-Chapter 14-

Jazmine turned to Huey, who pretended to be remotely interested in the voluptuous woman dancing on stage. She was a pretty thing with mocha skin, long jet black hair, and pasties covering her rather large breasts and a thong for her even bigger butt. Huey had honestly never liked strip clubs and stayed away from them as much as he could. However Riley and even Caesar had dragged him in before, much to his chagrin. It didn't mean he didn't appreciate a nice body, but this scene wasn't for him. However Jazmine couldn't tell, because it looked as if she was buying his charade. Her mood was down and she felt rather uncomfortable, wondering why Huey would bring her to the strip club and if he was a regular there as well. If she had known this was the case then she would've stayed home.

"Aren't you gonna enjoy the show?" Huey asked, noticing her staring at him. She didn't want to turn to the same voluptuous stripper who had left the stage and was now dancing near the biracial woman. Maybe it was a ploy to get her to lighten up, but Jazmine was feeling more and more uncomfortable by the second.

"Huey.." Jazmine started, feeling hurt. "Do you not like me?" she asked. She knew Huey was insensitive, but she'd never thought he'd do something like this. Jazmine had always had feelings for the revolutionary, but they were both focusing on their future, even if it killed her to live far from him. However Jazmine had also figured that she wasn't Huey's type of woman, physically and mentally. Huey had always wanted a black woman who was confident with her natural beauty, but she was mixed and often straightened her hair, which Huey disliked.

"Jazmine, this isn't the place to be asking stupid questions, just watch the damn show!" Huey replied, almost as if he was annoyed by her for interrupting him ogle the stripper.

"But…" she whispered, at a loss on what to say. Jazmine felt rejected and humiliated, she hated being here and wanted to go home, even if she'd have to call an Uber herself. She knew she didn't deserve this, but her heart was in pain. Tears began to form in her green eyes that gleamed in a place such as this, Huey glanced her way and began to notice the tears falling down her face. As soon as he saw how hurt she looked, his features began to soften. Realization hit him like a ton of bricks, he was hurting her, the woman who cared for him so long and accepted him, his first friend in Woodcrest, the one who stayed by his side and listened to him even if she didn't understand him.

"Jazmine, I-" he spoke. However it was too late, as Jazmine began to run out of the strip club and through the crowds of people. Huey's eyes widened, feeling a ton of regret. He should've never brought her here and he should've never slept with her mother, otherwise they wouldn't have been in this situation. He slightly shoved the stripper, who was relentless to get money, to run after Jazmine as he called her name out.

Jazmine however refused to stop and grabbed her phone out of her purse to get an Uber to pick her up and take her home. If Huey was going to act like this, then she saw no point in being with him. Huey eventually caught up to her, trying to stop her from leaving him.

"Jazmine, wait!" he told her, trying to reason with her. He then tried to reach for her arm.

"Get away from me, Huey!" she snapped, slapping his hand away. Huey knew he deserved that. "Look, I don't ever wanna see you again! I just want to go home!" she added, trying to order an Uber.

"Jazmine, please listen!" Huey replied, trying to stop her. "I'm-"

"What Huey Freeman?! What could you possibly have to say?" Jazmine asked, feeling irritated and tried to calm herself from shaking. "Why did you even bring me here?..." she asked, hearing her voice begin to crack.

"I don't know...it was stupid of me." he answered. "I don't even like these places myself."

"Could've fooled me." Jazmine remarked sarcastically. She began to look at him, seeing the sincerity and regret in his eyes. His emotions were exposed to her. It was something that Jazmine would rarely see in her entire life.

"I swear to god, Jazmine...I don't know what came over me. I know I hurt you...I was a dick..." Huey admitted, his voice began to give out. "Please, I'm so sorry…"

Jazmine then turned away from the revolutionary, trying to process everything. "I don't know, Huey...I just really want to go home." she spoke, trying not to give anymore tears. Huey stood there at a loss of words, he was losing his best friend all because of his stupidity. Why was he such an asshole? Why did he sleep with Sarah? Why did he hurt Jazmine, the only woman he had fallen for back in high school? Why does he feel so strongly about Jazmine now?

'Why…'

"Jazmine...I'm really, really sorry." Huey spoke with sincerity. He had hated apologizing, he hated admitting that he was wrong, but his pride didn't matter to him now, Jazmine was. "I don't blame you if you want to end the night now or never want to see me again, but let me take you home. I at least want to make sure that you're safe."

"Huey…" she spoke, not knowing what to say. She turned back to face him as the revolutionary could only stare into her beautiful green eyes. He could only reminisce how much they've been through together as children through adulthood, the crazy adventures, their talks at the tree. Huey could never understand why he would think about not having her in his life ever again. As Jazmine stared into his wine-tinted ones, she could only feel the same.

"Jazmine…" he breathed, his eyes began to travel down from her eyes to her full lips. They looked so soft, so glistened, so pure. Huey wasn't sure what to do next as he felt as if something was missing. A blush began to crept on his face as he began to choose these next words carefully. "I know you may never want to see me again after tonight... but can I do this?" he asked.

Jazmine blinked in confusion, not taking her eyes off him. At least her eyes were no longer tearing up, but he could tell she felt down still. "W-What is it?"

"This." he replied. He'd be damned for the rest of his life if he didn't do this. Huey then pulled her closely by her tiny waist, taking her by surprise, closing his eyes before kissing her lips. Jazmine's eyes widened as Huey was kissing her for the first time. She wanted to pull away and slap him for doing this after what happened, but her body felt frozen in time. Her body felt warm, she felt herself relaxing in his kiss. His lips felt so enjoyable, she didn't want to stop. She began to return the kiss after mentally fighting herself, wrapping her arms around his neck to deepen it. This was something she had always dreamed about, although she wasn't expecting it outside a strip club, but it didn't matter to her.

The kiss lasted for a bit until they broke apart, remembering that they were still in public. They still kept their eyes on each other, focused on one another after catching their breath from the kiss. Huey wasn't sure where they stood after this, maybe he made it worse by doing that, but at least he felt a weight lifted that he was able to kiss Jazmine since high school. Either way, even Huey knew, he had to make things right between everyone.

The night was still young and Jazmine had to decide to stay with Huey, as long as they went somewhere else, which he was more than happy to do. He had enough of the strip club and regretted even bringing her there. He decided to drive her to a new restaurant in Woodcrest that Jazmine had always wanted to try. Huey made an effort to talk to her and slowly, but surely, she opened up more during the car ride. Huey began to see her smile and laugh more, just like the Jazmine he knew. It actually made him smile at times, seeing her happy and talking again.

After arriving at their destination, Huey made sure to walk by her side into the restaurant. It was crowded, but if Jazmine wanted to try this place, then Huey wasn't going to argue. However the mood changed, when Huey saw a very familiar and unpleasant face working as the busboy, Uncle Ruckus (no relation).

The old, racist man saw both Huey and Jazmine and made his way over to try to make their lives miserable as always. "Well, well well, look what we have here. The lyin', cheatin', no good negro who cheated his way through college with the half and half. What a surprise seeing your monkey face here in this beautiful, white establishment." he remarked.

"Ruckus, I'm not here to start somethin' with you." Huey warned with a glare, if he had to defend Jazmine or himself, he'd do it no questions asked.

Ruckus then turned to Jazmine. "Hey Mulatto female, just what the hell are you doin' with this well-spoken nigga? You lookin' to have 10 of them nigglets by the time you're 25? If you act now and ditch this coon, then maybe there's still hope of a white man taking you in-"

"Ruckus, I told yo-"

"Wait Huey." Jazmine interrupted, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We can go somewhere else, I really don't mind."

Huey looked back at the woman, hoping she wasn't too disappointed. "You sure?" he asked, making sure that she wanted to go on her terms. Huey had hated Uncle Ruckus even since they moved to Woodcrest and never understood why Granddad was friends with him, perhaps because they were grumpy, old men who shared similar hobbies, but Ruckus was too unpleasant.

Jazmine nodded her head which prompted Huey to escort her outside, but not without Ruckus having a racist rant, however it was soon stopped when his manager called him out to stop. Both Huey and Jazmine entered the car, finally glad that they were away from Uncle Ruckus. Huey sighed, this night was something else, but the kiss was the only highlight of the night.

"So what should we do?" Jazmine asked, still feeling hungry.

Huey paused, but then had an idea before speaking up. "How about we go to the Jamaican restaurant that Caesar's dad owns?" he suggested. Huey enjoyed that place and it had vegetarian options. "Then if you want, we'll do whatever you want."

Jazmine gave a small smile, looking back at the revolutionary. He was really trying for her and appreciated the effort.

"I'd like that."

To be continued...