Hola mis amigos! Back with another chapter! It would've been here yesterday, but my laptop is a piece of crap. Every time I try to Save a document and close it, it DELETES EVERYTHING I JUST GOT DONE TYPING! So I have to keep Re-typing what was lost from memory! Smh. But anyway! Just a few comments to my reviewers!

Chel29: I'm glad you're enjoying it! I hope you're not too upset with me for putting 'Taste the Rainbow' aside for the moment. It's just that I have a more solid plot in mind for this story right now. But TTR is still being worked on!

Schweetpea1870: Thanks for the input! Hope I won't disappoint!

ThickBlackGirl: Patience grasshopper, Patience! lolol! I want to foreshadow what happened to Jazmine just a little more before her past is revealed..to build up that suspense! It's gonna be pretty emotional so I want the buildup to match it! I appreciate you're interest!

QUICK NOTE!:

The punctuation can get kinda complex so thought I'd clear that up. If the sentence is Italicized inside two SINGLE apostrophes then that means it's being said in sign. The same structure goes for when Trisha interprets for Jazmine except I put it inside normal QUOTATIONS because it is Trisha's voice saying what Jazmine signs. I hope that's not too confusing!

And I know you guys heard about the death of the LEGENDARY comedian, actor and beloved voice actor of our Robert Jebediah Freeman (Granddad). Rest in Paradise to John Witherspoon! Thank you so much for the laughs. You will be missed! Xoxoxo

Alrighty! Get to readin'!

It was almost 1:00 pm and Jazmine had already finished unpacking for her master bedroom and bathroom, living room, dining room, the guest bathroom and kitchen. She didn't get much sleep last night because her mind was still excited about being back in her childhood home. So she got up around 6 am and got straight to work. She didn't want to prolong the packing by just doing a little day-by-day as she went throughout the house. She wanted it ALL done as soon as possible so that she could present her home with pride to future guests.

She decided to take a break though. So she gathered up all the empty cardboard boxes, which she folded and flattened, and took them to the garage. When she came back inside, she threw on her favorite red coat, picked up her pack of fags and lighter, and stepped out on her front porch and lit one up.

It was a crisp, but bearable cold outside. As she blew out smoke, her evaporated breath made up most of the cloud. She sat down on one of her porch chairs and pulled out her phone, playing her music on shuffle. The first song to play was "Charlene" by Anthony Hamilton.

Jazmine smiled to herself as she took another puff of the cig and laid back into the floral-cushioned chair. This was one of her favorite songs. As she listened to the soulful R&B song, she gazed across the street at the Freeman residence for what seemed like the millionth time.

She remembered all the crazy events that went down in that house. Robert Jebediah Freeman sure did put them through a lot of foolishness over those years. And Huey was always the voice of reason. No matter how much Riley and Robert ruled against him, Jazmine always stuck by Huey's better judgement…except for that time she let Robert talk her into sneaking into an R-rated movie and almost ended up incarcerated. But it was Huey who got her through that traumatic experience.

And speaking of the devil.

As Jazmine was finishing up her cigarette, the Freeman's front door opened and out walked Huey dressed in his usual clothes: A white T-shirt, a navy green over shirt, a leather coat, dark jeans and timbs. She could see his usual scowl plastered on his face from way across the street. He really needed to start work on his facial expressions.

He looked across the way and saw her sitting there. She immediately tensed up as she saw him walk over towards her. She dapped the fag in the ashtray on the porch table and stood up, nervously tightening her coat waist-tie. As he walked up the driveway, she smiled and waved at him genuinely.

Okay..no more shyness! Just talk to him!l….or...or whatever! Jazmine thought. Her thoughts faded as he walked closer, coming up the porch steps, and finally within arm's reach of her. Wow…he really has grown. He towered over her at 6'4 while she was just 5'8.

There was a short silence before he finally spoke up.

"Hello, Jazmine," Huey said lowly. Jazmine nodded in reply, keeping her smile. "I was headed over here to talk to you about something…since we didn't really get to talk yesterday.." Huey hinted stalely, deepening his scowl. Okay, she definitely forgot about how intimidating he was. She would have to get re-used to that.

Jazmine brought her hand to her chest, and was expecting to find her locket, but she didn't. She gave him a worried look as she looked down and realized she must have forgotten her locket inside. Her eyes widened as she looked back up at Huey, who was still waiting for a response.

He could tell what she was looking for. He gave a hard sigh as he hung his head. This was already becoming difficult. His attention turned to the music playing from her coat pocket.

Baby I'll be

Sitting here waiting on you to come home again

I won't leave

Promise I'll be here to the very end

By your side

To protect you and to love you and to be with you for life

Come on home to me Charlene

"Anthony Hamilton, huh?" Huey asked raising an eyebrow. Jazmine smiled brightly and nodded.

'One of my favorite artists,' She signed and enthusiastically mouthed it so he could understand.

"Mine too," Huey agreed. He had to say, her taste in music surely improved.

'Cool,' she mouthed again as she waved her fingers laterally at chest level.

She opened her screen door and gestured inside as to say 'Would you like to come in?' Huey inwardly groaned but agreed. He just wanted to invite her to Sunday dinner and that's it. He didn't want to make things complicated. He really didn't like it when he was at a disadvantage, especially when it came to communication.

She opened the main door and held it open for him. As he stepped inside, he got a wave of euphoria. It's been so long since he's been inside this house. And it looked so different in a good way.

As Jazmine closed the door behind him, she removed her coat and held her hand out to take his.

"Nah, I'm good. I won't be long," he simply stated. Jazmine shrugged and hung her coat on the coat rack. He could see there were already furniture and furnishings set up all around the house. It had an African vibe, with the café brown wall paint, wooden statues of curvaceous African women and warrior heads, African paintings and dark brown and burgundy vases filled with tall artificial branches, with flower buds. "You sure don't waste any time." Huey said entering the living room.

Jazmine nodded as she followed him. She immediately located her locket, which was on the ledge above the fireplace. She went over, grabbed it and put it around her neck.

"I like what you've done. Very motherland-ish."

Jazmine gave him a bigger smile and brought her hand to her lips and moved it forward towards him.

"You're welcome."

Okay, so he knows SOME sign. That's a plus! Jazmine thought. She opened her locket and sketched a quick note, handing it to Huey, who read it..

Coffee? Tea?

"Tea is fine," Huey folded the paper and handed it back to her. She took the note back and went into the kitchen to prepare it for him.

He sat on the couch and looked around her living room again. She definitely changed it up from what the house used to look like. How her mother and father designed it looked tasteless, dry, uncultured. But he could clearly tell how Jazmine had gotten in touch with her roots, based on how she arranged it. He felt warmth and comfort as he sat. He actually liked it very much.

"Hey Jaz? You here hon?" Huey snapped his head over to the staircase where he saw a white woman coming down the stairs, yawning and scratching her hair. "Sorry, I overslept! You know how heavy I sleep when I'm drinking…WHOA!" Trisha shouted as she reached the bottom of the stairs. "Uhm.w-who are you and what are you doing here? AYE JAZMINE! THERE'S SOMEONE IN YOUR HOUSE! JAZMINE!"

Huey rolled his eyes and just watched her scream unnecessarily. Jazmine came running out with a silver tray, with a china tea set on top. She quickly sat the tray down on the coffee table in front of Huey and frantically signed at Trisha.

Huey watched her intently, taking in how her hands and fingers effortlessly contoured in different shapes so fast, he didn't know where the words fitted in. He could hear short whisps of air and an occasional pop of her lips as she mouthed what her hands signified. He saw her point to him and spell out his name and knew she was signing about him. Trisha raised her head in realization.

"Ohhhh! So this is Huey Freeman!" Trisha said aloud in a hinting tone. Huey felt a twinge of awkwardness. "So sorry about that! My name is Trisha Romano. I'm Jazmine's personal interpreter and certified best friend! " Trisha stuck out her hand to shake his. "Very nice to meet you." Trisha emphasized while leaning her head towards Jazmine.

Jazmine rolled her eyes and palmed her forehead. Why was she like this?... Just WHY!?

Huey kept his grimace for a stale second before complying and shaking her hand.

"Likewise," Huey murmered.

"Ouu…got a…strong grip there...ahem" Trisha said nervously as she pulled her hand away and shook it in the air, trying to get the blood flowing again.

"So..you interpret ALL her conversations?" asked Huey.

"Yeap! Unless she tells me otherwise. We've been working together for a solid 5 years." Trisha stated wrapping her arm around Jazmine's shoulder beside her. Jazmine smiled and wrapped her arm around Trisha's waist.

Jazmine signed to Huey but Trisha spoke for her.

" 'All conversations she helps me with are strictly confidential. Under law, she is prohibited to repeat any and all discussions when interpreting. She acts as my voice and that's it. Just act like she's not even here.' Oh, geez thanks Jaz." Trisha pushed her off of her as Jazmine hissed into a laugh. She sat next to Huey and Trisha sat on the arm chair across from them. Jazmine reached for the creamer and showed it to him.

"Just two shots, no sugar," he instructed. Jazmine prepared his and handed him the plate with his tea cup. She prepared hers and they both took a couple sips and set them back down. She nodded at Trisha to let her know to start.

" 'First off, I just wanted to say sorry about yesterday. You sort of took me by surprise.' " Jazmine pinched her thumb and index fingers parallel to her eyes and separated them as she pulled her hands away from her face.

Huey kept eyeing back and forth between her and Trisha. He felt like this was a little weird. He much would have preferred them be alone, but it would've taken forever for Jazmine to write out all her words. So he just went with it anyway.

"Nah, it's fine. I shouldn't have startled you like that…" Huey was interrupted by Jazmine tapping on his shoulder. He looked over at her and she signed at him.

" 'When you speak you can look at me..not at Trisha. It takes away the concentration.' " Trisha interpreted.

Huey closed his eyes and sighed through his nose. Jazmine suppressed a giggle as she saw his frustration. He still got annoyed so easily.

This was already starting to agitate him. He enthusiastically turned his upper body to her and continued.

"As I was saying, I didn't mean to surprise you. And I shouldn't have acted so insensitive." Huey said.

" 'It wasn't your fault. I didn't exactly give you time to react. I didn't have to make it so awkward. I'm still learning how to be confident about this.' "

"No harm done. I think you carry it gracefully," he complimented. But he immediately regretted it when he saw Jazmine's eyes light up as she her whole face turned pink.

He hid his awkwardness by taking another sip of his tea and decided to finish it. Jazmine took a couple more sips of hers and put her cup back on it's small plate.

" 'So, what did you want to talk about?' " Jazmine drew a circle with her right index finger around her left fingers which were compressed in a flat 'O'.

"Well, I just wanted to formally welcome you back into the neighborhood. And we would like to invite you over for Sunday dinner tomorrow as a little Welcome Home soirée. You can bring Trisha too, since you would need her probably."

" 'I would love to!' " Trisha spoke with the same enthusiasm Jazmine signed with. " ' I can't remember the last time I had some good home-cooked soul food."

"If you call pig-fat and soggy, greasy vegetables good for the soul then sure…" Huey stated matter-of-factly. Jazmine rolled her eyes.

" 'I see you're still a stickler for a healthy diet.' " Jazmine finished off the rest of her tea.

"Excuse me if I don't want to have a heart attack at the age of 40." Huey shrugged. Jazmine just shook her head.

" 'So, how is your family?' "

"Granddad's just as cheap and insufferable as ever. Riley… well…I still gotta whoop his ass every now and then. But everyone is doing well."

" 'Good, good,' " Jazmine brought her fingers from her lips to her left hand facing upward twice. " 'How have you been Huey?' "

"Can't complain," Huey shrugged. "I'm an assistant professor at Bowie State for African American studies." Jazmine raised her eyebrows and nodded impressively. "I've been teaching there for a couple years. The hours are flexible, the pay is great, and I get plenty of time to myself."

" 'We got that in common,' " Jazmine signed two Y's with both hands and moved them simultaneously in a circle. Right after Trisha interpreted, Jazmine internally kicked herself.

Smooth, you mum, Jazmine thought.

There was a slight pause between them as they locked eyes. Jazmine was the first to break the eye contact as she shyly looked down at her hands in her lap, but Huey kept his eyes on her.

He couldn't believe how beautiful she's gotten. Right now, she seemed like the same happy and sweet Jazmine he used to know. But his instincts told him that there was something more below the surface..something she was doing a great job at masking.

He snapped out of his stare when she looked up at him again, batting her long eyelashes.

And those EYES! Good GOD! What was she trying to do? HEX HIM?!

"So uhhh..I guess I'll come for you tomorrow at 4:00. Dinner usually starts at 5. I suspect you would want to formally meet everyone again before we sit down and eat" Huey said standing up. Jazmine signed the letters O-K in agreement as she stood up with him. "Thanks for the tea. I'd better get back. " Jazmine inwardly pouted but still smiled and nodded. "And thanks for translating for me, Trisha."

"I'm an interpreter. Not a translator. It's a common mix-up." Trisha informed him with a soft giggle.

Huey just scowled at her. What the hell was the difference?!

"B-but you're welcome!" Trisha gave an awkward smile. Jazmine walked him to the front door and opened it for him.

"See you tomorrow," Huey said as he zipped up his jacket.

Right when he stepped through the doorframe, she quickly tapped him on the shoulder as she pulled a folded note out of her back pocket. He turned around and she placed it in his hands, squeezing his hand shut with hers. She gave him a soft grin along with another soft squeeze of his hand and nodded as she let go.

He kept his hand where it was at, tightly gripping the piece of paper as she slowly closed the door, never breaking eye-contact.

Jazmine sighed hard followed by a small smirk as she twiddled her fingers like a silly teenager. As she walked out of the main hallway, she looked up to see Trisha leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

"'Wasn't really focused on his looks' MY ASS!" Trisha shouted pointing to her rear end. Jazmine looked behind her and gave her a confused look.

'What ass?' Jazmine signed walking around her.

"Bitchhh!" Trisha said with a squeak. "I GOT ass! Don't do me like that!" They both laughed. "But don't try and change the subject!"

'What are you talking about, Trish?' Jazmine signed before picking up the tea tray and taking it into the kitchen. Trisha followed alongside her.

'Don't play dumb!' Trisha struck her forehead with the palm side of a closed fist. 'Girl, THAT'S what I call a real MAN! Like..wow!' Trisha gave her a well-aware look. '…..Kind of a stiff, but I'd take that over a sleazy douchebag any day!'

Jazmine smiled and rolled her eyes at her goofy friend as she started to put away the tea set.

'Well then, what's stopping you, Trish?' Jazmine signed unenthusiastically.

Trisha gave her a dull look.

"Because I'M not the one he wants!" Trisha said aloud as she leaned against the granite island in the middle of the kitchen.

'Okay, stop,' Jazmine signed without looking at her as she started to wash the dishes out.

"Come on J! You didn't see the way he ogled over you the way I did." Trisha said with a smirk. Jazmine stopped in the middle of scrubbing one of the tea cups. Did he really? "Jazmine, I'm not so sure it's just a fondness anymore to be honest."

'Trisha…we are ONLY FRIENDS! We've only seen each other twice after over 10 years.' Jazmine said moving her hands frantically. 'There's no way you'd expect me to believe he likes me that quickly.'

'You know what they say! 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder!' Trisha signed as she shrugged.

'Tell me about it,' Jazmine signed with a stale face. She finished drying the dishes and put them away closing her cabinets a little too hard. Trisha smeared her lips together, realizing what she meant.

"Hon'," Trisha spoke aloud again. "I'm not trying to annoy you. I'm just letting you know what I see. And…maybe some male company could…be good for you."

'Let's not go down this road again, Trish. Please…" Jazmine gave her a tired look.

"You can't hide behind your silence forever, Jazzy. I'll leave it alone, but all I'm saying is I haven't seen you blush, let alone SMILE like that in a long time. " Trisha walked around the island and held both of her hands. "I only want you to be happy best friend."

'I am happy Trisha!' Jazmine gave her a stern, unfaltering look as she pulled her hands away and signed aggressively.

Trisha took a small step back because it almost looked like she was about to swing on her. Not that she would but shit…them hands were flying!

'I'm finally starting to feel settled and safe. I'm not waking up in the middle of the night crying anymore, I can finally get out of bed and be productive, I can finally think of his name without having a panic attack.' Jazmine's hands got faster and faster until Trisha signed for her to slow down. Jazmine took a deep breath and shuddered as she exhaled, trying so hard not to cry. 'I just… want to go slow…okay? I'm making my way. Just let me do me.'

Trish gave her a empathetic look and nodded her head in agreement.

'You're right…you are absolutely right, hon'. I'm sorry. I just get so excited when I see the amazing progress you're making and I get loose at the mouth.' She repeatedly drew a circle in the center of her chest. 'I know it hasn't been easy. But just promise me, you will at least try to start living for yourself now okay? It's NOT selfish you know. It's what he would have wanted.' Trisha lovingly stroked Jazmine's cheek.

Jazmine gave her a weak smile and held her hand parallel to her temple and sliced it forward through the air. 'I will.'

"Okay," Trisha whispered, followed by an exaggerated sigh. "Alright, enough with the heavy. I gotta be heading home." Trisha made her way out of the kitchen. "You have triple the number of rooms as me and yet I'm still struggling to unpack for just one!" Trisha gathered all her belongings and put on her coat and boots.

'I'll see you tomorrow,' Jazmine made a fist at cheek level and moved it forward while extending her thumb upwards.

"I'm looking forward to it! See ya girl." Trisha waved and left without another word.

Jazmine stood there for a minute, maybe two. Until she got light headed and collapsed at the bottom of the stairs and broke down crying. She brought her knees up to her chest and buried her face in them, as small gasps and sniffles filled the room. She could talk a good game, but deep down inside, she was still torn apart.

"M-m-mmm-m-Matthew,….M-mmm-Matthew!" Jazmine let out in a trembling whimper, but nothing but silent, fragile, uneven air passed through her lips.

Her throat immediately contracted and a sharp, aching pain arose, followed by another sequence of painful sobs. She held her throat with both hands as she rocked back and forth in pain, pushing her face deeper into the spaced between her knees.

She just couldn't let go.

Huey barged through the front door with 5 grocery bags in each hand, his arm muscles and vessels accentuated as he lifted them to get a better grip. He took them to the kitchen and set them down on the counter, where he was met with his grandfather.

He had just picked up some extra food and ingredients for dinner tomorrow. He knew Granddad didn't have a smidge of healthy food to cook, and he was NOT going to ingest the swine-based poison he usually prepared.

"Boy! Did you get the pot roast, chit'lins and oxtails? Gotta start marinating them tonight." Robert announced with all his signature seasonings and sauces lined up all over the counter. Huey made a disgusted face as he handed him the meat. "So who's this girl you bringin' tomorrow? Not that bat-shit crazy bitch you been messin' around with is it? Loooord that honey might be fine an all, but I ain't tryna have no shit poppin' off at my dinner. You understand me, boy?"

"Granddad it's not Rasheeda," Huey rolled his eyes. "I haven't been messing with her for months. I been left her alone."

"Well why don't you tell me who IS coming then boy!" Granddad retorted opening the bag of frozen oxtails.

"It's Jazmine," Huey simply stated. Granddad dropped a fork as he turned around to look at Huey. "She's moved back into her old home across the street for good. I went over there earlier today and invited her."

"Lil' ole Jazmine Dubois? The sweet yella' cutie-pie Jazmine? She's back!? Oooohh Laawwdd have mercy!" Granddad shouted with a bright smile. "My oh my it's sho' been a while. I gotta show out BIG TIME now! This just changed the whole game! Where I put them yams?!" Grandad excitedly searched through the fridge and the cabinets, pulling out even more different foods.

Huey shook his head as he helped put away the rest of the groceries. When he was finished, he headed back up to his room and closed the door behind him. He laid on his bed, sighing deeply as he hit the soft mattress. He laid there for a minute before he remembered the note Jazmine gave him. He pulled it out and unfolded it. His eyes widened as he read it.

'Silent doesn't mean empty, it's full of answers'

'Silence has so much to say, Only if you Listen.'

Huey read it over an additional 4 times. He didn't know how, but he heard it in her voice, or what he thought her voice would have sounded like! How was that even possible?!

He noticed how Silent & Listen were underlined. Of course, because they're both spelled with the same letters. She was forced to just watch and listen to the world go by around her in silence. She has to strain extra hard just to make herself HEARD!

This was becoming almost too bizarre to him. Man..what the fuck goin ON? Huey thought as he pressed his head further into the pillow. He was almost convinced that she did hex him. How she moved her hands, and the way those emerald BLINDERS peered into his soul!

Huey literally had to shake the thought out of his head. He returned to his usual scowl and flipped the note over, noticing it had another message on the other side.

'Don't be a stranger. Feel free to use it #," followed by phone number!

He immediately got his phone out of his pocket and saved her number. He was so tempted to text her, but he didn't want it to be too soon. Ughh he felt like a hormonal teenager. This was ridiculous. He folded the note back and put it in the drawer of his nightstand. He closed his eyes for a minute, which turned into a snooze, and then he entered a deep sleep.

He woke up to his phone ringing 8 hours later when it honestly felt like 10 minutes. He looked at the time in his digital clock on his nightstand which read: 2:32 a.m. He saw the Caller ID and rolled his eyes. It said Rasheeda (DO NOT ANSWER). But he didn't take his own advice.

"What?" Huey answered.

"Huueeyyy," Rasheeda whined on the other end. Great..she was drunk calling…again.

"Rasheeda I ain't got time for you to be playing on my phone. I told you to stop drunk calling me, let alone stop calling me altogether!" Huey said in a harsh tone.

"Nigga, shut up and unlock d-da damn doooorrr!" Rasheeda shouted. He could hear her outside through the walls.

I know damn well!... He thought. He went over to his window and opened the blinds. He could see her leaning up against one of the pillars.

"Girl have you lost yo damn mind!?" Huey silently shouted running down the hall and down the stairs.

"Not yet! But I'm definitely…loosstttt,"Rasheeda snorted as she laughed hysterically falling against the front door, right as Huey opened it, causing her to fall right through and into his arms. "Mmmm…baby, you so stronggg."

"How the hell did you get here?" Huey asked standing her back up, but she kept trying to hang over him.

"UBERRR EVERYWHERRREE!" Rasheeda stuck out her tongue in a ratchet fashion like she was still at the club, which was probably where she just came from. She had on a black 2 piece body suit with silver sequence going down in vertical lines and silver strap-up stilettos. She smelled like straight up liquor and smoke. "Baby I wanna spend the nighttt!" Rasheeda bit her bottom lip at him.

"Will you be quiet?" Huey shushed her as he stood her back up, but she kept trying to hang over him. "You know how I am about sleepovers. And I'm not your 'baby'. I'm a grown ass man." He led her into the living room.

"Mmmm, you suuuure are daddy," Rasheeda pressed herself into him brushing her hand up against his manhood.

"Yo, chill the fuck out." Huey pulled away from her, making her lose balance and fall on the couch. "Listen, if you're going to keep acting like a drunken maniac, then I have no problem with letting you sleep on the curb!"

"Come on Hueyyy. Don't be like that! I'll be good, I promise," she said in an innocent tone while giving him a sultry look. Huey pinched the bridge of his nose frustratingly. This girl just couldn't get a clue. He was ready to cuss her out but knew it wouldn't be of any use since she was so intoxicated.

"Fine…you can sleep here. I'll go get you a blanket." Huey started to walk to the coat closet.

"So you just gon' make me sleep down here on the couch? Why can't I sleep in yo room?!" She whined.

"You know damn well why I'm not letting you sleep with me. Be grateful I'm letting you stay here at all." He got out a gray and white comforter and put it on her lap. "Now, go to sleep."

Rasheeda smacked her lips and unfolded the comforter and laid down on the couch defeated. Huey rolled his eyes and made his way to the stairs.

"I should've went to Darion's," she muttered lowly, but Huey's ears were as sharp as a wolf. Darion was one of the men she has had repetitive infidelities with.

Nope, nope, nope! Don't do it! Lets it go man..Let it go, Huey thought, fighting tooth and nail not to say something back. But that's what she wanted and he wasn't going to fall for her bait for another argument.

He just sighed through his nose, continued up the stairs and went into his room, closing the door. As he settled back into bed, he realized he couldn't get back to sleep. So he got out his phone and decided to do some research. He went to his internet browser and googled 'American Sign Language dictionary'.

A number of apps and websites popped up. He decided to purchase the Premium package.

She was way worth it.

So yeah, basically just a filler chapter, but stay tuned for Sunday dinner in the next chapter! Please Review! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!