

"That ain't true!" Skylar said getting a bit defensive as well as her accent coming out a bit.

"Psssht, either way, Brooklyn still holding the trophy! BROOOOOKLYYYYYN! BROOKLYYYN! WHAT! WHAT!" Caesar exclaimed getting himself hyped up.

"Whatever man" Skylar said as she rolled her eyes with a smile and chuckled. Everyone laughed and started average conversation up until Hiro and Ming arrived. "Who the girl Hiro with?" Skylar asked.

"That his cousin, we were talking about it before you came" Cindy explained. Skylar nodded as she saw them coming to the table. Hiro wore one of his classic green tracksuits and white Nike airs. Ming wore indigo jeggings, an unbuttoned orange dress shirt showing off her white tank underneath, galaxy themed hi-top All Stars and her hair down.

"What's good?" Hiro asked as he approached his friends with his cousin beside him. By the time he approached the table, everyone was silent.

"Hiro, are you fo'real?" Cindy asked her friend while glaring at his cousin.

"Girl what you talking about?" he asked confused.

"This bitch is your cousin?" she asked now getting angry.

"Baby cool it" Caesar said trying to calm his girlfriend down.

"Cindy woah girl, what the hell?" Hiro asked a bit surprised at how she approached Ming.

"That bitch gave me a black eye and a sprained ankle!" Cindy yelled.

"That was just under ten years ago blondy" Ming said calmly.

"Bitch what you call me?" Cindy asked rising from her chair making some people turn to their table.

"Sit down. If you don't stop now Cindy…" Huey tried to convince Cindy.

"Huey shut up!" Cindy spat back. "This bitch needs to get her act together. She can't just rock up here thinking she bad. I'll bust a cap in her ass!" She started glaring at Ming up and down intimidatley.

"Blondy, listen to your friends. They could help you from avoiding another black eye" Ming said smirking.

"Ming!" Hiro yelled.

"Bitch are you threatening me?!" Cindy yelled now getting super pissed. At Ming's threat, Skylar stood up as well.

"Hey! I don't know who you are, but you better watch yourself" Skylar said now standing up for her cousin.

"What is this? Legally Blonde? There's two of you?" Ming asked chuckling.

"EY! WATCH YOURSELF!" Skylar yelled, now letting her Bronx accent cut loose.

"Ey yo' ladies calm down!" Caesar said trying to be the good guy in this situation. This all made Riley snicker as he pressed play on his cellphone. Jazmine was busy sipping her Sprite ignoring this uncomfortable situation all together.

"Anata no yūjin wa orokadesu!" Ming complained to Hiro.

"Ming!" Hiro shouted. By this time, the entire cafeteria was looking at their table.

"Jibun o mite" Huey warned her. At this point Ming whipped her head towards Huey. Ming knew he understood and spoke Chinese, but she never knew he understood Japanese as well. "Anata no saisho no hi ni teki o tsukurimasen."

"Huey, damnit speak English!" Cindy yelled.

"You know what, I'll chat to you guys later. I just wanted to introduce yal to Ming, but there's something here I don't know." Hiro said as he turned around picking Ming to follow her.

After School…

"Ming what the hell? Is there something I don't know? This is because my crew doesn't just give straight up beef to just anybody" Hiro said.

"Maybe you don't know your friends so well" Ming tried to retort.

"Ming, don't get me angry. I haven't seen you in a while. Do not let me get angry at you when you've been here for less than a day. You know I love you and got your back, but you gotta tell me stuff for it to strengthen."

Ming sighed. "You see how Sofu (grandfather) always made me do kickball tournaments back in the day?"

"Yeah?"

"Have you ever wondered why I stopped?"

"Not really. I just thought you finally told Sofu you didn't wanna do it" Hiro said still trying to find the pieces.

"Well…" Ming said as she gave her cousin the tale of the Red Ball incident. At the end of the story Hiro was laughing so hard he started tearing up.

"Okay, well you gotta stop acting like you tough Ming. You might be strong, but not against a squad of five." Hiro chuckled.

"So what now?" she asked.

"Before we go home, you gotta apologise to the squad."

"Hiro c'mon!" Ming whined.

"Ey Riley!" Hiro called out.

"It's Reezy nigga!" he shouted from the parking lot.

"Where's the rest the gang?"

"They're about to head out. I'm out here scouting for my next hit" Riley said checking out girls.

Hiro rolled his eyes. "Yeah well someone wants to apologize." Riley looked at Ming and clicked his tongue against his pallet at her and looked away. Hiro chuckled at this encounter.

"A'ight, well she can prepare herself because here they come" he said as he pointed to the crew.

Ming sighed. This is gonna be a long day… she thought.

"Hiro, why is your punk ass cousin still here? Did she not learn already that she does not get on the McPhearson's bad side?" Cindy said getting angry just looking at Ming.

"Cindy, chill! She's here to say something" Hiro said turning to Ming.

"What's that?" Cindy said walking closer to Ming so that if she tries anything funny she can get a quick wack to her pretty face.

"Listen, I'm sorry I ganged up on you. I'm sorry I tried to start something that I was not gonna finish," she said while giving Huey a quick glance (That's what Huey said to her in Japanese previously).

"And?" Cindy and Skylar said in unionism.

"I'm sorry I called you guys Blondies" Ming apologised.

This made the McPhearsons smile a bit. "Hey, it's alright. Just don't start that trash again" Skylar said honestly. Cindy nodded with her arms crossed smiling a bit.

"I'm guessing you told Hiro why we got beef?" Cindy asked.

Hiro nodded. "Yeah, I gotta say, yal are more buck than I thought" he said with a smile giving Cindy, Riley and Huey dap.

"Finally!" Jazmine said totally exhausted from this entire situation. This made everyone laugh. "So, I would like to get home. I got things I gotta do."

At this point everyone was parting going to their cars and departing.

At the DuBois…

Jazmine waved Huey and Riley goodbye as she entered her house. She huffed while closing the door. She was completely exhausted from this day. She doesn't like fighting one ounce.

"Welcome home sweetie" Sarah said to her daughter.

"Hey mom" forcing a smile. However, Sarah could see that there was something wrong with her daughter.

"Okay, what is it?" Sarah said getting out of the kitchen walking to the living room. Jazmine walked to the living room as well hinting at her mother's actions.

"School" Jazmine said.

"And?" Sarah asked.

"Dancing and Singing"

"…And?"

"…" Jazmine sighed, "Huey."

"Theeere we go" Sarah said with a smile. "So what is it?"

"He's just being … Huey" Jazmine answered.

"Yeaaahh … that can happen" Sarah said. "Any events that have been occurring that could have triggered his attitude?"

"Well, this Ming girl showed up today and he's been strange ever since. He glances at her and everything. He's known her ever since that kickball match where dad got his butt kicked. It just makes me more insecure than what I already am" Jazmine said fiddling with her fingers.

"Agh honey, listen, don't look at her as a threat. You're talking about the girl that got hospitalized after Huey's fireball?"

"Yeah. She's really pretty mom."

"So are you Jazz. Sweetheart, you're smart, talented and important. If he doesn't know this now, then he'll never understand your value." Sarah said while rubbing Jazmine's arm and kissing her temple.

Jazmine nodded. "Yeah okay … Thanks mom" she said with a smile before giving her a big hug. After their mother-daughter chat, Jazmine went up into her bedroom to quickly do her homework.

After she was done with her homework, Jazmine got dressed in her gym outfit so she could go for a nice late afternoon jog. She kissed her mom goodbye before heading out the door. She wore black shorts, neon orange and pink Nikes and a pink sweatshirt. She had her earphones in as she jogged the neighbourhood called Woodcrest.

Jazmine was so deep in her thoughts that she was jogging for a long duration of time without getting a breather. This lead to her not being alert about her surroundings as well. Next thing she knew, she had bumped into a person. "Ah! I'm so sorry!" she said snapping out of her thoughts. She looked up to see Huey looking down at her.

"Jazmine, seriously?" Huey asked sounding annoyed.

"I said I'm sorry for bumping into you" she explained.

"Not that Jazmine. It's 17:19 and you're jogging by yourself? Who knows what could have happened to you! The white government won't do anything to help you. You know why?" Huey asked a level more annoyed.

"Because the white people only care about themselves." Jazmine answered. Being friends with Huey Freeman all your life, you have to know your answers.

"Exactly. Now come on, your jog is over" He said sternly as he grabbed her arm and started walking her back home.

It took Jazmine some time to realise that the reason Huey was fuming at her was because he was worried. Huey Percival Freeman was worried about Jazmine Elizabeth DuBois' safety. This made her smile and blush slightly. When they finally reached their destination, Huey pulled her to his house instead.

"Ugh, Huey-"

"Shut up" he said as he continued pulling her.

"Huey! About time you came home! Start making dinner I'm getting peckish!" Grandad yelled.

"Yes Grandad" Huey said finally letting go of Jazmine's arm.

"Evening Mr Freeman" Jazmine said brightly.

"Hey little baby!" Grandad said turning to Jazmine from his armchair. "What you doing here so late? Is it Huey being a punk?"

Jazmine giggled, "No, Mr Freeman" she answered.

"Sup Mariah!" Riley said coming down the stairs chewing an apple.

"Riley-" Jazmine said about to argue.

"Chill! I'm just messing with you" Riley said chuckling, approaching her and giving a kiss on her temple. "You good Jazz?" he asked Jazmine with a genuine smile.

Jazmine rolled her eyes and started smiling. "Yeah I'm okay."

Huey knew that Jazmine was practically Riley's big sister, but he doesn't like the 'brotherly' kisses he gives her. He remembers once for Jazmine's birthday, Riley drew her a really nice drawing of her as well as a pair of earphones. She thanked him by giving the biggest hug she could master and a kiss on his cheek. After that, they happened occasionally. Riley would never show his soft side to people, because he's 'too gangster' for those kind of things.

"So how are you handling Caesar and Cindy?" she asked her closest friends.

"Man, lets not even go there. I'm still tryna let it sink in" Riley said looking down. Jazmine nodded and immediately changed the topic to something else.

"Jazmine! Come here" Huey ordered. This made her jump and run to the kitchen. Riley snickered in the process.

"Ugh, yeah?" she asked still a bit startled.

"Take out the pasta" he ordered. Jazmine just stood there and began to fold her arms over her chest. Huey looked at her and then rolled his eyes. "Please?" Jazmine smiled and nodded before she went and did her task.

This ended with them cooking a very well-cooked dinner for the Freeman household. They had Penne Alfredo with a specially made ice tea from Jazmine. It had watermelon with squeezed oranges all in crushed ice.

"Thanks for the meal everyone!" Jazmine said as she finished getting Tupperware contained meals for her parents.

"Oh no cutie pie! Thank you for making it!" Grandad said as she was heading towards the door.

"See you all tomorrow!" she said as she exited their residence.

When Jazmine entered her home, she was bombarded by her father. "Jazmine! Where have you been! Ive been worried sick!" Tom exclaimed.

"Tom I already told you that she went for a jog and then went to Huey's" Sarah said flatly.

"But still! Huey never knew you went jogging! Is he stalking you? I knew there was something off with that boy!" Tom rambled.

"Dad, I went jogging and I bumped into Huey. He was on his way home from work." Jazmine explained clearly uninterested from her father's rambles.

"Oh, ugh, okay honey! Daddy still loves you" Tom said giving his daughter a kiss on her forehead.

"I love you too Dad" she said chuckling at her father's foolishness.

"Okay I'm heading upstairs. Here's some food Huey and I cooked. I made extra just for you guys" She said as she placed it down on the counter, still warm.

Jazmine headed upstairs and got in the shower. When she was done, she got dress in her JT One pajama set and sat on her bed as she relaxed. Sarah must be a physcic because she knocked and entered her room at the perfect time.

"Sooo…" Sarah said with a sly smile.

"Shut up" Jazmine said before chuckling.

"I told you he doesn't like that Ming girl!" she said in a victorious manner. Sarah sat down next to Jazmine on her bed and kissed her temple again.

It was 20:45 when Jazmine and Sarah had started chatting. It was currently 21:16 as they finished off their deep conversation. They said their goodnights and Sarah switched off her bedroom light for her like she was still ten. Jasmine went to bed that night with a lighter heart and a soon brighter morning.