I know! I missed a day! I'm sorry! :ducks flying objects:

I know, I'm slippin! But fo real, I went to this concert in the park last night(in Southeast HOOD DC. lol) and it was SO much fun. There was lots of jazz/old music and if you have versatile tastes in music then it was really nice. And at the end they did this Floetry song (probably one of my favorite singing duos, by the way. The title of this story is actually one of their songs) that had me so excited. There was also lots of incense, Bacardi (which, erm, I did NOT drink...much.), and crazy ass black people that had multiple "nigga moments". Pretty priceless. Honestly, if I would've done a chapter after getting in so late (around 2/3 am-ish) it wouldn't have been any good. But I'm home now, which is pretty funny because from DC to where I live in southern VA, it's at least a 4 hour drive. We made it in 2 1/2.

So depending on how quickly I do my homework and how long my church picnic lasts, MAYBE you'll get a second chapter today as well, to make up for the general low key/minimal action in this one. Maybe.

Okay, reviewers! :reads: Osaisi, Lil-Dutchezz, TRIGGER MIKE THE GREAT, Jasmonsterrrr, DarkSmile, Red Rabbits, and YoungNeil. BIG thanks for the reviews, y'all. Really appreciate it.

Enough talk, here's chapter twelve!

Warning: Once again, the characters are kind of limited. But this is the last chapter like that. Swear.

Disclaimer:...aww, I'm out of ideas. :( Just know I don't own it.

Let Me In

Calm Before the Storm

The next few days weren't in any way easy. Jazmine continued to get self defense training from Maya, who was all too happy to have an excuse to kick her ass. Luckily though, since her former rival did keep her word and didn't hold back, Jazmine felt herself steadily gaining strength; blows that would've once knocked her down now were barely enough to make her stumble or flinch. The two girls would wake up early each morning to warm up and condition at the empty dance studio (luckily lessons halted around the week of Christmas), challenging and fighting each other until the sun was high in the sky. Then, Maya would usually leave, suggesting Jazmine do the same. It was seldom the mulatto listened.

The day before Christmas Eve, however, Maya insisted Jazmine go with her to lunch instead of staying back to practice more like she usually did. Jazmine accepted her invitation, only because she was too surprised at the girl's gesture to do much of anything else. Which was how half an hour later she found herself sitting inside a Sushi restaurant, sipping on a steaming mug of tea and watching Maya scarf down a plate of dumplings. Just outside the window they were sitting by she could see the flurries of snow stirring in the air, people rushing by on the sidewalk as they finished the rest of their Christmas shopping.

Jazmine couldn't help but sigh. At one time in her life Christmas had been her favorite time of the year. But after Huey had presented actual proof of the fictious nature of Santa Clause when she'd been eleven(by staging a stake out outside her living room window and snapping pictures of her parents putting presents under the tree after she'd gone to bed), it had taken a downward spiral. Add in bickering parents, less of a desire for material things, and an abusive relationship and it suddenly lost all sparkle. Huey just always had to be right...

"You should really eat something," Maya suggested as she took a gulp of her cherry coke, obviously starving. Swallowing she stared at Jazmine's wrist, small and pale against the deep red tablecloth. "You can't expect to build up your strength if you're running on fumes all the time."

"Not hungry. And I've already been getting stronger these past few days. Don't act like you don't know." Jazmine gave her a sly grin. "Or did that amazing drop kick I gave you right before we called it quits make you forget?"

Maya rolled her eyes, using her straw to swish her drink around in its glass. "It was a lucky move, lite brite." She shrugged, a hint of laughter flashing in her eyes. "Still, you are a lot better than I thought. You've caught on to a lot more in four days than people catch on to in four months."

"I just got it like that." Fake dusting off her shoulders, Jazmine burst into laughter as Maya snorted into her drink.

The sole part of the deal Maya had went back on was her declaration that they weren't friends. Even though there was still a tense line between them, a line that would always be there when it came to Huey, it had began to dissolve a little. While tough, Maya didn't beat her around just because she could. She also pointed out things to help Jazmine get better and also gave her helpful advice on certain moves and forms. She was a better teacher than Jazmine had anticipated.

"So...I kind of hate bringing this up." Maya swallowed a mouthful of dumping, dabbing at her mouth with a napkin. "But when I said all those mean things to Huey about you that night of his party...was I right?"

Jazmine rested her head on her chin, elbow on the edge of the table. She stared out the window, her expression now serious again. "I don't know." She shrugged. "Honestly, I wish I did know. Then, when you did say that I could've either said you're lying or just dealt with it. But not knowing altogether?" She shook her head. "It probably bothers me more than anything else."

"Doesn't he know?" Maya put great strain on not saying Marcus's name.

"If he does he's not telling me." Jazmine tilted her head to the side, eyeing Maya. "What about you? What were you really doing at that party that night?"

Maya sighed, placing her hands flat on the table and licking her lips thoughtfully. "I was hoping it wouldn't come to this," She admitted. "Then again, I knew someone was going to ask sooner or later."

Jazmine waited expectantly, her green eyes calm. Maya sighed again, leaning back in her chair.

"Okay. Fine." She glanced up at Jazmine. "I'm going to sound like such a nerd…okay, do you know what dyslexia is?"

Jazmine's eyebrows furrowed together. "You mean where you can't read stuff without it messing up?"

"Right. Well, I have that," Maya explained. "Only with numbers. You see, I've been trying to find a really good math tutor who's good with that kind of stuff. I mean, I don't want people thinking I'm retarded because I can't count to twelve or anything. It's not like that." She glanced up at Jazmine again, who was still staring at her in disbelief. "You were a good tutor and all, but the jealousy was starting to set in over the whole Huey thing so I wasn't as willing to get your help. Then, everybody I tried to get to tutor me just sucked." She was saying it all in a rush, as if trying to get it all out before she could lose the nerve. "So when I got off work early on Halloween, my boss told me about this nerd kid at our school who's so smart he's already gotten enough college credits to be considered a college senior, even though he's only in our grade. His name's-"

"Hiro Otomo?" Jazmine asked.

"Yeah. How'd you know?"

"Because I can't even pass him in our class rank. He's Valedictorian." Jazmine shrugged. "Not that it matters. I'm down to eighteen anyway."

"Yeah. So anyway, his tutoring skills are supposed to be phenomenal. But it turns out, he's one of those artsy I-love-music wannabe DJ types. Which is weird considering he's such a Physics loser-"

"Maya." Jazmine's tone was bored. "Get to the point."

"Right! So I ask where I can find him because I knew he worked at the computer store up on tenth street and it's close to the park. So I head up there hoping to catch him, but it's already past ten and the place is closed." Maya rolled her eyes at Jazmine's perplexed stare. "I know, okay? Normal teenagers don't go around on a Friday night searching for a math whiz. But I was just so hyped cuz I am so sick of being called stupid just because I can't read! That shit gets old real-"

"Maya!" Jazmine barked.

"What? Oh, yeah. So then I realized I remembered someone in the hallway during school saying Hiro was gonna do a set at Marcus's party. I'm with Huey on the whole party thing, they are so pointless. But anyways I drove to his house to see if I could talk him into tutoring me-"

"You went to a party," Jazmine echoed blankly. "To talk about school."

"I told ya I don't even like parties like that! At least put on some decent music and have a few drinks available that aren't beer. Then, maybe I'd enjoy them more." Maya took another sip of her drink. "So then, I get there and I'm just kind of by the wall waiting for him to take a break or something where I could get him alone. But then, I end up seeing my friend who I ain't seen since we were little, before I even moved here." A small smile grew on the girl's face. "Yup. Kevin Conyers."

"…um, okay…"

"I'm not finished!" Maya glared. "God, you are one impatient bitch."

"Okay, just answer me this. Did you cheat on Huey or not?"

Maya grew silent. Jazmine tapped the edge of the table with her fingernails, reaching for her mug of tea with her other hand to take a sip.

"Yes." There was a pause. "…and no."

Jazmine choked on her tea. "Yes and no? How can it be both?!"

"Easy." Maya closed her eyes, opening them again. "No physically, yes emotionally." When Jazmine continued to look confused she waved her hand. "Oh, you don't understand anything!"

"Not when you explain it so weird!"

"Look." Maya's voice was firm. "Love isn't just about liking somebody or whatever. There's different kinds of love. But you need to be able to understand the person you love on an emotional level, be able to take them for who they are and not want to change them. They've got to make you want to grow as a person and see potential in yourself that you couldn't possibly see without them. And with Huey…I didn't have that." She shook her head. "I mean, damn. I feel so horrible saying that, but I finally admit it. Me and him are alike, but sometimes I think it's the differences that really help you grow and be capable of loving someone who sees things differently than you. And we just don't have enough of them."

Jazmine was staring at the girl with a mixture of shock and puzzlement in her expression. "Didn't know you were that deep."

"Pssh. Me neither. But it's true." Maya clasped her hands together. "I danced with Kevin and I hung out with him for a couple hours. That's all."

Jazmine nodded. "Okay."

"But…when I realized how much more things seemed to make sense with him, I started getting nervous about my own relationship." Maya shrugged. "When you feel something for someone you aren't supposed to ignore it. I know that now." She gave Jazmine a stern look. "So take that how you want to."

Jazmine finished off her tea, a thoughtful look on her face. "So did you tell that to Huey?"

Maya snickered, opening her menu to look for more food. "Didn't have to," She said casually. "He dumped me regardless."

Jaw dropping, Jazmine had to pound herself in the chest with a fist to keep from choking. "What?"

"Yup. Oh, I didn't tell you yet?" Maya shrugged once again. "Whoops?"

"What do you mean whoops? Why'd you guys break up?"

Maya glared. "I tried to tell you why and you won't listen. So forget it. I ain't explaining it no more."

"Fine," Jazmine said back just as hard, leaning back in her chair. "Whatever."

Giving Jazmine a small smirk Maya looked looked back down at her menu. "Okay, DuBois," She said. "I'm getting you a plate of General Tso's Chicken and you're going to eat it. Like it or not."

Jazmine stared out the window again as Maya waved over one of the waiters, her heart which had been feeling like dead weight in her chest, beating heavily, showing signs of life for possibly the first time in a week. And all because of Maya's stupid comment about Huey. Him dumping Maya for her. What a joke.

But…was it possible that what she said was the truth?

"All fixed up and ready to go!" Caesar declared excitedly as the mechanic slammed down the hood of Huey's car, wiping his sweaty forehead dry with a gritty looking cloth. "Finally! You don't have to bum rides off Maya or take the bus everywhere."

"I wouldn't have been able to ask Maya for rides anymore in the first place." Huey gave Caesar an impatient look. "Single, remember?"

"Ah. Right. Sorry, man." Caesar thumped his best friend in the back. "Hasn't hit me yet, I guess."

"Right." Huey dug in his pocket for a stack of bills, staring at the mechanic. "How much do I owe you? Twelve hundred, right?"

Peering over his smudged glasses, the man gave Huey an examining stare before holding out a white hand, fingers black from oil. "Uh huh," He answered gruffly. Ceasar elbowed Huey.

"How'd you get the rest of the money so fast?" He asked curiously. "I thought your granddad was giving you cheap money for your labor?"

Huey shrugged, handing the mechanic the cash, expression nonchalant. "Guess it's a good thing I had a birthday party after all," He replied calmly. "More gifts."

Caesar raised an eyebrow. "You got four hundred skins just out of gifts?"

"No." Huey smirked. "I got four hundred skins for returning the gifts."

Caesar's eyes widened before he laughed, thumping fists with the revolutionary boy beside him. "You're cold, Freeman."

"I'm smart. Electric razor I'll rarely use or money towards my car which i'll always use?"

"Good point." Caesar shrugged before frowning slightly. "So, why'd you break up with Maya? You never really explained it to me."

Huey watched the mechanic walk into his office, a small closed in cubicle off the side of the garage, door shutting behind him before he opened his mouth. "It's...complicated."

"You're complicated. Tell me about it."

Huey sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It just wasn't working, I guess. I mean, I never loved her. And it wasn't fair for me to keep her from finding someone who can."

"True." Caesar nodded. "But you guys just seem so...right. Well," He considered. "Before all the arguing started, at least."

"Like you and Cindy, right?" Huey smirked. "You used to hate her back in middle school. In fact, you kind of resented all white people in middle school."

"Well, times change." Caesar frowned, groaning. "You reminded me how she's going to be gone until the twenty ninth. Thanks a lot, asshole."

"Sure." Huey rolled his eyes at Caesar's glare. "Anyway, I did feel bad for ending it. I still do. But it wasn't right to keep acting like I wanted to be with her when-"

"When you really love Jazmine, I know," Caesar finished, leaning against Huey's car. He glanced towards the mechanic's office. "Damn! Can he hurry the hell up so we can go? I would like to see my family sometime this Christmas. I still gotta get mama's gift and-"

Huey's eyes narrowed. "What did you say?"

Caesar looked up. "Oh, I said I'd like to see my family before-"

"No, before that...did you say I love Jazmine?"

"Yeah. Because you do." Caesar sighed. "I mean, it's so obvious. It's been obvious since we were younger."

Huey snorted. "Whatever. I don't even know what love is."

"Okay, yeah yeah. You don't love her. Right." Holding up a hand Caesar began to list with his fingers. "One, your day was never complete unless you'd somehow made Jazmine cry as you contradicted her about her beliefs on everything-"

"Because she was so immature!" Huey argued. "Someone needed to drill some sense in that airhead of her's!"

"Rigggght...no. Two," Caesar went on, grinning at Huey's expression. "God forbid someone say anything to make her cry that wasn't you; you'd swear a vendetta on they asses-"

"Because-"

"Nope! Don't care. Three, even though you hate everything she does, like dancing or singing along to old songs on the radio, or something happy and cheerful, you'll go along with it-"

"So she doesn't whine at me all the time-"

"And four." Caesar looked serious. "When you called me a few weeks back convinced Marcus was beating on her, you sounded like you were three seconds away from going to his house and ripping him to shreds."

Huey stayed silent for a moment. "Because...hitting women is wrong," He said. "Obviously. You just don't do that."

"Huey, product testing on animals isn't right but you don't go banging down doors for that! I've never heard you so mad in the whole time i've known you-"

"Well you'd be mad too if some guy was hitting Cindy!" Huey shot back. Caesar raised an eyebrow.

"You mean the woman I love?"

Huey opened his mouth, shut it, then leaned back against the car as well, glowering at Caesar. "Shut up."

"You'd better tell her, man." Caesar nodded as if he were an expert on the subject. "Before it's too late."

"It is too late." Huey kept his eyes down, voice even. "She loves Marcus. She said so."

Caesar stared at Huey before bursting into laughter, clutching his sides as he choked in mouthfuls of air. Huey's gaze snapped back up, eyes narrowing again. "And you believed her? C'mon, Huey! You're smarter than that!"

Huey was beginning to doubt his own knowledge, the way things were going. "I am?"

"Yes!" Caesar wiped a tear from his eye. "Jazmine doesn't love Marcus! She probably only said that because she thinks you love Maya!" Smirking, he added, "Although after that whole mistletoe kiss thing I'm wondering how she doesn't see it, either...Huey, are you blushing?"

"No!" Huey turned his head, glaring at the wall and folding his arms over his chest. "It's just hot as hell in here."

"Very. That's why we're both shivering." Caesar shook his head, straightening as the mechanic came out of his office, receipt in hand. "Ah. Finally! Now we can get the hell up outta here."

Huey wordlessly took the receipt from the guy's hand, keys already in his coat pocket. "Let's go."

"Aww. Huey's just mad because he knows I'm right," Caesar stage whispered to the oblivious mechanic, winking. He Barely had time to wave a goodbye to the man and mutter a "happy holidays!" before Huey grabbed his collar, shoving him towards the car.

"Just get your ass in before I make you walk."

Christmas Eve rolled around in a deep flurry of snow, carolers whom Jazmine slammed the door on multiple times, and a tense atmosphere due to her parents attempting to get along "for the sake of the holidays". All in all they'd done a good job, finding less things to argue about and actually behaving in a civilized way. It was only when Jazmine had told them she was going to the studio that they hit friction.

"Jazmine, you've been going there morning and night all week!" Tom declared, surprised at her notion. "Besides, it's Christmas Eve! A time for family!"

"No, Christmas Day is a time for family," Jazmine had replied calmly, hand already on the doorknob and gym bag slung over her shoulder. "Christmas Eve is just something people made up in the commercial industry to get more money off the average person. Did Jesus get a stocking full of gifts the day before he was born? I don't think so."

Tom and Sarah exchanged baffled looks. "I told you we shouldn't have let her read "The True Meaning of Christmas" when Huey gave it to her in tenth grade," He muttered in his wife's ear. She nodded in agreement, although she looked less pressed to have Jazmine stay.

"Honey, i've been really worried about you," She'd said in a soft voice, tucking a strand of blond hair behind her ear. Jazmine had rolled her eyes. "You've been so secluded and withdrawn from your friends, you hardly come out of your room when you're home, you spend all your time with that boyfriend of yours-"

"Doesn't he smoke?" Tom asked aloud, eyes narrowing. "Jazmine, i don't want you taking any of his cigarettes. You aren't eighteen for another month and no daughter of mine is getting arrested for having illegal substances and-"

"Getting anally raped, we know!" Sarah and Jazmine snapped together. Blue eyes focusing on her daughter again Sarah gave her a soft smile.

"I just don't want you burning out, sweetie. I want you to be happy." She frowned. "You are happy, aren't you? I know this whole process with me and you father hasn't been easy, but-"

"I'm going to go before the snow gets too bad." Jazmine opened the front door, shivering against the blast of cold air and fuzzy white snow that hit her. Ignoring her parent's protests she'd slammed the door behind her, running for her car to avoid freezing to death.

Since Maya was spending Christmas with her own family and had told Jazmine she wouldn't be able to train her again until the twenty-seventh, Jazmine drove to the studio herself, humming along with the radio. Ironically, the song was another old one of Michael Jackson's and she felt a slight pang remembering her and Huey singing along. God, it felt so long ago. Had it really been no more than a few months?

Getting into the cold studio had proven to be easier than it would be getting out. As she practiced and reviewed her forms she could see the snow piling up by the door, the frozen water relentlessly freezing against the cracked window panes. After a while as the gray sky turned black, Jazmine flopped against the mats and stared up at the ceiling, wrapping her arms around her knees. It felt good to be alone.

On an impulse she reached for her bag, rummaging through it until she emerged with something she hadn't used in too long; her ballet slippers. Tugging off the heavy boots she'd grown acustomed to wearing she tossed them on the floor a few feet away, rolling up her sweatpants and gingerly slipping her feet into the soft shoes. Lacing them up, crisscrossing the ivory colored ribbons, she could feel an energy building up that she hadn't felt in ages. Perhaps it was because she hadn't been able to look forward to dance classes with the knowledge that Marcus would be there, waiting on her to mess up or make a wrong move so her could punish her. He was the main reason she'd decided to quit.

It wasn't like she wanted to. But she couldn't deal with balancing him and ballet anymore...

Rising to her feet she pitter pattered across the floor, fingers itching for the stereo on the opposite side of the vast room. Clicking the power button she adjusted the stations, biting her tongue in concentration as she looked for some song, any song, that she could dance to. It was he last time, after all.

"No, too fast."

"No, too slow."

"What the hell is this?"

"Nothing with a banjo in it."

Finally she settled on a song that was just starting, eyes closing and muscles relaxing as she listened to the music.

"One shot to your heart without breaking your skin
No one has the power to hurt you like your kin
Kept it inside, didn't tell no one else
Didn't even wanna admit it to yourself

"And now your chest burns and your back aches
From 15 years of holding the pain
And now you only have yourself to blame
If you continue to live this way."

"Get it together
You wanna heal your body
Get it together
You have to heal your heart
Whatsoever you sow you will reap
Get it together."

Jazmine began to glide across the floor, arms outstretched and eyes closed as she spun around, body moving with the rhythm of the song as if she already knew what to do.

"Dark future ahead of me
That's what they said
I'd be starving if I ate all the lies they fed
Cause I've been redeemed from your anguish and pain
A miracle child I'm floating on a cloud

"Cause the words that come from your mouth
You're the first to hear
Speak words of beauty and you will be there
No matter what anybody says
What matters most is what you think of yourself"

"Get it together
You wanna heal your body?
Get it together
You have to heal your heart
Whatsoever you sow you will reap
Get it together..."

A warm sensation was starting to build as she let her feet take over, merely letting her mind guide her along with the song's words. The more she listened, the more she realized how true they were. It was as if God had known she needed to hear this, as if this song was playing just to tell her what she needed to do. But could she? Was it really that easy?

"The choice is yours
No matter what it is
To choose life is to choose to forgive
You don't have to try
or hurt him and break his pride
Just shake that weight off
And you'll be ready to fly"

Jazmine didn't even realize she was crying until one of her tears landed on her collarbone as she raised her head. Blinking, she dabbed at her eyes witht he tips of her fingers, surprised at the wetness there. She didn't know she was crying; in fact this was probably one of the first times she didn't feel like crying. She felt herself getting back into the rhythm of the song, tears still streaming down her face.

God, she sure was crazy.

"One shot to your heart without breaking your skin
No one has the power to hurt you like your friends
Thought it would never change but as time moved on
That ugly duckling grew up to be a swan

"And now your chest burns and your back aches
Because now the years are showing up on your face
But you'll never be happy
And you'll never be whole
Until you see the beauty in growing old"

As she jumped and twirled though the final chorus of the song, her reflection visible in the corner of her eyes through the side of mirrors, she swore she saw another person in the mirrors, but somehow couldn't bring herself to care. Focusing her energy on finishing out the song she looked away, ignoring the dark corner and letting the words ring through her mind.

"Get it together
You wanna heal your body?
Get it together
You have to heal your heart
Whatsoever you sow you will reap
Get it together..."

"you can fly fly fly fly...
you can live or you can die
you know that life is a choice you make
you can give or you can take..."

Finally coming to a stop Jazmine sighed, laughing to herself and sinking to the floor, wiping her sweaty forehead with her sleeve. She'd left her sweatshirt on and now she was burning. Getting so used to having to hide her bare skin it was now a habit she couldn't seem to break. Then again, it wasn't like anyone was there...beginning to shift her arms from out of the sleeves, a new voice rang out in the air.

"I figured you'd be here."

Jazmine's head snapped up, arms going through the sleeves again. Since she preferred the dark to the light she only had the dim ones on, which weren't very many. Straining her eyes to see into the far corner by the door she saw a shadow shift, her heart leaping in her throat. "Who's there?" She asked, climbing to her feet and falling back into a stance. To her surprise, the familiar male's voice laughed.

"You? Fighting someone?" To her surprise Huey stepped foreward, still chuckling. While it was slightly odd to see him smiling at anything that had to do with her, it was better than the scowl she'd gotten used to. And that was only when he did look at her. "That's funny."

"What are you doing here?" Jazmine asked, her voice harder than intended. Huey's smile faded and was replaced by his trademark scowl.

Ah. That was better.

"Mr. DuBois was looking for you," He said flatly, hands in pockets. He was leaning against one of the mirrors. "He tried calling your phone and you had it off. And I know you only have it off when you're here."

"Oh." Jazmine nodded, turning down the volume on the stereo before looking up again. "Yeah. Sorry about that."

Huey nodded back, reaching in his pocket as he came closer. Jazmine's natural reaction was to back up (because god only knew how much she didn't want a repeat of his birthday...or wait, did she?) but she held her ground, her eyes never leaving his until he was in front of her, hand tugging out of his pocket to give her...her eyes widened.

"I also came to give you this."

"The money I gave you?" Jazmine took it, flipping through the bills. "But...why? Didn't you need your car fixed?"

"Yeah. I got it back." Huey shook his head. "But I couldn't take all that money. Not from you."

"Fine." Jazmine folded her arms over her chest, money crushed in her hand. "Anything else?"

"Yeah." Huey gave her a strange look; the one where Jazmine had no idea what he was thinking. It irked her to no end. "I read your letter."

"Letter?" Jazmine echoed. "What let-" It dawned on her and her eyebrows lifted. "Oh."

Huey walked over to the mats in the corner, sitting down on them and patting the spot beside him, eyes looking up at her expectantly. Too nervous to be stubborn and object Jazmine walked over to him, sitting on the edge of the mat and burying her hands in the front pocket of her sweatshirt. She stared down at her shoes.

"Aren't you hot?" Huey asked. "It's like a furnace in here."

Remembering the bruises that had yet to fade, Jazmine hurriedly shook her head.

"Whatever," Huey muttered before clearing his throat. "So, you want to explain that whole note to me?"

Jazmine raised her eyebrows. "You said you read it. Don't you know how to read."

"Yeah, I do," Huey shot back, eyes narrowing at her sarcastic response. "But that doesn't mean the way you phrased "One day, when everything isn't so confusing and hard to deal with, I'll explain to to you" is any less vague."

Jazmine's nose wrinkled. "You actually remembered what it said?"

"Just tell me what you mean by that," Huey retorted impatiently. Jazmine shrugged.

"It means what it says! When I can put what's going on into words and make sense of it all, I'll tell you why I've been so weird." Jazmine rolled her eyes. "What's so hard about that?"

"But why can't you just tell me what's going on now?"

"Because you wouldn't understand," Jazmine said bitterly, staring at the floor again. "I don't even understand."

Huey sighed, staring up at the ceiling, his wine colored eyes unreadable. Jazmine sighed. Everything about him was so confusing. Why did she love him?

Remembering Maya's words she felt a blush form on her face and she ducked her head even lower, hoping that he wouldn't notice. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke again.

"I'm sorry."

Jazmine's head whipped up as she forgot about her mini predicament to stare at Huey in surprise. Did he just apologize? "What?" She asked in such a forceful voice It echoed through the room. Huey winced.

"I really don't feel like saying it again."

"I don't care. I feel like hearing it again." Jazmine's eyes widened. "Why are you sorry?"

Huey leaned back against the wall. "For that night. At my party."

Jazmine winced. An awkward conversation for them both. Great.

"Well...which part are you sorry for?" She looked every direction but his face, tapping her feet nervously. "For getting mad at me about what Maya said or..." She flinched. "The kiss?"

They were in dangerous waters now. If Huey said he was sorry for the kiss, it meant he didn't feel anything more for her than the way a brother felt for a sister. Or the way a best friend felt towards someone. But why would he kiss her if...

Their friendship was a lot harder than it used to be, that was for sure. Before they were fighting over he belief in the easter bunny. Now they were fighting...love?

No. He couldn't love her. Maya was just full of it. Huey Freeman, revolutionary extrodinaire, health conscious, politically aware Huey Freeman could not love junk food scarfing, music enthusiast, overly excited and free spirited Jazmine DuBois. They were just too...

Different.

Huey's eyes were closed; obviously he was thinking along the same lines. Jazmine tried to remind herself to breathe as her heart, still irregularly functioning, beat at about five hundred beats per second. She wished he'd just say something already. Anything-

"Both."

...but that.

Jazmine felt a tearing sensation in her chest; closing her eyes as well she breathed in, willing her eyes not to fill. "Oh."

Was she a bad kisser? Was she unkissable? Oh god, she had to get out of there before she started crying all over the place like the big baby she was. She thought she'd been hurt before but shit, this was ten times worse.

Huey didn't love her. If he did why would he regret kissing her?

"Glad we've got that straightened out!" Jazmine replied in a false cheery voice, wiping her palms on her knees and hoping up. Behind her she could see Huey examining her with critical eyes. "I forgive you. Yay, all's good, I'm going to go home now-"

"Are you upset?" Huey asked warily, lifting an eyebrow. Jazmine laughed, waving her hand.

"Why would I be upset?" She asked, trying not to cry. "It was just a stupid kiss! I mean, that's what you do under mistletoe. A dumb tradition."

Huey's eyes narrowed a bit. "Stupid?"

"Well, yeah." Jazmine gave him a look. "Right?"

Huey blinked. "Right." Pushing himself up to his feet he stretched, arms over his head. "So, we're good. Right?"

Jazmine nodded earnestly. "Right."

Huey looked unconvinced. "Because you know, if there's anything you need to tell me," He said slowly, eyes unwavering. "You can tell me now."

Jazmine cringed under the pressure of his stare. She hated the way he seemed to be staring straight into her soul when he looked at her like that. On more than one occasion had it made her admit things she'd never admit to anyone else, her tightly sealed secrets spilling from her lips faster than a spreading forest fire.

She could tell him what had happened. She didn't have to wait until New Year's Eve, a date she was already dreading. She could let it all out now; the threats, the beatings, the depression. She could tell him how she'd hated it when he'd been with Maya, how she'd only been away for the summer because she couldn't take seeing them so happy together when she was so miserable without him. She could tell him she loved him.

...or she could save them both the embarrassment and keep it to herself. He'd already admitted he regretted kissing her. Why admit her feelings if they were one sided?

"No." She shook her head. "I'm good, thanks."

Huey nodded firmly, heading for the exit. "Okay."

Jazmine smacked herself in the forehead as he walked away, teeth grit in frustration. "Dammit dammit dammit!" She whispered to herself. "You idiot."

"Jazmine?" Dropping her hand she whirled around to see Huey waiting by the door, expression expectant. She blinked. "Are you coming or not?"

Jazmine couldn't help but smile as she grabbed her bag, walking across the room to reach his side. She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as he took her hand in his.

"The weather's really bad," He told her, peeking through the window. Sure enough they could barely see out, the snow had grown so thick. "So you might want to leave your car here and let me drive. We can come get it tommorow."

She liked the feeling of her hand in his, and the sound of "we". He could've said "Let's jump over the moon and hike to Mt. Figi using surfboards" and she probably would've agreed. "Okay."

Huey looked back at her before opening the door. "Ready?"

Jazmine nodded, her hand tightening in his. Even if he didn't love her, even if she was with an abusive maniac, even if nothing made sense anymore, it was so, so nice to pretend. "Yeah."

Huey threw himself against the resistant door and hand in hand they ran out into the storm, the blankets of white snow pounding down from the sky and already heaped on the ground beating against them, but their hands never breaking.

God, that was boring.

But next chapter...next chapter isn't. Tee hee.

The song Jazmine was dancing/being emotionally emo to is called "Get It Together" By India. Arie (also one of my favorite singers)

Review! ...if you aren't asleep. :(

-Kelsey