Chapter 2- Dinner.

A Week Later…

On this nice afternoon, I'm laying on the couch and watching TV. My parents walk into the living room.

"Hey honey." The two greet.

"Hi mom and dad."

"Just letting you know now we're all going out tonight." My father tells me. 'Not another family movie trip I hope.'

"Where?"

"The Freeman's, remember the ones that moved in a few weeks ago?" My breath almost stops. Why now? Normal neighbors would just be wave hi and bye, not have dinner with each other. I forgot who I'm dealing with here, my parents are certainly over friendly.

"We are?" I need to be sure this isn't a joke.

"Yes they invited us over. And please don't just throw anything on, you have plenty of time to look presentable." My dad knows most of the time I wear sweats or just plain old jeans. I don't put much effort into my outfits and he doesn't really appreciate my style or lack thereof.

"Wear whatever you feel comfortable in sweetheart." My mother whisks my father into the kitchen.

I hear her lecturing him on not telling teenage girls how to dress. See she gets me. My dad always wants us to look our best, especially me and him because we are black. We need to set an example he always says and I get it but half of the time I don't take him seriously. I shouldn't have to change to fit up to white people's standards. Although, I will listen to him today because I want to make a good impression in front of my new neighbors.

I groan and roll off the couch, I look a mess. I definitely have to look nice because of how I made a fool of myself in front of Huey the last time I saw him. I fix my straight hair with a flat- iron because it was becoming wavy due to the heat outside. This took a while because I have a lot of hair. When finished, I put on a nice blouse with a jean skirt, gray and black slip-on checkered vans. Lastly I put on my nameplate necklace.

After a little, it's time to go and I walk downstairs. My mother walks into the living room.

"You look nice sweetie." My mother smiles.

"Thanks mom, you too."

My dad comes down the stairs, "Let's get this show on the road."

All of us make our way to and out the door. My mom made peach cobbler that she loves but in all honesty it isn't very good. Anyways the walk to the Freeman's residence is short, my mother knocks on the door. Revealing an older man.

"Hi Robert!" My parents exchange greetings with Mr. Freeman.

"This is our daughter Jazmine."

"Hi, Mr. Freeman." I display a friendly smile.

"Well hello cutie how, are you doing?" He shakes my hand.

"Good."

"Great, now come in." We walk into the large house.

"Welcome to my humble home."

"Wow it's so nice in here." My mother compliments and my dad agrees.

"Appreciated."

"How old are you Ms. Cutie pie?"

"16." I'll be turning 17 this school year.

"Oh what a coincidence my oldest grandson is the same age and my youngest is 14... Speaking of those two where are they?" Mr. Freeman walks to the banister.

"Boys get your two narrow behinds down here!" He hollers up the stairs.

"Coming grandad." The two brothers reply annoyed. Shortly after they emerge into the kitchen. The one with braids, Riley has a mischievous grin on his face while Huey's expression is stoic. Might I add he's dressed nice as well, black dress shirt and khakis. After taking in his outfit I keep my eyes everywhere but him.

"These are the Dubois from across the street, member?" Their grandfather questions his grandsons. Both boys nod their heads and greet my parents. I stand there awkwardly before sitting down at the table.

Riley takes a seat across from me, "Your C-Murph's friend right?"

"Who?" My eyebrows furrow in confusion.

"Cindy."

"Ohhh yes, that's my best friend." I forgot that's her "street name."

"Tell her stop playing with a nigga."

Once again I'm kind of confused, "What do you mean? You like her or something?"

Riley twists his mouth up, "No I ain't say all that. I just think she cool and kinda fly, that crush shit is gay."

"Um ok." I blink, not really knowing how to respond to him.

"You think everything is gay," A voice spoke from beside me. "Don't mind him." Huey sits down next to me.

I don't say anything back I just nod then look back down at the plate in front of me. I fiddle with my fingers, I'm too nervous to speak right now. My parents also sit down as places the bowls of food on the table.

"Feel free to dig in." Mr. Freeman takes a seat at the head of the table.

"Eww Ms. Dubois, why does your peach cobbler look like that?" Riley looks at the dish in disgust.

"Boy!" His grandfather chastises him.

"It look like throw up."

"Riley." Mr. Freeman warns again.

"What grandad? It do!" The two start to argue. The rest of all just stare on at the two, this seems like it's a normal thing that happens. I mean Riley is telling the truth it doesn't look good.

"Don't make me get my belt. Yo ass not too old to be whooped!" Riley's silent after his grandfather's threat.

"Sorry about that Sarah, your peach cobbler looks tasty." Mr. Freeman smiles with closed lips. 'He's lying.'

"Thank you Robert." Riley makes a noise and Mr. Freeman shoots him a glare.

We all start to scoop stuff into one plate. I didn't take much since I don't eat pork or any meat, I'm a vegetarian. I glance at Huey's plate, there's nothing but asparagus on there.

"Don't be shy cutie pie there's enough to go around."

"Oh Jazmine's doesn't eat meat." My mother jumps in.

"How funny? Huey doesn't either. He's a what you call it?" Mr. Freeman pauses.

"A pescetarian, Grandad." Huey sighs. That's shocking, many boys don't care what they consume.

"Yeah Jazmine's all about saving the animals."

"Dad." I eye him, embarrassed.
"Oh I'm just teasing honey." He shrugs me off and I roll my eyes.

We all continue to eat well, I finish pretty quickly of course. The adults engage in a conversation talking about whatever. The rest of us just remain silent until Riley announces he is going somewhere. Which no one really pays any attention to. I finally felt relaxed and not so anxious. So I tried to make the atmosphere less awkward.

"You're awfully quiet." I remark to Huey.

"So are you." Is all he says.

"Um where are you from?"

"Chicago." Ok now that makes sense. I can hear a heavy influence of Chicago in Riley's voice but not so much his brother. Maybe a dash of it in Huey's voice, probably because he is more reserved.

Not too long after, there's that silence again.

"Why did you straighten your hair?" Huey inquires out of the blue. This completely catches me off guard.

"Umm I don't know." I stroke my silk hair, awkwardly. 'Is it ugly? Does it look weird?' All these questions swarm my mind.

"I barely recognized you." Huey states.

"Really?" I turn back around fast to face him. When I do so my elbow hits my cup of water, knocking it into Huey's lap. Causing him to jump up to his feet.

"Oh! I'm so sorry." I quickly grab napkins off the table. I start to try and dry the area on his pants but once again I come in contact with his crotch. I pause and my face turns red as a tomato.

"Uhh it's okay. It's just water, I'll go change." Huey walks off. I mentally facepalm 'Why do I have to be so awkward?'

After a few minutes, He comes back with a different pair of pants, dark jeans to be specific. He looks good in anything. 'Wait.. huh?'

"You know as long as we lived on this street, I never saw the inside of this house." My dad comments.

"Well let me show you around. Huey go show cutie pie too."

Huey shrugs, "Alright, I guess." He ushers me to follow him.

In a course of about 10 minutes maybe less, he shows me various areas of the house. He says each room name in a monotone voice as well, he seems very uninterested...In like everything. He's probably just a meathead jock, nothing goes on in his we make it back around to the living room and are both quiet. I also notice he doesn't talk much. 'He either doesn't do small talk or he's one of those guys that only talk about sports.' For some reason, the short conversation from earlier is still on my mind.

I clear my throat, "I only really straighten my hair out of boredom or first impressions."

Huey arches an eyebrow, "You shouldn't."

"And why not?" I return his facial expression.

"Don't change your natural hair state for anyone. Embrace your blackness." He tells me. 'What is he talking about? I do not hide the fact that I'm black.

"I do."

"Well right now you look like all the other basic white girls in this town." He retorts. That was offensive.

I scoff, "Well thanks for enlightening me, I guess." I voice sarcastically. I walk off just as I hear my parents come into the living room.

"Thanks for the tour Robert. We are probably going to head home now." My father walks to the door.

"Welcome. Bye now. Later cutie pie!"

"Bye Mr. Freeman, thanks for having me." I smile.

He beams back, "You can come by anytime." Yeah that won't be happening anytime soon. His grandsons are rude, especially Huey.

My parents are still talking so I continue out the door by myself, in a huff. I bump into Riley on his way inside, I'm guessing.
"Damn Mariah, 'cuse you." He says bouncing his ball.

"Sorry… Wait Mariah?" I question.

"Yo ass look like Mariah Carey." He grins. Is this a joke because I can't compare to Mariah Carey, certainly in the 90's. Definitely can't sing like her either.

I guess Riley senses I'm not comprehending, "Y'all are both mixed and redbone as hell."

"Uh well just Jazmine is fine." I remind him of my name.

"Ok Mariah." He walks off, not listening to anything I just said.

I sigh he is just one of those people you can't too seriously, I have observed. My parents probably didn't even notice, I'm now home. They are really too talkative for their own good. Once inside I look at my phone camera, in just that short time of being outside my hair is a mix of wavy and frizzy. I really can't stand the summer sometimes, all that for no reason. Straightening my hair in the first place, Huey's commentary on it, and the humidity swooping in for the kill. Ugh can this day just be over already?