Chapter Two: Dinner with the Mercers

"Damn it's cold out here." Mike said as he slammed his car door closed.

"No kiddin" Derrick said sarcastically, "it's only a Detroit winter."

Alex had gone up the steps into the enclosed porch. She took a quick sweep of the outside room and smiled to herself. Nothing seemed to change in Detroit.

"Don't zone out on us Lexie." Mike said with a smile, as he knocked harshly on the door.

"Jack!" Came a thunderous voice from inside, "Jackie, get down here."

A click from the inside and suddenly light poured on the dark street. An averaged height, built, middle aged man stood in the doorway.

"Bobby! How's the arm?" Mike questioned as he entered the house, "That kid hit you pretty good."

Bobby chuckled, "The kids hurtin more than me, he dislocated his shoulder on that check."

"Somehow that doesn't surprise me." Derrick jump in as he entered. "Oh, and here's that twenty. Nice bet." Bobby nodded and Derrick made room so Alex could come in.

"Alexandra." Bobby said with dismay. "My, my, darling. You look so grown up."

Alex smiled and replied with "Thanks Bobby, and remember- it's Alex."

"Mhmm. This coming from the girl who ran up to me when she was five, and said 'I'm Princess Alexandra! Not Alex! Alexandra!'"

"Yeah, yeah" Alex said rolling her eyes, "weren't those the days."

Just then Lexie noticed a figure crouched at the top of the stairs. She was instantly attracted to his dirty blond wild hair and his punk rocker look. He was really skinny but oh so adorable. Alex had never met this boy before. 'He must be the new Mercer.' Lexie thought.

"Jack." Bobby interrupted her thoughts. "She doesn't bite common down."

Bobby looked at Michael and gave a bit of a shrug before motioning them into the kitchen.

"Angel's out with La Vida Loca. He'll be back for dinner," Bobby explained, "and Jerry's just picking up the girls from dance."

"Who's cooking then?" Mike asked, just a little worried for his health. "I ain't eating the shit you make. I'll die."

Bobby glared at him. "I ain't cooking. Camille is." And as they entered the kitchen Derrick and Michael were both greeted by Camille.

Alex was oblivious to who was cooking, and where Angel was, and what Jerry was doing. She was still standing at the bottom of the stairs looking curiously at the new face.

"So you're Jack then?"

"Yup."

"Oh. Well I'm Alexandra. Well no – I'm Alex – or Lexie. All my friends call me that. Alex or Lexie I mean."

'Shit," she thought to herself, 'I'm rambling.' Jack noticed how Alex quickly went silent and he thought for lack of a better thing to do, why not just go down the stairs. By the time he reached the last stair, Alex was ready to go with questions again.

"So are you an official Mercer?"

"Yup."

"Betcha no one messes with you at school."

"Nope."

"What grade are you in? How old are you?"

"11th grade. And I'm seventeen."

"Cool. I'm grade ten. And sixteen." She added as an afterthought.

'This guy is so quiet' Alex thought as she started walking into the kitchen.

Dinner was uneventful. Angel and Jerry showed up eventually and they all sat and ate around the table. The usual bickering and catching up with what was happening occurred.

Jet lag finally hit Alex about one a.m. when she looked at the clock and said something about needing sleep after the long flight. Jerry had already gone home with his family, and Angel had gone to bed. The thought of sleep to Lexie was to powerful. Derrick had seen Alex start to fade away and motioned to Mike that they should go. They all got up and grabbed their coats saying their goodbyes. Lexie hugged Jack and then turned to Bobby who kissed her on the cheek and gave her a great bear hug.

"Drive safe!" Bobby called as they clambered into the old car.

"See ya tomorrow." Mike called back

Bobby waved and turned to go inside as their car was turning into the main streets. However Bobby didn't get far inside the house before he heard a blood curtailing crunch. Bobby knew that sound all to well and his heart dropped as he turned and saw two cars smashed together. One of which was bright orange and obviously a racer. The other was an old grey piece of crap – pinned between the orange car and a metal telephone pole.

"Fuck!" Bobby yelled out.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed. I realized with my last chapter there were a lot of spelling issues. I tried to clear that up in this chapter. I'm going to try to update every day and if not everyday, every second day. Love the reviews and they only give me better ideas. Critisim is good!! I do like hearing what I can do to improve so please tell me. That's it for today. Hope you're hooked P

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BrooklynBabe