Chapter 37- I matter. You matter.

Jazmine's POV.

I know I am drunk but this time I don't think I'm seeing things. I release Logan's hand in shock. There and behold is Huey Freeman, leaning against the hood of my car. Oh so nonchalantly as per usual. Like he belongs there. I don't know if I'm more upset at the fact that he just showed up here or that I secretly wanted him to.

"What are you doing here? I didn't come to your club for a reason." I fold my arms.

I don't give him a chance to respond, "What are you a stalker?"

"Actually your bestie Asia told me your location." Huey replies all smug. Ugh Asia I have a bone to pick with you later on.

"Trying to get to me through my friends, that's really pathetic." I spit.

"Jay come on, let's just go." Logan tugs at my arm and I see Huey's body language become more caring than before. This sparks interest in me.

"Nah I got it." Huey tells Logan. But Logan doesn't take too lightly to that because he grips my arm possessively.

"I'm capable of bringing my own girlfriend home."

"I don't know about that." Huey looks at Logan like he's sizing him up. It's obvious to the eyes that Huey is the stronger and more built one. He'll probably win because I'm pretty sure Logan is not a fighter. But I'm not going to go there, they weren't fighting on my watch.

"Are we going to have a problem?" Logan questions in an angry tone.

Huey sticks his hands in his pockets, "You tell me." He says, simply shrugging. That's no good.

"Just stop, it's not that serious." I step in between both guys. I give Logan a calm down look and he listens, taking a deep breath.

"Jay, you want me to drive you?" He looks at me concerned.

Once again I look between the two men, Huey looked annoyed and no telling what he would do if Logan didn't go away soon. Also, I mean he did come here for a reason right? I should hear him out, I suppose.

Huey rolls his eyes, "Jay will be good. I said I got her alright?" He wasn't asking though, he's definitely telling.

I sigh, "I'm sorry Logan, I will call you when I get home. Him, me… it's complicated but he wouldn't do anything to hurt me." My eyes plead for him to just leave. That way we could avoid a huge mess that is unnecessary.

"I'm trusting you." He peers into eyes.

"I'll be fine, I promise." I try to assure him.

"Alright, please get home safe." I watch Logan turn and walk away. Once he's out of eyesight I turn to Huey, "What is your problem? Why'd you have to threaten him?"

"Threaten him?" Huey scoffs, "He tried to act tough first. Ole boy is lucky he got to walk away. He better know his place."

"His place? He's my boyfriend Huey, which you're not, remember?" I fold my arms.

"So what, you fucking that nigga now?" He raises an eyebrow.

My eyes widen, "Oh my goodness! Are you insane?" How could he ask me such an intrusive personal question like that?

"Exactly, I'll take that as a no. He's nothing more to you than a friend."

"It's really none of your business if I'm fucking him or not." I trail off, "Maybe I am, but you will never know." The corners of my mouth turn into a smirk. Huey's face turns from stoic to a scowl.

"What?" Jesus. Huey looks so much more finee when he's mad. Shit.

"You heard me." I say as a matter of factly but I am bluffing big time. Logan and I haven't didn't anything besides some minor petting. Huey knows I'm not an easy girl so I don't know why he would ask me such a question. But since he did now I'm going to put the idea of me with another man in his mind. I want to see him lose his shit.

Huey's eyebrows furrow in anger, "That's okay because while you were doing that, I was fucking that Latina chick from the grocery store." My mouth turns into an o-shape, I am appalled that he'd do that. It had to be out of spite. Rage begins surging through me.

"That's it. You're such a bastard." I drop my purse. Walking closer to him and my hand reacts before I can even realize. It swings. But Huey catches my wrist before it gets to his face.

"Don't like how it feels?" He taunts and I'm even more heated at the fact that I can't do anything about it. He lets go of my wrist, prompting me to push him.

"Ugh I can't believe you. Go to hell!" I shout before walking away. My arm pulled back to him.

"Let me go!"

"Just wait. I- I didn't mean it." He releases me and I glare at him.

I look at him incredulously, "You didn't mean to slip your penis in her vagina Huey?" Sheesh, I'm vulgar when I'm under the influence.

"No, I mean I didn't have sex with her. I just said that because I was… upset."

I shake my head, "I don't believe you." He's never been the one to turn away from that type of opportunity before so what's stopping him. And why did him being with another woman bother me so much?

"Why can't you just go away?" I ask him and myself. It's like he's forever stuck in my head. I can't escape us.

"Well I tried to but no matter how much I try I just can't." Huey replies honestly.

"I-I'm not doing this with you tonight Huey. Just leave please." I'm so over his constant games.

"I'm not leaving you out here in your condition."

"Here's a better idea, how about I leave you?" I try to walk away from him back to my car but fail miserably. It's like I trip over my own two feet. Thankfully Huey catches me before I hit the ground.

"Shit Jazmine, are you ok?" I hear the worry in his voice.
"Like you care." I push him away. Moving away from him, "Ugh I can't find my keeeysss." I frantically search my purse.

"You're not driving." Huey says sternly.

"Yes I am, as soon as I find my keys." I still shift through my purse.

"No, you're not." Huey dangles my keys in front of my face. How did he-

I squint my eyes, "Give it to me." He simply shakes his head, holding them above his head. Way out of my reach. Curse those long limbs of his.

"You know what, that's fine. I'll walk." I turn in the opposite direction away from him.

"You can't be serious."

"Dead serious." I start walking.

"Wait! I'll drive you."

"Come on! Just get in the car!"

"Jazmine, Please!" I ignore him and try to speed up. But it truly felt like I was walking in slow motion.

I hear a pound, that sounds like he hit the car with his fist or something. It startles me, making me pause in my path. "Damnit Jazmine! Just stop."

I turn and walk back towards him a little ways, "If you're not giving me my keys I have nothing to say to you." I only went back because honestly I didn't know how to get back home from here.

"Listen, I'm not letting you drive…" I turn away from him again. He continues, "You can't drive drunk. I already lost two people I love to drunk driving and I'm not going to lose another." I hear Huey sigh. Even though I'm clearly under the influence of alcohol, his words register in my brain, and it almost makes my heart stop. Did he mean what I think he means?

I slowly move my body, to face Huey. His chest is rising furiously but he also looks exhausted, his eyes are vulnerable. "What?" My voice is softer, way more than before.

"You heard me… Jazmine I love-" Huey's cut off by the sound of a WHOOOP from a police siren. The blue and red lights from the car almost blind me. I hear a car door slam and footsteps approaching us. If I thought my breathing was irregular just a minute ago, it certainly is now. I didn't usually fear the cops on the regular because I don't do anything wrong or illegal. But sometimes that didn't matter, especially when it's dark and two black people were just yelling a second ago even though it wasn't anything violent. Oh yeah I failed to mention I'm drunk. I have a bad feeling now and it isn't the liquor.

"Is there a problem here?" The officer studies the two of us.

"No sir, officer." I notice that Huey's voice is monotone and isn't shaky. 'How could he possibly calm right now.'

"Well I just got a call, a man outside a club is harassing a woman. That wouldn't happen to be you?" I examine the officer's badge, Officer Merle. Number ninety-four. I remember it just in case. He has a buzz cut and a gold tooth with a scar across his cheek. He looks like a poster redneck but I hope my assumption isn't true.

"No sir. Must have me confused with somebody else, I am simply just taking her home." Huey responds as clearly as possible.

"Hm." The officer hums, his hand is placed on his gun holster. My hand flashes between him and Huey multiple times. I'm almost losing my mind while it looks like they are looking through each other's souls.

Officer Merle turns to me, "How are you doing tonight honey?" Now his tone is friendly and not aggressive like before.

"Good and you?" I gulp. Nothing can sober me up quicker than a run in with the police.

"I'm alright. Is this young man bringing you home?" I got to nod my head but…

"I just told you I am." Huey beats me to the punch.

"And I want to hear that from her son." Officer Merle says to Huey and brings his attention back to me.

I nod my head, "Yes he's bringing me home, officer."

"See now your story checks out, son. Nothing to worry about." The officer pats Huey's shoulder. I notice Huey tense up.

"I'm not your son." Huey mumbles under his breath. 'God I hope the officer didn't hear that.' But when he tongues the inside of his cheek, staring Huey down. I know he heard his smart remark.

"What was that?"

"I didn't say anything." Huey replies, coolly.

"Well I know my ears ain't playing tricks on me. I heard something." Officer Merle's hand is near his gun again.
"Well you must have heard wrong." Huey doesn't back down from the Officer's threatening glare.

"You know I don't like your tone. I'm going to need to see some ID." Oh no.

"For what?" Huey's eyebrows furrow in confusion.

"Just let me see and we can both go about our nights."

"Huey just show him." I voice to him worriedly. I just want him to leave us alone even if he had no right to check his ID.

"No Jazmine, I know my rights. So Unless you have a warrant I'm not showing you anything." Huey raises an angry eyebrow at the cop.

"That's it." The cop tries to grab Huey's arms but he's too quick for the officer so he moves his body away, "Stop resisting!" The officer manages to get hold of Huey's arms, shoving him on to the ground. Huey grunts as his body hits the pavement, his cheek pressed against the ground.

"He didn't do anything!" I shout at officer ninety- four. I can't believe this is happening. You always see stories on tv but to see this in real life is terrible. The officer has his knee on Huey's back, one of his hands reaching around his own back, pulling out handcuffs. He cuffs Huey. Then he does a come here signal to his police car. Seconds later his partner is coming over to us.

"You can't do this. He did nothing wrong!" I cry. Huey can't get hurt, he just can't. I don't know how I will live with myself.

"Shut it Half breed. Unless you want to join him." Officer Merle threatens, "Let's see what you got in here, drugs?" He searches Huey's pockets. I don't even care that he called me something offensive. I just silently pray he doesn't find any weed on Huey. After he finishes patting him down, Thankfully he finds nothing except his wallet.

He hands it to his partner, "Run this monkey's ID through the system." I gasp at his racial insult. The other officer walks back to the cop car.

"You're supposed to be a leader and carry out justice but you're nothing but a pig. A racist pig, illegally searching a black man for no reason. You are all the same." I spit through my teeth. Tears are flowing from my eyes but I'm still trying to be strong. For Huey.

"Watch it! I can arrest you too for being volatile to a respective officer." Officer Merle fires back.

"Respective? You're nothing but a crook who has nothing better to do than to abuse his power." I set him straight. Officers like this are why I am becoming a defense attorney. The whole system is corrupt and I'm going to do something about it.

"Alright that's enough. You can join him." The officer removes his knee from Huey coming toward me.

"Don't touch her!" Huey exclaims. Even in a situation of his own he is still trying to defend me. It's time for me to do the same.

I back up from the cop, "Get away from me. My dad's a lawyer, I'll have him sue your whole precinct." I try to dodge his clutches but he catches me.

As a last resort for some sort of help, I look up to see Riley and Asia coming out of the club.

"Guys come quick!" I plead.

"Jazmine?!" Officer Merle releases his grasp from me.

"Yo that's my brother!" The couple runs over to us but Officer Merle steps in front of Huey, his hand placed clearly on his gun.

"Not another step, I don't want to have to use this." He threatens.

"Man what? Let my brother go."

"He won't and Huey did nothing." Asia wraps her arms around me trying to calm me down but I was far from it. I'm frightened more than I have been in my entire life.

"Guys, it's going to be okay." Huey tries to assure us but none of us are going for that.

"No the fuck it's not, let my fucking brother up he ain't do shit." Riley stalks up to the police officer.

"Oh you want to get tough with me? You're nothing but a thug." Officer ninety-four provokes Riley.

"Riley stop, I don't want you to get hurt." Asia says clearly worried.

"Nah he's right. I am a thug so if you gon shoot me then shoot me. Bitch!" Riley seethes. Officer Merle, takes his gun out of the holster for the first time. No. No. No. Not Riley. He can't die like this.

"Riley stop!" Asia screams.

"What's going on here? You guys good?" Cindy and Caesar are now with us. Thank god. More witnesses. Maybe they could help.

"He's trying to detain Huey and shoot Riley for no reason at all!" I explain to them quickly.

Quickly, both Cindy whips out her phone, "Go ahead, do it I'll show the world what a terrible cop you are… Officer Merle." She zooms in on his badge.

"What now? You can't arrest all of us." Caesar states. It seems like the officer is now backing down, he clicks his gold tooth and puts his gun away. Just then his partner comes over to him with Huey's ID.

"There's nothing on him, Merle." The officer tells him.

Officer ninety- four sucks his teeth and slowly uncuffs Huey, "You all got lucky this time." Is all he says before him and his partner get back into their car. Finally driving away. I didn't even notice but there is a small crowd of other people around too, who probably were witnessing that horrific situation as well. That's probably why they left and didn't call for backup too many eyes around.

Riley and Caesar help Huey up from the ground. He winces as he rubs and shakes his wrist, he was down there for a long time. "You good bro?" Riley asks his brother to which he simply nods his head.

"Let's get out of here." Asia suggests and all of us agree. Trudging away from the traumatic scene slowly.

"Huey." I call but he doesn't stop.

"Huey." I catch up with him. There's no emotion on his face as he stares in front of him.

"Jesus, are you okay Huey?" I say a little above a whisper but he doesn't answer. He's scaring me now.

"Talk to me Huey, please." I shake him but he just moves his arm away from me. Even though his face is emotionless, his breathing is erratic I can tell.

I stop in shock, "Huey Plea-"

"Jaz, Jaz come here." Asia pulls me towards her.

"He won't talk to me." My voice cracks and I'm full blown crying now.

"Shhh, I know girl. I know." She rubs my head as I break down in the middle of the street.

I sit on the curb, I feel like my head is spinning. My mood has changed like 20 times tonight. From the drinks at the club, to not telling Huey where I was, to arguing with him, to the cops attacking him. I should have never come out tonight. All this could have been avoided if it wasn't for me. I don't blame Huey for not speaking to me, He's hurt in more ways than one right now. He probably feels humiliated. And it's all my fault. I felt sick to my stomach.

"Asia I think I'm going to-" BARFFF. I vomit in front of me on the ground. I don't think that had to do with the alcohol.

"Throw up." I cough and wipe my mouth.

Asia removes my hair from in front of me and strokes it, "You feel better now?"

I nod my head, "A little."

"Okay, let's get you home now." Asia helps me up and to my car.

What a horrible night.