Chapter Four

Awaken at 4:30 am the next morning, Mercedes groggily reached for her cell phone as it rang. Looking at the caller ID, it read 'Brady'. She groaned as she answered the call.

"Brady Matheson, this better be damn good cuz it's 4:30 am on a school day."

Brady laughed on the other end. "I checked the surf conditions this morning. There are some killer waves! We've got an offshore wind this morning. We should surf before school. I don't know if the winds gonna stick around till later this afternoon. Wanna go? Come on Sadie, we can't miss this!" he explained urgently and excitedly.

With a sigh, she replied, "Yeah I'll go. But you have to drive. I'm gonna have to sneak out and Dom would def hear me if I started up my Jeep. Come get me in about 10 minutes."

"Awesome! See ya then!" Brady exclaimed as they ended their call.

Mercedes hopped out of bed, picked up her black boy cut bikini bottoms and red bikini halter-top. Getting dressed quickly, she threw her hair into a ponytail and grabbed the piece of wax on her dresser. Quietly making her way downstairs, Mercedes slipped out the back door, grabbed her board and headed down to the street to wait for Brady.

Chapter Five

"Shit! Shit, shit, shiiiiit!" Mercedes cursed as she jumped out of Brady's black Blazer. Grabbing her board from the back, she quickly waved goodbye to Brady as she hurried up the driveway. It was 7:15 am. They had accidentally lost track of time and surfed way longer than they should have. Dom was going to flip out! She would have only 25 minutes to get ready for school. That would have to include some time to finish up some homework which she hadn't done the night before. Mercedes liked to think of homework as optional. If she had time to do it, then it got done, if not, then no big deal. If only Dom and her teachers felt the same way!

Running up the few steps to the front porch, Mercedes went noisily into the front door. She was in a hurry and couldn't worry about being quiet. She laid her surfboard up against the wall just inside the door. Just as she bounded up the first five steps, she heard Dom's booming voice yell, "Mercedes. in the kitchen. now."

"Damn," she whispered to herself as she rolled her eyes and did an about face to head to the kitchen.

Dom started right in as soon as she was visible in the doorway. "God damnit Mercedes! Do you know what time it is? It's quarter after seven! And do you know what time you have to be at school? 7:45! I've told you before no surfing before school! Jesus! I'll take that surfboard away from you if you continue to do this. You're not throwing away an education just so you can go rip it up with your surf crew!"

Dom was pissed and definitely showing it by his loud, angry voice. The various waving arms and poundings on the table sort of gave it away as well. Walking over towards her, he stood in front of her, a harsh, stern look on his face and pointed a finger down at her. "One more stunt like this and the board is gone. You understand?"

Mercedes stood her ground and looked up at her brother with a hard look in her eyes.

"Perfectly," she answered simply, a strong edge similar to Dom's in her own voice. There were a lot more words that wanted to come out, but Mercedes knew when and where to pick a fight with her brother. This was not one of those times. Turning around, she ran up the stairs to get ready for school.

At 7:35 am Mercedes hurried down the stairs dressed and ready to leave for school. The homework hadn't been done, but no one would notice. She stopped in the kitchen one last time to pick up the lunch Mia had made for her. "Thanks Mi," she said just loudly enough for her to hear.

Grabbing her keys from the counter, Mercedes started to head out the back door.

"Move your board!" Dom demanded from behind the magazine he was reading, before she could make her getaway.

"It's just up against the wall. It's not in anyone's way," Mercedes argued back. She was in a hurry and now he was going to throw this petty bullshit on her.

"I don't want to see that board, and if you do, I suggest you move it before I break it!" he raised his voice as he slammed a heavy hand down on the table.

"But Dom." Mercedes started with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"Mercedes," Mia interrupted, not looking up from the vegetables she was slicing.

Mercedes looked over at her sister in disbelief. She couldn't believe Mia would butt in on this argument. And to take Dom's side added insult to injury! Mia usually didn't interfere in arguments between her younger sister and brother.

Whatever, Mercedes thought to herself. Heading towards the front door, she grabbed her board and ran it up to her room quickly, cursing under her breath the whole way.

After dropping off the surfboard, she ran down the stairs and out the front door. Not bothering to catch the front door behind her, it slammed shut. Jumping in her Jeep, Mercedes sped off to school.