When she woke up she knew it was still early and she noticed the spot next to her was empty. She fumbled around to grab her phone and was blinded by the light emanating from it. Once she got used to it, it showed her that the time was just after three in the morning. The light also confirmed that Huey wasn't next to her. Getting out of bed was a mistake as cold air hit her bare skin and her hips were still sore. Shivering, she found a night shirt that was long sleeved and at least reached her thighs. Walking out of the room, she saw that the TV was glaring in the dark and there was an afro on the couch.
"What are you doing up?" She asked him.
"I should ask you that," he gently grabbed her hand and sat her down next to him. She didn't know how he was warm but he was and she enjoyed it.
"I woke up and you weren't there. Why are you up?" She laid her head on his shoulder.
"I couldn't sleep."
She looked at the screen and saw that he was watching the news. It didn't surprise her as he was always watching the news. "I thought you would be tired."
"No, I don't sleep much lately."
"Why not?"
"I just don't. Don't worry about it," he planted a quick kiss on her lips. But she was going to worry about it. Huey was always a healthy person and paid attention to his diet and made sure he had eight hours of sleep. It wasn't like him to be up at three in the morning watching the news.
"So what's good on the news?"
He prattled on about conflict in the Mideast, corrupted corporate chains, mass slayings, shootings, and other horrible things but Jazmine wasn't really listening to him. She just wanted to hear his voice because when he talked then that reassured her that he was ok.
She began drifting off to sleep again but Huey nudged her awake. "If you're tired then go to bed. If you stay out here then you'll get sick."
He was always scolding her about something. "I'll stay out her with you."
"No, Jazmine, just go to bed."
She finally got up and went to her bedroom but instead of getting in bed, she grabbed the cover off of it and dragged it into the living. "What are you doing?" He was surprised to see her do this.
"I'm bringing the bed in here." It was such a simple explanation and Huey remained silent as she sat next to him again and covered the two of them with the thick blanked.
"You think you're so clever, don't you?" He smirked at her and pulled her close.
They sat in the darkness with the TV glowing light on them. Huey was lying down and Jazmine was on top of him with her head in the nape of his neck. Pieces of his hair ticked her knows but she didn't mind. He had his hands on her back, lightly rubbing circles with his thumbs. It wasn't long before she succumbed to sleep. The dark blissfulness was soothing to her.
She was alone again when she woke up. Huey must have put her on her back when he got up. The sun was beginning to rise and grey morning light shone through the windows. This was the third day of Huey staying with her. Only four days left, she thought sadly and sat up.
Walking in the bedroom, she heard water running in the shower. She combed through her hair quickly before getting started on breakfast. What was something that both she and Huey would enjoy? She finally decided on blueberry and banana whole wheat pancakes. She was pouring the batter in the pan when he came into the kitchen.
"Good morning," she smiled cheerfully at him. He nodded to her and leaned against the counter watching her cook.
"When did you even learn to cook?"
She thought about it before replying, "I've always known how to cook. Mom wasn't really the best so when I had a chance, I would try new recipes. Mostly anything that would get Daddy and me out of a night of stomach pains."
"She was pretty bad wasn't she?"
"Once Mom started getting back to work, she would always come home tired so I helped her out with the meals."
"I feel sorry for Tom now."
"Yeah," she laughed. "So do I."
Like last time, Huey took a slow first bite. Testing the taste to make sure it was up to par with his standards. The only sweetness came from the fruit and she made sure to keep it as all natural as natural could get. He finished his stack quicker than she expected him to. He must have been pretty hungry to eat like that. She felt pleased with herself as she did the dishes, at least he would eat the food she cooked without complaining and that was actually a huge accomplishment. Huey would complain almost every day about the food his granddad cooked or the school and even the neighbors' food.
"So, what's one the agenda for today?" She asked when all the dishes were dried and put away.
"It's not a good idea to go outside. It's going to be raining today which will bring a cold front for the next few days."
"Bummer," she was disappointed. He might have actually liked touring the small town but that was for another day.
It was in the middle of the afternoon and Huey was on the couch watching the news again. Jazmine sat next to him with her laptop checking emails and her grades. Her phone was next to her and it occasionally went off with a text message from Cindy or Justin. They occasionally started a small conversation with what was happening in the world.
They were in agreement regarding a trail against businesses that refused to provide women health insurance that covered birth control due to religious beliefs when her phone began ringing. It was a call from Caesar. That's weird, she thought, they hadn't talked much since they graduated.
"Hey, Caesar!" Huey whipped his head towards her and had a weird look on his face. She just shrugged her shoulders at him. "What's going on?"
"Jazmine, I need to ask you something important," he sounded a little worried.
"Ok, what is it?"
"Is Huey there with you?"
"Yeah, he's right beside me. Do you need to talk to him?" She didn't even know why she asked that because it was obvious that he did.
"Yeah, like right now."
She handed the phone to Huey. She could hear Caesar's voice but couldn't make out what he was saying.
"The hell? How the hell did that happen!?" She was beginning to get scared. Huey never showed that much emotion. He was silent for a while as Caesar kept talking. "Shit! I can't believe this." He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Who did it… What exactly did they say?... Damn, I didn't expect this." He was getting frustrated and angry. Something was definitely wrong.
"Ok, thanks for calling. Yeah, see you later."
He pressed the button to end the call.
"What's happening?" Jazmine had to ask.
"Granddad found out about the trial. He went over to Tom to ask for help and he's really pissed off right now. Caesar said he was getting ready to come down here. On top of that, the trail is being pushed forward to two weeks from now. I need to be back in Arizona soon."
"This isn't good." She could feel tears forming in her eyes. She felt fear overcome her and hugged her knees to her chest.
"Dammit," he cursed and grabbed her phone to make a call.
"Hey, Granddad," he muttered in the phone. Jazmine could hear Robert screaming loud and clear.
"Boy, what the hell is wrong with you!? Why didn't you tell me about this mess you were in! Why didn't you tell Tom! No, instead you're off messing around not caring that your future can be fucked up!"
"Sorry, Granddad but I was going to tell you when I came back."
"Look here, I love Jazmine as if she was my own but this is ridiculous. You need to come back here and get this shit straight. This is not time to be fucking around with girls!"
"I'll explain it all when I get back home."
"You better! And I expect you home tomorrow!"
"Fine." He hung up the phone and looked at Jazmine. There was no holding back and tears came flowing down her cheeks. "Jazmine, don't" He reached for her but she just cried harder. This was too soon and she still had so much that she wanted to do with him. It just wasn't fair! She wanted to scream and curse at somebody, anybody, and demand more time. He didn't need to be taken away so soon. He pulled her close and let her cry on him.
"I don't want you to go," she cried in between sobs.
"I know."
She felt so weak and helpless. And also selfish for wanting him to stay for her. She sat, glued on the couch, as Huey grabbed the few things he had. She couldn't say anything or really think of what to say.
"Jazmine," he grabbed her hand and she just looked at him. She felt numb already with the knowledge that he was leaving her again. "I'm going to come back. Everything you said you wanted will happen. I'll make it happen. You just have to wait."
"I've waited for two years, Huey. Two years of sitting by the phone, hoping it would be you calling. I've spent two years looking out the window, wondering if your car will be there. It was two years of always thinking about you and even praying that you would come back and now that you're finally here, back in my life when I was ready to move on, something is dragging you away again."
Genuine hurt filled his eyes and he leaned up to kiss her red cheek. "I will make up for those two years, believe me. Everything is going to be fine. All I'm asking is that you wait a little while longer. Once everything is over, I'll be back and with or without Tom's permission, I'll make everything up to you. Those two years, and many more."
"That sounds like…" She couldn't wrap her thoughts around it.
"Because it is. Of all the girls I've been with, I still came back to you. What's you answer?"
She didn't need to think. She nodded and wrapped her arms around him. "I'll ask formally when I come back."
"You don't need to. This is good enough." She just said yes to marry Huey. She did not expect this three days ago. He stood up to leave.
"Everything will be better," he kissed her. "Just wait for me."
Just like that, he was out the door, leaving her in the lonely space of her apartment. She curled up on the couch and wondered how she could have fallen in love in only three days before she realized that it didn't take three days, but eight years.