The rest of the school week goes mostly the same less of Jazmine worrying about how distant her and Huey are becoming and more of Huey keeping his promise and spending more time with her. And since Jazmine's parents have been working late nights she's over the Freeman's house most of the time. She doesn't mind.

Nope she doesn't mind at all especially as she sits at the kitchen island drinking her usual strawberry and pineapple smoothie on a saturday morning watching her mom talk on the phone as she goes about making coffee as usual, she's dressed in her grey satin robe and Jazmine hopes that she gets to spend the day with her.

After another five minutes of fast talking from Sarah and silence and the occasional clank of Jazmine's mason jar against the white marble island Sarah finally hangs up. She stares at Jazmine and gives her a small smile that Jazmine returns.

"Hey guys," Tom greets as he enters the kitchen. He kisses Jazmine's messy curly head and then his wife's rosy cheek.

"Hi sweetie," Sarah greets in return as she sips on her mug of coffee.

"Jazmine watches as her parents smile at each other and begin talking about meaningless things that happened at work this week and she watches the way the married couple erupt in soft laughter and mutual understanding.

She also notices the ease in which her mom gently hands her dad his morning coffee and the way he grabs her thin waist as he takes it from her. As usual.

"So, how was school this week, honey?" Jazmine looks at her mother who along with her father looks interested in what she has to say. Finally.

"Oh, it was pretty good. I have two classes with Cindy, one with Caesar and Hiro. And none with Huey," The couple's daughter replies, purposely rushing out that last part. Which does not go unnoticed.

"What? Again?" Tom asks with both of his eyebrows raised and Jazmine nods.

"He's taking more AP classes this year. Again. And that's good for him because it looks good for colleges and-"

"But you guys haven't really spent as much time as you usually have and-" Jazmine looks at her mother secretly hoping she stop. Unbeknownst to her daughter Sarah gets it, she lives it.

Getting to the point Sarah just says, "I just know how upset you were last year is all."

"Yeah,but me and Huey talked about it already," The teen girl says before taking a long sip of her smoothie.

"You did? How did it go?" Tom asks excitedly.

"It went well," Jazmine says her voice going up in pitch at the end. "He agreed to try to spend more time with me," Jazmine says a smile curving her pink lips as she stares at her almost finished smoothie. She glances up as her father starts talking about something Mr. Freeman said the other day and as Jazmine laughs she locks eyes with her mother.

Sarah just smiles at Jazmine as she sips her coffee, but it looks as if something is hidden beneath her small smile. The teen does not question it and instead brushes it off to be nothing.

"So, we actually wanted to ask," Tom starts and Jazmine waits in anticipation, hoping that they're actually taking the day off. Weekends are supposed to be reserved for her after after all. "If you wanted to go see that new movie, what's it called again?" Tom says a smile curving his lips as he pretends to not know the name of the movie Jazmine's been dolling over for the past month. "Miranda's-"

"Miranda's Adventure?!" Jazmine finishes excitedly and Tom and Sarah both laugh at Jazmine as she rushes around the island and squeezes them both against her before leaving and bounding up the stairs.

(*)

"Well, she's excited," Sarah says as she washes her and Tom's empty mugs. "Considering how down she's been this week."

"And the week before," Tom adds. "It's just the stress of going back to school and teenage issues."

"So, it's perfectly normal?"

"Yes, of course, why wouldn't it be?"

Sarah stares into space for a moment much like Jazmine does before answering, "Yeah, it's probably just teenage issues." Her husband nods and sighs as Sarah wraps her arms around his chest, "I haven't seen much of you this week, is everything okay?"

"Yes, everything is fine, I'm fine,"Tom says moving out of Sarah's touch. "You should probably go get ready, our movie starts at two," he says before kissing his wife's cheek briefly before leaving the kitchen.

Sarah continues to stand there trying to ignore the nagging feeling in her gut. "Not today," she whispers before going to get ready.


"McFearsome, what's up?" Riley asks as he sinks another three pointer much to Caesar's dismay.

"How you doin' Reezy, who winnin?" Cindy watches as Caesar successfully steals the ball from Riley and jumps up to make a shot only for his shot to be knocked down by Riley. Riley quickly steals the ball and Caesar just stares in shock as Riley makes the winning shot.

"Clearly me," Riley gloats.

"Better luck next time," Cindy says patting Caesar's back her lips pursed as she tries not to burst out laughing and failing miserably.

"Whatever, you got next? Cause I'm about to head inside see what Huey's up to," Ceaser says giving Riley and Cindy a mock salute before leaving.

"A'right, you wanna play?"

"Sure, wouldn't miss an opportunity to whoop yo ass in a game again."

"Aye, don't forget that I had a three point lead Thursday!"

"But you still loss, now c'mon, let's play."

Riley grumbles to himself, but start the game. About 15 minutes into their game Riley lets out a frustrated groan after easily stealing the ball from Cindy's grasp for the fourth time already. "Are you gonna play or not?"

"What?"

"You're goin' easy on me. If you're gonna do that shit I'm out."

"I am playing," Cindy states and looks away from Riley trying to steal the ball back, but Riley holds it out of her reach.

"Naw, you ain't. Or maybe you're becoming too soft. Never thought I'd see the day-"

"And you still haven't. Now, pass the ball."

"Alright, check,"Riley says with a smirk.

They play for five more minutes and its 20-20.

"One more shot, game over. What you gon' do?" Riley taunts Cindy purses her lips and dribbles towards the basket only for the ball to be stolen from Riley.

Riley goes to slam the ball in the hoop, but the ball is blocked and using Riley's momentary shock to her advantage the blonde girl takes the ball back. Not wasting anymore time especially in this hot ass sun Cindy shoots the ball into the basket instantly winning the game.

"A'right, good game," Riley says holding out his hand and Cindy takes it before slapping his sweat drenched wifebeater. Riley laughs and goes to put his basketball in the garage.

As Cindy sits on the door steps she watches as Riley lifts his shirt to wipe the sweat off of his forehead. 'Since when did Riley get some Abs?' Cindy thinks to herself because the boy is actually sporting a six-pack and it doesn't help that he's practically dripping in sweat after playing a game of twenty-one. Cindy is in a daze and doesn't notice that Riley has dropped his shirt and is now walking up to her.

"C-Murph."

"Yes," Cindy says softly, but clears her throat a moment later, "yeah," she says her voice going back to its normal level and not back to whatever the fuck that was.

"Why you ain't go in?"

"Waitin' on you, duh," Cindy says like it's obvious, because she thinks it should be.

"Soo you just gon' burn up in the sun even more when you know we bout' to go inside anyway? Riley says as he opens the front door.

"You act like you was gone for more than a second," Riley's blonde companion says as she pushes in front of him and goes into the cool air-conditioned house.

The two head to the kitchen and grab a bottle of water each before relaxing on the sofa. After flipping channels for a bit Riley settles it on BET where some Gangstalicious music video was playing. They watch the video and Cindy listens to how Riley went to go visit Gangstalicious in the hospital two weeks ago because he had got shot again.

"That nigga always gettin' shot," Cindy comments messing with the ends of her basketball shorts.

"Yeah, but only real niggas get shot."

"So, you wanna play 2k or sum?" Riley asks and Cindy shrugs.

"Not really."

Riley sucks his teeth, "Come on Cee, tell me what's wrong?'

"Ain't nothin' wrong Reezy, why you keep askin' me that?" Cindy says her voice getting loud. Her voice only gets loud when she's either trying to prove a point or when she's angry.

"You just seem real tense and on edge and shit. I know something's up, just tell a nigga so I can-"

"So you can what?!"

"You kno what, forget it," Riley says at last, getting up to set up the game. Cindy watches as Riley does so.

"Look, I'm sorry Riley. I'm just frustrated is all."

"Bout' what?" Riley asks once again, his back still facing her.

"My dad didn't come home last night and my moms wasn't even worried. When he finally did stroll in this morning it's like she ain't even care. She used to, but now it's like she's immune to it. My dad is still taking care of things, he's still around it's just I hate feeling like my parents don't give a fuck about each other anymore.

They still care bout' me and that's cool, but what about each other?" Cindy feels tears at the corners of her eyes, but wipes them away before Riley could notice. "They used to love each other. Despite my mom using drugs in the past they still had love for each other. Like, where did that shit go?"

Riley sits next to Cindy not really knowing what to say. He swallows and says what Aunt Cookie always tells him, "It's gon' be okay. Things may not seem like it now, but if you believe it will then it jus' might. Plus, you shouldn't be stressin' yo self about this. This is your parents probs not urs so...don't think too deep into it."

Cindy just stares at Riley before nodding, "You're right," She says with a small smile. "I'm actin' like a straight pussy right now." Cindy laughs and picks up a game controller.

"I mean you do got a pussy. Right?" Riley asks jokingly as he picks up his controller as well.

"Don't even try me like that. You must want one since ur so interested."

"First, I ain't interested I just want to kno."

"Well, do you have a dick?"

"Why you wanna know?" Riley asks a smirk gracing his lips.

Cindy groans, "Nigga please. Don't flatter yo self."


"That movie was great," Jazmine says as she walks to the car with both her parents. She's happy that despite being busy all week she gets to have moments like these at least twice out of the week. It's not a lot, but she'll continue to accept it.

"Glad you enjoyed it honey," Tom says pressing a button on his key ring and unlocking the doors. His daughter's face is stuck in a permanent smile as she skips ahead of her parents to the car and Sarah's plastic smile finally drops and she looks beside her at her husband. Sarah grabs at Tom's hand trying to weave her fingers between his. Tom looks over at her briefly, but it's more than what she's received since they left the house.

The blonde mother has to stop herself from sighing in relief as he finally accepts her hand in his, but her relief doesn't last long because it doesn't feel right as his hand goes limp inside of hers.

They make it to the car and she barely notices as he pulls away and they enter his magnetic grey Lincoln Continental.

'What am I doing?' Sarah can't help, but ask herself.

"Mommy?" Jazmine asks suddenly as Tom pulls onto the main street, her strawberry blonde head in the space between the passenger and driver's seat.

"Yes, sweetheart?" Sarah inquires, pasting her usual smile back on.

"Do you want something from McWunclers?'

"We can stop if you want."

"Yes, I know I'm just checking with you because I already asked dad."

"Okay," Sarah says leaning back against the cappuccino colored seat and staring out of the window as they pass through downtown. Sarah doesn't want to, but spares a glance at Tom and he's tapping on the steering wheel waiting to turn into McWunclers and he looks so unbothered as he hums along to whatever song that is lightly playing from the radio.

Her eyes zone in on his wedding ring as he continues tapping and the gold band glimmers in the light that shines through the windshield. She looks down at her own band and wonder why she even bothers to wear it sometimes.


"Yo," Caesar starts and Huey doesn't even look up from his book because he knows Caesar's about to ask him something he already knows the answer to. "What's up with you and Jazmine? She's been surprisingly...cool about you both not having any classes together. Usually she's making a big deal about it, but she seems okay about it."

Huey still makes no move to engage in this convo and Caesar raises an eyebrow at his best friend's silence. "Well, I guess it's not too surprising considering she hasn't been around like she used to. Take this summer for example. All you did was work, work-out, and whatever else we don't know about and whenever Jazmine would come by you would hardly be here."

"So what are you saying," Huey finally asks.

"What I'm saying is," Caesar starts, a smirk lining his face, but is interrupted by Mr. Freeman bursting through Huey's room door.

"Huey, I'm going out tonight, I got a date," Huey sits his book down and looks at his grandad suspiciously.

"You've been going on a lot of dates lately, Grandad."

"And?" Is all Robert says, "I don't say any-thang about none of the girls that you think I don't know about. Shoot, you young boys think you slick nowadays. Shuckin and jivin all ova' the damn place-"

"Alright Grandad, is that it?"

"No!" Grandad says with a deep frown. There's a short awkward pause that consists of Robert Freeman just standing in the middle of the room. "Now I'm done."

Grandad finally walks out of the door and Caesar busts out laughing before standing up from Huey's desk chair. "I'll see you later man," he says stretching as he checks his phone. "My Aunt wants me to babysit tonight while her and her new 'boo' have a date night. You know how that goes," Caesar says laughing again.

"Alright man,"Huey says moving over to his desk as Caesar leaves.

(*)

It isn't until Caesar's gone that he thinks about what he said. He still doesn't think he had been absent that much or has he? He tries to think back to the last time him and Jazmine really hung out and came up short.

Maybe, it really has been that long. He frowns at the realization, he's just been busy and Jazmine clearly didn't mind at first that is, she had Cindy, Riley, Hiro, and Caesar to occupy her so why is it such a big deal? Frustrated, Huey closes his book and picks up his phone and dials a well-known number.

She answers after two rings, "Hey, Huey!" Jazmine greets in her usual sweet tone.

"Where are you?" Huey asks not really much for greetings as he looks out his window from his desk.

"I just got home." He can hear Jazmine sigh on the other end. "And I'm so tired. I don't think I'm gonna move from...this spot," She yawns and Huey fights the contagious urge to do so as well.

"Oh."

"Why? You want me to come over?"

"Do whatever you want," Jazmine's best friend replies looking out his window.

"Okay," Jazmine says and Huey can tell that she's nodding as she says this. They hang up and he leans back in his desk chair as he watches Jazmine exit her house and walk across the street in a pair of pale pink leggings and a white crop top that has the words 'Cutie' in silver and pink cursive, her curly strawberry blonde hair hanging down her back.

Three minutes later Jazmine enters his bedroom and flops down on his bed. "I had so much fun today Huey! You should've been there," she says and without prompting begins to tell Huey everything she did today as he begins to read again.

And when she finishes she makes no moves to turn on the TV, she just sits there. She watches him for a while, but eventually falls asleep, her snores not in the least bothering Huey as he continues to read.

He eventually finds himself looking at her for a moment, taking in the way the sun hits her face as it goes down and how a few stray hairs sit across her cheeks as she continues to sleep not even noticing, and the way her body softly rises and falls.

Huey stares even longer wondering what it would be like to not sleep next to her. It's definitely not a foreign thought, but he erases it as soon as it appears in his mind. Content with just watching from afar or so he constantly tells himself.


Hey you. Yeah, you. Thanks for reading~ And special thanks to those who have commented so far! Don't forget, anything you want to say about the story is welcome.

Until next time.

~T.