Yes maam! Yes sir! Part II of Jazmine's story coming up next! I honestly spoil you guys, hahahaha. Don't get too used to it *wink wink*
WARNING: Very gruesome content ahead, bloody scenery, and uncomfortable imagery.
It's the moment you all have been waiting for! Part II tells on what happened with Jazmine and Matthew and how she lost her voice. I warned you guys on how I wanted to wait for the right moment to reveal her past, and you will soon learn it was with good reason.
Read on, my FanFam!
Jazmine's Story Part II:
Summer passed and fall came, which meant it was time for Matthew to move to West Virginia. He was terribly distraught about leaving his pregnant fiancée alone, but Jazmine told him she would be fine. She would be starting her internship, so she would have plenty to keep her occupied.
He gave her one last kiss as he started up his motorcycle and gave her tummy a long, lingering kiss before kissing Jazmine one more time and pulling out from the parking lot and started on his 8 hour drive.
Jazmine shipped him the rest of his clothes and boxes of other belongings to his dorm so that he would have them before classes started. After that, it's been a lonely but peaceful few months in their home. Jazmine's tummy grew and grew with each passing week. He would FaceTime her constantly to see how she was doing and to make sure she was okay.
As she entered her 16th week, she already began to feel the baby kick. Her heart fluttered with joy as she called him to let him know the great news. But when she called him, he sounded so tired and stressed out. She asked him if anything was the matter, but he said no. He claimed that it was just midterms and football practices were really getting to him. But Jazmine could hear it in his voice that something was wrong.
Nonetheless she told him that based on how active its kicking was, she felt that it was a boy. She knew how much he wanted a son, even though he said that he didn't mind if it was either. Matthew tried to sound excited, but he seemed so distracted. Jazmine couldn't help but worry.
She had no other option to, when he randomly appeared back on their front porch one night. When she opened the door, he quickly stepped in without a word and closed the door behind him frantically.
"Matthew! Oh my goodness, baby! What are you doing here?!" Jazmine asked, hugging him around the neck and kissing him. But then she noticed his face. He had a busted lip and faint bruising along his eyes and chin. "Wh-what happened to you?"
"I had to see you! I drove all the way back here first hand. I had to make sure you were safe," Matthew stated avoiding the other half of the question. He looked down and rubbed her, much developed, stomach. "I had to make sure you both were safe."
"S-safe? Yeah, we're safe baby. Why would you think otherwise?" Jazmine asked. But Matthew stayed silent. Jazmine held his cheek. "Baby, what's wrong?"
"Jazmine, we have to leave," Matthew stated. Jazmine gave a worried look.
"Leave? Why? To where? What for?" Jazmine asked. Matthew just walked into their bedroom and began packing her things. Jazmine followed him and just watched him empty all her drawers into a suitcase. "Matthew, what are you doing?"
"I told you Jazmine. We're leaving…tonight." Matthew stated never stopping packing.
"Tonight?! Matthew, I can't leave tonight! I'm not feeling so well, plus…what about school? What about your football career? What about our family?"
"None of that matters right now!" Matthew hollered, but he stopped and inwardly sighed as he realized how harsh that sounded. Jazmine just stood there in disbelief.
"…doesn't matter? So..this doesn't matter to you?" Jazmine placed her hand over her stomach.
"Jazmine, of course it does. I misspoke. But right now, Im thinking of our survival." Matthew held her face in his hands.
"Survival?" Jazmine repeated. "Matthew, you're scaring me. Survival from what?"
"I don't have time to explain. We just need to get out of here." Matthew continued to pack.
"Matthew I'm not going anywhere until….uughhh," Jazmine stopped and held her lower stomach as she sat down on the bed. Matthew immediately stopped and went over to check on her.
"Baby. Jazmine are your okay?...Shit do you need a doctor?" Matthew asked.
"No, I'm fine. I've just been having cramps and nausea all day…. Matthew, please, just tell me what is going on? If we're going to be a family, you have to start being honest with me." Jazmine said.
Matthew sighed frustratingly as he sat down on the bed, stressfully rubbing his temples. He felt helpless, incompetent, weak, ashamed. Jazmine scooted over and rubbed his shoulder comfortingly.
"What happened?" Jazmine whispered.
"It's…I don't…" Matthew stammered. He took a deep breath and just decided to let it all out. "I borrowed some money from some gangsters..a lot of money… and I can't pay them back. The goons have been pressuring me for a while and they gave me a warning." He pointed to his bruised face. "Then they started mentioning the people I love most and I didn't hesitate. I came straight here. I knew I had ran out of time."
"Oh my God," Jazmine gasped. "Oh my….God!" She tried to get up, but she hissed at the little cramp on her side.
"Please, baby don't get too upset. Here, calm down." Matthew consoled her.
"DON'T GET TOO UPSET?!" Jazmine shouted. "Matthew you just told me that gangsters are after you and the ones you love and you tell me not to get upset?"
"I am so sorry, Jazmine. I for real fucked up! I was in a bad place, and I was broke. I was under so much stress. I didn't know what to do."
"You could have come to ME, Matthew!" Jazmine shouted. "How many times have we called each other? How many times have I asked you is there anything I can do for you? If there was anything wrong? I am your Fiancée! You're supposed to trust me!" Jazmine began to cry.
"I know, baby! I know!" Matthew took both of her hands in his. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to worry. I regret this so much, you have no idea. I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you. I realize the situation I've put you in, but I'm BEGGING you, to please trust me now!"
Jazmine scoffed as she pulled her her hands away. She went through every option in her head. She was definitely starting to get scared. And who's to say if they wouldn't come after them. This was all too much for her to process.
"Where will we go?" Jazmine asked still looking ahead of her.
"I think we need to get away from the coast. Maybe we should head down south for a while. We can start anew. I will take care of us. You won't have to do a thing. I promise I will make all of this right. But we have to go now, Jazmine. These men are savages. They don't have morals and they don't run by any rules. But if we leave without a trace, I can protect us." Matthew reached under the mattress and pulled out a gun.
Jazmine sat back. She didn't know how long he's had that. She didn't even know he knew how to use them. Now, she realized that they really were in trouble. She would have to give up her school, her career, her friends, basically her whole life.
But she loved him. And she would do anything for him. She stared ahead in utter fear as she thought everything over, then looked down at her belly and rubbed it. She guessed she really didn't have a choice.
"O-Okay…" Jazmine whispered. She took a deep breath and exhaled. "Let's go."
"Yeah?" Matthew asked.
"Yes. I love you, Matthew. And I trust you. I go where you go."
"I love you too," Matthew kissed her and pulled her close. "I love you so much. We're going to get through this okay? I promise."
Jazmine nodded and they both finished up packing. When they did, Matthew grabbed all the bags he could carry and took them to her car. Jazmine sat on the couch, still going over everything in her head. She looked around at their home, memorizing every detail.
But something in her gut told her that this was all wrong. It made her feel unsettled.
She looked over at a corner table and picked up a picture of them two.(The same picture she has in her office in the present) It was of them their senior year at high school, where the football team had just won their senior night. They posed facing towards each other, with Matthew in his full football gear, holding the winning-game ball, and Jazmine in her cheerleading uniform holding up the peace sign. They had just been dating over a year in this picture. She remembered how things used to be with them, how simple and refreshing everything was. It seemed like so much has happened since then and indeed it has. She got to thinking maybe it wouldn't be so bad to start anew. New York has been a suffocating experience to them and it was time to move away from all the drama. She was ready to start again.
Then she heard gunshots from outside. Her heart skipped a beat as stood up in a flash. Then she heard more gunshots following and Matthew ran inside, slamming the door behind him and locking it. He held his side, which was bleeding out profusely. Jazmine stood there frozen as she dropped the picture, making it shatter as it hit the floor.
"JAZMINE! GET OUT OF HERE NOW! HIDE! AAAAGHH!" Matthew shouted holding on to his rib, where a gaping hole resided.. Jazmine snapped out of it, but ran to him instead, taking his arm and standing him back up.
"Oh my God, Matthew! What happened! Come on! Let's go!" Jazmine tried pulling him, but he was too heavy for her.
"They're here! They found out where you live! Jazmine, you have to go!" Matthew shouted frantically.
"NO! I'm not leaving you!" Jazmine screamed. Then there was banging on the door. Matthew scooted back against the door, trying to keep it from opening. "Matthew please! Come on!" Jazmine pulled him even more.
"DO AS I SAY! HIDE! THE BATHROOM WINDOW! GO!" Matthew shoved her back, and Jazmine had no other option but to comply. She ran to the kitchen, grabbing the biggest chopping knife in the knife holder and her car keys and disappeared into the bathroom, where she hurriedly began taking the screen off of the window.
Matthew kept a firm grip on his gun. He had at least 5 rounds left. There were too many of them. He just had to keep them out long enough for them to escape. But he didn't know how much longer he could hold out. Their banging became even more violent and he could hear Jazmine in the bathroom sobbing.
She finally got the window unlocked and lifted it up. She stuck her leg through and sat on the ledge. Thank goodness they were on the first floor!
She ducked under the window and swung her other leg through and hopped out. She immediately felt another painful cramp, but the adrenaline overpowered it and she ran across the backyard and around the next apartment complex.
She peered around the corner but immediately pulled back. She saw five men all surrounding their front door trying to kick it down. Her car was right across the parking lot from them. She didn't know how to get to it without them noticing her. She decided that she would hide behind a car, and inch her way over.
Right when she was about to move, a pair of arms pulled her back. Jazmine was about to scream but she saw it was Matthew. He was in terrible shape. He already looked pale and his shirt was completely blood stained. She was about to start crying, but he held up a finger to his lips, telling her to be quiet.
"You…h-have to go," he whispered. "I'll hold them off."
"No, Matthew! Please, let's go! I can't leave you!" Jazmine quietly sobbed.
"You have to!" Matthew whispered louder. "In any minute, they're gonna break our door down. And when they break in, that will give you enough time to run to the car and leave! You go, you drive away, and you never come back! Do you understand me?"
But Jazmine just broke down in the grass crying as she desperately held onto his arm. She couldn't believe this. She couldn't believe this was happening to them. She felt her whole world starting to crumble.
She looked at the blood on him, and the blood now smeared on her hands and clothes. She felt completely helpless. Matthew pulled her in and kissed her tenderly. He felt Jazmine's tears fall on his cheeks, and that even made him start to tear up. She returned his kiss with three more and the last she held the kiss for a few more seconds, like a sad, lingering, painful goodbye.
"I love you," Jazmine whispered.
"I love you too," Matthew replied. He held her stomach and rubbed it softly. "I love both of you, which is why you will do everything in your power to survive! You promise?" Jazmine sniffled as she nodded softly. "Say it!"
"I promise," Jazmine's lips trembled. "I will survive. I promise." Jazmine took his hand and kissed it.
Then they heard a huge bang and knew it was their door being broke in. Matthew peeked around the corner and they had all ran inside.
"GO! JAZMINE, GO NOW!" Matthew yelled.
Jazmine took off as fast as her legs could carry her across the parking lot. She unlocked it midway and when she reached it, she opened the door, sat in, and immediately started the car up. Then she heard more gunshots and flares of light coming from the side of the next apartment complex they were just hiding at.
"NOOOOO!" Jazmine screamed. She put the car in drive and was about to drive off, but she saw Matthew limping out from the shadows and into the parking lot. She zoomed off and was about to pull up beside him, but she saw more men following him with their guns pointed straight at him.
"JAZMINE GO!" He yelled.
Tears filled her eyes as she pressed the accelerator again and pulled away. Then two bullets flew through her back windshield. Jazmine almost swerved but regained control. But not before another bullet was fired and hit her in the back of her shoulder, making her scream in pain. She lost control of the wheel and ran smack into a parked car.
The hit stunned her so much, her head was ringing. Her eyes tried adjusting as she reached for the door handle. She fell out of her car and stumbled onto the concrete, still clinging on to whatever strength she still possessed to get away. But her attempts were violently halted, when someone came up behind her and struck her in the head, and everything went dark.
Jazmine felt herself being dragged by the hands, which were tied together with duck tape. She opened her eyes just for a second, only to be met with a glaring face looking back down at her. Her head fell back again and she went unconscious again.
When she woke up, her eyesight was all in a blur. It was pitch black all around her, she thought she may have been blind. Until she saw little peeps of light coming from the cracks of the double doors in front of her. She tried to move, but was met with excruciating pain all over her body.
She couldn't even lift her head. There was blood slowly trickling from where she was struck. She tried to cry out, but her mouth was duck taped. She began to cry silently in agonizing pain. She was in utter terror for her and her baby's life. She held her stomach snugly, praying to God for a miracle.
She felt someone shift beside her and heard them grunt. By the tone of his voice she could tell it was Matthew. She tried to sit up and rub up against him where he released another muffled grunt. His mouth was duck taped too. From how he was breathing, she could tell he was in worse shape than she was. She found the edge of the duck tape around her mouth and ripped it off.
"Matthew?...Matthew?" Jazmine tried shoving him. He only grunted in response. She tried finding the edge of his duck tape and she ripped it off of his mouth.
"Jaz-mine…" he let out weakly. Jazmine remembered the knife tucked in her pants and was about to reach for it, but the two doors swung open and the lights flashed on.
Jazmine winced from the sudden bright lights, but then was dragged by the hands away from Matthew and to the other side of the room.
"NOO! NOOOO! LET GO OF ME!" She kicked and screamed.
"J-JAZMINE!" Matthew tried screaming. Jazmine continued screaming until the man punched her in the face. Jazmine fell back to the floor silent, trembling in pain.
"Shut the fuck up, you bitch!" He shouted.
"Christ, Roscoe, can't you see she's with child?" Another white, but tan man walked in with black sunglasses and a black leather suit, followed by two other henchmen.
"The bitch wouldn't stop screaming, boss. She's not gonna be carrying anything for much longer," the man named, Roscoe, said back.
"I don't give a fuck! Sit her up, Figlio di puttana!" The man shouted. Roscoe glared at him and grabbed Jazmine by her bad arm, and sat her up on her knees making her groan in pain.
The boss was a tall, hefty man with black hair combed in gel and neat silver hairs that ran back along the sides of his head. He looked well in his 40s with a hard and intimidating demeanor to him. He made his way over to Matthew, who laid almost lifeless on the ground, and kicked him hard in the gut. Matthew shouted in pain, followed by him coughing up blood.
Jazmine barely looked up from the ground, to see Matthew in a complete bloody mess. All she could do was watch helplessly as the man continued to kick him remorselessly.
"P-please…stoppp," Matthew begged. The man gave him one last kick before stopping and gave a wicked laugh.
"Shouldn't have fucked around on me, motherfucker," he walked around looking down at Matthew. "I help you in your time of need, and when it comes time to pay up, you insult me by fleeing? And then you shot and killed one of my hit men?… Tsk Tsk Tsk." He pulled out his gun and cocked it and pointed it straight at Jazmine.
Jazmine's eyes widened in terror as she held her hands up in front of her.
"Oh God! Please no! Don't kill me please!" Jazmine begged as she quivered with fear.
"STOP! PLEASE NO!" Matthew begged as well. The man fired his gun but he pointed it right past Jazmine, where the bullet impacted the concrete wall behind her. Jazmine jumped and thought that was it. But when she realized she was still alive, she almost fainted.
"Next one is either going in her belly, or in your brain…your choice," the man said to Matthew. Jazmine began wailing even louder. "Jesus Christ, muzzle her back up! Before I shoot the bitch anyway!"
Roscoe reached into his pocket and pulled out the roll of duck tape, tearing off a long piece. Jazmine struggled to get away from him, but he pulled her right back and taped her mouth close again, her muffled screams filling the room.
"Don't…fucking…touch her," Matthew growled.
"I don't think you have much say in the matter, unless you want to die instead of her." The man pointed his gun at him. Matthew looked up at him and then looked at Jazmine, who shook her head at him.
At this point, Matthew knew it was the end for him. He couldn't let his family suffer for his mistakes. So he accepted his fate. With the little strength he had left, he ruggedly lifted himself off of the ground, and onto his knees. He rose his head and looked into the barrel of the gun pointed directly in his face.
"Do it," Matthew muttered. Jazmine screamed behind her tape in protest as she struggled to free herself from Roscoe.
"PLEASE! PLEEEASSEEEE!" Jazmine's muffled cries fell on deaf ears.
But Matthew just looked over at her, not in fear, but he gave a soft and comforting grin.
"I love you," Matthew whispered. All Jazmine could do was bawl. "I'm so sorry…"
He closed his eyes and in less than a second, the gun fired, where the bullet penetrated straight through Matthew's skull.
Jazmine fell silent from shock. She watched as his head flew back and his lifeless body fell to the side, in its own puddle of blood….Dead. She stared at his corpse for what seemed like an eternity, like she couldn't believe what had actually happened. Her fiancée, the love of her life, the father of her unborn child, brutally murdered in the most gruesome way. Tears slowly fell from her cheeks, down the duck tape across her mouth, and to the floor.
The boss saw her face and smirked and gave a cruel chuckle as he shook his head. He turned around, talking to his henchmen in a language she couldn't understand. He called Roscoe over and he released Jazmine with a violent shove and walked over to the boss, where they conversed in hushed tones.
Jazmine stared painfully at his mangled and disfigured body. It was horrific but for some reason she found it impossible to look away, like she was fatefully taking in every detail. She didn't know how she managed to not faint. Probably because it was that horrifying.
The boss pointed to Matthew's body, probably telling them to dispose of it. Jazmine quickly reached into the side of her pants with both of her hands and pulled out the knife. She hid it behind her sleeves and waited for the perfect moment. If this was to be her last radical act, so be it. She was not going down without a fight.
Right when she hid the knife well enough, Roscoe had turned around and he and the other henchmen carried Matthew out of the room. That was the last she ever saw of him.
When they left the room with her dead fiancée, it was left with just her and the boss, who made his way over to her and squatted down at eye level with her, removing his sunglasses. Her eyes slowly lifted from the floor and met with his. They were a soulless black color.
"Now, what to do with you," he said with a smirk on his face. Her trembling breaths of fear, turned into slow rugged breaths of anger and rage as she glared right back at him. "Oh, I know you must hate me right now. But you're guy had it comin' to him. If he would've accepted his fate back in West Virginia like a man, you wouldn't be in this situation right now."
Jazmine kept her vicious glare on him, still shaking with fear and anger. She was slowly waiting for the right time. She knew if she were to do this, it would have to be hard, and quick. But Lord knows how much strength she had left. But she had to try.
"Why anyone would want to jeopardize the life of such a stunning and beautiful woman, is beyond me." He stroked a few strands of curls from her face, before he stroked her cheek. Jazmine grunted in disgust as she pulled her face away. "Would be such a shame to let this beauty go to waste," He grabbed her by the cheeks hard and made her look at him. "Maybe, I'll make you my whore. And then…" he stroked her stomach. "You're bastard will be my slave…that is if I haven't killed him already too."
And with that, in a quick flash, Jazmine gripped the handle of her knife with both hands and slashed the man right across the face. He roared in pain as he fell back holding his face, which was now pouring out blood. Jazmine sprung up and started to run for the door, but the man tripped her, making her fall flat on her stomach. She screamed out in agony.
"YOU FUCKING BITCH!" The man yelled pulling her by her ankles. Jazmine tried kicking him off, but to no avail. He dragged her back into the room, turned her over and began punching her in the face, in the chest and in the stomach mercilessly.
Her muffled screams and coughs behind the duck tape nearly suffocated her. She looked to the side of her and the knife she dropped was right there. She leaned over and picked it up, and stabbed him in the left shoulder when he reached to punch her again.
"AAAAGHHHHH! FUUUCK!" He exclaimed, followed by a powerful backhand to her face that nearly knocked her out. He pulled the blade out and threw it against the wall. "YOU CAN JOIN HIM YOU FUCKING CUNT!"
He grabbed her throat with both hands, and yanked her on her feet. He threw her against the wall and lifted her by the throat. Jazmine coughed and gagged as she clawed at his hands. Her mouth was already duck taped so any air she attempted to get, was useless. She kicked him in the gut, making him grunt in pain, where he then slammed her into the wall again, lifted her higher and slammed her body back down on the concrete floor, making her head bounce off of it.
"DIE YOU BITCH!" He growled in her face.
Her eyes turned blood-shot red as she stared up in terror at his blood-stained face. The more she tried to fight the harder he squeezed. She squeaked when he slammed her head back down on the concrete again, pressing his palms into her throat.
This was it. This was the end for her. She looked up at his snarling face in dread as she came to accept that fact.
Then she felt her whole body numbing. Her eyesight went blurry and everything faded to white.
The pain she felt subsided to where she didn't feel anything. She felt herself floating, as much as she tried to hang on, but she allowed herself to let go.
Jazmine's eyes peeped open but her sight was clouded. She blinked a few times for them to adjust, but when they did, her terror immediately resumed as she recalled her last memory of that man beating and choking her to her death.
'Forget…my…face,' was the last thing she heard before she fell unconscious in his hands. She squirmed with fright until a hand came up and touched her and she jumped violently as she snapped her head to see who it was.
"Jazmine! Jazmine, honey it's me!" Jazmine's mother, Sarah, said soothingly. Jazmine still kept her terrified and traumatized look on her, like she didn't recognize her at first. She tried to get up, but her whole body rejected as lethal pains arose everywhere. "Shhh shhh shhh, calm down sweetie, you're okay! You're okay! Don't move honey. Just lay still," Sarah gently laid her back down. "Tom! Tom! She's awake!" Sarah called out just above a whisper. Jazmine's father, Tom Dubois, came around the curtain in a flash and stood over his daughter.
"Oh Jazmine, baby." Tom sighed. "Thank God you're okay." He softly stroked her cheek as his eyes welled up with tears.
Jazmine looked around frantically as she realized she was in a hospital bed. She had an IV in her arm, her entire right shoulder and chest were padded up, her head was wrapped up in bandages, and she wore a Stifneck neck guard, which kept her neck erect and still.
"M-m-momma, D-Daddyy" Jazmine tried to let out, but her voice was hoarse and airy, followed by a painful contraction in her throat. She groaned in pain as her head fell back onto the pillow.
"Shhh don't speak, honey," Sarah whispered. "Just rest."
But rest was the last thing on her mind. She brought her hands to her stomach, and realized that her bump was no longer there. Her eyes widened in fear as she patted around her stomach, only to feel scars and stitches. She looked down in disbelief as her mouth quivered, releasing little confused whimpers. Sarah, seeing her daughter's horrified reaction, was about to console her, until Jazmine squeezed the bedsheets in her fists and released hoarse and raucous screams in grief.
"M-mmyyyy BAAAABYYY!" Jazmine whimpered followed by a long hoarse sob. "N-noooo My B-BAABBYYYY!"
"Jazmine honey! Shhhh! Calm down! You're going to hurt yourself! Calm.." Tom tried calming her down, but she just continued to scream in anguish. She tried removing the IV from her arm and getting out of bed, but nurses ran into the room from hearing the commotion out in the hall, and pinned her back in the bed.
Jazmine continued struggling to get lose, so the nurses had no other choice but to inject a temporary anesthesiac into her uninjured shoulder. Jazmine fell limp almost immediately and they placed her back in the bed. Tom and Sarah could only watch with heavy hearts as their beloved daughter fell back into a soundless sleep.
Present:
" 'They told me my injuries were too severe for my baby to withstand. They had to surgically abort her.' " Jazmine signed along with the recording of Trisha's voice.
Huey was now fully facing her, with a permanent scowl, but tear-filled eyes. He couldn't remember the last time he's EVER teared up, but his heart was filled with so much sorrow for his old friend.
It was a girl, he thought. He remembered how she told him when they were kids that she dreamt of having a daughter, to do her hair, buy her matching mother-daughter outfits, take her to princess shows, plan all her birthday parties, and all of the girly things she looked forward to. All for it to be brutally taken from her….her poor unborn daughter.
" 'They told me that a black-painted van dropped me off outside the entrance of the hospital. The doctors guessed that the gangster had quit choking me just in time on purpose. If it was for the sake of the baby, he should have just finished the deed.' " Jazmine paused and took a deep breath, swallowing any potential tears.
" 'He choked me so hard, that my vocal chords were permanently damaged. Surgery was an option, but I still wouldn't have been able to speak above a whisper. So I accepted the fact, that I just was never going to speak again.
Investigators attempted to find out what happened, but I was so frightened that I didn't want to tell them anything, despite the fact that I literally couldn't at the time. However, his family did want justice. But, outside of the description of the black van that dropped Jazmine off, they found absolutely no evidence, nor Matthew's body, nor who the murderer was. It remains a murder mystery to this day.
Two weeks later, I was admitted out of the hospital, and his funeral was the following weekend. I received mixed emotions and reactions from his family members, but I did not attend. The experience was traumatic enough. Going to a burial for an empty casket, of which I literally witnessed the body get executed and carried off, was completely pointless to me. I haven't kept in touch with his family since.
As a means of communication, the doctors strongly suggested I learn sign language, which is how I met Trisha. I took a year off from school and went back to live with my Dad, where Trisha coached me and taught me sign language during that time. I eventually got the courage to go back and finish school and earn my degree. Everything was going well with a new career, but too many memories lingered in New York, so I eventually decided to move back home in Woodcrest. And I've never felt safer.' "
Jazmine sighed heavily as she closed the papers and the recording ended. She looked up to see Huey's sorrow-stricken face. She waited for him to say something, but she could see he was just as hurt as she was…maybe even more.
"Jazmine…" Huey whispered, biting back his tears. There was a solid lump in his throat that was painful to swallow, like he couldn't believe that these horrible things had happened to her. "I'm so, so….incredibly sorry…shit," Huey cursed as he quickly wiped a tear falling. Jazmine's eyes widened at his reaction. It was inconceivable ….He was actually crying.
Not that she wasn't worth his tears, but he wasn't used to letting people see him cry, let alone crying AT ALL! Jazmine watched him in awe. He must have really felt for her. She scooted closer to him and placed her hand over his.
"I never would've thought…" Huey said lowly at a loss for words. Jazmine squeezed his hand and gave him a comforting grin.
'It's okay, Huey,' she signed. 'I'm dealing with it in my own way. Each passing day it gets easier. Some easier than others, but I'm getting through it.' Huey nodded and closed his eyes for a second, taking a deep breath, and opened them back up. His tears had dissipated, much to his embarrassment.
"You are a strong woman Jazmine Dubois. I'm grateful that you decided to tell me. Just know that you are safe and protected here. I won't let anything bad happen to you ever again." Huey said squeezing her hand back.
Jazmine smiled brighter and without another word, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and gave him a big hug. Huey was taken aback at first, but he wrapped his arms around her waist and squeezed her tightly. Lord knows what he would've done if he found out that she was murdered. Her losses were still terrible, but losing her would be insufferable.
"I don't know what I would do if something were to happen to you," he accidentally thought out loud. Jazmine responded by nuzzling her head in the crook of his neck, holding him even more snug. After a minute, they realized they were holding on a little too long, and pulled apart.
'You are a great friend, Huey. Thank you for listening.' Jazmine signed.
'Of course,' Huey signed back. 'I'm always here whenever you need me.'
They both sighed heavily and sat back in the couch looking into space as they enjoyed a much needed silence.
"I need a smoke," Huey blurted out.
'Me too,' Jazmine agreed. So they both grabbed their coats and made their way to the back porch. Huey flipped the porch light on as he slid the glass door closed and took out a pack of Black & Milds from his pocket. Jazmine did the same, pulling out her cigarettes.
He lit his cigar and she lit hers with her engraved lighter and they both blew out smoke. A subtle buzz immediately took hold of them, calming their nerves.
"That's a neat lighter you got," Huey pointed out taking another puff.
'Thanks. It was a gift…from M,' she signed handing it to him. Huey took it and looked it over, taking in its details. 'He didn't exactly support me smoking, so he thought this would help me quit. He said every time I lit a cigarette with it, I would be reminded of him advising me not to with a cute love quote to make it that much worse.' Jazmine gave a silly chuckle as she rolled her eyes.
'Reverse psychology….smart,' Huey signed before handing it back to her. A few minutes passed while they casually smoked until Huey spoke up again.
"Can I ask you a personal question?" He asked.
'Huey, I just told you my whole life's story. I don't think it gets any more personal than that.' Jazmine lightly giggled as she took a puff from her cig.
"Still had to ask," Huey shrugged. "Have you ever tried to speak again, despite your condition?"
Jazmine nodded.
'I did for a time, because part of me believed that my vocal chords would magically heal somehow. But it became too painful.' She held her hand at her throat.
'Painful how?' Huey signed.
'My throat clenches up every time I try to speak. I could maybe get away with a whisper or two, but after that first year, I just stopped altogether. It's more practical that way.'
"Damn. I know it must've pissed you off when you couldn't cuss somebody out." Huey said puffing his cigar.
'You have no idea!' Jazmine agreed. 'But, surprisingly, people get just as scared, if not MORE scared, when someone curses them out in sign language than when they actually say it.'
"How would you sign it then?" Huey smirked getting amused. Jazmine rolled her eyes and ashed her cigarette against the wooden ledge of the porch.
She did a sequence of signs very aggressively, with a mean mug on her face. Her lips tightened and her nostrils flared whenever she contoured her hands a certain way. Huey had to admit, it definitely was more intimidating than someone yelling at you.
"What did you just say?" He asked. Jazmine opened her locket and wrote out what she said, laughing to herself. Huey lifted an eyebrow at her before she tore off the paper and handed it to him. He read it and made a blank face before handing it back to her. "That…is highly inappropriate Jazmine."
'Told you so,' Jazmine giggled rubbing it in.
Huey looked at the time on his watch, where it read 10:15 pm. Damn, more time had passed than he thought. And Riley wasn't back with Dorothy yet! Huey pulled out his phone and called him twice. Both times it went straight to voicemail. He sighed frustratingly and shoved his phone back in his pocket.
"Where the fuck is Riley at with my damn car?" Huey muttered.
'More like where is Riley with my damn INTERPRETER!' Jazmine added. Huey stopped and realized she did have a point. They both knew they were feeling each other since that Sunday dinner. Lord knows what they were doing right now.
"All I know is, he better be here by morning. If I'm late for work, that's his ass on God!" Huey threatened.
'Hold on, let me call Trish,' Jazmine signed pulling out her phone and FaceTimed her three times, only to be met with the same thing. And Trisha ALWAYS answered her calls. 'Yeah….they fucking.' Jazmine knowingly signed.
Huey just rolled his eyes while Jazmine silently laughed beside him. After she finished laughing, she covered her mouth as she let out a huge yawn.
"Tired?" Huey asked. Jazmine nodded as she began rubbing her eyes like a three year old.
'I'm so worn out from today, I don't think I can make it across the street,' Jazmine signed followed by another big yawn.
"You can stay over if you want," Huey suggested with a shrug. Jazmine stopped and looked at him questioningly.
'You sure?' Jazmine asked.
"Yeah," he let out slowly. "I mean, Riley has the guest bedroom now, but we can arrange it how we used to when we were little." Huey suggested as he put out his cigar.
'Okay, Thanks.' Jazmine shyly signed before she followed him back inside and they headed upstairs into his room.
When they stepped inside, a reminiscent feeling came over Jazmine. It's been so long since she's been in Huey's room. What used to be two twin-sized beds for him and his brother was now a neatly made king-sized bed with gray and navy blue bedsheets. He still had his black civil rights activist posters hanging up, a tall bookcase stacked with books, all of which he's probably read, a big flat screen t.v. mounted on the wall across from the bed and his computer desk in the corner. She remembered countless days where she would be sitting on his bed, bored, babbling on about something while he ignored her and read a book or did something on the computer. She didn't mind though. She just enjoyed being in his company.
She saw him go to his closet and pull out extra blankets and pillows. She tapped on his shoulder to get his attention.
'No, Huey. You shouldn't have to sleep on the ground. There's more than enough room for both of us.'
"I just thought since it's how we always used to do it. Plus, I didn't think you would feel comfortable….sleeping in the same bed." Huey trailed off. Jazmine bit her bottom lip nervously as she thought about it.
'I'm fine with it. Honest.' She signed confidently.
"You sure?" Huey asked. Jazmine nodded. Huey watched her for another moment, then put all the blankets and pillows back. "Alright."
Jazmine kicked off her uggs and put them at the foot of the bed. She held her arms in tightly as she awkwardly walked to the other side of the bed. Huey smirked and chuckled through his nose at her.
"You can make yourself comfortable, Jaz," Huey said. Jazmine just held her finger up to her lips, signifying 'Shhhh'. Huey held his hands up in defense.
She slowly sat down on his mattress and took out her hair tie, shaking her hair loose and letting her curls fall down her back and around her face. Then she lifted her sweatshirt above her head and off her body, leaving her in a black spaghetti-strap tank top and her leggings. She quickly unclasped her bra inside her shirt and removed the straps from underneath. She folded her clothes neatly and placed them on the floor.
Huey sat on the other side of the bed, facing the other side of the room. He couldn't help but peek from the corner of his eye at her as he began unbuttoning his shirt. He cursed himself for looking, but it was hard to resist. As he pulled off his button-up, leaving him in his white wife-beater, he noticed a sizable dark pink/almost brown scar on her right, back shoulder. Realizing where it was from, he stopped and stared at it unintentionally.
Jazmine peeped over her shoulder and froze when she caught him staring. They locked eyes for a second before she reached for her sweatshirt to put back on.
"No," Huey whispered. "Don't…" he grabbed her hand. Jazmine stopped her actions and let her hand fall in his. He looked at it longer, this time more admirably. "It makes you look tough." He smirked. Jazmine simply smiled as she pulled a few strands of hair behind her ear.
'Thanks, Huey.' Jazmine signed sincerely.
'No problem.' He signed back. He pulled back the covers and let her scoot in and he followed, draping the covers back over them.
They both laid on their backs on complete opposite sides of the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Jazmine felt so giddy, yet so calm at the same time. After a long day of crying, and writing and signing her life away (Literally), she was now laying in her best friend's bed; Huey Freeman's bed, WITH him! And what a comfortable and plush bed it was! The pillow she laid on conformed perfectly to her head. She almost dozed off right then and there.
She wondered when was the last time she felt this…safe! She felt warm, protected, snug and secure. And it all radiated from Huey. It brought back peaceful memories of them as kids when she would sneak over when her parents fought. She relished in it as she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly.
"One more question," Huey said. Jazmine's eyes snapped open. "And you can definitely tell me to shut up whenever. You won't offend me."
Jazmine chuckled and turned on her side, supporting herself on her elbow. She signed for him to go on. Huey looked back at her but hesitated before he asked.
"What would you have named her?" Huey asked. Jazmine's smile slightly faded, but she pursed her lips cutely. The question surprisingly didn't offend her at all. Mostly, because very few people knew about it, so she wasn't used to being asked that question.
'You're going to laugh,' Jazmine made a gun shape with her thumb and index finger and made a strumming motion at her mouth.
Huey just kept his signature scowl at her for a stale second.
'Okay..maybe not.' Jazmine redirected. 'But I had this name picked out for the longest. 'M' and I agreed he would pick the boy's name and I would pick the girl's name.
'Which was?' Huey signed.
'F-r-a-n-c-e-s' Jazmine spelled out. Huey sat up on his elbow with a growing smirk. 'Frances Delatoire Caulton.'
Huey tightened his lips together trying his hardest to bite back a bigger smirk. But he straightened up and returned to his normal scowl. He didn't want to come off as disrespectful, but that was a peculiar ass name.
Plus, he was trying so hard to hide the fact that he was absolutely smitten about his beautiful best friend spending the night with him again, and in his bed no less. He did a dutiful job at keeping his eyes above neck level, where just below, her tank top showed a modest view of cleavage. From just a peripheral view, he could see the outline of her upper assets.
God bless her, he thought. But he was more focused on her bright green irises, accented by long, thick, dark eyelashes, that satisfied his gaze effortlessly with each blink. Her auburn and golden curls fell wildly around her face and on the pillows behind her. She was the absolute epitome of natural beauty.
'So what do you think?' Jazmine asked.
"Very original. Very classic. I like it." Huey admitted.
'Really? Thanks…even though I know you're lying' Jazmine signed as she rolled her eyes. Huey tsk'd his tongue and laid back down on the bed with his hands behind his head and closed his eyes.
Jazmine couldn't help but notice his marvelously toned arms, and shoulders, with hard pecs and and abs to match. And just above where the comforter covered his hips, his wife-beater was risen up slightly and she could see the v-shape of his pelvis…
SHIT! Snap out of it, Jazmine! Above the shoulders! Above the shoulders!, Jazmine thought. Goodness, it really has been a while since she's had any male company. She started to wonder if this was a good idea, because she shouldn't be looking at her friend like this.
But he was so fine though!
More than fine, he was sharp and intelligent. He could be professional and well-mannered one minute. The next, he can turn real hood, REAL QUICK! It was definitely that bad boy vibe that all the good girls would go crazy for. But she wasn't hardly a good girl.
She tapped him on his chest, making him raise one eyelid to look at her.
'I got a question for you now,' she signed.
"Shoot," Huey muttered opening both of his eyes.
'How did you learn sign language so quickly?' Jazmine made two thumbs up with curled in index fingers.
Huey picked his phone up from the nightstand on his side and showed her the American Sign Language app he downloaded. He had gone through every category: the alphabet, numbers pronouns, adverbs, adjectives, conjugates, greetings, actions, everyday objects, conversations, home items and various random, highlighted sections of the dictionary.
"I got the same app on my computer," Huey gestured towards it in the corner.
Jazmine's mouth fell open. She's been here just shy of a week and so far he already had all of this down pat! But then again…same goes for how quickly she got comfortable sleeping in his bed again!
'Huey…this is amazing! Did you learn all of this…for me?' Jazmine asked.
'Who else, Jazmine.' Huey said aloud as he signed with an obvious face. Jazmine smiled a big cheeky grin as she looked down at her fingers. 'I want to be able to communicate freely with you, with no complications. And no offense to Trisha, but I much prefer my conversations kept… private.' Huey signed, never breaking his signature look. Jazmine nodded.
'Good luck breaking that to her. She gets territorial with me. Real talk. She's that stereotypical crazy best friend.' .
"That makes two of us." Huey said defensively. Jazmine's eyebrows rose.
Huey simply placed his head back down and continued looking at the ceiling. Jazmine smiled and laid back down as well, closing her eyes and resting her hands on her stomach. Huey turned his head and looked at her peacefully snoozing.
"I wanted to demonstrate how much I cared about you and your situation," Huey said in a low tone, just above a whisper. Jazmine's eyes slowly opened as she turned her head to face his. "To show you that your voice will always be heard with me. That I would never take advantage of your silence. To let you know that you aren't alone."
Jazmine smiled softly at him. If it was one thing he was good at, it was being deep. And he definitely went there.
'Thank you, Huey,' Jazmine signed getting further into the covers. Huey nodded and reached up towards the lamp. 'Goodnight' she signed. Huey twisted the knob and turned the lamp off.
"Goodnight, Elizabeth." Huey said.
Then they both drifted off to a peaceful sleep.
If only you guys knew how many times I had to rewrite these two chapters! I am slump-daddy over here! PHEWWW! So yeah! There you have it! To all my impatient readers! You know who you are lol. Now that I revealed her past, ya'll better not lose interest in this story and YA'LL BETTER REVIEW DAGGUMMIT! Lol jk jk jkkkk...but seriously.
Thanks for the support so far from my viewers! Much love to all of you! Until next time! Peace!
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