Chapter 11.
Jazmine's POV
I pace back and forth in my bedroom, thinking about the argument I just had. Huey's got some nerve and making accusations like that. Telling me I'm stupid for loving someone, he's just mad that he's lonely. I can't believe I was ever friends with him. He's just so negative. And a liar. Ugh. I just need to forget him. Focus on my relationship, someone who actually cared about me that's it. Yup that is the way to go about it.
A week Later…
Cindy and I were out eating lunch on our breaks. Asia couldn't make it, she went with Riley to lunch. I came with Cindy because I didn't want to risk being around he who shall not be named if he was there. Besides this place was new and we had never been here before, I like to try new things.
"So why couldn't we go with Asia and Riley?" Cindy asks, taking a bite from her food.
"Because Huey might be there and I don't like him." I really didn't want to bring the argument up because knowing Cindy she would ask a million questions.
Cindy wears a skeptical look, "You don't like him? Since when?"
"Since forever." I try to pay her no mind and eat my food instead. But she drops her fork looking at me.
"What happened?"
I sigh, "We're not speaking for reasons I don't wish to discuss," I dismiss the situation by continuing to eat my wrap.
Cindy just shrugs and eats her salad. She's a PE teacher so she tries to eat healthy but we both knew she loves fast food. Cindy was always athletic since we were kids. She loved to play basketball and she still does when she gets the chance. She wanted to play in college but she hurt her knee badly, and could never play the same. It was hard for her to get past it but she managed. Her dream gone, I couldn't imagine. I'm glad her job still allows her to be around her old passion.
"Yo Jaz let me tell you what one of these bad ass kids said today." Cindy always had a story about one of her students.
"What happened this time?"
"So this kid was running and he stopped and said "Ms. M I'm tired as shit you always making us run so much." And he was kinda big so I said "It will help you lose weight." and his big ass started sprinting."
I gasp, "No way. You did not say that," I giggle. She had no filter.
Cindy nods her head, "Sure did." She laughs and I join in.
"Girl, they are going to fire you one day."
"Nah them people need me and those kids love me. Always saying I'm they favorite teacher."
I shake my head. I can think of numerous reasons why they love her. Mainly having to do with the inappropriate things that come out of her mouth.
"I bet." I say while laughing.
"Yo Hispanic bitch staring at three o'clock."
"Huh?" I go to look but Cindy grabs my arm.
"Don't make it obvious or stare too long. Next thing we know I have to fight a hoe."
I roll my eyes and I look around. Sure enough, there are two women both Latina, sitting tables down, looking at me. One of them whispers something into the others ear and they take their eyes off me. I turn back around to Cindy with a confused look on my face.
"You know them?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing… Maybe they think we're pretty?" I shrug and Cindy looks at me crazy.
"Nope, they looking for trouble. You know me Jaz I don't like to be stared at. That means you got a problem and I'm gon' solve it."
"Cin relax let's just finish our food. No need to make a scene."
Cindy groans, "Ugh you so boring always trying to be the bigger person and shit." I ignore her and try to finish the rest of my food. I was a little creeped out, those girls were just staring at me, it was weird. 'Why us?' But I pushed that thought aside and finished my meal.
Cindy and I paid, gave a tip, and left the restaurant. Once outside there were those girls again. I looked to Cindy first, she was giving them a stank look. I mouthed don't say anything but I doubt she would listen. 'Please don't say anything, Please don't.'
"Aye why y'all was staring earlier. Problem?" One of the women said something in Spanish to the other, looking at Cindy. That pissed her off even more.
"Y'all bitches can't speak English? That's cool my hands speak Spanish." Cindy started walking toward them and I snatched her arm back. No doubt that Cindy could fight people underestimated her because she's white. But I witnessed her many fights and beating people up since middle school. We both knew how to fight granted I didn't start fights or have physical altercations as much as Cindy. In the white town we grew up in it's what you did to make it through. The white kids would bully me, pull my hair one day I decided enough was enough and defended myself. Anyways in this moment though, Cindy's fists were unnecessary.
"Relax Chica Blanca. There's no pressure. We just wanted to speak to your friend."
"Oh so now y'all speak English. Y'all couldn't just say that instead of staring like some damn weirdos." The girl that didn't speak yet rolled her eyes at Cindy and turned to me. She is pretty, slim figure, flawless skin. She looks like a younger version of Shakira.
"I'm Ariana. Are you by any chance Jazmine Dubois? Cairo's girlfriend?" My eyebrow popped up in question.
"Um yes that's me." I'm confused why she was asking me this, Who was this girl?
She scoffs and looks at her friend then back to me, "Well I'm coming to you as a woman...Cairo and me have been together for close to a year. I didn't know he had another girlfriend until a month ago. He said he was going to break up with you but obviously that's not the case. And I just thought you should know I'm not leaving him either. I've put too much in this relationship to walk away because of some side chick." As she finishes I don't even know what to say. I was completely and utterly speechless. Did I make the wrong choice? Was she telling the truth? How did she even track me down? More importantly where Cairo during this? Another woman is claiming she's with him and where was he, nowhere to be found.
"I'm sorry. But do you have proof? I don't know you. How can I believe what you say is true?"
"Trust me I don't need to lie, puta. We been fucking. I have text messages. You want to see?" I didn't want to see anything. I wanted to punch her in her head for talking to me rudely. It wasn't my fault, I wasn't the person to blame for this. And she could be lying for all I know or some mad ex girlfriend. Before I respond Cindy interrupts me
"Oh hell nah. I'll beat your ass don't be talking to her like she some hoe, she ain't know either. I want all the smoke behind my best friend." Cindy starts walking to Ariana but her friend steps in.
"Don't even think about hitting her. She's pregnant."
"Pregnant?!" Both Cindy and I exclaim. No way she-
"Yup four months," Ariana turns to the side and no joke there is a small baby pump that pokes out. I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me, reality was catching up with me. He really got another girl pregnant. I had to be getting punked, pranked, something. No fucking way this was happening.
I look back at the woman claiming to be with Cairo. She had a smug look on her face that I wanted to smack off but I couldn't. She was carrying a child, I had to settle for being the bigger person.
"Thanks for letting me know. Come on Cindy." I am defeated. I had nothing else to say. I started to walk away. I had nothing else to say, there was nothing else I could. I wasn't going to sit there and bash another woman even though I would like to. It wouldn't be right. I hear Cindy suck her teeth loudly. I look back at her jump at the two girls but I just continue walking. Cindy yells some threats at them but I'm too in my head to even hear what she said. She catches up to me shaking her head.
"Man why you ain't let me knock them out."
I look at her bewildered, "For goodness sake, she's pregnant Cindy!" I drag my hands down my face, she wasn't making the situation any better.
"Still though. Her face ain't untouchable." I just ignore Cindy and keep walking to my car. Trying to think, think of how to go about this. Did I cuss Cairo out or could we get through this. I just wanted to hear him finally tell the truth. Stop brushing things off like everything was ok. It wasn't.
"And how you walk off like that? Should've cussed her Shakira wanna be looking ass out. I know you try to be classy and all but damn. I mean you look way better than her that's probably why she so pressed... Man I knew Cairo ass wasn't shit. You think she lying? Nah she ain't. That boy is cheating. It's mad obvious. Like what you doing in New York every other week? His ass ain't there every week for work. He cheating period. Girl kick his ass to the curb... But What you finna do? "
"I don't know yet" I reply shortly thinking she'd be quiet. Honestly that was the answer, I didn't know what the hell I was going to do.
She blew out a breath, "You don't know?! That's all you got to say right now. Shittt I'll tell you what I would-"
"CINDY!" I finally stopped her from talking so much. She was driving me even more crazy. I was trying to think and here she was putting her unnecessary two cents in.
"What?"
"I don't know how I'm going to go about this and you saying all this isn't helping," I sigh. We finally reach our cars.
Cindy walks over to the driver side of her car, "I ain't mean to push but you need to figure your shit out. You upset with the wrong person."
She is right, "I know I'm sorry for yelling."
"It's cool. Don't trip on you still the baddest. Cairo really took a L if this true. He finna be a dad now that's some funny shit. You too young to be playing step mommy Jaz. " Cindy laughs and I narrow my eyes at her.
"Alright, alright I'm sorry. Look girl I gots to go call me when you figure it out."
"I will." I wave as Cindy pulls off.
I take a deep breath out. I was going to put an end to all the confusion and lies tonight. Cairo was coming home then we were going to talk about this. He was going to clear this up and I didn't want to hear his bullshit excuses anymore. I had a plan.
Cairo came back an hour ago while we were laying in his bed. He went to the bathroom and left his phone in the room. Before he could trust me not to bring it with him but all the trust I had for him was out the window. I grab his phone and start guessing passwords to unlock his phone, all of them wrong. I become frustrated 'What could it be?' As a last resort I try 12345 and it opens. I roll my eyes 'Dummy.' I didn't have much time so I quickly went to his messages. There is a 'Baby' contact in his phone and it wasn't mine. I click on it and can't believe my eyes.
Baby- I miss you
Baby- Come fuck me
Cairo- Ok sexy
Cairo- Chill Ariana. I don't care about her.
And that was only a few of their dirty text messages. This nigga has me fucked up to the max. I was scrolling and so into reading I didn't notice Cairo came back into the room.
"Babe what are you- oh shit."
I look at him with the coldest glare, "Yeah 'Oh shit!' Who the fuck is this?" I knew exactly who it was I wanted him to play dumb so I could tell him off. I toss his phone aside waiting for an answer.
"Uhh no one I have no idea."
"Nigga, don't fucking play dumb. You was fucking another bitch while with me!" I don't even say that word that much, that's how furious he has me.
"No, no it's not what it looks like."
"It's exactly what it looks like. This whole time. This whole time Cairo, all those business trips were just you cheating. Lying straight to my face."
"But babe-"
I cut him off, "There's nothing to explain. You cheated and lied to me countless times. Now you got some bitch pregnant and I look like a dummy. God. I should've listened to everyone and not your dumbass!" I gather my stuff and head for his front door. I need to get out of here asap before I go crazy.
"Where you going?"
"Home, the fuck?! Is it not obvious?" I look at him dumbfounded. He grabs my arm.
"But I love you babe." He tries. Him calling me that made me sick to my fucking stomach. It is a lie. He needed to quit while he's ahead. I didn't even cuss him out the way I wanted to. He was fortunate, I was only leaving.
I snatch my arm away, "There is no more babe. We're done. Finished. Don't call me, don't text me. I never want to see you again, period." He stands in front of the door blocking my path out.
"You must think I'm stupid. All this has to do with Huey." Cairo scoffs. This has nothing to do with him. It was all on Cairo's dusty cheating ass.
"What the hell are you talking about? Why are you even bringing him up?"
"Don't play all innocent now Jazmine. I know you have feelings for him. Been itching to fuck him... well if you didn't already. Probably why we didn't have sex you was getting it from him instead ." I clench my jaw. Now I was a hoe because he got caught. Yeah right. He tried it.
"Really Cairo?! Oh yeah I totally have been fucking Huey this whole time. I'm such a whore." I say sarcastically.
"I didn't mean it-"
I interrupt him, "Nah it's whatever. Because I didn't fuck him but now, I will. He's probably way better than you will ever be. Shrimp ass dick." Cairo and I didn't have sex but I knew his thing was small and he knew it too. I was hitting him where it hurts. I was chatting right now I wasn't going to do anything with Huey to get back at Cairo. I wouldn't use anybody like that let alone Huey. Cairo's garbage ass wasn't worth it to get revenge on and I didn't care that much, I simply wanted him to be out of my life.
"Don't talk to me like that."
"I will and just did, now move." I push his head back. He doesn't and I do it again. This time he grabs my wrist tightly. And I feel Deja vu I'm not doing this with him again. He shouldn't even have his hands on me right now, at all.
"Let me go Cairo!" He doesn't. His grip strengthens instead but this time I wasn't going to be weak. I would stand up for myself.
"Let GO!" I put all my strength to smack him in his face. It was for all the stress, embarrassment, pain mentally and emotionally he caused me these past months. All the lies having me upset questioning myself because he was an evil individual.
Cairo steps back I guess from the recoil of the hit, I'm shocked I didn't know I could do that. That's what he gets. I sit there with an approving look, until he cocks his hand back and hits me with the back of his hand. Followed by another smack that hit even hurt more Horror grew upon my face; it wasn't registering that he had just hit me.
"What the fu-" I'm cut off by his arm swinging back and coming toward me with a close fist. It was like it was happening in slow motion, he was coming for my eye. I had enough time to move my head and he only caught my cheek. This didn't hurt as much as the smacks but it was still painful. My face was stinging and felt like it was burning. I held my cheek in disbelief the affliction was unbelievable. The insane part was I couldn't come to terms that he hit me for leaving. Cairo was wicked. Tears threaten to drop from my eyes. But I not dear drop one in front of him.
"I don't need you anyways bitch but you'll be back. I'm glad I cheated on you." He kicks me in my back out of his house. I jump as he slams the door in my face. He has the fucking audacity.
He's lucky he's a nigga or I'd fuck him up. My blood is boiling right now, I'm a mix of devastated, infuriated, heartbroken, and oddly confused.
I pick myself up and run to my car. I drive straight home fast not caring about the speed limit. I just needed to get home. When I get inside my apartment I go straight to my bathroom mirror. A bruise has formed on my left cheek, a welt shows too. I'm so red and flustered. How could Cairo do this to me. I take a shower and touch my face, I wince from the pain but the steam does help with the hurting a little. I was going to wash everything away the negativity, the aching, the thoughts, everything.
Once finished in the shower I put on sweatpants and a spaghetti strap. I don't call anyone. It's late. I lay in my bed trying to sleep the distress away but the events won't stop playing in my head. All the stuff that happened today. Cairo lied, cheated, got another girl pregnant, then hit me. How could I let this happen. After hours of twisting and turning I huff and get up from my spot. I put on my Ugg boots and a thin sweater. My damp hair clings to my skin.
I grab my keys and walk to my car. I sit in my car thinking, 'If I go to my friends they will probably kill Cairo. Tell me I was stupid and dumb.' I start my car and drive away from my building. I don't know where I'm going but I drive until I feel I'm the place I should be. I bang on the door. I am a little scared to be out here alone in the middle of the night. I bang on the door once more before it opens.
A shirtless sleepy Huey stands in his doorway rubbing his eye, "Jaz?... What are you doing here?"
I don't know if it's the fact that he called me by my nickname, Jaz in that amazing sleepy voice, that he never called me that before or that he's half naked right now in basketball shorts but it distracts me from why I came here.
"Are you okay? What's wrong?" Then I remember and the emotions swoop right back in.
"You were right." I sniff.
"Right about what?" Huey's eyes focus on me finally. Well more like my cheek.
"Wh- Who did that to you?" He pulls me into his apartment gently by my hand. My throat feels so dry I look down. He lifts my chin with his hand delicately forcing me to look into his eyes.
I look off to the side before speaking, "Cairo." I say a little bit above whisper. Huey's eyes widen then scowls, his hand drops for my face and walks over to his room.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm gonna get dressed and go beat the fuck out of that nigga." No. No. No, this is what I didn't want to happen. It was a bad decision coming here but I didn't know he cared about me that much.
"Huey no. I don't want to cause anymore trouble." Cairo asked for it but he wasn't worth it.
"He put his fucking hands on you! I'm not going to let him get away with it. I don't care what happened, he had no right." Huey's voice raises.
"I know but I can't handle anymore stress right now."
"You need to tell the police at least. He can't get away with this."
"Cairo's basically rich and I have no proof."
Huey blows out air, "I can't just let this go."
"For now please." My lips began to quiver.
I was on the edge of losing my composure. I was under a lot of strain already. There would have to be this whole investigation and I didn't want that. I wasn't ready for all that nor did I want to think about all the lies Cairo would make up there. I'm a law student I know better than anyone how the law system worked. It would only be a let down.
"Fine I'll leave it alone for now. But if I ever see him again I make no promises."
That was enough for me I guess, "Thank you." I shiver a little and Huey notices.
"Come on, my room is warmer." He leads to his room that is indeed warmer than his living room. Huey sits on his bead looking at the floor then speaks up.
"Why did he hit you anyway?"
"I broke up with him. Some girl came up to me earlier telling me how Cairo got her pregnant. So when He left his phone unattended I went through it, saw he was cheating. I ended it telling him off he got mad and smacked me twice. Punched me then literally kicked me out." I finish and breathe heavily. That was the first time I actually said something out loud. I sit beside Huey on his bed and he shakes his head.
Huey's jaw clenches, "Cheating is one thing but to hit a woman what a bitch ass move."
"You can go ahead and say it." Huey furrows his eyebrows in confusion.
"That I told you so." I laugh awkwardly to lighten the mood but his face remains serious.
"I'm not going to rub it in your face, especially now. You didn't deserve any of this."
"But maybe I did. How could I be so dumb and blinded… I thought he loved me. Maybe it is all my fault for being so oblivious." I was so stupid. Cairo never loved me. I just wish I listened before. It would have saved me all this suffering.
"Don't cry Jaz." Huey says softly wiping away the tears that I didn't even notice fell. He strokes my bruised cheek with the pad of his thumb and I wince slightly. He drops his hand immediately.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to-" I stop his sentence when I put his back on my cheek.
"It's ok... it's actually helping."
Huey has a worried look on his face but continues speaking, "You said it's your fault. It's not. Don't blame yourself, it is definitely not your fault. Nothing about this is justifiable. You deserve so much better. Someone who loves you truly because that wasn't love. Someone who cherishes you and doesn't take you for granted. Someone who's honest with you. Someone who treats you like the special person you are. That's love."
Huey finishes and I'm in a trance by his eyes, our bodies close, his hand on my face. The best of all his sweet words that sound like music to my ears. He stares back in my eyes deeply like he can see my soul and my lips unknowing part slightly as I lean in closer.
Huey drops his hand, "My bad… I just never really grasped how green your eyes are." His tongue jets out and licks his plump lips. I don't say anything in response. My mind is running on its own when I crash my lips against his.