I'm so sorry this chapter has come so late. I've been doing so many other things that I neglected this story; one of my first and best. Please forgive me if you're actually reading this, and I'll try to do better in the future. I've made this chapter extra long, so please take that as my apology.
I had wanted to finish this before Halloween, but didn't. Oh well, expect Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas chapters in the future. I'll probably try one for every holiday, but mostly the main stream ones like Valentine's Day, Easter, and 4th of July. Just so you all know, I live in Louisiana, and don't really care much about holidays myself, but I thought to give them a try, so if you have a holiday that is between now and the next holiday, I'll try to include it.
Chapter 10: Festival Antics!
Jazmine flopped down happily onto the couch as Huey trudged up to it, eyes wearily open as if he was about two seconds from falling over. It was one of those days she loved so much: late night movie marathons! She could never understand Huey's vendetta (a word she picked up from him) against them. They were great! They showed all most all the movies you wanted to see, but always slipped in at least one no one cared about. In fact it was that one movie that made Huey agree to stay up with her to watch the marathon, even though she knew that if she whined enough he'd do it anyway.
She loved Huey. He was great, even when he was being a downer, or as the older kids at school called him, "Emo" or something. Huey was always calm, cool, and smart in just about anything he did. He always indulged her in her activities, and encouraged her(even though he made it seem like disinterest or even complete uncaring) to do her best in anything she tried. He would even give up his time to help her.
Now that wasn't to say she didn't do things for him. When he worked late at night, she would be the one to help him to bed and out of his clothes, though she closed her eyes each time she had to. Whenever he forgot that food was a basic human necessity and not a form of human weakness like he thought, it would be her to remind him with both a meal placed in front him and a hug as she told him, "you gotta eat something, Mr. Worker-Bee!" If he made people cry for no reason, it was her that scolded him, and told the person (in far kinder words than him) what Huey was really trying to convey to them.
That brought her to Huey himself. Most people, aside from his brother and Grandfather, wrote Huey off as a cold, uncaring, pessimistic person. It was she, however, that saw deep into the depths of Huey Percival Freeman. She saw him on levels even further than his family. She saw that while Huey was one of the most intellect people around (probably the most intellect, even with everyone else around) he was, however, the least sociable. Huey was the smart kid that would always keep to himself. He'd have a small group of really good friends, probably five or six at the most, but it would always be less than ten. Huey held everyone at his level, whether they were or not (no one was). He was not used to being around people his age, and so that made him snap at some of the things they would say, or do. He thought that if you couldn't hold an intelligent conversation with him, then you weren't worth talking to. That was just his way, and so far it had worked for him.
There were people he made an exception for though; his brother, Riley, for one. He had, from what he told her, practically raised Riley himself. Even Huey was confused as to how Riley had turned into what he was today, but he seemed to blame himself, B.E.T, and rebellion all at once. Riley was smart. He read (when he thought no one was around or watching him). He played chess (against Huey simply because "real niggas can do anything") and checkers (against Granddad, for the same reason). Shoot, Riley had even helped her with her school work sometimes, though he threatened her not to say a word.
Mr. Freeman was another exception. At first he wasn't, simply because he was an old man who "should know better". If Jazmine really thought about it, it was only after the entire event with that woman who left with the guy in the purple suit that Huey considered that Mr. Freeman was an exception. Mr. Freeman was old, and so Huey considered that Mr. Freeman needed a little help in life. That, however, didn't stop Huey from complaining whenever Mr. Freeman came into their house (uninvited), and ate their food or when he came asking for things like one of those annoying neighbors you loved like family.
She, herself, was an exception. Though she didn't like to admit it, even to herself, Huey tolerated her just like everyone else in his life. She wasn't as smart as him, not as well-rounded, never as quick-witted, or as knowledgeable. She knew Huey loved her, even though he won't display it in public. She was glad to have his love, but she also knew that Huey got annoyed with her shortcomings sometimes. She was emotional, to the point that others didn't know whether to hug her or run in fear. She was naïve, though she tried to be more realistic. She was curious, which got her and him into arguments a lot, mainly over whatever he was hiding in their library/study.
As she thought all of it over, Huey slid beside her on the couch. He threw the blanket over them, as he rubbed her leg. She was lying on the couch, her legs draped over Huey's lap. Huey sat up, though his elbow rested on the arm of the couch, and his head in his hand. He truly wasn't interested in the movies Jazmine wanted to watch, but he knew that the documentary was going to be good. Jazmine seemed to come out of whatever she was thinking about, because she gently placed her hand over his and smiled at him.
"I love you, Huey Freeman." Jazmine said as she laid her head on the opposite arm of the couch.
"I love you too." Huey said as he gazed at the TV with disinterest, but she could see the small smile on his face through the flickers of light from the TV.
They sat, watching through her movies mostly in silence unless she laughed at something funny. Even Huey chuckled a bit during Home Alone 2. They moved every once and a while on the couch until they were cuddled up beside each other around 12:30 during the kiss of the Cinderella movie staring Brandy Norwood.
Finally came the most boring part of the night, at least to her…
"And now for our finally movie of the Mega Movie Mash Marathon, folks." the announcer guy said as Huey scoffed at him while fighting down a yawn.
"Stupid marathon titles… It's the movies people wanna see, even if the titles are crap." Huey said, almost in a sleepy monotone as Jazmine giggled at him. She was just as tired as he was, but she almost always had the energy to be amused by him and his weird boyish ways.
"Now, before we present our movie, we have a special commercial announcement." the announcer guy said as both Huey and Jazmine groaned in unison, looked at each, then back at the TV, and groaned again with small smiles.
"SUNDAY! SUNDAY! SUNDAY! AT THE WOODCREST PARK NEAR YOU! BIG CARNIVAL! WE'RE TALKING BIG-MOMMA BIG, PEOPLE! BIG ASS CARNIVAL! RIDES FOR THE LITTLE ASS KIDDIES! GAMES FOR THE BIG ASS SHOW-OFFS! BIG ASS COTTON-CANDY THAT'S JUST PLAIN BIG! TUNNEL OF LOVE FOR THOSE WERID ASS ROMANTICS! BIG ASS FERRIS-WHEEL FOR THOSE EVEN BIGGER ROMANTICS! FIREWORKS FOR THE CRAZY ASS PYROTECHNICS! IT'S ALL YOU COULD WANT IN A BIG ASSLOAD AND MORE! BE THERE BY SIX AND GET IN FREE! BE THERE NEVER, YOUR ASS AIN'T BIG ENOUGH!" some really loud announcer said as pictures of Big Momma from the Big Momma's House movie that had come on earlier showed along with other pictures of the fair. Huey blinked as he dug a finger in his ear to stop the ringing in it.
Jazmine, however, was far too enraptured with her romantic thoughts to care about the ringing in her ears, or the fact that the room was spinning. She could just see it all now. Huey winning her a prize as a show of his affection (another word she got from him) and love toward her. Them sharing cotton-candy as they walked through the fair lovingly. Her and Huey going through the Tunnel of Love as they kiss at the end like her parents always did. Then finally, a Ferris Wheel ride as they held hands and watched the scenery from the very top. And right as they kissed, the fireworks would go off and people would swoon as they watched their love unfold for the entire world to see just like her parents. It would be so romantic…
…and nothing was getting in the way of that!
"We're going to that carnival!" Jazmine proclaimed as she stood on the couch and pointed at the TV. Huey raised a brow as he looked at her and the conviction in her emerald green eyes. Watching pure determination flame through those eyes of hers was one of the many things he loved about her. Yet… why did it have to be about a carnival…?
"No." Huey said simply as she looked down at him. Huey shivered a bit as those eyes focused on removing him as a obstacle in her path. To be honest, he was enjoying the merciless look she was giving him. Hell, had they been just six years order, he could truthfully say that the look would really turn him on. Thank god he hadn't been hit that badly by hormones just yet…
"We are going to that carnival and that's final." Jazmine said as she narrowed her eyes and stared him down. He looked to be almost sweating as he didn't change his look from lazy indifference.
"No we're not. They always do things like this, Jazmine. They hype people up for carnivals, say everything good that they can, and then when you actually get there things are crappy and stupid. We're not wasting our money, and our time by going there when we can do something else." Huey said, mainly just so she could keep giving him that look. He was trying to burn her look into his memory, and then later have Riley draw it for him. He still had blackmail material on Riley, so the drawing would be as realistic as it could get, and he'd hang it in his secret lab for inspiration (if he should ever need such a thing).
Jazmine was obviously about to yell at him, but thankfully the phone began to ring. She nearly jumped trying to answer it, but Huey held her back as he gave a swift glance at the Caller ID. He was not answering it, and neither was she.
"Hello, you've reached the residence of Huey-" Huey's voice sounded over the answering machine.
"And Jazmine!"
"Ugh… of Huey and Jazmine Freeman. We're most likely not home right now, but-"
"if you're giving away free ponies, be sure to call back!"
"Unless you're the government, in which case no one lives here anymore. Idiots…"
"Huey!"
"Ay, answer this damn phone! I know y'all niggas was up watching that marathon. Jazmine been buggin' on that all week. Huey, pick up the damn phone! … Fine! Don't answer it! Just know that Granddad said he going to that lame-ass fair with a date and that I need someone to "watch" me while he datin' the desperate hoe. He said that he wanted me to find y'all asses when we get there, and that I'm going home with y'all. Nigga buggin'… big-time. Just to let you know; I'ma be hanging with Phil and Cindy, so you niggas can go on and fu-"
Huey covered Jazmine's ears as he glared annoyance and hate at the phone. Why did Riley have to be so crude and such a dumbass at the worst times?
"her screaming yo name and whatever else. Holla back at me if you really ain't at home, or if you two in between the sheets-"
Again Huey covered her ears as he glared at the phone. But, as she looked between Huey and the phone, she noticed that Huey's cheeks were a tint of red under his brown skin tone. Was… was her Huey Freeman blushing?
"…letting all the neighbors know yo name! Ha! Holla back, nigga!" and with that, the idiot brother Huey now swore to fatally harm signed off with a beep. Huey immediately deleted the message, just in case Jazmine's curiosity got the better of her… again.
"Time for bed." Huey said suddenly, scooping Jazmine up in his arms as she blinked in both surprise and confusion.
"What about your boring documentary?" Jazmine asked as Huey glanced back at the phone and TV.
"Forget it. Sleep is now the only thing I want out of tonight." Huey said, but froze in place as if he had said something wrong. His cheeks took on the same flush as before while he cleared his throat, "Yup; the only thing that a non-hormonal ten year-old like me could possibly want from one of the same." Huey said as if correcting himself for an earlier mistake in communication. He walked up the stairs as Jazmine blinked and thought over his words; finding one that she didn't understand, even though she didn't understand anything else either.
"Wait, what does hormonal mean?" Jazmine asked as she and Huey were putting on clothes for bed. Huey glanced over at her to decide if he wanted to answer that or not, but seeing as she was only half-dressed, he choked on air and turned away. Her head tilted to the side, trying to comprehend why he seemed so jumpy now as opposed to his usual cool and aloof-self.
"I'll tell you when you're older." Huey said, in a rare moment where his voice seemed to move through levels from high to low.
Damn puberty was coming fast…
Huey and Jazmine walked through the school like a pair straight from a fairytale… gone wrong.
She was a princess, he was the… knight in pessimistic armor.
She was a sleeping beauty, he was… the dragon ready to bite an idiot's head off.
She was the poor girl with a rare beauty… and he was the sarcastic beast ready to rip apart anyone that dared harm her.
But, even with all this true and apparent (to everyone including the married couple themselves) they seemed to get along just fine. They knew where the lines were, and never tried to cross them.
Huey knew that Jazmine's love for the fictional and "out-there" was something he shouldn't trample on… often.
Jazmine knew that Huey's love for the "straight and narrow" was something she had to respect… sometimes.
They both knew, however, that their relationship (something Huey and Jazmine both like to hear instead of marriage, Huey more so than Jazmine) was a strange set of taboos which were unspoken; much like all their other rules. Privacy, was a big one. That meant no baths together, no being in the bathroom while the other was (both had been strongly for this rule), and no "peeking" as they (Jazmine mostly) had come to term the act of looking at the other "without proper clothes in place" (Huey's words, but Jazmine's look of utter seriousness).
Both the pre-teens were so for this rule, that when they went clothes shopping, the other wasn't there (mostly and almost always for Jazmine's shopping). Huey only came to the counter and paid for everything after Jazmine had gotten everything with a "shopping buddy" (Jazmine's words, but Huey's eye roll). Neither knew what the other bought, and both knew it was going to stay that way until the other wore what was bought.
Jazmine had quite a few shopping buddies since Huey was (for lack of a better phrase) filthy rich, but the two most constant were Jazmine's mom (Sarah) and Cindy McPhearson, who came just so she could make sure Huey Prudish Freeman wasn't trying to dress Jazmine like a nun, though she never said it aloud… too often at least.
Cindy being Jazmine's shopping buddy was the main reason why Huey, who was walking slightly behind Jazmine carrying her backpack and lunch, was looking anywhere but the Strawberry Shortcake panties that were being shown due to the low-rider skinny jeans his wife was wearing. Huey palmed his face as he once again caught an unintentional glance of the underwear, moving with the sway in Jazmine's hips as she happily walked through the halls. He cursed Cindy, knowing only she would direct Jazmine to something like those… those… not age-appropriate things!
He liked the pants… in the privacy of their house and walking to the bus-stop as he lagged behind, but he knew he couldn't say anything against them once they got to school or even before.
If there was one thing Jazmine got pissed off about; it was clothes. She would fight him tooth and nail over her skirts and tops. She had even cursed him out over the day he told her she couldn't wear her skirt out to the park. She had apologized for cursing at him while in tears (he never could figure out why she cried when she had hurt his nonexistent feelings) over it later, but she reaffirmed the fact that she was not giving up any of her clothes… ever!
Her mother, later that same day, gave Huey a piece of advice; "Never tell a woman what she can and can't wear, or you'll end up on the couch… again." Even Tom and Granddad had come by after that to give him a friendly piece of male advice; "Don't worry boy, she'll only kick yo little ass over it, and then make you sleep on the sofa. Woo-wee, I remember the day I told you Grandma she couldn't wear that ankle-high skirt. I ain't never get my ass beat like that before…" "Huey, don't worry, my son-in-law! She's just like Sarah; perfectly calm… until you mess with the clothes and shoes. Then, your butt is toast, but don't worry. It'll just be a lot of yelling… and curse words… and then hitting… and then the couch for about a day… or a week… On second thought; worry, Huey, worry for the both of us."
Yeah… so he couldn't say one damn thing about the too high skirts, the too tight tights, the revealing tops, the stomach-exposing "crop-tops", or all the skimpy wears she wore. He was only glad that she had yet to discover what she did to him by wearing such things, though he growled at the thought of what she (unknowingly and unintentionally) did to other boys as well.
"Huey, are you okay? You're making that dog noise again, like you're protecting a house from strangers or something." Jazmine said as she turned around and looked at him in concern. He blinked as he realized he had actually growled aloud, but then nodded as he ran her words through his mind. Protecting a "house" from "strangers"…?
"Damn straight. No one's getting to or in my house, but me." Huey said aloud to himself as Jazmine looked at him in confusion.
"What about me?"
"Huh?"
"You said that no one's getting in our house but you; what about me?"
"Oh… I was talking about something else. Don't worry about it." Huey said as Jazmine gave him a look, but giggled in amusement at the look on his face; he looked like someone was trying to steal one of his precious books again.
"Huey Freeman, you're so silly some times." Jazmine said as she began to skip through the hallway, unaware that she was making her jeans bob just a bit lower with each merry step. Huey growled at the fifth-graders that watched her in horny awe. He understood how they felt, really he did, but he needed them to understand one thing.
"Mine." Huey gritted out as they raised their hands in surrender. Huey was not about to have a snot-nosed punk even try to touch his wife.
Nope, never again, because (and especially since) Traban was not there to stop him this time around. And he besides, would need his new favorite cousin to bail him out of jail should they even attempt to try the forbidden, and it resulted in him ripping out their spinal cords.
"Huey, come on! We're gonna be late!" Jazmine shouted from the end of the hall, her childish concern over tardiness making him feel just a bit brighter.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm coming." Huey muttered, the ghost of a smile on his face displaying his enjoyment at her expression of worry.
"Today class, we'll be doing some activity work. Pair up with whomever, and begin your worksheets as Jeremy passes them out." Ms. Satine said as Huey rolled his eyes and sighed, already going through the history worksheet in his mind as he always did. It would probably only take him three minutes to finish.
"Hey Huey, I'm gonna be you're partner since Cindy's sick today." Jazmine said as Huey nodded, eyes closed as he rethought his time frame. With Jazmine's suckish-ness at history and his own impatience for the day to end, he came to an answer on how long it would take.
All class period…
"It's finally Sunday! And I have the whole day planned out. First-"
"I know, Jazmine. You haven't stopped talking about the damn thing since last Sunday night." Huey said, eyebrow twitching as he mentally caged his annoyance. Sure, he knew all about the lovey-dovey things Jazmine wanted out of their relationship, but did she have to remind him… every three seconds? Jazmine blushed as she realized she must have let her excitement get the better of her.
It was Sunday and the only reason Huey was at school was to pick her and the others up from their club meetings or practices. She had cheerleading practice, Cindy had basketball, Phil had computer club, Caesar had a rap group, and Riley was… writing bad things on the walls of the school. Which made her think of why Huey hadn't joined anything.
"Sorry, Huey. It's just I'm so excited for today! Now come on, we have to go home and pick out everything for tonight." Jazmine said, grabbing Huey with new-found strength and dragging him out of the school. Huey huffed in irritation as he was dragged to his car and thrown into the front seat.
"Shouldn't we, I don't know; wait for Riley, Cindy, that white kid and Caesar?" Huey said as Jazmine narrowed her eyes, but then waved off whatever thoughts she had been thinking.
"They can catch the bus. Now drive." Jazmine said, knowing that Cindy had already said it was cool if she and Huey left without tem. Huey shrugged as he pulled out his keys and started up the car.
"Whatever." Huey said as they drove away from the school.
"So, what's that?" Huey asked, glancing over at a pocket-sized notebook Jazmine was hastily writing in. She looked up at him in surprise, but smiled as she showed him.
"It's everything we're gonna do at the fair tonight, since you don't wanna go during the day. It's gonna be so much fun! First, we'll take in some rides and carnival games. Next, we get some food, and walk through the fair seeing everything they have. Then, we'll go on the Tunnel of Love Her, and we'll end the day with the really big Ferris Wheel they always have at fairs. While we're on it, the fireworks will go off and we'll be at the top to watch them from the best vintage point." Jazmine said giving Huey her notebook as they stopped at a red light. Huey hurriedly flipped through it, seeing many math formulas and angle equations. His head started hurting as he thought over just how much work she must have put into her little plan, even though she hadn't told him about all the really "romantic moments" they'd be sharing in those formulas.
"Jazmine… this isn't Third-grade Math. Hell, some of this isn't even high school math. It's really advanced; equations and formulas, Geometry, and… is this Algebra?" Huey said, shocked that Jazmine could work all of it out, let alone understand it all. Hell, even he was lost on some of it.
"I know, it's just that I've always had this thing for math. For some reason it all just comes really easy to me. Like numbers in my brain are having a party." Jazmine said as Huey looked at her in awe, finding himself staring at his wife in a new light.
Huey had always known Jazmine was smart. She was just naïve and oblivious to the cruel side of the world around her. That being said, her own intelligence didn't suffer because of either, her intelligence had suffered due to her father's sheltering ways. Now though, Huey could see that Jazmine was far more resourceful than he had first given her credit for, and he would never make the same mistake twice.
"Jazmine… this is… umm… wow…" Huey said, driving and trying not to let his utter dumbfound-ness show, but he simply couldn't pull himself together.
Jazmine Dubois-Freeman, a sheltered ten year-old girl who was until recently afraid of the dark, knew almost college-level mathematics with great and apparent ease… it was something that would shock anybody to their core, but Huey thought he was handling things quite well.
"Huey, you're mouth is still open." Jazmine said as Huey quickly snapped his mouth shut, not having realized that he had been gaping.
Oh yeah, he was real smooth alright…
"Jazmine, are you ready yet?" Huey asked, for the seventh time, as he got the same reply, for the seventh time.
"No! Just wait a minute!" Jazmine shouted from upstairs in the room as Huey sighed and dropped back on the couch, tired of pacing the floor and watching TV.
What the hell could possibly be taking her so damn long? It wasn't like space travel, no long complicated functions about slipping on a t-shirt and jeans and racing out the door in under five minutes. He himself was wearing a white t-shirt with blue jeans and an unbuttoned khaki dress shirt. His brown Timberlands were a bit scuffed, but no one would be able to see since it was already getting dark out. He looked over at the digital clock on the TV. 7: 38p.m. on September 7.
Back to his original thoughts, he couldn't possibly imagine what she could be doing up there that would take so long. Her hair was always a problem to her, but if that was the case then she would have come running to him. Her little "make-up" wasn't that hard to apply since it was just lip gloss and some other little girly crap. So in short, she should have only taken ten to 15 minutes at the most.
What could she be doing? Going through outfits?
Girls… they were so oblivious…
"Cindy, I don't see the pink crop-top in here. I think we put it back when we found that really cute skirt for you." Jazmine said into the phone as she rummaged through her closet, standing there in only her training-bra and panties.
"Hmm… yeah, I see the skirt in my closet. Umm… Oh, what about that cute little sundress you wanted to wear to school next week?" Cindy said as Jazmine shook her head.
"No, I really do want to wear it to school first. How about… this navy blue top and these jeans?"
"Do them jeans have a design on the back?"
"No."
"Then no."
"Okay, how about this pink blouse and these skinny jeans?" Jazmine asked as she took out the two clothing items."
"No, that's a little much for an open fair. Them people get loose when they do stuff like this, so that blouse could get really dirty."
"You're right. Maybe this-"
"Jazmine, are you ready yet?" Huey's voice called from downstairs as Jazmine sighed and shook her head, hearing Cindy doing the same on the other side of the line.
"That boy just don't get it, do he?" Cindy asked as Jazmine sighed again.
"No… No he doesn't." Jazmine said as she moved the phone away, preparing to yell a reply to her husband.
"No! Just wait a minute!" Jazmine yelled as she could here something hit the couch.
Huey was so impatient sometimes. Didn't he understand that girls couldn't just walk out of the house in just anything?
"Seriously, does he think you could just throw on some jeans and a t-shirt and be ready like his unfashionable ass?" Cindy said as Jazmine placed the phone at her ear again.
"I don't know… I mean, I'm done my hair, but I still need an outfit, jewelry, perfume, and other stuff like make-up." Jazmine replied as Cindy shook her head.
Boys… they were so clueless…
"I'm ready now, Mr. Grumpy! I heard you down here beating up the furniture." Jazmine said as she moved down the stairs, her purse hung on shoulder and her hair bouncing with each step.
Huey was about to retort angrily, but at first sight of her his words died in his throat, leaving it dry. Her hair was straightened out, still curly, but still not the same as it normally was. It hung down her back the same way it did whenever she got out of the shower. She wore a pink shirt with blue jeans and earrings. Huey had to actually think about if her ears were even perceived since this was the first time he had even seen her with such things. They were just simple studs, but still! Around her neck was a gold chain that a gold nameplate hung from that read Jazzy J. Huey wasn't even sure what that meant, but figured it was something she had from a family member or something. On her hand was his ring, and her fingernails were painted pink. Adorning her feet were pink sneakers with Velcro straps that made Huey want to roll his eyes, but then he took in even more of her features, like the fact her lips seemed to glisten as the light reflected off her lip gloss. Her eyelashes seemed different, probably from that eye stuff, and her eyelids were a glimmer with glitter and a very light pinkish hue.
Huey subconsciously licked his lips as he thought over how good she looked altogether. Jazmine blushed at seeing the action, but smiled as she noticed all the hard work that went into her appearance was paying off. Huey's eyes roamed her every inch and she could practically feel them on her as she did a little spin in place, giggling at Huey's trace-like state.
"So, how do I look?" Jazmine asked as Huey blinked, but still didn't seem to be out of his hypo-whatever.
"Beautiful…" Huey said as he looked her over once more before becoming aware that he was staring at her. He shook his head as he offered her coat to her. He held it out as she slipped her arms into it. He then offered her his hand as they walked out, her joining their arms as she laid her head on his shoulder.
This was becoming a perfect start to a perfect date…
"What do you mean we need an adult! We're married for Pete's sake!" Jazmine yelled at the ticket booth employee, who was cowering slightly at the ten year-old ball of fury that Huey was smirking at.
What could he say? He simply loved it when his wife terrified people, and that was not too often.
"I-I'm sorry, M-Miss, but the rules-"
"To heck with the rules! I don't even live with my parents anymore, and I haven't for the past month or two! Why the shamrock would I come here with them when I live with my husband." Jazmine yelled at the guy as the dude tried very hard not to cry. His poor life was already crappy enough, he didn't need to be insulted by a little girl too… his wife and children had done that enough.
Huey shook his head with a smile as he stepped up next to Jazmine. The people behind them looked ready to bolt away if one of them was stupid enough to say something. Huey placed his hand on Jazmine's as she whipped around to verbally tear him a new asshole, but her expression softened when she saw that it was him. Huey hugged her to him as he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.
"Look, here's my ID. We're not wards of the state, or orphan children. We're just two kids that got into a weird problem, and are living with it. Just give us our tickets, let us enjoy ourselves, and then you can go cry in a booth somewhere about how unfair your life is." Huey said, trying to be the comforting and patient one since Jazmine looked ready to kill something for fucking up the "perfect start" to their "perfect evening".
"H-Here you are, S-Sir." the ticket guy said, sucking up snot and holding back tears as he slid the tickets over to Huey. Huey only gave the guy a curt nod before he and Jazmine walked away, into the fair that seemed to be in full swing at the moment.
"So, where to first?" Huey asked, not recalling anything from the list earlier as Jazmine took a hold of his hand and rushed off while practically dragging him.
"Games and rides!" Jazmine said excitedly as Huey sighed, knowing that all day would be one giant headache to make her happy.
But, that was love… wasn't it?
Love kind of sucked right now. It wasn't because Jazmine was dragging him, he actually liked the hand holding that was involved, but the suckish part was that the attraction she dragging him toward was… the bumper cars.
It wasn't widely known, in fact it was only one person (Riley) who knew that Huey hated bumper cars. He hated being pushed around by anyone, and he most certainly hated the fact that other laughed at him when they did it. It was kinda why he couldn't go back to the Chicago City Carnival.
Stupid kid laughing at him, he deserved every life altering injury he got…
"Come on, Huey! This'll be our first stop." Jazmine said excitedly as Huey sighed, burying he hate of the damn thing if only to please Jazmine.
They climbed into separate cars, and waited as other people piled into cars of their own. Huey sunk lower into his chair, taking deep breaths as he mentally chanted "for Jazmine". The guy who ran the ride raised a brow at Huey's behavior, but shrugged it off as he stepped up to the controls and pressed the start button. Soon all the cars jerked forward as Huey muttered to himself about how much he hated the damn things.
Jazmine laughed as she took off in hot pursuit of the person neariest her, while Huey simply tried to avoid everyone. Huey swerved inward as a car came from behind him. He had to admit that the last time he was on one of these thing was four years ago, so it made sence that his driving skills had picked up. He reserved direction as another car came at his front, but was hit from the back as his head jerked forward and almost hit the steering-wheel.
"Ha! I got you, Huey!" Jazmine laughed as Huey narrowed his eyes at her. Where the hell did she come from?
Huey Freeman was known for many things, and holding a grudge was one of them. He swirled around and took off after Jazmine, who was still laughing at him as she dodged around him like some kind of bumper car professional. Though as the thing went on, Huey realized something; Jazmine was laughing at him, but was just enjoying herself (mostly because Jazmine Freeman couldn't laugh at anyone else's expense). He smirked as he finally got her… right before the cars shut down on them.
Jazmine climbed of her car with a smile on her face as Huey held his head. He had been bumped more times than he thought as he focused on Jazmine nearly the entire time. What the hell was the amusement in these damn things when they practically gave you whiplash?
"Huey Freeman, you are so bad at bumper cars. You're supposed to go after everyone, not just me." Jazmine scolded, though the giggles she was letting out betrayed her. Huey crossed his arms and decided that he didn't need to dignify her with a response as they walked away.
"So what now?" Huey asked somewhat impatiently as he wanted to get the whole thing over and done with. When he didn't get a reply, he turned to his side and saw that Jazmine wasn't even there. He panicked for a second, but sighed in relief when he saw that she was at the game booth they had just pasted staring at something.
Huey walked up to her as she continued to stare at… a large teddy bear.
"I want that one, Huey! Can you win it for me?" Jazmine said as Huey gave her a look.
"Why? It's just some overpriced stuffed animal that we can buy from a store at half the cost it'll take to win the damn thing." Huey said as Jazmine gave him a pleading look.
"Come on, Huey! I really like that one. Just look at it." Jazmine said as she pointed at a teddy bear over a vendor's booth.
It was a normal teddy bear; brown fur and the like, but it held a large heart in it's paws and on it's foot was another heart with two lines. Huey guessed the lines were for writing names in or something. Huey gazed back over to Jazmine, her cute expression, as if her life depended on having the bear. He wanted to tell her how childish she was being, but his words died in his throat as her beautiful eyes gazed into his. Huey rolled his wine-colored eyes as he fished out some money.
He hated the power she held over him…
"You really want that bear?" Huey asked as Jazmine actually blinked in surprise. To be honest she expected him to grab her and walk away instead of actually pulling out any cash.
"Uh huh!" Jazmine affirmed as Huey nodded. If Jazmine really wanted something, then he'd do anything for her to have it.
"Then I'll win it for you." Huey said with conviction as he handed the vendor a five dollar.
Huey stepped back, but before he could move back to Jazmine's side, a kid slammed a five on the vendor's counter as he smirked at Huey. The kid then looked over at Jazmine with a cocky smirk as he winked.
"Hey sweetie, I'll be sure to give you that bear myself… when I win over this punk." the guy said as Huey gave him an incredulous look. Really? Why was it that every male within a five-mile radius wanted his wife? Huey then looked slightly down as Jazmine wrapped herself around his arm, a frightened (but cute) expression on her face as she moved into him for protection.
Now he remembered why everyone wanted her… she was just too damn cute…
"Kid with the 'fro, Station 1." the vendor , who was female now that Huey was actually looking, said as she jabbed a thumb at the place he was meant to be, "kid with the massive ego, Station 2. Step right up folks! One more station open! Shoot down the most targets in the allotted time with the gun and win a fabulous prize! Come on and try your skills."
Apparently another person had come in as the woman stopped shouting to tell the person that the third place was for them. Jazmine stood behind Huey, cheering him on as he and the guy next to him glared at each other.
"When I win, I'll be sure to write me and that cutie's names all over that bear." the guy said as Huey raised a brow.
"Just to check; you do realize that she and I are ten right?" Huey said as the guy gave him a look.
"Seriously? I thought she was older than me? Oh well, I'm only eleven, so it doesn't matter." the kid said as Huey sighed, having hoped that the bit of info he had dropped would end things, but it didn't.
"Well then, when you lose and I walk off with her and the bear; try not to cry too much." Huey said as the guy growled at him, gripped at the laser gun tightly, his face set on his targets now while Huey did the same.
"Hey punk, let's make this a bit more interesting." the kid said as Huey didn't bother looking at him.
"I'm listening." Huey said as the vendor moved to start the game.
"Whoever wins between the two of us gets not only the bear, but all the money the other's got." the kid said as Huey raised a brow, but was glad he didn't bring a lot of money.
"Okay." Huey said as the guy smirked, probably thinking along the lines of "sucker".
"Name's Max Thompson, just so you know who beat you today." the kid, Max, said as Huey scoffed with a scowl.
"Huey Freeman." Huey said as Max nodded.
"Alright kids!" The woman yelled as she stood off to the side, "On your mark… get set… Shoot!"
The two shot each revealing target with amazing accuracy. The numbers coming from the top of the both were neck and neck as they shot out twenty of the targets. Huey sniped everything that entered his line of sight, while Max seemed to have a rapid fire strategy.
"Did I mention that my dad was in the army and taught me how to shoot!" Max said over the fire of their guns.
"No, but did I mention my brother is a gun-happy idiot." Huey said as he shoot out three more revealed targets. The match between them didn't last long as the vendor's booth lit up with the blinking numbers of their scores.
"We have a… tie?" The vendor shouted, up until she looked at the numbers. Huey had five more hit targets than Max did, but he had tied with the other person.
"Who the fuck tied with me?" a voice shouted as Huey and Jazmine blinked in surprise as they turned toward the source of the familiar voice.
"Riley?" they both said as Riley wheeled around in his chair to glare at them, but blinked when he saw that Huey was in the seat of Station 1.
"You nigga? Aww, hell naw!" Riley said as he jumped off his seat with Huey doing the same.
"Riley, why did you even play this?" Huey asked as Riley crossed his arms and scoffed.
"I could be asking yo ass the same thing." Riley shot back as Huey sighed.
"I'm winning Jazmine that damn teddy bear." Huey said as Riley promptly laughed at him.
"Ha, ha! Nigga that's gay!" Riley said as he doubled over in laughter at just how corny his brother was being.
"Then why are you here? Trying to win something for Cindy?" Huey shot back as Riley scoffed at him.
"Hell no, C-murph can win her own shit. I'm doing this for my man, Phil." Riley said as Huey froze for a second at what it sounded like Riley was implying. His man Phil? Riley must have caught onto what Huey's look meant as he glared at his older brother before flipping him off.
"Not like that, you disgusting-ass gay-ass nigga! My homie Phil can't even hold a damn gun, much less shot the bitch, so I told him I'd win him that damn dolphin so he can give it to his girl." Riley said, pointing at the large blue dolphin that had been next to the bear.
"His girl?" Huey said, since he didn't remember the white kid being around anyone but his brother.
"Yeah, nigga. Phil ass met some bitch here, and now the hoe and C-murph hanging while Phil and me was winning shit for them." Riley said, but then covered his mouth as if he let something slip.
"Oh? And I thought that Cindy could win her own things?" Huey said with a smirk as Riley prepared to yell curses at him. He was stopped, however, as the woman cleared her throat to get their attention.
"If you don't mind, can we get on with your prizes?" the woman said with a slight grin as Huey and Riley nodded.
"Now then, which one you want kid?" the woman asked as Riley took the dolphin and left, flipping them off as a good-bye. Huey merely sighed as the woman raised brow at his brother's retreating form, muttering a sarcastic "charming…" before gesturing toward her wall of prizes once again.
"That one." Huey said, pointing at a teddy bear. The woman looked between the bear, him, and Jazmine before she pulled it down with a smile on her face.
Ah, young love…
"Here you go, kid." the lady said, handing him the bear. Huey shook his head of all the trouble he went through to get the bear as he turned to Jazmine.
"Here's your stupid bear, Jazmine." Huey said, feeling that he could be childish for a moment as he handed Jazmine the bear, to which the girl hugged to herself like their was no tomorrow.
"Oh Huey, you shouldn't have! I love it!" Jazmine cried out as she spun with the bear in her arms, obviously not hearing anything around her as she was in her own little world. She then put the bear down to hug him tightly as she pressed her body into his own.
"Umm… it was nothing." Huey said, his face feeling like it was on fire and his throat dry for some reason.
"Hey, Freeman!" Max yelled from behind them as Huey turned around. Huey was ready for a fight, but blinked in confusion as he saw Max's extended hand while the other was in his pocket.
"You beat me fair and square, and I'm a dude of my word. It was great to have lost after all this time, and I must say that this lost is rather painful. She really is a beautiful one…" Max said, though he trailed off as Huey raised a brow and turned to see Jazmine dancing with her bear. Huey shook his head with a smile as he shook Max's hand.
"Yeah… she really is…" Huey agreed as Max nodded, and pulled away. Huey looked down at his hand, still feeling something in it as he blinked at the huge wad of cash the guy had somehow slipped him.
"A deal's a deal; all the money I had. But don't worry about me, I'll make it all bacvk before the night is over, and then some. Just worry about when I come back to even the score for this lost. Be seeing ya!" Max said, walking off into the night with a raised hand and the other pocketed.
Huey watched him go with a look of suspicion. Just who was that guy, and why was he so calm about losing when he had seemed so cocky to win? Why had he seemed so unreal about having lost, and even friendly about it?
"Just who are you… Max Thompson?" Huey said to himself.
"Huey, you're talking to yourself again." Jazmine said from by his side as Huey jumped slightly.
"Come on, let's go enjoy the rest of today." Jazmine said as she grabbed his hand. Huey smiled as he and Jazmine walked away from the booth, hand in hand, with Jazmine smiling down at the teddy bear she was clutching under her arm.
"Why are we going on a roller coaster? You don't even like roller coasters?" Huey said as Jazmine looked at him with a shrug.
"Because… I put it on the list… and besides; you like roller coasters."
"Yeah, but you don't, so let's just go find something else to do." Huey said, grabbing her hand as she shook her head and tore her hand away.
"I know I don't like them, but you do, and if I'm here with you… I think I can grow to like them." Jazmine said quietly as her cheeks turned pink.
Huey really did want to ride the roller coaster. It was one of the biggest he had seen. He had always loved roller coasters. They were full of the adrenaline that came with living on the edge or fighting. Every twist and turn was never dull, and even as you saw them coming you just couldn't grow to expect the way your body would jerk forward or sideways when you came to them. Every fast-paced high and low was never a wasted moment to scream one's lungs out, and Huey loved every minute of it.
The bad part, Jazmine hated them… like, with a passion. She hated the speed, the unpredictably, and the way it would seem like a never ending car crash of death…
Huey had, at one thing, thought about how it would logical be him to say what she was while she would have his opinion. But, just like the rest of their relationship; so different and never expected…
Huey took her by the hand and gave her a gentle squeeze. When she looked up at him he smiled at her, all her tension melting away at that rare and beautiful thing that was his smile.
The only thing that could make it even before would be his laugh…
"Don't worry then, you'll be alright." Huey said as Jazmine's blush turned darker.
She stood corrected… that one sentence made it even better too…
After waiting for the longest twenty-five minutes Jazmine had ever known to exist, they finally were at the front of the line. It was a good thing too, since the next track came in, and Jazmine was sure that if she complained… again, then Huey would drag her home and their perfect romantic evening would be ruined. As the people from the last ride got out of their seats, Huey seemed to squirm in excitement and delight as he practically jumped into the first cart. Jazmine took a deep breath, and reminded herself through chant that it was all for Huey.
"You okay?" Huey asked as Jazmine looked up at him, nodding with a smile. His face was just so happy (even when he tried to be aloof about it). She just couldn't bear to tell him just how frightened about the whole thing.
"I'm fine." Jazmine said as she got into the seat next to him. She just needed to relax.
Besides, just how back could a roller coaster ride be since the last time when she was eight?
"It's okay to be afraid; fear makes us human." Huey said as he took her hand and gently rubbed the back of it with his thumb.
"Really?" Jazmine asked with child-like wonder as the handrails came down, and locked in place.
"Yeah. Besides, it won't be that bbbbbaaaaaddddd!" Huey said just as the ride took off from zero to sixty in the snap of a finger.
Jazmine shut her eyes as it rocketed forward in a straight line. She could feel all the movements of the ride as held Huey's hand tightly in her own. It turned to the right in a wide arc before going upward in a sudden left jerking motion. It started climbing in altitude as Jazmine opened her eyes to glimpse Huey's face. He looked so happy, so thrilled with it all as the ride proceeded to climb up a steep hill. When they had nearly reached the top of the climb, Huey was nearly bouncing up and down in concealed joy for the thrill to ride this monstrosity of speed and death.
"Jazmine, thank you for riding this with me. I know you didn't want to, but you should know that me and Riley planned to come on here later if we met up with him, Cindy, and Phil." Huey said as Jazmine's eyes opened all the way. She felt more at ease with Huey talking to her normally while the thing still climbed higher into the air.
Jazmine smiled as Huey gave her hand another gentle squeeze. She felt confident that she could do anything with Huey by her side. So, with newfound bravery, and strength she looked down.
… and then closed her eyes even tighter than before. Fuck bravery and confidence, she was fucking terrified!
Huey saw as Jazmine's eyes snapped closed with a gasp, and he yelped in pain as he heard his knuckles crack from the pressure Jazmine was putting on his hands. He looked out to see what could have scared her so badly, and realized that they had made it to the very top of the coaster ride. He could see the whole festival from where they were, and the only thing that was as big as the 200 ft. drop of the coaster was the Ferris wheel which was on the opposite side of the fair. Huey had to blink as the fear and anticipation hit him. They were about to drop from this height at the speed of… how knew how fast! And to make it worse (for Jazmine at least), they were sitting in the very first car.
"Huey?" Jazmine's voice said as Huey looked over to see that she was peeking at him slightly.
"Yeah, Jazmine?" Huey responded as his mind wondered why they hadn't dropped yet.
"Hold me." Jazmine said as Huey gave her a look, but opened his arms as she cuddled into him, "And please, whatever you do…" she said trailing off as he looked at her.
"Yeah?"
"Don't let gggooo!" Jazmine said as she dug her nails into Huey's back and shoulders while the coaster dropped them at speeds they could even imagine (though they were getting a good feel for the imagination right then).
They both screamed at the top of their lungs as the ride plunged them and the other riders before taking a steep right turn, and a sudden left, with a swirled right that brought them around in hills and a series of loops. Huey couldn't even keep track of the rides movements as he screamed and laughed the entire time while his wife wanted nothing more than to sew her eyes together until the damn ride was over with.
"Huey!" Jazmine yelled at the top of her lungs as she clung to Huey for dear life. Huey looked down at her with a wide smile.
"Yeah, Jazmine!" Huey answered as Jazmine gripped at him even stronger (if that was at all possible).
"I'm gonna fucking kill you when I get off this damn thing!" Jazmine said as Huey laughed at her. Leave it to a roller coaster to terrify Jazmine enough to curse him out.
"We'll be lucky to be alive the way this thing is moving!" Huey teased as Jazmine punched him in the stomach… hard!
"Don't fuck with me, Freeman!" Jazmine yelled as Huey was holding his stomach, feeling like the wind had been knocked out of him.
Huey simply sat back and enjoyed the rest of the ride. The coaster sped on as it did a few more wide barrels, doing another climb-and-drop but at top speed. Huey wasn't exactly sure if the ride did a corkscrew (mainly because he had never needed to know what a corkscrew was), but whatever it was had been awesome! It was after this, that the coaster slowed somewhat as it went through the last three loops before going into a straight line back to the start. Jazmine must have sensed it as she peeked out at him, giving him a relieved look. As the ride came to a stop and the handrails released, Jazmine nearly trampled the people waiting to ride as she ran to solid ground. Huey chased after her in a patient walk, finding her hugging a nearby tree as she muttered sweet words to it.
"That ride was amazing." Huey said offhandedly as Jazmine looked at him with an apprehensive gaze.
"No it wasn't! That thing was a screaming metal trap of death and should be destroyed!" Jazmine said as a white kid pass them, having overheard what she said as he looked at the coaster ride.
"What that? It's the Screaming Metal Death Trap. It's the best and only real roller coaster here! It was a reject from Disney and so the National Coaster Society donated it to the Festival this year. It's the best!" the white kid said excitedly as Jazmine growled at him, making the poor kid back away in fear.
"umm… what? Did I say something wrong?" the kid said as Huey clasped a hand on the dude's shoulder.
"No, but you might wanna just walk away. Just walk away, kid." Huey said as the kid gave him an annoyed look.
"My name is Kevin!" the kid said as Huey raised a brow, now starting to get a little miffed himself as he came down off his roller coaster high.
"Then walk away, Kevin. Before she and I kick your ass for two completely different reasons." Huey said, now becoming his normal self as Kevin looked between him and Jazmine. With another glance at Jazmine, Kevin walked away with his hands shoved into his jean pockets.
"That wasn't very nice." Jazmine commented as she started to let her fear and anger roll off her.
"Yeah well, when have I ever been accused of being nice?" Huey said with a shrug as Jazmine gained an evil grin. Huey glanced at her and gulped as he felt dread sit heavily on his shoulders.
What was she plan-?
"Well then, since I was scarred for life, you're next." Jazmine said, taking Huey by the arm and dragging him away. He could already feel his masculinity fading for some reason.
Jazmine had dragged Huey all the way to the Tunnel of Love ride. Huey took one look at it and tried to convince Jazmine of just about anything else, but she wasn't having it. She glared at him and told him that his butt (because her anger over the coaster ride had completely faded by then) was riding with her to prove they were just as "romantically incline" as all the other couples in line. So… there they were… waiting in line… with all the other the couples, who just couldn't stop sucking face or spouting mushy-love words long enough for Huey to take a breath. Huey looked at Jazmine, and she shrugged meekly with a blush on her face as her gaze met his.
Jazmine, while blushing, had briefly wondered if her and Huey could (or would) be that loving to each other. Then, in a rare moment of insight, she wondered if it even mattered to be like that. The way the guy was practically shoving his tongue down the girl's throat made Jazmine a little sick. Was that what love really was? Sticking your tongue down a person's throat? Sickly sweet (even for her romantic standards) love words that only told half the story? Holding hands as they swung back and forth like little kids? If that was love… what did she and Huey have?
Huey loved her, and she loved him… right? He saw her like no one else did. He told her the hard cold truth about the world when everyone else wanted to protect her naïve ways. He wanted her to know that bad had to come with the good. And even though he was overly cruel about it, in his own way he wanted her not to get hurt later on; when she was out on her own and the world would really be just as cruel as he said. Huey tried (in some twisted way that only he could see) to protect her from the world's cruelty by using his own lesser one.
However, that wasn't to say that he didn't do more. He treated her like an equal, no matter how childish she was being. He admired her for her innocent and unbiased opinion of others (even if he didn't exactly say it). He liked her way of thinking, and often took her words to heart if they were right. He always listened to her, even when others wouldn't. And best of all, he didn't treat her like a five year-old kid that needed their hand held.
And for all that, she loved him back. She tried (in her own way) to make Huey see that the world wasn't really as bleak and harsh as he made it seem. While she had to admit that Huey was right about some things, the other things he said were just blown out of proportion. She wanted to protect him from himself; from becoming a cold, self-secluded person that saw the world and all it's inhabitants as a waste of time and a lost cause. Hell, she was even willing to let him keep his pessimistic attitude, but mostly because it was what made him Huey. He was smart, strong, brave, handsome, and an all-around gentlemen.
He was her Huey, and after thinking these thoughts, she knew that they didn't need all the kissing and mushy words. They were just great together, because he was her Huey, and she loved him just like he loved her.
Jazmine looked over at Huey with a tender smile as Huey glanced at her, though he was caught off-guard by the loving look she was sending him. Her eyes seemed to dance with love in them, and he could help but smile back as he hoped he conveyed just as much love as she was showing him.
But, he wouldn't be Huey if he didn't get out of this awkward moment with something she didn't want to hear.
"Jazmine, I really don't wanna do this! Let's just go, and find something else to do." Huey said as she sighed, but her smile was still there, though it turned into a teasing grin as she looked at him.
"Come on, Hue-bear, it'll be fun!" Jazmine said teasingly as Huey narrowed his eyes at her.
"Hue-bear? Really, Jazmine?" Huey said with a raised brow as he crossed his arms. Jazmine mirrored him as she gave him a look.
"Yes really, because we're gonna have a romantic time in here, and you're gonna like it." Jazmine said commandingly as Huey stood his ground, though he had to admit that he liked it sometimes when Jazmine would get like this. It was strangely sexy seeing her with such strong feelings for something and ordering him to do so as well.
And besides, he kind of owed her for the roller coaster thing anyway…
"Fine, dammit." Huey said with a sigh as Jazmine cheered and did a little victory dance. She knew she'd get her way!
Pretty soon, they had reached the front of the line, and when their turn had come, an empty boat sailed its way toward them as Jazmine got in first, but Huey hesitated to get in.
"I hate these damn things. They're just-"
"None of your stupid talk right now, mister! Get the hell in this boat! Now!" Jazmine yelled as Huey quickly hopped in the boat as it rocked sideways from the sudden weight.
As they buckled themselves in and were about to be on their way, Jazmine caught the whispers of some of the couples in line for the ride.
"Aww, their so cute!"
"Take charge, girl!"
"Mmm-hmm… these men need to be kept on a short leash."
"Aww, I wish we had been together that young…"
"Look at them! See, this is why I wanted to come here! All the love in the air!"
"So young! Aww, young love is so cute!"
"They must be twelve at the most… It's just so romantic!
"They look so good together, Devin!" "Yeah, they do, Kate."
"See, this is why women are really the ones in charge, honey. It's because you guys talk too much when it's time for action."
"Yes, dear…"
Jazmine blushed bright red as she felt Huey's arm around her shoulder. He pulled her into him as she buried her head in his chest to escape the eyes of the adults and teens waiting to go through.
"Now, you two lovebirds have a good time!" the man in charge of the ride said as he started the ride while Jazmine clung to Huey. Huey chuckled a bit as he saw that Jazmine wasn't going to show her face until they were out of the view of the other riders.
They sailed into the tunnel, where romantic animations played on the wall, and romantic displays of people (and animals for some reason) were engaging in loving acts. Huey noted that Jazmine seemed to look up and cuddle into him when she heard the romantic music play while the machines and animations were hugging, kissing, and cuddling in loving ways. Jazmine sighed at her surroundings while Huey fought hard to keep down his more than slight disgust. It wasn't that he wasn't a romantic person, but just why did these stupid things have to be pink and fluffy for it to be romantic? Or why all the displays showed white kids? He looked over the edge of the boat into the water and stared at his reflection, the reflection slightly scowling back at him as he had the sudden urge to jump out the boat and drown in the extremely shallow waters below.
Halfway through the ride, Huey turned to look at Jazmine, who looked at everything with such wonder on her face, that it made him remember one of the many things he loved about her. He loved that child-like wonder and amazement that she had for the things he didn't like or enjoy. Even with every fault he had found in the things around him and in the world, Jazmine was still able to see the wonder in it all. She was able to see the beauty in even the darkest of places, like the pink, purple, and red statues and the animations which made up the attraction they were on… or was it in?
That was when Huey noticed something else. The way the lights flickered across her skin. The way her emerald eyes seemed to glisten with her wonder in the world around. The way she looked up at him and smiled so simply, and yet so sweetly, so beautifully! It all made his heart pump faster, his throat dry, his teeth chatter, his palms sweat, and his head swoon. He didn't know why, but looking at her made him feel sick… in a completely good way!
"Jazmine." Huey said, his voice unsteady as she blinked at him, so cutely with her child-like gaze.
"Hmm, Huey?" Jazmine said as their faces edged closer together.
She uttered a small gasp when Huey's slightly damp palm went to her cheek, and his gaze refused to leave hers.
"Jazmine." Huey said again as Jazmine refused to blink this time. She felt like she was in a trance. His maroon-colored eyes were just so… beautiful. Huey felt the same as he stared deeply into her emerald orbs.
"Yes, Huey?" Jazmine said wispily, her breath light as her heart pounded in her chest. She felt like it was about to explode.
Their faces had steadily been getting closer until Huey could feel Jazmine's breath against his face. Huey didn't know why, but he felt incredible dread over what he knew was about to occur. They were too young for such passionate things! Plus, he didn't want to get her into something she and he wouldn't be ready for until some time later in life. They just couldn't have a physical relationship at the age of ten! It was just… wrong!
"Umm… You should really wipe out that booger from the side of your nose. I just noticed it." Huey said as Jazmine blinked at him in shock, but then gasped as his words finally connected with her hazy mind. She huffed aloud in frustration, and turned away from him to pull out her small compact-mirror. She groaned as she saw that she really did have a boogey out of her nose, and wiped it away with a spare Kleenex. She turned back to him, and hit him in his chest as he grunted.
"Ow! Dammit, Jazmine, that hurt!" Huey said as he rubbed his chest.
"Yeah, well; way to be romantic, Huey Freeman! Honestly!" Jazmine shouted back as he shrugged in an uncaring motion, though he mental sighed in relief from having dodged a proverbial bullet.
"Hey, I didn't say I'd actually be romantic in here." Huey said as Jazmine glared at him in annoyance, but suddenly turned away from him with her arms crossed.
He sighed as he saw her place her chin in her hand as she stared out at the scenery with a frustrated look on her face. He felt bad from having led her on while his head had been caught up in the moment. He reached over to her, wrapping his arms around her middle. She put up some resistance, but eventually gave in as she placed her head on his chest again, and sighed into him. He leaned down to her somewhat downcast face, and planted a soft kiss on her temple, causing her to stiffen slightly, before she slowly looked at him, her eyes wide with both surprise and questions.
"I'm sorry, Jazmine. But… I don't think we're ready for anything more right now." Huey said softly as she sighed into his chest again.
"Yeah, you're probably right for some stupid reason that involves logic…" Jazmine muttered, though her soft giggles told him there was some measure of humor in what she said, "but that doesn't excuse the fact that you were rude to me!" Jazmine said with a soft laugh as she got off him and hit him on his chest again, though it was more playful than before. She sighed peacefully as she rested her head on his shoulder, holding his hand for the rest of the ride as the boat peacefully drifted through the ride.
When they got off, Jazmine was about to happily suggest they get some food when Huey linked his arm with hers. She looked up at him, both in full view of the other soon-to-be riders, as he smiled down at her.
"Let's go get some food." Huey suggested as Jazmine shook her head with a smile, resting it again against his shoulder.
"That's just what I was thinking." Jazmine breathed out as she and Huey walked off from the Tunnel of Love, with every eye on them as they strolled away in a loving manner.
"Aww, so cute!"
"They're so in love!"
"The perfect little couple."
"I got a picture of them! I'm uploading them to Myspace!"
Oh, friend me so I can get the pic!"
"Alright!"
"Me too!"
"What did they say?" Huey asked, having heard those crazy people shouting about them after they left.
"Oh nothing, let's just go eat. I'm starving…" Jazmine said as Huey conceded.
With their meals gotten and having found a place to enjoy them, Huey and Jazmine were about to dig in when a loud, obnoxious voice interrupted them from doing so. They knew it all too well…
"Yeah, nigga got the munchies!" Riley yelled as he snatched one of Huey's fries from the afro-headed boy's plate. Huey narrowed his eyes at his young brother, but reframed from completely ruining the moment he and Jazmine were sharing by hitting him. Cindy came up from behind him and took a seat beside Jazmine as she stole food from his wife's plate, though Jazmine smiled upon seeing her best friend.
"Isn't this great, Huey? Enjoying a nice night together. Even Daddy and Mommy were happy when they took my big bear back to their car." Jazmine said as Huey sighed with a nod.
"Yeah, even I have to admit that tonight's been better than usual whenever we leave our house." Huey said as Jazmine smiled at him while she took his hand in her own. He gave a small smile as he squeezed her hand affectionately.
"Aww, y'all two are just too cute!" Cindy said as she engulfed Jazmine in a hug.
"Thanks, Cindy." Jazmine said with a giggle.
"Yeah… I just wish this fool would be more romantic." Cindy said as she gave Riley an aggravated look. Huey raised a brow as he looked over to his brother, who was eating his food while ignoring them until all eyes were on him.
"What?" Riley said indignantly as he held up a fork full of pasta to his mouth.
"See what I mean." Cindy said with a shake of her head.
"Aye! I could be just as romantic as any other nigga! It's just that I'm better than other niggas, and don't need to be romantic. Look at this nigga." Riley said as he gestured to Huey, "His ass ain't normal this damn sweet to anybody. Which means that he killing himself on the inside right now. Is that what you want, C-murph? For me to die a little inside every time we hang out?"
"Man, that's bullshit and you know it, Reezy!" Cindy said as she slammed her hands on the table. Riley gave an uncaring shrug as he lifted the fork of pasta into his mouth and ate.
Cindy glared at him, mad that he wouldn't even try to be a little more romantic while they were at the fair, and so she did the one thing her mother always said worked when you were on a date with a jackass.
Huey and Jazmine ducked for cover as Cindy grabbed Jazmine's whole plate and threw it into Riley's face before storming off into the crowd of fair-goers. Riley sat there, completely dumbfounded, before he shrugged and began licking his face off and eating whatever food was stuck to him. He got up too just as Huey and Jazmine came from under table they were at.
"Thanks for the free food, niggas. I'm going find C-murph, and get my girl- I mean, my friend back." Riley said before he rushed off in the direction Cindy had gone. Huey and Jazmine sat at the table and watched Riley leave with two completely different expressions. Jazmine looked dreamily as she though of Riley and Cindy's story of love unfolding while Huey's brow witched in agitation that their quiet and peaceful time together was interrupted by… that!
"Here, let's just eat, Huey." Jazmine said as she saw the look of irritation on his face. She took Huey's plate from the other side of the table where Huey was originally sitting and sat it in between the two of them where they were sitting together.
Huey sighed as he gave a mental shrug. If he wasn't here with Jazmine he would have gone off and clobbered Riley and Cindy good. Ugh, now he knew he was getting mad since his grammar had degraded to that of a stereotypical Brooklyn native.
On the other side of the fair, Caesar sneezed as the dart he was about to throw at that exact second flew from his hand and hit the bull's eye. He blinked as he looked from his hand to the board, and then again when the vendor handed him the grand prize.
"Thanks, Big G. I owe ya one." Caesar said as he walked away from the game with pride in his stride as he whistled a catchy tune.
"So… no problems with this, Huey?" Jazmine asked as she and Huey looked up at the giant Ferris-wheel. Huey glanced at her as she looked to him for his reply.
"No… you?" Huey said as she shook her head.
"I don't know why, but when I'm on a Ferris-wheel, I don't have a fear of heights." Jazmine said with a shrug as Huey cocked an eyebrow and crossed his arms in aloof disbelief.
"Really. Jazmine, you were afraid when we were on the second floor of the mall." Huey said as Jazmine mock-glared at him.
"Hey, those escalators get really high up! Besides, I really do like Ferris-wheels. They're my favorite in fairs." Jazmine said as they got in the short line and were up next.
"Oh? Why's that?" Huey asked, actually curious as to what magical power this ride could possible have over lifting Jazmine's fear of heights.
"Well… umm… I can't really describe it. You'll just have to see for yourself." Jazmine said in an amused tone as Huey huffed while they were ushered into a waiting crate.
Jazmine stepped in first as Huey followed close behind her. They shut the metal cage door as the man went back to his booth and started up the ride again. They lifted up a bit, and Huey stole a glance at Jazmine. Truth to her word, she was completely calm as she gazed out of the glass window to the fair below while they were rising steadily to the top. Huey kind of hated Ferris-wheels. They always made him feel like a caged animal on display for the whole fair to see. They would always stick him right at the very top for extremely long periods of time, and it wasn't until he would actually decide to escape that the ride would lower him to the bottom and let him off. Huey got out of his thoughts when he heard a peaceful sigh escape Jazmine while she gazed out at the lights of the fair.
"It's just so beautiful… right, Huey?" Jazmine said as she took Huey's hand and pulled him over to her side.
Huey leaned into Jazmine's back and gazed over her shoulder out into the fair while they were rising to the top. It really was breathtaking now that he actually looked out at it without any agitation or anger. The lights, the people, the happy faces (he at least thought they would be happy since he couldn't actually see any of them). The people going about their enjoyment in the fair while he and Jazmine watched them from above. The happy couples going into the Tunnel of Love, the people winning prizes at the fair games (or losing their money, Huey thought), and the happily chatting bystanders that were eating at the many little wagons-things that sold foods of all kinds. Huey took in all these sights, and gave a content sigh.
"It really is something." Huey said in a whisper in Jazmine's ear. She shivered as he heated breath blew on her ear with his every word, "but you're much better to look at."
"Oh, Huey." Jazmine said as she leaned into his chest while he sat back in his spot.
"I just wanted to make up for the whole thing in the love tunnel or whatever. Don't expect this too often or not." Huey said as Jazmine rolled her emerald orbs.
"Always the blunt pessimist, aye Huey?" Jazmine said mockingly as Huey narrowed his eyes with a ghost of a smirk on his face.
"Always the naïve optimist, aye Jazmine?" Huey said as Jazmine giggled, though her giggles were cut short by a should sound in the sky flowed by a flash of bright light.
Huey and Jazmine turned their attention forward in their Ferris-wheel crate as another sound entered their hearing. They watched as a bright green light streaked through the sky and exploded into a dazzling display of green streams of light upon reaching a great height. Jazmine gasped lightly when she realized what was going on while their crate stopped at the top of the Ferris-wheel.
"They started the fireworks early." Jazmine said as she looked to Huey for reassurance. Huey merely shrugged as he held her close to him by wrapping his arm around her waist.
"I suppose so. This is a national fair, so maybe their shorter than normal local ones." Huey suggested as Jazmine nodded.
"I always love being at the top while the fireworks go off. They make you feel so special don't they?" Jazmine said as she didn't even glance at Huey for his reaction.
Huey didn't even bother to give one as he knew that it wasn't a what that made him feel special, but a who. Jazmine always made him feel special. She always looked to him like he was her whole world, and whether she knew it or not; she was his whole world. He wasn't really sure if he could live without her in his life. It was like she was his guiding light in the dark world. Her bright emerald eyes, her enchanting smile, her musical laughter, and her simple beauty in all things she did or said. Everything about her, even the things that annoyed him, were so precious. He knew right then, that even if he could, he wouldn't dare change Jazmine from who she was.
Huey's thought, however, broke when he felt a pair of soft lips lingering on his cheek. Hey moved from his person as he slowly felt the spot they had touched. He didn't know why, but that one little kiss felt so… special! He looked down to see Jazmine smiling up at him, her eyes brimming with her love for him as he couldn't help but smile back at her. She was just so perfect to him, he could only hope that she loved him as much as he did her.
Jazmine gazed deeply into Huey's eyes as he did the same into hers while fireworks lit up their faces every few seconds or so. She wasn't sure why, but with every color that shone on Huey's face, she pegged them with each of his moods. The blue were his quiet, sad times where he wouldn't talk to her about them and wave her off so she won't worry. The red were the times where he was annoyed or angry, where he would need her to calm him down. The green were his jealous moments when he would get jealous because she would give her attention to someone else. And the pink… they were his happy moments. The moments where he would smile, chuckle, and be a kid with her. Those were her favorite, and right now was one of them. It was moments like this that she truly knew Huey loved her every bit as much as she did him.
"You know something, Jazmine? I'm glad we came here." Huey said in a rare moment of letting Jazmine know what he was thinking.
"Really?" Jazmine asked as Huey nodded, his smile still on his face as he continued to gaze into her eyes.
"Yeah, because I love seeing that smile on your face. I love seeing you happy, Jazmine. I'm sorry if I ever make you feel bad like when you were afraid of the dark… or that time." Huey said, his voice growing solemn as he lowered his head. Jazmine gently took him by the chin and made him meet her gaze once again.
"Don't feel bad, Huey. Those times were all my fault. I was the one acting stupid, not you./ I should have listened to you… that time, and I should have told you I was afraid of the dark."
"No, I'm the one to blame, Jazmine. I should have known you were afraid, and I should have just let you be happy with the makeup." Huey said as he gently put his hand to Jazmine's cheek and rubbed it with his thumb, "It's just that… you're so beautiful naturally I didn't, and still don't, think you need makeup. You're perfect to me, Jazmine, just the way you are, and never let anyone tell you different." Huey said after a deep breath. Jazmine looked almost ready to cry as Huey said she was perfect. No one had ever told her that, and Huey saying it only made it better.
"You're perfect to me too, and I love you, Huey Freeman." Jazmine said as Huey hugged her to him.
"And I love you, Jazmine Freeman." Huey said as Jazmine smiled shyly before reaching up and kissing his cheek again, this time Huey's cheeks heating up as the fireworks exploded in the background of their loving embrace.
Their only wish now was that the moment could last forever as they went back to gazing out while the final fireworks lit up the skies with many bright and vibrant colors…