"Bang, bang into the room I know you want it, Bang, bang all over you
I'll let you have it Wait a minute, let me take you there
Wait a minute til you...
Bang, bang there goes your heart"
"Ugh" Mercedes groaned as she blindly searched around for her cell phone on her nightstand. Lying flat on her stomach she rubs her free hand at her blurry eyes as she tries to focus on the overly bright screen in the somewhat dark room. Shutting the alarm off before it goes off again she fights with her covers until she's in a sitting position. At this very moment, she's regretting ever agreeing to move to the God forsaken town.
Mercedes' checks the time on her phone noticing that it's 5: 30 am which gives her a few extra minutes to nod off, seeing as School doesn't even start until 7:30. That plan all goes to hell though when she hears the persistent hard knock at her door that only her Mother can deliver, falling backwards onto the bed and pulling a pillow over her head Mercedes prays that her Mother would just give up and move on to her sisters. Please Dear God in Heaven, Give my mama the Spirit of quickness from my door. Amen
"Girl... If you don't get yo butt out of that bed I know something, don't make me hurt you this early in the Morning Mercy!"
Theresa threatens her daughter as she walks into the room and turning on lights and snatching pillows and covers from Mercedes.
"Maaamaaaaa" she whines kicking her legs as her safety net is yanked from her.
"Now I know yo grown ass ain't throwing no fit," she asks with a raised brow, challenging her daughter to just try her this fine morning.
Knowing defeat before the battle even begins Mercedes raises the white flag "No Ma'am, I'm just being a brat". Theresa's face softens as she looks over her oldest daughter, With a deep sigh she moves to sit on the bed and places a comforting hand on her cheek before kissing her forehead.
"Sweetie, I know this move hasn't been easy for you; especially not having Micah here but I want you to know how proud I am of you," She tells her daughter as she places her hand under her chin, lifting the girls head to stare into those brown eyes she loves so much. "You could have easily complained the whole time but not once did you, you've helped your Dad and me so much over the Summer with your sisters. I just want you to fully embrace this new school for all it has to offer, This is a new beginning - a new direction in life if you will, ready to take you where you need to be. So get your cute little butt out of this bed and go show Hudson Memorial High School what a Jones woman is all about".
Mercedes snorts at the last part but her Mothers words make her stand just a little taller as she moves from her bed to quickly hug her Mom. "Thanks, Ma, you always knew how to give Clair Huxtable a run for her money," She tells the woman as she is walking out the door making her laugh before she closes it. Looking around her room Mercedes heads to her en suite bathroom to shower and get dressed for the long day ahead of her.
"She Lives" Mercedes' Father Keith yells as his oldest daughter descends the stairs that led into the family room. Maia and McKenzie laugh as their sister turns to glare at their Father, who in return sticks out his tongue.
"Daddy, leave me alone" she laughs "I was tired, and you know Mama be banging on doors like she the LAPD"
"I do not" Theresa huffs from her Position in front of the Refrigerator as she gets out orange juice.
Walking towards his wife Keith teases the women "Now Baby, you know you knock like it's your soul mission to wake the dead" he tells her as he barely dodges the slap-headed his way.
"It's okay Mommy, I like your knocks" McKenzie the youngest at five tells her as she runs to give her a hug.
Mercedes' laughs as Maia who is thirteen rolls her eyes at the scene. "Thank you Baby, at least someone loves me around here"
Keith blows a kiss at his wife who is giving him the stank eye from hell; he'll never understand how he ended up in a house full of dramatic Women; Times like this he misses his oldest Child and only boy Micah. Lord knows God must be testing him and his Son because they will have their hands full with this lot.
"You look beautiful by the way sweetheart," Keith tells Mercedes as he gives his daughter a hug and kiss making her blush in return. Her father always had the power to make her feel like a little girl again.
"Thank you, Daddy"
Sitting down at the table Mercedes takes in the food her mother had prepared before them. French Toast with fruit & Bacon.
"Oh my God Ma! this looks so good, Mai you're going to have to roll me into school before I drop you off," She tells Maia making the girl laugh.
"Nope, you're on your own there Sadie" The girl replies as she pops a strawberry in her mouth.
"Oh yeah, Ma you're still picking them up, right? Because I wanted to check out The Glee Club that Matt has been bugging me about nonstop"
Matt, Mercedes' cousin who happens to be a Senior at HMHS; had been dropping hints about his Glee Club since first learning of the Families move. In turn, she had watched a few videos his Mom had sent her and they were pretty damn good, like on some next level good. Mercedes found herself a little intimidated by that fact, at her previous School she was undoubtedly the best singer in the school's choir but here she'd be just another voice.
"Yes, I will and I'm glad you decided to join, now I and Tanya get to show out at all of your performances" Already picturing her Mother and Aunt at a show had Mercedes groaning at just the thought.
"Oh God no" The table erupts in laughs at her annoyance, knowing first-hand how overly enthusiastic Theresa could be at any event involving her loved ones. The gloves come off and she lets it be known who she's there supporting "That's my Baby right there" "You betta sang that song" or just "Sang Baby".
Wrapping up breakfast Mercedes checks the time on her Phone 6:55 AM it reads.
"Maia we need to be leaving if both of us want to be on time" She calls to her sister as her Mother nods in agreement and gets her little sister into her shoes.
"Yeah I need to be getting Kenzie out the door too, C'mere let's pray as a family first though" She calls to her husband who is loading the dishwasher. "Keith, Baby I want to pray before the kids leave"
Keith walks from the Kitchen and grabs the hand of his Wife and youngest daughter as they stand in a small intimate circle holding on to one another. As the head of his family, he takes pride in Praying the Safety over his children those under his roof as well as his son back in Tennessee, Asking God to go before them and prepare a way for them and coming against any attack the enemy has for them. Closing in Amen he hugs and kisses each of his girls before everyone walks out the door.