Would've updated sooner, but the site was acting ghetto. Don't ask me how an inanimate object can behave in a ghetto-ly fashion. I do not know.

Anyways, thank you to jay_jai107, DarkPhoenixSaga, Darelle the Author, and child who is cool for the reviews! And thanks to summer vacation for letting me catch up on sleep so I can no longer be a raging bitch to everyone I love and care about! lol

(I'm sure to them, it wasn't very funny)

Disclaimer: I don't own the Boondocks

Reunion

"You sure do know how to pick 'em, don't you?"

"Huey, shut up."

"Don't tell me to shut up." Huey glared towards the passenger seat, his best friend glaring back. "You do realize if you and Cindy would have just been mature about the situation none of this would be happening? But no." He rolled his eyes. "Maturity is just too simple-"

"You talk like you ain't made no mistakes before!" Caesar snapped.

"I haven't made a mistake that resulted in someone being left behind in an unknown county, you're right!" Huey shot back. The other four passengers looked back and forth from the bickering friends as if they were watching a tennis match. Arizona shook her head, going into her pocket and withdrawing a small zip lock bag. "I've never seen such stubborn people in my life-"

"Ha! Ha! Bull! Shit!" Caesar half shouted, half laughed back. "Are you kidding? If you look up "Stubborn" in the dictionary then "Huey Freeman" would be listed beside it!" Man, you invented the word!"

"What-"

"And you think I'm stubborn?" he went on angrily. "At least my stubbornness to admit my feelings didn't result in my girlfriend almost being killed!"

SLAM.

Everyone let out tiny squeaks and screams as the car slammed to a stop. Caesar blinked. Huey shook his head, closing his eyes. Even Riley gave Caesar a look of disbelief.

"Damn, son. Dat's grimy."

"What did you just say to me?" Huey's voice was dangerous.

"Uh…" Caesar started to reply but there was the sound of a lighter clicking, followed by an unusual aroma…he glanced towards the backseat, his eyebrows lifting.

"What are you doing?"

Arizona shrugged, puffing on a blunt. Eden held out her hand, indicating that she wanted it as well.

"Smokin'," she answered casually before taking another drawl.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Huey threw up his hands. "Have you lost your mind? You're smoking weed in my car?"

"Damn, sorry!" Arizona rolled her eyes, holding it out to him. She obviously thought he was mad for the wrong reason. "Yellin' stresses me out! I can share!"

"Oh, for the love of-" Huey snatched it away, tossing it out the window. Arizona's jaw fell open. "Where did you even get that from?"

Riley let out a low whistle, glancing pointedly out the passenger window. "Damn, nigga! Can you keep drivin'? Got all deez niggas honkin' an' shit. Bout ta make me-"

"When did you manage to get your hands on marijuana?" Huey shouted. Riley sighed.

"I got it out grandad's dresser, a'ight?"

"Grandad?" Huey blinked before shaking his head. "I really shouldn't be surprised." He turned back to Caesar, obviously still angry. "Get out the passenger seat. Now. Otherwise I might slip up and throw you out my windshield."

"As if you-"

"Do you want me to try?"

Caesar pressed his lips together, his eyes narrowing. He pushed open his door, slamming it shut before walking to Riley's door and pulling it open. Riley sucked his teeth.

"Man, I don' wanna sit up front wit' Huey's gay ass!"

"Then I'll sit up front. Babies." Arizona, who was on the opposite side of the backseat, pushed open her door and started for the other side of the car; on the way she crouched down, retrieving the blunt and shoving it in her pocket while shooting Huey a dirty look.

"That," she said as she hopped into the front seat, slamming the door shut. "Was completely uncalled for."

"Whatever." Huey began driving again, shaking his head. "This is stupid."

"You're tellin me-"

"Actually, I wasn't." He cut his eyes towards the backseat. "You can stop talking now."

"Man, I'm sorry." Caesar sat up, giving him an apologetic look. "I shouldn't have said that."

"Sho shouldn't," Eden agreed, examining her nails. Caesar glared at her. "Well, you shouldn't have!" In the driver's seat Huey rolled his eyes.

"Doesn't change that you did."

"You know…that was pretty fucked up, Caesar," Cherry Anne admitted with a shrug.

"Everyone shut up," Arizona snapped, glancing at Huey's face. "Let the man drive. Damn."

"Thank you." Huey rolled his eyes, staring out the windshield. Caesar sighed. For a moment the car fell into a tense silence. Then-

"Could you not smoke that in my car?"

"Aw, really?"

"I am not going to jail behind your weed smokin' ass!"

"Fine." Arizona put away the blunt, rolling her eyes. "Damn. I thought bamboombas liked smoking weed."

"Alright, Miss pigmentally-challenged." Huey gave her a look. "What did we say?"

"Okay, sorry." Arizona sighed. "I was raised by racist people, alright? It's just engrained into the system."

"It's true," Eden spoke up from the backseat, her arms folded over her chest. "Momma used to even have a shotgun for the nig...er, negroes, that tried to walk up, sellin' somethin'."

Huey, Riley and Caesar all blinked at her.

"Um, okay."

"Interesting."

"Right…"

'All the hos jockin'
Beats steady knockin'
Middle of the stage got the whole club rockin-'

"Riley, please shut your ignorant ringtone up!" Huey rolled his eyes. Riley glanced at his phone, smirking.

"Fine." He silenced it, shrugging. "Guess you don't curr 'bout the text message sayin' dat dey got Jazzy and dey gon stop in Pittsburgh ta wait fo us."

"What? Let me see."

"Naw, nigga." Riley rolled his eyes. "You so busy not curring 'bout nothing-"

"Ugh. Whatever." Huey glowered towards the car in front of them. "Someone just kill me now. Please."

"Sorry, that would be too easy." Arizona waved her hand. "Don't worry 'bout it, emo kid. We'll be caught up to them before you know it."

"Something tells me," Huey mumbled. "That it might not go so smoothly."

"How much longer do you think it'll take them to get here?"

Brandon glanced at his watch, shrugging and dropping his arm.

"Five, ten minutes." He shrugged. "After all, didn't you text Riley a good hour ago?"

"Yup."

The four of them were leaning against Jazmine's car, their arms folded and their eyes squinting towards the road in the direction they'd come from. Cindy glanced past Brandon and Ray to her best friend, who was shielding her eyes against the sun with a hand. She'd used her sunglasses to push her hair, which was particularly huge, back away from her face. The blond sighed.

"Jazz." Jazmine didn't even glance her way. In fact, Cindy was pretty sure that she hadn't looked at her since getting in the car forty five minutes ago. The only things she'd done was hop in the driver's seat, slam the door, ignore everyone's concerned looks, and start the car. "Listen-"

Jazmine gave her head one, definite shake, her eyes still staring forward. The parking lot they were in was currently empty save a few cars. It most likely had to do with the fact that it was the parking lot to a bar and it was only four in the afternoon. No one in their right mind would go to a bar at four.

Well…unless they were losers.

Cindy sighed again. "Jazzy, please."

"Don't "Jazzy please" me." Jazmine shook her head, clenching her fist. "I am so sick of listening to what you have to say, Cindy. I don't care." She sounded tired. "I just don't. Care."

"I didn't do it on purpose!" Cindy cried. "It was an accident!"

"You don't get it, do you?" Jazmine shook her head. "You are seriously not comprehending this."

"Um…maybe we should just all try to calm down-" Brandon tried before he was being cut off by an indignant Cindy.

"Of course I am!" She threw up her hands. "You're mad because we left you-"

"No! You're wrong!" Jazmine snapped angrily, making her blink in surprise. "That's not why I'm mad!"

Cindy gave her a look. "It's not?"

"No!" Jazmine rolled her eyes. "I'm mad because you do things without considering the effects it has on other people! And when there is a consequence, I'm the one who has to deal with it! Not you! Never you! But me!"

"What are you talking-"

"We left early because you couldn't stand being in the same town as Caesar and we got lost," Jazmine said, ticking off events on her fingers. Between them, Brandon and Ray were shaking their heads. "We got thrown in jail. You told complete strangers they could ride with us and in turn some psycho who knows them jacks up my car! No offense," she said, glancing towards the others. Ray snorted while Brandon threw up his hands.

"None taken. Well…I don't think."

"We could have been killed, Cindy!" Jazmine shook her head in disbelief. "Do you even care about anything that doesn't involve you?"

Cindy's eyes narrowed. "Are you calling me selfish?"

"I sure ain't considering you benevolent!" Jazmine shot back, dropping her hands to her sides again. She glared at her. "The sad part is I always try to give you the benefit of the doubt! I try not to get mad, I try to take your feelings into consideration even though you obviously don't care about mine-"

"That's not true!"

"It's not?" Jazmine looked to be on the verge of tears. "Then why did you not care I didn't want to come here early? How come you didn't care that I didn't want to drive around two strangers? How come you didn't care that I didn't just want to ditch the people who were supposed to come with us? If it isn't what you want then it doesn't matter, right?"

"No!" Cindy gawked at her. "Where are you even getting this from?"

"Actions speak louder than words, Cynthia." Oh, boy. She was pissed. "And right now your actions are telling me that you obviously don't take our friendship too seriously if you don't care about my feelings!"

"I do care!"

"Whatever, Cindy." Jazmine shook her head, leaning back against the car. "Whatever."

"Aw, come on!" Cindy blew a strand of hair out of her eyes. "Don't be mad at me. I don't want you mad at me-"

"And here we go again!" Jazmine let out a sarcastic laugh. "Me, me, me! I don't want this! I don't want that! Well, I don't give a shit what you want anymore!"

"Well, fine!" Cindy snapped back, tired of being yelled at. "I said I'm sorry! I said that I didn't mean any of it! What else do you want from me?"

"Move," Jazmine practically growled, shoving past Ray. Brandon had enough sense to nearly leap out of her way so that she could walk up to Cindy. Despite the fact that she was almost two inches shorter than the blond Cindy felt herself shrinking back regardless.

"What I want," Jazmine said, her nose inches from Cindy's and her voice low. "Is for you to realize that the only way you're going to be able to accept the way things are is if you acknowledge them." She shook her head again. "Because they won't go away on their own."

Cindy's mouth fell open. Her own eyes hardened.

"The anti-confrontational crybaby's giving me advice on acknowledging my problems." Cindy's eyes narrowed. "How hypocritical."

Jazmine's eyes widened. Then, she scowled.

Before either Ray or Brandon could react Jazmine was yanking Cindy's hair, which in turn made Cindy tackle her to the ground. Ray smacked his palm against his forehead as the two of them rolled around on the asphalt, shouting and clawing at each other.

"Aw, shit." Brandon grabbed both of them by their shirts, trying to yank them off each other. "Ray, man! Help me!"

"Fuck that." Ray shook his head. "I'd get in the center of two sumo wrestlers before tryin' to break up a chick fight."

"Damn it, just- ow!" Someone's hand clawed across his face and he let go of both of them, grabbing his cheek. "Geez!"

"I hate you!" Jazmine screamed, managing to pin Cindy underneath her. Her chest heaved up and down. "You're such a self absorbed-"

"You one to talk, you stuck up-"

"Go to hell!"

"I'll send you there first!" Cindy kneed Jazmine in the stomach, rolling over so that Jazmine was the one pinned down.

"Can you two stop?" Brandon yelled. When the two continued to fight he sighed, throwing up his hands and leaning against the car with Ray. "Whatever."

The entire scene probably would've continued like that until both girls managed to knock each other out, if it wouldn't have been for Ray pushing off the side of the car and staring down the road.

"Is that them?"

"Huh?" Jazmine nearly threw Cindy off her in her haste to jump to her feet. She rushed to Ray's side, narrowing his eyes in concentration. After a few seconds, she grinned.

"It is them!"

Cindy brushed herself off, slowly pushing herself up. Sure enough, she could see that the approaching car was definitely Huey's. She inwardly groaned. Ray's eyes narrowed as he stared.

"They sure do gotta lota people with them, don't they?"

"They do." Jazmine frowned. "Why is that?"

The back door was opening before Huey could even come to a complete stop. "Land!" Riley yelled, flopping onto the ground on his hands and knees. "I'm free!"

"Man, shut yo dumbass up." Caesar was the next to climb out the open door, rolling his eyes. He swept his dreads out his face, grinning and waving towards Jazmine. "What's really good, Jazzy?"

"Yay!" Jazmine's anger was completely gone. She ran up to the boy, throwing her arms around him and giving him a giant hug. "Caesar! I missed you!"

"And I…miss…breathing," he wheezed. Jazmine quickly let him go, stepping back as another person stepped out. Her eyebrow lifted. It was a girl.

"'Bout damn time." The girl, who was a few inches shorter than her, dusted herself off. She had spiky dark hair and a bored expression that seemed to get less bored when her eyes fell on Jazmine.

"Oh, shit!" The girl cackled. "It's you! You're the half-breed!"

Jazmine blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

"Just ignore her," Huey said, slamming the door to the driver's seat and walking over, rolling his eyes. "The "no racial slurs" rule also extends to them. Well…most of them." He made a face as he glanced towards Jazmine's car. "Who the hell are they?"

"Huey!" Jazmine hugged him, glancing up at his face. "Did you miss me?"

He glanced down at her, giving her an odd look before shrugging and glancing back at Ray and Brandon, who had folded their arms over their chests.

"Maybe." He managed to release himself from Jazmine's grasp, his eyebrow lifting. "Seriously, who are they?"

"Well, I could say the same for you." Jazmine nodded towards the spiky haired girl. Riley smacked his lips.

"Fine! Don' nobody curr bout Reezy! I see how it is!"

"And…who are they?"

Two more girls were now getting out the car, slamming their doors. Huey winced.

"This…looks really bad."

Jazmine gave him a look. "Um, yeah. A little."

"Because they-" he pointed towards Ray and Brandon again. "Are much better."

She shrugged. "Good point."

"Damn!" Ray burst out laughing. "You got people piled all in yo car like Mexicans!"

"Um, yeah." Jazmine scratched the back of her neck. "It's a long story…" Her words trailed off as she glanced at his arms. Her eyes widened. "What happened?"

"Yeah." Huey examined his arms as well. "That's also a long story."

"Okay." Both of them turned around as a blond girl leaned against Huey's car, her arms crossed over her chest. "So, someone wanna do introductions?"

Before Jazmine could open her mouth, Ray was rushing forward, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Ari!"

The girl leaned forward, staring at him with an amused expression. "Ray?"

"Wait, you two know each other?" Caesar asked, stepping up to Jazmine's other side. Jazmine gasped, pointing towards her.

"You're Arizona!" she shouted, causing everyone to look her way. "You're who that guy who pushed me and punched Ray in the face was looking for!"

"Wait, a guy came looking for me?" Arizona's face paled.

"What?" Huey's head whipped towards Jazmine. "He pushed you?"

"Wait, who are we talking about?" Caesar made a face.

"Oh! You mean Mark?" The spiky haired girl's eyes widened. "Wait, I am so confused…what?"

"Um, he's dead when I get to him, that's what!" Huey snapped. "Where did you guys see him?"

"I don't know." Jazmine shrugged. "There was this bad storm last night. We kind of had some trouble."

"You ain't tha only ones," Riley grumbled. "Damn! Can a nigga get somethin' ta eat out dis bitch!"

"Wait wait wait." Jazmine held up her hand. "Okay, who are you-" She pointed to the spiky haired girl, the blond, and the third girl. "And how did you end up with them?"

"Well." Arizona pointed towards the spike haired girl. "Short stuff over there is Eden. Long ponytail's Cherry Anne. I'm Arizona." She smirked. "And I'm assuming from the expression that fell over your face when you saw afro samurai getting out a car with a bunch of strange girls, you're Jazmine."

"Uh…" Jazmine rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah."

Arizona nodded. "Huh." Her eyebrow lifted. "You are a ninky."

"What?"

"No racial slurs!" Huey rolled his eyes. "It is not that hard of a rule!"

"If I may interrupt-" Ray started, stepping up to them as well before Huey was holding up a hand and cutting him off.

"No. You may not."

"Huey!" Jazmine stomped her foot. "Rude!"

"Unless he's about to explain to me why the guy who's looking for her-" he pointed towards Arizona. "Pushed you, then I don't really care. In fact-" he glanced back to Ray. "How do you even know Arizona?"

"Ah." Ray snorted. "Now I can talk."

Jazmine made a cutthroat motion, shaking her head. Huey's eyes narrowed. Ray visibly winced.

"Never…mind." He glanced at Jazmine. "You never mentioned his inability to take a joke-"

"Ray's my cousin," Arizona interrupted, rolling her eyes. Caesar and Riley gave her incredulous stares.

"Hol' up." Riley jabbed his thumb towards Ray. "Dat bobblehead ova there's yo cousin?"

"Adopted," Ray said, giving Riley a look of disdain.

"So, Mark came looking." Arizona frowned. Brandon stepped up as well, nodding.

"He came looking, alright." He snorted. "And when I say that I mean he's a complete psycho."

"Don't I know it."

"Hello to you too, Cindy!" Caesar shouted sarcastically. Cindy, who was leaning against Jazmine's car, rolled her eyes and gave him a halfhearted wave.

"Uh huh."

"Well, I'm hungry." Caesar grinned. "Who wants some food?" He clapped Huey in the back of his right shoulder. He hissed, punching Caesar in the gut.

"Ow!" Huey glared at him. "Why would you do that?"

"What's wrong?" Jazmine asked. Cherry Anne grinned.

"Oh, he's just recovering."

"Recovering…?"

"We should just all stop talking now." Huey groaned, rubbing his shoulder. "Really."

"We should really consider getting out of the open if Mark's looking for her," Eden said, casting a concerned look towards Arizona. Jazmine shrugged.

"How would he know to come to Pennsylvania, of all places?"

"Aw, sweetie." Arizona shook her head, giving her a look. "You're so naïve, aren't you?"

Jazmine's eyes narrowed.

"Yeahhh…Cindy." Brandon tugged on her sleeve. "Want something to drink?"

The blond nodded, walking beside him as the two of them head towards the bar. "Definitely."

The others watched them walk away. Caesar frowned.

"Seriously. What were you guys doing, riding around with strange boys?"

"Oh, really?" Jazmine put her hands on her hips. "And what were you guys doing, riding around with strange girls?"

"We have," Caesar said. "A perfectly good reason."

"I'm sure."

"Ooh. So, you mad." Riley cackled, grunting when Huey smacked him in the back of the head. "Ow!"

"Well, we've got a good reason, too!" Jazmine went on. Caesar snorted.

"Whatever."

"Caesar, don't start." Jazmine glared. "I am really not in the mood right now."

"Well, no one told you two to leave early-"

"No one told you to follow us!"

"Um, hello?"

"Now Cindy's off with some Rico Suave-"

"Oh, and that's my fault?"

"Yes!"

"Oh, my god." Huey sighed. "Can you two…wait." He stared after Jazmine, who was stomping towards the bar as well. "Where are you going?"

She whirled around, lifting her hands in a "who knows?" gesture.

"Somewhere where people can stop getting mad at me for crap!" she yelled, turning around again and continuing on her way. Huey turned towards Caesar, shaking his head.

"Good job." He turned on his heel, heading after her. "Really."

"Aw, man, come on-"

"Still not talking to you!"

The six remaining people all exchanged looks, shrugging.

"I…guess we should follow them?" Cherry Anne said, looking uncomfortable. Caesar sighed, starting for the entrance.

"I guess so."

"I've got twelve bucks."

"Twelve bucks? That's it?"

"Nigga I don't gotta give you that!"

"Whatever, Riley." Huey shook his head at his brother before staring around the round table. "Well, is anyone else walking around with twelve bucks?"

"I've got twenty four." Cherry Anne shrugged. Eden sighed, slurping on a milkshake.

"I've got one seventy five. But I was saving it for hotel money. And we've gotta get down to Georgia, so-"

"I've got my dad's credit card, but he would notice if the spending got crazy," Jazmine mumbled from Huey's left, her head in her hands. "That's the only reason I'm driving around with a messed up car."

Arizona snorted from Huey's other side, examining her nails. Jazmine lifted her head, glancing at her.

"And what does that mean?"

"Nothing." Arizona shrugged. "I just wish I had parents who could send me off with a credit card since they're got soooo much money."

Jazmine blinked, her eyes slowly narrowing.

"I really don't like you."

"I've got forty five," Brandon interrupted before any more arguments could break out. "But we kind of need that to last till DC."

"Arghh!" Jazmine shook her head. "We need money."

"And do you have any ideas, carrot top?" Eden asked. Jazmine slammed her palms on the table.

"Oh, my god-"

"What about you, Cindy?" Huey asked, slapping his hand over Jazmine's mouth. She glared at him. Cindy, who was busy staring glumly at the table, shrugged.

"I dunno."

"Well, that's helpful…ew, Jazmine." He dropped his hand, wiping it on his jeans. "Really?"

She ignored him, glancing towards Ray. "You got any ideas?"

"Oh, yes. Ask him for ideas."

"Or, we could ask Arizona." Jazmine rolled her eyes. "You know, since you seem to respect her word so much."

Huey glared at her. "And what are you implying?"

"I'm only playing your game, Huey."

"Okay, ima need for everybody to shut the fuck up," Eden snapped, causing everyone to stare towards her. "Damn! Do we need to do some icebreaker exercises or some shit? Cause this ain't workin'."

"I just want to get my car fixed, get to DC, and get this whole thing over with," Jazmine said. Cindy sat up.

"Same."

"I don't know why you're agreeing with me!" Jazmine snapped. "All of this is your fault."

"And here we go." Cindy rolled her eyes. "The blame game."

"Wow. Are all girls from Illinois this whiny?"

"Arizona, shut up," Jazmine snapped. Arizona's eyes narrowed and she stood to her feet, glaring down at her.

"I am not the one, halfrican."

"Arizona, stop. Jazmine, sit down." Huey tugged Jazmine, who had started to rise up, back in her seat. "Okay. If anyone feels like they can't put their immaturity aside for five minutes while we figure out a way to make it to DC on limited funds, feel free to step out."

Jazmine snorted, pushing herself out her chair and walking away from the table.

"Peace."

Riley snorted, watching her open the front door. "Dis sucks. Can I go wit her?"

"No." Huey rolled his eyes. "So, according to everyone, we've got five hundred dollars, and that's combined. We can't get to DC on that, especially not you three, since you're continuing down to Georgia."

"Well unless we all go stand on street corners, we're out of luck." Cherry Anne blew a strand of hair out of her face. "God, I'd kill for a cigarette right now…"

"Not…necessarily." Eden was staring towards a flyer that was up on the wall. She pointed to it. "We could do that."

Everyone turned to read the bold print on the bright green page.

"'Black Jack tournament'," Caesar read aloud. He turned back to Eden. "It's here. Tonight."

She shrugged. "Your point?"

"Bullshit." Huey snorted. "You want to win money by playing a card game? Besides, we can't even play." He gestured towards the flyer. "It says you have to be twenty one. And is anyone here twenty one?"

"I am," Ray offered.

"I am," Cherry Anne added.

"And can either one of you play black jack?" Huey snapped. Both adults exchanged looks. Cherry Anne shook her head but Ray opened his mouth to say something. Whatever it was never came since Huey cut him off. "Alright, then."

"Then we'll get fake IDs," Arizona suggested.

"Yeah, with our fake money, right?"

"Okay, look." Eden leaned forward, the others doing the same. "We get fake IDs for a select few of us. The…say…best five black jack players. And they can go while the rest of us stay in close proximity."

"That's so shady," Cherry Anne mumbled. Riley and Eden snorted.

"So?" they practically laughed in unison. They exchanged looks. Riley smirked.

"You ain' all dat bad." He grinned. "I's fucks wit' Eden."

Eden grinned.

"Glad to see someone's getting along," Caesar said dryly. "Let's say we went with your plan, Eden. How would we determine the best black jack player to-"

"Me." Arizona shrugged when everyone looked towards her. "Well, I am."

Cindy shook her head. "Jazmine."

Everyone glanced at her. Arizona shrugged.

"What's the graham cracker know about black jack?"

Cindy snorted. "You don't know her very well." She dropped her voice. "She counts cards. Blackjack, spades, Spanish 21…you name it. She's counted playing freakin' Go Fish when we've played. Math's kind of her thing."

Cherry Anne and Eden's eyebrows shot up. Ray let out a low whistle.

"She do it good?"

"Yeah, she does. She taught me." Huey shook his head. "But she'd never do it. She saw that damn 21 movie and about had a heart attack."

"But it's not illegal!" Eden insisted, making a face. "It's frowned upon."

"Whatever."

"I highly doubt a bunch of bar people are going to notice card counting," Brandon said in a low voice. "It's Pittsburgh, not Vegas. Not even Atlantic City!"

"True." Riley began texting on his phone.

"I'm pretty good at black jack." Ray shrugged. "I used to play a lot back in the day."

"Okay, look." Huey looked around. "Who knows without a doubt that they can play?"

Everyone raised their hand. He sucked his teeth.

"Who knows without a doubt that they can play well?"

Cherry Anne and Cindy dropped their hands. Riley smacked his lips, dropping his own hand.

"Fuck dat. Dat's too much work."

Huey nodded. "So, that makes five of us-"

"Six."

"What?" Huey glanced at Arizona. She shrugged.

"Six." When he continued to look confused she held up her hand, ticking people off on her fingers. "You, me, Caesar salad, Eden, Ray-Ray and Jazmine."

"I already told you, she's not-"

"She will." Arizona gave him a look. "Let me talk to her."

"Don't do it, nigga." Riley shook his head. "She's gonna kill her."

"Whatever, Riley." She shook her head. "I ain't gonna kill her if she's the ticket to us winning money."

"So if she won't, you would?"

She shrugged, then nodded. "Probably, yeah."

"She won't listen to you," Caesar said. "I know her. You'll be wasting your time."

Arizona shrugged, leaning back. "Nevermind, then."

"I can talk to her," Ray tried. Huey snorted.

"Or you can stay where you are." He glanced at Cindy. "Why don't you go talk to her? You're her best friend."

Cindy snorted, looking away. "Was."

"Okay…" Huey shook his head. "Whatever."

"Anybody gotta deck of cards?" Eden asked, holding out her hand. "We could practice and see who really sucks and who doesn't."

"Ask the bartender," Cherry Anne suggested. As Eden got up from her chair she glanced back at the flyer. "It starts at nine."

"And it's four twenty now." Brandon checked his watch.

"Here." Eden flopped back down in her chair, chucking a deck of cards box on the table. "Knock yourselves out."

"That was fast," Cherry Anne said. Eden shrugged.

"Okay, then." Brandon withdrew the cards from the deck, shuffling them. "So, this is really what we're gonna do?"

"Yup." Caesar shrugged. "We don't have any better ideas, so…where you goin?" he asked as Huey rose to his feet. He rolled his eyes, but Arizona stood up.

"I'll go get her."

Huey gave her a wary look. "I really don't think that's a good-"

"It'll be fine. Stop being a punk." She stepped past him, striding for the door.

"You think we can pull this off?" Cherry Anne asked quietly. Brandon shrugged, beginning to deal out cards.

"I guess we're going to find out."

Jazmine waved her bare feet in the air, sighing as she lay in the backseat of her car. Yeah, she wasn't being very mature, but she didn't really care. She didn't feel like being around all these people. She just wanted to make it to DC already. Oh, and she wanted to get her car fixed.

And…money to get her car fixed with…

Alright, so she wanted a lot of things. But really, was it too much to ask to be able to get a few minutes to just breathe? To not have to worry about her parents realizing that she was doing everything she promised she wouldn't do, or worry about how she was going to get her car fixed, or worry about her being mad at her best friend?

She heard footsteps approaching the car and mentally groaned, closing her eyes.

Yup. It was totally too much to ask.

"Scoot over, princess."

She opened her eyes again to see Arizona staring down at her, her arms over her chest. She snorted, closing her eyes again.

"No."

The blond girl shrugged, jumping over the side of the convertible and landing on Jazmine's chest. She grunted, pushing the laughing girl off her.

"Ow!" She rubbed her collarbone, glaring. "What's your problem?"

"I don't have a problem." Arizona gestured to her. "I'm not the one moping in my car."

"I'm not moping."

"Then what are you doing?"

"I," Jazmine said, sitting up and bringing her knees to her chest. "Am having alone time."

Arizona shook her head, snorting.

"You are nothing like muffinhead."

Jazmine gave her a quizzical stare. "Who?"

"Darkie. Little Black Sambo." She rolled her eyes. "Huey. You're not like him."

Jazmine shrugged. "And?"

"Well, it kind of matters." She shrugged herself. "If I knew you were so sensitive I wouldn't have done all the name calling. He has tough skin so I thought his girlfriend would, too."

"Well, I don't." She rested her chin on her knees, staring straight ahead. "He does. You do. I don't."

"You think I'm tough? Honey, I'm not tough." Arizona practically laughed. "I just don't take life too seriously."

Jazmine looked at her. "Why not?"

"I just don't. I have my reasons. And really, you shouldn't take yours so seriously, either." She gestured to the bemused mulatto. "I get it. You got left behind by your friends. Your car got messed up by some moron-"

"Yeah," Jazmine interrupted sourly. "Some moron looking for you. Who is he, by the way?"

"He," Arizona said, propping her feet up on the door. "Would be my ex husband."

"Why's he your ex?"

She shrugged. "The same reason the guy before Afro Samurai is yours."

Jazmine felt her face heat up. "He told you about that?"

"He didn't tell me anything, so don't go getting all mad at him. I guessed." She rolled her eyes. "Anyways, I didn't come out here to talk about my failed marriage or your sucky past relationships. I came out here to tell you that we're playing black jack for money, and you're going to enter the tournament."

That surprised her. Jazmine made a face.

"I am?"

"Uh huh."

"Says who?"

"Says me."

"And I'm listening to you because…"

"Because," Arizona replied mildly. "Secretly, or maybe not-so-secretly, you don't hate me." She jabbed her thumb behind her. "We've got more in common than anyone else in there."

Jazmine nearly laughed. "You don't know me."

"I don't have to. I've gotten very good at reading people." She pushed her hair behind her ears. Jazmine rolled her eyes.

"Please. You only think we have anything in common because we both had a bad relationship." She shook her head. "And it's dumb to even use that as common ground."

"You're right. It is." Arizona nodded in agreement. "You know what else is dumb?"

Jazmine shrugged.

"The fact that you even thought that I was basing our common ground on that." She leaned back, placing her hands in her lap. "You're probably one of the strongest people here."

She laughed again. "You've got be joking-"

"I don't mean in physical strength. Damn. Can I talk for two seconds without being cut off?" Jazmine clamped her mouth shut. "I meant emotional strength." She nodded towards the bar. "You remind me a lot of my cousin, Cherry Anne. She's quieter than you most the time and not as mouthy, so people tend to think she's not much of a threat. People used to pick on her a lot." She shrugged. "They see her as this frail person who won't stand up for herself. Little do they know, she's a mechanic. She's worked on cars since she was old enough to walk and my uncle owned a shop. She made the football team in high school. She also had to get off it after she broke her collarbone and femur during the first game."

"Ouch."

"Yeah, well the point is, she's always been underestimated. And you seem like the type who's underestimated, too. Shit, you probably underestimate yourself."

Jazmine shook her head. "Why are you saying all this?"

Arizona hopped up so she was sitting on Jazmine's trunk and smirked down at her.

"Because tonight we could win a lot of money." She leaned back on her hands. "Because we could win, and your underestimated ass could completely blindside the competition and get this for us." She shook her head. "Most importantly, as corny as this is going to sound, your boyfriend's given me more hope for the human race in past few days then I've had in years. He's a really good guy. And I want to believe that he's with someone who actually has a backbone. Or at least has some redeeming quality. I want to like you, but it's hard." She shrugged again. "Because, this is going to annoy the hell out of that pretty little head of yours when I say it but, right now you seem like an insecure bitch. And you should get over that."

Jazmine's eyes narrowed. Arizona smirked.

"What are you gonna do about that, princess?"

"Don't call me that."

"Then don't act like one."

They glared at each other. Finally, Jazmine's eyes softened.

"Fine." She rolled her eyes. "I'll do it."

Arizona grinned. "Awesome."

Jazmine gave her a sidelong glance before she hopped out the car, starting back for the bar.

"You ain't the only insecure one, by the way," Arizona called after her. Jazmine turned around to see her still sitting on the car, lighting a cigarette. "So, don't go feeling all bad about it. Just fix it."

Jazmine frowned. "Well, who else is insecure?"

Arizona lifted her eyebrows. "Do I really have to say it?"

Jazmine's eyes narrowed in confusion, before widening in realization.

"You've gotta be kidding." She shook her head. "No way. He's the most not insecure person I know!"

"Of course he is." Arizona shrugged, putting the cigarette up to her lips. "Until it comes to a certain someone."

"Not when it comes to me. You're wrong." Jazmine shook her head again. Arizona smirked.

"I'm not. But it's okay. One day you'll see that." She waved her hand. "One day you'll see that no one's ever just black and white. Including him." She paused. "Including you."

Jazmine blinked. When she didn't move Arizona waved her hand again.

"Okay, goodbye! Tata! Conversation over!" She rolled her eyes, blowing out a stream of smoke. Jazmine snorted, turning back towards the door and pushing it open.

No one was ever just black and white.

No kidding.

That sappy shit.

Soooo, if anyone's still here after all the lame ass bonding or whatever, feel free to review! :P

-Kelsey