Huey glanced at his watch with a sigh, slouching deeper into the seat. He and Jazmine had been sitting in the doctor's waiting room for only a minute or two, but it seemed like forever because of the heavy nervous breaths coming from Jazmine in the seat next to him. Huey watched her wide eyes dart here and there in the somewhat crowded room, her nervousness having no end.
"Y'know, maybe if you'd calm down, this wouldn't seem so bad," Huey said, raising an eyebrow at her. Jazmine met his gaze, only to roll her eyes impatiently.
"Well, it's not like you're trying to calm me down, so suggesting it doesn't make a difference, genius," she grumbled back. Huey rolled his own eyes at that. She was always throwing in his face how uncompassionate he was sometimes toward her. It wasn't a surprise after all. In fact, it should be expected. Since when was Huey the compassionate one?
He tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, sensing the now uneasy silence between them, both of their impatient breaths seizing the air. He wanted to calm her down, but how? Hug her? No, last time he did that, she went into a fit of giggles because it was so out of character for him. Huey frowned at the thought. So instead, settled on holding her hand, intertwining their fingers casually.
Jazmine looked down at their locked hands, smiling her brilliant smile despite her stance. She scooched in a little until their shoulders were touching, making her curly hair lightly tickle his nose. "That's better," she whispered, her quick breathing already seeming to slow. Huey only sighed in relief, satisfied with his simple move.
This was his girl. The one and only Jazmine Dubois. He'd be marrying her—hopefully. They already had a nice house together, so why not seal the deal? Just the thought of her officially belonging to him, wedding ring and all, made his heart flutter. He could tell that she was waiting for him to ask, because every time the topic of marriage came up, she'd blush like a little school girl. But Huey wasn't dwelling on the matter at the moment. They were only 21, after all. Too young to really know what's best for the both of them.
"Ms. Dubois?" the receptionist at the front desk then said, glancing up from her computer screen and into the crowd. Both of them looked up, already making a move to stand. The receptionist looked their way, assuming it was their scheduled appointment. "Unfortunately, Dr. Lambert isn't in today. We'll have to reschedule your appoint-"
"Yes, thank god!" Jazmine practically yelled, jumping up with excitement and thrusting her fist in the air as if she just won some championship game. The crowd stirred, growing silent as everyone just stared awkwardly their way. Huey pinched the bridge of his nose, loathing the undesired attention, and the receptionist just stared, dumbfounded at Jazmine.
The happy little mulatto opened her eyes again, realizing that she was the only happy soul that was celebrating. "Um, sorry," she said quickly, glancing around and slowly bringing down her fist. Huey sighed.
The receptionist spoke again, clearing her throat. "Now, would you like to reschedule your appointment?"
Huey nodded before Jazmine could protest, stepping forward to work out the details. "How's two sound? Tomorrow maybe?"
The lady typed at her keyboard behind her desk, only to frown. "Looks like the doctor won't be in until for two weeks. Is that okay, sir?"
Huey looked from the receptionist to Jazmine, who was already smiling again at the slight delay. He then nodded with a sigh, turning back to the lady.
"Yes, two weeks sounds fine."
Jazmine buckled her seatbelt happily. "Now can we go to the movies to see-"
"No," Huey stated bluntly.
Jazmine turned to him in her seat, already ready to put up a fight. "Why? You said if I went to the doctor's office, then we could go! So I went-"
"Yeah, but you didn't actually get to see the doctor Jazmine."
She huffed. "That wasn't in the deal! Plus, it's not my fault that the stupid doctor wasn't there! I should deserve a reward for just being a brave soul and following through with your-"
"Hold, on. Did you say brave?" Huey questioned as he put the car into drive, backing it out of the parking lot. Jazmine rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her petite chest.
"Because I was brave," she muttered grumpily.
Huey shook his head, the tiniest look of amusement on his face. "No Jaz, you weren't a 'brave soul' today." He glanced at her, fighting the urge to smile at the way her face was scrunched up. She just hated to be mocked by him.
"I was kidding, y'know. I was taking you the movies anyway," Huey said then, trying to lift her spirits even though this was very amusing to him. Jazmine brightened up at that, straightening in her seat.
"You mean it?"
Huey nodded in response, his eyes back on the road. Jazmine could only smile from ear-to-ear. She loved surprises, anyone with a brain knew that. But the best surprises were when Huey was involved, which would make her smile until her face was stuck, cheesin' and all.
"Oh, Huey, this movie is going to be absolutely amazing!" she exclaimed in excitement then, cupping her cheeks in her hands happily.
Huey snorted. "You say that about every movie, Jazmine."
"Because every movie is absolutely amazing!"
"Every movie?"
"Every movie!"
Huey shook his head, wondering how this girl managed to surprise him every time, even when he knew her like the back of his hand. "If every movie is amazing…then how are bad movies amazing?"
Jazmine considered this before scrunching up her nose again. "Hush Huey. All you do is question things when you open your mouth…"
Huey snorted. "But when I don't open my mouth, it irks you?"
"Extremely."
"Well, you can't have it both ways-"
She was giggling now. "I'll make it work, Freeman."
And that's what they do. Make things work. They've had this motto since the beginning when things were still a little skeptical between them, Jazmine with her whining ten-year-old self, and Huey with his cold and non-relatable ten-year-old self. And it's been working ever since, slowly and unbelievably, they grew closer. Crazy, right?
