It took me forever to do this chapter because of all of the fluff. I'm not really good with it so I was stuck. But luckily, I got this. Hope you enjoy!
NJPNJPNJP
Mercedes answered her door. "Hi."
Mike smiled & held out a daisy. "Hi."
She took it. "Thank you."
"You're very welcome." He leaned against the doorway.
She blushed. "I'll just put this up & we can go."
"Cool." Mike stayed still as she went back inside.
Mercedes went to find an empty soda can & filled it with water from a water bottle. She set it atop her mini fridge & grabbed her purse. She walked back to the door & locked it. "So where are we going?"
"It's a surprise." Mike took her hand.
"Yay! I love surprises!"
"I know." He was truly excited for this. They walked to the elevator & took it to the lobby then walked outside. He led her to the bus line & they waited for the number 13.
"Can I have a little hint?" She cajoled.
"Hmm?" He pretended to think about it. "I'm going to feed you."
She wrinkled her nose. "That's no hint!"
He laughed. "You'll like what I feed you."
"You're horrible!" She pouted.
"Ouch! You wound me!" He clutched his chest.
"Goober."
"Marcy." He shot back.
She laughed. "I'm not that bad."
"No one's that bad."
She giggled. "Stop talking about my baby!"
"Baby my foot! She's Satan's mother!"
"Laura!"
He made a face. "I am not!"
"You know you love your frog princess!" She teased.
"I wonder if she can receive a package with a live animal in it."
She stared at his serious face. "You are a menace!"
He cracked a grin. "I would never do you like that."
"You already did." She stuck her tongue out.
"I would never do you like that again." He corrected.
She slapped his chest. "I'll be watching you."
His grin turned. "You like that?"
Her mouth fell open & she blushed darkly. "I can't believe you said that!"
"I can't believe you can't believe I said that."
"I know! I know you. I know how dirty you are. What's wrong with me?"
He chuckled. "You must have forgotten."
"I haven't forgotten anything." The bus rumbled down the street. He leaned forward & whispered in her ear. "Mikey!"
"What?" His face was the picture of innocence as the doors to the bus opened. He got on the bus & paid their fare.
She followed behind as he went to a spot with two seats. "You are so dirty! What if Papa Mike had heard you say that?!"
"He'd probably be proud." He put an arm around her as they sat.
She gasped. "No! Papa Mike brought you up to be respectful of women!"
"How was that disrespectful?"
Blood invaded her cheeks as she thought back on what he said. "I don't know but it had to be."
"You didn't hate it." It wasn't a question.
She was stunned as she blushed again. "Shut up."
He grinned at having won. They rode in silence until the stop they needed came up. He pulled the cord & the bus pulled to the side of the road.
They got up & exited the bus. "Now where?"
Mike pointed up the road.
"That doesn't mean anything to me!"
He laughed. "We're going that way."
She took his hand & dragged him in the direction of where he pointed.
He laughed silently the whole time until they nearly passed where they needed to be. He pulled on her hand. "We're here."
She looked up at the place & cocked her head to the side. "What is this place?"
"You'll see." He tugged her to the line & bypassed it. They could hear the muted music from outside. He bribed the doorman to let them in & he waited for her reaction.
She gave a low scream of happiness. "No way! A salsa club?!"
"Yup." He mentally patted himself on the back.
She grabbed his arm & led him further into the club. "I love this!"
The music pumped as bodies crowded on the dance-floor. She wanted to be one of them so she led Mike to a table & put their jackets & her purse down then dragged him back to the floor & began dancing.
Mike was totally amused by this & just watched her for a moment as she moved. She was really good but he knew a way to jazz it up. He snatched her hand & spun her around quickly.
She let out another low scream as she spun out. She thought she would fall when their fingers seemed to disentangle but Mike snatched her back & she spun in tight circles into his chest.
"Ah!" She laughed. He moved his eyebrows & she giggled more. He spun her out again & they began dancing together.
They danced to three songs in a row before going for bottles of water.
"This was a great idea! How'd you find this place?!" Mercedes yelled.
"Google!" He hollered back.
She looked at him sharply. "What?!"
"Yeah! I googled it!"
She laughed. "I love it!"
They took their waters to their table & drank them down before hitting the floor again.
M&MC
"Where in the world can we go at two in the morning?" Mercedes demanded.
Mike lifted a shoulder as he squeezed her hand. "I have a place in mind."
"I swear you better not be taking me to a scary place!"
"You need to let that go…"
She grinned. "Never."
He squeezed her hand as they made it to the bus-stop. "You're going to like this place. I swear."
"If it's as great as dancing all night until I get blisters, I'm in."
"I'll rub your feet later."
She sighed deeply. "I adore you."
He chuckled as the bus pulled up. "I'm adorable."
She laughed. "I'm sorry but you said that with such a straight face! You are adorable!"
He paid their fare. "I know! It's the face!"
She giggled as they sat down. "It is the face! The eyes really."
He batted his curly eyelashes. "Aww! Thank you!"
She pressed a kiss to his cheek. "The lips are good, too."
"I think you missed them." He turned to face her.
She smiled & aimed for his lips. "I think so, too."
They kept their making out chaste but he had to pull away to pull on the cord to stop the bus. "Here's our stop."
She pouted momentarily.
He chuckled. "This place is good, I promise." He led them off the bus & walked down one street after another.
"Are you sure you know where you're going?" She was dubious.
"Totally." He swore. They turned a corner & he lit up. "Aha! Found it!"
"I thought we were never lost…"
He cleared his throat. "So here we are."
"Monkey Bananas?" She read the sign with a tilted head.
"It's a 24/7 diner."
"You planned for us to dance all night?"
"I planned for every contingency."
She raised her free fist to her mouth & coughed. "Your twin's the devil!"
He gave her a look before pulling her inside. "I heard that!"
She giggled. "I know." They sat down at a booth. "This reminds me of Sally's."
"All the kooky decor?" He looked around.
"Kinda. This seems like somebody threw a junk drawer in here."
He chuckled. "Sally's is a little more tasteful than junk drawer, isn't it?"
"Of course! I wouldn't want Mabel to think I didn't have love for her place."
"Never that."
A waiter skated over in the most outrageous of outfits. Literally. He had white skates with rainbow laces. He wore oversized purple with black stripes pants with black suspenders & a dark green shirt with an orange collar. The suspenders had buttons going up & down them & he wore a funky name-tag.
"Hello! Welcome to Monkey Bananas! My name is Jason & I'll be your waiter today. Here are your menus. Would you like to take a moment to review them or do you know what you want?"
"We'll need a minute." Mike said.
"Okay. I'll be right back. Would you like something to drink to start you off?"
"We'll see." Mercedes smiled at the chipper-for-two-o'clock-in-the-morning wait staff.
"Okay! I'll give you a moment." He skated off.
"Isn't it two o'clock in the morning?" Mike asked.
Mercedes giggled. "It's his job."
"I couldn't do it."
"I think you could. You'd be the best waiter ever."
"I thank you for your vote of confidence but I'd suck. I'd mix up everybody's orders, bump into all the tables & I'd probably have to fight some giant dude for treating me like crap. No thank you. I'll take dancer any day."
She started laughing. "At least you know yourself. I think I could be a waitress."
"I bet you could, too. You're the nicest person ever."
She smiled. "Thank you but you know that's not true."
"Fine. You're the second nicest person ever."
She giggled. "You're just going to force this on me, aren't you?"
"Take the crown, Mercy. Take the crown." He picked up his menu.
She did the same & looked over the menu. "I need to call her."
"Who? Q?"
"The nicest person ever."
"Oh. Def. not Q."
"Mikey!" Her mouth fell open.
He caught what he said & laughed. "I didn't mean it like that!"
"I'm telling her you said that."
"No, you won't. You're no snitch."
"I could be. You don't know me."
"I know everything about you."
"Oh really?" She heard a challenge in that. "Favorite color?"
"Are you kidding me?" He looked at her in disbelief before firming his mouth. "Purple."
"Why?"
"Because Momma Rose dressed you in since you were born."
"Eh! Wrong!"
"Is so! You didn't even know it stood for royalty until we were eight."
She pouted. "Favorite flower."
"We're really going to do this?" He raised a brow. "I'm hungry."
"I already know what I'm going to eat." She said haughtily.
"I bet I know what it is."
"I bet you don't."
"I bet it's breakfast."
Her jaw dropped. "Fine! I bet you're going to get the banana nut loaf."
"They have banana nut loaf?!" He flipped through the menu to find it.
"I was still right."
He made clicking sounds with his tongue as he examined the menu choices. "I know exactly what I'm getting."
"You're not paying attention to me. What are you getting?"
"The banana nut loaf. What are you getting?"
"French toast."
"That sounds good." His eyes widened. "They have smoothies!"
She giggled. "You sound like a little kid!"
"My bad. I just saw a strawberry & banana smoothie & got excited."
"I guess I'll try that, too."
"Have you decided yet?" Jason skated back over.
"I have. Mercy? Want to go?" Mike offered.
"Sure. I'll have the Strawberry Vanilla French toast with the cheesy omelet, potato log & sausage. I'll take the strawberry banana smoothie, too." Mercedes rattled off.
Jason stuck his tongue between his teeth as he scribbled. He turned to Mike.
"I'll take the banana nut loaf with the deluxe supreme omelet, potato log & crispy bacon. I'll get the smoothie, too."
"Ooh! You're going to love the loaf! I had it before & it's delish!"
Mike's eyebrows moved. "Cool."
"I'll put your orders in." Jason took their menus & skated off.
It was quiet for a moment before she leaned forward. "Favorite flower."
"Really?!" He was flabbergasted.
"Yes! You think you know everything. I'm going to win this."
He pursed his lips & stared at her for a long time before sighing. "Daisy."
"Why?"
"Because they're simply pretty. Not showy or flashy like a rose or an orchid. Beautiful while minding its own business."
She scrunched her nose. "Favorite ice cream flavor."
"Ben & Jerry's Milk & Cookies."
"Why?"
"Because it tastes like actual milk & cookies."
"What's my favorite cookie?"
"Marce's peanut butter cookies."
"Why?"
"You would say because she uses the peanut butter you like with the jelly swirled in but it's really because you love her & anything she makes."
She scowled. "I'm not that Pollyanna!"
"I never called you Pollyanna."
She huffed. "Favorite Disney movie."
"Beauty and the Beast."
"Favorite book."
"Ella Enchanted."
"Favorite song."
"Nome candu."
"Favorite fruit."
"Strawberries."
"Favorite superhero."
"Ms. Marvel."
She clenched her fists. "Favorite state."
"Mississippi. Because of the way it's spelled."
She stuck her tongue out. "Favorite sport."
"Football to watch, basketball to play alone, volleyball to play with other people."
She gaped. "Favorite spice."
"Nutmeg. You'd say cinnamon because Momma Rose & Marcy hate nutmeg but you secretly like it."
She'd never told anyone that! "Favorite season."
"Spring. You like the beginning of things & spring makes you think of birth."
"Favorite author."
"Robert Frost & Langston Hughes."
"Favorite fighter."
"Jet Li."
"Favorite television show."
Mike started. He knew she had a new favorite every time she looked at TV. "Um... Jem & the Holograms?"
She lightly slammed her hands on the table. "Darn it! How'd you know that?!"
He would never tell her he guessed. "I know everything about you."
"Favorite action hero."
"Bruce Willis."
"Favorite car."
"Your car."
"Ha! Prius is not my-"
"I didn't say Prius."
Her shoulders slumped as Jason skated over. "But-?"
"Your real car. The caddy."
"Here you go!" Jason set two tall glasses on the table. "Your food will be out soon."
"Thank you." Mercedes told him as she took a sip of her beverage.
"Thanks." Mike toasted him.
Jason beamed before leaving.
"Favorite city."
Mike rolled his eyes. "Paris."
"Favorite lipstick."
He grinned. "Spiced Plum."
"How do you know that?"
"You look great in it."
She smiled. "Favorite animal."
"Koala."
"Favorite pillow."
"It's a cross between the one that's white, oblong & says love in Technicolor & the square white one that says Paris in silver glitter with a black picture of the Eiffel tower in the background."
"That was easy. Favorite food."
"Pocky."
"First kiss."
"Me."
"You don't know that."
"I was totally your first kiss."
"Second kiss?"
"Quinn."
"First love."
"Brendan Fisher."
She giggled. "No way! I haven't thought about him in years!"
Jason came over with a large platter that held warm plates. He started setting them on the table. "French toast, eggs, hash browns & sausage. Banana loaf, eggs, hash browns & bacon. Enjoy!" He glided away.
Mike looked over his two slices of banana nut loaf with well mashed bananas; chock full of walnuts & pecans. "This looks good."
"They're thick slices. Like my French toast." She poked her French toast with her fork. It was thick eggy Brioche cut at the sides for strawberries, mascarpone & strawberry vanilla jam, dipped in a milk, egg & brown sugar mixture. There was added mascarpone on top with blackberry jam & salt.
"That's jumbo." Mike teased as he cut into a slice of loaf & ate a portion. "Wow. That's good."
Mercedes decided to dig into her toast. Flavor exploded on her tongue. "Oh my goodness! Taste this!"
He took the bite offered. "Good. Try this." He handed over his fork.
She ate the bite. "Wow. That's really creamy."
"What is that? Cream cheese?" He took his fork back.
"It's mascarpone."
"Man, that's good."
She pulled over the plate with the eggs, sausage & hash browns. It was a two egg omelet with three cheeses & chives, sausage patties & a hash brown log with bacon & green onions. She ate a bit of everything. "I like this log. It's so weird."
"Yeah. I've only ever seen this at Sally's. I wonder how you get it into a log in the first place." Mike poked his with his fork.
"Well it's shredded so maybe they just roll it?"
"Seems sound." He shrugged before spearing the log & taking a bite.
The two continued eating for a while in silence before Mercedes wiped her mouth on a napkin. "Favorite soda."
"We're still on this? Diet Sierra Mist. The only kind you've ever had aside from 7Up & Sprite."
"That's-!" Mercedes stopped. "True."
He inclined his head & continued eating.
She realized the only reason he thought that was because he'd missed a milestone in her life that was sworn to secrecy. She smiled to herself at having won that battle, even if he never found out. "Favorite game."
"Legend of Zelda."
"Favorite fish."
"Koi."
"Shoe size."
"Eight."
"How tall am I?"
"Five four."
"How much do I weigh?"
"I'm not even going to dignify that with an answer."
She smiled. That was a trick question. "Favorite store."
"JoAnn's Fabrics."
She laughed. "Maybe you do know everything about me."
"You didn't even ask me anything hard."
"Okay. Favorite root vegetable."
"Squash."
"Age I first got my period."
"While we're eating?" He huffed & rolled his eyes. "Twelve."
"Age when I first lost a tooth."
"Five. Marc knocked it out."
"What'd I wear on the first day of preschool?" There was no way he would remember that.
"Purple jumper with a white shirt, white frilly socks & Mary Janes. You had your hair in two ponytails with purple bows."
She went through her memory. He was right. "The last time you were ever mad at me."
"We were eight & you broke my nun chucks." He glared at her.
How did he still remember that?! She grinned sheepishly. "When was the last time I was ever mad at you?"
"Last year during that booty camp garbage."
"What made me feel better?"
"My mom's tofu soup."
"I still don't understand how." She shuddered. He chuckled. "My first puppy."
"It was a gift for going to preschool but when we were five, Joanna ran it over with her bike."
She sniffled. "I loved that dog."
"It was the only time I've ever seen her apologize & mean it."
"It was an anomaly, wasn't it?"
He snickered. "It's not like she's done it since."
"Killed a dog or apologize?"
"Apologize. I bet she's killed lots more dogs."
"Mikey!" She giggled.
"Cruella de Vil! Cruella de Vil! If no evil thing scares you, no evil thing will. To see her is to take a sudden chill. Cruella Cruella de Vil."
She fell out laughing. "No, you didn't! I'm telling her you called her evil."
"She should know when people speak her name."
"You sound like Marcy."
"Marcy is right!"
"You two are so naughty. & don't even care."
"I'm not naughty." He put on an affronted look.
"You're so naughty!" She teased. "But I like it."
"Oh! You said naughty?! Yeah, I'm def. naughty."
She laughed. "& you're silly!"
M&MC
Mercedes swung their arms as they walked to her door. It was nearly five o'clock in the morning. "Thank you for a wonderful time."
"It was no problem." Mike smirked slightly.
She stopped outside her door & leaned against it. "I gotta go. I have class in two hours."
"Yeah, I got rehearsals." He made no move to let her hand go.
She made no move to let his hand go. "Busy day ahead."
"Busy week."
"Busy year. Ha! I win."
He nuzzled her nose. "I got you. I think I win."
"You're the sweetest guy. How'd you get like that?"
"I was raised right."
"I know that's right!" She giggled.
He cracked a grin. "We should really say goodbye."
"We can't exactly say goodnight."
"It's no longer night." He agreed.
"So good morrow, my good sir."
"You're so weird when you're sleepy." He'd been pressing kisses to her cheeks & started to gravitate to her mouth.
"I'm not sleepy." She meant to say weird.
"I know everything about you." He reminded her.
"You're really annoying. You know that?"
"I said you, not me." She couldn't help smiling & he captured her lips in a devastatingly melting kiss.
It took a few (ten) minutes but she was able to pry him off to go inside. "Sweet dreams, Mike."
"I'll be dreaming of you." He finally left.
She shut her door & sighed. That boy! She grabbed clothes for the day then went to shower. The bathroom was deserted this time of day.
She came back to her room & wrapped her hair up before climbing into bed. She grabbed her phone & called Quinn. The blonde picked up after two rings.
"Hey, Mercy. Isn't it early over there?" Quinn's voice sounded out of breath.
"It's five fifteen. Why are you breathing so heavy?"
"I'm walking uphill." Quinn said. "What's up?"
"Are you going to class? Because I could call back."
"No. No. It's okay. What's up?"
"I had my first real date with Mikey & it was amazing. We went salsa dancing then to this diner with awesome food."
"Why didn't you call me last night? We could have dished."
"We actually just got in. We didn't leave the club until two or the diner until four something."
"Sounds successful. I'm happy for you guys."
"Good. Now we just have to find you somebody!"
Quinn laughed. "I already started seeing somebody!"
"What?!" Mercedes sat up.
"You'll meet him at spring break. I promise."
"That's so far away!"
"It's a month or so."
"So far away!"
Mercedes could hear Quinn roll her eyes. "When is your next class?"
"Seven thirty."
"Get to sleep!"
"I do need some, don't I?"
"Yes! I'll call you tonight. We'll Skype."
"Okay. Love you!"
"Love you, too!"