HELLO FOLKS! I know, I know, I knoowwww! It's been too long! It has been a VERY hectic holiday season, and I just wanna apologize a thousand times for the delay! I couldn't catch a break to just sit down and write to save my LIFE! Let alone, I had to rewrite this chapter like a gazillion times! But, I DID IT! And I would like to acknowledge some Reviewers real quick!

Chel29: Girl I was cracking up writing that scene with drunk Jazmine! XD I'm not gonna lie, I kinda based it off me just a TAD bit, cuz I know I ain't got NO filter when I'm drunk ctfu! And that connection will always be there between Jazmine and Huey. No way in hell he's letting up off of her after that! Thanks for reading!

ThickBlackGirl: Yeah, I fell in love with Matthew too, while writing that lol. And I told you it would be a surprise! A GRUESOME surprise! Which is why I really wanted to prolong it and you see why! Huey is only human, so I had no problem letting him cry. I mean WHY WOULDN'T HE?! And don't worry, Huey ain't gonna let SHIT happen to her ever again! keep reading! ;)

Your Hitta: Yeah, they had a LOT going for them and Matt didn't make the best decision getting involved with money launderers. Those folks don't PLAY about their money! And it costed him his and his unborn daughter's life. But Jazmine just might be ready for a NEW family! ;) Keep reading!

SammiSweetheart: Thanks so much for reading and your review! I know right?! I've picked up a lot of sign language while writing this story! Not as sharp as Huey! But you know...lolol

RabbitMelody: LOLOLOLOL your review actually made me chuckle. But I felt guilty too because I haven't updated in so long! I didn't mean to keep ya'll waiting! Please enjoy and keep reviewing!

Ultraspider: Thanks for reading luv! and thank you soooo much for your input! it means a lot!

Okay! Without further ado!

Huey shifted in his sleep as he rolled over on his right side, draping his arm over Jazmine's waist in front of him. Jazmine slightly shifted under him and involuntarily scooted closer. The sudden warmth made Huey smirk in his sleep and tighten his arm around her. Jazmine gave an instinctive sigh as she leaned back into his chest. The warmth radiating from him made her unknowingly smile in her sleep as well.

It wasn't until Jazmine felt something hard poking her rear-end when her eyes snapped open. As if his psychic felt her, Huey's eyes snapped open too, to be met with an Afro mane of orange/blonde curls in his face, his arm wrapped securely around his best friend's hips, and his…nether region pressed firmly up against her backside.

Their initial reaction was to pull away from each other so fast, they probably wouldn't have come within a mile of each other ever again…but why didn't they?

They didn't exactly know that the other was awake yet, thankfully, much to their embarrassment. But they stayed there for a couple minutes, enjoying how darn comfortable the other felt, despite his obvious hard-on.

Jazmine's mind raced at a million miles per hour. She should have felt flustered, let alone guilty for laying with her friend like this. But surprisingly…she didn't! It was so wrong to her, but it felt so…right! She guessed she just missed the feeling of waking up next to someone. She's woken up next to morning wood with Matthew loads of times. But, from what Jazmine could tell, Huey was playing in a bigger ball park.

Shame on you, Jazmine Dubois! Shame..on..you! She thought to herself. I mean it IS right up against me! How could I not tell?! But damn!

Meanwhile, Huey was thinking of every appalling and disgusting thing he could, desperate for his erection to go down, but it was an epic fail. Every thought was blocked out from the warm and tantalizing heat beaming from her body, which molded into his frame so perfectly. He subtly took a deep breath into her hair, making his eyes flutter shut almost back to sleep. She smelled so sweet and savory, it aroused him even more. He was so wrapped up in her, he didn't notice himself inadvertently pulling her more into him. Damn, his male nature.

Jazmine felt his warm breath on her neck and she tried her hardest to stifle the shiver going down her spine. It wasn't until she felt him harden even more against her that she thought this had gone long enough. So she softly placed her hand on his that was wrapped around her, making him jump in surprise. He snatched his arm from around her in a quick flash. Jazmine turned around and looked at him confused.

"Jazmine!...I-I'm sorry. I didn't…" he started. Jazmine shook her head.

'It's fine, Huey. Don't worry about it.' Jazmine signed giving him a nervous smile. Huey rubbed his head just as nervously.

"I just didn't think you were awake. God…this is so embarrassing," Huey said getting out of bed. He turned to look at his alarm clock, which read 5:55 am. He inwardly groaned. Only five more minutes until he had to start getting ready for work.

'I didn't know you were awake either!' Jazmine admitted. Huey rose his eyebrow at her. 'This is no more embarrassing to you than it is for me.'

"I HIGHLY doubt that Jazmine." Huey gave her a dull look. "I swear it was unintentional. I was just sleeping so hard."

'Yeah…no doubt.' Jazmine bit back a giggle as she slightly lowered her eyes before looking away from him.

Huey looked down and he realized that he was standing in front of her with his…situation… still well – apparent. He scowled at himself, while awkwardly reaching for one of his throw pillows to cover himself and plainly walked out of the room without another word.

He went straight to the bathroom and turned the shower on to the coldest setting. It was definitely too cold to be taking cold showers, but not according to his friend. He could live a million years, and still wouldn't be able to stomach what just happened. He stepped inside the shower, wincing at the aching temperature of the water. It took him a minute, but eventually it went down.

God, what was wrong with him? He's never behaved like this. All these feelings were foreign to him. And it was all centered around her. Ever since Jazmine came back, she's all he could think about. And now that she told him her past, he felt even more open and vulnerable to her. She trusted him, and he had to be worthy of that. He didn't want to over-complicate things by getting too involved with her. But he didn't even know if he could take his own advice. She was already doing a number on him.

Jazmine let her giggle slip when he left. She should have felt bad, but it was so cute though! Now, she knew why he was so keen on sleeping on the floor. The circumstances were much different than when they were kids…the man was packing now!

She felt her cheeks flush at the thought. Although, she questioned whether her thoughts were appropriate. He was her friend, and friends shouldn't think that way about each other. She shouldn't be thinking like this about anybody. She was mourning for goodness sake! But why didn't she feel like it? That's what was so confusing.

Despite how awkward it may have been, it was still a nice way to wake up. She chuckled through her nose and just shook her head.

When she heard water running down the hall, she decided to get out of bed as well. She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the mattress, facing away from the door just in case someone walked in. She picked up her bra and clasped it around her underneath her tank top, threw on her sweatshirt and tied her hair up in a sloppy bun . She grabbed her phone to see if she had any notifications, but they were all from Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat. Still, no response from Trisha. She decided to FaceTime her one more time just in case.

The other Freeman brother and his, now lover's, morning was a little less subtle.

Trisha and Riley were both passed out on their stomachs in her bed, completely naked under the covers. Her long, brown and golden hair was sprawled out everywhere, covering her face and the surrounding pillows and Riley's cornrows were a little frizzy. She had her arm draped over his back while he had his hand at his side, rotated backwards, holding hers.

Then, abrupt vibrations erupted from her phone on her brass nightstand, making the whole thing vibrate as well. Trisha's head shot up, being met with a throbbing pain in her temple. She winced but shook it off as she reached for her phone. She squinted her eyes and shoved her draping hair out of her face to look at the blaring screen and saw that it was Jazmine.

"Shit!" Trisha quietly exclaimed. She slid across the green 'Answer' button and got ready for the lecture she was about to receive. And there and behold, Jazmine's face appeared with a knowing frown. "I can explain…" Trisha tried to say, but her voice was completely gone! She had to clear her throat a couple times. Jazmine just gave her a blank stare.

'Don't explain to me. Explain to Huey. He's the one you're about to make late for work!' Jazmine signed.

"Ahhhh Madon! I'm sorry hon'! We completely forgot! We're coming now!" Trisha scrambled. Jazmine just shook her head.

'You are something else. You know that?'

'Listen…you don't know the HALF of it!' Trisha signed before looking back to see Riley still completely passed out, releasing a little snore as he continued to sleep. She rolled her eyes and looked back at the screen.

'Just please hurry up and get here!' Jazmine pleaded.

'Alright, alright,' Trisha signed. But then she noticed Jazmine's background and she knew she wasn't in her own house. 'And just where the hell are YOU, missy?'

Jazmine froze as she realized the tables have turned. Trisha waited for her answer.

'I'm…in Huey's bed...' Jazmine meekly signed.

"Mmmhmm. Yeah, we're going to talk later," Trisha said as she pursed her lips.

'Whatever, hoe,' Jazmine rolled her eyes. Trisha laughed before signing 'bye' and they both hung up.

"Riley!...Riley!" Trisha shoved Riley, trying to wake him up, only for him to give another hard snore.

"Lemme get a…two piece and a biscuit…extra hot sauce..and all the fries you can give me…" Riley muttered in his sleep. Trisha rolled her eyes again. Seriously?

"RIIIILLEEEYYY!" Trisha screamed.

"Whoa, wha-? HUH?!" Riley jumped up in a flash.

"Come on! Wake up! We overslept!" Trisha pulled her sheets to wrap around herself as she hopped out of bed and disappeared into the bathroom.

Riley grimaced as his apparent hangover arose. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. He was used to drinking and getting tipsy, but that vintage wine type of drunk was something lethal! He started to pat around the bed for his phone and found it hidden under the ruffles of her comforter. He tried turning it on but it was dead. 'Fuckkk,' he thought. 'Huey gon' kill me…'

Then, memories of last night flew through his mind, play-by-play: them drinking heavily, which led to him making a move on her, them passionately kissing and grinding it out on her couch, her sucking his entire soul out of his body, then him taking her to bed to finish her off. Her moans and cries rung through his ears, encouraging him in her Italian dialect that she knew he loved so much.

What he thought was just going to be another nice fuck to brag about to his homeboys, actually turned out to be the best lust-filled night of his life. He couldn't remember the last time he's been blown away in the bedroom by ANY female. But Trisha was…INCREDIBLE! She was so tender, so responsive, so warm, so free and willing, like she was already his.

He had her on her back, from the side, lifted in the air, on her back again, on top of him, on top of him in reverse, and where they hashed it out the longest, from the back.

Damn…he thought as he bit his bottom lip, reminiscing on how her frame looked from behind.

She sure knew how to take it. Every stroke he made, she met him halfway, throwing her ass back at him tirelessly. He didn't even have to tell her to arch her back or spread her legs wider. She didn't try to run, or ask him to slow down. They were completely in tune with each other, something he couldn't admit about his other escapades. She was just so good! He was going to be thinking about that ass for a good minute.

He remembered her telling him that it's been a while since she's had some physical attention, but damn! She must have meant a LONG ass while! She was so tight, he could barely stroke it at first. But the more he talked that good shit in her ear, while teasing her slick opening with his tip, the easier she relaxed and accepted him completely. He now knew the true meaning of the phrase, "Beat the BRAKES off."

When he looked up, he saw Trisha come out of the bathroom in a new, blue, lace bra and panties set, being reminded of how they got in this situation in the first place. She had brushed her hair, returning it to its normal curls and waves, with a side-part and half of it pinned back behind her ear, giving her that Hollywood glamazon look and she had touched up her face just a tad. How the fuck she got ready that fast? He did not know.

"You're still sitting there?!" Trisha hollered taking clothes out of her closet. "Dai (Come on) Papi, your brother is waiting for you to return the car!"

And there she go with that damn TALK!

"Girl, I can't hardly MOVE after last night! Obviously I didn't do my job if you up and walkin' around already." Riley looked her up and down with want, struggling so hard not to drag her back into bed and have a go with her again.

"That's because I put this pussy on you too good. And quite the contrary, my back and knees are killing me! I can't even walk straight…so thanks!" Trisha said sarcastically. Riley chuckled through his nose as he swung his legs out of bed and slipped his briefs on as he stood up.

Now, it was Trisha's turn to stare. His ass was so rock hard. Trisha slightly shuddered as she remembered kneading and clawing at it the night before, desperate to meet his undying strokes with hers. Her eyes traveled up to his stone-sculpted abs and chest, making her bite her lip. Jesus! Was there any flaw on this man's body?

When Riley reached down to pick up his shirt, he winced as he felt four long fingernail marks going down his mid-back.

"Yo, what the hell?" He exclaimed. Trisha slightly blushed as she slipped on a lavender blouse and white jeans. "Who are you? Catwoman!?"

"If you say so," Trisha shrugged. "Since somebody beat the kitty up pretty good last night." She retorted. She probably shouldn't have scratched him so hard, but honestly she couldn't help it! He was digging her out so damn good and deep, her body was just responding to the riveting pleasure.

"I'll fuck 'dat pussy again right now, keep playin wit' me," Riley stopped putting his pants on halfway.

"Cut that out! We need to leave now!" Trisha zipped up her gray, suede ankle boots. "Jazmine said Huey is already irritated, and I'm no genius, but I know I don't want to see him pissed off."

"Girl, that bitch ass nigga ain't gon' do nothin'!" Riley waved his hand going into her bathroom and getting some mouthwash. He opened a cabinet door and found some, pouring a decent amount in the cap. "Wait…what you mean 'Jazmine said'?" Riley asked changing the subject.

"Jazmine is over there right now….looked to be just waking up if you ask me." Trisha hinted while Riley swished the mouthwash in his cheeks and gargled before spitting it out in the sink.

"You lyin'!…" Trisha shook her head as she leaned up against the doorframe. "My brother is such a poser, dawg! He be gettin' in them draws quicker than Pretty Boy Flizzy!" Riley laughed.

"I don't think so Riley." Trisha shook her head. "I didn't catch that vibe when she called. Plus, I know she's not one to sleep around so easily. She did look well rested though." Trisha teased with a shrug.

"Mmmhmmm, I know that look from anywhere. Rasheeda had that same look this past Sunday when she was leaving the house." Riley slipped out.

"Rasheeda?..." Trisha asked.

"Yeah, Huey's ex. She was struttin' that walk of shame Sunday morning." Riley shook his head as he went back into the bedroom, sat down on the bed again and started putting on his shoes. "The bitch is bat-shit crazy and one of the loosest hoes I ever done met! I don't know why he still messin' wit' her."

"….right." Trisha said in a stale tone. "Never took him as one to date the crazy type."

"Never took you as the freaky type, but here we are!" Riley shrugged, standing up biting his lips as he cornered her into the doorframe.

"Stop that!...Mmmm!" Trisha tried to defend, but was distracted by Riley trailing his lips up and down her neck while his hand cupped her mound, rubbing in circles. She involuntarily hiked her leg around him as she dipped her head back and bit her bottom lip. But she snapped out of it in a split second. "Come on Riley…ssssss Oouuu!...We gotta go!" She embraced him one final time before removing his hand from her.

Riley gave an irritated sigh before smacking his lips. Leave it to his brother to be the biggest cock-block in all of America. He knew Huey was going to annihilate him for making him late, but he didn't give a fuck! He was so enthralled with the woman in front of him, he was willing to face the lion's den.

"You killing me woman," Riley groaned.

"Yeah, well not before Huey kills you first!" Trisha giggled and buttoned her pants back up. "Andiamo (Let's go) Papi," Trisha said walking out of the bedroom. Riley dipped his head back disheartened and followed her.

"Swear to God, I'm gonna kill him," Huey paced back and forth in the main lobby, while Jazmine just sat on the stairs watching him with her face in her hands. Despite his angry demeanor right now, she had to say, Huey cleaned up pretty nice for work.

He had on a light weight indigo denim suit that was tapered just right to his form, not too tight, but not too lose. Along with a light blue button down shirt, a black tie and belt and Oxford shoes. And every time he paced in front of her, she got a whiff of that stimulating cologne he liked to wear, making her head spin, which didn't help because she was still in a whirl from that awkward situation when they woke up.

"Where the hell are they? It doesn't take that long to fucking get here!" Huey yelled to himself. He checked his watch, which read 6:58. His first class started at 7:30 and Woodcrest traffic was a bitch at this time. He gave a frustrated sigh as he continued to pace back and forth.

Jazmine texted Trisha again asking where they were at, but she didn't get a reply. She was about to sign something, but he was too busy pacing, he didn't notice her. She patted her foot on the ground a couple times to get his attention. He stopped pacing and looked at her.

'I honestly can't help but feel this is my fault. I came over and demanded privacy and now everything is all out of whack.' Jazmine signed making slapping motions in front of her.

"No, Jazmine. This is not your fault. Riley knew I did NOT mean for him to stay overnight. He knew I had work today. Plus, last night was important. Don't ever feel guilty for wanting to tell me something." Huey told her. Jazmine smiled sweetly at him.

'Yeah, but I don't want you to get into any trouble.' Jazmine signed. Then a wild idea popped into her head. 'Do you want to take my car?' Huey raised an eyebrow at her.

"Nah, I couldn't do that. That just makes me more liable. Plus, what if you need to go somewhere? What if you have an emergency?"

'It's totally fine, Huey! I'm going to be home all day. I got a LOT of work to catch up on. I'm not going anywhere. Plus, if Trisha gets back, she still has her car over here. Don't worry….I trust you.' Jazmine crossed her wrists with open hands and made a squeezing motion, closing them.

Huey rose both of his eyebrows. Wow, she really did trust him. And enough for him to drive her car? It was mighty thoughtful of her, but it still didn't sit right with him. He wasn't too keen on handouts. He took another look at his watch, and the time jumped to 7:05. He pinched the bridge of his nose frustratingly. He guessed he didn't have much of a choice.

"Alright, let's go." Huey muttered grabbing their coats and his briefcase.

As they stepped outside, Jazmine hissed at the blistering cold that smacked her across the cheeks. But Huey just keep walking unaffected. Jazmine reached into her pocket and pulled out her keys, unlocking and auto-starting the silver 2018 Mercedes Benz E-class Coupe as they crossed the street. Huey smirked as he saw how nice of a car she drove. Maybe it wouldn't be such a difficult day after all…..That was until he opened the door and sat down in the driver's seat.

"Awh HELL NAHHH!...What the?...Jazmine, ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Huey exclaimed. Jazmine hid her snickers behind her hand. She had pink and black seat covers and everything from the steering wheel, to the auto start button, the gear shift, the navigation knob on the radio, the a/c unit knobs, and the rear-view mirror frame was bedazzled with silver rhinestones. "You've GOT to be kidding me! Ain't no way in hell!" Huey snapped as he stood back up out of the car.

'Huey Freeman, it is NOT that bad!' Jazmine defended.

"Not that bad?! Jazmine, you got Hello Kitty hanging from the rear-view!" Huey pointed out the big, pink and white, car-scent kitten dangling from her rear-view mirror, along with a colorful dream-catcher with white feathers. He didn't know why he was this surprised, matter of fact. This was Jazmine they were talking about.

'You are such a boy,' Jazmine rolled her eyes. 'Well then fine! If you pick being late over driving in a girly car!' Jazmine pushed a button on the car key, turning it off.

Huey blew air out of his nose like a bull. He checked his watch again and it read 7:10! Great! He was going to be at least ten minutes late, traffic willing. He just rolled his eyes as he stubbornly held out his hand for her to put the key in. Jazmine smiled brightly and placed it in his hand.

'Have a good day!' Jazmine signed all giddy.

"Thanks," Huey muttered. "A lot. I mean that." He gave her a sincere look, in which Jazmine smiled and nodded and signed 'You're welcome.'

He sat back down in the car and pushed the auto-start button. He hesitantly placed his hands on the steering wheel, where the easy-grip rhinestones slightly scratched his palm, making him shake his head and roll his eyes. Jazmine chuckled as she watched him pull out of her driveway and waved at him before he drove down the street. Then she headed into her house.

Not even ten minutes later, right when Jazmine stepped out of the shower, she heard her doorbell ringing repeatedly with frantic knocking on her door. She rolled her eyes as she thought about who else that could possibly be. Jazmine quickly dried off and slipped on her robe and house slippers and went downstairs. She looked through the peephole and saw Trisha with Riley right behind her. She swung the door open with a look of disapproval at both of them.

"I know, I know! We fucked up!" Trisha threw her hands up in defense. "Where's Huey? We went to their house and he wasn't there!"

'Fucked up being the relative term!' Jazmine scolded, making Trisha blush. She let both of them inside and closed the door behind them. 'And Huey already left. He had to take MY CAR!'

'Oh!...crap. We were that late huh?' Trisha signed nervously. Jazmine nodded. Riley just looked back and forth between them confused.

"What she say?" Riley asked.

"She said that we got here too late, so Huey was forced to take her car." Trisha informed him.

"Man WHAT?!" Riley exclaimed at Jazmine. "So we just rushed over here for nothin?! Man, you live RIGHT across the street from us! Next time ya'll need a "private" moment, why not just send us over here?!"

" 'And have ya'll fucking in MY bed? I don't think so!' " Trisha interpreted for Jazmine. "JAZMINE!" Trisha objected embarrassingly.

"But you 'sho ain't had no problem getting in my brother's bed though, didn't ya?!" Riley teased, making Jazmine stiffen then look at the ground. "Yeeaahh, that's what the fuck I thought."

"Riley…stop," Trisha warned.

"All I'm sayin' is that she ain't all in the clear her damn self either! Sent me outta MY house just so they could fuck too! 'Dat ain't a good look, Dubois!" Riley pointed at her. Jazmine started to get that look in her face that only Trisha knew.

"Riley..shut…the fuck…up!" Trisha said in her Jersey accent, making Riley shrink down a couple inches.

"What I say?!" Riley lifted both his hands.

" 'We didn't have sex, asshole' " Jazmine signed starting to get pissed off. " 'Unlike you, your brother actually has self-control.' " She half-lied. She couldn't speak for him when he was sleeping, but they didn't need to know about that right now.

"Man, whatever! Not on Saturday night, he didn't! Since we wanna talk 'bout "self-control"" Riley air quoted.

"Alright! Well, Riley we got work to do!" Trisha clapped her hands together, cutting him off. "So, if you'll excuse us…" Trisha was about to gesture him outside.

'What is he talking about?' Jazmine asked.

'Nothing, girl. He's still toasted from last night.' Trisha signed quickly before walking backwards and pushing him out of the door. Jazmine just crossed her arms and watched them clumsily make their way out.

"Alright, alright, ma! Damn! I'm goin'!" Riley said stumbling backwards into the door. "And YOU'RE WELCOME BY THE WAY! FOR LENDING YOU MY HOUSE JUST TO FUCK MY BROTHER ONLY TO RUSH US TO COME BACK FOR NO REASON!" Riley shouted just before stepping through the screen door.

Jazmine rolled her eyes and started signing something back at him.

"Nah, hol' up! What she sayin?! Say it to my face, lil girl!" Riley pointed his finger out at her, but Jazmine responded by flicking her fingers under her chin.

"Riley! That's enough! Damn it!" Trisha slammed the door closed behind her and stood on the porch with him. "Look, I like you, I really do!" Trisha admitted. "But you DO NOT talk to her like that! You don't tease her with your crude thoughts, you understand?!" Trisha yelled, her Jersey side nearly coming out.

"Damn, Mami. I don't know if you're being serious or tryna turn a nigga on again." Riley bit his bottom lip.

"Ascolta qui coglione! (Listen here asshole)" Trisha compulsively let out in her mother-tongue. She had to slap her hand over her mouth to recompose herself. Riley's eyes popped out of his head. "Sorry… that kind of slipped."

"Uhmm..nah you good. I-I sh-should've listened." Riley said shakily.

"What I'm trying to say is that Jazmine is very vulnerable to those kind of things. And from what it looks like, she has found comfort in her friendship with Huey. Why are you trying to mess that up with your nasty, vulgar, presumptuous…" Riley began pulling her back in by the hips as he gazed into her chocolate brown eyes. "…sexy, lustrous, seductive irresistible….talk."

"Cause I know you like that shit, Mami," Riley groaned. "It sure worked for you last night."

"Quit it!" Trisha playfully hit his arm. "Don't get me wrong, last night was…AMAZING Papito." She wrapped her arms around him as well. "But we can't let it get in the way of our personal lives, right? With work, and other people's schedules? Jazmine may be my best friend, but I'm still her interpreter. I have a job to do, and I don't want to make things complicated mixing business with… pleasure, if you get what I'm saying?"

"Yeah. You're right. I just get so wound up around you, woman! I ain't never met no one like you before. But I'll learn to chill for everyone's sake." Riley said sincerely. "I ain't mean her no harm, she knows that. She's like a sister to me. We been picking at each other since we were kids. I just don't know why ever since she's been back, she's always so uptight around me! "

"Well…" Trisha rested her hands on his chest. "Like I said, she's not the same Jaz you once knew. If you want her favor as your friend, maybe you should take a different approach to her as a friend."

"Like what?" Riley asked intrigued.

"Like speaking her language," Trisha smirked, signing her words along with it.

"Awww mannn, now I know you trippin," Riley dipped his head back.

"I'm not saying you gotta be an expert like me Amore" Trisha reasoned. "But just show her you still have her well-being at heart. Then maybe she'll ease up on you. If I recall, you didn't exactly welcome her in the best manner last weekend."

Riley recalled Sunday dinner when he thought Jazmine was flat out deaf and dumb. It seemed everyone else was well-enlightened on her condition except him! He didn't mean to come across as ignorant, but maybe he did make himself look like an ass.

"Okay, in my defense! I really DID NOT know what 'mute' meant! But you are her best friend, her fine best friend at that." Riley said lifting her chin to meet his gaze. Trisha smirked up at him. "And if you think that will work, I'll take your word for it."

"Okay, Papi," Trisha leaned into give him a peck on the lips. When she pulled away, Riley pulled her right back in, placing a more flavorful one on her lips. She held his face in her hands and moaned gratefully when he began nibbling on her bottom lip. "Mmmm..okaaayyy Riley. I gotta get back in there."

"A'ite a'ite," Riley muttered. "I gotta get to the studio anyway. I'mma see you later?"

"Sooner, rather than later," Trisha looked him up and down followed by a wink.

"Girrrllll," Riley groaned. "Better get yo ass in there." Riley stepped towards her, making her giggle as she disappeared into the house.

As she closed the door behind her, Trisha cursed as she shook off the cold as she removed her coat. She went upstairs into Jazmine's office to find her already working at the computer. Her hair was in a damp sloppy bun in the back of her head with random strands falling down her face and neck. She had on a simple, cotton, red long sleeve shirt with golden buttons on the collar and cuffs and black leggings and small gold hoop earrings. Trisha slowly approached Jazmine's desk like she was awaiting her verdict in court.

'She emerges,' Jazmine signed still not looking up from the computer.

"Okay, listen…before you go all 'Mommy Dearest' on me, it was just sex. Okay? We were drinking, things got heated, and we just got lost in the moment. It was selfish of us and I'm sorry if I caused any interference hon'."

'Trish, I'm not mad at you. That couldn't be further from my mind. I know you two are feeling each other, so it's none of my business what goes on between ya'll….I'm actually happy for you girl.' Jazmine signed sitting back in her office chair.

"Really Jaz?" Trisha said in an 'are you serious?' tone. "Happy for what?! That I got some dick? Am I such a lost cause, that you put all your hopes on Riley Freeman?" Trisha scoffed sitting down in the arm chair. "He's such an airhead, but the dick is good so…" Trisha shrugged.

'Well you're glowing for one thing, so that must mean something. Must have gotten that 'GOOD-good'' Jazmine raised her eyebrow at her.

'Girrrlllll you don't even KNOW!' Trisha signed sitting back in her chair. Jazmine stopped typing for a minute to pay attention. She was no pervert…most of the time…but this sounded like it was going to be good.

"Madonn it's been so long, I completely forgot what it felt like to be fulfilled in bed! Riley may not be the brightest guy in the world, but he sure knows his way around the female body. The way he handled me, the way he talked to me… Aii buon dio onnipotente (Good God Almighty)" Trisha looked out into space as she reminisced.

'You sure you don't need to take five?' Jazmine chuckled.

'More like TWENTY!' Trisha retorted in sign. 'Shit was so good, I thought I wasn't gonna be able to walk afterwards! Man's got stamina like a fucking racehorse! Along with… other similarities.' Trisha's eyes rolled back in ecstasy. Jazmine just shook her head as she chuckled. 'Must be those Freeman genes!'

'Oh, I know,' Jazmine automatically paused, realizing she slightly snitched on herself.

"You know WHAT?!" Trisha asked out loud leaning forward, but Jazmine just pretended to be busy back on her computer. "Uh-uh, hell no little missy! Matter of fact, it's YOUR turn! Just what exactly happened last night to where you woke up in Huey Freeman's bedroom? Huh?"

'Trish, I got a LOT of stuff to catch up on,' Jazmine shook her head.

"So you're really gonna leave me hanging? After what I just told YOU?! Just tell me how your story went then. How did he react? Do you feel better? Or what?" Trisha asked resting her elbow on the desk with her face in her hand. Jazmine sighed heavily and just decided to tell her.

'Yeah, I feel a lot better, better than I honestly thought I would, like this huge weight of pain, fear, and anger was lifted off my shoulders. I didn't feel like crying, or breaking down or any of that. For the first time, I told my story with pride and not out of despair. And Huey was so warm and understanding. He told me he wouldn't know what he would do if something had happened to me and that really made me feel…' Jazmine stopped.

"Loved?" Trisha filled in.

'I don't know…I guess,' Jazmine shrugged. She wouldn't go so far as to calling it love but, it was definitely a strong connection. 'He was patient, attentive, and very affectionate….enough to let me just….spend the night,' Jazmine began messing with her loose strands of hair by her face.

"JD!" Trisha called out.

'Don't 'JD' me! We only slept in the same bed! That's it!' Jazmine made a Y sign with one hand and patted it down on the other open palm, then flaring her hands out. 'It was no different than when we were kids.'

'So this is nothing knew?' Trisha signed.

'Right…Well… Except back then, he let me sleep in his bed and he slept on the floor. But that was back when he and Riley shared the room. This time I thought since we're both grown adults, maybe sharing a bed would be more practical….until,' Jazmine stopped again.

'Until?'

Jazmine hesitated, but she couldn't leave out the best part.

'This morning…' Jazmine started. Trisha leaned in more, watching intently.

Jazmine turned her left hand, palm-side facing her and placed it in the crevice of her elbow. With the other hand she made a closed fist and flexed her arm at the elbow over the left hand. Trisha gasped as she slapped her hand across her mouth.

"You mean…" Trisha hinted. Jazmine just nodded profusely.

'Nine…maybe even ten!' Jazmine tightened her lips trying so hard to not smirk.

"Grosso Papa cazzo," Trisha muttered behind her hand. Jazmine immediately started to blush, and released a goofy laugh causing her to hide her face behind her hands.

Trisha was damn right about one thing. Those Freeman genes were no joke.

Huey whipped into his parking spot in the parking garage at nearly 20 mph. Luckily traffic wasn't so bad, so he made it to campus right at 7:25. He had five minutes to get inside, go upstairs into his office, get his lecture notes for the day and sprint back downstairs to his classroom.

Almost immediately after he put the car in park, Blake pulled up right beside him in the next parking spot almost as wildly as he did. He must have been running late as well coincidently. Blake quickly jumped out of his GMC Yukon, nearly walking past Jazmine's car, as much as Huey wanted him to continue. However, Blake noticed the odd new car in his coworker's spot and looked into the driver's side, his eyes widening as he saw who was sitting inside. Huey inwardly groaned as he grabbed his briefcase and decided to get out as well.

"Ridin' girly, huh Freeman?" Blake teased, noticing the sparkling and shimmering coming from inside as well as the apparent pink interior.

"Shut the fuck up, dude," Huey said with his usual scowl. He was definitely regretting not choosing being late.

"Just fuckin' wit' you man. What happened to Dorothy?" Blake asked as they both walked through the the garage.

"My no-good ass brother went out with it last night and didn't come back this morning. So my friend let me borrow hers last minute." Huey informed him.

"Awh okay cool. I was starting to think pink was your new favorite color, nigga." Blake laughed. Huey simply opened the entrance door to their building and quickly let it close behind him, nearly making Blake run smack into the glass. "You mothaf-!..." he hollered before reopening the door and walking in behind him.

So she letting the nigga drive her car too?! Damn they getting pretty serious. Rasheeda ain't gon' like that! Blake thought.

He didn't know why his older second cousin was so hard set on spying on Huey. He actually didn't approve of Rasheeda's toxic attitude at all, but she was family. He tried not to give her any vital information outside of what time he left work or tiny gossip.

Huey and Rasheeda hadn't been dating long or serious enough to meet members outside of their immediately family. But when Huey and Blake both started working together, they had gone out for drinks one night, where Huey drunkenly told him about his bat-shit crazy ass ex-girlfriend, who he didn't name at the time. But when Rasheeda also told her cousin one time, about her cold, pompous, and strict stiff of an ex-boyfriend with the ridiculous Afro, he put two and two together. He knew better than to get involved, but it all started when she started bribing him for intel. Still, he never gave her specifics. He did have to agree. His cousin was bat-shit crazy.

"How was your night with your lil' friend?" Blake asked as they got on the elevator.

"Why you wanna know, Blake? I'm very late," Huey answered as he pushed their floor number and the doors closed.

"Just askin' bruh. Cuz it seems you been all out of sorts since then. You leaving campus early, running late in the morning, driving a different car? This ain't the Freeman I know." Blake said with a chuckle. Huey just kept looking ahead at the floor meter going up each level they passed.

"She is a change of pace, I'll admit that. But we're old childhood friends. We're just taking our time getting back on solid ground. We're not getting into anything too serious." Huey said.

"Yet…" Blake pointed out. Huey just rolled his eyes. "Will we be seeing her at the Christmas party?" The elevator Ding'd and the doors opened to the level their offices were on. As they both got off, Huey had to think about it. The party was in a few short weeks and it would be the first time he ever brought anyone. And if memory served, Huey knew Christmas was Jazmine's all-time favorite holiday. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea.

"I don't know. Maybe?" Huey shrugged as they walked towards their neighboring offices. "She just moved here and I don't want to overcrowd her with meeting new people. Plus…" Huey slightly hesitated. "…never mind."

"Nah, what was you gonna say nigga?" Blake tried getting it out of him.

"Well… I guess if you were to meet her, it wouldn't be a secret, but…she can't talk." Huey admitted. Blake's eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Ohhhhh! So NOW we getting to it!" Blake said rather amused. Huey already regretted saying it. "Damn, that's gotta be rough. Not for ya'll friendship, I mean just for the communication, ya know?"

"It's not at all actually. I'm learning sign language every day. Because she's well worth it," Huey inwardly slapped himself. Why was he even telling him all of this?! Blake was right….he was all out of sorts.

"Well ain't that just down-right adorable," Blake teased. Huey returned to his normal grimace and continued inside his office without another word.

Meanwhile, Blake walked inside of his, closed the door and pulled out his phone. He didn't know why he was even doing this, but this was too good to pass up. She's going to have some fun with this one!

To: Sheeda

He came to work driving HER car! Must have been a LONG night for them *winking emoji*

From: Sheeda

Boy stfu! He aint serious about that hoe! *Eyeroll emoji*

To: Sheeda

He 'says' he's not. But I can tell just from looking at him…he IS! You might wanna chill out wit all this cuz.

And apparently the broad can't speak…just a head's up

From: Sheeda

Not when I get through wit em he ain't.

Wym can't SPEAK?! Is she retarded or something? *crying laughing emoji

To: Sheeda

Idk cuz! He just told me that she can't speak!

Rasheeda looked at her phone screen confusedly. Was he dead ass serious? Huey was getting involved with someone who couldn't TALK?! What the fuck is wrong with him? This nigga must have lost his damn mind! She went to her photo gallery and selected the photo of the phone number she found in Huey's drawer. Then she went to the back of her closet and got out a black clothing box. She was going all the way out tonight.

From: Sheeda

Oh yeah…I'm gonna have some fun with this one. I'll call you later.

Blake sighed through his nose and shook his head. He knew it. She just couldn't leave well enough alone.

"Thank you Prof. Freeman! That really helped out a lot! I'll have that submitted by this Friday!" A male student said as he walked out of Huey's office.

"No problem! Glad I could help!" Huey replied back. When the student was all the way out, Huey laid his head back in his office chair for a second and relaxed. He was finally done with all his classes and that was his last personal appointment. He loved teaching black history, but there were certain students he wondered why they were even there to begin with. There were quite several of them who didn't even know what the Tuskegee Syphilis Study was. And yes, they were in fact white.

It was nearing 4:00 pm so Huey packed up his things and grabbed his coat. He grabbed the car keys and his briefcase and headed out of his office. He stopped by Blake's office to say bye but he saw he had already left. So he continued onto the elevator and down to the parking garage. He rolled his eyes when he saw Jazmine's car, reminding himself of how he got there that day.

When he opened the car door and sat down, he was about to put on his seatbelt until he heard the passenger door open, nearly making him swing in response due to his lighting-quick martial arts training. But when he realized who it was, he almost convinced himself to go ahead with his reaction.

Rasheeda had sat down in Jazmine's passenger seat wearing a tan trench coat. She had taken her braids down and now had her black, natural hair, flat-ironed reaching just barely past her shoulders with a side-part, and she was wearing heavy make up and silver hoop earrings.

"Rasheeda! What the hell are you doing here?!" Huey exclaimed.

"Look," Rasheeda gave him a sultry stare. "I just wanted to apologize for my behavior last time. I shouldn't have barged in on you like that."

"Much like what you're doing right now?" Huey muttered. "And I told you before, I don't care for your apologies and I want nothing more to do with you! How did you even know where I was?!" Rasheeda just gave a sarcastic, almost narcissistic, laugh.

"Oh Hueyyy, don't act like you don't remember our little 'sessions' in your favorite parking spot," she said with a wink as she crossed her legs, which Huey noticed were dressed in fishnet pantyhose. "How you used to beg me to come see you during lunch for a lil' quickie… Might I add, I never took you as a pink and glittery person." She referred to Jazmine's car.

"I'm not! Rasheeda, I'm warning you right now! Leave me the fuck alone, get out of the car and get out of my life!" Huey warned.

"What if I can't?" Rasheeda said in a sultry tone. Huey sighed through his nose heavily as he looked in front of him out the windshield. "Does she kiss you the way I do?" Rasheeda asked, making Huey's eyebrow twitch in irritation. "Does she tease you like I do?" She brought her hand slowly up her legs and up the ridge of her coat. "I bet she doesn't say things that make you feel good like I do," she hinted, which made Huey glare straight at her.

"Get…the fuck out!" Huey growled, but Rasheeda still wasn't listening.

"Alright..I can see I'm gonna have to take the lead in this…like always," Rasheeda giggled as she angled her body towards him in a sexy way and pulled the buttons open on her coat, flashing him in her black lingerie ensemble as she bit her bottom lip. Huey just looked at her unaltered. Was she fucking serious? She really thought that this was supposed to phase him? The girl was crazier than he thought.

"A'ite, that's it, get out of my car now!" Huey rolled his eyes, unlocking the door for her.

"Whyyy?" Rasheeda whined, leaning over the console between them. "Huey, I promise things will be different. You'll see," she was about to unbutton his shirt, until Huey pulled away from her.

"DON'T!..fuckin' touch me! You're about to piss me off. This is my last time telling you, GET OUT NOW!" Huey yelled.

"I'm not going anywhere," Rasheeda said in a sexy growl before she leaned over and stole a long and sloppy kiss from him, forcing his hands on her chest and elsewhere.

"BITCH YOU GOT ME FUCKED UP!" Huey shouted pulling away from her. He got out of the car, and went to her side, opening the door and pulling her out quite forcefully.

"Huey! Ow! Stop! What's wrong with you!?" She screeched.

"What's wrong with me?! What's wrong wit' you! You are sick and you need help! If you EVER come near me again, you will regret it! You mean NOTHING to me you understand? NOTHING! Get that through your thick ass skull! Fuckin' triflin' ass hoe!" Huey shook his head as he made his way back to the driver's side and slammed the door closed after him. He started her car, and peeled out of his spot in a quick flash, he damn near hit her as he turned.

"You FUCKING ASSHOLE!" Rasheeda took off her black heel and threw it at his speeding car, luckily missing it.

Huey sped out of the parking garage and onto the interstate, making his way back home. He couldn't believe that had just happened. Out of all the crazy ex-girlfriends in the world, he just had to date the delusional lunatic! Why was she clinging on to him so badly anyway, after how long they've been broken up? And she seemed to be implying something when she stated how the mystery 'she' didn't say things to him like Rasheeda could. That definitely didn't sit well with him. He already didn't play when it came to Jazmine, but speak negatively about her condition? That was a can of ass-whooping just waiting to be opened.

The whole situation left him feeling extremely uncomfortable. He didn't know if it was a good idea to speak about a female sexually harassing him without sounding like, relatively in Riley's words, "bitch-made." But he didn't want it to come back and bite him in the butt with Jazmine. He rubbed his forehead frustratingly, struggling to decide how to handle this.

As the day went on, Jazmine had gotten caught up with lost time. She returned some emails, made some important calls, gotten in contact with other brands, made some new connections along the way and other things. They didn't dilly-dally with gossip and girl-talk and they didn't even stop for lunch. It was a very busy day, and Trisha wanted to make up for that morning's slight fiasco.

It was winding down to almost 4:30 pm when they decided to call it a day. Jazmine stacked some papers, aligning them properly and placed them in a folder, putting it in the file cabinet next to her desk. She turned off her desktop computer and put everything back to their original spot before piling her arms on the desk and laying her head in them followed by a tired sigh.

"What a day," Trisha sighed as well. Jazmine nodded in agreement. They both pulled out their cell phones and began scrolling through whatever notifications they received. Jazmine saw Huey had texted her, saying that he would be home with her car in a few minutes. She replied with an 'Okay,' followed by 'Not one of my rhinestones had better be missing when you get back'. He sent an *eyeroll emoji* back, making Jazmine giggle.

Trisha smirked as she saw missed texts from Riley, saying something vulgar and subliminal. She replied with a few of her own before she felt her pager buzzing off the hook. She took it out and looked at the number, not recognizing it.

"You know this number?" Trisha asked showing Jazmine the screen. Jazmine shook her head and was about to tell her to ignore it, but thought what harm could one more phone call do?...She was in for a surprise.

'You up for one more call?' Jazmine asked dialing the phone number.

'Of course, doll.' Trisha signed back. Jazmine handed her the phone after she hit 'Dial' and waited for the mystery person to pick up.

"HELLO?!" A loud, and rather ghetto voice answered. Both of them were a little taken back.

"Uhm…Hello? This is Trisha Romano, interpreting for Jazmine Dubois. May I ask who is calling please?"

"Ohhhhh, so the rumors ARE true! You really CAN'T talk! You gotta have someone to speak FOR you?! Ain't that some shit " The female voice said followed by a cackle. Trisha and Jazmine both made surprised looks at each other, shocked at this person's boldness.

" 'Excuse me? Who am I speaking with? This is a business line and I don't appreciate you messing around on my phone!' " Trisha spoke as Jazmine signed.

"Oh really?! Well then, Ms. "ROMANO", you can tell that MUMN of a broad she had better stop "messing around" with MY MAN! If she knows what's best for her, she will keep her legs shut along with her non-speaking ass mouth!"

"Yo trick! Who the fuck you think you talkin' to?!" Trisha spoke out of interpretation, her Jersey accent revealing itself. "You had best watch your fuckin' mouth bitch! Who the fuck you think you are?!" Jazmine tapped her shoulder frantically, gesturing for her to stop.

"This is Rasheeda mothafuckin' Robinson! And Huey is MY man ya dig?" Rasheeda yelled through the phone, making Jazmine's mouth fall open. "So you tell that hoe, Jazmine, she had better watch her mothafuckin' step!" Then Rasheeda hung up.

They were both left stunned. Trisha still held Jazmine's phone, motionless. Jazmine was growing angrier and angrier by the second, and Trisha could tell.

"Jaz…" Trisha started, but Jazmine held her hand up for her to stop.

'You knew about this…didn't you?' Jazmine asked. Trisha hesitated, but decided to tell her anyway.

'I swear, I didn't up until this morning.' Trisha admitted. 'Riley told me about Huey's EX-GIRLFRIEND named Rasheeda and that…' Trisha stopped again.

'And what, Trish?' Jazmine signed, starting to get upset.

"He said that…she was there this past weekend, at his house." Trisha confessed. Jazmine paused for a second with a stale look on her face.

'So that's what Riley was going on about this morning? You told me it was nothing!' Jazmine signed.

"It was nothing, J!" Trisha said back. "Plus, he said that she was just his ex! This could all just be a misunderstanding! Huey wouldn't play around with you like that!"

Then, Jazmine felt her phone vibrate continuously. She unlocked it and her mouth fell open. Her hands fell weak and she dropped her phone on the carpet.

"Jaz, what the hell? What's wrong?" Trisha asked as she picked up the phone for her. She looked at the screen as well and she gasped. "Holy fucking SHIT!"

Rasheeda had sent her eight pictures back to back from outside of Jazmine's car, in what looked to be a parking garage, with Huey sitting in the driver's seat and Rasheeda in the passenger seat in what looked like lingerie. Their faces were plastered together and his hands were all over her.

"Jaz…" Trisha sighed as she shook her head in disbelief. "In your car? This can't be real." Jazmine stomped her foot loudly.

'Can't be real?! It's right there in FUCKING front of you! Whole time he's been courting me, he's still been with her! He KISSED me after telling me he wanted to be with me! After he was already with her! I told him my life's story, I shared things with him I've never told anyone! And he turns around and does THIS?!' Jazmine's hands were flying. 'How did she even get my number?!'

"I don't know, Jaz. These pictures may be incriminating at first, but it doesn't make sense. I gotta say, I'm not convinced," Trisha said. Jazmine shook her head angrily and snatched her phone back. "What are you doing now?" Jazmine didn't answer. She began typing and swiping a couple minutes, until the printer turned on behind her, printing out the pictures one by one. "Jazmine..no.. stop! What are you doing?"

'What my Dad has always advised me to do…get all evidence on paper or in writing,' Jazmine gathered all the pictures and placed them on her desk.

"Hon' you don't need to do this." Trisha shook her head looking down at the photos. "You don't really believe Huey to be that kind of guy do you?"

'I had to learn the hard way that you never truly know who someone is..until it's too late.' Jazmine's nostrils flared. She didn't know why she was getting so worked up. It wasn't like the two were dating! But for him to lead her on like this, while he was involved with someone else was completely inexcusable. In addition, for this tasteless woman, who she doesn't even know, to harass her like this, over HIM?! She wasn't for the drama… AT ALL! It was absolutely ridiculous.

"Jazmine, I think you're overthinking all of this. You don't even know his side of the story…Remember what happened last time you jumped to conclusions?" Trisha reminded her. Jazmine immediately tensed up. Trisha could tell she struck a nerve. She automatically regretted saying it.

'I am NOT some insecure "Nagging Nancy"! Matthew was pledging and he SWORE to me that he never touched another female! This is different Trisha! How dare you!'

"Look, Jaz, I didn't mean to…"

'No!' Jazmine stomped her foot. 'I may be in mourning, but I'm not a fucking idiot! I'm not some disabled moron that everyone can talk over! I take your advice and I go out and enjoy myself with Huey and then look what happened! I knew it was all too good to be true!'

"Dannazione all'inferno! (Damn it to hell!)I didn't expect this ghoomar (whore)to call you with some made up story, now did I? And I was doing you a favor!"

'No, you just heard it from his brother's mouth and tried to cover it up to protect me! And now there's hard evidence in front of you and now you're trying to protect Huey! Why can't you just be my friend, and have my back!'

"Don't you tell me how to be a friend! I'm the only one who's stood by you and encouraged you this whole time, dammit!"

'Right!' Jazmine scoffed. 'Some help you've been. Just tell me to forget about this so I can go on dating Huey so you can be up under his brother.'

"Oh so it's like that…" Trisha's eyebrows rose at her best friend's accusations. "Wow…thanks for that Jazmine." Trisha said sarcastically and was about to walk out of her office, but stopped and turned back around. "Actually, no, you know what? Fuck that! I have stuck with you through thick and thin, through the high's and low's for FIVE FUCKING YEARS! I talked you through your night terrors for hours on end, I coached you and taught you sign language better than my own father, I have picked you up off of the floor more times than I can count and you talk to ME like this?!" Trisha said in her accent while flicking her wrist in front of her like her father and uncles do. "I want you to get to know Huey better because I see the connection you two used to share and still do! You move different with him and you look the happiest I've ever seen you! But I'm not a good friend?!"

Her words stung in Jazmine's chest like a million daggers. Damn, she really needed to work on her filter when she was upset.

"Fuck this! If you're hard set on being alone in the world, I ain't gonna stop ya!"

Trisha stormed out of her office and down the stairs. As she was putting on her coat, a knock on the door came and she could only guess who that was. She finished putting her other sleeve on, grabbed her purse and swung the door open, meeting Huey's scowl with a scarier one of her own.

"What's with you?" Huey asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Since now we know why you're in SUCH A RUSH to get to work!...il stronzo! (Asshole)" Trisha exclaimed flashing her hands at him like she was cursing him. She scoffed and brushed past him murmuring in Italian incoherently to herself.

Huey was stuck in his spot on the porch as he watched her get in her car and peel off. What the hell? Huey thought. He had a subtle idea on what she was talking about but he pushed it to the back of his mind. She couldn't have possibly known…could she?

He poked his head in the door, where Trisha left it slightly open, before slowly stepping inside and looking around.

"Hello? Jazmine, you here?" He heard her footsteps approach from upstairs and he looked up to see her standing by the railing, also with a mean mug on her face. Why the hell was everyone pissed today? "That look isn't appeasing on you Dubois." Huey placed her car keys on her key rack above the table in her main lobby.

'Neither is this,' Jazmine signed before releasing the photos into the air, making them slowly cascade down to him in zig-zag patterns, swaying in the air. One laid face-up, directly on his feet and he bent down to pick it up, along with a couple others and his eyes bulged out of his skull. He looked up at Jazmine who was shaking her head profusely at him, with a smug smirk on her face.

"Jazmine…" Huey started.

'Don't even.' Jazmine interrupted shuffling her right hand over her left. 'You been playing me this whole time!'

"No, Jazmine! I swear to you, this is not what it looks like!" Huey strongly said, crumbling up the papers and throwing them to the ground before starting to walk up the stairs.

'I don't believe you! Don't you come up here!' Jazmine signed, disappearing into her office, but Huey ignored.

"Jazmine, please just let me explain! I know this looks bad, but I am no way in hell involved with that woman!" Huey said stepping into her office before she could close the door.

'She sure had a different story!' Jazmine's lips tightened as she smacked her hands together. 'Somehow this "Rasheeda" got ahold of my number and left me a pretty clear message that you were still "her" man!' Jazmine stared hard into his eyes. 'She knew I couldn't speak, Huey! How the fuck could she know that?!'

"She what?!" Huey was just as shocked as she was. He definitely knew that he didn't tell Rasheeda that, let alone who she even was! He honestly didn't know how she could have found out. "Look, Rasheeda and I used to date. We broke up almost half a year ago! She has been stalking me and harassing me about getting back together, but I never ONCE entertained her! I swear it!" Huey pointed at the ground as he spoke deeply. "She came to my work and caught me off guard in the parking garage when I was about to head home! SHE kissed me and forced my hand! I don't know who took those photos, but they are false! They took them at the perfect time to take it out of context, with full intent on framing me." Jazmine just rolled her eyes and scoffed at him. "I'm telling you the truth, Jazmine!"

'Oh really? Then how come I have to hear from Riley and Trisha that she was at your house last weekend? The night before you took me out to the city? And kissed me? And told me how you felt about me?' Jazmine's hands started to slow painfully as tears welled up in her eyes.

Now, Huey was enraged. First, Rasheeda was going out of her psychotic way to harass Jazmine. Second, somebody was framing him ALONG with Rasheeda. And third, his brother was feeding Jazmine and Trisha FALSE INFORMATION?! Oh, he was definitely kicking his ass now.

"Jazmine, nothing…HAPPENED! And what I said to you, that was real!"

'BULLSHIT!' Jazmine stomped her foot as her lips quivered.

'No! Not bullshit, Jazmine! That night, she came over, unannounced and DRUNK, and I simply let her sleep on the couch because it was late and I was just being nice! But, she overstepped and she snuck into bed with me that morning! I…did…NOT…TOUCH HER!' Huey signed crisply.

Jazmine's lips continued to quiver while she impulsively tapped her heel the floor. For some reason, as mad as she wanted to be at him, something told her that he was telling the truth. The Huey she knew wouldn't have any reason to lie, but she felt too stubborn to listen to her conscience.

'I trusted you, Huey!' Jazmine's tears finally fell down her cheeks.

'Jazmine, you can trust me! I'm sorry she blind-sighted you like that! I can't make excuses for her, but I promise you, there is no one else! I told her I never wanted to see or hear from her again. She is nothing to me!' Huey signed stepping closer to her. 'Please believe me when I say, you mean so much to me. I would never sabotage what we have like that.'

'Tell me something,' Jazmine pointed her index finger up, with her palm facing up and moved her hand in a small horizontal circle. 'If she hadn't sent me those photos, or if Riley never told Trisha about last weekend, would you have still told me?'

'Without question!' Huey signed almost immediately, keeping his signature scowl so that she could see how serious he was. "Jazmine, I respect you way too much to hide something like this from you. What happened last weekend was my issue to deal with. I didn't tell you because it was pointless. But this is different" Huey stated. Jazmine crossed her arms with a questionable look on her face, unsure on whether or not to believe him. "She invaded your privacy and disrespected you and your property and I wouldn't have it. Of course I was going to tell you what happened today, because I have nothing to hide. She planned all of this somehow and this is exactly the reaction she wanted. Don't you see, Jazmine?"

Jazmine huffed through her nose stubbornly as she shook her head in disbelief. She looked him up and down, scoping for any signs of him lying, but she couldn't find any.

Trisha was right.

She was making the same mistake she made with Matthew. Quick to jump to conclusions without hearing his side of the story. And now, she took it out on her best friend as well. Jazmine realized she had fallen into that crazy ass woman's trap.

'God damn it,' Jazmine agitatedly swung a 'G' sign in front of her, cursing herself as she rested her hand on her forehead. 'Why do I always do this?'

Huey inwardly sighed in relief when she finally let her guard down, not at the fact he was off the hook…for the time being. But the fact that she believed him because nothing would've been worse than losing her to a misunderstanding.

"She is a manipulator, Jazmine. You couldn't have known any better," Huey said stepping closer to her.

'A manipulator YOU used to date. You sure know how to pick them, Freeman.' Jazmine retorted.

"I guess we both got our baggage then," Huey spat back. Jazmine looked up at him as if she obviously didn't hear him correctly. Huey looked back at her like 'Yeah, you heard me.'

He just got done trying to convince her on his LIFE that he was innocent. But he wasn't going to condone a guilt-trip over his ex. That's where his sensitivity halted.

'My "Baggage" didn't interfere with your life now did he!' Jazmine argued stepping closer to him, now within arms reach.

"No…just almost ended yours," Huey stated coldly. Okay…now that triggered her.

Jazmine punched him hard in the chest, making each of her knuckles and her wrist pop. She winced in pain, waving her hand to retrieve feeling in it again, while Huey stood there unaffected from her rather strong hit. "Are you done?"

But Jazmine was fuming! Before she could lift her arm again, Huey grabbed it and stopped her before she could continue. She struggled under his grip, tears streaming down her cheeks, but to no avail. He was undeniably stronger than her, but he didn't hurt her. He just kept his grip on her until she settled down.

"Jazmine, STOP!" Huey hollered, holding both of her arms in front of them.

"NOOOOOOO!" Jazmine tried screaming, but wheezy, uneven, hoarse, air only escaped her lips.

Huey released her immediately, absolutely bewildered from hearing her nonexistent voice for the first time. Jazmine clasped her hands over her mouth, her lips trembling violently underneath. Then, as she expected, her throat constricted, punishing her with a sharp pain right at her larynx. She grabbed her throat with both hands and doubled over, crying even further. "Fuck!" She silently exclaimed. "I c-can't..! I n-need m-m-my…"

"Jazmine, are you okay?! Jesus, stop talking!" Huey held her shoulders.

'My bathroom…far right drawer…pink medicine vile' Jazmine signed, still struggling to swallow. Huey disappeared out of the office in a flash and down the hallway into her master bedroom, then into her conjoining bathroom. He found her medicine exactly where she said it would be and rushed back to her office.

Once he saw her again, she was resting against her desk, still holding her throat. Her face was flushed hot pink, almost the same shade as the bottle he was holding. She held out her hand for him to hand to her and he did. She quickly untwisted the top, which was a calibrated dropper. She squeezed the plunger, sucking the medicine to halfway up the tube and opened her mouth, squeezing its contents down her throat. She swallowed hard, waiting for the medicine to numb her neck muscles.

Huey watched her carefully, waiting for her to give him a sign that she was okay or something. This was the first time he ever heard her speak, and seen the consequences of it. She wasn't lying when she said that talking is painful for her. It almost scared him. He didn't mean to upset her THAT bad! Jazmine took one more dose of medicine and swallowed before closing the bottle.

It was a long, awkward silence between them, until he could see she had calmed down and she looked to be out of pain.

"Are you okay?" Huey asked again.

'Peachy king' Jazmine signed still looking at the ground.

"Do you need anything else?" Huey asked sincerely.

Lord knows how badly she wanted to say 'Yeah, for you to get the hell up out my house,' but she didn't. This all needed to end somewhere, so she decided to take the higher road.

'Mint tea….and a cigarette,' Jazmine extended her right index and wedding fingers and tapped them on her left index finger.

Ten minutes later, Huey walked into her living room with a big coffee mug full of her medicinal mint tea, the tea tag hanging out, along with waves of steam arising from its rim. Jazmine was sitting on the couch, still rubbing her throat, trying to concentrate on her swallowing. Huey handed her the mug, warning her of how hot it was, before sitting down next to her.

She blew into the cup before taking a slight sip, closing her eyes and letting its warmth relax her throat muscles, along with the rest of her body. Huey sat forward with his elbows on his knees, wondering what he should do next. He was expecting her to shoo him out right then and there, but for some reason, she didn't. He watched her take another sip and massage her throat as she swallowed, wincing slightly.

"Any better?" Huey murmured. Jazmine nodded her head as she continued to sip. She set the mug down on the coffee table in front of them and grabbed her pack of squares and her lighter, pulling out one and lighting it. She said she wasn't going to smoke in her house anymore, but as of now, she could care less.

'Still a little sore,' Jazmine puffed out the smoke. Huey scratched at the back of his head nervously.

"I'm sorry, Jaz,….about everything." Huey bitterly muttered. He wasn't one for apologizing, but he could see she was hurting, and all for a tasteless remark he made. Jazmine looked over at him with that same meek look. "This whole thing was just messy and I shouldn't have said what I said to make you….upset and hurt yourself." Jazmine shook her head as she took another puff, ashing it in the ashtray.

'No, Huey. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have blown off the handle without hearing your side. Last night I said I trusted you. I should have acted like it. And I think I may have lost my best friend over it.' Jazmine bit back tears starting to form.

"Jazmine you didn't lose me. Not by a long shot." Huey said.

'I wasn't talking about you,' Jazmine shook her head at herself. Huey rose his eyebrows in realization.

"So I'm guessing that's why she practically cursed me at the door?" Huey refereed to Trisha. Jazmine nodded again.

'She was actually defending you. Unlike me, she wasn't convinced. She said something, I said something worse, and she practically ripped me a new one. I feel terrible.' Jazmine rested her head in her hand.

"I'm sure it couldn't have been that bad. Is this the first argument you guys have had?"

'Hell no! We fight like heathens!' Jazmine slightly smiled. 'But this time, I think I really insulted her. She's never spoken to me like that.'

"I don't think I've ever seen an Italian woman mad before…mad being a solid understatement." Huey slightly chuckled. Jazmine smirked too.

'Yeah…she could give Hitler a run for his money.' Jazmine made a flattened 'O' and lightly smacked her knuckles twice onto the palm of her other hand. They both chuckled and Jazmine continued to sip the rest of her tea.

"Well if you two are as close as you say ya'll are, you two will bounce back like it's nothing," Huey said encouragingly.

'I hope so.' Jazmine signed. There was another silence between them before Huey's phone started to ring from his back pocket.

He answered it, only to pull it away from his ear, where they could both hear Robert's excessive yelling on the other side. Jazmine hid her snickers behind her hand as she watched Huey roll his eyes and attempt to calm his grandfather down. When he hung up, he stood up and sighed.

"Ebony just dropped Granddad off at home and Riley left Dorothy with a flat all day and now all hell has broken loose across the street." Huey pinched the bridge of his nose.

'Wish I could return the favor from last night, so you can escape all that,' Jazmine jokingly offered as she stood up.

"I would seriously take you up on that, but…." Huey trailed off. Then, Jazmine saw the most unexpected thing. Huey started BLUSHING! He must have remembered the awkward escapade from that morning.

'Are you blushing?' Jazmine cheekily smiled. But as soon as she said that, his face went back to normal, and his scowl returned. Without a word, he turned around and headed into the main hallway. That was his signature move: just glare, walk away and don't say anything.

Due to her inability to speak, it was actually his most effective escape route, because she couldn't call out for him to stop like they were kids. (Awful, I know lol)

Jazmine walked after him and got to where he could see her again.

'Oh! Come on, Freeman! I'm just kidding!' Jazmine playfully tugged on his sleeve. 'It can't be the first time you've woken up with a gun to a woman's ass!' She signed with a wink. Huey was shocked at her bluntness, but he stayed quiet all the same. Jazmine stared at him, wondering why he was being so quiet, but her eyes widened in realization. 'Oh my goodness…it IS isn't it?!'

"Are you done yet? Damn, Dubois!..." Huey rolled his eyes as he slipped on his coat, while Jazmine kept her stunned look on him. As if he could feel her stare, he sighed frustratingly and clarified. "If you must know, Rasheeda and I never spent the night together. Yeah we had… relations, but….no sleepovers."

'Seriously?' Jazmine gave him a look of disbelief. Huey nodded embarrassed. 'So…safe to say…I'm the first person you've ever woken up to?' Jazmine signed before she involuntarily started twirling her hair. Huey rolled his eyes.

"Yes, Jazmine. But not only that…You're the first of many things for me…and only," Huey admitted. Jazmine stared into those demanding, dark, maroon irises. "You were my first best friend when we first moved here, the only person who listened to me when no one else cared. You were first person to ever make me smile since my parent's death, the only one I've ever confided in about them…"

Jazmine could see the pain in his eyes as he brought them up. How they died was so unfair and unexpected, but it could've happened to anybody. It left such a huge gaping hole in his life, as well as his brother's. She was glad that she could be that outlet for him.

"….my first kiss," Huey let out. "The only person who's lips I've dreamt about since that day." Smooth, Freeman! Huey thought to himself.

Now, it was Jazmine's turn to be nervous.

She recalled that specific half a day at school, their fifth grade year. They decided to walk home instead of taking the bus. They stopped at their hilltop hangout to talk and what happened after was so random.

She forgot what topic they were talking about. But, all she remembered, was Huey moving in on her, her stomach doing backflips, and she finally closing her eyes, to be met with a quick peck on the lips. When she opened her eyes again, Huey had already started back down the hill. She was so shocked, she just stayed up there for like another hour, pondering over what had just happened.

It was a short-lived pleasure, however. They both went back to normal the following day as if nothing happened. And it was mostly for the best. They didn't know what kissing meant at the time, and it was just out of curiosity. But now, after twelve years, it wasn't curiosity that compelled him.

'So that's why you took me to the hill? On our date?' Jazmine timidly signed. Huey nodded in affirmation. 'I thought that night felt like deja'vu for some reason,' Jazmine apprehended.

"I had to finish what I started all those years ago," Huey said in a low murmur. Jazmine bit her bottom lip nervously. "Even still….I don't think I'm satisfied yet." Jazmine knew what he was getting at, but she still played naïve.

'And…now?" Jazmine almost hesitated to ask.

"Do you want the honest truth?" Huey gave her a warning look.

'Have you not been this whole time?,' Jazmine retorted.

And in a quick flash, Huey took two steps towards her before Jazmine's eyes widened. His next step caused her to take one backwards and three more until her back touched the wall, their stare fixated and unstinted.

"Jazmine," Huey said in that low tone, that Jazmine quickly realized meant a flame had ignited inside him.

"Huey?"Jazmine slowly mouthed, just below a whisper, the faint sound of the change of pitch as air passed through her lips just audible enough for him to hear….and it sent shivers down his spine.

His mood changed just for a moment at the sound of her faint whispering of his name, like it was the most beautiful sound he's ever heard. He gazed at her in disbelief, while she blinked twice at him waiting for him to respond.

"I want to kiss you so good, I'm all you'll ever think about morning, noon and night," He groaned, resting his hand on the wall by the side of her head. Jazmine's heart skipped a beat. "I want to taste those soft ass lips on mine again and make you moan on my mouth…" Her breathing visibly quickened as he closed in on her. She saw the heat growing inside him again, almost like a hunger. He brought his hand up her side and around her waist, slightly pulling her to him. "..show you that you're the only woman who got me goin'" Huey whispered as he brushed his lips up her neck, earning a hard shudder from her.

He was honestly swinging for the fence right now, but after that fight they just had and how easily he was confiding in her again, it only felt right to remind her just how she made him feel. And from how she was responding to him, it was a home-run (Relatively speaking).

'Show me,' Jazmine signed with one hand, while the other found its way up his chest and pulled him closer by the shoulder. He planted a lingering kiss right on the crook of her jaw, making Jazmine sigh into his ear.

What in God's name was coming over her?! This was supposed to be her best friend, but why do they keep coming back to this? Why was she allowing herself to be touched like this by him? How was he so confident in what he was doing? Why didn't she feel the grieving ache of her deceased fiancée?

Oh yeah, because she was pinned between the wall and this vigorous and husky SOLDIER of a man who just so HAPPENS to be her best friend!

All her questions were exiled out of her mind when Huey softly nibbled down on her neck, making her envelope him around the shoulders, closing any space between them. Her hands got lost in his hair, massaging his scalp to encourage his talented mouth on her skin. His arms around her tightened to where her breasts heaved up against him, exciting him to no end. His nips and kisses traveled back up her neck, her jaw, across her cheek, and stopped just on the corner of her mouth.

They both felt the other's breath on their lips, painfully waiting for the other to make the next move. His determined stare never broke from her clouded gaze as he softly placed his hand on her cheek. He saw her lips part and start to shake, before she let out another whisper.

"Please,"she peeped. Huey thought he was going to lose it at the sound of her faint whisper again, and how she begged him! Without wasting another breath, Huey granted her plea with full force, cupping her face in both his hands and pressing his lips to hers in a stifling kiss. She sighed contentedly into it, losing herself completely in his embrace as she kissed him back with equal force.

This wasn't like the kiss on their first date. No, this one was certain, anticipated, and filled with passion. Jazmine did not hold back this time.

Pretty soon, their kisses started to get more heated. Jazmine felt Huey's tongue protrude her lip, begging for entrance and she accepted it gladly, letting their tongues do the tango as they switched their heads from side to side, deepening every smooch. It wasn't until Huey began to suck on her bottom lip that she released a whimper into his mouth, driving him completely mad with lust.

Jazmine returned the favor, cupping his face as well, embracing the stubble on his cheeks, as she sucked on his lips as well. Huey groaned into the kiss, pressing her more firmly up against the wall as his hands began to explore. Jazmine gasped at the feel of Huey's hands traveling past her hips and down to her ass, kneading both cheeks forcefully, causing her to completely melt in his arms.

She couldn't remember the last time she was praised like this. It felt amazing. HE was amazing! And they were only making out! The thought of what pleasure would erupt if they went further caused a heated moisture to grow between her legs and it excited her even more.

"H-h-Huu-eeyy," She breathed into the kiss as she tugged at the collar of his coat. She involuntarily hiked her leg around his hip, desperate to be closer to him. Huey groaned back in response to hearing his name again. Her voice, existent or not, was music to his ears and he rejoiced in knowing that she spoke out of pleasure for him.

He held her by her thigh and lifted it higher around him as he hugged her tightly around the waist, never breaking the kiss for a second. Jazmine clung to him so tightly, she could feel his heartbeat through his chest. She could feel the protruding muscles on his body, tensing up at her every touch through his clothes. What she wouldn't give to run her hands all over him, but for now, she let her hands get lost in his hair again, earning a low growl to arise from his throat into the kiss. He involuntarily began to grind into her, pulling her pelvis down on him so she could feel what she was doing to him.

When she felt his arousal again for the second time that day, she released a slightly vocal, but primal breathy moan, just bare whisps of high pitched air. It stunned both of them so much, they pulled away with a final pop of their lips as they broke the kiss, both of their breathing heavy and rugged. Her lips were red and swollen and her eyes were half-lidded and clouded with desire.

What Huey wouldn't do to get her to make that noise again, if not louder, but that might actually hurt her, let alone it could lead to something they both knew they weren't prepared for.

"Jazmine," Huey whispered her name again on ber lips..

"Yes?" Jazmine breathed as her thigh tightened around his waist at the sound of her name, while she still kept that lust-filled gaze on him.

He took notice of the arising heat coming from her center, which was aligned perfectly with his length and that did not help the situation at all. He sighed hard frustratingly"I think we need to stop."

"Why?" Jazmine just mouthed, as she gave him an almost hurtful look.

"You know why," Huey reluctantly said, keeping his animalistic gaze on her.

And just like that, they came back to reality. She lowered her eyes as they slowly unwrapped themselves from each other and patted themselves down.

"I just want you to be absolutely sure, before we take any steps further," Huey said thoughtfully. Jazmine crossed her arms but nodded in agreement.

He did have a point. Kissing him was wonderful and all, but as far as intimacy goes, that's probably all that she was ready for at the moment. She was glad that he was being a gentleman about it, though.

'What if it still takes me a while to get over him?' Jazmine asked.

"I don't care how long it takes. I'll wait forever and a day if I have to." Huey said in his serious tone. Jazmine gazed at him admirably and nodded again. He stepped towards her again and lifted her chin with his thumb and index finger. "But from what I could tell just now….I won't be waiting long," He groaned before biting his bottom lip and smirking down at her teasingly.

Jazmine stood baffled with her mouth open. Huey lifted her jaw, closing her mouth again.

"Are we clear on how I feel about you now?" Huey asked raising his eyebrow. Jazmine nodded quickly with her half-lidded gaze still fixed on him. "Alright then." And he unexpectedly gave her a sweet and tender peck on the lips, making her blush again.

Yeah, he could get used to that.

Jazmine slowly reached back and turned the doorknob behind her and opened the front door for him. Huey kept his smirk on her as he slowly stepped through the doorframe and walked backwards onto her porch. Jazmine gave a sultry smile and the two remained eye contact until the door was completely closed.

After Jazmine clicked the deadlock, she turned around and pressed her back to the door, breathing heavily, still bewildered about what just happened. She touched her lips lightly, relishing the savory taste of his smooth lips on hers. He was an absolutely AMAZING kisser, and she shamefully thought about what other talents his mouth possessed. But she pushed the thought to the back of her head.

It wasn't long before she started thinking of Matthew again and, like that morning, she didn't feel mournful at all surprisingly. Although, tears did well up in her eyes, they were sort of like bittersweet tears. She felt sad, but overjoyed at the same time. Her facial expressions and sobs switched up between the two emotions as she cried. She felt like she was going crazy.

But then again, that's what love does to a person isn't it?

Huey kept that smirk on his face the entire walk across the street. After all those years of waiting, after finally earning her trust again, even after the failed attempt of his crazy ex-girlfriend to intercede in their (more or less) relationship, he was finally able to get his fill of those sweet, luscious, lips again. He had her right where he wanted her, but still, he wanted more!

There was no telling when she would be finished mourning for her fiancée. She was still pretty fragile and delicate, but as long as he was still able to at least kiss her, that was more than enough for him.

When he walked up the driveway of his house, he took notice of Dorothy parked with a spare wheel on the front driver's side. Riley must have gotten out there and put it on. Huey's smirk immediately disappeared as he was reminded of why he had to come home in the first place. This is exactly why he never leant Riley the car. He nearly made him late for work, and now, a tire needed repairing. As he stepped up on the porch, he braced himself for the madness that he was about to walk into.

When he walked inside, he already heard the whip of Granddad's belt and Riley's loud cries erupting from upstairs.

"YOU!...MUSTA!…LOST!…YO!…GOD!….DAMNED!….MIND!" He heard Robert yelling in between each beating.

"AAAGHHH! UGHH! OWWWWW! DAMN! GRANDDAD STOP! AAAGHHH! PLEASE GRANDDAD! I SWEAR TO GOD YOU KILLING ME! OWWWWW!" Riley hollered.

"Shut the hell up, boy! I ain't even hittin' you that hard! I'll SHOW you murder!" Robert yelled before his whips came faster through the air. "AAAAAAGHHHHHHH!"

Huey shook his head and continued upstairs into his room. He and Riley honestly didn't know how their grandfather kept his strength after all these years. He was nearing 100, but still had the same rambunctious energy from when he was in his eighties. They thought that it must have been his love for beating them senseless that kept him going, or quite frankly, beating RILEY senseless.

He had gotten dressed down and comfortable by the time he heard Riley's crying stop. It was HIS turn now.

So, he went under his bed and got out his Black Power Fist, which was an electrical shock glove he made himself when he was ten. He only used it for forceful purposes. Or, for its most practical use, for whenever he had to knock some sense into his little brother. He slipped it on his right hand and clasped his fist together, activating the voltaic currents and zapping bolts it produced.

Riley came out of Robert's room sniffling and his cornrows were even frizzier than that morning. He walked down the hall and noticed light coming from Huey's room, and he knew that his braids just might get a tad frizzier before the day was out.

He tried slinking past his room without making a noise, but was unexpectedly struck in the head from behind with a hard and electrical-fused blow, making him fall forward and onto the ground.

"OOOWWWW! FUCK!" Riley sat up holding the back of his head and looking at his hand to see if blood was drawn. He looked up to see Huey glaring down at him in full combat mode. "Yo, bro, listen! Lemme explain, okay?!"

"I'm going to give you three chances to acknowledge all three things you fucked up today," Huey growled stepping towards him. Riley retreated as he scooted back on the floor. "If not…" Huey clenched his fist down at him, making zapping noises. The sound made Riley spring up on his feet and he held his hands up defensively.

"Okay, okay, okay, look! Yeah, I made you late for work! That's my bad! But if you knew damn well me and Trish was gon' be fuckin, we coulda easily took her car, nigga! That was poor thinking on yo part, mothatfuc…AAGHHH!" Huey jabbed him in the gut.

"Next," Huey simply stated. Riley held his stomach in anguish as the lingering electric jolts coursed through his body.

"Nigga I already got a whoopin', for the tire! That shit wasn't even my fau…OWWWWWW!" He was interrupted by Huey's fist going upside his head. "NIGGA WHAT THE FUCK!? You said if I guess right, then you wasn't gon' hit me, nigga!" Riley started swinging back, all of which Huey dodged and returned with a series of Kung Fu moves, sending Riley into the wall by his room.

"I said nothing of the sort. All I said was don't be wrong. And I told yo dumbass NO PEEL OFFS!" Huey started walking towards him.

"Uuughhh..Well you gon' have to fight me then, nigga. Cuz I ain't do nothin' else!" Riley clumsily got up and put his fists up. Huey gladly accepted the challenge and the two began full on brawling in the hallway, which transferred into some guest bedrooms, then into Robert's bedroom.

"GET BACK HERE RILEY!" Huey tackled Riley to the floor and elbowed him in the mouth. Then Riley turned them over and began punching Huey back. They fought for a few more seconds until they heard their Granddad hollering.

"AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHHH! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU TWO!" Robert screamed from his bed, making the brothers stop and stare at him. "YA'LL BOTH GROWN ASS MEN AND YOU STILL FIGHTIN' LIKE YA'LL TEN GOT' DAMNED YEARS OLD!I CAN'T NEVER JUST HAVE A MOMENTS PEACE WITH YA'LL UGLY LIL NIGLETS ALWAYS FIGHTING AND FUCKIN' UP MY HOUSE! You know what I'm gonna do?! I'm gonna get a stiff ass hotel pillow and I'm gonna STRANGLE YA'LL NAPPY HEADED ASSES IN YA'LL SLEEP! YUP! MMM-HMMM! That's what I'm doin! I'm going to the Four Seasons right now!" Granddad hopped out of bed and began getting dressed.

"Granddad! Riley fucked up my entire day and I'm tired of him acting like an irresponsible, egotistical FUCKBOY!" Huey hollered.

"What the hell you talkin' about boy?" Granddad rolled his eyes.

"Huey just bein' a hater cuz I made him late for work because I was getting some cudi last night and he wasn't!" Riley sneered.

"What in the hell is wrong with you Huey? If yo brother wants to get some, then he can get some! Stop hatin!" Granddad defended Riley, making him smile wickedly at him.

"Granddad, he told lies to Trisha AND Jazmine about me and Rasheeda, saying how we still been sleeping together, knowing that's a BOLD-FACED LIE!" Huey socked Riley square in the jaw and the two began fighting again.

"You's a….fuckin….POSER….NIGGA!" Riley taunted in between hits.

"GOD DAMN IT BOYYYYY!" Granddad whipped his belt, making it smack Huey hard on the back, making him wince, but not much. "Did you or did you NOT sleep with her?! It's an easy solution!"

"Nah, Granddad! I told you, I ain't been wit' her in months! Riley's just tryna stir up shit like always! I nearly lost Jazmine today because of it!" Huey informed him. That made Granddad and Riley's eyebrows rise up. Huey palmed his forehead.

"Ohhh, I see! Cutie-pie was ready to throw in the towel, wasn't she?" Robert smirked crossing his arms. Huey scowled at himself, but nodded anyway.

"Luckily, I handled damage-control enough to where she believed me," Huey inwardly smirked. "But I'm not letting Riley get away with it," He shot daggers at Riley next to him.

"Well, then I can understand that. Cutie-pie ain't nothing to play with. She may have been gone a long time, but she's still family. Riley, you do deserve this ass-whooping! And afterwards, you're gonna go over there and apologize to her IN SIGN LANGUAGE!"

"Awh, come oonnnn, Granddad! How am I gonna learn sign language that fast?!" Riley complained.

"Yo brother, can do it! So can you! Now, shut up and take that ass-kicking like a man! Just take that shit outside my room! I'm trying to sleep! I'm an old man, hell!" Granddad slowly made his way back into bed.

"Nah, Granddad. Morgan Freeman is old! YOU on the other hand, are ANCIENT!" Riley said followed by a series of cackles. He was too busy laughing, he didn't notice Huey and Robert sharing a mutual stare, before Huey smacked him upside the head with his shock glove and dragged him out of their grandfather's room by his braids, reaching back and punching him with his gloved hand every other step.

"YOU….WILL…APOLOGIZE…TO…HER…IF….IT'S…THE…LAST…THING…YOU'LL….DO!" Huey shouted dragging him down the hall and shoving him into his bedroom door.

"A'ite, A'ite, A'ite! AAAAGHHH! DAMN!" Riley shouted. Huey gave him a last blow to the stomach, making him double over in pain, before disappearing back into his room. Riley sniffled as he laid down on his bed "….That ain't hurt," he whined.

Pretty lengthy, I know! But I had to compensate for the amount of time I made ya'll wait ;). And I had to make sure I get all the important dialogue and illustrate the emotion of the chapter, cuz it sure was a LOT of emotion here! So what did ya'll think?! Please Review and give me feedback! I'd really appreciate it!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FOLKS! HERE'S TO A NEW DECADE! TERRIBLE/TURNT TWENTIES BABY! 2020!

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