Delores Jones held her head high as she walked down her schools hallway. She felt a vibration on her leg and pulled her phone out of her jean pocket and clicked the envelope icon. She smiled down at the message that she had received.
Hey big butt, good luck on your exams this week :P –Your wonderful big sister
Dee laughed and rolled her eyes at the message. She missed her sister a lot. It wasn't as if they hadn't communicated since she left, in fact they had spoken to each other pretty much every day. But she missed being able to go over to her house and just sit and talk with her while they cooked together and acted stupid. Well, Dee didn't really have much to talk about now, but she missed their long talks anyways. Lately she had been studying nonstop for about two weeks with her sister's ex boyfriend Stevie and that was pretty much all she had been focused on. She sighed, it had been a whole month since her big sister had left and she knew that she would be back soon-ish, but four more months seemed like torture to her. She adjusted her purse on her shoulder and reread the message and smiled.
She figured that the four months wouldn't be so bad since she usually hung out with Stevie, Sam, and Veronica on the weekends. They mostly went to movies together or the bar. They had tried to make Stevie go to a club with them once, but he had adamantly said no. She rolled her eyes. The man could be so boring and annoying sometimes, but he had helped her so much with her studying that she knew she would be forever grateful to him. She bent her head and typed a reply into her phone.
Thanks loser, I think if I ace them you should come back forever as a gift- Love Dee, the cuter sister
She pressed send and felt her phone fly out of her hand as she walked into something solid. Shit! She screamed internally as she watched her Iphone4 hit the floor. She quickly looked up and saw that the thing she had walked into was indeed a person. Her eyes widened as she stared at the man in front of her. He stared back at her as he fixed his large clear rimmed glasses. She had seen him in a lot of her classes before and he seemed like an honestly nice person from the way that he approached the material. Even though he wasn't much taller than her, she thought he was still very cute. She watched him bend over and pick up her Iphone and his Blackberry.
"I am so sorry," she said as he handed her the phone. He beamed a wide smile and shook his head.
"Don't be sorry. It's a pleasure to have a woman as fine as you walk into me." He winked at her and Dee raised her eyebrow, "I'm serious," he licked his lips, "you can knock me off my feet any day" Dee laughed at the man's mischievous grin and rolled her eyes.
"Uh huh." She quickly looked him up and down. She liked the way he styled his dark brown hair, it was slightly long in the front so he swept it to the side and he must have used some mousse because it kind of stood up. She noticed his surfer shorts and how strong his calves were. Mhm...this man works out. "Well, I'll be paying more attention next time so that it doesn't happen again." His grin slightly faltered and then it was back up. She started to walk away when he quickly moved into her line of sight.
"Personally I wouldn't mind if you did walk into me again sweet thing." A giggle escaped her lips and he smiled. "I've seen you before. You're in my class right?" she nodded.
"Yea, are you ready for the exam in like twenty minutes?" He shook his head.
"Hells no. Hence why I am headed to the cafe to get a coffee to calm my damn nerves." He smiled, "I would love to have a beautiful woman like you accompany me there." He wiggled his eyebrows and she laughed.
"Boy, I don't even know your name. For all I know you could be Charles Manson Jr. And I do not play around with that psycho shit." He laughed.
"That's true. Well let me fix that by introducing myself. I am a dancer extraordinaire, soon to be wonder vet for all animals." She raised her eyebrow, "But some people call me Artie McHale."
"Artie?...Well that's a different name." She put her phone in her coat pocket.
"Mhm...I like it, because the ladies can never forget it after meeting me." He ran his hand through his hair.
"You know for someone so short, you have A LOT of confidence." She placed her hand on her hip.
"I prefer the term fun size, but short is cool." He winked, "And who might this luscious lipped woman in front of me be?" Dee rolled her eyes but smiled.
"I'm Delores Jones, but my friends call me Dee." He licked his lips and extended his hand. She grinned and shook it.
"Delores Jones eh? Girl you got a famous ass sounding name." Dee laughed.
"I guess so." She shrugged and realised that she had a bit more studying to do before their exam. "Well I have to go, but I'll see you soon in class."
He looked at his watch and nodded in agreement. "Alright, it was nice talking to you Ms. Dee." He said while walking past her.
She turned around and looked at him. "I said my friends call me Dee." She grinned at him and he looked back at her over his shoulder.
"Don't worry girl, you and I are gonna be real good friends soon." He winked at her and continued to walk towards the cafe. Dee shook her head and turned around. She walked to her class with a smile on her face.
Dee quickly left the classroom after the examination. She had expected to be cheering and feeling like she was on top of the world, but instead she felt miserable and disappointed with the way that she had answered the written components of the exam. When she did the practical and worked with her mentor veterinarian, she always felt confident and her mentor always assured her that she was more than amazing. But after the exam today, she felt that maybe she wasn't good enough to become a vet.
She bit her lip and angrily pulled her car keys out of her purse. She just didn't get it. She had studied for days and hours with Stevie and a lot of the time by herself, so it didn't make sense that she would feel so bummed out or that she would think that she failed. She adjusted her purse on her shoulder and grumbled out some profanities as she walked down the hallway towards the parking lot.
"Hey baby girl! Wait up!" Dee slowed down and rolled her eyes. She did not have time for this Mini wannabe Dre, with his cute ass and smooth words. She slowly turned around and faced the brunette man. "How you doing Brown Sugar?" he smiled as he caught up to her and she just stood there with an annoyed expression on her face. Registering her look, Artie's smile slightly fell, "By the look on your face...I'm going to say...you're not doing too hot." Dee sighed and bit her lip to hold back her tears. She was incredibly frustrated with everything and it angered her that she was falling apart right in front of a complete stranger.
"I'm fine...it's just that exam freaking was bad." He cocked his head to the side as he looked at her. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she raised her eyebrow.
"Because I've heard you answer in class before...and my beautiful goddess, you definitely know your shit." Dee grinned and looked down, "I bet you did better than you think...give yourself some credit my sexy jalapeno." Dee rolled her eyes and looked up at the grinning man.
"Artie...you are too much." She smiled, "But thank you...hopefully you're right." He smiled back at her.
"Where you headed to?" She was about to answer when she felt her phone buzz.
"Sorry can you give me a sec." She pulled out her phone from her pocket and grinned at the number calling her.
"Anything for you girl, I'd wait a billion seconds for you." He said eyeing her up and down. Dee resisted rolling her eyes and stepped away before answering.
"Hey." She said quietly into the phone.
"Hey, so how did it go! Did you ace it?" She sighed. "Uh oh, you're sighing. What happened?"
"I don't know Stevie... I think I fucked it up." She felt the sadness overwhelm her again as she thought about it.
"Dee...you did not fail. You knew so much the last time you were here." The gruff voice came from the other line. "I don't think you failed, you may not have done as well as you wanted to, but that's honestly the worst case scenario."
"I don't know...whatever, it's done now." She shook her head and her long locks fell over her shoulder. "I'm kind of busy now though."
"Alright, but don't beat yourself up over it. Are you coming over tonight to study for tomorrow's exam?" She wasn't sure. She slightly just wanted to be alone and not deal with anything else, "I have therapy after work, but you can still come over if you want." She bit the inside of her lip. She knew that therapy was taking its toll on him lately and that he would need some company.
"Yea, I'll be thereeeeee, I'll be thereeeeeee...just call my name, and I'll be there." She sang to him and Stevie burst out laughing. "Don't laugh at my musical talents old foggie." She giggled, "I'll see you soon."
"Mhm, seeya youngin." She heard the click and looked back over at Artie who was pop and locking as he waited for her. She walked back over towards him.
"What in the hail are you doing?" she said while smiling at him. He stopped dancing and looked at her.
"It's what I do when I'm bored." He looked down at the phone in her hand, "Was that your man baby girl? Is he calling to make sure that no one's dipping their strawberry in his dark chocolate?" She slightly swatted his arm and he laughed.
"Ugh no, not even. That's my sister's ex. I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole." She cringed at the thought. "I don't have a boyfriend." She shrugged. Being in a relationship wasn't that important to her right now.
"Oh you DON'T? Oh you DON'T have a boyfriend? Oh ok, ok, ok, dats coo, yeah. So LISTEN, umm, I was wonderin', can I have yo numba? Can I have yo numba?" Dee started laughing.
"You are a damn fool." She shook her head and grinned. "How about we talk about your obsession with MadTv over coffee?" she smiled.
"Oh hell girl, you do not have to ask my skinny ass twice." He chuckled, "Ladies first." Dee turned around to walk and heard the short man behind her gasp in admiration of her assets.
"You better come and stand beside me before I put a foot up your ass Mr. McHale." She said over her shoulder. The man scurried beside her and the two walked side by side laughing on their way to the cafe.
She stood outside Stevie's door and waited for the taller man to open it. She looked around her and noticed that his next door neighbour always seemed to walk his dog when she was in the neighbourhood. She stared at him as he tipped his hat to her and licked his lips as he passed her. He looked her up and down and she pulled her jacket more tightly around her body. She shivered. Nasty ass old man. She heard the door open and turned to look at the tall blonde man. She was in a better mood thanks to Artie, so she smiled at Stevie. But he gave her a half hearted smile and she could see that his eyes were puffy. He stepped back to let her into the familiar setting.
"Therapy didn't go so well?" she said as she pulled off her coat to hang it up. He sighed and shook his head.
"Nope...you thirsty?" he walked towards the kitchen and she followed behind him.
"No I'm not thirsty." She placed her hand on his back and he stopped walking. "Come talk to me." She sat down at the dining table and patted the seat next to her. He reluctantly sat down beside her and he looked away from her. "So...what happened?"
He bit his lip and closed his eyes. "I don't know...she just brought up memories of my mom and ...I just remembered how unhappy she was. But she stayed there because of Sam and I...I just felt bad." He shrugged, "I kind of wished that I wasn't born at that point." She reached up and rubbed his shoulder. He turned his head to look at her and she saw the fresh tears fall from his eyes. She got up out of her seat and extended her arms to him. He slightly chuckled and rubbed his eyes. "I'm a mess." He got up and pulled her into a tight embrace. She took a deep breath and noticed that he smelled ridiculously good. Girl stop that shit.
"No...you're human." She said into his shoulder as she rubbed his back. "And humans...have emotions and bad days all the time." He nodded his head into her neck and sighed. The feeling of his breath on her neck sent tingles down her spine. Her hand stilled for a moment as she thought about what that meant and then continued to rub his back as she ignored the sensation.
"Thanks." He sniffed and then pulled away. "I'm happy you're here to be honest. I really need a distraction right now." She grinned.
"Oh that's all I am to you huh?" She lightly poked his stomach and her finger met hard abs. Her mind flashed back to the night that she saw him shirtless. She shook her head at the thought that her sister hadn't even hit all that man muscle when she had the chance. He laughed and shook his head.
"No, you're an amazing friend. And I don't think I'd stay sane without ya." He lightly patted the top of her head and she gave him cut eye. He grinned and rubbed his hands together, "So let's get studying, shall we." Dee groaned and rolled her eyes.
"How about we go to a club and get stupid drunk and dance!" Stevie folded his arms over his chest and tutted in disapproval.
"When you become certified, I'll go to a club with you and the old man." Stevie grinned. Dee's eyes lit up.
"Seriously?" She hopped up and down and Stevie laughed. He put his large hands on her shoulders.
"Yea...yea, I'll do it. But only when you ace everything." He smiled at her. She smiled back and sat down at the table. He sat down beside her and the two discussed the material for her exam the next day.
Mercedes sat down in the rocking chair watching Andrea sleep. The little girl had been born with a heart defect and needed a lot of attention to make sure that she would be okay. She wasn't allowed to get too excited about anything, because it could give her heart failure.
Mercedes own heart hurt for the child. She couldn't imagine being a kid that wasn't allowed to have too much excitement in fear of having a cardiac arrest. It only motivated Mercedes to do everything in her power to let Andrea have as much fun as possible without her getting overly excited, so that she could still be a kid. The child's parents couldn't afford to be with her all the time, especially with the hospital bills. So Mrs. Christeen Rue made the grueling choice to go back to work and have a live in nurse take care of her daughter. They told Mercedes right off the bat that they wouldn't be able to pay too much, but she didn't care about the money. She had wanted to do everything in her power to take care of the little curly haired, brown eyed girl. As if Andrea could read her thoughts, she stirred in her sleep and Mercedes quickly looked her over. Even if she had a really bad nightmare, it could be bad for the five year old. Sometimes the stress of her weak heart pained her and Mercedes would gently rub her back and sing her to sleep. But her parents had just invested in a new medicine for her which seemed to be working. Mercedes felt a vibration in her pocket and quietly walked outside of the room. She pulled the door slightly closed.
"Hello?" She answered the phone as she peeked through the crack of the door to make sure Andrea was still asleep.
"Well hello to you too miss I don't have time to call my best friend Kurt in New York and make sure that he hasn't been killed by a mugger." Mercedes had to cover her mouth to stop from laughing. "Don't you dare laugh Ms. Mercedes Jones. I am seriously hurt that you have not called me in months, MONTHS!" She shook her head and walked a bit further from the door.
"Kurt you know I love and miss you." She smiled into the phone, "I'm sorry, I've just been going through a lot."
"Well don't I know it. Apparently you were dating two brothers and one was a psychotic lawyer. What the hell is up with that?" Mercedes inwardly groaned.
"And how pray tell do you have all that information?" she already knew the answer but she needed to make sure.
"Your mother of course. You know she tells my mom everything that is going on with you. Thank God, because for all I knew, you could have been in a back alley dead somewhere" Mercedes rolled her eyes, Kurt really needed to stop watching Criminal Minds and CSI. She sighed at the information he had just given her. This was exactly why she needed space from her mom. She was just too damn involved in her children's lives. "But that is besides the point. Why haven't you called me to check up on me, and Blaine, and the kids? Hmmmm, especially since one of them is your Godchild."
"I know. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me, I'll make it up to you guys." She felt horrible. As much as she tried to do her best, she felt like she was letting everyone down.
"Well you can start by getting your butt over here to visit me for a month." She smiled and then laughed.
"Kurt, where will I get the money to do all of that? Huh?" She shook her head. Sometimes Kurt forgot that not everyone was married to a Broadway star.
"Why must you insult me with such questions woman? What is wrong with you? Of course I'd pay for everything."
"But Kurt..." she sighed. She hated being anyone's charity case. She may not have had all the money in the world, but she was very capable of taking care of herself.
"Don't but Kurt me, just get your butt over here. Or come hell and high water, I will come down there with my little family and we both know that Ohio can't handle me right now." He laughed and she realised she had missed that sing song voice of his.
"Come visit and stay where? On the couch in my little dinky apartment?" she twisted her ring, "You and I both know that wouldn't even be enough space for your luggage." Kurt scoffed.
"You underestimate me dear Jones. I'll have you know that I have cut back on my spending by one hundred dollars." Mercedes laughed, "And if I have to, I will come down there by myself to see you and the insanity that you have caused in my absence." As much as he was a lot to deal with, she was excited at the idea that he might be coming to visit her soon. She truly missed her best friend. She heard a commotion in the background, "WADE! You give your father back his makeup right now!" Mercedes giggled. She missed her six year old God son and his five year old brother Rory. The two were quite the pair and never ceased to make her laugh when she saw them. "Listen here young man! You wade your little butt over here this instant."
"My name's not Wade anymore! It's Unique." She heard Wade yell back at his father in the distance.
"Oh dear Lord. This is technically your child you know." Kurt sighed into the phone.
"I know, I know. But why does he want you to call him Unique now?" This was news to her.
"Because some little punk ass child in his private school said that Wade was weird and then he came home crying and I told him that he was beautiful and just unique. He wanted to know what it meant and I said it meant he was special. Ever since then he doesn't want us to call him anything but Unique." Mercedes smiled. The spirit in that little boy was enough to rival even Kurt's. "RORY!" Kurt yelled and Mercedes pulled the phone away from her ear. "Go chase after your brother and tackle him down."
"Okay papa, but can I have some pudding if I do?" She heard the five year olds thick Irish accent.
"Blaine! What did that child just say?" Kurt yelled out again, Mercedes heard a muffled voice in the distance. "Yes Rory you can have pudding, just go get your brother." Kurt and Blaine had adopted the kids when Wade was 3 and then Rory the next year when he was the same age. She had been so excited for them that they had decided to expand their small family. Even though Kurt was only 28 and Blaine was 27, which was considerably young. They had a lot of money pooled between them because they were both busy on Broadway, but Kurt had mostly found his calling backstage with designing. "He's only five and his accents as thick as New York's air pollution. I have trouble understanding him sometimes but it's like both Blaine and Wade are the Irish whisperers in the house." Mercedes let out a big laugh and quickly checked to make sure Andrea was still asleep. "Unique stop stealing your fathers Broadway makeup! We already bought you your own."
"But Papa Kurt! I don't have this colour in my set. Why do I have to share my stuff with father Blaine when he doesn't have to share with me?" She could hear Wade's strong clear voice in the background. She assumed he was standing right next to Kurt.
"You know it's a bad day, when your children start making sense." Kurt laughed into the phone. "Blaine, he has a point you know. You do borrow his eyeliner a lot."
"But Kurt..." She heard Blaine whine in the background. Mercedes shook her head at the absurdity of the conversation she was overhearing.
"Oh boy, Mercedes I have to go, Blaine is giving me the 'I need help signal'."
Mercedes laughed, "What's the signal?"
"He starts crying and then pouts. It's all very cute until he starts raking his hand through his gelled hair. Then you know we have a problem." Mercedes smiled, "Oh dear his hand is going up to his head. I have to go, but I'll call you back later so you can talk to Wade and then we can gossip."
"Alright Kurt, be good. Love you guys."
"Love you too woman!" she heard the click and put her phone in her pocket. She missed her family and friends. She spun her ring and decided to call Dee later. She needed to hear her sister's voice and make sure that she was okay. She walked back into the little girl's room and silently closed the door behind her.