The red lights flickered slightly, as they numbers switched from 5:30 to 5:31. She knew she should have gotten up thirty-one minutes ago, but she couldn't drag herself out of the bed. It wasn't exhaustion that kept her in the bed, no, she had been awake for an hour now, but she was unable to note what exactly kept her from moving. For the fourth time her phone rang, and once again she ignored it, already knowing who it was. She allowed her eyes to close again
Panicked shouting forced Mercy awake, and off her bed. It was obvious that if she hadn't answered her phone, the others would freak out and come down. Before she fully left her room, she glanced at the clock. 7:28 am, which sounds just about right. She thought as she stumbled through her house. When she reached the front door, she paused and opened the door, just to get pummeled by two sets of fists. Mercy's yells stopped the two other girls in mid pummeling.
"O my god! We are so sorry, Mercy!" The two girls squealed.
The red-head and blond both picked up Mercy by her arms, and dragged her to her tan coach.
"You know you could have just walked into the house." Mercy muttered cradling her sore cheek.
"Yes, but we didn't want to walk in, and see the bloody remains of our best friend." Chandasea chuckled.
"You need to shower, you're late for work." Shyanne sighed. "I'll drive you, Channy, you should go to work."
"Psh-shawl, like I'm going to just leave." Chan rolled her eyes, "Shy, remember, unlike you, this is my first time seeing Mercy."
Both Mercedes and Shyanne rolled their eyes. Yes, Chan had a point, but she was being dramatic about it, and the others were too used to it. As Chandasea ranted, about not seeing her friend, Mercy walked to her bathroom to shower and Shyanne worked on making breakfast. When Mercedes was dressed and ready Chandasea was still ranting.
"Chan, did you not notice we left you?" Mercy asked in a deep sigh.
"You did?" Chan questioned, staring blankly at her silver-haired friend.
"How about, the three of us have a horror movie sleep over tonight to catch up." Shyanne muttered handing Mercy and Chan breakfast burritos.
"Ok," The two girls choired.
"We should probably go," mercy yawned.
"Ok, bye Mercy, by Shy. See you tonight." Chan cheered, before leaving.
Mercedes sighed deeply as she followed Shyanne out of her house. Shyanne couldn't help but laugh at her tired companion. Not once, since she's been home, has she ever looked so sad. Mercy was trying to hide her emotions from her dear friend; but Shyanne had known her too long to be fooled. Mercy's face was neutral, for the most part; but there were small things that gave away her emotions. Her normally smiling lips now slightly down turned in the corners, the small muscle near the nose throbbed a little, almost as if trying not to cry, but her eyes, they told it all. Mercedes eyes always told on her. The light that normally lived in her eyes, was now gone, forcing her eyes to look empty, almost dead; her eyes, where what scared Shyanne the most; they were the eyes of a corpse, the eyes of someone who had given up, on everything, on life.
"So, how about before the movie night, we go to the bar and celebrate our reunion?" Shyanne questioned, forcing her eyes back on the road.
"Sure, as long as there is no singing."
For most people, this statement would have been odd, but Mercy and her friends weren't normal. When the three girls had turned twenty-one they all decided to go out to a bar and celebrate, but the bar they had chosen happened to be a Karaoke bar. After about an hour of listening to tone-deaf singers, Mercy was thoroughly drunk, and ready to go, but the other two were ready to join the action. Every year since, Shyanne and Chandasea dragged Mercy with them, to reminisce.
Shyanne couldn't help but laugh at her friends prompt decline to the idea.
"Fine, but we are going sooner or later."
"I'd rather later, than sooner."
They both smiled, before we entered the glass building, where they departed soon after. Shyanne went to the top floor, and Mercy was left on the twelfth floor, where all the editors resided. Five hours, and thirty-six minutes. Mercedes couldn't help but think as she stared at the three new books, she needed to edit.
"Welcome back Mercy, we missed you." Some of the other greeted as they passed her cubicle.
After work Mercedes walked home, so she could change before the others came home over. There was a change euphoria that summoned her, she was no longer in the state she was this morning. She was exceedingly happy, and energetic, so much so, she started to scare coworkers. Her trip wasn't long at all, usually, it was just quiet. Others around her chatted merrily around her, but most of them were teenagers. I wasn't aware the high school got out so early. She thought before a young man bumped into her.
"I am terribly sorry." He muttered.
"'Tis fine, just watch were you are going." Mercy sighed.
"Did it hurt?" he asked innocently.
"Excuse me?"
"When you fell from heaven, did it hurt?" he smiled, "because only angels come as beautiful as you."
"You're in high school, right?"
"Yes my love."
Mercedes couldn't believe she was being hit on by a child. Throughout her life people often confused her for much younger than she is, but this was ridiculous.
"As flattering as you are," she smiled sweetly, "I am much older than you."
"I'm sorry about Masaomi, is he bothering you?"
A young man and woman walked up, almost in a scolding way. Mercedes smiled; there was something special about the trio that stood before her.
"'Tis fine, your charming friend has mistaken me as someone younger."
"I'm Mikado Ryugamine, this is Anri Sonohara, and you have already met Masaomi Kido" the short-haired brunet boy started.
"Mercedes, but my friends call me Mercy." She bowed, "Lovely to meet you."
"Ah, that proves it!" Masaomi cheered.
Masaomi's friends and Mercedes stared at him questioningly; though Mercedes was more of a look of disbelief.
"What proves what?" Masaomi questioned exasperated.
"She is an angel of mercy," Mikado rested on one knee, almost as if purposing. "Please bestow a kiss on me, for I will surely die without your love."
By this time, people had stopped to watch what was going on. Some may have thought this was a play, while others wanted to see what would happen. Both Mikado and Anri glanced at Mercedes.
"Ok, this got weird really fast." She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I have to go; it was….interesting, bye."
"Bye." They muttered.
"Wait my love!"
Before Masaomi could fallow her, Mikado grabbed his arm embarrassed of his recent behavior. Mercedes sighed as she walked away from the confusing group of kids. She didn't remember the high school kids being so up front around here, but she had been gone for a whole year, and things change. Mercedes walked into her house, and pleasantly greeted Goldie, before she walked off to the bedroom.
"Ok, so I'm going to feed you early tonight, because Shyanne and Chandasea are coming over, and we are going out. Don't worry though, we will come back, and you know they probably will be staying the night." Mercedes said as she got dressed.
"Who are you talking to?" Shyanne's voice echoed through the apartment.
"Don't judge me." Mercy muttered as she walked out her bedroom.
Mercedes was dressed in her light brown pants, with white fuzz, and pink off the shoulder shirt. The look on Shyanne's face was truly a Kodak moment. Her face was written in full-blown shock, as she looked Mercedes up and down. It wasn't like Mercy to wear form-fitting shirts, and even more unlikely for her to wear pink ever, let alone a form-fitting pink shirt. Mercy couldn't help but pull out her camera, and snap a picture of her best friend.
"What are you staring at?"
"Right now, I'm staring at the fucking rainbow bubbles." Shyanne shrieked rubbing her eyes.
"Rainbow bubbles, what are you smoking?" Mercy laughed, "And can I have some?"
"Stupid flash," Shy breathed, once she was able to see. "You look amazing, my anti-pink friend."
"Why thank you." Mercy smiled doing a slow spin, so her friend could see her. "Where is our spaz?"
"O, Channy had to stay a bit later at work, so she's going to meet us up at the bar." Shyanne muttered. "Were you seriously talking to Goldie?"
"Shut up, I can hear the judgment in your voice." Mercy laughed as she dropped the gold-fish food in the water.
"I could understand you talking to your dog, when you had her, but with a fish really?"
"I know, but I don't have a dog anymore. So you'll have to get used to it." Mercedes sighed sticking her tongue out at her companion. "So, where are we going?"
"Your favorite bar, darling, The Damn Bar." Shyanne giggled, as she tugged lovingly at Mercy's hand. "Let's go."
After locking her apartment building, Mercy, followed her friend down the streets. Shyanne laughed as her companion talked about her adventures, with the three high school children she met this afternoon.
"That's a little creepy; do you think he would have followed you home, if given the chance?" Shyanne questioned.
"I hope not," Mercy grimaced.
"I don't know, you might have better luck with a younger man, you can train them better." Shyanne was mocking her friend now.
"Please tell me you're joking."
"I haven't decided yet," Shyanne yawned.
Suddenly a black motorcycle skid in front of the two girls, almost hitting them, and sputtered to a stop. The driver slightly turned back, as if looking behind. Both Mercedes and Shyanne glanced at each other scared to death, because of their near death experience. The driver seemed to glance back at the two women and froze up. Quickly the driver pulled out a cell phone and frantically typed.
I am so sorry! Is everyone ok?
"Yeah, were fine, how about you?" Mercy asked, dusting herself off.
O, I'm fine, is there anywhere I can take the two of you? Or make this up to you?
"NO, thank you, we are almost at our destination." Shyanne growled, "And we would appreciate it if we got there in one piece."
"Shyanne," Mercy scolded. "Thank you so much for the offer, but we are fine."
Ok, but call me if you need anything, my name is Celty by the way!
"O, so you're a female?" Mercy breathed taking a closer look at the rider. "O yeah, you are much curvier than a male. My name is Mercy, and this is my good friend Shyanne." Mercy smiled, realizing she was being rude. "Would you like to join us?"
Um…..I'm working right now, but maybe some other time.
"Ok, be careful,"
A moment later the small group of girl's dispersed leaving only Mercy and Shyanne to their conversation.
"She was nice." Mercy smiled kindly at her friend.
"Yeah, when she's not trying to kill people, with her driving," Shyanne complained.
Both Shyanne and Mercy glanced at each other and laughed hysterically. Even Shyanne had to realize their good friend Chandasea was in the same category as Celty, though little did they know Celty was the headless rider. The Damn Bar was abnormally busy, as the two girls walked to one of the many tables.
"I don't see Chan, do you?" Mercy had to yell, in order for Shyanne to hear her.
"Nope, shall I text her, or do you want to?"
"I will," Mercy breathed, as she pulled out her phone.
Where are you Channy?
*Ballad of Mona Lisa*
Shyanne ordered three screaming banshee, for her friends, as Mercy messaged their Chan. Moments later Mercedes phone light up and buzzed against the wooden table. An envelope appeared on the screen with Brendon in bolded black letters.
I'm around the corner, there was like this huge accident, so they are deterring traffic. Do you know what's going on?
*Brendon the Fish*
No, maybe there's another driver like you.
*Ballad of Mona Lisa*
Mercy inclined a brow at her friend Shyanne, as she typed a quick message to Chan.
"What did you send her?" Mercedes asked leaning forward. "Were you being mean?"
"No." Shyanne smirked evilly, before handing back Mercy her phone back.
Shut up Shyanne, I know Mercy would never send that.
*Brendon the Fish*
Mercedes rolled her eyes, and continued sipping down on of her favorite drinks. It wasn't long till Chandasea appeared next to Shyanne, and instead of a warm hello, Chan backhanded their blond friend. Shyanne laced her fingers around the now sore spot on her head whining about the pain, as Chan sat next to Mercy. Before any real word could be said, Shyanne launched herself across the table and bit Chan's shoulder. While the two girls beat each other up, Mercedes couldn't help but roll her eyes. She was half way surprised they lasted a year without their mediator.
"What was that for?" Chan groaned, forcing Shyanne off her now red shoulder.
"You fucking hit me bitch, that why I bit you." Shyanne shot back venomously.
Don't get them wrong, the two girls loved each other like sisters, and that's why this behavior was so normal. Once the two had calmed down, the three girls chatted about how their year went by. Shyanne finally told the coworkers she liked, that she liked him, and they started dating. Chandasea had gotten the new employee she had been desperately looking for, and so far all was going well with her. She even planned to give this new girl a raise. Nothing new for the two of them, but for Mercy almost everything had changed. Her father is now dying and in more pain, and her mother…..Well her mother was the most devastating of news. To keep the mood as cheerful as possible, Mercedes didn't mention her mother's news, or that her father may only have a year left. Instead she talked about how the much the village had changed, and that her creepy ex-boyfriend had text her.
"I can't believe you still talk to that creeper." Shyanne muttered, her speech slightly slurred from the four shots and six screaming banshee.
"Yeah, I'm mean; he would stroke your legs when you weren't paying enough attention to him. He was totally stalker status." Chan added.
The three girls laughed at the memory. Some time passed before a young woman bumped and spilled her drink down the front of Shyanne's shirt, forcing Mercy and Chan to stand. They knew two things the young woman didn't. First off, they knew Shyanne's temper when I came to her WHITE Blink 182 shirk, secondly they knew that the red wine the girl was drinking would never come out, and in doing to math this would equal a smack down.
Slightly drunk, and partly angry, Mercedes walked out of the bar with her friends quietly following. Both Shyanne and Chandasea stopped in the entrance, standing before them, were Shizuo and Izaya Orihara. The two girls squealed as they watched Shizuo swinging the light post at Izaya, and their oblivious friend. Their squeals forced the two boys to look over and see Mercedes. Almost instantly Shizuo tried to stop the flying object, momentum and all.
When Mercedes glanced up, she watched the post hurtling towards her, and braced for the impact. Mercedes flinched when the light post collided into her palm and stopped. With her hand now throbbing she glanced up at the young blond questioningly, but continued to walk away. She really did want or need to discuss what happened.
Intrigued by her nonchalant behavior, Izaya quick stepped to her side, while flashing a cocky smile to his blond-haired enemy.
"I really wish he would stop that." Izaya sighed, "thank you, I wasn't sure I could avoid the post."
Mercedes glanced at the man now walking beside her questioningly. "What did you do to make him so angry?"
Mercedes gave him a dubious look, as they waited for the cross walk light to come on. Her friends quietly panicking as they walked behind, trying to figure out what was going on? There was no reason Izaya should have an interest in Mercy. Don't get them wrong, Mercy is an attractive, intelligent, fun, young woman, but Izaya, for what they heard, doesn't like women.
"I didn't do anything."
"Do I really have to tell you, you're lying? Or are you already aware?" Mercy sighed. "No matter, you don't have to tell me."
"Izaya Orihara, at your service," He muttered bowing
"Mercedes, but my friends call me Mercy."
She had gone through this introduction a million times, but it's been a long time since others called her by her birth name. Izaya smiled, ever so slightly, as he walked beside her. Mercy glanced back at her friends, to see them whispering frantically to each other. She naturally cocked her brow, but let them continued, uninterrupted, they would tell her later, she was sure of that.
"Here's my card, if you need anything." Izaya muttered, handing Mercy a card. "I'm looking forward to your call."
Mercedes, graciously took the card, and watched as the strange man walked into a building. It barely took a moment, before her friends charged up to her and bombarded her with words. They spoke at the same time, making it difficult for Mercy to understand them.
"Please, one at a time." Mercy sighed, as she continued to go home.
"Don't you dare call him," Shyanne breathed. "He is trouble."
"And not the fun kind," Chandasea finished.
Mercy cocked her brow at her companions, had things really changed so much in one year? Had these two girls, she practically mothered, switched positions with her? She needed to see how these two behaviors changed.
"Mercy, you know we would never do, or let anything hurt you, so please believe us when we say don't call him." Chan breathed protectively.
"I won't, so no worries, okay,"
Mercy couldn't understand why they were being so protective. After all she wasn't going to use his number, it would be weird. She hardly knew the man, and what would she call him for? "Do you know a good pet store?" There was no way she could confidently call him.
When they arrived to her apartment, the girls ordered a large pizza and a family sized salad, before they settled down to watch a movie. It was decided that they each would choose a movie and they would watch the movies by the title order. Shyanne chose the strangers, Mercy chose Evil Dead II, and Chandasea chose let me in.