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" You know Tara, I really can't believe you just went there given all the things you've told me you've done. I hardly think black women are doing any more screwing around than you are. Didn't you let that last guy you screwed pee on you? God what's next...are you going to let the next guy you sleep with take a dump on you?"

At that precise moment Jazzlyn and Sherica both opened their stall doors and walked out looking at each other.

The woman who could be none other than Tara was an overly made up bleach blond whose face was now beet red. Her friend Sarah could be heard saying "
Oh shit
" under her breath.

"Hello ladies." Jazzlyn said walking towards the sink to wash her hands. Sherica did the same as the two other ladies scrambled around in their purses pretending to look for something.

" My boyfriend
is
very good looking isn't he?" Jazzlyn said coyly to the red faced woman who had to have been Tara,the female voice she heard talking shit.

" Look I'm just saying what plenty of people think OK! Aren't there plenty of black men out here for you to be with?"

"Of course there are...but I decided I want
that
white man. So instead of worrying your fat ass about who a man you don't even know is with,concern yourself with al that belly you have. What are you six months pregnant and out here looking for men? You're pathetic. Besides,my man likes to be able to easily get to his woman’s pussy...regardless of what color she is. He'd never look at you. When is your due date?"

Jazzlyn said.

" I am
not
pregnant!"

" Look ladies we don't want any trouble OK? I'm really am sorry you had to hear my friends ignorant comments." Sarah said.

"Whose friend are you Sarah? Don't put me down in front of them!" Tara said pointing at Sherica and Jazzlyn.

"I'm your friend. Keep up your racist comments and I wont be for much longer. You're lucky she doesn't slap the shit out of you. Let's go, you've total y embarrassed me tonight Tara. I'm taking you home now!" Sarah said storming out of the ladies room.

" Giiirrrl! I heard that shit in the stall and was like DAMN! Do we have to whoop some ass out here tonight
and
I'm in my good dress and heels?" Sherica said laughing.

Jazzlyn tried to laugh but was stil pissed. " Sherica seriously. I'm pissed! Who the hell do they think they are?"

"Wel Jazzlyn you should already know you're going to run into ignorant people from time to time. You just have to brush it off your shoulders. Tyson is a good looking man. If he was black, these females out here would be hating too so in that regard it's no different. If his ass was ugly they wouldn't have given you two a second thought."

Sherica said.

Jazzlyn stood there staring into the mirror." Jazz what's going on here? Are you two having problems?" Sherica asked.

" No Tyson is perfect.
Perfect
Sherica!" Jazzlyn exclaimed.

" So what's the damn problem then?"

"The problem
is
I keep getting reminded of the one difference between us...he's not black. We met each others families. His sisters and mom are great. My mom did the best she could to play it off but my dad and brothers are real y upset. Antonio even came over the other day to talk to me about it."

" Jazzlyn are you kidding me? What the hel . Tyson didn't
jus
t
get white! Don't you think you should have given some thought to the color of his skin and any possible issues
before
you got involved with him? Now dammit, you know I don't bite my tongue Jazzlyn but this is fucking ridiculous!"

"You're playing with peoples feeling now and it's not right. Regardless of Tyson having grown up in a black family, you don't think he takes shit behind that every day. Possibly behind being in a relationship with you as well? Of course he does. Granted his best friend is black but that doesn't mean everyone black is cool with him. He's a goddamn white man in America. A fine one at that. Imagine how easy it would be for him not to deal with any of this? Surround himself with white people,get him a white woman and keep it moving.

I think it says a whole lot about his character as a
man
.....as a
person
that he's proud of who he is and the way he was raised. Now either you're al in with this man or leave him alone. I know
plenty
of sistas who would jump at the chance to be with a man like Tyson and the little detail of his color would be the least of their worries...you did say he could fuck too right? " Sherica asked. Jazzlyn broke into a wide smile that said it all.

" Wel I suggest you shut your crazy ass up before you fuck this good thing up and another sista gets your man. Something about Tyson tells me that if
you
aren't the black woman he's dating...it will be another black women. Shit it's hard enough out here to get a good man period. Black or white. You should hear my white female coworkers complaining. Hel they made me feel good knowing it wasn't only the sistas having a hard time finding a good man! Let's get back out there before they start wondering where the hell we are. " Sherica said leading the way out of the bathroom.

The ladies arrived back at the table and sat down.

"Are you all right? I thought I was going to send out a search party to look for you."

Jevon asked.

" I'm good." Sherica said putting a smile on her face even though inside she was seething! Where the hell do I get these crazy ass friends? Sherica thought to herself.

" What's wrong baby?" Tyson asked " You have this look on your face."

"Nothing. Had to deal with some bitches in the bathroom but I'll tel you about it later.

So what did you order again I forgot?" Jazzlyn said smiling.

The couples laughed and talked al during dinner with Jevon and Tyson keeping the ladies laughing with stories about them as kids and teenagers." So you mean to tell me you two were bad boys?" Jazzlyn said in amazement.

" Yep. We're good
now
,hell when I meet Tyson he
stayed
in a fight with somebody.

Tyson was fighting the world!" Jevon said laughing.

" I just wanted to be left alone. You already know how I am. I just like to be left alone,leave my family alone, keep my name out your mouth and I don't like any drama.

If you bring it to me though that's another story. I went through a crazy stage where I wouldn't even talk to white people at all to be honest. My parents talked to me and got me through that stage especial y my dad. He just told me straight up one day boy surely you don't think your white ass can go through life as a white man never talking to white people? It was a stage and I got through it" Tyson said laughing.

" It never gets old though Tyson? Dealing with people and the whole black-white thing?" Jazzlyn asked.

"Of course it does. What can you do about other peoples ignorant mentalities? Some people will live their entire lives being ignorant and they'll die that way. What choice do I have though? Turn my back on my family? So I can live a happy "white" life ? Never that.

So I just learned to be selective about who I have in my life. I know who my real friends are. When it comes to dating I try to be just as choosy. I think I've been lucky that any of the relationships I've been in,when they ended it was never an issue of race." Tyson said.

" I mean hel I feel like I know off the bat she's black and she can clearly see I'm white so any issues with that should have been thought about before you took my number."

Tyson said.

" I completely agree Tyson." Sherica said raising her eyebrow at Jazzlyn. " Oh my God you guys this seafood fettuccine is delicious!Jevon you'll have to roll me out of here."

" Nahh. We're gonna dance that off at the club." Jevon said laughing.

The couples spent the remainder of dinner discussing various topic and enjoying each others company. Almost shutting the restaurant down."We'd better get out of here almost everyone else is gone." Tyson said.

The men paid the bil and tipped their waitress nicely and they walked out to the parking lot." You all sure you want to hit up Club Zooms? Or are you in the mood for something else?" Tyson asked.

" Club Zooms" the ladies both said at once.

" I haven't been to Club Zooms since the night we real y started talking, Tyson do you remember?" Jazzlyn asked.

" Yes I remember you and all that drama. Something good came out of it all though.

So it's all good as far as I'm concerned." Tyson said softly. The ride to Club Zooms was comfortable and quite. Sherica and Jevon talked to one another in the backseat getting to know one another better.

" So let me ask you something Jevon...when I first met you I would have never thought you were a detective. How does all this work when you're out and about. I mean are you always "on" so to speak or are you going to relax instead of looking for crimes ?"

Jevon laughed " When I first started I may have had a different answer for you but truthfully unless someone asks me specifically, I keep my profession to myself. First off I do like my money. So what do I look like working and I'm not getting paid? Hell I have a stack of cases I'm working on as we speak. Aint no way I'm going to be out on a date or at the grocery store just waiting for someone to mess up so I can do for free what I'm trained and paid to do professionally. Hell they can keep that stolen candy bar.

You wait and see. Once you're a lawyer, see how many people you know are going to hit you up for free legal advice and shit. You're going to have to put the breaks on al that fast. " Jevon said.

" That's true. People ask me questions now and I have to remind them I'm not a lawyer yet." Sherica said.

"I know your family is proud of you. I just met you and I'm proud of you moving forward and working towards your dreams. A lot of people don't have it in them to do it.

You're showing your son something great and he's little and doesn't even know it yet.

He will though." Jevon said.

Sherica couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face " Thank you for saying that Jevon. You can't even
imagine
how nice it is to hear that. My family is supportive

now
. It wasn't always the case though. They see I'm serious about getting my degree.

Motivated and other than class and work, I'm home being a mother to my son. My mom was surprised when I said I was actually going on a date tonight. Usual y when I go somewhere it's just to hang out with the girls and get away for a little "me" time you know?"

"Wel I'm glad you made an exception for me tonight. I intend to make sure you have a good time."Jevon said just as they pulled into the packed parking lot of the club. "

Damn they packed up in here tonight. Tyson and I will look around and get a table so you ladies aren't standing up all night."

The couples made their way into the packed club. Tyson took Jazzlyn's hand and lead her through the crowd. Just as Jazzlyn was walking past she heard a male voice say

"Damn those sistas fine as hell...at least the caramel honey is with a brotha." He said obviously referring to Sherica.

Why the hell can't people just mind their own damn business? Jazzlyn thought with a frown.

" Jazzlyn, let's hit the ladies room and freshen up real fast before we sit down."

Sherica said. Tyson and Jevon were busy pointing to various areas in the club they could possibly get a seat. " Y'all look for us in this area" Jevon said. " I think I see some people leaving,so we'l grab that table OK?"

Jazzlyn and Sherica headed towards the ladies room when Sherica heard someone cal ing her name and they both turned to see who it was. Trevonne was waving her hands." Girl let me see what Trevonne is up to. I haven't really had time to touch base with her lately." Sherica said.

" OK girl. If I make it back to the table before you, I'll let Jevon know you ran into Trevonne." Jazzlyn said continuing on to the ladies room.

" Hey girl!" Sherica said leaning in to give Trevonne a hug." How have you been? I've been meaning to get in touch with you but I've been a little busy."

"Wel you're not too busy to be out at the club with my best friend. You know what Sherica, I think it's kinda fucked up on your part to have totally dumped me as a friend.

Yet you have al the time in the world to hang out with Jazzlyn now."

Sherica's eyes locked on Trevonne " Trevonne let me clear something up for you real goddamn fast. Yes I met Jazzlyn through you
years
ago...but my friendship with Jazzlyn is not, nor has
ever
been dependent on you. Are we clear on that? As for your "best friend " comment. Where the hell was all that "best friend" shit when you were cocking your legs up fucking the hell out of your best friends man?"

"That has nothing to do with this Sherica!"

"No it has
everything
to do with it Trevonne. It has everything to do with why you're over here alone instead with us.
You
created this divide not me. Now I'm standing here telling you I'm sorry. I haven't had much free time to call you and touch base with you these last few weeks,I was already a busy person with school,work and being a mother to your nephew...who might I add, have you thought to ask about him instead of worrying about who I'm hanging out with?" Sherica asked.

" Don't even go there Sherica. You know I love Isiah." Trevonne said feeling suddenly guilty because she had only been thinking of hanging out with Sherica and hadn't cal ed and asked about him at al .

" Look Trevonne, you know you're my girl and I don't want to come at you like this,but you already know I'm
not
the one. I had every intention of getting together with you. If you weren't busy tripping I could tell you
why
I've been so busy with the little bit of free time I
do
have!" Sherica said smiling.

"Uh-Oh! I know that look Sherica! What's going on?"Trevonne asked.

"OK. Real fast because I real y have to get back to the table. Wel you know Jazzlyn is seeing her neighbor Tyson right? Wel a little while back, remember I told you her and Tyson had a little get together?"