:O I passed 50 reviews, that's a milestone for me :D Thanks to everyone who's been keeping up with the story, reading,reviewing, favouriting and putting it on alert, I love seeing those notifications from everyone,
Oh and thanks to the ghosts who read, I've discovered story stats so I see you guys as well lol
Thanks to my loyal reviewers : MzMinni3,Paige1292,Butterflyeyes24,MissG2020,Jayjai107 & HelloKitty333. I'm even more conscious of this story because of you guys and just wanting to deliver a satisfying tale so yeah thanks.
MzMinni3 : I think its safe to say Huey will probably have to finish the little job he started a couple chapters ago with Rome. It's only fair
JayJai107: I agree, like i said at the end of the last chap, there's strength in numbers. Huey will get it soon enough.
Thanks SweetdreamsAreMadeOfMe & to answer your question yeah Jazmines grandmother is stuck in the past, Huey will have a field day with her once he sorts his shit out.
I think I might try my hand at a one shot too, there seem popular or at least there are a lot of them on here, I'll keep you posted on that though.
Rome peered out of his bedroom window, half expecting to see the cops coming to his door. What happened to Caesar, maybe he got away cos he was sure that bitch ass would snitch if he got taken in.
"Fuck" Rome paced up and down his room, it wasn't his fault it was a stray that fool Caesar was trying to be superman and caught him off guard, fuck he just pulled it, didn't even aim. He stopped in the middle of his room; he could hear his mother on the phone downstairs laughing and oblivious to his despair.
This couldn't be happening right now he was supposed to just shoot that hoe and bounce. Tom was supposed to be all distraught and shit and then his dad was gonna send Tom a letter detailing his revenge plot. Tom would never be able to pin it on a guy who's already in prison and really feel the error of his ways.
After he got some lunch and sat down thinking, it was Sunday afternoon and both Jazmine birthday and Huey's case were on Friday. If he carried out the deed before then, then it was likely it would be chalked down to that's been rampant in Woodcrest lately. That bitch could catch a 'stray' like that little girl, who would be any wiser.
He could hear his phone ringing, so he casually walked over to it seeing Sasha's name on the caller ID he considered picking it, but decided against it. She was too close to that group, he figured if she called again then Caesar had snitched to them about what went down. Seeing as she didn't he sighed and sat back on his bed. Caesar had a point, Huey was a bit of a wildcard when it came to that hoe of his.
"Got a gun for that" and if need be he'd carry a knife if Huey wanted to be heroic he'd just have to relieve his former friend of his duties. Rome shook his head, he should have thought this out a little better, but he was in too deep now. He shown all his cards and as much as he wanted to take Caesar out, he wasn't important, he and Huey were probably still beefing so it wasn't a thing, he'd get his.
Jazmine yawned as she walked downstairs, feeling a bit better after spending time with Huey even if Mr Freeman completely missed the mark. She sighed, she could hear her grandmother and mother in the front room it sounded a little higher than just normal conversation.
"Afternoon" she said as she looked at the women, who stopped their 'conversation' and looked at her
"Honey"
"What do you owe that coloured boy" her grandmother said out loud, her mother gaped
"MOTHER" Sarah said loudly to to Evelyn
"I'm not being kept in the dark anymore, what if she's being pimped by that thug Sarah" Jazmine groaned, no why did her grandmother have to say such a thing She so wasn't in the mood for any of this, Cindy's idea to runaway was becoming more appealing by the second.
"I mean how can I die happily knowing my money may be potentially used for drugs and other things" Evelyn continued, Sarah closed her eyes shut
"I actually can't stand this family" Jazmine muttered as she walked out of the room.
She was far from in the mood for this conversation, so instead she walked straight back out of the room.. So her nosy snitching grandmother had seen her with Huey, Jazmine surprised heself at how past caring she was. It was like she really had no more tolerance, she didn't even care what her dad was gonna do. She figured she may just ask Cindy or Sasha to go stay with them for a while, till everybody regained common sense again. Once she reached her room she picked up her phone and dialled Sasha
"Hey girl, everything ok" Sasha asked sounding a little preoccupied
"Not really, I'm coming to your place" Jazmine told more than asked,
"Oh um I'm at Cindy's with Caesar" Sasha replied quietly,
"Isn't three a crowd" Jazmine asked as she started picking out some clothes and throwing them on her bed.
"Don't watch that, you sure you don't wanna just say your coming here and go see Huey" Sasha suggested, now she would have said thoughtfully if it wasn't for the fact that Sasha never encouraged her time with Huey. In a sense she kind of was the hating best friend.
"Nope I'm pretty sure I just want to be away from the house right now" Jazmine clarified, just because her and Huey were 'forbidden' didn't mean she only wanted to see, if anything she felt he needed some space to clear his head and really get to grips with his situation, also he needed to mend some fences. She had done her part, and if he needed her she would be there.
"Ok, come to Cindy's" Sasha sounded like she was giving in, Jazmine didn't pester her, a small crease formed on her forehead as she tried to ignore the fact that her best friend didn't sound too enthusiastic about her visiting.
"Bye" she said flatly, not wanting to press the issue.
Sasha responded accordingly and the phone call ended. Were her friends trying to distance themselves from her drama? Wiping the thought she just proceeded to get ready and leave, even if they were she would play the oblivious card for today.
Caesar, sat feeling frustrated in Cindy's living room, he was accompanied by Sasha who had not stopped mapping out all the worst case scenarios for this seemingly frustrating Rome situation. He felt like Sasha was still a little conflicted after she revealed she called him, personally he didn't understand what she was playing at, this wasn't a game this guy was trying to kill one of their best friends. Hopefully when the time came, she'd fall into role.
"Let's just tell her, I mean what if she runs into Rome and she doesn't know he wants her head on a platter" Sasha expressed quickly,
"True, I'd feel like shit if that happened and she got hurt" Cindy supported Sasha, Caesar who wanted to try and handle the situation without scaring Jazmine saw he was in a loosing battle with the two girls. Girls were emotional.
"Fine we tell her but we still go through with the plan"
"Ceez not to be funny but do u really think recording Rome is going to work. He might just shoot you, this aint CSI" Sasha asked in disbelief. she crossed one leg over the other and gave Caesar a serious look
"Look my goal isn't to kill him its just to put him in jail and maybe even get Huey off the hook too"
"Speaking of such afros, where is that nigga I know he aint got his nose in a book while his girls life is in danger" Sasha asked annoyed, Caesar shrugged
"Man you guys need to get it together this shit aint cool anymore" Cindy commented, frustration seeping into her voice. Shit was getting deep and these niggas were out here avoiding each other and acting all individual and shit. The love sure needed to return to the gang, asap.
"Fine" Jazmine said dutifully as her dad insisted on dropping her to Cindy's, she didn't really want to talk to him still and so she just accepted his offer knowing full well that Huey wouldn't be there and Tom would just look like a fool. She had met her father on her way out and he couldn't run back to his car fast enough to escort his daughter to her friends place.
The car ride was silent, her dad tried to put on the radio and ask her a few general questions but she wasn't in the mood.
"Jazmine look, I know this seems like a big deal right now but trust me in time you'll understand why things have to be this way", Tom said gently, still not apologizing for calling her bitch she thought bitterly.
"Of course" she replied sarcastically, he didn't get it and probably wouldn't. Huey wasn't just her boyfriend, he was her soul mate and he needed her now more than ever, she simply loathed her father at this point in time and nothing he could say would really dissipate that feeling.
"Sarah I'm serious this is not a matter to be taken lightly" now Sarah laughed at her mother's sentiments
"I know my daughter a whole lot better than you and where do you get off saying such things in my house about black people, Tom is black" Sarah said offensively
"Oh please we both know he wishes he wasn't" Sarah was appalled
"I thought you coming to stay would be a good thing, Jazmine was excited about meeting you but you've been nothing but dreadful"
"Dreadful, I'll tell you what's dreadful, loosing a daughter to them and now loosing a grandchild to them too" Evelyn stated in factual voice.
"I'll remove her from my will Sarah, I wont have my money tarnished" Evelyn threatened which made Sarah laugh
"Mom, what made you think that if I already gave up the rights to your precious money that my child would accept it, better yet what made you think I would even tremble at such a threat. We're fine as we are, Jazmine doesn't want for anything and she wont in the future" Sarah snapped
"Coming here was a mistake, you haven't changed and well"
"Well what" Sarah asked her eyes flaring in anger, Evelyn put her hands together
"Jazmine seems like a bright girl"
"She is" Sarah reiterated strongly,
"I'd just like to see her do better that's all" her mother explained quietly
"That may be so but I won't tolerate any form of prejudice or racism in my house. Mom times have changed ok, you just be happy that we're all healthy and happy, you have to at least try. This thing with Jazmine its a sensitive subject at the moment, you can't just go around making such rash comments" Sarah urged with her mother, who frowned
"I was just shocked thats all, I mean what kind of house are you running. I know I let you and your brother run a lil wild but this is just" her mother started
"Mom, Ricky and I did not run wild, we just"
"You're in an interacial relationship and Ricky's living an alternative lifestyle as they say" Evelyn voice held a piggish conviction, Sarah rolled her eyes
"Mom, that's the deal you either learn to deal with this and have a relationship with your granddaughter...or leave. It's not like it'll make much difference apart from leaving a bad taste in her mouth about you after you die" Sarah said harshly
"You know something Missy, just because I used it in my earlier comment does not mean I am going to die anytime soon. Not at all. I'll have you know that I swim and"
"Mom are you going to behave" Sarah cut her mother off, 2 pairs of blue eyes scanned the other, Evelyn shifted
"Is Tom going to kiss my ass" Evelyn replied with a snort, that made a small smile appear on Sarah's face. She sighed, race really wasn't a big thing anymore, her mother would just have to learn that the hard way and so be it she removes her from her life again, because she refused to let anyone hurt her daughter anymore than she already is. With those thoughts running through her mind, she and Tom were really in for the biggest fight since his bestowed his 'Huey Freeman law' upon the house.
"Oh and don't mention any of this to Tom, I will speak to Jazmine about what she did last night" Sarah reassured her mother, who looked at her sceptically but nodded
Cindy and Sasha exchanged looks as Tom patrolled the premises, Caesar too just shook his head and Jazmine shrugged at her father's behaviour. Tom finally came back with a satisfied grin on his face.
"Well what do you know, no afros around here" Sasha said quietly annoyed, by the adults interference, Tom smiled at Jazmine who didn't respond in any such way instead she picked at her nails and pretended to contemplate changing the color.
"Guess you can leave now" she said dryly
"Um yes, I'll be back to pick you up" Tom said trying his best to sound normal and cheerful, Jazmine rose her eyebrows in acknowledgement and Tom looked at the kids nervously before giving them a hearty wave.
"Bye kids" he said with that fake ass smile on his face, he received grumbles and showed himself the door a little disappointed at the reception he received. He guessed he wasn't the cool dad anymore, it was obvious she told them.
"So you guys ok" Jazmine asked as an awkward silence followed her fathers leaving. Cindy was playing with one of Caesars dreads twirling it around her finger and he was edging away from her, while Sasha just stared aimlessly at nothing trying to ignore the awkwardness
"Yeah we good, you how you holding up" Cindy asked carefully,
"Fine, did you hear about that poor little girl who got shot" Jazmine noticed all of their faces register something she couldn't pinpoint, but they all started to look at each other
"Over the last couple of weeks, you wouldn't even think we lived in the suburbs. I hope now things will calm down" Jazmine continued
"Caesar have you and Huey made up yet" Jazmine asked, then realised everyone was just staring at her, maybe not intentionally but they definitely weren't responding.
"What is it" she asked, the last thing she wanted was for her closest friends to start keeping secrets from her
"Nothing and I spoke to him but he didn't really wanna know" Caesar voice held a hint of bitterness, causing Jazmine to sigh, she probably have to drag Huey by his afro to make up with Caesar. Aside from that she she noticed the looks of disbelief that came from both Sasha and Cindy, who stopped playign with Caesars hair and yanked it instead
"He'll come round" she offered quietly while Caesar groaned at Cindy's aggressiveness.
"Girl what's wrong with you" Caesar complained, rubbing his head. Sasha rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth.
"Seriously, you guys are acting weird and with everything that's going on, I could do without it" Jazmine stated, their attention refocused on her.
"Girl your paranoid, everything's fine. Have you seen Rome about" Sasha asked her with a nervous laugh.
"No, why would I see that" she stopped short of her sentence, seeing as she had no kind words to describe him.
"Good keep it that way" Sasha advised with a smile, she looked at her friend skeptically. Sasha was all on the Rome train as far as she could remember, what changed.
"Not that I was ever around him by choice but OK then" she responded dryly, eyeing her suspiciously
"I know" Sasha said, however Jazmine was still a little bit weary of her friends more because of the looks they were all exchanging with her
"Cindy can I get a drink please" she asked, Cindy nodded and she got up to leave the room.
"Why did you say that" Casar accused
"Why did you say nothing, this isn't a love triangle this nigga wants to kill her" Sasha tried her best not to raise her voice and grounded her hands into the sofa.
"Does she really need to know, if we can just catch this nigga on tape and take it to the police" Caesar stressed
"Sash come on" Cindy urged
"I think you're even forgetting once them bullets or whatever gets back they just gonna put you at the scene and book your ass"
"Don't remind me, that's why we gotta act now. I don't know what Huey's on but I guess I can get he's got a lot to sort out so we can take this punk" Caesar spoke confidently
"You make it sound easy, he's armed two girls and a boy. At this point I'd say call Riley at least come on now" Sasha suggested, Caesar considered it, Huey knew what was going on and was doing some creeping tiger shit or at least he hoped that was what he was doing. Riley could help and definitely get to it, if shit got complicated. Even though Caesar was counting on Huey to regain himself and just end this once and for all. He had to carry it for his boy until then.
"Caesar get off this one man army shit" Sasha quipped, bringing him out of his side thoughts
"What's going on, who's in an army" Jazmine asked from the doorway, her green eyes were wide with curiosity.
"Typical" Caesar muttered smacking himself in the head; he should have known better, Jazmine was Huey's girlfriend after all she wasn't as oblivious to signs as she once used to be.
"Fine, we're not trying to stress you but you should probably sit down" Caesar informed Jazmine, who looked less than impressed with their attempt to conceal information in the first place.
"Um ok" she suddenly became nervous as all their faces became concerned
"Ok what is it"
"Rome's trying to kill you" Caesar announced, Jazmine again stared at the dreadlocked boy in wonder of his statement.
Rome was watching his blackberry statuses update, so far nothing but then something peaked his interest
Sasha Always Fierce: with my girls Cmerph & Jazzy about to kill this pizza and girl talk, Ceez is just gonna have to chill in the back lol 3
Hmm he thought as he rubbed his chin in thought, they were all together eating pizza. So it was safe to say Caesar had not told them anything, he was tempted to message her but didn't want to risk her mentioning this to the rest. Where would they be though, he grinned as he looked up a number in his phone and dialed.
"Esco nigga, what up" bellowed a certain 15 year old on the other line
"Aint nothing, yo you know when Sash and them niggas be at" Rome asked, Riley took a second
"I'm about to head over there after I hit up my niggas on the courts" he announced
"Aiight let a nigga know when, I'll give you a lift on my bike" Rome said, Riley unknowingly agreed, even though he didn't disclose where they were, it didn't matter. Rome grinned widely, Caesar was gonna flip when he saw him entering the house so normal, he's gonna have wished he told them. He didn't mind how long Riley took either, the longer the better, the darker the better, fuck if any one wanted to play hero, they can all get got.
Riley knocked on Huey's door, even though his brother had basically locked himself away in his room and shit was still tense round the house, he knew Jaz would be there and it'd probably make him feel a lot better.
"Yo bitch ass, I'm going Cmerphs, Ceez be down there with Sasha and Jazzy" Riley told him, Huey took a moment before he looked up from his book
"Nah I'm good" he replied, Riley scrunched his nose
"Nigga you deaf, didn't you hear me say Jazmine is gonna be there" Riley repeated with emphasis
"I heard you, I'm just busy right now" he replied back seriously, looking back down at the book he was reading.
"Whatever passing up a chance to be around Jaz for a book, you gay" Riley said closing the door and walking down the stairs and out the house to meet Rome.
Huey looked back in his book, he been reading since 9am this morning, it was now coming up to 6pm, his head was crammed but he didn't want to be around too many people he needed to focus. He also needed to get Rome out of the way, he felt like just running up on him and beating the shit out of him but that may be too obvious and that nigga may run to the cops and make his life a lot harder.
That stuff about Jazmine was weighing on his mind; he checked the case details online and saw that it was the truth. He shook his head, why did he have to be the one to befriend a delusion teenager hell bent on revenge at any cost. Huey put his book down and lent back on his headboard rubbing his temples. Caesar had been pretty fired up about the whole thing, he didn't really blame him seeing as he just missed death which was brought about by the one guy he really didn't like so it was naturally. It seemed a little surreal that Rome had killed someone in an attempt to kill Caesar but then nothing about the last couple weeks had been normal so he sighed deeply.
"bitches with guns" he said out loud bitterly
He looked at his phone and contemplated sending Caesar a message, maybe they could work something out now and deal with Rome protect Jazmine and the rest and then come to some sort of truce about their own stuff later. He didn't mind, the point where he was at now was that he didn't want to make his life anymore difficult than it needed to be, it just wasn't necessary. He doubted Rome was some mastermind because this was pretty sloppy work, he'd admit he caught on late by being too distracted by ill advised activist moves. He felt he did some good but the cost he was paying was not nearly as rewarding as he hoped it would be.
The police were screw ups that's for sure, he wouldn't let Caesar go to prision wrongfully, shit he wasn't going to prison or any form wrongfully either. Rome would either die a motherfucker or live out the rest of his days inside a cage like a motherfucker.
"Let him just touch her" Huey thought out loud, if anyone ever claimed to know what a vendetta was, they would never see one like the one Huey would cause if he so much as heard his woman whimper.
Rome, sat impatiently, Riley never said he was actually going to play them niggas on the basketball court. Damn he wanted to get this shit done, he looked up at the clear night skies as he packed up his backup, positioning the gun in the back of his waistband and the shank in his coat pocket. He wanted to appear normal but then he'd wait it out, wait till Jazmine was going home or something, even if Caesar wanted to do him something he'd easily handle him, after punking him infront of his girl and Riley. He'd take that bitch out back and just fuck his shit up. He hoped stared in the mirror, pleased with himself. He frowned slightly at the dark ring now forming around his eye. Maybe he'd make it painful for her just to make good on his threat to him. He zipped up his windbreaker and grabbed his scooter keys. Quick getaway, all black. This was a done deal.
He was doing the right thing, an eye for an eye. Tom took something important to him, he'd take something important to him too. He looked again at his phone, still no word from Riley.
"What the fuck is this lil nigga doing" Rome cursed, as he dialed Riley again
"the fuck nigga, get off my dick, ima bout to be finished damn" Riley said breathing heavily on the phone
"Aint noone sweating you like that, yo ima be at them courts real soon" Rome said
"Aiight, I aint wearing no shitty helmet" Riley stated but Rome just dropped the phone, fuck he'll beat Riley up if he didn't stop fucking about and take him the hell on.
"This is crazy, I can't believe" Jazmine was still in shock, she had stopped eating her pizza and was just processing everything
"I have to call Huey" Jazmine said quickly
"Come on now, we got this" Cindy said confidently, Jazmine shook her head "
"You can't tell me there's a price on my head and not expect me to tell Huey" Jazmine continued in disbelief
"Ay, I already told him" Caesar revealed, Jazmine eyes narrowed and she looked at Caesar
"When"
"Yesterday, after I got out we went down to his work, I told him" Caesar explained a lot more quietly than he had started
"But, I don't understand, I was just with him well I went there late last night"
"WHAT, you sneaking out" Cindy exclaimed, she rolled her eyes
"Bad Jazmine" Sasha reprimanded playfully,
"It wasn't like that, he's in a pretty bad way, mentally i guess well more emotionally" Jazmine admitted, as she thought about Huey's situation
"Oh you realising that shit now" Sasha retorted,
"No time Sasha" Caesear interuptted the girls
"Jazzy we aint gon let anything happen to you, Huey knows the situation. I'm just thinking he's lying in wait or something like that, you know how he be sometimes. We could be up here worrying about Rome's ass and my dudes already dealt with him, you know. So don't worry we got this"
"You really think some tape is going to help save me right now, you do understand that if Rome is willing to kill me, and even you in the process and that poor little girl. he's probably ready to go to jail" Jazmine explained logically,
"You think he'll be looking for a pen pal" Sasha raised her hands in defense as the icy stares shot straight through her
"Damnnnnn, I was joking" she said nervously
"Yeah you better have been" Caesar said firmly, all three girls raised thier eyebrows
"Oh shit, Ceez is doing that power up shit again" Cindy said laughing a little, Sasha joined in and Jazmine looked at them oddly not quite getting it but smiled just at the fact that Ceez was being, assertive and manly. Caesar rolled his eyes and Cindy quickly followed on
"Yeahhh Sasha you better have been joking, my boo don't play" Cindy cooed
"Whatever, I'll let him have it seeing as he did almost get his ass popped, but a girl gotta pee" Sasha excused herself quickly
"Yo back to Rome, I get what you're saying Jazzy," Caesar tried to continue, Cindy phone started to ring as she picked it up,
"Nigga shut up, it aint like it cold shit...no we aint got no pizza left" Cindy yelled into the phone, as she momentarily left the room.
"Riley's on his way" she announced
"Yo how did he know we had Pizza" Caesar asked suspiciously, Cindy shrugged and just sat down. Caesar was about to explore the thought further but Jazmine asked him a question.
Huey sucked his teeth as he read Jazmine not so pleasing message
When did we start keeping secrets from each other HUEY, like I dont know the fact that I MIGHT BE KILLLED by your mentally challenged friend. Get your butt over here AND PROTECT MEEEEE !"
Huey could practically hear her going off on him, it wasn't something she did often but when she did, it made him feel, he couldn't explain it but it just reminded him of the times his mother would tell him off, he'd feel so guilty afterwards. Damn Caesar he looked at he message and thought about replying after all he had been staring on and off at it for the better part of 20 mins. He had hoped Caesar would know better than to get her worked up with such information, she wanted him to protect her, when she was perfectly safe at Cindy's. He groaned at the thought of her hysteria then he shook his head and smirked at Tom Dubois. If he, Huey Freeman ever banned their future daughter from seeing a boy, there was no way she was getting to keep her phone that almost defeated the purpose in the modern age. Tom was so slow, he really had no respect for that man, other than the fact that he brought Jazmine into the world but even then it was still very minimal and he preferred to credit Sarah instead, not that either of their parenting had been of the greatest help to Jazmine in her younger years.
He got up, having an urge to go for a walk and stretch his legs, he'd been cooped up for a minute. Rubbing his face one more time, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, he looked a little tired his eyes were reddish and he needed to wash out his fro and do up the edges again. It didn't take him the longest to comb his hair back and tie it, even though it was a little knotted cos he had been somewhat neglectful the last couple of days. He kicked his legs out hearing a couple clicks in between his knees, and rolled his neck. He'd have to call Jazmine over to give him one of her massages. He continued looking for something to just cover with and opted for his red vest jacket on top of his long sleeve white top, and his white nikes and headed out.
He'd give Jazmine a minute to calm down, then he'd talk to her.
Gotta leave it there for now
Maybe not the next chapter but the one after will hopefully get explosive...we'll see.
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