AN: So It's finally here! I know you've all been waiting. I wanted to have it out before the New Year but I wanted it to be perfect, but it's here so were good. Originally this Chapter with out the AN was 8,514 words. Anyway I hope you all enjoy this last Chapter. Longer AN below.
I Do Not Own A Thing.
Enjoy.
Chapter 21
Everyone raised their glasses to toast for the soon to be groom and bride. Marleen was ecstatic, six more days until she was officially Mrs. Freeman. Huey was her everything, and she knew that he was her soul-mate. She loved him so much, but she had doubts. At first she thought it was early wedding jitters but she had a feeling that something was going to happen. She wants to marry Huey, she really does, but she was afraid he did not want to marry her instead. Was he really in love with her or was she really still just a rebound? She felt a sharp pang in her heart. At that moment Cindy walked up.
"Hey gurl. You excited?"
Marleen nodded.
Cindy smiled.
"How is the baby doing? Do you guys know the sex yet?"Marleen asked.
Cindy shook her head.
"Nah but hopefully we will find out soon, gurl you'll be the first I tell, well other than my baby daddy."
Marleen laughed at her friend. Caesar and Cindy were expecting, they hadn't planed it but they had it under control. Cindy looked around the room.
"Speaking of baby daddies where is yours?"
"Cin I'm not pregnant."
"Not yet, but you're getting married in six days. So Huey is not only your husband to be, he's also your baby daddy to be."
Marleen laughed at her best-friend's comment, she secretly began wondering the same thing; where was Huey?
"Aye man! You gotta get hella fucked up tonight!" A nineteen yearly Riley cheered.
"No I'm not getting drunk, not after last time." Huey said referring to the first and last time his brother and best-friend had miraculously convinced him to drink.
Caesar laughed.
"Good time." He said.
I should be going back to the party, Marleen is probably looking for me.
Riley took a shot before speaking.
"Huey in six days you and Marleen will be inseparable. Hang out with the homies tonight."
"Damn Riley. You using big words now that you graduated." Caesar said.
"Shut cho bitch ass up."
Huey shook his head at the both of them and left the hotel room that Caesar had rented out. Huey walked back downstairs and into the gala room they were having the engagement party at.
"There you are, Where were you? I've been looking for you this whole time."
"Sorry. Caesar got a room and him and Riley are trying to get me drunk."
"Tell me you said no to their foolishness."
"Yeah I did."
"Thank god, we don't want a repeat of last time."
Huey groaned.
"Don't remind me."
Marleen laughed at the memories of a drunk Huey. He acts like a child when he's inebriated. Huey watched Marleen go talk to the guest. Most of them where her family members. Actually, the only people from his family that were attending the party tonight was his brother. Mr. Freeman was currently in Chicago with Aunt Cookie but they were going to be back before the wedding.
Marleen fixed Huey's tie.
"Aww look at you both. This is so going on instagram" Cindy said as she took a picture.
"You still use that? Shit nigga it's all bout picfamous." Riley said referring to the app that has been replacing instagram.
"I bet you still use facebook?" Riley said as he began laughing.
Cindy rolled her eyes at his foolishness.
"Anyways it's still going somewhere." She said as she added a filter to the picture.
Cindy and Caesar eventually walked away while Riley went to go flirt with some of Marleen's barely legal cousins.
"You wanna go somewhere?" Huey asked.
"Are you asking if I want to ditch our own engagement party?"
Huey nodded.
Marleen faked a gasp. "Huey...I thought you'd never ask."
It had been forever since she had been here. Not much had changed she had to admit. Everything seemed the same except for a few new stores and shops here and there. She was finally entering downtown Maryland and in a few more minutes she would be entering Woodcrest.
"So this is Woodcrest?" Chibi said.
"Yeah, nice isn't it?"
Chibi nodded.
Jazmine sighed as she watched her friend fade into nothingness.
She had begun hallucinating about the girl after her funeral.
"Jazmine did you miss me?" She heard another voice coming from the back seat.
"Go away Jeremy." She said as she began chanting the words 'its in your head.'
She could feel his touch on her shoulder.
"Strip for me, why don't you?"
Jazmine hit the breaks hard, luckily no one was behind her.
"Please go away." She said as she leaned her head on the steering wheel.
He had faded into nothingness as well.
She never hallucinated about Chibi and Jeremy at the same time, but she knew that if she saw one she would eventually see the other.
After a minute she heard honking coming from behind her.
"It's green lady! Move it why don't cha?!"
"Yeah yeah." Jazmine said as she pressed the gas and kept driving.
The twenty one year-old had finally reached Woodcrest. This was her home.
"Home sweet home." She whispered to herself.
She was going to stay at Wuncelor Motels for a week. As she drove she passed a familiar street named 'Timid Deer Lane.' She pulled into a driveway and did a three-point-turn before heading into the street. She passed many familiar houses before reaching hers. She had parked a few houses down. Jazmine stayed in her car and looked at her old house, there was a sign on the lawn that read 'Sold'. She turned and looked at the freeman house, no cars were on the driveway. Jazmine was planing to meet with Huey but she did not have the courage to speak with him at the moment. She got out of her black 2010 Toyota Camry that she had bought with Jeremy's money. Jazmine wore a baige fur coat over her cheetah print pencil dress, she kinda resembled Cookie from Empire. Her long wavy hair was under a knit baret, a few strands of her hair fell from the baige hat. She removed her brown cat-eyed sunglasses as she stood infront of her old home. The front door was unlocked so she let herself in. The place was empty but it was obvious that the place had been repainted. She held on to her cheetah print clutch tightly out of nervousness. Jazmine wanted to cry from the nostalgia the house brought upon her, but she held it in. She walked towards the living area and traced her hand on the black marbled island, not a single trace of dust was on her fingers. Jazmine turned towards the stairs and headed up stairs. She passed The bath room and her father's studio before reaching two doors. One being the entrance to her parents room and the other to hers. She did not have the courage to enter her late parents room but she manged to enter hers. It was like her innocents had slapped her in the face, the tears were begging to fall, but she kept them in. Her room had stayed the same, it was still violet with pink flowers on the edges. Most of her furniture was gone but one thing remained, her night stand. She knew that if her night stand had been untouched than her diary had to be safe. She opened the drawer and rummaged inside to no avail. Her diary had to be misplaced or maybe the movers got rid of it. Jazmine sat on the dusty floor. She looked up to her ceeling and saw the glowing stars. She began to reminisce. Suddenly she heard foot steps coming from down stairs and by the sound of them it seemed like they were heading in her direction. Panicking she quickly hid in the only place she felt safe in, the closet. All she could make out was that the person was tall. She couldn't tell if it was a man or woman either. She wanted to peek even more but that meant for her to move the door a bit more and she was scared if it would creek. She watched the person shift side to side, it looked like they were rummaging through something. Maybe they had taken her diary or knew who did. Jazmine watched the tall person leave before leaving her hiding spot. That old diary was not important anymore anyway. She headed back to her car and prayed that no one had seen her.
Huey was laying on his bed. Marleen and him had moved in for a bit but Marleen had decided to move out until they were married. So Huey decided to do the same and head back into his old house with his brother and grandfather. He had been reading peacefully until someone burst through his door. He figured that it would have been Marleen or Riley, but when he looked up he was surprised to see Caesar. The boy was panting and trying to catch his breath, this caught Huey's attention.
"What's up Caesar?" He asked in a monotone voice.
"I...just...saw..." Caesar said in between breathes.
"Ok calm down." Huey said, he was starting to get nervous.
Caesar had finally calmed down and he was now able to speak clearly.
"I know this may sound crazy but I think I just saw Jazmine."
If Huey had been drinking something at the moment it would be all over Caesar's face right now.
"W-w-what!?" He asked out of shock and disbelief.
"I just saw Jazmine. You know, the Jazmine Dubois that lived across the street. The Jazmine that you were in lo-"
"Ok, Ok, I get it. Where did you see her?" Huey asked, still sounding shocked.
"Just now actually. I saw her hop into her car and drive off."
"What!Are you lying to me?"
"Why would I lie about this?"
Huey ran to his window hoping that he would see the girl, but no one was there. He could not help but wonder why she had not stopped by to talk to him.
"What are you going to do now?" Caesar asked.
Huey looked up in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"Well now that Jazmine is in town, are you going to still get married or are you postponing the wedding."
Huey was not even thinking about the wedding. He was too shocked to even think about his fiance. There was only six days left until the wedding and now he was beginning to have cold feet.
Marleen prepared the last minute arrangements. She had to switch the seats of her Aunt Lynn with her aunt Josephine just because Aunt Lynn was not getting along with the people at the original table.
Marleen sighed.
At that moment she had gotten a call.
"Yes Aunty I switched you to another table."
"Gurl I ain't yo aunt." She heard Cindy say from the other line.
"Oh hey Cin. Sorry it's just my aunt is going to drive me crazy. She got in a fight with my aunt Marie and she refuses to sit with her and her family. So now I have to trade my aunt Josephine's place just because aunt Lynn wants a new spot. Now aunt Josephine is mad because she wanted to sit next to my cousins Monica and Lisa."
"Damn sounds like an hassle. Shit if it was me id tell them to sit they bitch ass down and to enjoy the damn reception."
"I wish I could but I can't. Aunt Lynn is sixty five and shes always getting in a fight with my relatives. She almost got in an argument with my mom at the engagement party. I had to intervene before things got ugly."
Cindy laughed in the background.
"Enough about my wedding problems. What's up?"
Cindy got quiet.
"What's wrong Cin?"
Marleen could hear her friend sigh.
"Well I don't want to add more to your stress but-"
"You're not coming to the wedding?!" Marleen said in shock and sadness.
"No. I'm coming, damn let me finish. I got a text from Caesar and- are you sitting down?"
"Cindy come on. What happened? You're making me worry."
Cindy sighed again.
"Caesar saw Jazmine today."
Marleen felt her heart stop for a second.
Cindy knew that this news would hurt her friend. In the other hand she was ecstatic to reunite with Jazmine but she couldn't help but feel sympathy for Marleen.
So this was the something bad that Marleen had predicted.
"Are you sure? Maybe it was a girl that looked like her?" Marleen said with a glimmer of hope.
"No, it was Jazmine."
What was she supposed to do now.
"Mar don't worry, Huey is not going to leave you." Cindy said but she also had doubts. It seemed like Huey did move on but it wouldn't surprise her if he relapsed into love with her old best friend.
"You think so?" Marleen asked.
"Yeah. He finally decided to propose, that must of meant something."
Marleen nodded.
"You're right Cin."
"You see. Hey I gotta go, Caesar is taking me out so I need to start getting ready."
"Ok girl. Bye."
"Don't worry, it's going to be fine."
"Thanks girly."
Cindy hung up the phone.
Marleen looked at a photo of Huey and her. She stared at it and then pulled out a picture of Jazmine and Huey as kids to compare side by side. It seemed like Huey was happier in the picture with Jazmine.
"Stop it Marleen! It's going to be fine. Huey loves you and you know it."
She hid the photo of Jazmine under her pillow before heading out the door.
"Please stop! Leave me alone!" Jazmine screamed as she tossed a pillow at Jeremy.
"It's in your head Jazmine. Jeremy is dead. Dead. Dead. Dead."
"Come on Jazmine, don't be like that. I just wanna have some fun."
She screamed again.
There was a loud knock at the door. This caused Jeremy to disappear.
Jazmine walked up to her room's door and opened it.
"Is everything all right?" A man,who seemed to be in his late thirties early forties, asked.
"Yes."
"I heard some screaming, are you sure you are fine? Is there someone in there making you lie?" He whispered the last part.
Jazmine shook her head.
"No, I'm really fine. I was just having a nightmare."
The man tried to look inside of Jazmine's room but he could barely make out the room since Jazmine's body was blocking his view.
"Well ok miss. I'm two rooms down if you need me."
Jazmine smiled politely and thanked the man before closing the door.
"Who was it Jazmine?"
Jazmine recognized that lovely voice.
"Hey Chibi, It was no one important." Jazmine said as she sat on the twin sized bed.
Chibi sat next to the girl.
"Why am I dead Jazmine?"
Jazmine looked at Chibi in shock. Her once happy face turned pale and her pupils went white.
"Chibi?" Jazmine asked. She was trembling.
"Please not you too."
Chibi reached for Jazmine.
"Stop!Stop!"
She was gone.
Jazmine began to cry uncontrollably.
Marleen crossed out days from her calender. Five more days and She and Huey will be married. Huey was siting on her bed going over the sitting arrangements with his soon wife to be. The only family members for him were going to be Grandad, Aunt Cookie, and Riley. Marleen had seated them with her parents and Caesar and Cindy. Mr. Freeman had spoken to Marleen's parents enough times to be acquaintances.
"What you think? I didn't want your relatives siting by them selves. So I added them with my parents and Caesar and Cindy."
"I think it'll be fine." Huey said closing the small pink journal.
Marleen smiled.
"There table is close to ours too."
Huey yawned.
"Come here." He said.
"Why?What are you planing Freeman."
Huey pulled her closer before she could protest.
"Huey, I still have a few more thing to finish." Mareen said referring to the wedding plans.
"You can finish it later." He said as he began kissing her.
At that moment she thought of Jazmine. She still had not told Huey that she knew the girl was in town.
She kissed the boy for a minute before she backed away.
"What's wrong?" Huey knew there was something on his fiancee's mind.
"I know Jazmine is in town."
Huey was silent for a few seconds before speaking.
"Does it bother you?" He asked.
"A bit." She answered honestly.
Huey didn't know what to say. He loved Marleen but he also loved Jazmine at one point. Hell, he may still love her. He didn't know what to say to his worried girlfriend. He could lie and tell her that there was nothing to worry about, but he knew it would be unjust. He didn't know what would happen if he was reunited with Jazmine. Would they both rekindle?
"You don't have to tell me anything Huey. I know how you're feeling."
Huey looked at the girl sadly.
"Don't pity me either." She said.
"Marleen-"
"Huey it's fine. You don't even know what you want at the moment. Let's just keep planing the wedding until you get a chance to talk to her."
Huey felt bad for Marleen. He had grown to love her, but was it equivalent to the way he loved Jazmine?
He flopped his head on Marleen's pillow, this caused the photo of Jazmine and him to come out. Huey picked up the photo and stared at it in shock.
"Marleen?"
"Yeah?" She asked, she was busy typing on her laptop.
"where did you get this?"
Marleen looked up and saw the picture Huey was holding. She was internally freaking out.
"How did you get this?" He asked again.
Surprisingly he sounded calm, but Marleen knew to well. The calm before the storm.
"Cindy gave it to me." She lied.
Huey examined her face, he knew she was lying. Marleen quickly looked away, she hated when he looked at her like that.
"You snuck into Jazmine's house, didn't you?"
Marleen stared at the wall as if it could help. Maybe the kool-Aid man would pop in any second and distract her fiancee.
"Marleen I'm speaking with you." Huey said raising his voice.
This caused Marleen to jump in her seat. She looked at him and bit her bottom lip.
"I- I'm sorry. I went into her house yesterday. I felt bad doing it but I couldn't help myself." Marleen began to cry.
Huey sighed.
"I'm disappointed Marleen."
"I know Huey but it really was stronger than me. I don't want to loose you."
They both went silent. Huey really felt bad but how could he comfort her when he had doubts himself.
"I think I should be going, I have to pick Grandad up from the airport soon anyways."
"Oh, ok. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
"Ok bye." Marleen said before gently kissing him on the lips.
"I'll let myself out, don't worry about." Huey said before leaving the girls room.
Marleen stared at the door before crying all over again.
"Boy you better pick my damn bags off the floor." Mr. Freeman said as he smacked Riley on the head.
"Damn nigga, that hurt."
"Boy I don't care how old you are, I will whip out my belt and whip yo ass right here right now."
Riley said something under his breath but he still picked up the bags.
"How have you boys been." Aunt Cookie said with a smile.
"Good, How have you been aunt Cookie?" Huey asked.
"Could be better. This old woman needs a rest." She joked.
Huey placed her bags in the car, she sure had packed a lot for a four day stay.
"What do you even have in here aunty?" Huey asked as he dropped the bag in the trunk.
"Well I have my clothes, Hygiene products, a few pots and pans-"
"Pots and pans?"
"Yeah, I need to cook a few things for the reception."
"Marleen and I hired professionals so you don't need to worry-"
"No no no. I'm cooking and that's final."
"Boy let your aunt cook for your ungrateful ass." Mr. Freeman said.
"Grandad just saying that cuz he don't wanna eat non of that white people food." Riley said.
"Boy hush." Mr. Freeman said as he entered into the passenger side of Huey's car.
"Healthy food is not white people food Grandad." Huey said.
"It ain't Nigga food though."
No one argued with that.
"So Huey are you excited? Saturday you're going to be married." Aunt Cookie said.
"He havin doubts." Riley said.
"Riley." Huey said in a tone that meant "If you don't shut up I will personally hurt you."
"It's normal to have cold feet." Aunt Cookie assured.
"Oh it's more than that." Riley said.
Huey stared at his brother from the rear-view mirror, it was as if he was giving him one last warning.
"What do you mean?" Aunt Cookie asked.
Mr. Freeman was curious as well.
"Jazmine is back." Riley informed them.
"What! Cutie pie is back?" Mr. Freeman said in shock.
"Who's Jazmine?" Aunt Cookie asked?
"Don't you remember her? She was our neighbors daughter. You met Tom and Sarah once for thanks giving." Mr. Freeman said.
"Oh yeah, the little girl with the
afro-puff. She and Huey were inseparable."
"It was more like Jazmine on Huey." Grandad said.
"How are Tom and Sarah?" Aunt Cookie asked.
The car went silent.
"They passed away seven years ago." Grandad said.
"Sorry to hear that."
"So little baby is back. Are you planing on not marrying Marleen now?" Mr. Freeman asked.
"What! Huey you can't do that to Marleen." Aunt Cookie said.
Huey stared at Riley, he was the one that put him in this mess.
"I don't know." He said.
"Well you better figure something out boy, and make it fast. You got five days."
The car went permanently silent.
Huey drove for an hour until he reached Timid Deer Lane. He parked the car on the driveway and helped Aunt Cookie with her bags. As he walked he passed Riley, but not before whispering "You better sleep with one eye opened". This made the eight-teen year-old shiver.
"I ain't scured nigga" He said as he watched his brother's retreating form.
Marleen was currently with her bridesmaids, they were last minute arranging things. They had practiced all day with the groomsmen, which were Riley, Caesar, and Kyle. Caesar was the best man while Cindy was the maid of honor. Marleen's Twin Cousins Ferah and Mackia were her other two bridesmaid.
"Where do you want this?" Mackia asked.
"Put it on table three." Marleen said as she talked to one of the waitors.
Cindy touched her belly.
"Are you ok Cin?" Marleen asked after she was done speaking.
"Yeah, it's just that it kicked me."
"Can I feel?"
"Yeah, come here."
Cindy guided Marleens hand into the direction the baby was kicking. Marleen's eyes shone after she felt a tiny kick on her hand.
"I wanna feel." The two twins said.
Cindy smiled at everyone's happy face. She watched Marleen touch her belly subconsciously.
"Well that's enough. Lets all get back to work. We only have four days." Cindy said as she bossed everyone around.
She felt so stupid. She had seen him but, like a dumbass, she froze. He was so close and yet so far. Huey Freeman, her ex-next door neighbor and first love, was a few feet away from her. All she had to do was back away from the brick wall she was currently hiding behind.
'You can do it Jazmine.' She thought, but her legs didn't move an inch.
She knew that she was too scared to confront him now so she just stayed behind the wall and watched him. He was sitting on a bench reading a book. They currently were at the Woodcrest park. Jazmine remembered that Huey would sometimes come here if he didn't feel like going to the hill. She was about to start reminiscing when a familiar voice distracted her.
"Who's that?" Chibi asked.
"Huey Freeman." Jazmine said a bit dreamily.
"He's handsome. You should talk with him."
"I can't. I'm scared."
She stared at Huey. He hadn't changed much, except for his Afro was bit shorter and he had more muscles.
"You should talk to him Jazmine." Another voice said mokingly.
"Leave me the fuck alone Jeremy."
Jeremy stared at Huey and then looked back at his niece.
"I bet he can't show you a good time like I used to."
Jazmine ignored him and kept staring at Huey. Eventually Jeremy vanished. Jazmine was about to leave but stopped when she noticed a tall girl sit next to Huey. She watched them talk for a while. For some odd reason the girl resembled her before moving with her uncle and aunt. Something had caught Jazmine's eye. She had noticed that the girl had an engagement ring since it shone every time the sun hit it. Could she and Huey? No it couldn't be. Deep down she knew that the girl next to him was his fiancee. Jazmine had walked away, missing the kiss between Marleen and Huey.
Cindy and Caesar were watching a movie while eating some popcorn. They had rented a small apartment just twenty minutes outside of Woodcrest since this was the cheapest they could find. Caesar worked as a manager at a retail store downtown while Cindy worked as a personal trainer at a Gym. She was five months now and it was time for her to take her leave. Cindy sighed.
"What's wrong Babe?" Caesar asked.
"I just feel terrible for Marleen. I'm glad Jazmine is back but this really can open closed wounds between Mar and Huey."
"Yeah I feel ya. Huey has never really moved on though. He just hid the feelings he had for Jazmine."
Cindy nodded.
"What do you think will happen now?" She asked.
"I don't know but a talk with Jazmine would do him good. Probably even for her."
"I just don't know who to support anymore." The blonde said.
Caesar paused the movie.
"There's no side Cin. You just need to have fate in all three, especially Huey and Jazmine. Who knows what will happen but either way just support all three."
Cindy had to agree with him a hundred percent. At that given moment Caesar's phone rang.
"Who is it bae?" Cindy asked.
Caesar stared at the number in confusion, he didn't recognize it.
"It's another area code. Probably telemarketers." Caesar said as he ignored his phone and unpaused the movie.
After twenty seconds the phone rang again. Caesar looked at it and ignored it again.
"Who is it now?" Cindy asked.
"The same number as before."
The phone stopped ringing and after a few seconds rang again.
"Maybe you should answer Ceez."
"If its important they'll leave a voice message."
The phone went quiet for a minute.
"See, it must have not been important."
As Caesar was about to rewind the movie his phone rang again. This time he answered.
"Hello?!" He asked in an angry tone.
It was silent on the other line.
"Look I'm about to hang-"
"No wait." A familiar voice said.
"J-Jazmine?" Caesar asked.
Cindy's eyes popped in shock when she heard the girls name.
"Put it on speaker." She whispered.
Caesar placed the phone on speaker before speaking again.
"Jazmine is this you?"
"Yes, it's me."
"OMG -Jazmine how are you Gurl -We've missed you." Cindy said with no pauses.
"Hey Cindy." Jazmine said.
"How have you been Jazzy? We really did miss you." Caesar said clearly.
Jazmine was quiet. She diden't want to get into details with her old friends so she lied and said "Fine".
They talked for five minutes. Cindy told Jazmine everything but the fact that Huey was engaged and getting married in three days.
"Is it a boy or girl?" Jazmine asked, referring to the bun in Cindy's oven.
"We don't know yet, we'll know in a week or two." Cindy said.
Everything went quiet until Jazmine spoke again.
"Listen guys. Do you guys happen to have-"
"Huey's number?" Caesar and Cindy finished for her.
Jazmine fell silent until she whispered a small "yes". Caesar gave her his number.
"Thank you. I hope to see you both soon."
"Same." Caesar and Cindy said.
"bye." Was the last thing the couple heard before the line went dead.
"She sounds, different." Cindy said.
"She sounds gowned up." Caesar added.
Jazmine stared at the number she had written on an old receipt. So she finally had his number. All she had to do was dial the digits into her cell phone and call, but she was scared. She wasn't ready to hear his voice, not after all those years.
"What are you waiting for? Call him Jazmine." Chibi said.
"Yeah Jazmine, call him."
Jazmine looked over at the wall. This was the first time she saw Jeremy and Chibi together. She stared at them in shock, her brain really was fucking with her today.
"Are you going to call? Do it Jazmine." Chibi said.
"Go ahead, call him." Jeremy said in a threatening tone.
"Shut up. Please. Shut up." She said as she grabbed her head and shook it side to side.
When she looked back at the wall they were both gone. Jazmine sighed.
She decided to dial the phone number. She dialed the last number and just stared at it for the longest time. After a while she hit the back button and decided to give up.
"At this rate you'll never talk to him." She told herself.
Riley rubbed the eye Huey had punched, he was going to be sporting a black eye for the wedding.
"Next time learn how to mind your own damn business." Huey said as he wiped the blood from his lip.
Riley scoffed and walked downstairs to the kitchen. He placed a bag of frozen peas on his eye. His aunt had not noticed him until he spoke.
"What ya cookin Aunt Cookie?" He asked as his mouth watered from the smell of good food and not that nasty ass food Huey likes.
"Making some Mac and Cheese, Ham, and Collar Greens."
Riley was about to do a happy dance, Aunt Cookie sure was the real Mvp. When Aunt Cookie turned around she almost lost it.
"Suga what happened to your eye?" She asked in a worried tone.
"I'll tell you what happened. These niggas got in fight. A twenty-one year-old and an eight-teen year-old still fighting like they did when they were kids." Grandad said as he walked in the kitchen, he was hoping to get a taste of Aunt Cookie's food.
"Huey!" Aunt Cookie called out.
Huey had heard his aunt call him so he headed to the kitchen. He knew she was going to lecture him for hitting Riley.
"Why did you hit your brother? I know I thought you boys to behave better than this."
Huey listened to his aunt go on and on about the way she had raised them back in Chicago. Other than his Grandfather his aunt was the one that raised him and Riley.
"You hear me?" She asked.
"Yes aunt Cookie."
"Good, now go apologize to your brother and make up."
Riley smirked and Huey frowned, but he did what he was told since he knew how his aunt could be like when she was angry. After an hour or two dinner was served. Aunt cookie had made a special meal for Huey while Grandad and Riley tore into the collar greens, pig feet, neck bones, and etc. Huey watched them both with disgust, he still couldn't believe they could eat such things. Later that night after helping his aunt with the dishes Huey called his fiancee to see how she was doing.
"Aw, you care about me." She said.
He could piratically hear her smile.
"Did you eat?" He asked her.
"Yeah, my mom cooked us some roasted chicken with a side of dirty rice. What you eat?"
"White rice topped with asparagus and mushrooms."
"Sounds yummy. Let me guess Riley and Mr. Freeman ate pig feet and such."
She didn't even need to be there to know her fiancee was nodding.
"Yup, I knew it." She said.
They talked for twenty minutes before biding each other goodnight and hanging up.
Marleen crossed off the days from her calendar. One more day left until the wedding. She walked over to her mirror and stared at herself. She began to wonder if things were going to be ok between Huey and her.
"Of course they will. Why shouldn't they? Huey loves you Marleen." She told herself, but she wasn't convinced.
She figured that Huey had not heard from Jazmine at all. Cindy had told her that the girl had called asking for his number. She thought back to the conversation her and her BFF had.
"Jazmine called?" Marleen asked in surprise and shock.
"Yeah. She asked for Huey's number and we gave it to her." Cindy said, getting straight to the point.
"I see..."
"Marleen I'm-"
"No it's ok. They both deserve to talk. Especially Huey."
It was silent on the other line.
"She must have not called him." Marleen said.
"What makes you say that?" Cindy asked.
"Huey would have told me."
"Are you sure? He could be keeping it a secret."
Marleen shook her head.
"No, he'd tell me."
But she was having doubts. Would he tell her if it came to his first love? The girl couldn't help but break down. She didn't want to confront her fiancee about the mater either. It was all in destiny's hands now and all she could do was wait.
Jazmine had made up her mind and this time she wasn't turning back.
"You're finally going to call?" Chibi asked.
Jazmine ignored her.
"You're going to call your little boyfriend?" Jeremy said.
She ignored him too. She had to learn how to ignore them both, only this way would they disappear. 9 times out of 10 it worked. But there was always the times when it didn't.
"You going to call the boy you love. Well guess what, You'll always be mine. No escape." Jeremy said as he smelt Jazmine's neck.
She looked over to the side of the room where Chibi used to be standing, now it was only her and Jeremy.
"I bet he could never let you feel as good as I did."
She felt paralyzed. It all felt so real. She could feel him grip her thigh and kiss her neck. Jazmine began to cry, even in death he could still torture her.
"He's not real, he's not real." She chanted until Jeremy eventually disappeared.
Her whole body was shaking but she did not care, she had to hear his voice. She dialed the number Caesar and Cindy had given her. After a few rings she heard him.
"Hello?" He asked.
His voice made her trembling stop.
Jazmine closed her eyes and pictured Huey to be in front of her.
"Hello?" He asked again.
"Look if this is some prank than I'm hanging up-"
The girl freaked out and blurted out a loud "No." Her voice had cracked. Huey had recognized the voice, he was just scared to speak her name. They both stood silent. Jazmine had broken it by whispering his name softly, he did the same.
"Where have you been? How have you been?" He asked.
Jazmine shook her head.
"I need to talk to you. Face to face."
Huey's heart skipped a beat. Face to face? What would he do if they did meet face to face?
"...Please..."
"...Ok..."
"She called you?" Caesar asked.
"Yeah, I still need to tell Marleen. She's going to break down but I need to tell her that I'm meeting Jazmine tomorrow."
"You're meeting her the day before your wedding."
"I guess so."
Caesar and Huey fell silent for a bit.
"What are you going to do?" Caesar asked.
"...I don't know." Huey answered honestly.
He honestly didn't know what would happen when he met Jazmine face to face.
"When are you going to tell Marleen?"
"Tomorrow."
"Why tomorrow?"
"She's busy today and I don't want her to think about it to much."
Caesar nodded.
"Don't tell Cindy. If you tell her she will tell Marleen."
"Ok. You have my word."
Caesar would usually tell his lover these things, but he respected Huey's decision.
"Well I'm going to go." Huey said and hung up the phone.
Caesar prayed that everything went smooth for the three of them.
"Tomorrow is the big day." Mr. Freeman said as he cheered.
They were currently in a fancy restaurant with Marleen's parents and brother. This was the day for Marleen to relax and have fun. Tomorrow was the big day, and yet she felt like something was about to happen. Huey had pulled her aside telling her that they needed to talk.
"I'm about to go meet Jazmine." He said.
Her heart had sunk to her stomach. She was speechless and didn't know what to say.
"Say something." Huey said.
She looked up at him, he could tell she was hurting.
"Ok."
"Ok? Are you sure?" He asked.
She nodded.
"I'll be waiting by the lake until midnight. If you are not there by then than I know what you have decided and I will let you go. I love you too much Huey, at the point where it could kill me. But I know how important this is, so go."
She said as she pointed at the door.
"Mar-"
"Please go!"
Huey ran outside of the restaurant and into his car. He drove for a good twenty minutes before reaching a familiar slope. It had been a while since he had been here. He climbed up and there she was. She was beautiful as she stared at the moon. All his feelings came rushing back and he couldn't stop them.
"Jazmine." he said.
She turned around, to him it felt like time had stopped. His first love was right in front of him. The girl he thought he'd never see again was literally just a couple of feet away.
"Huey." She spoke.
They stared at one another until Huey decided to walk towards her.
"Please stop." She said as she lifted her arms to be in front of her.
"I missed you Jazmine." He said.
She wanted to cry. This was the boy she loved. The only man she could trust at the moment. She saw Jeremy inching close to her.
"Stop!" She said as she fell to the ground crying.
Huey was concerned. He couldn't help but think that he made her cry.
"I'm sorry Jazm-"
"Stop! Stop!" She kept yelling.
"Jazmine-"
"It's in your head. It's in your head. It's in your head." She kept chanting.
Huey watched her until she seemed to calm down.
"Are you ok?" He asked as he dropped to the floor as well.
He wiped the tears from her cheeks and stared into her eyes. God he missed her eyes. Jazmine had nodded to assure him that she was fine now.
"We need to talk Huey. I need to tell you the truth." She said.
"What are you saying Jazmine?"
She began to cry.
"This is hard for me to say so please listen."
Huey stopped talking to let her know he was ready to listen.
Jazmine sighed.
"After my mom and dad died I was sent to live with my aunt and uncle. The first few days of me living there were normal, but then..." She had to stop and breath in and out before continuing.
Huey was scared to listen further, but he didn't stop her.
"My uncle had walked into my bedroom and.. and.." She began to cry.
"Jazmine you don't need to tell me." Huey said.
"No. I need to tell you. You're the one person who deserves to know."
Huey said nothing so she continued to talk.
"He sat next to my bed and began to rub my thigh up and down. I was confused at first and I thought that he wanted to comfort me because of my parent's death. But he began to say things that made me feel uncomfortable.
"You are such a pretty girl." Jeremy said as he rubbed her thigh up and down.
"Any man would be lucky to have you." He added.
Fifteen year-old Jazmine was beginning to feel uncomfortable. She tried to shift away from him but he grabbed her thigh harder.
"Any man." He repeated.
"You're hurting me."
Jeremy ignored her and lifted the blanket that was covering her.
"He had raped me that night. Every night he would come into my room and have his way." Jazmine was crying uncontrollably at this point.
"I tried to stop him but I was a kid Huey. What could I do?"
Huey hugged her. She cried on his shoulder for a bit until she continued to talk.
"After a while my aunt found out. I had hope. I thought she'd stop him. She didn't. Instead she blamed me for taking her man away. She called me a whore, a slut. I just wanted to die. I really wanted death. Sometimes I hated my parents for dying and putting me in that home. She pimped me out. I was a prostitute for a few days. Eventually Jeremy got mad and kicked her out. But I was still his play thing. I tried to escape once. I wanted to come back. But I was caught by the other guy that had raped me. Jeremy beat me because of it. I had vowed to never attempt an escape, instead I was going to graduate and get a scholarship. I had no friends until I met an amazing girl. I called her Chibi. For the longest time she didn't know what was going on with me either, but she found out the final year. She wanted me to escape and seek help. I had told her I had a plan-"
She stopped again and wiped the tears that kept coming down.
"One night he was having his way with me and Chibi stepped in. He killed her Huey. He stabbed her in front of me. I watched her die in my arms."
Huey tighten his hold on the girl as she cried some more.
"I killed Him! I killed Him!" She yelled.
"I'm a murderer."
"Don't say that Jazmine. He deserved it."
Jazmine shook her head.
"I killed Martha and Mr. Cooper too. I killed those three monsters and I enjoyed it."
Huey looked at Jazmine.
"Don't say that." He was crying at this point too.
Jazmine had never seen him cry like that.
"...Huey...I'm not the girl I once was."
"I don't care."
"The old Jazmine is gone." She said as she broke away from his grip and stood up. Her back was facing him now.
"I want to kill everyone who has ever touched or raped an innocent person. I'm a murderer, just face it. The once happy go lucky girl is gone."
"Please..."
"Huey."
He jumped at her tone.
"Promise me at least this."
"What is it?" He asked.
"I want you to remember me as the happy Jazmine not as the abused, broken, Jazmine. I want us to always be friends as well."
"Jazmine-"
"Please just promise me."
Huey sighed.
"Ok, I promise."
She smiled.
How he missed that. He walked over to her and caressed her cheek. She melted into his touch.
"I love you." She said.
"I love you."
Huey leaned in to kiss her. The kiss was short but sweet. But it wasn't passionate, no, instead it was like a goodbye kiss. Jazmine and Huey knew that this was the closure they both needed.
"Never forget me." She said.
"I could never do such a thing."
Marleen stared at her phone. It was 12:05. She was crying. She had hoped for a miracle to happen. She had hoped for a sappy ending, but she knew the truth. She knew what his decision was now and she supported it, but it didn't mean that it did not hurt. Huey was her first and only love and honestly she felt like she could never love someone the way she loves him. She crossed the parking lot and headed to her car. He wasn't anywhere to be seen either.
"He's not coming back. He loves her, he always has. You were stupid to hope." She told herself as she cried. She didn't have the strength to drive so she just cried into her steering wheel. A knocking from the window caught her attention.
"Huey?" She asked as she wiped her tears.
She stepped outside of the car.
"What are you doing here?" She asked in surprise.
"You're the one that told me to meet you here."
"Yeah, but I said to meet me here only if you wanted- wait are you saying?"
Huey gently smiled. This was the first time she has ever seen him genuinely smile like that. She could see the love in his eyes, the love for her.
" What about Jazmine? What happened?"
Huey shook his head.
"We talked. I really needed to see her. I kissed her Marleen."
Marleen shook her head.
"It's ok Huey, I understand-"
"But I realized that I really do love you. You helped me grow and move on. It's true that I will never stop loving Jazmine, but I love her and you differently. I couldn't walk away from you, not after everything."
She was crying again, but this time it was out of joy.
"Huey I love you so much." She said as she embraced him.
"I pronounce you man and wife, you may now kiss the bride."
Everyone clapped as they watched the newlyweds kiss.
"So you let him go?" A voice asked.
"I had too. We both needed closure."
The source of the voice looked in sadness but smiled gently.
"You did the right thing Jazmine."
Jazmine smiled.
"Thanks Cin, but you should probably head back before Caesar wonders where you are."
Cindy laughed.
"He can wait, oh by the way I'm having a boy."
"What! Congratulations." Jazmine said as she hugged her friend.
Cindy sighed.
"So this is the last time we'll see you?"
Jazmine nodded.
"I'm not planning on coming back any time soon. I have things to do."
Cindy looked at her friend in concern.
"Just be careful."
"I will. Take care Cindy and watch over everyone."
"I will."
Cindy watched Jazmine walk away. At that moment Marleen came out.
"Cindy, I was looking for you every where. Come were about to cut the cake." She noticed the girl was focused on something so she looked towards her direction.
"Is that?"
Cindy nodded.
Marleen begins to sprint in her sheath wedding dress, shocking Cindy.
"Marleen!"
The girl runs until she was finally close to Jazmine.
"Wait!" She yells.
"Jazmine! Wait!"
Jazmine turned in shock, she never expected Huey's wife to be talking to her.
Marleen panted.
"Are you ok-" Jazmine asked a bit in concern, but was cut off by Marleen.
"Thank you. I wanted to thank you. I know this may sound selfish but if it wasn't for you I'd never be with Huey. I don't mean to sound rude I'm really grateful. I hope you don't mind but I read your diary. I understand how you felt and I can relate. I love Huey to the point that I'd die for him. I don't know what you've been through, all I know is that it has been though, but I want you to know that your friends support you, especially Huey. He will always support you no matter what decision you decide to make. So please be strong, do it for him."
Jazmine was crying.
"...I...I will." She said with a gentle smile, it was like the old Jazmine had came back.
Marleen watched the girl drive off until Huey caught up to her.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"Sorry, I had to talk to a friend." She said as she held Huey's hand.
Huey nodded and led her back inside.
It had been four years since that day. Marleen was preparing Their three year old daughter some lunch. Huey was currently watching the news.
"There has been another attack. Vincent Fertigon was found dead in his apartment last night. It seems like it was the J.D killer. Police have evidence for believing this to be the case since the killers signature rose was found at the crime scene with the initials J.D. Mr. Fertigon has apparently been charged with child molestation cases back in 2010. This also connects to the other victims-"
Huey turned off the television.
"She has done it again?" Marleen asked.
Huey nodded.
"Does it bother you?"
"No." He said as he got up and headed to the kitchen.
"She has made her choice and I made mine." He said as he pat his daughter's poofy hair.
Marleen looked at him sadly.
"Do you ever regret it?" She asked.
He looked at her in shock.
"No and don't ever ask me that dumb question again. You and Kira are my whole life."
Marleen smiled.
"I love you." She said.
"And I love you."
"Dawdy?" Kira asked as she looked at her father.
"Yes baby?" Huey asked.
"Do you lowve me too?" She asked.
Huey smiled.
"Yes, I love you too."
The end.
AN: I really have appreciated everyone's support. You guys helped me stay motivated by reviewing and I want you all to know that I'm truly grateful. I'm sorry if I don't do individual shout outs but I really do love you all. So yup this was the end and nope there won't be a sequel to it. No Juey end game here. Honestly I felt like it wouldn't have been realistic if they had ended up together. They both just needed each other to move on. I hope every question has been answered in this chapter but if you have any questions that you really need answered then send me a PM with the hash tag #Ineedanswers, I will gladly answer every question I get. I hope to see you all in the next story I make.
