Marcy yawned as she flipped a page in her book. She'd already brushed her teeth & showered for the day & just wanted to read a few chapters of one of the books she'd gotten Thursday before getting the twins up & dressed.
She was reading by the light of the rising sun. She was really into a particular sonnet when her music stopped & a new song played. She picked up her phone. "Hello?"
"Hey?" Mal's voice was sleep ridden. "Are you up?"
"Yes. Are you?"
He chuckled. "No. How are you?"
"You know I'm not a morning person, Mal."
"& I am?"
"Good point. Why are you so chipper?"
"I'm not chipper. I'm just happy to hear your voice."
She hated to admit it but that filled her stomach with butterflies. "Oh shut up & tell me what you want."
"I was wondering what you were doing today?"
"I'm busy."
"Who's watching the kids?"
"Shouldn't you?"
"I could."
She didn't like the way that sounded. "But Maddie is."
"Oh. Well I might just borrow Mally for a few hours."
"What? Why?" She was instantly suspicious.
"I was thinking Mally could use a haircut."
"No!" She immediately snapped.
"Marcy! He looks like a shaggy dog!"
"So do you!"
"I'll get a haircut, too."
"No! Absolutely not!"
"People keep mistaking him for a girl!"
"I don't care! You're not cutting my baby's hair!"
"I don't want my son walking around getting talked about cuz his mother is attached to his hair!"
"I'm not attached to his hair." She pouted.
"Yes, you are! You're acting like your mother! She never let you cut your hair! She even let your bangs grow to your chest she didn't like it so much!"
"Take that back!" She growled.
"Marce." He sighed. "Please let me do this. This is a bonding experience between me & my son. I'm taking him to get his first haircut. I've missed too many of his firsts already."
Marcy really hated this. She had this irrational want for her son's hair to be long like hers (or at least her brother's). "Okay. Okay."
"Really?"
"Yeah. What time are you thinking of going? Maybe I should be there?"
"I'm meeting a friend for some business but I'll text you to bring him by."
"Didn't I say I have plans?"
"Are they before ten o'clock?"
"Yes."
"Drop him off at ten."
"Before ten."
"Okay."
Marcy felt like she was making a huge mistake. "I'll see you when I drop the twins off."
"I'm actually leaving soon."
"Your meeting is at seven in the morning?"
"Yep."
"Fine, Mal."
"I adore you."
She blushed. "W-what?"
"I said have a good day." He hung up.
She set her phone down as the music came back on. She knew what she heard! She picked back up her book but she could only dwell on his words. He adored her! Maybe, just maybe she adored him, too?
M&MC
Marc looked around the kitchen. "It's quiet."
"Too quiet?" Marcy joked as she walked in.
He jumped. "Where'd you come from?"
"The Changs'. I just dropped the twins off."
"In your pajamas?"
"It's early in the morning. Nobody saw me."
"At least you were in Travis."
"I walked."
"Marcy! What will the neighbors think?!"
"Who are you? your mother?"
"You know they're going to talk. "Did you see that Jones girl walkin in her PJs this morning?!" I can hear it now."
"You've done way worse."
"I know." He grinned. "So what's for breakfast?"
"She's not here, is she?"
"Who? Momma? No. She had a wedding to get to. Dad went in early, too. It's just us. Where's Merce?"
"Here." Mercedes yawned as she shuffled in.
"Good mornin, sunshine!" Marc yelled.
Mercedes glared at him blearily. "Shut up."
"Ooh! Princess is in a mood!"
Marcy sighed something & Mercedes visibly brightened. "Good morning, big brother!"
"What'd you sign? I hate when you guys do that! It leaves me out!" Marc complained.
"She told me something. Relax. It's not about you." Mercedes rolled her eyes.
"So what? I'm not even hungry anymore."
"We weren't going to feed you anyway." Marcy blinked.
"Now you're just being mean. Who will cook for me?"
"I will, if you quit crying." Mercedes said.
"Thank you." He kissed her cheek.
"What do you want, Marce?"
"Oh, I'm just gonna make a parfait or something & take it upstairs. I need to find something to wear." Marcy went to the fridge.
"Ooh! Parfaits sound good! I want one, too!"
"You're going to pick out something to wear? Like think about it?" Marc gave his youngest sister a bizarre look. "Since when do you do that?"
"Since I wanted to look nice." Marcy brought out fruit & yogurt.
"Why? What are you doing today? Going on a date?"
"Shut up!"
He changed his look to a bewildered one. "You have a date! Are you skyping with your boyfriend?"
"I don't have a date! I'm hanging out with Mercy, Laura & Quinn!"
"Why would you wanna look nice for them?!"
"Marc!" Mercedes set down the glasses she had on the island.
"Sorry. I just meant it's a little weird."
"Please go away." She rubbed her temples.
"I'll be quiet. I swear." He sat at the island.
Mercedes & Marcy exchanged looks before looking at him but he sat quietly, staring at them.
Marcy sighed before getting granola from the pantry along with nuts. She came back & filled three glasses with granola, one with almonds & another with walnuts. Then she spooned vanilla yogurt in before topping it with fresh fruit that Mercedes washed off.
Then she repeated the process until the top of the glasses, where she topped them with whipped topping, a bit of granola & a berry.
Mercedes passed out spoons as Marcy put things back. "Dig in."
They each took a bite.
"Good. Wish it had meat but good." Marc licked whipped topping off his upper lip.
Marcy picked up her glass. "Like I said, I need to pick out an outfit."
"How are you thinking?" Mercedes leaned against the island.
"Kinda fancy. Respectable but fancy. Not ball gown fancy. But sexy."
"I get that. I'll call Laura & Quinn to let them know." Mercedes signed that she would tell Aaron.
"See?! You're doing it again!" Marc complained.
"I'm leaving!" Marcy rolled her eyes before doing what she said she was going to do. She went upstairs & to her closet.
Mercedes stared at Marc.
"What?" He was uncomfortable with her stare.
"What do you think of guys who try to date sisters?"
His eyebrows moved. "I've dated sisters."
"& you didn't think that was wrong?"
"As long as they didn't fight over me, I didn't care."
"You don't think only a dog would do that?"
"Nope."
Mercedes thought about it as she ate slowly. "What about at the same time?"
"& they knew about it? I've done that, too."
"You're a pig."
He grinned. "I like girls. & they like me."
"What if they didn't know about each other?"
"That's wrong."
She nodded. "Good. You're not a complete reprobate."
He glared at her. "What is it going to take to get you all to stop talkin about my love life?!"
"Stop screwing bimbos."
"They're not bimbos!"
"They have the combined IQ of one hundred."
He groaned. "Just stop."
"I'll stop. But you know we're right. These girls are not right for you. You need a woman."
Marc was quiet for a while. "Maybe I'll start looking?"
M&MC
Mercedes wished she still had her full length mirror in her closet but she didn't so she went to her parents' room to see what she looked like from top to bottom.
She wore a royal blue lace front knee length dress with sheer mesh sleeves, back over smooth knit, bugle-bead trim & lettuce edges. It was 41" from center back of scoop neck. She wore her daisy necklace with daisy studs & a charm bracelet. On her feet were pointed toe 1 3/4 heeled pumps with a decorative buttoned strap in natural snake.
She had sprayed her hair with her signature scent & grabbed a black satchel bag before going into her parents' room. She now went to knock on her sister's door. "Hey, Marce? Are you ready?"
Marcy opened the door wearing a crochet A-line knit dress with scalloped edges on flared 3/4 sleeves & hem in eggshell. It had a separate smooth knit slip liner & was 36 1/2" from center back neck. She paired it with rounded toe 1 3/4 heeled pumps with a patent bow in houndstooth.
She wore her moon necklace with her rosary, the watch her father gave her, the tennis bracelet Mal had given her earlier that week, a butterfly statement ring & drop earrings. She had a tote bag on her arm.
"You look so nice! Turn around! Let me see you!"
Marcy turned slowly. "I was thinking of taking a picture but I can't."
"I'll take it." Mercedes held her hand out.
Marcy rooted through her bag to find her phone before handing it over. "I want to put it on Tumblr."
Mercedes took the picture. "You should."
Marcy took the phone back. "Did you take a picture?"
"No. Can you?" Mercedes handed over her phone.
"Sure." Marcy took the picture.
Mercedes decided to wait to post the picture. "Come on. Let's go. We have ten minutes to meet the guys."
"Tell Laura & Quinn, I'm on my way." Marcy shut her bedroom door & took her keys out of her purse.
They went downstairs & said goodbye to Marc before going to the kitchen. They grabbed nuts, M&M's, candied sunflower seeds & gummy bears & put them in their purses for movie snacks before getting in Travis. Marcy drove to the Fabray home & honked the horn.
Mercedes looked out the window. "I told her we were on our way & she said okay."
Marcy was busy texting. "They need to hurry up."
"Why?"
"Because I have a few stops to make before we go to the movies."
"Marcy!"
"They won't take long." Marcy nodded as she read what she wanted to know. "Keep your clothes on. You'll see Aaron."
Laura & Quinn came from the house before Mercedes could say anything.
Quinn was wearing a grey knit tee with scoop neck, 3/4 sleeves & 24" from center back neck with a navy zip knit pencil skirt & grey suede ankle wrap 2 3/4" covered heeled pumps with pointed toes. She wore pearls in her ears & around her neck & wrist. She had a camel colored handbag on her arm.
Laura was wearing a figure flattering black dress with on-trend print piping, elbow-length sleeves, jeweled neckline & neck zipper with black Chantilly 3" heeled pumps. She wore heavy black studs with a gold watch & no other jewelry. She had a suede clutch in her hands.
Both climbed in the backseat. "Hi! How are you?"
"Hey." Marcy put the car in drive & drove to the Changs'.
"Good morning." Mercedes chirped. "You both look nice!"
"As good as we look; those guys better had made an effort!" Quinn snapped.
"Where are we going?" Laura asked.
"I have to take Mally somewhere." Marcy parked the car.
"Where?"
Marcy pouted. "To get a haircut."
M&MC
Mal sat down with his frozen yogurt. "& that's everything."
"I can't believe it's taken you three hours to tell me your whole life story."
Mal smirked at his friend of four years, Chase MacDonald. "It was not my whole life story."
"Basically! Now I know why it didn't work with Ellen when you were perfect for each other. I just can't believe you cheated on her."
"Don't ever tell her. I don't want her to hate me."
"If she sees you with these kids, she'll figure it out!"
"She won't. She's in school all day when they're out & about. My sister has them at home when she gets out of tennis practice."
"Why is your twelve year old sister babysitting your kids?"
"Because she wants to. She knows she's not going to see them for a while."
"Why? Your baby mama won't let you see them after this month or what?"
"Remember what I said about her being gone for two years? She lives in Italy."
Chase's mouth fell open. "Hell no! You do not know somebody from Italy!"
"I told you she was Italian." Mal looked at him like he was stupid.
"But I figured her family was from New York & had been for generations."
"Is that what I said?!"
"No." Chase bowed his head.
Mal chuckled. "Do I have to explain it again?"
"No, no, I got it. She's foreign."
"Anyway, since Maddie lives here, it's going to be hard to see the twins."
"How are you going to see the twins? Aren't you going to Stanford?"
"No. I moved in with her a few weeks ago."
Chase's eyes widened. "You moved to Italy?!"
"Shhh!" Mal flagged him down as everyone in the frozen treat shop turned to stare at them. "Yes! But I'm not leaving until after graduation. I can't. My mom won't let me."
"How long is she going to be here in the States?"
"Until her birthday. I have until then to make her stay longer."
"Because you won't see the kids? So you're sucking up to her?"
"Not so much sucking up as kissin butt. I messed up. I know that. I just want her to forgive me already, drop her boyfriend & get back together with me. Is that too much to ask for?"
"She has a boyfriend?"
"Some French guy she's been dating for a month. She doesn't like anything French so I don't see why she even likes him!"
"Don't you speak French?"
"Yeah & she talks about me!"
Chase chuckled. "How is she? Is she fun?"
"So fun. She makes anything sound fun & we usually get in trouble by the end but it seems worth it. She's smart & talented & very skilled."
"With all the stuff you said you do, I'm not surprised. What's your game plan for getting her?"
"I've been wearing her down. We kiss all the time & I know it's a matter of time before we sleep together again. She can't resist me."
"Big talk from mild mannered Mal." Chase taunted.
"I'm a different person at home. Around her. I don't have a shell to hide in around her."
"I think it's good for you to have somebody like that. You & Ellen were the shy couple."
"Marcy & I are the arguing couple. We always argue but we agree on so much."
"Perfect couple."
"I think so. We might not have worked before but I think we will now."
"Because she's around?"
"Yeah. & things were complicated with other things. Personal things. All of that stuff is gone now. It's just us."
"Well I'm happy for ya, buddy." Chase put his hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Thanks."
"When will I meet her?"
"In a minute. She's on her way here."
Chase jumped. "Really?! Why didn't you say anything?!"
"I was busy telling you my whole life story." Mal deadpanned.
"How do I look?" Chase posed.
"Like an idiot. She's not here to meet you. She's here to drop off my son."
"Your son? That sounds weird to even say. At least I'll be meeting him, too. Why just him?"
"Because I'm taking him to get his first haircut. Man, was that a fight this morning."
"A fight?"
"You know how moms are."
"I know how my mom is. She begged me to get a haircut."
"My mom did, too. That's why I thought of getting Mally one. He (& I) look like girls. I don't want my kid getting beat up at the park. He already got into a fight last week."
"How old is he?"
"17 months."
"How old is that?" Chase snapped.
"A year & a half." Mal drawled.
"& he's getting into fights already? What? some kid called him a girl & he flipped?"
"I don't know what happened. I didn't see it."
Chase made a confused face so Mal explained everything that had happened. "Whoa! I didn't know you knew Kung Fu!"
"I don't know Kung Fu! I'm not Chinese!"
"Kung Fu's Chinese?"
Mal rolled his eyes. "Point is, he saw his mother fighting & he copied that behavior. I thought my days of corralling her temper were over."
"She fights?"
"A lot."
"I can't believe she kicked a woman in the head. That's some murder type stuff."
"Marcy has a wicked temper that burns molten hot."
"Crazy chicks are hot."
"She's not crazy." Mal had to amend that. "She's not expressly crazy."
"Whoa! Is that her?!" Chase pointed to the door.
Mal looked up as Marcy came in with Mally on her hip & a diaper bag on her shoulder. "Yup."
"She's hot! Why'd you leave that out?!"
"I know you." Mal stood as Marcy made it over. He kissed her before setting his big hand over his son's head & shaking it gently. "Hey."
"Hey." She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "I packed him some stuff just in case you have him out all day."
"I probably won't but thank you."
"Can you save some of his hair?" She set the diaper bag on the table.
Mal looked at her like she said she was going to sniff it. "Why?"
"For his baby book. I never thought I'd ever use that page."
"It'll be okay. He'll be fine." Mal promised as he took Mally from her. "Hello, son."
"Hi, Daddy." Mally took his pacifier out of his mouth to speak.
Marcy pulled on the little boy's shirt to gain his attention. "Give Mommy a kiss. I'm about to go."
Mally lurched forward & kissed her cheek. "Bye-bye, Mommy."
She looked torn.
"Marcy, meet Chase." Mal returned to English for his friend.
Marcy noticed the guy when she'd first walked in but had paid him no attention. "Hello."
"Chase, this is Marcy."
Chase stood & held his hand out. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Marcy didn't like touching other people but figured a friend of Mal's couldn't be too filthy. She took his hand. "Likewise."
"May I say you're a very beautiful young lady."
She smiled. "Thank you. I have to go but it was nice meeting you."
"You too, sweetheart." He let her go.
Mal wrapped an arm around her waist. "Hey? Give me a kiss."
"Mal." She warned.
"Come on. You look nice. Why?"
"What do you mean why?" She tilted her head with attitude.
"Who are you trying to impress?"
"Maybe it's you?" She sassed.
"Well it worked."
She blushed slightly. "Will you let me go if I give you a quick kiss?"
"Scouts honor."
"That shouldn't count. You haven't been a boy scout in years."
"Once a boy scout, always a boy scout."
She sighed before wrapping her hands in his shirt & pulling him down for a quick brush of lips.
He wasn't going for that & applied pressure. It was like a switch went off inside her & she reciprocated before running her tongue over his bottom lip. His lips parted & she stormed the castle so to speak.
Their intense kiss went on for minutes until Mally leaned forward & kissed both his parents' cheeks.
Marcy tucked her lips in to wipe the excess lipstick from her mouth (all the girls wore nude lipstick). "Bye, baby." She kissed his cheek before giving Mal a heated look & sashaying out.
Mal had a goofy grin on his face as he sat down in his chair & adjusted his son over his lap.
Chase shut his mouth. "That was the hottest thing I've ever seen in real life. That was real porn."
Mal gave him a sharp look. "Chase."
"I didn't think kids could have that kind of passion but I was wrong."
"You're an idiot."
"You gotta step your game up."
Mal agreed. He looked down at his child, who was reaching for his cup of yogurt. "I'm open to ideas."
M&MC
"Okay. Chins up, shoulders back, smiles bright." Laura instructed as the girls stood outside the movie theater.
The trio in front of her did as commanded.
"Your bangs are every which way, Marcy." Laura fixed her hair before going to Mercedes. "Your hair is caught in your dress, Mercy & Q?" Laura shifted all of Quinn's hair to her back. "There. Better."
All of the girls wore their hair stick straight & down her back.
"Now come on. We're fashionably late." Laura, with Mercedes, Quinn & Marcy behind her, walked into the large building. She walked to the large seating area, where the guys more than likely were.
& they were.
Aaron stood first. He was wearing black dress pants with a dark blue button up shirt. "Hello, girls."
Johnny, who'd been sitting next to him wearing navy dress pants with a light blue button up shirt, stood as well. "You all look very nice."
"Thank you." The girls chorused.
Craig & Dominic stood from the rear facing couch & turned to view them. "Whoa!"
Craig was wearing black dress pants with a white button up shirt. He held his hand out for Quinn. "You look really nice, Que."
"So do you." Quinn looked him over.
"You're wearin that dress!" Dominic whistled as he stuffed his hands in his black dress pants. He was wearing a charcoal grey button down. All the guys wore loafers.
"You like it?" Marcy set her hand on her hip.
"Def.!"
"Shall we get the tickets?" Laura asked.
"We already got them." Johnny said. "We figured it'd be a good surprise."
"Oh no. We couldn't!" Mercedes was a lady to her heart.
"We insist." Aaron grabbed her hand.
"We're paying for the whole movie experience." Craig added.
"There's a whole movie experience?" Marcy wanted to know what it was.
"Drinks, tickets, snacks. Whatever you want."
"Well we have snacks. M&M's."
"M&M's?" Dominic asked. "What kind?"
"I have mint. & candied sunflower seeds."
"I've never heard of those. Are they good?"
"Which one? The seeds or the mint?"
"Both."
"They're very good."
"I have almond M&M's & raw almonds." Mercedes said.
"I have peanut butter M&M's & pumpkin seeds." Laura added.
"I have almond M&M's & almonds, too." Quinn went on.
"Do you want any candy?" Aaron asked.
"We have gelatin free gummy bears."
"We don't eat much sweets or candy." Mercedes added.
"They have nachos." Craig said.
"Popcorn is fine." Marcy shook her head.
"Okay." Dominic took her arm. "Let's get in line before it's too long."
The group got in line & ordered popcorn & drinks.
"You should let Evie put the seasoning on the popcorn. She's like a magician at it." Quinn bragged.
Marcy blushed. "Thanks, Que."
"She is quite good at it." Laura said.
"By all means." Aaron stepped aside.
"Who likes hot stuff?" Marcy smiled.
"I can take it." Craig shrugged.
"You'll get jalapeño then." Marcy mixed it with butter & handed the bucket back to him. "Who likes it sweet?"
"I do." Johnny raised a hand.
Marcy took their bucket & sprinkled on kettle seasoning. She took Mercedes's & Aaron's bucket & put white cheddar & butter in it. "There you go."
Aaron tasted it. "It's like every piece is perfectly coated!"
"Told you; magician." Quinn smirked.
Marcy finished putting butter & nacho cheese seasoning on her & Dominic's popcorn. "Done." The others clapped as she curtsied.
They went to the drink fountain. The girls got lemonade or tea (Mercedes & Laura got lemonade while Marcy & Quinn got tea) as the guys got coke (except for Johnny, who got root beer). The guys handed the popcorn buckets to their female friend while they got the tickets out.
They gave them to the usher & went to the correct theater. Aaron, Mercedes, Marcy & Dominic sat at the end of one row halfway up the stairs while Johnny, Laura, Quinn & Craig sat behind them. Craig & Dominic sat at the ends.
"This is my favorite part." Marcy whispered to Dominic.
"Nothing's on but the previews."
"I know. The previews are my favorite part."
He smiled as she crossed her legs. "They're not bad."
"I want to see this movie." Quinn whispered to Craig. "I like crime movies."
"Maybe we can come back & see it?" He whispered back.
She grinned. "It's a date."
Laura grabbed a handful of popcorn. "I'm glad we're doing this."
"Me too." Johnny whispered. "I can't believe we met only a couple days ago. I feel like I've known you forever."
"Me too. It's exhilarating to meet someone who understands me."
"I don't eat much raw stuff. I don't think I even know what that means." Aaron whispered to Mercedes.
She gave him the popcorn bucket & rifled through her purse for the bag of nuts. "It just means uncooked."
He watched as she pulled it out & brandished it like a badge. "That's not always healthy."
"When it comes from meat or eggs." She opened the package. "Try some. They're salted."
The four couples talked amongst themselves as the previews ran on but then the movie started & they shut up.
M&MC
Mal didn't understand the problem. "What's wrong, buddy?"
Mally kept crying & clutching him tightly for dear life.
"How can he even see the scissors?" Chase quipped.
The seasoned barber just watched in veiled amusement.
"Maybe my dad will know what to do?" Mal was ready to try anything, including leaving & never coming back.
"Call him." Chase picked up a magazine.
Mal switched his son to his hip & pulled his phone out. He dialed his father's work number. "Hello? Lindsay? It's Mal. It's an emergency. I need my dad."
Mally continued his stream of tears, no matter how Mal tried to calm him down.
"Hello?" Michael's voice came on the line.
"Dad!"
"Malcolm? What is it? I'm working. Is your mother alright?"
"Why is that the first thing you go to? She's fine. I'm not! More to the point, your grandson isn't!"
"What's going on? Is that Malcolm Jr. crying?"
"Yes! I'm at the barber shop trying to get him his first haircut & he's lost it! He won't stop crying & he won't let me go. He's looking at the barber like he's Marcy & the man is a clown."
"Filled with mistrust & fear?" Michael hummed. "I can't tell you anything you don't already know. He's afraid."
"I get that. What I don't get is why! It's just a haircut!"
"Every child is afraid of their first haircut. You were. Your brothers were. Why do you think Trey has long hair?"
Mal chuckled. "Because women like it?"
"That's just a bonus."
Mal laughed. "So what am I supposed to do about Mally? He needs this haircut. He looks like a girl!"
"You need a haircut yourself."
"Thanks, Dad."
"Go first." Michael gave a long suffering sigh. "Once he sees you're not crying & carrying on, he'll realize it's not that bad."
"You promise?"
"I promise, Malcolm. I have to go. I have work to do. Malcolm Jr. will calm down. Just keep at it."
"Thanks, Dad." Mal hung up before setting his face & sitting Mally in the chair. Immediately the little boy began jumping & clawing for his father to pick him up. "No, Mally. It's okay. See? Daddy's going to get a haircut, too."
Mally either didn't hear him or he didn't care because he hollered louder.
Mal sat in the chair next to him. He turned to the amused barber. "Can you do me first? My dad says he'll calm down."
"Sure thing, kid." The barber started cutting. "Any style in mind?"
A bit late, don't ya think? Mal scowled before fixing his face. His boy was watching him intently as the tears slowed. "As long as you don't put a bowl on my head, I don't care."
The barber smirked. "Are you impressin anyone?"
"His mother." Mal hooked a thumb at Mally, who was enthralled.
"I'll make you look good."
M&MC
"You didn't like the movie." Aaron guessed.
"It's not that." Mercedes didn't want to say it.
"It was very violent." Laura had no such problems.
"We'll pick a better movie next time." Johnny grinned sheepishly.
"Next time, we pick the movie." Laura refused.
"Deal!" Aaron said instantly.
"Did you like it?" Craig asked.
Quinn wrinkled her nose. "I'm not much for action movies."
"It was awesome!" Marcy was amped up. "I can't get over that guy driving his motorcycle straight through that other guy's head!"
"It was pretty amazing." Dominic agreed.
"It's noon. Who's hungry?" Aaron asked. They all agreed. "Where do you want go?"
"We can go to a fast food chain." Craig shrugged.
"We don't eat fast food." Quinn said.
"At all?!" Dominic was shocked.
"No." Marcy reiterated.
"You cook every night?" Johnny was impressed.
"Mostly. But there's takeout. & restaurants." Mercedes said. "We don't have to eat at home."
Laura's eyes lit up. "I know the perfect place! The club!"
Marcy lifted her shoulders dismissively. "That'll be good. I haven't eaten there in a while."
"Me either but the food's still good."
"Club?" Johnny asked.
"The country club." Laura smiled at him.
"You want us to go to a country club?" Dominic was dumbfounded & it showed on his face.
"Sure. Why not?" Marcy asked.
"We do look nice enough." Craig grinned.
Quinn smirked. "Yes, we do."
"Okay." Aaron shrugged. "We're parked around the corner. Where are you parked?"
"Around the corner." Marcy said.
"We can walk together then & Aaron will follow you." Johnny decided.
The group walked to Travis & the guys helped the girls inside. They walked to Aaron's car after & followed Marcy all the way to their country club.
They met up outside the club & walked inside. They went straight to the dining room & sat down at a large table. A waiter came & took their order.
Craig looked around & whistled lowly. "So this is a country club."
"Not really fancy." Quinn tried to look at it through his eyes.
"Yes, it is. I feel like I've stepped into another world."
"What exactly do you do here?" Aaron asked.
"There's golf, tennis, swimming & games. There's activities. & classes." Mercedes explained. "Squash, racquetball."
"That sounds so boring." Dominic admitted.
"It sometimes is." Marcy told him. "We don't play golf, I hate tennis & squash & we have pools at home so it doesn't matter for the sports for me. If there's an interesting class or activity going on, we'll sign up for that."
"Evie used to make her own fun." Laura smirked.
"Where else do you go for fun?" Aaron wanted to know as the waiter came back with their drinks & silverware.
"We used to go to museums." Mercedes blinked. "The library."
"& the stables." Marcy added.
"Stables? Like horses?" Johnny shuddered. "I've never even been around a horse before!"
"We used to win ribbons for shows & competitions." Laura told him. "Trophies."
"How did you do everything? You had to stay busy." Craig mentally ran through a list of everything they did.
"We did. We rarely had time to get bored, we were always busy." Quinn said. "We'd come from school & go straight to lessons."
"What about when you got home?" Johnny asked.
"Homework then practice."
"Practice what?"
"Our instruments." Mercedes said. "It's how you become a master."
"Depending on when we ate dinner & when we finished our homework & lessons, we could watch TV." Laura added.
"& this was every day?" Dominic asked.
"Yes." Marcy said. "We had lessons & church on the weekend, too."
"You're very accomplished young women." Johnny praised.
"Thank you." Laura smiled at him.
The waiter came back with their food. They thanked him & he left.
"I can't believe you all asked for a salad." Craig shook his head.
"We eat healthily." Laura said.
"Is that a rule or habit?" Aaron asked.
"Both actually. Most of our food had low or no fat, low calories, low carbs, low or no sugar & high in fiber & vitamins." Marcy explained. "Our moms are all about healthy living & it's a result of where they were born. Daddy's a dentist so that's why we don't eat much sugar."
"& you keep up with that in college?" Johnny wanted to know.
"It's hard but yes." Quinn nodded.
"You're better than me. I would have lost my mind in college." Craig said. "I would be eating everything my parents didn't want me to for the past eighteen years. I'd probably be big as a house!"
"I like to think we're well disciplined." Laura lifted her shoulders lightly.
"You are." Craig joked.
"We've been talking about us all this time." Mercedes stabbed at lettuce. "Tell us about you."
Craig thought about it. "I grew up pretty normal. I'm from Lima & we had it okay. Played ball since I could walk. My dad was a sanitation worker & my mom is a teacher. My dad died when I was seventeen from prostate cancer. I have no siblings & basketball is the only thing I've ever shown a talent for."
"I'm sorry about your father." Quinn said sincerely.
"Thanks."
Johnny chewed before swallowing his food. "My parents still live in Lima with my little sister. They run a dry cleaners & are as old school as it gets. They were unsure about me playing basketball at first until they learned it could help pay for college. I got a partial scholarship from basketball & one from academics so they were proud. I used to visit them every weekend."
"That's really sweet. I went to school out of state so I couldn't visit much." Laura said.
Dominic cleared his throat. "I grew up with a single mom. I have a younger brother & I grew up in the Heights. My mom's a nurse & my brother is a sophomore in high school. I got a full ride to OSU so that was a relief for her. I didn't think I was going to go to college. Basketball was my life."
"Not anymore?" Marcy asked.
He looked at her. "Some things are more important."
Aaron took a sip of his drink. "My parents are older. I was a late in life baby. Both of them work in factories & are close to retiring. I always liked basketball & when it came time for college, I didn't want to go until I realized I could play. I don't have any siblings or cousins but I do have a grandma. I visit her a lot."
Mercedes melted. "Aww!"
"Her name's Meredith & she lives in Lima with my parents."
"Super cute."
"I guess it would be safe to say what you do for fun is play basketball?" Marcy quipped.
"Yup!" Dominic laughed.
"Have you ever been to the art museum?"
"No. Never."
"We should do that after this. I heard they have a new piece."
"Where'd you hear that?" Laura's brows knitted together.
"The radio."
"Huh. We should check it out."
"I use to love the children's museum. This can't be that different." Craig said.
"Not by much." Marcy lifted a shoulder.
"Then we should go." Aaron liked new things as much as the next guy.
"I'm up for it." Dominic shrugged.
"I like museums." Johnny said.
"I like to try new things." Craig added.
"Yay! We're going to the art museum." Mercedes clapped softly.
"You're adorable." Aaron told her.
"Super adorable." Marcy mocked.
"Shut up, Evie." Mercedes glared.
"That's not nice."
"You're not nice."
Marcy grinned. "Sore."
"Let's talk about something different." Laura refrained from rolling her eyes. "Evie has a birthday coming up. What are you thinking you want for your special day?"
"You're staying. Right?" Mercedes hoped.
"I still haven't decided." Marcy took a sip of her tea.
"You don't want to stay for your birthday?" Quinn didn't know that & felt a bit of panic at thinking of Marcy leaving.
"Stay? Where are you going?" Dominic was confused.
"I live somewhere else & I'm not sure if I want to stay here passed my birthday." Marcy explained.
"Where do you live?" Aaron asked softly.
"Far from here."
"Is it a bad area? Why don't you want to tell us?" Craig asked.
"No, it's a good area but it'll pose more questions than it'll answer."
"Okay. We won't push." Johnny soothed.
Marcy sighed. Damn him & his gentle, understanding nature! "I live in Italy. I'm only here until I turn eighteen & I can go back."
"You're right; I do have more questions." Dominic started. "But I won't ask. Except… why don't you want to stay?"
"Things aren't the best at home." All of the girls stopped eating.
"Was college an escape for you?" Aaron asked them.
"There is freedom in being away, yes." She cocked her head.
"Can we talk about something different?" Mercedes asked. "This isn't as fun as talking about birthday stuff."
"Fine. I'll stay. It's just one day. But I'm totally gone the next day." Marcy took another sip of tea.
"I guess we can't ask for more." Quinn said.
"So what do you want to do?" Laura asked.
Marcy thought about it. "I know I want to go to Apple Town."
The other girls giggled.
"What's Apple Town?" Craig wanted to know.
"An apple orchard & restaurant." Quinn told him. "Evie loves apples so it's one of her favorite places."
"An apple orchard? Like picking apples?" Dominic asked.
"Yes." Marcy nodded. "We used to go every October."
"Apple picking." He stated thoughtfully. "Could be fun."
"Way better than pumpkin picking. Pumpkins are too heavy."
The table laughed.
M&MC
"You could write her name in the sky!"
Mal raised an eyebrow. "What?!"
Chase lifted his hands. "Hear me out! Write her name in the sky with those sky writers. Proclaim your love loudly to the world."
"That's weird & she could not look up in time."
"Okay." Chase looked around the children's museum. "Knock her up again!"
"Our friendship is over…"
Chase went to the next item on his list. "Ask her to prom."
"If she doesn't want to stay for her birthday (which is her favorite day of the year), why would she stay for a lame party at a school she doesn't even go to?"
"I thought prom was every girl's dream?"
"Marcy's not every girl."
"I bet she's never been to prom before & would like for you to ask her. It's not like you have a date."
"I'm not going." Mal rolled his eyes hard.
"You're up for king."
"So are you."
"Think I'll win?" Chase grinned.
"I'm not asking her to prom."
"Okay, fine! Shoot down all my ideas! I don't see you coming up with anything!"
"If I had something, I wouldn't be entertaining the thought of your help." Mal kept track of his son.
Chase frowned then sighed. "Send her flowers."
"Why?"
"Just send her a rose every day & write something stupidly romantic on the card."
"She hates roses."
"Well her favorite flower."
Mal thought it over. "I could do that. She does like flowers."
"Send her candy, too. Chicks love that."
"We don't eat candy. You know that. Barring that, what "chicks" have you tested that theory on?"
"Your diet sucks."
"That doesn't answer my question. Do you know how to woo a woman?"
"Woo?"
"You're hopeless."
Chase laughed. "I try. You know I love the ladies."
"But they don't love you…"
"Hey!"
Mal snickered. "I'm joking."
"No, you're not. I need a girlfriend, man!"
"What happened to your last victim… I mean, interest?"
"Ha ha ha! You're not funny! She had a boyfriend. She was just using me to make him jealous."
"Ouch! I know how it feels when the girl you want has someone else."
"Yeah but the girl you want, you had."
"But I don't have her now. That's all that matters."
"You'll get her back." Chase hit his back then pointed. "Does your kid have problems sharing?"
"What?" Mal looked to Mally & saw him wrestling with a kid twice his size for a toy. He jumped up & ran over. "Mally!"
The little boy looked up but didn't let go.
Mal took the toy from the both of them & squatted in front of his son. "Mally, don't you want to share?"
"No." Mally said immediately.
Mal hung his head. "Is this your toy?"
"No but I was playing with it first!"
"It's nice to take turns. Don't you want to be fair?"
Mally's face said no but he pouted & said, "Yes."
Mal handed him the toy & turned him to face the confused toddler in front of them. "Be nice & give it to him."
Mally looked at the toy then at the boy. He hit the child across the face with the toy.
"Mally!" Mal jumped as the little boy started crying.
Mally pouted as he watched his father stand & snatch the toy from him.
Mal experienced Déjá vû as the little boy's mother ran over to console her screaming child. "I'm so sorry! He's going through his "my" phase."
The woman picked up her son & comforted him. "Thank you. It's a difficult phase & it gets worse."
"Tell me that's not true." Mal pleaded.
She chuckled. "Way worse. How old is he?"
"Seventeen months."
"Wait until the terrible twos."
"His mother has been suffering from that her whole life." He joked.
She laughed. "He'll calm down. It's okay. Thank you."
"You're welcome." Mal picked up his son & both parents walked away.
As Mal came over, Chase leaned over. "He hit him hard!"
"He's his mother's child." Mal set Mally in his chair & packed up the diaper bag. "We should leave."
"Because he cracked that kid upside his head?" Chase joked.
"Not funny, dude. He's not even remorseful." Mal put the strap over his shoulder before picking up Mally & heading to the door.
Chase caught up to them as they hit the door. "It's a little funny. He didn't see it coming!"
"This kid is a menace."
Chase laughed. "So where are we going?"
"He was on his best behavior at the yogurt shop. Maybe he'll act better if he's full?" Mal walked in that direction.
Chase continued laughing. "He's my idol."
"You make bad decisions anyway. There's no hope for you."
"Are you going to tell her?"
"Tell who what?"
"Your BM. About what just happened."
"One, BM is short for bowel movement. Two, baby mama is tacky. She's the mother of my children."
"You take the fun out of everything…"
M&MC
"This has been amazing but I want to go home." Marcy said in Swedish.
Laura, Mercedes & Quinn looked at her in surprise. "Why?"
"I'm sick of being on my best behavior & I do miss my kids."
"Okay." Laura wrapped her arm around her shoulders. "We'll tell them we're ready to go. But we had fun today, right?"
"It was."
"I had fun." Mercedes agreed.
"Me too." Quinn added.
"Good." Laura nodded before turning to a patiently waiting Johnny & using English. "We're going to go."
"Aww!" The guys whined.
"We had a wonderful time with you."
"We had a pretty great time, too. I have never stayed this long in the Adjacent." Craig grinned.
"Maybe we can hang out again?" Aaron stuck his hands in his pockets.
"That'd be lovely." Mercedes smiled.
"Maybe tomorrow?" Dominic pressed.
The corner of Marcy's mouth picked up. "How about Tuesday?"
"I can do that."
"How about dinner?" Craig asked.
"That works for me." Quinn said.
"It looks like we're all in agreement." Laura smiled.
"That was easy." Aaron grinned.
"We'll walk you out." Johnny offered.
The guys took their arms & walked them to Travis. Marcy honked the horn as she drove away from the museum. "I'm so glad that's over."
Quinn exhaled. "I know what you mean. We can't do any wrong to them. It's unsettling."
"Do you think we're wrong for this?" Mercedes prosed.
"We're not exactly doing anything. How can we be wrong?"
"I don't know. It seems sneaky."
"Do you tell Mikey about every friend you make?"
"No but-"
"Does he tell you about every friend he makes?"
"No but-"
"Have you kissed Aaron?"
"No!" She blushed.
"Have you touched him sexually?"
"No." Mercedes was aghast.
"Then we're not wrong."
"You sleep well at night, don't you?" Marcy peeked at the rearview mirror.
"Yes, I do." Quinn flipped her hair.
Laura rolled her eyes. "You're splitting hairs."
"I'm stating facts."
"It's up to you, Mercy." Marcy said. "Do you feel it's innocent?"
"Mostly yes. I like him. I like hanging out with him. I like talking on the phone with him. I just like him." Mercedes replied.
"Then you have your answer."