Chapter One

Jazmine Dubois looked up at the pretty blue sky above her. It seemed different now, almost pointless. She knew full well that it wasn't normal for her not to care, but frankly, she was tired. Tired of giving a damn about everything. After all, what had niceness given her in return? Nothing but hurt and pain.

Her emerald eyes twinkled in the sunlight. Her long legs covered the green grass and her new, matured body was clad in a t-shirt and shorts. Her frizzy strawberry hair flowed in the wind. She was eighteen years old now, an adult. There was no use in crying, especially when you had already done so much of it. Her mother was dead, and there was nothing she could do about it.

"Everybody you know is going to die." She thought as she recalled his prophetic words.

It hurt even more thinking of it. He was right after all, but that didn't stop her from being angry. No, she wasn't sad, happy, or even excited anymore. She was downright pissed. No physical pain could hurt her now. She had been too naive, too trusting, and too loving. Now, she had to pay the price. She had to live with all of it. She didn't want to though, and she wasn't going to.

She had packed her suitcase. It was time to leave now; and she was ready. After all, wasn't this how things went? She was ready to leave all of it behind. She wasn't the same anymore. She was different now, and after graduating from J. Edgar High, this was just what she needed.

Then, she walked. She knew exactly where she was going, and even though she never admitted it aloud, she hoped he would be there.

He was.

"You're leaving." He stated softly, not looking at her.

"Yeah." She responded.

"Well, statistically…"

"DON'T YOU DARE FREEMAN!" she growled.

"You'll be fine, you know." He told her.

Jazmine looked down. She didn't want to hear this. At all.

"Yeah, it hurts. So what? Get over it. Grow up." He continued.

Jazmine's eyes never lifted from the ground.

"Because let's face it," he looked at her, "You aren't the first or the last kid to lose a parent."

That hit a nerve. She stared at her best friend in shock. This isn't how things were supposed to end up between them. Who was he supposed to be? How dare he demand that she grow up after her mother's death a mere two weeks ago. What did he want? She could not. No, she would not pretend that her mother, her best friend wasn't important to her. Jazmine didn't want to feel so, so empty; but it was hard. Smiles weren't even associated with her anymore.

"Do you hear me?" he said, his wine colored irises focusing on her.

Her green ones narrowed. He wanted her to grow up. That was just fine with her, but it was going to be on her terms. Jazmine Dubois was open to change now. The naïve personality she once claimed wholeheartedly needed to go, and she was finally ready to set it free.

"Yeah, I heard you. And you know what? I really don't give a fuck. What did you expect from me anyways? A smile, a peppy greeting, a giant hug?"

"You're overreacting" stated the shocked Freeman.

"I'm overreacting! No, I'm not! I'm just sick of you, my family, everybody, and anybody who tries to tell me how to feel!" She shouted.

It was Huey's turn to stand quietly now.

"All my life I've heard how stupid you think I am, how ignorant you think I am. Please," she scoffed, "If anything, you're the stupid one!"

His wine irises narrowed now, but Jazmine didn't care anymore. She kept on talking.

"You thought that I would never say anything back? You thought that I would just smile and bounce back? Well guess what, Huey? My mom isn't one of your blunt words that I can pretend aren't real. Because when I wake up in the morning, she's not going to be there, and unless you can bring her back, your words don't really mean much of anything to me."

"Jazmine…" He began.

"Consider the Jazmine you once knew dead. You wanted me to grow up, and you're finally going to get your wish. So be happy! This is what you've always wanted right?" she spat back.

"Not like this." He thought.

"Forget it. You can stand there if you want, but I'm going home." She spoke.

"When are you?" Huey began.

"Tomorrow, that's when I'm leaving, but I don't want to see you after today." Jazmine retorted, reading his mind.

And then she spun on her heel, already walking towards her own home. Her mind was spinning, she felt lost, and somehow, she felt alive. Her heart raced as she neared the door of her room. She knew what she needed now. Herself.

Her keys hit the dresser as she gravitated towards one particular photo. She and Huey one day at age ten. Jazmine had a smile pasted on her face; and Huey portrayed the usual- his infamous scowl. She almost ripped it, but something stopped her. Her heart wouldn't allow it, and she stuffed it into her pocket.

She walked downstairs to find her father. She wanted to give him one final kiss good night. Jazmine found him. Tom was passed out on the couch with two bottles of alcohol tucked safely in his arm. Somehow, Jazmine wasn't shocked. She just placed a blanket over his inebriated body, and gave him a kiss good night regardless.

She couldn't wait until tomorrow. Everything was finally going to change for the better. California was waiting for her, UCLA was expecting her, and she could barely wait. A place full of sunshine and happiness couldn't hurt anyone. Besides, it couldn't get worst. Could it?

She thought about all of these things as she trudged towards the bed. She looked out of the window one last time at Woodcrest, turned off the lamp, and drifted into her own little dreamland. And for the first time in a little while, she smiled happily as she touched the small photo in the back of her pocket.