21 Chump Street: The Sequel

{one}

{art was made by the talented Leah J.}

Justin took a breath of fresh air, smiling as he stepped into his hotel room. His mother had sent him some money through his Wells Fargo bank account, enough to buy himself a room for the night. The former inmate gazed contently out the large window and balcony of his room.

He collapsed on the bed with a melodramatic sigh, then jumped up instantly at the instantaneous ringing of his cell phone. Expecting one of his old high school homeboys, Justin picked it up and answered it enthusiastically.

"Hey there, who's this?" "Oh my God. It's..really y-you?" 

The achingly familiar voice on the other side tugged at Justin's heartstrings. "Naomi..." he sang to her again, a smile dancing upon his lips, rekindling the warm, loving fire in his heart. He still loved her even when she had betrayed him and schemed against him. She was only doing her job! He understood her motives, though his family members likely did not. 

"I'm so sorry. You're...You're really out of, uh, prison?"

Justin was not used to hearing his beloved stuttering and tripping over her words. That was his job. She had always been smooth, suave, and convincing in whatever meaningful words she uttered. "Yep. Just got out this afternoon. I'm in my hotel room right now."

"Oh, that's..r-really nice. How are you, um...How are you holding..up?" 

"I'm doing well. How about you, Nai?" "Oh, uh, me? I'm doing g-good too. It's just rea-ally hard for me to take in the fact that you're really free again. I've changed now, I-I swear." "Girl, don't sweat it. Stop apologizing." "I've been thinking about you ever since I, uh, did what I did.." 

Naomi's voice trembled, shaking as she spoke, as if tears were threatening to overwhelm her. "Naomi. I'll forgive you, but on one condition." 

She gave a soft, muffled sniffle; it was obvious she was all ears for Justin's proposal, if it meant she would have his forgiveness. "You have to meet up with me..at our old high school." "O-okay. But, it'll only be the two of us, rig..right?" "Whatever you need, Naomi." "Okay, I'll d-do it." "Yes!"

Justin exhaled loudly over the cell phone. He grinned sheepishly from ear to ear when he realized Naomi had heard his dramatic outburst of victory, and was giving her warmly familiar chuckle she uttered through clenched, unmovable white teeth. 

"Hey! Don't laugh at me!" He muttered playfully, having to clutch his sides as they ached from all of the radiant laughter. Naomi gave a shrill snort in reply, as if trying vaguely but failing to suppress the tiniest giggle. "And, don't snort at me either."

"Ahhh. I've missed you, Justin." The way his beloved mentioned his name sent exhilarating shivers down Justin's back. His characteristic, cheesy, flirty smirk was pasted seemingly permanently on his freckled face.

He tossed back his long, curly brown hair. "I've missed you too. And my old hair." "Oh my gosh! Did you cut it? I really liked it." Naomi pretended to let out a disappointed huff. "Nope. It's super long now. And it's even curlier." "I didn't think that was possible!" She gasped in exaggerated astonishment.

"Well, see you..tomorrow?" "Yes. Tomorrow." "Alright. Bye, Naomi..." "You stop it!" Justin chuckled loudly as Naomi hung up on her side. He did the same, about to put his phone down when a call from Tevin passed through. He gave a reluctant sigh, then shifted into a more optimistic mood, swiftly yet wearily answering his old friend's phone call while splayed out on his comfortable queen size bed. Queen. It reminded him of his beloved Naomi. She was a queen. She'd always be one to him, no matter what she did or said to him.