Just As I Am

Chapter 22

Isaiah

It was the last day of school and I was standing by Jasmine’s car, waiting. You would’ve thought that things would’ve been easier now that she was single again, but that was not the case at all. Dashawn had scarred her to the point she was almost unrecognizable. She still looked like the same girl, but she wasn’t. I could see it in her eyes, in her smile; she wasn’t the same girl, and I missed her. It was like her spark died or something. She seemed so fragile now, and I wanted the strong, confident girl I loved back.

“Wassup, Zay?” Tim yelled from across the parking lot. I looked up to see him walking in my direction.

“Wassup, T-Money? Ready for this fight?” It was tradition that the last day of school consisted of a city wide water gun fight. Marcus was in charge of the balloons and Tim was in charge of the Super Soakers. We decided to take my truck so we’d have enough room for all the equipment. Yes, it was that serious.

“You better believe it. Let me see your keys so I can put this stuff in your truck.” He answered. I tossed him the keys just as Jasmine, Bianca, and Isis walked up.

“Wassup, 3LW?” I laughed. Bianca and Isis made remarks about me not being that funny, but Jazzy didn’t say anything. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She answered, putting her bag in the trunk.

“She just doesn’t know how you’re going to take it?” Bianca said, getting in the front seat of Jasmine’s car. That turned my attention to them.

“I told her it wasn’t a big deal.” Isis added while getting in the seat behind Bianca.

“Take what?” I asked cautiously. What could Jasmine possibly have to worry about when talking to me?

“This.” Jasmine said. I looked up to see a huge water gun pointed at me. Before I could say a word, she blasted me. My shock gave her time to make it the door and hop in. Bianca and Isis let down there windows and both blasted me with water balloons before Jasmine pulled off, the three of them laughing. I was left standing in the parking lot soaked down to my boxers. Tim and Marc were killing themselves laughing along with everyone else in the parking lot. I admit, it was funny, but payback is a mutha. Marc tossed me a towel when I made it to my truck.

“They got you good, Zay!” He laughed.

“Yeah, now let’s return the favor.”

The water gun fight lasted about two hours before we all ended up at my house. I ordered pizzas and we all watched movies until close to ten when Bianca said she had to go. We’d gone back to the school before coming to my place so everyone could get their cars. Everyone decided to call it a night which left me alone with her.

“I’m not ready to go yet.” She said as I sat next to her on the couch.

“You know that’s cool with me, Jazzy.” I wanted to ask what was on her mind, but I didn’t. She’d tell me when she was ready. Besides, she was probably thinking about Dashawn, and I definitely didn’t want to hear about him.

It took Jasmine two days to tell me what happened that night after prom. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to murder ole boy, but part of me was glad he’d taken himself out of the equation with his little stunt. I figured now I could finally be with her, but that was before I realized the ramifications of his actions. Jasmine told me she was through with relationships, and I went back to wanting to murder Dashawn. She would probably feel differently if she knew that I was so completely in love with her, but what if she didn’t? It had only been a month since he’d broken her heart, and I thought it was probably a little too soon to confess my undying love for her. Besides that, we were closer than ever. She still felt comfortable around me, but that just let me know she was still looking at me as just a friend. I didn’t want to just be her friend.