Mercedes

She never got to open her own mail. Growing up with two extremely nosy little brothers, meant that she had no chance to actually open and read her mail. Even things that are clearly hers get opened for her. So, as you can imagine, finding a crisp, unopened white envelope on the kitchen table with her name on it was actually a surprise. At first, she didn't look at the writing or even see anything other than the way it was still sealed with some sort of weird seal that she wasn't even going to guess how it was made. Then she saw the sort the familiar curled writing, only she couldn't remember where she had seen it before. There was no return address on it. No mark that if she didn't want to read it, it could be returned.

"What'd you have there, Mer?" Her mother asked her.

"Do you recognize this handwriting Mom?" She asked back, handing over the envelope.

Her mother spent several minutes looking it over, trying to figure out who it was. Finally, after a very tense silence, she said; "It must be one of Maggie's boys. There the only ones I know who write like this. It's been to long since I've seen any of their writing to actually be able to tell which one. Have you been writing Reggie again?" Reggie Ruthford was her mother's best friends oldest son, who despite having graduated college a year ago, still sometimes wrote her. Only lately, since he'd been living in France, so they'd been using e-mail to communicate.

"We've been e-mailing mom, nothing more. I sent him one design about a year ago, I think, but that's it." While she was saying this, she had been playing with the envelope and the seal had been broken just barely on the one side. She could now see "I told you 'Cedes, Manilow is better."

"Mama, you were right it was one of Aunt Maggie's. Only it wasn't Reggie, it must be Matt!"

"Mer, why would Matt be writing you? You see him almost every day in that club of yours." Her mother said, probably thinking that the letter was a love letter professing his undying love, or something equally foolish.

"Mom, didn't they just move? Anyway, he's not in the district anymore, since we have to find a replacement." She replied.

Then without another word, she turned and did a Rachel style walk out. Only, instead of protesting Mr. Shue giving a solo to someone other than her, she was simply trying to get away from her annoying mother.

She always loved her bedroom, as it was the second largest in the house, right behind her older brother's. Not only that, but it screamed her more than anything. The walls were a vibrant orange which matched the loud bedspread that was currently sort of covering her bed after she hastily made it this morning. In the corner was a simple desk which she sat down on and carefully broke the seal, which she now remembered that Matt's grandmother makes on all of their mail, regardless of who it's for. Turning the letter upside down, she saw two thing fall out; a single sheet of paper and a cd.

Aunt Maggie was easily one of the most old-fashioned people she knew. Within her house was one computer -which her children could only use for a certain amount of time or for school work- that was a bulky desktop that stayed in the kitchen. If her children wanted a laptop, they had to buy one themselves. She also raised her kids on cassettes. They were also the only people she knew who still had a record player. Often on weekends when they'd go to visit, one of the boys would turn it on and make her dance with them. It made sense that Matt would send a cd, considering the fact that he didn't have an IPod or anything to use instead.

Scanning the back of the cd, she found it to be a mix of stuff she liked and things that were favorites of Matt. Given the difference in musical tastes, it was a really weird playlist. Songs like "Single Ladies' were next to 'Stand By Me'. She couldn't neglect the letter any longer she had to know what it says.

Hey 'Cedes,

I'm sure you're wondering why I'm writing you. Well, I'm moving and I figured I'd write to say goodbye. Mum decided to move back to England to be closer to where dad had died and so that she can help take care of my grandparents. I decided to write to everyone in the club to tell them both what I think of them and just too well...Try to tell about me to. Considering the fact that I don't think half of them even know who I am. Hopefully you are someone who really does remember me since I've known of you as long as I've been alive. You might not believe that, but one of my first memories is of mum telling me about Aunt Tanya and her lovely daughter Mercedes. Which no, she'd always tell Dad, she is not named after his dream car. Before I met you back when we were six, I had crazy ideas about how you'd look. If you really want to know, I tried to draw it once back when I was four. (If you really want to see it e-mail Reg, he has it.) Then I met you and you were just as beautiful as I had imagined. No, I promised myself this wouldn't turn into a gushy love letter since I know at some point Aunt Tanya will read this and I'm sure she won't like it if I'm writing a love letter to her only daughter.

Anyways, in Junior High, I did have a crush on you. Regardless of the fact that you were near the bottom of McKinley's strange social order, which, it turns out isn't the same at every school. I'm sorry; I'm sort of out of whack today. Anyway, I soon realized that I do love you, just not that way. You're like my sister. I want to call you my little sister, but you're older than me.

I'm sorry that I didn't do anything with the bullying there. Truth is, I was scared. Scared that I'd end up like you, slushied and teased. I'm not as strong as you are, and defiantly not as brave. Eric and Reggie would have, I just couldn't do it.

I'll call you once I'm settled.

With Love

Matt.