Chapter 34.-

Jazmine's POV.

Birds Chirping woke me up from slumber. I stretch upwards, yawning with my eyes still closed. Ahhh the morning, just something about it, I love it. However, I wasn't ready to get moving yet. I wanted to soak in this moment, it's a new year, having a new job, and a new boyfriend. Yeah that's right Logan and I made it official last month toward the end of December. I guess you can say I was feeling in the holiday spirit but things between us are still moving at a slow pace. Don't get me wrong, Logan is so great to me but I don't want to screw that up by rushing things. Our first kiss we shared was on New Years Day at midnight. Was it life changing? No. Were there sparks? Somewhat. But it was sweet.

My new internship with Stephanie Vaughn is amazing. She's amazing. She's so inspiring and she's not rude like other bosses. She actually works with all her interns personally. She is still strict though and she doesn't play around one bit. Most lawyers have to be like that, if they want things done. So I understand her work ethic completely. Ooh I can't wait to get there after school. Wait!.. My alarm didn't go off. I pop open my eyes and sit up looking at the time on my clock on my nightstand. '8:30' Oh my god! I'm going to be so late for class. I throw the covers off me and dash into the bathroom. Trying to get ready as soon as I can. How in the world did I sleep through my alarm?!

Once out of the shower I throw on my usual school/work attire, a pencil skirt with a blazer over a white blouse. I grab the rest of belongings quickly and head for the door. I try to smooth my hair down looking at it through the camera on my phone. It didn't look bad, just some flyaways from my bun. I would have to drive so fast to make it to law school, but I'd still be at least 5 minutes late. Which is going to be so embarrassing. I really hate being late because it can cause my day to be suckish.

Nevertheless, I make it to school not that late, my professor didn't notice me coming in so that's good. I start taking down as many notes as I can just like any other day. At the end of class I learn we have a 10 page paper due in three days. That completely slipped my mind, I just couldn't catch a break sometimes. After school I head to a cafe not too far from my internship, maybe an iced coffee will help me through this day. Even though I slept in a little this morning I still felt tired for some reason.

I glanced at the time on my watch, I had time but not that much time till work. But I'd be in and out of this place so it didn't really matter. I walk into the cafe and realize I'm wrong. There's a really long line today. I debate just leaving before my phone rings. It's Mrs. Vaughn, I waste no time answering.

"Hello, ?" She never calls me unless it's something important.

"Afternoon Ms. Dubois, are you on your way to the office?" Her high, strong, business voice speaks into the phone. Crap. Was something wrong?

"Yes I am. Did you need me to get something for you?" I was going to remove myself from the line. Coffee is not good for you anyway.

"Actually, yes. Do you mind bringing me a cappuccino? I'll pay you once you get here." Oh thank god. I wasn't expecting that, she usually has her assistant get her that.

"Usually Theodore buys me one but he's out today… you know what I need you to be my assistant for the day."

"Really? Me?" I am completely in shock.

"Well don't sound so enthusiastic." Ms. Vaughn states sarcastically.

"I'm sorry. It's just me? Out of all your interns. They've been around longer than I have." We weren't exactly treated all the same.

"Listen, I'm harder on you Dubois because I see a little bit of myself in you. I want you to reach your full potential."

I blush, "Thank you! I truly appreciate that, Mrs. Vaughn."

"Don't let it get to your head though and don't be late with my coffee." There's that strictness again.

"Sure thing. See you at the office."

"See you in a few." Mrs. Vaughn ends the call. Wow I never knew she thought of me like that. She's always hard on me. I didn't even think she liked me to be honest. Guess I was wrong.

While talking on the phone, I didn't even notice the line got really short. It was my turn to order and it's a 5 minute wait for the drinks. After a few moments I pay and head outside.

I look in the place I thought parked my car and it's not there. 'Hmph that's weird. I could have sworn that's where I parked.' I examined the parked cars on the street, none of them were mine. Wait… oh my god! My car is being hooked onto the tow truck. Don't even have to think twice when I run over there as fast as these heels can carry me.

"Hey! Wait! That's my car!" I yell at the guy.

"Shouldn't have been parked here sweetheart." The big greasy man replies.

"Come on. I didn't know you couldn't park here." It was never a problem any other time.

"Not my problem. Sorry not sorry." Him and his coworker chuckle. Okay this guy is an asshole.

"I'm right here to claim it. You can't do this."

"Look little lady, you can come pick your car up at the tow company or not. But either way I have to do my job."

"But-" Before I can object again he rides off with my car.

Like a little kid I stomp my foot. I am heated. Now I'd have to walk to work. I turned in and walked in a huff, I'd figure the rest out at work. I will have to call the company or someone to come get me. I am definitely going to be late for work too. Could this day get any worse? And then it does. So into my thoughts, My face collides right into a pole. Knocking me forcefully onto my back. The sounds and people on the street start to fade as I lay there on the ground. Vision is cloudy and Light is slowly dwindling, and I feel my eyes get heavy.

"Miss, are you okay?" I hear a voice but it sounds like it's underwater. "She needs help." I make out before everything goes black.

Huey's POV

"I'm whooping yo ass bro." Riley comments, his hands moving fast on the game controller joystick. I'm in his living room, at the moment we're playing Mortal Kombat 10. He's Shang Tsung and I'm Scorpion. We had the day off and nothing else better to do. So why not play violent video games.

"Yeah, not for long." The corners of my mouth turn up. I do a few fighting combos which Riley has trouble blocking.

"Finish him." I won.

"Man what? You cheated." Riley sucks his teeth, placing his controller on the coffee table. Just to rub it in his face that I won the round I do a Fatality on his character.

"Oh it's like that? Bet! Rematch." Riley grabs the game remote.

I shrug and we start a new round, "You're still a sore loser."

"You only won because it's hard to concentrate when this girl's phone keeps going off. Asia! Come get your phone!" Riley shouts toward the bathroom.

"Hold on nigga!" She yells back. I roll my eyes, they're both loud. A match made in heaven.

A minute later Asia retrieves her phone and answers it, "Hello, yeah?"

"Yeah take that bitch!"

"Wait one second… will you be quiet and turn that down? I can't hear." Asia has her hand covering the phone speaker.

"Go in the other room then." Riley shrugs her off.

"Fine." She mushes him in his face before walking off.

"Aye! You messed me up."

Not even a minute into our match Asia comes back into the living room, "Riley pause the game real quick."

"Hold on, its bouta be over." He answers. Annoyed, she walks into front of the tv blocking both our visions of the game.

"Get out the way girl." Riley tries looking around his girlfriend.

"I'm sure both of you want to hear this, it's important." Her voice is serious. I thought she was just being one of those girlfriends that wanted attention so I was paying her no mind before. But she has my focus now. I pause the game.

Asia takes a deep breath, "Jazmine's in the hospital."

I tense up, that is not the news I was expecting. Jazmine, in the hospital. Immediately I start to think the worse. Is she hurt badly? Minor? What could have happened that quick? I just spoke to her the other day.

"Um Huey are you ok?" I don't even realize that Asia is speaking to me. I feel frozen, like everything is about to start going wrong.

I try to regain my composure, "The hospital? Is she okay?"

"I- I don't know. They just said she had an accident on the street earlier. Cindy's there but they won't tell her much because she isn't family." Asia's voice becomes shaky.

"Well then we'll go there ourselves then." I declare standing up. I had to know she was fine. I just need to.

"Damn Mariah… I'll drive, let me go get my keys." Riley steps up. Asia and I share a look, she nods at me before going to put on her shoes. Riley came back with his keys and we left out the door.

It took us a little over 30 minutes to get to the hospital Jazmine is at and 10 minutes to get them to tell us where her room is. There's multiple people injured in the hallway as we rush to her room. I hate Chicago's hospitals. Sometimes I think they don't care about really helping people. If they did then all these people wouldn't be left unattended.

Finally we reach the room they said Jazmine is in, all of us practically run inside there. We're met with a perplexed Jazmine. Sitting up with a white hospital bandage on her forehead. She's fine… a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

"Jazmine!" The three of us say simultaneously.

"Uhh Hey guys." She groans a bit. Maybe we are too loud.

"We came as soon as we heard." Asia rushes to her side, hugging her tight.

"Um that's nice but w-who are you all?" Wait what?

"What do you mean who are we?" Asia let's go of Jazmine in confusion. She lays there dumbfounded, looking at us. I had a blank stare on. 'She can't remember her friends.' This is bad. Her head must have been really bad. This is one of the worst situations that could happen. I start to sweat.

Jazmine starts to laugh, obnoxiously. Riley, Asia and I look at each other wondering the same thing. 'Has she gone crazy?"

"Oh man the look on your guys' faces." Jazmine clutches her stomach from giggling so much.

"You fucking around with us Mariah?"

"Of course. I know who you all are, Riley." Jazmine beams. Even when she's hurt she still manages to put a smile on her face.

"Don't do that, you made me worried sick." Asia hits Jazmine's arm.

"Hey! That hurt. I am still laying in a hospital bed after all."

"Yeah yeah that's what you get for trying to be funny. Now tell us what happened." Asia chides.

"Well… I ran into a pole." Jazmine blushes from embarrassment. She's really clumsy.

Riley and Asia burst into laughter, "How in the hell did you do that?"

"Um so my car just got towed and I was mad. I guess I wasn't exactly looking where I was going." Jazmine scratches her head.

"Oh no. Well I'm just glad you're okay."

"Me too… you're awfully quiet, nothing to say?" Jazmine looks at me.

I stick my hands in my pocket,"What do you want me to say? You always struggle with watching where you're going."

Jazmine frowns, "Figures that you say that." Huh? What's that supposed to mean? Oh man I think I upset her.

"I just mean you need to be careful Jazmine. I was almost losing it thinking something bad happened to you." Riley and Asia share amused looks for me while Jazmine just smiles. I mentally facepalm, I let too much slip.

"We, I meant we." I look around nervously.

"Righttt." My brother looks at me questionably.

"She's right in here." All of our heads turn to the door to see Cindy and…

"Jay! Oh thank god you're fine."

"Logan, you're here!" I roll my eyes. Not this cornball in the same room as me again.

"Of course I rushed to see you as soon as I heard the news." He gives Jazmine flowers. He had time to stop for flowers, what a kiss up.

"Hey you can't all be in here. Only two visitors at a time." A nurse walking by, tells all of us. I find it kind of a stupid rule.

"Well since Logan just got here. How about he goes first and the rest of us wait outside?" Cindy suggests. Hmm, fine by me. I don't like to be around coons for long anyway.

So the rest of us walk outside of Jazmine's room to the waiting area. I stop outside of her room window. I cringe at the bandaging on her forehead, I just feel like I should have been there. To protect her, I've always felt the need to protect her. It's a cruel world out here and she's still a little naive. Always seeing the light in any situation, the best in everybody. The corners of my mouth tug upward when I see her smile even if it's with him.

"You know she's better off without you." A voice snaps me out of my stare. Cindy.

I scowl, "The fuck are you talking about Cindy?" I really don't want to deal with her right now.

"I'm just saying with Logan, Jazmine's been flourishing."

"Okay?" I'm not understanding what she is relaying this information to me for.

"She doesn't need you messing that up. It's been you and her drama for months but she's finally seems to be over that. You should just leave her alone." Cindy states honestly.

"We're just friends." I don't know who I'm even convincing anymore.

"Sure you are… just don't fuck up her life more than you already have." Cindy walks away from me. Her words angered me but maybe that held some truth. As much as I didn't want to admit it, Cindy is making some sense. The annoying part of me had to acknowledge she's right. And that made me even more furious.

I glance at Jazmine before following behind everyone to take a seat in the waiting area. Everyone took turns going into her room. I am the last to go in. I knock on the open door before walking inside.

"Hey Huey." Jazmine says warmly. But I can tell she is exhausted.

"Jazmine."

"The doctor wants me to stay till tomorrow. She says I don't have a concussion but she wants to monitor me overnight and make sure everything's good before she releases me in the morning."

"Oh ok that's good. Someone staying with you?" I know she doesn't like to be alone.

"Yeah Asia." I nod my head. The both of us are silent. Although Jazmine's in thought I can tell. 'What is she thinking?'

"Um, visiting hours are just about over, the nurse told me. I didn't really get to speak to you that much, why don't you come over tomorrow? I can't really do anything for a couple of days and I'll be bored in that house all alone." She speaks sort of frantically for some reason.

"Sure, I'll come by. Business at the shop has been kind of slow these days anyways." I shrug.

Jazmine smiles, "Perfect. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Later clumsy." I slightly smirk. Jazmine rolls her eyes but waves as I leave her room.

I don't care if we didn't speak much. I'm just glad that she's fine.