Chapter Text
Author's Note:
I've always been very curious about how a fanfic like this would work.
So here I am, writing about it.
As usual, I'd love to hear from you if you like it so far.
I hope you enjoy.
Chapter One
"That's why I love that you come from around my way. But so many miles away."
- Nia Sultana
11 Years Ago….
Jazmine wanted to look away, but she couldn't. Not with her heart thudding in her chest, her palms sweaty, her eyes locked on his.
The air crackled between them, heavy and electric—too intense for two teenagers who'd only kissed once. But there they were, playing with fire again.
"I'm happy for you, J." He grinned that sexy grin again. "Forreal, girl. I am." He nodded. " You've been grinding since our 'Pimp My Ride' days. Just don't go all Hollywood on me." He snickered. "Save that shit for my hatin' ass brother."
"Gladly." Jazmine tossed her hair back, feeling a little too pleased with herself. "I'm giving him hell every chance I get. He's already mad they labelled him a superfan of the show."
"How'd 'yo ass make that happen?" Riley chuckled, his eyes darkening as he stepped closer.
"Hiro." She bit her lip, trying not to focus on how good he looked up close. "He, um….pulled some strings."
"I bet he did." Riley's voice dropped lower, just enough to send a shiver down her spine. "But ain't nobody pullin' you like I could."
Before she could respond, he moved in, closing the distance between them. His presence wrapped around her like smoke—dangerous, impossible to resist.
"Riley…." She breathed, every nerve in her body pulsating with anticipation.
"Don't."
"Why not?" He leaned closer, giving her a devilish look as he tilted her chin towards his lips. "You scared?"
"Nah." She grinned, mocking him. "I ain't scared."
In a flash, his lips were on hers. This kiss was hot, fiery, and rough around the edges, just like him. His hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer, and Jazmine couldn't help but melt into him, the fire between them impossible to deny.
They didn't stop until they were breathless, gasping for air.
"So." She hesitated, asking the question that lingered in the air. "What now?"
He didn't have an answer, not to that. So, he leaned over and kissed her again, hoping it'd be enough.
When it wasn't, he slid an arm around her shoulder, softly kissing her forehead when she collapsed against his chest.
"Don't worry, aiight?" He murmured, resting his chin on top of her head. "Gon' head and handle business. I'll figure out the rest."
He paused, staring down at her again, his voice soft.
"Just don't forget me out there….okay?"
She nodded, her eyes on the horizon.
"Okay."
Present Day
This shit was bad for business.
"A few more items leaked to TMZ." His publicist, Karrington, glanced down at her tablet, reading each word like it was something from his itinerary. "You'll have physical therapy for a few more months. Devon's family released a statement, absolving you of any guilt. He's still in the ICU, but it looks like he'll pull through. The public doesn't blame you for it… and neither do they."
"And what about Shift?" Riley asked, trying to keep his cool. "You ain't said much about him."
Karrington lowered her gaze, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Investigators haven't found enough evidence to make a call."
Riley's upper lip curled into a scowl. "You for real?"
"In addition." Karrington continued, her voice flat. "The public's associating this with your debut single, 'Stitches.'"
A grin tugged at the corner of Riley's mouth despite himself. Stitches had gone platinum fast, uniting hip- hop fans and earning praise from legends like Snoop, Jay-Z, and Nas. He was at the top of his game.
But now?
"The judge released a statement, too." Karrington went on. "'If Thug Reezy believes stitches are a small price to pay for the twisted and sadistic—'"
"The fuck is that?" Riley shot up, groaning as a deep ache flared through his body. "Nah, Kare, that's bullshit! This man tried to kill me. Damn near killed Devon. How is there no evidence when we saw Shift talkin' all that shit before I got shot?"
Karrington didn't look up. "'If Riley Freeman wants to live by the sword, then by all means, let him die by it.'"
Riley's jaw clenched. Well, damn.
"So what now?" He muttered, shaking his head. "I'm supposed to just sit back and take it? Nah. Fuck that. I'm hittin' the studio tonight. Call some bitches, tellem I'm throwin' a kickback real quick before I shoot with Puma. I'm bouta bury this nigga."
"About that…" Karrington sighed, scrolling through her tablet. "Puma dropped you."
"Fuck 'em."
"And so did Nike, Balenciaga, Cartier, and Rolex."
Riley groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Be real with me, Kare. How bad is it?"
"Bad." Karrington said, blunt as usual. "You're being blackballed, Riley. Nobody respects gimmicks in this industry, especially not from someone like you."
The room went silent as legal jotted down some notes. Riley slowly got up, limping toward the door.
"I suggest you lay low for a year or two." Karrington called after him. "Rebrand. Maybe pivot to acting."
"The fuck I look like?" Riley scoffed, throwing a glare her way. "You think I'm desperate like Ice Cube or somethin'? Ain't no way I'm doing that shit."
"Riley-"
"Movies take forever to fucking shoot." He rolled his eyes. "My lil cameos in Fast and the Furious are hard enough. You want a nigga to lead a whole movie? That's sum ole-"
"You don't have a choice!" Karrington's voice broke. "Nobody will take your calls but Devon. Your entire crew is done with your ass. And I know you and Huey aren't on the best of terms right now, but your nieces had to be pulled out of school on live television!" She growled, pointing at him. "Both of them were scared to death, even Shana was crying!"
Riley lowered his head. Shana was crying? The thought of his tough-as-nails niece in tears was sobering. He hadn't known the girls had seen it at all.
"Kare…"
"Just don't." She shook her head, her tone icy.
"Kare, wait!" He gripped her wrist, pulling her back to him. "How are they?" He asked. "Huey, Arielle, the girls?
"They're fine, Riley." She snatched her arm back. "Shana and Ericka are tough kids. And you know Huey. He won't let anything happen to them on his watch."
Riley just nodded, staring down at the floor.
"Hey." She softened again, but only slightly. "I don't want you to worry." She paused at the door. "Huey and Arielle have it handled. Just focus on you for right now."
"Yeah, yeah." He exhaled slowly. "Of course."
"I have a movie deal lined up." She tossed the script on his chair. "Let me know what you decide."
Riley limped over to the chair and glanced down at the script, thumbing through it before tracing the lead actress' name.
"Jazmine Dubois."
He chuckled to himself, letting her name linger in his mind for a moment. Jazmine. That name alone brought back a flood of memories, stirring something in him he hadn't thought about in ages.
"Man…" He breathed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I wonder how her ass is doing."
Jazmine eased onto the chaise lounge near her infinity pool, the phone glued to her ear.
"You're alive?" She gasped playfully, clutching her hand to her chest. "Good to see you're okay after the five-year honeymoon."
"Girl, hush!" Cindy laughed. "You need to ask Caesar if he's okay. I did some of my best work these past couple of weeks."
"Oh really?" Jazmine smirked. "Facetime me and walk to the door and back real quick."
"….Whatever." Cindy grumbled, flopping down on her bed. "So…."
"So."
"He's fine, Jazmine." Cindy told her. "Karrington headed over there earlier to talk some sense into him. He'll have to do some physical therapy, make a few life changes, but overall, he's good."
Jazmine released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Good. I'm glad."
She really was.
She'd been devastated watching the footage. Seeing Riley on that gurney, rushed out of Shift's show clinging to life had been hard enough. But seeing Huey's girls crying when the news broke about the coma was another thing entirely.
I should've reached out sooner, she thought to herself. But what would she have said? Things between her and Riley had been left in such a strange place, and she wasn't sure how to navigate it anymore.
Despite the distance, the Freemans would forever hold a special place in her heart.
Especially him...
"Me too." Cindy sighed, smoothly changing the subject. "So, any new roles coming up?"
"I wish I knew." Jazmine frowned. "My agent has been a pain in my ass lately. He's been dragging his feet with finding good projects, which means at least one of them is out of my comfort zone."
"Well, whatever you get, please give me dibs on the closet." Cindy shuffled, lightly hitting someone on the other end. "I need some new fits to rock in New York. You know it's a fashion show everyday out here."
Jazmine laughed. "You are not lying. It was fun being there last year."
"Then why'd you….Caesar! What are you doing?"
"Sorry, Jaz." She heard some more shuffling and a loud lip smack before Caesar picked up the phone. "Ya girl's otherwise occupied. She'll hit you up later."
She heard her friend laugh some more. Then, there was more shuffling on the bed in the background. She just laughed and shook her head, already knowing what would happen next whether she hung up or not.
"Go easy, on her Caez." She stretched out, wondering when she'd experience that again. "I'll talk to you later. Bye!"
She sighed, thinking to herself.
So Riley was okay.
Thank God.