Author's Note:
Hey everyone!
Sorry for the delay—life got a bit hectic, but I wanted to make sure this chapter was just right. I hope you find it worth the wait and enjoy the moments between Huey and Jazmine as much as I did writing them.
And if you read this on Monday, I am also sorry that you read the draft before I realized I uploaded the wrong file here. :(
I also realized Liam and Jazmine's date was a bit off, so I updated that as well. Sorry!
But hopefully, you were still able to enjoy.
To Juey: Thank you! I'm so happy you enjoyed those parts as much as I did! And as for that hunch about Huey and Caesar following Jazmine, let's just say you're onto something.
NaturalGal29: Trust me, lol! Caesar has no idea what he's in for!
This was a soooooo much fun. Lmfao. I kept adding and deleting and revamping.
(I also didn't get a chance to use AO3 to format this, which sucks. But, I think you'll still be able to enjoy without all my usual bells and whistles.)
Thanks for sticking with me and for all your support. Can't wait to hear what you think!
Enjoy!
Chapter Eight
Step Eight:
I know what you're thinking, and you're right,.
It's rough out there.
So keep your options open for the time being.
And whatever you do…
Don't go back.
Dating wasn't fun at all.
Liam had been nice enough before. Jazmine couldn't deny that she'd been excited to go out with him tonight. He'd been incredibly romantic, sending her a sweet message that morning, waiting at her door with flowers and chocolates—the whole nine yards.
But now that Jazmine thought about it, this was her and Vince all over again. A handsome guy, a mysterious new face in town, talking about himself the entire time…
It was a total letdown.
"And then." Liam laughed, completely oblivious to the fact that she'd rather be in Latin for life than hear about every destination he'd been to again. "I took a photo in the Red River, which was cool." He swiped left again. "And then….."
Jazmine suppressed a yawn, nodding politely even though she was screaming inside. She couldn't believe she'd wasted her best outfit on this.
"So, what about you?" Liam finally asked, setting his phone down and looking at her for the first time in what felt like ages. She perked up, a small flicker of hope igniting inside her.
"Which one of my photos was your favorite?"
And just like that, the flicker died.
"Liam, I appreciate you asking me out." Jazmine forced a smile, though her patience was wearing thin. "But I have to be honest." She leaned back in her seat, deciding it was time to rip the Band-Aid off. "I don't think this is working. I mean, don't get me wrong. The place is nice, and you put a lot of effort into the flowers and everything, but… I just don't think I can waste your time on this. I'm sorry."
"But we were having a great conversation!" He protested, frowning at her. "Is it the cologne? I knew I shouldn't have used that Axe Body Wash! "
"What? No! It's not that." Jazmine sighed, sitting up to meet his gaze. "Liam, you spent the entire date talking about yourself for a whole hour! The photos are nice, really, but… you haven't asked a single thing about me. It feels like you're not interested in anything I have to say. And you've just been rambling on and on about…"
Her voice trailed off as she noticed how tense Liam was. Jazmine took note of the sweat beading on his forehead, the way his hand gripped the table like a lifeline. Suddenly, it clicked.
No wonder he'd done a 180 from the guy she'd met at school. She didn't know how she'd missed it before. Especially with his phone still unlocked, revealing stuff he'd typed into the Notes app before.
There were several talking points, with words like "travel," "Europe," "restaurants."
His left hand hadn't even moved from its spot on the table, and now that she thought about it, Liam seemed almost nervous to look at her, as if he was scared she'd see right through him.
He wasn't some self-absorbed jerk; he was the complete opposite. He was just terrified of messing up.
She found herself grinning, her irritation softening as she stared at him.
"Awwww, Liam. I didn't realize…" Jazmine leaned forward, her voice softening. "You're nervous, aren't you?"
He looked up at her, nodding slowly, like a child caught in a lie.
"It's impossible not to be." He let out a long, shaky breath, his face flushing pink. "I'm not… I'm not usually this big of an idiot." He sighed, the words coming out in a rush now. "It's just that you look extra beautiful tonight… not that you're not always beautiful… and not like I've been around long enough to know what you look like all the time… because I'm not a stalker… or someone who just cares about looks… it's just—"
He blushed harder, his eyes darting down to the table, before forcing himself to look at her again.
"You're pretty, you're smart, and you're nice." His voice softened as he met her gaze. "I just wanted to impress you. I didn't mean to mess it all up. I'm sorry."
Jazmine felt her heart melt at his earnestness.
Knowing that Liam was so nervous around her, that he'd tried so hard to impress her, made her feel, well...wanted. And that was a feeling she couldn't resist.
"You didn't mess up." Jazmine reached across the table, her hand brushing against his as she gestured to her plate. "But this pasta might have." She grinned, the playful spark in her eyes returning. "I've been to Italy with my dad a few times. This isn't as fresh as what you guys eat, is it?"
Liam's shoulders relaxed, a small chuckle escaping him.
"I've had worse." He laughed, the tension beginning to melt away. "It's okay. It's just not home."
Jazmine tilted her head, giving him a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry. I'm sure it's not easy being so far away from your family. I remember you saying earlier that you guys were super close."
"That's okay." He grinned, the sparkle returning to his eyes as well. "I tried Chick-fil-A the other day, and it was awesome! Totally worth leaving my family for." He leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Between you and me, I can talk to them every day. You and Chick-fil-A are pretty much the highlights of me being here."
Jazmine couldn't help busting out laughing. Now that he'd loosened up, she'd found herself enjoying Liam's company more and more. He was just as funny, charming, and sweet as she'd hoped.
Take that, Huey!
"And I'll also be kidnapping Ms. Paula too. I can't live without her catfish ever again." He shook his head, laughing even harder as Jazmine giggled uncontrollably. "What? That fish was delicious! You think I'm living without that the rest of my life? No way!"
Jazmine let out another hearty laugh, her eyes sparkling with tears from all his jokes.
"Now, let's try this again." Liam shifted closer, their knees almost touching as he leaned in. "You're seventeen. Birthday's in September. And you're from here?"
"Sort of." Jazmine nodded, her heart fluttering at the closeness. "I actually lived in Columbia before we moved. It's an hour away from Washington, D.C. I didn't move here until I was ten."
"Is it any different?" Liam asked, his eyes genuinely curious. "Living here versus living there?"
"Not really." Jazmine shrugged, the conversation beginning to flow naturally. "They're both pretty boring. My parents kept me on a very tight leash until a few years ago."
"Parents." Liam shook his head, chuckling softly. "I'd normally hate to take their side, but America is kinda crazy. Like that lady who got strangled over a McDonald's order. Who does that?"
"Again?" Jazmine couldn't help but laugh at his horrified expression. "Which one?"
"Exactly!" He shook his head, his laughter joining hers. "You guys are pretty hardcore here."
"We're not that bad!" Jazmine teased, giving his arm a playful push. "It's all propaganda!"
"Does that include the school shootings?"
"Who gave the entire world the Bubonic plague?!"
"Oh, please! That originated in China! You guys were busy giving Native Americans smallpox!"
"Your queen was literally beheading people!"
"Meanwhile, your country was enslaving people!"
"Um, hello? You guys were too, remember?"
"At least we stopped thirty years before you guys did! We handled it way better than your country."
"Meghan Markle would beg to differ."
They both paused, the humor breaking the tension completely as they burst into laughter.
"You…" Liam took another bite of his pasta, his eyes twinkling with admiration. "Are funny." They laughed again, leaning into each other, their connection deepening with every glance. "Are you always this quick on your feet?"
Her smile widened. "Let's just say I'm not alone. The longer you live here, the wittier you'll be." She felt a warm thrill course through her as Liam moved closer, his hand finding hers and holding it firmly. "You'll see."
"I think I'm seeing pretty clearly right now." Liam shook his head, his voice softening as he gazed into her eyes. "And I've gotta say, I'm really enjoying the view."
Jazmine blushed, her heart skipping a beat.
But just as she was about to respond, something caught her eye—something on the top floor. A flash of dark hair, revealing an unmistakable afro that made her heart drop.
She glanced up, her eyes searching, but the figure was gone.
"Something exciting going on up there?" Liam asked, completely oblivious to her sudden shift in mood.
Jazmine hesitated, her mind racing. But when she looked back at Liam, his eyes warm and inviting, she forced herself to smile.
After all, being with Liam was something she could get used to.
"Nope." She squeezed his hand, pushing the uneasy feeling away. "Just thought I saw something for a second."
They both laughed again, the moment passing, but the thought lingered in the back of her mind.
Huey was crazy, sure enough, but he'd never been the type to spy on her...right?
Huey ignored his friend as they ducked again, his eyes laser-focused on the table on the bottom floor of the restaurant. He scowled when Liam gripped Jazmine's hand even tighter, not seeming focused on anything but her.
But he couldn't fool Huey.
He'd been smart to move when he had. Otherwise, Jazmine would've caught them and made a scene, which was the last thing he needed right now.
"We need to leave, man." Caesar shot him a look, hiding his face behind a menu. "Do you know what'll happen to me if Cindy finds out?"
Actually, Huey knew exactly what would happen. Cindy would flip out for a day, maybe two, then Caesar would grovel, and everything would be good between them, just like always.
Knowing Cindy, she'd only be mad that Caesar hadn't figured out what he was up to sooner.
"Forreal, man. This is crazy!" Caesar hissed, glancing at his friend. "You really dragged me away from Cindy to spy on Jazmine?" He flipped the menu over to examine the back of it. "You're that jealous?"
"I'm not jealous." Huey kept his eyes trained downstairs. "And I didn't even come here to spy on anyone, either." Huey lied, frowning as Jazmine and Liam laughed again. "Like I told you, there's a new vegan dish I want to try."
"A new vegan dish."
"Yep."
"What's the name of it, again?"
Huey shrugged, refusing to meet Caesar's gaze. "You'll find out whenever our waitress comes back."
"That lady has been here seven times! She's not coming back over here!" Caesar rolled his eyes. "Stop being a stubborn asshole, bruh. Jazmine is doing just fine. You're the one who needs help. And fast."
Fine, his ass.
There was no way Huey was leaving Jazmine alone with Liam. Hell, they didn't even know him! They didn't know if all five background checks Huey had run on him were accurate. For all they knew, the boy Jazmine was with could be a murderer.
"She is not in danger, so don't start." Caesar shook his head, his gaze shifting to Jazmine, who was smiling that wide, radiant smile of hers. He turned back to Huey, giving him a look that clearly said, 'Huey, you're losing it.'
"Jazmine is clearly having fun. She's on a nice date. With a nice guy. And she's…" Caesar paused, watching as Jazmine rested her head on Liam's shoulder, their connection apparent even from a distance. "Obviously in good hands."
Huey kept his eyes on them still, refusing to let it go so easily.
Caesar hadn't seen how she was after she'd cried in the backseat of his car. Nor had he seen how she was all the other times Vince had broken her heart, especially the first few times.
Jazmine had come a long way over the past few weeks, and he didn't want Liam to ruin that.
He didn't want anyone to ruin that.
"She's fine, alright?" Caesar nudged him, trying to pull him out of his spiraling thoughts. "Jazmine has shown you she can handle her own." He set the menu down, shaking his head at his friend. "Show her that you believe in her. Give her some space."
Caesar was right, and Huey knew it.
This was exactly the kind of behavior he'd warned Jazmine to avoid, and here he was, exhibiting it like a crazy person.
He sighed, slowly lifting from the table. "Let's just leave before anyone—"
"Huey Freeman, as I live and breathe!" A familiar voice laced with amusement cut through the air. "Now what could possibly bring you here on this fine evening, staring so hard you might just bore a hole in the floor?"
A-Pimp-Named-Slickback strolled right over, his purple suit gleaming- even under the dim restaurant lights. He twirled his cane as his entourage of women trailed behind him, smirking at them.
"Did I see just see you struggling to keep your eyes on a bitch, Huey?"
"She's not a bitch, Slickback." Huey tried to keep his cool, ignoring the twitch in his hand. "She's a good friend of mine. A minor, teenaged, friend of mine."
A-Pimp-Named-Slickback chuckled, handing his cane to one of his women before stepping closer. "First of all, it's A-Pimp-Named-Slickback, Huey. Not Slickback, not Pimp, not Mane, and certainly not Dude. I didn't go through life branding myself just for you to get it twisted."
He peered down at Huey, shaking his head like a disappointed parent. "And second of all, what I'm seeing here are all the symptoms of a serious condition that's sweeping through your generation like the flu in December—B.D.S., Bitch Dependency Syndrome. That's when a young man such as yourself can't seem to function without having a certain female occupying every corner of his mind."
Huey rolled his eyes, trying to suppress his growing frustration. "That's not a real disease, Slickback."
"But the effects are all too real, aren't they?" A-Pimp-Named-Slickback drawled, taking a step back and sweeping his hand dramatically. "Here you are, sitting in a restaurant, eyes glued to that girl like she's the last drop of water in the desert. And what's it getting you? Not a damn thing."
Huey tried to keep his cool, but Caesar, feeling the pressure, swooped right on in. "Well, technically, he might be getting something out of it…"
Huey's eyes widened as he turned to Caesar. "Caesar, don't—"
But he was already in too deep, unable to stop himself from speaking. "You know, with that bet he made with Cindy. About Jazmine moving on and all."
"A bet?" Slickback raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth twitching into a wider grin. "Well, isn't this juicy?"
Huey just shook his head, groaning aloud. The bet had seemed harmless, just a push for Jazmine to move on, but now, in front of Slickback, it felt downright sinister.
"So let me get this straight." A-Pimp-Named-Slickback leaned in closer. "You made a bet on whether or not your girl would find someone else? And you are here? Making sure she does? That's cold, man. Even by my standards."
Huey's patience snapped. "That's not what this is about!" He stood up, his fists clenched. "This is about making sure she's okay. I'm not trying to 'win' anything!"
A-Pimp-Named-Slickback's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Is that right? 'Cause from where I'm standing, it looks like you're getting too invested in this wager. If you had that bitch in line-."
Huey lunged forward before he could finish, laying into the man with everything that he had.
"Nigga, what did I just tell you?" He threw a left hook to his face. "She! Is! Not! Some! Random! Hoe! From! The! Streets! Show some respect!"
Too late, he realized that the entire restaurant was staring at him, including Jazmine.
"Huey?!" She looked horrified, staring up at him from her seat on the bottom floor.
"Jazmine." He released A-Pimp-Named-Slickback, unphased when he dropped to the floor with a groan. "I can explain."
Jazmine pushed past Liam and glared at him, her hands on her hips. "Explain why you were spying on me?"
"I wasn't spying, Jaz!"
"Then what would you call it, then?" Jazmine snapped, crossing her arms. "You just happened to be here, sitting in the perfect spot to watch me the entire time?"
"Jazmine, please." Huey frowned. "I'm-"
They both trailed off when Liam walked off, already on his way out the door.
"Wait!" Jazmine went after him. "Where are you going?"
Liam just shook his head, staring back at her. "You were right before. This was a mistake."
"What are you talking about?" Jazmine's eyes widened. "Liam, wait up!"
She paused, watching him rush out of the door before turning to glare at Huey.
"Thanks a lot." She growled, storming out of the restaurant. "Way to ruin everything."
Huey sighed, glancing back at Caesar, who had finally emerged from his hiding spot beneath the table.
"So." He stood to his feet, watching as the door closed. "You think she saw me?"
As it turned out, Liam wasn't as forgiving as she was.
"Liam!" She chased after him, struggling to keep up thanks to the heels on her feet. "Liam, wait!"
Liam slowed his pace as he approached the car his host family had lent him, his shoulders slumping as he glanced back at Jazmine, his eyes clouded with hurt.
"You're a great girl, Jazmine." He started, his voice tight. "But I can't do this."
Jazmine's heart sank. "Can't do what, Liam? What are you talking about?"
"It's just…" He rubbed the back of his neck, searching for the right words. "This whole thing with Huey—I didn't come here to be caught in the middle of whatever you two have going on."
"What do you mean, 'whatever we have going on'?" Jazmine stepped closer, her voice edged with desperation. "He's just a friend, Liam, nothing more. He's protective, yes, but that's because he cares about me, like a big brother would."
Liam let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "A big brother? Jazmine, do you really believe that? Because it sure doesn't look like it from where I'm standing. The way he looks at you, the way he interferes—it's more than that, and deep down, I think you know it too."
She opened her mouth to protest, but the words caught in her throat. Was there something more? Was Liam...right?
"I thought we had something special." She whispered, more to herself than to him. "Something real."
Liam softened, taking a step closer. "We did, Jazmine. We do. But I have to respect myself enough to walk away before this turns into something messy, something that could hurt us both. You deserve someone who doesn't come with complications, someone who can give you their full attention without a shadow hanging over them."
Jazmine blinked back tears, her chest tightening. "It's not like that, Liam. I promise."
"Maybe you believe that." He reached out, gently lifting her chin so she could meet his gaze. "But until you figure out what's really going on with Huey, I don't think we can be more than friends."
Her heart ached at his words, but she knew there was no convincing him for now.
"Yeah…sure." She managed, forcing a smile through the pain. "Have a good night, Liam. I'll see you in class, okay?"
Liam hesitated, his expression softening into something sadder, regret filling his features. "Take care, Jazmine. I really do hope you figure things out."
She nodded, watching as he got into the car, his gaze lingering on her for just a moment longer before he pulled away, leaving her standing alone in the parking lot, the weight of his words pressing down on her more than she wanted to admit.
"He left without walking you to your car?" Huey scoffed, crossing the sidewalk to get to her. "Told you he was bad news. C'mon. Let's go."
Jazmine's heart pounded as she turned toward him, her vision blurring with unshed tears. And when her gaze drifted to some familiar dreadlocks, peeking out behind the bumper of a nearby car, she completely lost control.
She clenched her fists, a wave of anger surging through her.
"I'm not going anywhere with you!" She snapped, storming over to Huey, her voice trembling with fury. "How dare you, Huey!"
Huey's bravado disappeared once he realized how angry she was. "Jaz…"
"Don't 'Jaz' me!" She interrupted, her voice rising. "My perfect night was completely ruined because of you!"
Huey opened his mouth to speak, but her glare silenced him. Her gaze darted back to Caesar, who was awkwardly trying to hide behind the car.
"And you!" She yelled, her head swimming as she processed what was going on. "Get up, Caesar! I know you're in on this too! You should both be ashamed of yourselves, treating me like I'm some sort of property!"
"Aw, Jaz, no!" Caesar slowly rose from his hiding spot, holding up his hands in surrender. "Huey tricked me into coming here! He said we were just here to try out a new vegan dish. I didn't know it was gonna be like this, I swear!"
Jazmine's glare shifted back to Huey, who was staring at Caesar with an expression that was equal parts exasperated and disappointed. "Huey…" She growled, her voice low. "Tell me he's lying."
Huey let out a heavy sigh, his hands sliding into his pockets. "This is all just a big misunderstanding, okay? I'm sorry things got messed up between you and Liam, but—"
"'Messed up'?!" Jazmine exploded, her voice shaking with rage. "Huey, you didn't just 'mess things up'—you sabotaged them! You followed us, and you interfered! Just like you always do! Who the hell do you think you are, playing God with my life?!"
Huey flinched at her words, the weight of her accusation hitting him harder than he'd thought it would. "I was just trying to protect you, Jazmine. You don't know these guys the way I do! I had to make sure he wasn't going to hurt you!"
"Protect me?!" Jazmine's voice broke, the hurt in her eyes cutting through Huey like a knife. "I don't need your protection, Huey! I'm not some fragile little girl who needs you to save her! I'm perfectly capable of handling my own life!"
"You think I don't know that?" Huey's hands balled into fists as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. "That doesn't mean I'm going to stand by and let some guy—"
"Let some guy what?!" She shouted, stepping closer, her face inches from his. "Live his life? Date me? You don't get to decide who's right for me, Huey! That's my choice, not yours!"
"Maybe I don't, but I can't just—"
"Not today, Freeman!" She grabbed her keys, heading over to where her car was parked. "Just do us all a favor and back the hell off!" She continued to stomp away from him, ignoring the murmurs from the shocked onlookers in the distance. "And if you can't do that, then stay the hell out of my life!"
"Jaz….look." Caesar sighed. "We're really sorry, okay? It won't happen again."
"Sorry won't cut it this time." Jazmine hopped inside her car, slamming the door shut."I'll see you around."
Caesar shot him a sympathetic look but didn't say anything as they watched her drive away, leaving Huey to grapple with the realization that in his attempt to protect Jazmine, he'd ended up hurting her.
Again.
"Once she knows the whole story, she'll understand." He managed, watching as she sped away. "She'll come around. She just needs some time."
Huey sighed, watching as she sped further away, not so sure that she would.
When she got finished telling Cindy everything, all her friend could do was shake her head.
Jazmine had changed into some sweats and a small tank top for the night, still fuming about what had happened earlier.
She was thankful that Cindy had suggested a Korean skincare night after she'd called—something soothing to ease the mess of emotions swirling inside her.
"I couldn't believe them, Cindy!" Jazmine vented, lying on the couch at Cindy's house. "It was so embarrassing!"
"For them, it is." Cindy propped her feet onto the living room console table, shaking her head in disbelief. "Do you really think Huey fought someone for no reason?"
Jazmine's mind raced back to the fight, trying to remember the details she hadn't paid much attention to before.
The weird outfit. The tacky cow-print hat. The group of women following the man like he was some kind of… oh.
Oh.
She sighed. "Okay, maybe it was A-Pimp-Named-Slickback that he beat up. But still!" She pulled her knees up to her chin, frustrated tears pricking at her eyes. "He was out of line, Cindy! Why can't he just leave me alone? I never asked him to defend my honor!"
"But you know that's exactly what happened." Cindy laughed, smirking as she looked at her friend. "Huey's never played when it comes to you, regardless of what he has going on."
"He's never played about anyone he cares about." Jazmine countered, even though her voice lacked conviction. "He's helped you out a few times, too. I don't get special treatment."
Cindy laughed and held up her phone. "Then why do I have five missed calls and twelve new texts from him asking me about you?"
"Because he's a control freak." Jazmine huffed, rolling her eyes. "He just wants to watch my every move, just like always."
"Is that why saying he's really sorry?" Cindy passed Jazmine her phone so she could see the messages for herself. And offering to make it up to you, by helping you find more dates?"
Jazmine's eyes widened. "What?"
"If it makes you feel better." Cindy grinned, scrolling through the call log on her phone. "I have forty missed calls, fifty text messages, and five DMs on Instagram from Caesar. I'll be having a conversation with him later. It wasn't right for him to ruin your date."
Jazmine shook her head, her anger ebbing slightly. "It wasn't Caesar's fault, Cindy. Huey dragged him there."
"Yes, it was." Cindy insisted, rolling her eyes. "My boyfriend should have known better."
She set her phone down, turning her full attention to Jazmine. "And as for you, are you sure there isn't another reason you cut the date short?" Cindy asked, her voice gentle.
"Honestly, no." Jazmine frowned. "I tried to get Liam to reconsider, but he basically said I was more into Huey than him. Can you believe that?"
"You might get mad at me for saying this…." Cindy winced, hesitating before blurting out the rest. "But I think he's right. I saw how you were with Huey yesterday, how it's been between you guys these past few weeks. There's something different between you two… something more."
"What vibe?" Jazmine's voice rose to a high pitch, squeaky and defensive. "We don't have a vibe!"
"You can't be this dense, Jazmine." Cindy shook her head. "And as awful as it would to have my mortal enemy dating my best friend…."
"I won't be dating Huey in this lifetime." Jazmine smirked, playfully wiggling her shoulders. They both burst into laughter, the tension easing slightly. "But I have noticed that you and Huey are basically best friends at this point." Jazmine grinned. "Admit it. You two don't hate each other anymore."
"Only if you admit that you like him," Cindy shot back. "I've seen you check him out a few times when you think no one is looking. And you two were kinda acting funny at the skating rink and at that concert. I even noticed it at the restaurant before you ran out crying." She sat up straighter, eyeing Jazmine with a knowing look. "You want Huey, don't you?"
Jazmine tried to fight it, but she could feel her cheeks heating up, even as she shook her head, trying her hardest to deny what Cindy was saying.
"Cindy, look." She sighed. "Huey's not bad to look at, especially when he's driving…"
"I knew it!"
"But.." Jazmine added quickly, "Huey's my best friend. If we went there and it didn't work out, then what? We'd wind up hating each other. We'd probably never even talk again."
"That wouldn't happen." Cindy assured her. "Jazmine—"
"No." Jazmine held up a hand. "The only reason my mind went there is because he's been so nice the past few weeks." Jazmine sighed. "But this is only about the bet for him, nothing more." She nodded. "And it's exactly the same for me."
"I don't think that's true." Cindy frowned, as she scooted closer. "Jazmine, seriously. I think you're in denial."
"Well, I'm not." Jazmine rolled her eyes. "You asked me if I liked him, and my answer is no. Not like that. He's grown up to be really good-looking. I can't lie and say that I haven't noticed….but that's about where it ends, Cindy. Really."
"I guess….." Cindy shrugged, frowning again. "I just want you to be happy, Jaz."
"I am." Jazmine smiled, reaching over to hug her friend. "And I'll continue to be. You'll see."
But as Cindy hugged her back, she couldn't shake the feeling that Jazmine was lying—to both of them.
A little while later, Huey sat on the couch at home, nursing his bruised knuckles. The door creaked open, and in walked Granddad, his face set in that all-too-familiar look of disappointment.
"Your nappy-headed ass has lost your goddamn mind!" Granddad barked as he stormed into the living room, glaring down at Huey. "What the hell is wrong with you? Beating that man's ass like that?"
Huey didn't bother looking up. "You don't know what he was saying, Granddad!"
But his granddad wasn't having it, not tonight.
He slammed his hand down on the armrest of his chair, making Huey jump. "I don't care what he was saying! You have college in August! You think I moved you and your brother here for you to throw your life away over some dumb nigga in a purple suit?! You'd better be grateful he didn't press charges on your dumbass!"
Huey stood there, stunned by the intensity of his anger.
He was used to Granddad yelling—hell, the man yelled at everything from the TV remote not working to the squirrels in the yard. But this? This was different. This wasn't just yelling. This was concern, straight-up worry about his livelihood if he kept at it.
"You have a future, Huey." Granddad continued, his voice lowering, despite the anger it held. "A real chance to do something with your life."
He paused, his expression softening. "You're grown now, and like it or not, your little antics ain't so little anymore. Learn some self-control, or you'll end up just like all those people you look down on."
Huey jerked back, hurt flashing in his eyes. "I don't—"
"You do." Granddad cut him off, his gaze hardening. "But Huey…." He sighed, leaning against the wall. "You need to understand something."
Huey stared at the floor, feeling like a ten-year-old getting scolded again.
"You have too much goin' for you." Granddad calmly shook his head. "Learn to pick your battles. Use that brain that's in that big-ass head of yours."
Huey's hands clenched into fists. "You weren't there. You didn't hear what he said."
"And what did he say to make you put your hands on him?" Granddad threw his hands up. "Hm? What did he say that was so goddamn bad, huh?"
"What was I supposed to do, Grandad?!" Huey's eyes narrowed, remembering the rage that had consumed him. "He called Jazmine out of her name!"
Granddad snorted, shaking his head. "Of course he did, Huey! His ass calls all women bitches and hoes! He called his own grandmomma a bitch until she died last year, and even then he had 'Beloved Great-Grandbitch' engraved on her tombstone!" He stared at Huey like he was a damn fool. "You really thought Jazmine would be any different?"
"I wasn't gonna let him get away with disrespecting her while I was there!" Huey snapped back.
Granddad just rolled his eyes. "I don't see why not! You've watched him call plenty of other women bitches and hoes since we moved here. It hasn't upset you until now. So what's the difference?"
Huey struggled to find the words, but Granddad wasn't done.
"Well? I'm waiting."
"Those other women were literal hoes, Granddad!" Huey protested.
"What about Sarah? He called her a bitch."
"I was ten, Granddad! What did you want me to do?"
His granddad just leaned back, crossing his arms with a smirk. "Being ten didn't stop you from kidnapping Ruckus, trying to blow up Wuncler, or waging war on the entire neighborhood because of some fake-ass Fried Chicken Pandemic—"
"They started with us first, remember?!" Huey rolled his eyes. "You weren't complaining up on that roof!"
"And weren't you ten when you fought Ruckus that day?" Granddad pointed out. "Or when you pulled together an entire movement to end BET for good?"
Huey fell silent, glaring at the old man.
"You and cutie pie down the street have something different." Granddad said, his tone softening as he looked at Huey with a knowing expression. "It's been like that since the day she moved across the street. You're just too damn blind to see what's going on."
Huey shook his head, denying it even as the truth gnawed at his conscious. "I'm not blind about anything concerning Jazmine." He grumbled. "She just needs a little extra protection. It's not like Tom's gonna do much if something goes left, and we all know how she keeps things bottled up. I just wanted to make sure he wasn't crazy."
Granddad scratched his chin, his expression shifting into something contemplative. "Well, hell. Maybe you have a point." He mused aloud, a hint of amusement lingering in his voice. "But that's Tom's responsibility, not yours! You ain't her daddy, so your ass needs to calm the hell down! I don't give a damn who that man calls a bitch, a hoe, a streetwalker, nothing! You'd better sit your ass down somewhere until you can pay your own damn bail fees!"
Huey's face burned with embarrassment, but he had to ask. "But… didn't you fight A-Pimp-Named-Slickback for disrespecting Christal?"
Granddad arched an eyebrow, a sly grin creeping across his face. "Just like you did for Jazmine?"
Huey's cheeks flushed, the heat of embarrassment and realization mixing into a confusing storm. He didn't answer, and Granddad just chuckled, shaking his head.
"Well, sounds like you've got a lot to figure about." Granddad said, his tone suddenly much lighter as he eased back into his chair. "How mad is she?"
"Who?" Huey frowned, already pulling out his phone.
"Boy, you know who!" Granddad rolled his eyes. "The one you went to go spy on!"
Huey sighed, admitting the truth. "Pretty mad." He glanced down at his phone. "I sent her some texts to apologize. I even offered to help her scout for other guys—"
Granddad snorted, shaking his head. "Why the hell did you do that? It's so clear that—"
"Granddad, look." Huey interrupted, holding up a hand to stop him. "I won't lie and say I've never considered going there, but Jazmine's my friend. That's it." He sighed, staring down at his phone again. "I promised her I'd help her move on, not take advantage of her when she's vulnerable."
"So what, you're gonna scout for other boys and then beat their asses when they try to make a move on the girl?" Granddad snorted. "Doesn't seem smart to me."
Before Huey could respond, his phone pinged with a new message. It was Jazmine.
I'm STILL mad at you. But, I wanna take you up on that offer tomorrow. We start at noon. I'll tell you where we going in the morning. – J
He'd taught her a little too well. Normally, she was asking him if he was available to do something. Or straight up begging him to help her.
But telling him?
He was impressed, smirking until he noticed his granddad watching him from his seat.
"I take it that was Jazmine." Granddad smiled.
Huey nodded as another text came through, confirming the plan. "Yep. Just told her I'd help her out tomorrow." He blinked, glancing up from the phone to meet his grandfather's knowing gaze. "How'd you know I was texting her?"
Granddad just shook his head, easing over to Ebony, who was smiling at them from the doorway.
"Because, boy." He walked over to his fiancée then stared back at his grandson. "I know you better than you know yourself." He began to kiss Ebony sweetly, until the kisses became a bit too long, and he playfully pressed her against the wall. "Now, if you don't mind…"
He didn't have to tell him twice.
Huey made his way up to his room and closed the door behind him, easing onto the bed with a sigh.
Another message came through from Jazmine, the words sending that familiar feeling running through him, a feeling that was getting harder and harder to push down.
I know you defended my honor against Slickback, crazy. Thank you. – J.
His response was instant. He didn't even have to think about it.
Always, Jaz.
Anytime.
It had been a long time since Jazmine had felt this nervous around Huey.
She kept telling herself that it was about the pressure, about finding more guys to date, but deep down, she knew there was something else gnawing at her—something she wasn't quite ready to confront yet.
"No offense." Huey's voice cut through her thoughts. "But I don't think you'll find guys you like at this arcade."
Jazmine frowned, trying to shake off her bad nerves.
"Well, where am I supposed to find them? Outside of school and the mall, it's not like I have a ton of options."
Huey pulled out his phone, scrolling nonchalantly.
"There's a scrimmage near the school. But I'm guessing you're steering clear of that since Vince is an athlete."
She hated how well he knew her.
"Exactly." Jazmine shrugged, frustration slipping into her voice. "I'm done dating athletes. I don't want people thinking I'm that kind of girl."
Huey glanced at her, eyebrows arched. "What kind of girl?"
"The kind who only cares about snagging a baller." Jazmine pushed the door open, stepping into the sunlight. "You know what people say."
"I do." Huey followed her out, a funny look on his face. "But you don't exactly give off that kinda vibe."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jazmine paused, looking at him sharply. "You don't think I'm pretty enough to snag a baller?"
Huey sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as if warding off an impending headache. "That's not what I said."
Jazmine wasn't ready to drop it. "Then what are you trying to say, Huey?"
"Jazmine—" He let out a long breath. "Please. Can we not do this today?"
"No, really!" Jazmine pressed, searching his face for answers. "What were you trying to say?"
Huey stopped walking, turning to face her fully. "I was just saying you don't fit the whole gold digger persona if that's what you're worried about." His tone was calm but firm, eyes locked on hers. "You're not the type to use someone. Anyone with eyes can see that."
Jazmine was about to ask him what type of person he thought she was, but her mind went back to her sessions with Dr. Heat and how they'd discussed this pattern before.
Huey had always been there for her.
Why beg him to prove something that was clear as day?
"I'm sorry." She muttered, feeling the weight of the conversation settle over her. "I shouldn't have made it a big deal."
"It's fine." Huey replied, his voice softening when he noticed the look on her face.
Jazmine lightened the mood, quickly pulling out her phone and grinning. "So, how about we head to Crazie's instead? It'll be crawling with hungry people coming from the scrimmage. Maybe there will be some cute guys there, just like you suggested."
Huey's face twisted into a playful grimace. "And hopefully some cute girls for you to hate on, too."
Jazmine laughed, the tension between them easing as they started walked towards their cars. But when she turned to say something to him, she caught him staring at her—really, really staring at her, like he was seeing something for the first time.
The sun caught in his eyes, casting a warm glow over them both, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop, creating a perfect picture made for them.
"Huey?" She clapped her hands together, breaking the spell. "You ready?"
Huey blinked, snapping out of whatever trance he'd been in. "Yeah, let's go."
He nodded, but there was still something lingering in his expression, something that made her heart skip a beat.
Jazmine turned back towards her car, her mind going a mile a minute. She turned her head to steal one more glance, to try to figure out whatever was going on in his head.
But when she looked back, his face had gone cold again—back to that familiar, indifferent mask.
She turned away again and sighed, starting her engine.
Doing the right thing was so overrated.
Huey tried to act as noncommittal as possible, but Jazmine was making it difficult.
She'd shown up at the arcade in a mini-skirt and a graphic t-shirt, her hair still styled in the updo from the night before.
The look was simple, styled just enough to emphasize her natural beauty—her long lashes fluttering as she pointed at something nearby, oblivious to how much she was testing his sanity.
When they'd finally made it to Crazie's, the retro diner known for its crowd after games, Huey's mood wasn't much better.
The room was exploding with energy, full of loud, obnoxious teenagers laughing and chatting loud as hell.
"Okay." Jazmine grinned, totally oblivious to how miserable he was. "I've got Devin's number, Grady seems pretty promising, and Isaiah and I hit it off pretty well."
"You two did talk for a long time." He nodded, deciding not to mention how aggravating it had been to watch them hit it off.
"What about… him?" Jazmine pointed to a tall senior sitting in the back, quietly reading a book.
"Future serial killer." Huey deadpanned.
"…Oh." Jazmine's eyes widened as she quickly looked away. "Are you joking?"
"Nope." He replied, shaking his head. "Trust me, you don't want to know."
Jazmine shuddered, moving on to the next potential candidate. "What about—"
She paused mid-sentence, letting out a squeal. "Shawn?!"
Huey fought the urge to roll his eyes as he rushed over, smiling at Jazmine like he wasn't even sitting there.
"You changed your hair." Shawn observed, impressed. "You're even more beautiful than you were the first time I saw you."
Jazmine blushed. "Thank you."
"I know you were busy the first time I left my number." Shawn continued, confident and warm as ever. "But if you're still interested, my offer stands. We could catch a movie and then grab dinner. My treat, of course."
Huey could sense Jazmine's doubt before she did, but despite what he'd told Granddad and Riley that day, he could tell Shawn didn't have bad intentions.
He gave her a gentle nod, smirking slightly enough for her to get the message.
"Yeah." Jazmine nodded, smiling up at Shawn. "I'd love to. How about Friday night? Pick me up at seven? I'll send you the address."
"Sounds perfect." Shawn grinned, his excitement evident. "See you next week!"
Jazmine waved as he walked away, a wide smile on her face.
Once he was out of sight, she collapsed back into her seat, giggling to herself like a schoolgirl. "That boy is fine."
"I wouldn't know." Huey muttered, pulling out a book to distract himself.
"Well I would." Jazmine nodded emphatically. "And trust me, he's fine. I'm talking 90s movie star fine, the kind you see in every rom-com."
"Ah, yes." Huey smirked. "Your type."
Jazmine blinked. "My type?"
"Uh-huh." Huey nodded, flipping to the next page. "You have a thing for pretty boys."
"I'm telling Riley!" Jazmine teased, nudging him playfully. "You think the boys I like are pretty?"
Huey snorted. "Hardly." He set his book back down, giving her a sidelong glance. "They all have that look to them. You know what I mean."
Judging from her murderous glare, Jazmine knew exactly what he was getting at.
"Whatever." She huffed. "How many more numbers do I have to get?"
"At least three more." Huey replied matter-of-factly. "Honestly, six."
"Huey I have ten numbers!" Jazmine's jaw dropped. "Why the hell would I need more than that?"
"Because dating is a numbers game." Huey explained. as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Half of them will eliminate themselves after you text them. A few more will be phased out when you start dating them. And then you'll end up choosing between whoever's left. That's how it works."
"Well, it sounds like a lot of work." Jazmine groaned, staring at a few more messages coming in on her phone. "I can barely keep up with the ones that I have."
"It's hard." Huey told her, nodding. "But it's also a part of the experience." He shrugged. "Just remember that you're dating to find someone that's the best fit for you. When you gravitate to someone special, you'll know."
"But until then..." Jazmine let out a soft sigh of disappointment. "I'll be kissing a lot of frogs, won't I?"
"With the herpes rate around here?" Huey raised a brow. "I wouldn't."
"Huey!" Jazmine slapped his arm, but she couldn't help laughing.
"It is what it is." Huey shrugged, letting out a rare, genuine laugh "Dating duds is a part of the territory." He pulled out his phone, scrolling through his messages. "For example, that Crystallin girl text me from another number this morning, asking to pray for me again after leaving that weird voicemail the other night….."
"Really?" Jazmine's head snapped up, intrigued. "Can I hear it?"
He passed her his phone, putting the voicemail on speaker.
"Huey, it's me." The girl paused, something shuffling in the background. "I was deeply saddened by your decision to sever ties, but God put it on my heart to call you today."
Jazmine, gasped. "Noooooo!"
"It gets better." He assured her, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"You see, you and I were brought together because of His will!" She continued. "And if you'd simply let go of this need to radicalize everything, listen to clean, not worldly music-"
Jazmine was now gasping for air, trying not to burst out laughing.
"And be a nicer, kinder person that doesn't use history to justify his sin, then, we could be together." She took a breath, shuffling through what sounded like a drawer. "With my Holy Oil in my hands, I ask that you deliver Huey from his need to solve issues through act of violence and militarism! See to it, O Lord, that he sees the inside of a church this Sunday, Father God!"
"Amen!" Jazmine waved a hand, unable to keep a straight face.
Huey shot her a look, but there was amusement in his eyes.
"What?" Jazmine laughed as she passed the phone back. "You know you need deliverance."
"And free him from the scandalous, tempestuous women around him, Lord!" Crystallin's voice continued, making Jazmine's jaw drop. "Especially from that short-skirt, high heeled, orange big-haired, hussy!" She declared. "And any other hussies that distract him from the purpose you have set in motion for him, Father God!"
"I am NOT a hussy!" Jazmine exclaimed, her cheeks flushing. "How does she even know what I look like, anyway?"
"Apparently, she stopped by to give Ebony something before the wedding." Huey showed her the texts Crystallin sent. "She saw you coming out of my car and assumed we were together." He shrugged. "She's harmless. The special force unit will keep an eye on you though… just in case."
"My dating life seems way less complicated now." Jazmine shook her head, laughing. "Thanks for the confidence boost."
"That's what friends are for." Huey nodded. "Now, about those six numbers. Who you going for?"
"Um…." Jazmine sighed, staring at a guy who was sipping the same milkshake as her. "Maybe him." She got up, determined. "I'll be back."
It didn't take long for her to return with an annoyed huff and a glare, turning her back from him.
"Nope."
"Maybe him?" Huey suggested, pointing towards another guy sitting with his friends near the back. "He was reading a book on animals, and he fits your physical type. You should try talking to him."
Jazmine leaned back, a devilish smirk on her face. "Actually, I have a better idea."
Huey watched, fascinated, as she leaned back casually, tilting her head upward until the boy glanced up and nodded at her. She slowly tilted her head towards him, meeting his gaze before flashing him a dazzling smile and waving at him.
In less than a minute, he was standing right in front of her, introducing himself, telling her all about what school he went to, the sports he played, and his entire government name, including his birthday, under the guise of astrological compatibility.
In the next five minutes, she'd gotten his number, and a date for next Saturday, which meant he probably wouldn't even see much of Jazmine after a few more weeks.
And that sucked.
It really sucked, actually.
But seeing the smile on her face, made it worth it. And clearly, there were a few other things he could learn from her as well.
"How'd you know he would do that?" Huey asked when the guy walked away. "You got him over here and talking in less than ten minutes."
Jazmine just threw her head back, laughing at him.
"I'm a girl, Huey." She told him, patting his head. "It's what we do."
She grinned lifting to throw the cup away.
"I can get that." He offered, surprised when she firmly shook her head.
"Watch the master work, Huey." She said with a wink. "I've got it from here."
Huey just shook his head, watching her walk away.
He'd never been so appreciative of a mini-skirt in his life.