Chapter 30.
I stand still in bewilderment. I can't bring myself to go after her. I'm stuck. Her words repeat in my head "hope the quickie was worth it." What is she talking about? Instead of doing something, I watch her walk away again probably for good this time. Not even having an understanding of what I did. It's almost hurting my head trying to figure it out. I just want to know what got her so angry.
Footsteps approach me, "Why'd she leave?" I turn around to be met with Cindy.
"I'm asking the same question."
"What did you do?" Her tone is accusing, straight off the bat.
"Did you not just hear what I said?" I reply annoyed. I'm not very fond of Cindy. I don't understand why Jazmine hangs out with her or Caesar dates her either. My reasoning, she acts just like my brother, ignorant. Overtime I have just learned to tolerate her.
"You had to do something, she was fine a second ago."
"Exactly my point, we were okay one minute then the next she's spazzing out. Something about Danielle and me."
"Oh so your little girlfriend is the cause of this. What did she do?" One thing I have to give Cindy is that she's protective and looks out for her friends. But that's all I give her, she's still annoying especially now that she's in my business. And what's with them referring to Danielle as my girlfriend?
I pinch the bridge of my nose, "I don't know what happened with them. But I intend to find out." I stalk past her, back into the bowling alley.
"Come on Danny. We're leaving." I order.
"Um okay… bye everyone!" She bids farewell to the rest of the people in the group. On the way out we pass Cindy, who's giving Danielle the death glare.
"What's her problem?" She questions.
"I'll explain to you on the way home."
"Alright."
Once on the road, "Did you do something to Jazmine?" I'm not accusing her, I'm just being blunt. I'm getting to the bottom of this.
"What? No." She pauses, "Well besides beating her in bowling."
I scowl, "Be serious Danny."
"Alright, okay. Tough crowd. But no, I don't think so, why?"
"Well she believes we're together."
Danielle's eyes widen, "What?! You did tell her I'm married right?"
"I tried to but she left in a hurry. Not before telling me off and saying we had a quickie." I cringe. Never would I ever do that with Danielle.
"Wait, when was this?"
"She left like right after I got out of the bathroom."
"Oh no!" Danielle smacks her forehead. I'm guessing, in realization?
"What?"
"Well around that time I was getting a drink from the water fountain and when I was done I wiped my mouth. I looked up and saw her so I gave her a friendly smile." She shrugs.
"And I adjusted my pants when coming out the bathroom... Damn." We almost have this situation pieced together.
"Yeah and from the angle she was standing at I get how she could have misinterpreted what she saw."
"Shit! What am I going to do now?" When Jazmine has her mind made up about something… it's extremely difficult to change it.
"You need to talk to her." Danielle states the obvious.
I scoff, "Easier said than done."
"You still want her right?"
I sigh, "Yes." More than anything.
"Well then don't give up. Time to man up!"
"Alright Danielle. That's enough of your advice for tonight. You're doing too much." I roll my eyes.
"Sorry Hue- Hue." I cringe at the nickname. I'd really wish she'd stop saying that.
"Stop calling me that! I've told you a million times." That's probably why people have the idea that we're dating. Because I let Danielle slide sometimes but anyone else knows better. Although, I'll admit I let Jazmine away with her pet names a few times but she's different.
I drop Danielle home before making it back to my apartment. By the time I change and settle down it's late. I pace back and forth in my room, looking at my phone on the bed. 'Should I call her? She might be asleep.' 'Well wake her up.' 'Nah she might hate you even more.' I have a battle going on inside my mind. I rub my temples 'Get it together.'
I grab my phone and scroll in my contacts. I hover my finger over her contact 'Aggravation.' I mentally grin, I never changed it. Didn't feel like it and honestly didn't want to. After some last minute debating I press the call button. It rings and rings and… no answer. I sigh at least she didn't decline it, she might really be sleeping. I'll just try tomorrow. Then she'll answer… hopefully.
Jazmine's POV
I'm laying on my bed, scrolling through my Instagram feed, there was nothing attention grabbing on my timeline. So I go to my search bar and out of boredom I swear, I look up a certain someone's Instagram page. I won't say any names. Let's just say he has a huge amount of hair. Anyways, I go through his page, his posts are mainly about the black lives matter movement, protests, telling people to defund the police, black excellence stuff like that. He rarely posts himself up there but when he does he gets tons of likes, I find it strange how Hu- I meant he has so many followers, almost 2,000, for someone so lowkey. Although he doesn't follow many back, only 164. I press the tagged in photos tab, whole bunch of rallies organizations but there is also one with him and Danielle? They look young, in their early teens? Day one is the caption. So he's been messing with this girl. I roll my eyes going back to his feed.
On one of his posts, I try to go back and finger slips accidentally liking the picture. Crap! I unlike it quickly and lock my phone. 'Whew I really hope he didn't see that.' A minute later my phone starts ringing, I scoff. Speaking of the devil. I hit the decline button on Huey for like the 5th time today. Gosh, doesn't he have better stuff to do than to continuously call me. It might be my fault for lurking on his page but still what's his excuse for the other times. Clearly I don't want to hear a thing he has to say.
I refresh my Insta timeline and a picture Logan posted. Wow I haven't seen him a long time, wonder what he's up to. I check his page and I notice that all his pictures with his girlfriend, Vanessa are gone. I know he was saying they were going through things but I didn't think they would break up. Pics don't confirm it though. I should see how he's doing.
I Dm him,
Me-Hey Logan.
A few minutes later he replies, Logan- Hey Jazmine. What's up?
Me-Nothing much, what about you?
Logan- Same, same. I could have left the conversation there but curiosity gets the best of me.
Me-Um I don't mean to pry or be nosey but did you and Vanessa break up?
Logan-No worries, yeah we did about 3 months ago. We felt we were both going in different directions and fell out of love. It was mutual but of course it still hurt. But I'm doing good. I can't lie, the relationship was holding me back. I'm living my best life now. Oh my, I thought they would always be together. 4 years down the drain, I couldn't imagine.
Me-Well that's tough to hear I'm glad you're doing okay though. I actually had a break up months back too. Didn't go as well as yours.
Logan- Damn, Jazmine I hope you're okay.
Me-Yeah I'm alright, however I couldn't say that a few months ago.
Logan- All this breakup talk is sad.
Me-You got that right, lol.
Logan- We should meet up one day this week. Catch up. Are you free?
Me-I am tomorrow you?
Logan- Yeah, breakfast sound good?
Me- Sure does. I know a good place downtown. It would be nice to chat with an old friend. Forget reality for a minute.
Logan- Great, text me the address and I'll meet you there.
Me-Will do. See ya tomorrow! I think tomorrow will be good, something to keep me from going crazy inside this house.
The Next Day.
Logan and I meet at this nice little brunch spot not too far from my apartment. We sit down at a small booth. I haven't been out to breakfast with someone in a while, let alone a man. But Logan is a friend, this shouldn't be awkward in any way, right?
"This place is nice, good pick Jazmine." He compliments.
"Thank you, I've come here a few times. I'm sure you'll enjoy the food." I smile.
He nods, "So what have you been up too?" Logan questions as we look through the menus.
"Well as embarrassing as it is to say, I failed my last year of law school." I press my lips in a line.
"Oh damn. That's rough."
"Yeah so I'm taking the same courses again and I'd been really busy for the most part. Especially this summer because I had to catch up on a lot of work and it still wasn't enough." I frown.
"Well I know you'll get it this time. You're hardworking." He smiles as he assures me. 'Wow! A complement, assurance and smile all in one.' I don't think Huey's ever done that pause, why am I thinking about him.
I smile at Logan and look back at the menu. It's not long before the waiter comes over, "Hello, I'm Alexa I'll be your server today. What would you two like to drink?"
"I'll have water, please." I tell her.
"And for you, sir?"
"I'll take water as well."
"Alright, I'll be right back." She smiles before walking off. Moments later she comes back with our drinks. I just keep looking at my menu, I don't know why I feel so on edge.
"You don't have to be so tense, it's just me." Logan jokes.
I relax my shoulders, "Sorry… it's just been a while since I been out with-"
"Another man." He finishes.
I let out a breathy laugh, "Exactly."
"I get it, I was the same way after Vanessa." Logan admits and I nod. Taking a sip of my drink.
"You know I used to have a crush on you in college." He says and I almost choke on my water. I clear my throat and fix my figure.
He chuckles at the small action, "I'm joking Jazmine. Just wanted to see your reaction."
"Ha, ha." I mock, "Are you satisfied?"
"Yes, very. Now can you stop being so awkward so we can enjoy our time here." Here I was worried about him making the situation awkward and it was me causing all the awkwardness.
"Sorry about that. I'll promise I will relax. Forreal this time." I put my hand on my chest, showing that I'm being honest.
"Great, what are you ordering?"
"The chicken and waffles. You?"
"I think I'm going to try the avocado toast with eggs."
"I heard that's good." I tell him. A minute later the waitress comes over and takes our orders.
"You better not be one of those women who tries to eat all cute."
"Oh trust me I definitely am not." I emphasize. I do not play when it comes to food.
Logan grins. 'His smile is cute.' I never really noticed before but it is. About 30 minutes later our food comes back. We eat and talk during and after we're finished. We conversate about college memories and our lives now. I really enjoyed myself at this little dine in. Logan walks me to my car.
"Hope you had a good time."
"I did. Did you?"
"Hell yeah. It was good catching up and the food was bussin." Logan remarks.
I laugh "I'm glad." I click my car door open.
"Wait Jazmine." I don't get inside my car just yet. "Remember earlier how I said I had a crush on you before."
"Yes."
"Well… it wasn't a lie. I really did." Logan says seriously. I blink twice, trying to figure out what he is getting at.
"But you were with Vanessa?" I scrunch my face in confusion.
"Well yeah but I liked you before. I guess I was too scared to go for you and I went for her instead." My eyebrows shoot up at his revelation. This whole time…
Logan scratches the back of his neck, "Don't get me wrong I loved Vanessa, I don't regret my relationship with her one bit. But I do regret never pursuing you."
"S-so what are you saying?" I'm becoming nervous.
"I'm saying, I want to get to know you as more than just friends." Logan smiles at me slightly.
I just stare at him, I don't know what to say. I never thought of him in that way… but maybe I should? I don't know. Should I give a him a chance? I don't want to get hurt but then again he's a nice guy. I try to give him an answer but words fail to form. Luckily my phone starts to ring, buying me some time.
"Hold on. One sec." I take my phone out my pocket and stare at the caller ID. It's Huey. As if matters couldn't get more complicated. I'm not annoyed like any other time he calls me. Instead, I start to think about him and feel guilty about maybe getting to know Logan. We're broken up but why do I feel like I owe him something. I don't. And it's time to act on that. It's time to forget about him. Rather than pressing the decline button as usual, I press the block number option.
I turn my attention back to Logan, "Yeah I'd like that."