I don't own anything.
A/N: Alright it's time for another update but first off I want to thank my reviewers from last week; emzjuk, mcsgirl, WickedSong, EmpressClaudia, LadyLuckAJ,Princess976, shanti-noel03, QUEENADDEK and CRAZYhead36. Thank you all so much for the reviews. I hope everyone enjoys this new chapter and please remember to Review.
Chapter Eight
Mercedes sat in the living room waiting for Micah to return home from the recording studio, she had just returned from dropping off Sam and his siblings back home and now all she was doing was waiting. She focused on the television and causally flipped through the channels even as she heard the front door slam shut. She heard Micah walking into the room but she didn't turn around, she needed to gather her thoughts before she ripped him a new one. "Sam gone home already?" he asked after clearing his throat.
"He has an early day tomorrow so I dropped him, Stevie and Stacie off an hour ago," she murmured as she sat the remote down and turned towards him. "Micah, I think we need to talk." Her brother gave her a look before shrugging his shoulders and settling down on the sofa beside her.
"What do you wanna talk about, Sis?"
"I wanna talk about all the underhanded stuff that you've been doing and about how you've been treating me." Mercedes stated bluntly as she shifted on the sofa so she could look at him. Micah took in the look on her face and couldn't stop his mouth from dropping open in shock for a mere second before he nervously chuckled and shook his head.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I treat you great, you're my sister for goodness sakes Cedes. What in the world has that white boy been telling you?" he asked remembering the brief conversation that he had Sam had at the studio. He should have known the little bitch would go running back to Mercedes.
"There you go again with that white boy crack. . .his name is Sam." Mercedes snapped out angrily. "You know I was will to forget I accepted your apology cause you're my big brother and I love you Micah but I saw you today when you talked down to him. I saw you and I couldn't make out all the words said but I know you cussed at him."
"So what are you fighting his battles for him now. Standing up for his honor or something. Can the boy not take care of himself?" Mercedes glared at her brother and shook her head.
"What in the hell did you apologize to Sam for if you're still gonna talk like this. He's my boyfriend, Micah. I think love him and-."
"Love him!" Micah exclaimed as he stood up from the sofa and shook his head rapidly from side to side. "You're to young to be talking about who you love unless it's family, girl. Besides what has he done to make you love him." he snapped out angrily as he looked down at his little sister. Mercedes glared up at him for a moment before sighing.
"Sam's a great guy and he makes me feel beautiful and wanted. He tells me that all the time, he's so nice and supportive. That's why I love him although I really don't think you actually care." Micah glared down at his sister than and shook his head.
"You've only been with him for how long?" he asked coolly. "Oh that's right I believe you said since Prom. . .so that's like what four months. . .maybe four in a half and because he's so nice and supportive oh and let's not forget that he makes you feel beautiful, you feel like you're in love with him." Mercedes glared up at her brother as he continued to talk. "Damn sis, I didn't realize you were so easy."
As soon as the words left her brother's mouth, Mercedes felt like he had stabbed her through the chest, stepping back she gasped and placed a hand over her heart while looking up at Micah with tears in her eyes. "How dare you?" Micah stared back at her for a moment before sighing.
"I'm sorry Mercedes I didn't mean to -" she drew back her hand and slapped him across the face just as their parents walked into the house. Mr. Jones seeing nothing but pain on his little girl's face rushed forward.
"What in the world is going on in here?"
"Ask Micah." Mercedes snapped out angrily as she glared at her brother before rushing up the stairs. Mr. Jones turned towards his son and glared at him.
"You're causing problems again." he growled out angrily. "What in the world did you say to your sister to make her slap you like that." Micah nervously rubbed the back of his neck as he looked at his father and then over at his mother, his silence only angered his father more. "Boy you better answer me."
"I just said something she couldn't deal with," he murmured with a shake of his head as he looked at his father. "I'm gonna go out and hopefully when I come back my family will stop treating me like I'm their number one enemy." With that said, he turned on his heel and walked towards the front door. Leaving his parents standing in the living completely in shock, whatever had happened between Mercedes and him, had been explosive.
"I should come over there right now and beat his ass." Sam growled out over the line after Mercedes got finished telling him a quick run down on what happened although she kept the fact that she had told her brother she was falling in love out of the explanation. "Hell I'm sure Stevie would love to kick him in the shin, since he made you cry and all."
"No I don't want you fighting. Besides he isn't even here right now." Mercedes muttered with a huff as she shook her head. "My parents came in after I slapped him and he just took off."
"Like a dog with his tail between his legs." Sam added and Mercedes just knew he was shaking his head at her brother and his antics. "I'm glad you told him how you were feeling though."
"I shouldn't have kept it in for so long. I just was holding out hope that he would be correct himself without me having to go all Diva on him." she whispered softly over the phone causing Sam to wish he could come over, just for a few moments so he could wrap her up in a hug and comfort her. He knew that's what she needed.
"Well I think you finally gave him a wake-call, after a slap to the face always wakes a person up." he murmured softly. Mercedes cracked a smile at that and nodded her head. Sam always had the uncanny ability to make her feel better.
"Thank you so much. . .I hope I didn't wake Stevie and Stacie up."
"Naw they're fine. . .sleeping like a couple of old logs." he stated with a soft laugh. "Oh and Mercedes my dad said we were gonna move out next week into the house so if you wanna come by and help. . ." he trailed off not really knowing where he wanted to go with that sentence.
"Of course I'm gonna come over and help. Remember I promised Stevie and Stacie that I would and I'm suppose to help you too remember."
"Yeah with the door wide opened." Sam mumbled over the line and Mercedes could just perfect his face. Mercedes couldn't help but laugh at the sound of disappointment in Sam's voice, shaking her head she leaned back on her bed.
"Oh I'm sure we'll be fine."
"Better be. . .a guy deserves some privacy with his girlfriend." Sam stated boldly which only made Mercedes laugh some more. "I'm glad you're laughing, you know I hate it when you're all upset." he whispered.
"Well you always seem to know how to cheer me up." she whispered softly.
"One of my greatest accomplishments." Sam stated proudly. "So are we still gonna go to Rachel's party and tell the club?"
"Yeah, I wanna go ahead and tell them."
"Alright then," he said excitedly and Mercedes could picture him pumping his fist up and down. "We're gonna have fun too. . .just think it'll be our first official party together." Mercedes smiled at that and nodded her head.
"Yes it will be but I'm gonna go ahead and make a demand that your wonderful. . .wonderful lips kiss only my wonderful lips."
"You don't have to make a demand like that my vitra." he said with a chuckle. "I promise you that won't happen."
"Good," she looked over at her night stand. "I guess I better let you get some sleep some you can be will rested tomorrow."
"I guess. . .but you know I was wondering, would you mind if I came over tomorrow after work. If only for a little while."
"I guess but you know my parents are gonna be here so-."
"Mr. Jones will be keeping an eye on me. Yeah I know baby and I can handle it." Sam replied with a chuckle. "Besides you father likes me, I just know it." Mercedes rolled her eyes playfully at his explanation.
"That's cause you're like his Star Wars soulmate. . . you both gush over everything in that movie and you both love Han Solo."
"Can't go wrong with Han." Sam laughed and after a moment Mercedes joined in as well. "Alright well I guess I better go. . .I'll see you tomorrow baby."
"Okay bye Sam." Mercedes said softly as she hung up the phone. As she laid her cell phone down on the nightstand a knock at the door sounded. "Come on." The door opened and Micah was pushed through the door with her father standing behind him with his hand on her brother's neck. "Um Dad what-."
"You're both my children and I love you dearly," Mr. Jones said cutting off her question. "Which means I hate it when you two fight. . .you're brother and sister, family and that means you two should support one another not break one another down. That isn't something I want to happen between you two so Mercedes, Micah is here to apologize for whatever it was he said," Mr. Jones said as he looked at his son. "And you better make it believable and reframe from putting tears in your sister's eyes in the future. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir." Micah grunted out.
"Good, now get to it." Mr. Jones said as he released Micah and stepped out of the room. Mumbling something along the lines about his son losing his mind because he thought he was grown. Once the door closed, Mercedes looked over at her brother with a frown on her face. Micah looked back at her and sighed.
"Come Cedes don't give me that look."
"I don't know what other look to give you, Micah." she admitted with a shrug of her shoulders. "So are you gonna do what Dad told you to do or are you just going stand there." Walking over to the bed, Micah sat down and released a tired sigh.
"I'm sorry Cedes."
"You already said that Micah . . . and you went back on it some you're gonna have to try a little bit harder to convince me that you're sorry."
"Look I'm just protective-."
"You stopped being protective at the dinner." Mercedes said cutting him off with a look. "How about you try about and this time be truthful." Micah looked at her for a moment and then down at his hands.
"Fine. . .I don't like him."
"It's not like you didn't try." Mercedes replied as she looked at her brother, Micah gave her a small smile and nodded his head.
"You're right I didn't give it a try cause I don't want to like him." he said as he lifted his head up and looked at her. Mercedes studied him for a brief moment before sighing.
"Wow at least you admitted it."
"Well you wouldn't take any of my other excuses." he said with a sigh as he looked at her. "I'm sorry. . .for real this time about everything."
"Are you even sorry about pushing Azimio into my life." Micah's mouth dropped open in shock at that.
"Pushing him into your life. Cedes, I'm not doing that."
"Then why did you put him on my song," she snapped out angrily. "The only reason I didn't voice my opinion back at the studio, is because I didn't feel starting a fight with you. However you best believe this will be the last time Azimio Adams raps on one of my records. I don't care if he changes the entire rap game he will not be on my records. How in the world do I explain that to my friends? You know the ones he bullied."
"So are you going to continually hold that over his head."
"Yes!" Mercedes snapped out angrily. "Yes I will continually hold that over his head. I'll try to match the years with the many slushies he threw in my face over the last three years and just so you know that's gonna be awhile."
"Fine if that's what you wanna do."
"Oh it is." Mercedes said while she looked at her brother. "Now about what you said earlier, I might be easy but know this the only person who has ever made me feel this way is Sam and you're gonna have to get use to it. Or I'm gonna have to leave you alone. You're my brother and I love you but you're wrong. Dead wrong on all accounts. I'm not gonna allow you to hurt or disrespect Sam anymore do you understand me."
"Loud and clear." Micah muttered as he stood up from her bed. "Loud and clear." Mercedes watched as he made his way towards her door, he paused in the threshold and turned back around to look at her. "I'm truly sorry for everything and I'll make it up to you and Sam I promise." Mercedes didn't reply so he just sighed and walked out of the room.
"Damn! That was probably most intense conversation I've ever heard about." Sam stated the next day after he came over from work. Mercedes and him were upstairs in her room watching television. "So do you think he really will calm down now."
"I hope so. . .cause I wasn't kidding when I told him I would leave him alone. I'm not gonna have anyone disrespecting my man." Sam chuckled at that and turned so he could look her in the eyes.
"You know I love it when you say that."
"I know just like I love it when you say my Vitra," she said with a bright smile. "Even though you still haven't told me what that means yet." Sam smiled at her and shrugged his shoulders while leaning forward to place a kiss on her shoulder.
"I know I haven't told you but I don't think you're ready to know."
"You know I could so go look that word up on the internet," she said as she looked back at Sam. "But I won't cause I want you to tell."
"Well I promise you this if you let me tell you what the word means it will be the most romantic thing in the world," he said with a wink as he settled back on her bed. "I already called Guinness so they're be on stand-by."
"Sometimes I think you're too goofy for your own good." she said with a laugh as she shook her head.
"You like my goofy."
"Love it." she whispered as their lips met in a quick kiss. Sam smiled and wrapped his arms around her tightly and pulled her close just as the door to her room opened and Micah walked in. He frowned at the scene that greeted him and held up a hand to block his eyes.
"Sorry to interrupt."
"Yeah right." Sam angrily muttered as he glared at Micah Jones. Mercedes resisted the urge to smile as she took in the look on Sam's face and looked at her brother instead.
"Micah what do you want?" she asked bluntly also annoyed by her brother's sudden appearance. Micah slowly lowered the hand covering his face and looked at his sister and boyfriend before sighing.
"I'm just. . .well Dad told me to tell you that it's time for Sam to head home." He chuckled lightly at the twin groans that accompanied his words as he walked out of the room. Mercedes turned towards her boyfriend as soon as the door closed and sighed brokenly.
"I swear we don't get any time alone."
"Well once school starts my dad said I can shorten my work schedule at the pizza shop which will probably only be weekends. We'll be able to have fun then. . .loads of it."
"Yeah with your bedroom door wide open." Mercedes said with a giggle as Sam blushed a bit and shook his head.
"I guess we'll just have to make the most of it," he said as he slowly got off her bed. "Come on Ms. Shorty I'll help you down."
"Ms. Shorty." Mercedes said with a raised eyebrow, Sam just grinned and nodded his head as he looked at her.
"Oh come it's a term of endearment." Sam said with a wide smile, "Plus I know you like it no use in denying it." he said as he wrapped his large hands around her waist and lifted her up off the bed. Mercedes just smiled and shrugged her shoulders while looking at up at him as set her down on the floor. "So are you driving me home or should I-."
"You aren't walking anywhere this late, Sam." Mercedes stated cutting him off. "Don't worry I'll drive you besides we'll be able to spend just a little bit more time together." she said with small smile as she looked at him.
"I like the way you think, my Vitra." Mercedes and Sam both headed downstairs.
"Daddy, I'm gonna drive Sam home okay." Mr. Jones looked at them both and then over at his wife who briefly nodded her consent.
"Fine." he said with a wave, Mercedes smiled and looked back at Sam who just smiled back and followed her out of the house. Mr. Jones waited for the door to slam before looking over at his wife with a ghost of a smile on his face. "Those two right there. . .we're gonna have to keep an eye on them. Reminds me to much of us back in high school." he said with a shake of his head as his wife just laughed and nodded her head.
"Oh yes honey I believe you're right about that."
Outside the Jones' house, Sam opened the car door for Mercedes and waited till she was seated before closing the door and moving to the passenger seat. A moment later they were off driving towards the motel that Sam and family were going to be moving from in a matter of days. As Mercedes pulled up outside Sam sighed and frowned at the sight. "I can't wait till I can put this place behind me." Reaching out for his hand, Mercedes massaged her thumb along the inside of his hand.
"You only have a few more days, baby."
"I know. . .I just can't wait to move. You know I can't wait to show you my room once I'm done with it. I have so many ideas for it and I simply can't wait." Sam said excitedly as he leaned back in the seat and just looked at the ceiling. "I think once we move in and we're all settled, I'm gonna spend a hour in my room and just appreciate the ability to be alone for a little while in my own space." he stated softly before looking over at her. "That isn't wrong is it?"
"No it isn't wrong." Mercedes said softly as she looked at him. "I'm sure everyone will do that for how ever long they need, so no I don't think that's wrong." Sam nodded his head and looked out the window.
"Good, I'm glad." he stated before closing his eyes and reached out for her hand. "You know I'm really happy that I have you," he opened his eyes again and looked at her. "You do know that right, I'm not even sure I could have made it through all this with your love and support." Mercedes smiled at her words and shyly nodded her head.
"I'm happy I could be here for you, Sam." she whispered as she looked him in the eyes. Sam smiled at that and gave her hand one more squeeze.
"You know since my father has started that job, I don't have to work as much anymore." he stated softly. "And the Pizza shop has already lowered my hours to part-time which means I have tomorrow off. Do you want to spend the day together? Alone."
"That sounds fine with me, Sam. I don't have anything planned." Sam nodded his head at that and then spoke again.
"And I would really like to spend the day after from Micah," he paused for a moment before saying. "No offense."
"None taken Sam. Honestly I understand why you're so uncomfortable around him. He really has shown his ass this summer." she stated with a shake of her head. "I'm so disappointed in him, it's not even funny but enough about him. I would love to spend a Micah free day with you tomorrow, Sam." Sam smiled and turned towards her at her answer.
"Good I'm glad you said that cause I have something great planned for us."