XXXXXXXXXX August 26, 2012 - The Jones House XXXXXXXXXX
Mercedes Jones grimaced at the TV when she heard the news anchor announce that today marks the one year anniversary of the disappearance of Lima, Ohio teen Quinn Fabray. She hated that it was called an 'anniversary'. There was nothing to celebrate about someone going missing. But it'd been a year and people where still talking about Quinn like she was going to appear out of the blue be like 'I got you guys so good.' Which in Mercedes dreams, happened a lot.
A lot of things had changed for Mercedes in the last year. Everyone knew her name in Lima. Not because she was notoriously popular or anything like that but because she was notoriously smart. She had won several academic awards and had even been in the newspaper several times including the time she had her picture taken with the mayor.
Her family was especially proud of her achievements. Her mother and father couldn't wait to go to the Lima Country Club and dote on their brilliant daughter. It's what they lived for. Mercedes' older sister Malory was also that brilliant daughter that her parents could parade around like some kind of trophy.
Mercedes hadn't seen her sister in almost four months. Which was absolutely fine with her, but when Malory called home to say that she was staying in Cleveland for the summer and she would be home for the club's end of summer ball her parents freaked out. Mercedes thought this was great. It's not like they were best friends or anything. Not to mention every time Malory was around she had some kind of amazing news that put what Mercedes had accomplished to shame.
"Mercedes sweetie get out of bed." Darla Jones said peeking into her daughter's bedroom. "You're sister will be here in about an hour."
"Oh joy." Mercedes said under her breath as her mother entered the room and opened her double door closet. "What are you doing?"
"You should wear this one. It says 'I'm accomplished.'" Mrs. Jones said holding out a black sleeveless wrap dress.
"Uh I was thinking more jeans and a blouse." Mercedes said crawling out of bed.
"Mercedes your sister is coming home." Darla said haughtily.
"Yeah from Cleveland not Afghanistan." Mercedes said taking the dress from her mother and putting it back in the closet.
"I just thought you would want to look nice." Darla said from behind clenched teeth as she left Mercedes alone in her room.
"Great." Mercedes said as she grabbed the black dress from the closet.
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Mercedes wasted no time preparing for her sister's arrival. The day didn't only mark Malory's return but also her father's. He had been away on business and he was coming home just in time for the ball.
As she was applying the final touches to her make up she heard her father's voice. She smiled in the mirror and ran downstairs to greet him.
"Dad!" she said beaming.
"Hey Mercy!" he said lifting her off the bottom step into a tight hug. "You look gorgeous. Any luck this was all for me."
"Of course not. Don't you remember. Malory's coming back from the war." Mercedes teased.
"Shhh." Micheal Jones said with a deep chuckle. "You mother told me about your little comment this morning. As funny as it may be, she wasn't amused."
"I know. It just kind of slipped out." Mercedes said smiling.
"Well let's keep the slippage to a minimum." he said kissing her forehead.
"Oh Dad I have something to tell you." Mercedes said walking with her father toward the kitchen.
"Yeah what's that?"
"This summer I was named the editor of..."
"We're here." Malory's voice rang out.
"Hey Mal!" Micheal said running over to hug his eldest.
"Hi Dad. Where's mom?" Malory said returning his hug.
"I'm right here." Darla said running from the study. "Oh Malory you look amazing." she said embracing her.
"The McKinley High newspaper." Mercedes muttered.
"Hey Merc." Malory said with a big smile.
"Hey Mal." Mercedes said walking over to her sister and giving her a hug.
"So you guys, there is someone I want you to meet." Malory said. She opened the back door and waved someone in. A tall, dark hair man with blue eyes and a wicked sexy smile walked in." Mom, Dad, Mercedes. This is my fiance Jesse St. James."
"Fiance?" Darla said searching her husband's face.
"Malory what's going on here?" Micheal said sternly.
"Jesse and I are engaged. We're getting married this winter."
"I think we need to talk about this." Darla said her eyes wide. Mercedes watched as her parents cornered her sister and started bombarding her with questions.
"I'm Jesse." he said taking a seat beside Mercedes at the island.
"Mercedes." she answered.
"Is it always like this?" he asked.
"Only when my sister brings home random strangers and announces that they're engaged." Mercedes joked.
"Ahh." he laughed. "Well Mal didn't lie about you."
"What do you mean?"
"She said you were funny and beautiful."
"Oh." Mercedes said shocked. She couldn't remember the last time Malory has said anything nice to or about her.
"You sound surprised."
"Well, I kinda am."
"Why? The way she talks about you it seems like you're her favorite person." Jesse said glancing at the other three Jones'.
"Me? Mercedes?" she said looking into his blue eyes.
"Yeah." he chuckled.
"Ok." she said smiling.
"So how long do you think this is going to go on?" Jesse asked.
"At least another hour." Mercedes said. "I bet you I know what they're saying."
"Tell me." Jesse smiled.
"My mom is disappointed that Malory didn't tell her when you first asked or that she was even dating anyone, and my father is upset that his little girl is marrying a long hair hooligan, but she'll cry and they'll forgive her for her mistakes and they'll turn to you with open loving arms and welcome you to the family." Mercedes said pointing to each of parents.
"Hooligan?" Jesse laughed. "I'm pre-med, I sing and play the piano."
"Really?" Mercedes asked intrigued.
"Yeah. I mean my parent's house is nothing like this and could probably fit in the barn you guys have out back, but I was pretty well off."
"First, it's not a barn. It's a cottage." Mercedes said. "I spent a lot of time on it. My parents promised me that I could move in there for my junior year. Second, being well off doesn't mean that your happy or that things are as great as they seem on the outside."
"Are you saying you think I'm flawed?" he asked.
"I know you are but I'm just saying that our house may be big and we may have a barn out back, but we're as dysfunctional as it comes." Mercedes said.
"Well no one's family is perfect Mercedes." Jesse said.
"I know, but I think mine is at the top." she said smiling at him. They continued to talk as Darla, Micheal and Malory continued their hushed conversation.
"Well son." Micheal said about an hour later. "Welcome to the family." he said clapping Jesse on the back. Jesse looked at Mercedes with an impressed face before rising to his feet.
"Thank you sir." he said shaking Micheal's hand. Darla came over and hugged Jesse and kissed him on both cheeks causing Mercedes to roll her eyes.
"I can't wait to get settled back in." Malory said coming to stand beside Mercedes.
"What?"
"Mom and Dad said Jesse and I could move into the cottage." Malory said smiling.
"What? No!" Mercedes said angrily. "Mom that's not fair."
"Mercedes it's a bigger space." Darla said grabbing her daughter's hand.
"I worked really hard on it. You promised me." Mercedes said pleading.
"I'm engaged Mercedes. I can't move into my old room with my fiance." Malory said taking Jesse's hand.
"Oh but you can move back and live in your parent's backyard." Mercedes said annoyed.
"It's only until our house in Cleveland is ready." Malory said agitated. "Stop being such a baby." Jesse gave Mercedes an apologetic smile.
"Right." Mercedes said quietly. "Happy engagement." she said before running upstairs to her room.