Huey Freeman's Guide to Dating

Prologue

"Oh, she may be weary. And young girls, they do get wearied."

- Otis Redding

She was trying so hard to stay calm.

The girl whispered something into his ear, and he smirked in response, gripping her hand and leading them down the hall to her next class.

"What an ass." Her best friend Cindy remarked. "It's been what, two weeks?"

"Three and a half." Jazmine corrected her. "You'd think he would at least wait. Guys are such jerks. Even him."

"Especially him." Cindy tossed her backpack over her shoulder. "l hope you move on soon. That way you can really stick it to him when he comes crawling back."

Jazmine tried to ignore the warm feeling of hope rising to the surface. "I hope not. I'm done this time. It's over."

"Uh huh." Cindy made it clear she didn't believe a word her friend was saying. "Sure."

"I'm serious." Jazmine glared at her. "This is really it this time."

Huey snorted from behind her and stared over at Cindy. "They broke up, again, huh?"

"Yup." Cindy leaned onto her locker and grinned at her best friend's brother. "Want to place a bet? No entry fee is required."

"Absolutely." He nodded. "Is there a prize?"

"I'm standing right here you know." Jazmine pouted. "Heartbroken. Depressed. Forever alone."

"A thousand bucks for you if I'm right." Cindy leaned on Jazmine's shoulder. "All I want if I win is for you to perform a song. Preferably a selection previously performed by a wrongfully accused musical genius. With choreography."

"P Diddy, R Kelly, Trey Songz, and Dr Dre are not wrongfully accused victims." Huey rolled his eyes. "But I do need money for a part to my car."

"I'm falling into the abyss!" Jazmine crumpled against her locker dramatically. "No. More. Joy."

"Let's get into specifics." Cindy placed her thumb on her chin and then shrugged. "We need to set clear guidelines around collection of payment."

"Exactly." Huey rubbed his hands together. "Are they back together when they kiss again, or are they back together when they're an official couple again?"

"Does it matter?" Cindy mused. "The two normally happen around the same time."

"Trust me." Huey intercepted Jazmine's locker door with his foot just in time. "It matters."

"When they are a couple again." Cindy decided, snapping her fingers. "Oh! Let's make it interesting."

"More interesting than me getting a thousand dollars for something that's inevitable?" Huey turned around to check out a girl walking past. He turned his head back to Cindy and laughed. It was almost too easy. "Are you sure?"

"Yep." Cindy stepped over Jazmine, who had made a show of falling onto the ground. "If you can somehow get her to move on, I'll toss in another thousand bucks."

"You guys don't love me." Jazmine groaned from her spot on the ground. "The people who loved me wouldn't treat me this way."

"Even better." Huey shook her hand. "Now, I just have to find someone who would be crazy enough to date this lovestruck shell of a person."

"Still standing here!" Jazmine huffed. "Just because you two don't have feelings, it doesn't mean that I can't. I have loved, and I have lost. It's way better than having never loved at all."