CH.1- Who's That?
Mid August.
"Goddamn they going at it." My best friend Cindy remarks loudly. We are standing on the bus with our close friends Asia and taylor.
It's one of those new buses, extra spacious, but a lot of people chose to ride the bus today. Didn't matter to me we would be getting off soon anyway. My eyes fall upon what Cindy refers to, a couple. That is full on, hardcore, making out like there's no tomorrow. Though I don't judge because I find myself wishing I had a boyfriend. One that when I was with them I wouldn't have a care in the world.
Love is not an area I excel in, I always come up short. Boys never are really interested in me because well I keep to myself for the most part. But when they did, they only wanted me for my body or to play me. I'm not flashy and definitely not confident. To make it worse I can't hide these curves I have recently developed. I don't date many but many have tried. However they just wanted the quiet chicks virginity.
Here I am going into junior year after the summer is over and I never had a true boyfriend. Sad.
"Yoo Jaz look that boy is eyeballing the fuck out of Asia." Cindy snaps me out of my thoughts. I follow where she's looking at, the boy definitely is staring. Him and Asia finally make eye contact but she looks away quickly. When he notices we're all looking he turns his head away with a bashful smile.
"Yo nigga!" Taylor exclaims.
"Stop." Asia whispers to us nervously.
"He's looking at you like a snack." I tease with a smile.
"Cuse me, boy with the cap." Cindy tries to get the boy's attention .
"Yooo." The boy replies. He's actually not bad looking, okayy Asia. He's with a few of his friends as well.
"My friend wants your snap."
"No I don't." Asia attempts to say but she's fighting a smile because I know she thinks he's cute.
"Huh? Me?" Duh! Ugh boys can be so stupid sometimes. That's when I decide to jump in.
"You were staring at her, right?"
"I mean," He pauses, "Yeah." He fiddles with his hat. We all laugh at the bus came to a halt, our stop to get off actually. The same boys get off too. I stop them from walking away.
"So you're going to give her your snapchat right?"
"Hell yeah." Asia gives the boy her phone.
"And you better hit her up." Cindy chimes in.
"Fasho."
"Ayo my nigga a simp."
"Nah he slang the best dick." We bust out laughing at the wild comments his friends make.
"Why you always try to hook someone up Jaz? What about you?" I shake my head at Asia. I'm always playing matchmaker but they know I don't date. I'm a hopeless romantic.
The girls and I head to the park close to our neighborhood, we came from hanging out at the mall. Besides it's summer in Woodcrest this is probably the best hang out spot here. We all sit on the park benches watching our guy friend Caesar, the class clown/ flirt play basketball. He's playing with a few other boys in the neighborhood. Asia, Taylor, Cindy, and I were looking at some of them, making girly comments among ourselves as we usually do.
"Woo take it off." Taylor says and Caesar overhears.
"Oh you want some of this?" The two of them flirt so much to the point where I think they mess around. Taylor has a thing for Caesar, and he has a thing for her but neither of them will act on it.
Caesar takes his shirt off and throws it at us, "Ew!" We all squeal, dodging his sweaty shirt. Then continues to play ball.
Meanwhile on the large field of grass behind the basketball court, my eyes were trained on a boy. One with a huge afro, he's playing football with Hiro and other boys. He sure has my attention, he's fine. I saw him when he moved in across the street a week ago. My parents and I were briefly introduced to Mr. Freeman along with his two grandchildren. I'm pretty sure the older one with the afro is Huey and his younger brother is Riley. Which brings me to now..
"Who that? I ain't seen him before." Cindy wonders out loud, "He's cute."
"Where ya friend come from?" Asia questions Caesar.
"Idk ask him?" He's not even paying attention, he's looking at the hoop.
"Nigga what's his name?" Taylor asks, raising her voice.
"Who?" Caesar points to the unfamiliar boy with cornrows, "Riley." He voices uninterested and dribbles the ball through his legs.
Riley stands up straight, "Nigga it's Yung Reezy but how you doing shawty?" He smirks at Cindy. She rolls her eyes at him in a playful, flirtatious way.
"I'm good. Just wanted to let you know your shot is broke."
Riley sucks his teeth, "Please, my shit water."
"More like brick." Cindy responds.
"Oh yeah I'd like to see you do better." He challenges.
"I ain't no punk, so come on then." She gets up from the bleachers walking onto the court.
"Bet you on Ceez team."
Cindy grins, "Check, bitch." Any other female would probably giggle and get shy but no not Cindy. That's just how she flirts and apparently Riley isn't turned off by this because he returns her facial expression.
Although, My other friends and I knew where this game was going. They would be playing forever because Cindy refuses to let anyone beat her. So we decide to take a walk around the open field. While talking I keep sneaking glances at Huey. Wow, he's so fit and muscular, he has on a white beater and black shorts. A tattoo stands out on his forearm 'How old is he?' I thought he was my age maybe not. He also wears a rope gold chain with a pendant along with another rope chain. Judging from what I can see he's really good at football, then he pauses to wipe the sweat off his forehead. 'Lord, I feel weak.'
"Earth to Jazmine." Asia waves her hand in my face.
I blink, "Oh sorry. I must have zoned out. What were you saying?"
"You'd know if you weren't staring fro boy down."
"I was not staring at him." I lie. I totally was checking him out but they didn't need to know that.
"Yeah right." They call bluff.
"I wasn't. Men ain't shit." I'm starting one of my rants. I pace around while doing so.
"They are distractions."
"Jazmine." Asia and Taylor sigh in annoyance.
"All they do is lie. So I'm not looking to date anybody."
"Uh Jazmine." Nope they are not going to interrupt me this time. I have to make myself more clear.
"I'm worried about me and me only. Plus they're cheaters."
"Jazmine!" My friends shout again.
"Heads up!" I hear a boy yell from behind me.
"Huh?" I turn around to see what the fuss is about.
My eyes widen the football is seconds away from hitting me but my feet are glued to the ground. I can't seem to move so I just stand there waiting for the pain. Closing my eyes shut. As a last minute attempt, I step back but lose balance. But I don't feel hurt.
I'm not knocked out on the ground. Instead I'm on something firm like a chest. I lift my head up then blink my eyes open and lock onto deep brown, wine colored orbs. I stay there, in shock, it all happened so fast. How the hell did we end up in this position? After a few moments I sit up fully and realize I'm on his 'Oh my god!'
"You ok?" Huey's deep voice breaks me out of my staring fit.
"Sorry." I murmur. I blush as I get up off of him quickly. He raises off the ground with no problem.
"Thanks for um-" I don't know exactly what to say.
"It's alright but you should watch out next time." He looks even better up close and he's tall! I have to look up to him slightly.
"Yeah." The two of us stand there, awkwardly. My friends mouth for me to do something.
So I jet my hand out in front of me, "I'm Jazmine." I smile whilst introduce myself coyly.
"Dubois right? We're neighbors, I'm Huey." He takes my hand in his and shakes it. His hand is so big, but my slender one fits in his perfectly. I realize this handshake is lasting way too long but he doesn't seem to care.
"Huey." Hiro calls him and he let's go.
"I gotta go… See you around Dubois." Huey runs off back to his football friends. I watch him before turning back to my friends, with a strange look on their faces.
"What?"
"You're crushing!" They say enthusiastically.
"I am not! I just told you guys I'm done with boys." I fold my arms.
"Ok girl, whatever you say." Taylors tone is sarcastic. "Let's head back over to the court."
I do not have a crush on the Freeman boy. 'Do I?' No, I can't, it's too soon. I know nothing about him. 'But I can get to know him.' Nope no stop, I won't allow it.
