Seeing the two boys in the corner made Jazmine have odd feelings stir in her chest. Cameron looked really good today, in her opinion. The skirt showcased his legs, which seemed to go on for miles. At some point, the ginger had them draped across Nikki’s thighs. In fact, the two boys were even cutely holding hands as they chatted away. Although there had been one moment when the ginger seemed apprehensive, it quickly faded at Nikki’s signature laugh. 

Unable to pull her gaze away, Jazmine tries to push down the odd feeling in her chest at the twos immediate connection. Or perhaps Cameron has an easy time accepting platonic affection. He had held on to her hand the night before, and didn’t mind when they’d brushed up against each other. Not to forget that he's fine with Amari's antics. Whatever was going on between the two young men was probably platonic and none of her business, Jazmine reminds herself. Or at least hopes.

Hopes? 

Shaking her head, she forces herself to turn away as they laugh about something else. 

“You good, Jaz?”

Facing Amari, she sighs. “I don’t know. I think I’m way too in my head.”

“About what?”

“Unleashing Nikki on him without any warning. That boy could charm the skin off a snake if he wanted to. Next thing we know, Cameron could end up in Nikki’s senior show with nothing but prayers and candy wrappers holding the dress together.”

“True. I do hope he and that damn hen house don’t completely snatch up all of Cam's time. I was hoping we could be friends,” Amari muses, although getting quieter on the last part. 

Looking closer at the president, Jazmine could see a hint of genuine worry in his typically carefree gaze. Not knowing where it came from, she grabs his hand gently, squeezing it tightly for a moment.

“I don’t think that’ll happen.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah," she says just as softly. "But Lee might get jealous if you keep texting him all the damn time.”

It didn’t get the laugh she wanted out of him, only a brief eye roll.

“Whatever. I need company.”

“I know it hasn’t been the same since Davis graduated and moved, but it’s not like we don’t let you join girls' night. You literally have honorary member status.”

“All y'all do is get drunk and make me do food runs when the cravings hit,” Amari corrects. 

He isn’t wrong, Jazmine admits to herself.

“But you do it so well. And don’t act like you don’t have fun.”

“I do…it’s just–I’d do anything for you girls, but I…” Amari swallows back the rest much to Jazmine's concern. She waits for him to continue, but the president shakes his head as if it were too bad ot continue. Only one thing came to mind, and although she didn't think it were the cause, Jazmine airs it out anyway.

“It is too…feminine,” she asks without judgment.

“No. You know I was basically raised by a village of women.”

“Yeah. So what is it?”

“You guys are a unit, and sometimes it just feels like I’m intruding.”

“Mari, I-I’m sorry sorry we made you feel that way. You know we–”

“Love me? Of course. But you guys are Leah’s friends first." Before Jazmine could respond, he holds a hand up "I don’t mind that, because she deserves friends like you. But I just like to hang out with a guy that is cool enough to be included in everyone’s orbit, but still not in it ya know.”

“I get that. “

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. It’s why I stopped trying to date in-house. Too much feedback.”

“Well since you mention it, one of my sisters knows this girl from Central–”

“Oh my god Mari, you told Erica about—“

“Mari told Erica what?”

Barely suppressing a flinch, the two face Cameron and Nikki, now standing next to their table. 

“Jaz getting back into the dating scene,” Amari says with a grin. Without meaning to, she focuses on Cameron, stunned by his immediate lasering in on her. 

“You’re actually single? How?”

“That’s what I’m saying,” Amari unhelpfully adds. 

“It’s a shame, really,” Nikki tacks on. “Not fair for all that hotness to stay hidden beneath those clothes. When she dates, we see a little skin.”

“Stop. Really?” Cameron wide eyed as she bashfully shakes her head. “I know you got people waiting in the bushes somewhere.”

“Yeah, but for hooking up. And I'm not really wired that way.”

Jazmine didn't realize she'd been holding her breath until Cameron nods respectfully.

“Valid. Now I’m really intrigued.”

“The book is open if you wish to ask.”

“Well, uh, I guess...uh, what kind of person do you see yourself as in a relationship,” the ginger struggles to get out, but Jazmine found it to be cute.

“I like to think I’m supportive.  Need a body double? I’m there. Suddenly want to build something? I’m bringing my toolkit. Feeling sad? I’ll cook for you.”

“Acts of service…by nature or nurture?”

“Both. What about you?”

“I-I love being at the person’s side. We could paint popsicle sticks, and I’d be content,” Cameron murmurs with a blush. "W-what about you guys?”

Jazmine has to blink as she remembers her friends being present.

“Words of Affirmation,” the two chorus, glaring at each other afterward. “Of course it is,” they both say at the same time, again. “Hmpf.”

“Okay…I kinda want to ask, but now I'm too scared,” Cameron stage-whispers to Jazmine.It breaks the tension enough for Nikki to snort.

“If it’s anything you should be scared of, it’s how much B.D.E. Jazmine has when she's dating someone.”

Why the hell are they saying this for, she thinks trying not to feel embarrassed. 

“I do not,” she scoffs.

“Yes, ya do,” the upperclassmen agreed simultaneously.  

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“She spoils them,” Amari starts. 

“And then they want to turn into brats because their brains turned to mush.”

“Oh. Like entitled?”

“You said it, not I.”

“That's not true. I just did too much.”

“Her exes were too immature to appreciate that,” Nikki scoffs.

“Hey. Come on. I wasn’t always helpful.”

“Yeah, but it was no excuse for…she…and they who shall not be named to cheat. Talkin ‘bout, ‘I just felt so inadequate because you’re Perfect Patty,’” Amari mocks in falsetto.

Jazmine could tell Cameron didn’t get the reference and started a mental bet on when Amari would fix that. 

“Well, Perfect Patty can mess up too,” Nikki and Amari cry a little too loudly. Several people turn to them, and Jazmine hits them across the table.. 

“Shut the hell up,” she hushes, but the laugh softens the rebuke.

“We’re just saying.”

“Let’s give them some grace. Sometimes my help was tone-deaf. Ya know? It didn’t allow them to see that I also had things to improve on.”

“Ugh. Shut up. Why can’t you be a boy and be all like this?” Nikki whines.

“Girl, please. You got a person.”

“I’m saying in gen-ner-ral!” 

“We’ll let you guys finish this privately. Leah just texted, and she wants me to hit the store,” Amari declares as he typed on his phone. Oddly enough, Cameron notices Nikki’s phone buzz, and the performer clears his throat.

“Yeah, Rayyan wants me to come over. So we’ll leave you to it.”

The ginger only squints as they quickly exchange hugs. Still, his suspicions were confirmed when Nikki whispered ‘You got this, while Amari whispered something to Jaz that made her freeze. Watching the two leave in silence, Cameron doesn’t know what to do. Would they continue the conversation? Does she have something to do? Is there—

“Do you have to be anywhere?”

Facing her again, Cameron’s head shakes side to side before he can get the words out. “No. I thought this would be longer so I did my homework already.”

“Mmm.”

“You?” The sophomore unknowingly…

“I’m free. We don’t…we don’t have to end the night here.”

“I like that.”

Yet, they are silent as they leave the buildings; a hush falls between them, filled by the cicadas nearby. It breaks as Cameron’s stomach cries out in protest. Under the lamp light she could see the fiery blush spreading across his cheeks.

“I’m guessing the roll wasn’t enough?”

“So embarrassing,” the ginger ginger groans, but Jazmine laughs. 

“The dining hall is still open. I could eat too.”

“True. But I’m not big on eating there. Too exposed.”

“Ahhh. Well, we could take it to go, and eat somewhere else?”

“My dorm?” Jazmine didn’t mean to raise her brows so high, and could tell  Cameron thought she assumed something bad. “We-we don’t have to go to my r-room or anything! Like there’s the communal spaces, an-and that outside picnic tables, or—“

“Your room’s fine. As long as it’s cool with your roommate.”

“I-it is. Gare texted earlier that he’d be out until midnight.”