Hello y'all! Happy easter!

So, I'm not gonna lie to you all, I feel very iffy about this chapter, but there's a reason

Originally I wrote this chapter and the next two with an OC who was a pretty big part of most dialogues and scenes, but I decided to cut her because the story changed a bit in my head and she simply wasn't an asset anymore.

I'm sorry if the dialogues or scenes are a bit weird :( but I was just so excited to put the next chapter up that I did my best to fix it without having to rewrite everything again. Hope you like it!

Back In Town

With Jazmine back it seemed was finally actually enjoying his summer, even though school would be back in less than a week. His days would usually consist of them going to the park with Riley and Cindy watching them play basketball, go back to either his or Jazmine's place to watch a movie and at night they'd go to the hill. Even though he didn't quite enjoy Cindy's and Riley's company for most of the day, he'd stick around for Jazmine.

"Oh my god, I can't stand it," Jazmine huffed as they walked to the park on what seemed to be the hottest day of summer yet. Her hair was back to its full, coily glory and she was desperately trying to put it in a ponytail. "I spent hours trying to get it all defined and as soon as I step foot out the house it gets all frizzy and puffy." She sighed, trying to manage her wispies. "I swear I'm gonna shave this thing."

"Gurl yo ass would be lookin' fine with a bald head!" Cindy said in that fake ghetto accent that annoyed Huey to his core. "I mean, all edgy an' shit. Ya know thaz trending now,"

"You think so?" Jazmine mused, twirling one of her curls with a finger, pensievely.

"Nigga don' even play wit' that. Potatoe lookin' ass..." Riley remarked and Huey slapped the back of his head so hard he almost fell forward.

"Ow! Nigga you better quit that shit!" Riley said furiously as they arrived at the park. Jazmine giggled and Riley threw a dirty look at her direction that went unnoticed.

"Well, you better quit being a stupid-wait a damn minute..." He stopped abruptly, squinting at the basketball court where a tall black dude with dreads was throwing some hoops alone. "Ain't that-"

"Oh my gosh!" Jazmine gasped loudly. "Michael Caesar?!" She yelled. The dude let the ball go, startled, and looked at their direction, a huge smile appearing on his face. A smile thet Huey knew too well. He made a beeline to the group and Jazmine, being Jazmine, ran to the boy, giving him a tight hug. "What the heck are you doing here?!" Caesar towered over her. Well, he towered over everyone, being even a bit taller than Huey, who held the honor of being the tallest of the group.

Huey was a bit shocked, if not extremely happy to see his best friend after so long. Caesar had moved back to New York with his mom when they were thirteen and their parents had a messy divorce, and while they did ocasionally talk on the phone, Huey wasn't good at keeping contact.

ng"Wassup lil' Jazzy?!" He let go of the girl, looking around at the rest of the gang. "Whaddup Cynthia?" Cindy playfully shoved him, though it was harder than he expected.

"You trynna get yo' ass beat?" Cindy glared, but started laughing soon enough.

His eyes locked with Huey's and the same mischievious grin Huey knew so well appeared on his face. "Damn, some things never change. You still the depressive lookin' nigga with the afro," He gave Huey an once over, his smile present as ever.

"And you still the goofy lookin' nigga with the dreads," Huey responded, with a rare joking tone. His smile so subtle you could barely see.

"Pshh, come here man," They two boys embraced. Ceasar still looked the same, only a foot taller and some more muscle mass. Huey never thought he'd see his childhood best friend in the near future, but here he was.

"And both y'all niggas still gay!" Riley pointed out. Caesar shoved him jokingly rolling his eyes.

"don't be getting an attitude wit' me just cuz you got three hairs on the top of yo lips lil nigga." Riley glared at him when everyone started laughing.

"An' he still wanna call that wack shit a mustache," Cindy added, still laughing, earning a dap from Ceasar.

"Ay, shut y'all asses up!" Riley snapped, scowling at the group. "Damn, nigga vanishes fo' a whole three years and still gots the nerve to try and be funny."

"Shoot, ain't nun' change," He laughed. "It's still my rightful place to pick on you."

"Wait, so you're back for real?" Jazmine asked excitedly.

"Yeah, couldn't stand my mom's crazy ass any longer. As soon as I turned sixteen I knew I wanted to get the hell up out of there, but I had to wait until school was done and shit, if it were up to me I'd be back a long time ago."

"Well, why you ain't nevah showed yo ass 'round here no moh'? "Riley asked and Ceasar sighed, shaking his head.

"Y'all know how fucked up my parents divorce was. That meant a messy custody battle...like some Judge Judy type o' shit, and whenever I'd so much as mention my dad's name she'd flip out. We fought over it a lot too. It got to the point where she said that when I was old enough to make my own decisions I could go wherever I wanted, and that's what I did."

"That's too bad," Jazmine said, offering him a sympathetic smile.

"Too bad for her, shit," His grin returned to his face immeaditely. "I'm living my best life."

"Why didn't you say anything though?" Huey asked.

"I just arrived today," He said. "My phone ain't working so...surprise, I guess." He snorted.

"Not even Huey can complain about this one," Jazmine smiled. Huey shrugged, she wasn't wrong.

"I tried to hit y'all up on facebook but I got ghosted. Even you jazzy! I'd expect shit like that from this nigga," He pointed to Huey. "But you?!"

"Aw Ceez, I'm sorry but nobody really uses facebook anymore." Which was a fact. Huey had never been too crazy on social media to begin with, he hadn't opened his facebook page in years.

"Aight, you gotta ge you ass on twitter."Riley began bouncing the basketball up and down. "Now can y'all niggas quit the gay shit? I wanna play!" Without missing a beat Caesar snatched the ball from Riley and shot it straight through the hoop.

"Yeah," Jazmine commented as herself and Huey sat down at the bleachers, watching the others play. "Some things never change."

"Fuck man, even the damn ground is hot..."Riley said weakily as he, Cindy and Caesar laid on a puddle of their own sweat. The sun was already setting, but the scorching heat hadn't let up.

"Man, I'm sweating in places I didn't even know I could sweat..." Caesar added as he snuck a hand under his basketball shorts and loosened his underwear.

"That's...Disgusting" Cindy finally managed to say as Jazmime and Huey arrived with the water bottles filled up. Huey couldn't understand how it was almost september and the heat waves were hitting as hard as july.

"For someone who's supposed to be jamaican and shit, yu acting like a bitch," Riley remarked, snatching the bottle from Caesar's hand. "Ain't it hot as hell in thur?"

"Half-jamaican, boy. And still, I was born and raised in Brookly, y'all got no idea how fucking cold it gets there."

"You got Jamaican blood running through your veins though, should be enough." Jazmine said smirking. Caesar rolled his eyes at the girl.

"Jamaican blood or not...Something I do know i got is that a nigga needs to get the hell up outta here!" He took of his sweat soaked shirt. Huey couldn't help but see at the corner of his eyes Jazmine and Cindy eyeing each other before being transfixed on him, and if Huey was honest, he couldn't really blame them. Caesar had become very muscular, and sweat was only helping emphasize that fact.

Riley glared at Cindy, soon taking his shirt own off and showing his rather lanky, but still decently defined shape. Huey rolled his eyes when Cindy bit her lips at his direction and saw his brother's smug look on his face. He didn't know what they were trying to hide, if they made it any more obvious they'd start making out right in from of everyone.

And why the hell was Jazmine still oggling at Caesar?!

Huey found himself and Cindy's McPhearson's spacious living room. The crew decided to gather around there since it was the closest one from the park...and due to the fact that Cindy had central air conditioning.

"Damn C! Quit cheatin' nigga! AW COME ON!" Riley yelled as Cindy's character made its last moves on Riley's. "Cheating ass bitch," He grumbled, throwing the controller deafeatedly.

"The game ain't cheatin' boi! You's mah bitch!" She stood up, giving Riley a smug look. "Dayum lil Reezy, five years and you still haven't got over the fact that I own yo ass!"

"Ooh, Imma tell who's ass I own in a minute!" Riley got up and headed to the massive kitchen, opening up the fridge like it was his own house. "Ay, y'all ain't got no grape soda?!"

"It's right there! Is yo' ass blind?" She followed him and they continued their bickering in the other room.

"So, they still like this then?" Caesar snorted.

"Most times," Jazmine stated, grabbing the remote and flicking through channels in the 4k TV. "You get used to it eventually."

"It makes for some good comic relief, though," Caesar said, catching his breath. "Damn."

"Comic relief?" Huey said, his usual disapproving look on his face. "You need a stress relief if you're dealing with these two. Be warned." Huey rolled his eyes and Caesar snorted

"Everything stresses you, Huey." He pointed out. "Even, aunno...fucking sesame street probably." Huey gave his friend an incredulous look and straightened up.

"Man..." Huey looked like he was about to begin one of his speeches, but his chest deflated. He smacked his lips, crossing his arms and glaring at his so called friends. "Whatever."

Baby, you know that I miss you

I wanna get witchu

But I can't right now baby girl and that's the issue

"What the-" Caesar gave Jazmine an odd look as she grabbed her phone from her back pocket. "You have 'kiss me thru the phone' as your ringtone?"

"Why are you surprised?" Huey said and Jazmine rolled her eyes, picking up the phone and silently telling them to hush.

"Yes, Dad?" She closed her eyes and let out a stream of air through her nose, a clear sign that she was annoyed. "I'm at Cindy's dad-I texted you!...Well you should've checked your messages then!" She shared an annoyed look with Huey. "Dad, I'm not back talking...But dad, it's only seven! The appointment is at ten tomorrow, come on! Ugh, fine, fine. I'm going." She turned off the phone, sighing heavily.

"Damn, guess your old man still the same, huh?"

"You bet. If he could put a leash around my neck and walk me three times a day he would," She huffed, standing up. "I've got a dentist appointment tomorrow morning and he wants me in bed by ten. I'll say bye to Cindy."

"I'll drop you off," Huey said. "Ask Riley if he's coming with us or not." Jazmine nodded as she entered the kitchen.

"Something tells me he ain't coming," Caesar snickered, looking maliciously at the direction of the kitchen. "Damn, whatever happened to all that 'homies over hoes' bullshit?"

"Pshh, don't ask me..." Huey said, just as Jazmine walked back into the living room.

"Riley said he wasn't going with us." She grimaced, glancing back at the kitchen. "They're eating pickles with peanut butter and drinking a liter of grape soda straigh out of the bottle."

"Ew. Anyway, you ready to leave?" Huey said, standing up

"Imma head out too," Caesar glanced at the kichen. "Don't really feel like third-wheeling on my first day back."

The three of them walked through the rich neighborhood at Woodcrest. The heat had given them a rest as the evening arrived.

"I'm so happy you're back Ceez!" Jazmine said. "I feel thirteen all over again, those were the good times." She snorted. He smiled, wrapping each arm around hers and Huey's shoulders, though the latter was rather forcefully.

"Damn right, Jazzy." glanced at the both of them. "Just the three of us like the good ol' times...remember when we wanted to call ourselves the 'Golden Trio' but Grumpy Pants over here refused?"

"I just didn't see the point of naming our group after a white washed, stupid kid's movie seeing that, y'know, we're black." Both Caesar and Jazmine rolled their eyes at the same time. "Like, are you really gonna tell me that in all of Britain there's only one black little wizard kid? That's sum bullshit."

"Yeah, he still the same." Caesar snorted.

"Did you expect him not to be?" Huey scowled. Caesar looked at him with a genuine smile, shaking his head amusedly.

Wouldn't dream of it."

Not long after Huey saw himself in a position he'd never think would happen again. Watching over the city at the top of the hill with Caesar. For a moment they were silent, Caesar seemingly deep in thought.

"Damn," He muttered, more to himself that to Huey. "It sure is good to be back..." Huey replayed the scene that took place on this same spot, only two weeks earlier, the difference though was Caesar's warm smile and childish gleam in his eyes. Caesar could have grown taller, but he was the same goofy kid Huey had grown so close to all those years ago. "Is Ruckus still around?"

"Yes," Caesar groaned. "And he just got more racist as the years passed by."

"Damnit, really wasn't looking forward to being called a coon anytime soon." Caesar chuckled. "Ah, what the hell. Caesar's back baby! Straight outta BROOKLYN!" He shouted, a habit that he never dropped, and Huey smiled.

"I missed you, man." Huey admitted, catching Caesar off guard. "Seriously. i'm glad you're back."

"Ay, Huey Freeman being affectionate. Damn, Jazmine is rubbing off on you!" Caesar laughed, elbowing his friend. Huey glared, but couldn't help but agree. Between Jazmine's episode and now he was really becoming a 'gay ass nigga' as Riley would say, and honestly? He wasn't too bothered. "But all jokes aside," Caesar went on. "I missed you too bro. But then again, I was only a phone call away..."

Huey gave him a sheepish look. "Sorry man..."

"Nah, it's aight." Caesar reassured. "I know you, I expected that kinda shit. Besides, at least we have a whole lot of catching up to do. Shoot, Jazzy should be here, then it really would be like old times..." Caesar smiled. "The three of us up here, me and her buggin' you relentlessly," Caesar glanced at his friend and Huey shook his head, smiling slightly. "Matter-of-fact, speaking about Jazmine..." Caesar started and Huey had a hint to where the conversation was headed.

"Y'know, this shit didn't leave my mind since I got on the bus back in New York-"

"Bus? You came by bus?"

"Yeah dude, my ass still broke!" He gave Huey a look. "And you know my momma ain't give me a cent to help with the trip. Anyway-don't think you can run away from my questions, nigga!" Huey rolled his eyes. "What I'm trying to say is, did you figure things out with...you know..."

"Figure what things exactly?" Caesar's eyes narrowed and Huey shrugged, looking away.

"For someone who's supposed to be smart, you really like playing dumb, don't you?" Huey's eyebrows shot up. "Imma try this again: have you worked your shit out with Jazmine yet?" Huey looked uneasy and Caesar smacked his his lips indignantly.

"Why am I not even surprised?"

"Oh here we go!" Huey sounded exasperated. "Why can't you just drop this?"

"Because! Damn! You've loved the girl since forever, I don't understand why you make things just more difficult on yourself." Caesar huffed. "I mean, I thought that at this point you'd either be together or not even talk at all."

"I don't like Jazmine! Not like that anyway!"

"Oh but you did! I remember!" Caesar raised his voice, the same way he did when he was excited about something. Huey huffed annoyedly.

"I had a little...thing for her when we were twelve, so what? And I'm still pretty sure that it was only because she was the only girl I even interacted with, but I got over it!" Caesar's eyes narrowed before he started cackling. "The fuck are you laughing at?!"

"I don't really think you are!" Caesar responded. "You look at her the same way you did four years ago, and what I remeber is that you didn't admit it back then either. Damn, you know so much about everything, but you severely lack knowledge on yourself." Huey was getting irritated. He hated when people pointed out his flaws, as stupid as it sounded.

"And you do, don't you?" He snapped a bit, though Caesar was used to his friends antics and didn't stop smirking. "Who do you think you are, some sort of love guru?"

"No, I'm just your best friend, and I know you, Freeman. More than you realize." He offered a knowing look. "But I mean, if you really wanna lie to yourself be my guest, but keep in mind, Jazmine's not the same nerdy, naive girl she was back then. Before you realize someone's gonna swoop in and your sorry ass won't be able to do nothing but watch." Huey felt something sting and his scowl deepened.

"whatever Caesar. Can we talk about something else? I really don't feel like whooping you ass literally on the first day you're back." Caesar snorted.

"Man, if you knew just how much I missed getting on your nerves you'd whoop my ass just for good measure."

It was almost midnight when they decided to go their own ways. Huey hadn't engaged on a conversation like this in a long time. These conversation he only ever did have with Caesar. Even if he wouldn't admit it; Caesar knew him. He made him feel complete. It was as though with Caesar he was allowed to goof off every once in a while; he didn't need to be the sole voice of reason all the time.

He didn't even get too annoyed when he had brought up Jazmine, well, not as much as he'd usually get anyway, even though Huey'd rather not have to listen to that yet again.

He wondered if, had Caesar not moved back to his hometown when they were thirteen, he would've been able to shoot his shot with her. His friend gave him a confidence that he not always had. Huey was sure that if it wasn't for Caesar he probably wouldn't even have had his first kiss.

After he was gone it felt wrong, talking about it with Jazmine. Unlike many people would think, he was afraid. Afraid of rejection, of losing the only friend he had to some stupid childhood crush. He just supressed it and moved on.

Caesar would often say that he rationalized things too much, but that was Huey. He didn't know how to not rationalize. He didn't know how to act without an estrategy, without weighing the benefits against the negatives. He only ever did act under a foolproof plan and certainty. But how could you be certain about how other people feel?

Sometimes he envied Riley. Of course, he got himself into situations that could've been easily avoidable just for the hell of it, but he wasn't afraid of virtually anything. If he wanted something, as stupid as it may be, he'd get it. He didn't need a plan, he just dived right in and figure shit out on the along the way.

Huey sighed, feeling conflicted. He wished he was as cold and as ruthless as people made him out to be. It would surely be easier.

He sat on his bed, turning on his side to turn the lamp on his bedside off when he saw it. The book Jazmine had given him laying there, still untouched. Huey was waiting for him to finish the other books he was currently reading before starting that one, but he picked it up nonetheless. the smell of new book was exciting to him. He opened it, looking for the summary when he saw it, on the blank page in the back of the cover. Her round and big handwriting written with a sparkly pink pen.

To my bestest friend in the world

Lots of luv

-Jazmine 3

Huey felt a grin creep up on his face before he could stop himself and immeaditely shut the book close.

Well, so much for getting over her.

Damnit.

Poor Huey XD

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Next chapter will be up soon!

XOXO

-Ágatha