He stood there tall, wrapped in a scarf and hoodie with sweatpants. Unbelievable, she thought as she gaped at this man. He had changed in the two years she hadn't seen him. His shoulders were broader, he was more filled out with muscle and was no longer scrawny. He had turned into this handsome man in that time.
"Hi…" she whispered, still in disbelief.
"Hey," he said back. He looked a little uncomfortable while gazing at her. She wished she had something a little more revealing. "Can I come in?"
"Oh… yeah sure."
He came in and stood, looking around with an awkward stance.
"I didn't expect to see you here. Do you want some tea or something?"
He shook his head and didn't say anything.
"Um let's sit down. I'm sure you're tired."
She led him to the sofa and they both sat down, not knowing what to do or say. Finally he was the one who spoke up. "This is a very nice apartment," he mumbled.
"Yeah, Cindy and I have been living here while we go to school."
This was just too weird for Jazmine. Having Huey Freeman in her apartment.
Eventually they got to talking, the tension in the air finally lessened. He was still in Arizona attending college. Still majoring in political science and had joined a fraternity for black pride. That didn't surprise her.
"So how was it at first?"
"It was fine," he answered. "At first I thought there was nothing but idiots up there but it's better now. There were actually people who had the same ideologies as I do. We all work for the same goal to fight oppression for our race and undo the social and political injustices…"
He just went on and on about these friends of his. Jazmine eventually tuned him out and stared at him and nodded every now and then. This is the same thing he always talked about so she already knew what he was saying. His jaw seems more masculine, she thought, and stared at it.
"Jazmine?"
"Hmm?" He brought her out of her trance.
"You zoned out. I thought you weren't paying attention." He was used to people not paying attention to what he was saying but usually he listened.
"Sorry, I guess I'm just tired."
"Stay up a while longer," he was almost pleading with her. This had never happened before. She just nodded and continued to talk about his school and the groups he was in.
"What about you?"
She thought a moment before replying. "Well, I'm going to sister branch of the state university that's located here. I'm studying to be a veterinarian. I also work at the grocery store that's down the street. Cindy and I have both been working to save up money so we can go to California this summer."
"Why California?"
"You know, the beach, sand, and it's just to get away to a nice place and relax."
He wanted to say something but stopped himself but was still gazing at her. Feeling self-conscious she tried to cross her legs and put her hands in her lap.
"You've really changed," he said and looked away.
"So have you," she retorted.
Here was Huey in her apartment, they were alone and on vacation. They could practically have the whole week to do whatever they wanted. Secretly she wanted to stay in bed with him the entire time. It was something that she had dreamed about since she was sixteen. They would be in bed and do so many dirty things and it was deliciously fun. When she had those dreams, Jazmine would wake up covered in sweat and soaked in between her legs. She could reach down and feel the wetness through her undergarments. Sometimes she would the cloth aside and touch herself thinking of him. She always imagined him sneaking into her room and quietly making love to her. Her face felt hot at the thought of the two of them together. She would never, ever tell him something like that though in fear that he would make fun of her.
"You zoned out again," he stated.
" Oh, um, yeah. Sorry."
"I bet you have boys chasing after you all the time." He had a little sadness in his eyes but it was hard to tell.
"Not really. I do have a friend who takes me out every now and then but it's mostly for studying."
"Studying? I see." He rubbed the little bit of stubble he had on his chin. Was that jealousy? She didn't want to know but she wanted to attention off of her.
"What about you?" She asked mentally preparing herself for the answer.
"It was certainly an awakening for me. Spiritually and on the… sexual side." Huey had a sexual awakening?
"How was it?"
"It was interesting to say the least. Fun though. They were all black girls and one from Haiti was really the one who taught me everything."
This made her wonder how many girls he had slept with and if the Haitian girl was in a committed relationship with him. "Was it serious?"
He paused before answering. "For a while yeah. We protested together, went to meetings, and had study sessions. But she was on too many drugs."
If she hadn't been on drugs then Huey could have ended marrying that girl. She sounded like the perfect one for him. It wasn't something that she would do with him.
She was tired of beating around the bush. "Why are you here, Huey? How did you even find out where I lived?"
"From your mom. I told her I needed to see you in person so she gave me the address of your apartment and where you worked."
She cut him off. "So were you in there earlier today?"
He nodded. "I didn't think I would run into you so soon but I did. You shouldn't climb on shelves. They could collapse and you'd get hurt."
"Why didn't you say anything to me?"
"I didn't believe that was you at first. You really have changed, Jazmine. You're not that little girl. You've grown up and become a woman now. You're more mature and serious than you were before."
He lifted his hand and put it near hers. He wasn't touching her but she could feel tingles up her arm and shivers down her spine. Him being so close was making her wet and she squirmed uncomfortably.
"I came back home for that pagan, conspirator holiday. I wanted to see you but I didn't know you had moved. I came here to… apologize for something."
Oh, again this was unexpected. "For what?"
"Do you remember the day before I left for Arizona? I made you two promises."
Of course she remembered. She had cried for so long after he had left. "I remember," she said stiffly.
He looked at her. "I really am sorry, Jazzy. I couldn't do it. I wanted to but back then I couldn't bring myself to do it. Seeing you that day would've done things to me. Seeing you now does things to me"
What was he talking about? "Care to elaborate?"
He talked quietly "I needed to go. I wanted to leave Woodcrest since the day I arrived. One thing was holding me back though. If I had seen you then I probably would have thrown all of that shit back in my room and stayed. When I left I couldn't stop thinking about you. I was a coward and didn't want to go back to see if you were hurt or check up on you myself. I'm here to apologize for that."
This was one of the most selfish confession she had ever heard but this was the first she's heard him admit he was a coward. The way he talked proved he did at least care for her a bit. She looked at him, he wasn't looking at her and he was tense and trembling slightly. She couldn't stay mad at her Huey and scooted on the couch to put her arms around him. He tensed but rested his hands on her waist pulling her closer. "I'm not here asking for forgiveness," he admitted.
"Huey, you are one of the smartest people I know but with that said, you can be a real idiot sometimes. You can be one of the most insufferable people I have had to meet. But I do forgive you."
He let out a breath he was holding in and relaxed in her arms. "You don't know how much I missed you." His lips brushed across her neck and sent shivers down below and made her grow hot. She didn't say anything but held him tighter.
"So why did you decide to apologize after all this time?"
He tensed again before finally replying. "I may not be able to do it again."
She released him and looked in his eyes. "What's going on?"
"You know when I said my old girl was on drugs. Well she getting high when I was with her and there was a raid. Cops caught me with her so they assumed I supplied the drugs and was doing them too. I'm going to stand trial next month and I might go to prison, Jazmine. I don't want any regrets."
"Have you talked to Daddy yet? He can help you."
"No. I don't want him knowing about this. You know how he can be and do you honestly think he'll let me near his girl again if I was being prosecuted for a drug bust. Even though it's not my fault he won't ever let me see you again."
She looked down at her hands, folded in her lap again but he tipped her chin up to look back at him. "I couldn't stand the thought of being in prison while you don't know anything. It's not fair to you."
"Nothing you've done has been fair to me."
"I know but it was for the best."
"The best for you." She looked at him with defiance in her eyes. She didn't want to hurt him but he deserved it after everything he's done. She knew what she was saying would make him sulk and she didn't want that but this was her chance to own him and make him pay. Was it worth it? He stared off into space and his hands were still on her waist. She liked having his hands on her and she hugged his neck again.
"It's going to be ok. I know it."
"Jazmine, I want to make a promise to you."
"Oh, Huey. Please don't make promises you can't keep."
"I won't this time. I promise that if I don't go to prison, I'll start calling you and talking to you again. And I'll see you more often. When you're in trouble, I'll be there for you to protect you."
"What trouble will I get into?"
"This is a big city, and you're a really beautiful girl. Someone like you shouldn't be walking alone. You never know when something might happen."
She had never seen him this kind to her before. "Maybe if you teach some things I can protect myself."
He gave her a weird look and she couldn't help but laugh at him. He was acting as if he were a protective boyfriend. "That's a nice sound to hear you laugh. It's been a really long time since I've heard it. Seriously, you've changed so much."
"I'm only eighteen. I don't think I've changed that much in two years."
"Stand up. Let me show you."
She did as she was told, hands clasped behind her back.