Enjoy! Little announcement at the end!

Book Ten:

The Locker: Part Two by KeshBeast

"Hello?'

"Where the hell are you and why did I get a call that you skipped your classes?"

"Mom, I didn't intend on skipping… it just happened."

"Samuel Evans if you don't get back to school immediately!"

"Mom, it'll be excused… just I'll explain it later okay?"

"I'm sending your stepfather to get you, where are you?"

"Mom, I'm not coming home!"

"He'll be there shortly." She said and hung up leaving him standing there shaking with anger, he didn't hear Mercedes come outside so when she touched his shoulder he jumped.

"Woah… you, you okay?" She asked worriedly when she saw his face red and his eyes were watery. Sam just hugged her, catching her off guard but she hugged him back.

"Hey… it's-" She started but he just shook his head giving her a sad look as he pulled away.

"My stepdad is coming… he'll be here soon."

"The hell he will!" She replied, grabbing his hand and pulling him back inside and closing the door behind her. She grabbed her phone as they passed the living room before she led them upstairs, muttering under breath until she opened the door to her room, guiding him inside and closing the door. She sat with him silently until she finally couldn't take it anymore.

"What kind of person does that?" She asked more to herself than to Sam.

"He's not this way with my brother and sister… I think I ruin the image he wants to have of the perfect family you know? Stepson with his own dad can't really be made to do anything he wants so he chooses to be mean instead of kind."

"That's still no excuse to treat you like that… no one deserves to feel uncomfortable at home." She said, grabbing his hand gently then sighing before walking to her window.

"How long has this been going on?" She asked, looking to see if any cars approached her house.

"I don't know… he just recently started to hit me. I told my mom after the first time but she didn't believe me and then when she told him he got mad and waited for everyone to go to sleep before coming into my room and punched me for saying something." Sam replied honestly and the look on her face scared him slightly. She just nodded and turned back around looking back out her window for a little while longer.

"What kind of car does he drive?"

"Black pick up, it has a dent on the side." He said looking around her room before noticing she was nodding and biting her lip.

"Mhm, stay here." She said before walking out and closing the door.

Mercedes walked slowly to the door as she heard the knock she sent her dad a text letting him know that she may need someone to come out before she calmly opened the door. She was surprised when she saw a pleasant looking man with a warm smile and bright blue eyes looking back at her.

"Hi, can I help you?" She asked, putting on her best smile.

"Umm… yes I'm looking for my step son. I'm not sure if you have seen him by chance? Tall, blonde, green eyes and huge lips and not too bright." The man said with a chuckle but Mercedes didn't laugh.

"No it's just me here, sorry." She said with a little of a bite to it.

"Oh his mother was certain he was here… I really could care less but I have to please the misses you know." He said still smiling at Mercedes who just gave him a look like he was annoying her because he was in fact annoying her.

"Sorry I couldn't be of more help."

"It's all good, I'm sure he wouldn't have a shot in hell with you anyways. If you do see him give me a call will you?" He asked handing her a card that had his information on it. "My personal cell is on the back." He added with a wink and she gave him her best smile before slamming the door in his face, shaking slightly to get the feel of his eyes off of her.

She went back upstairs where Sam was waiting and smiled when she saw him admiring her wall of pictures. He was studying them all so intensely that he didn't even notice her standing there until she cleared her throat making him jump and she let out a loud laugh.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." She said between laughs.

"It's okay… is he gone?" He asked looking at her hopeful and when she nodded he let out a sigh of relief. "Good my dad called while you were downstairs, he'll be home in fifteen minutes. So I can head over there now so you can be free of me."

"You're forgetting my car is there so I'm coming with you but we need to wait a few, just to be sure your step dad is gone. If you want, can you help me make dinner? Your dad is more than welcomed and so are you obviously." She said with a smile.

"You're a lot nicer than I thought seniors would be." He said honestly.

"Oh well the ones that are mean are over compensating and if you have any issues let me know. Come on, you look like you can handle a knife." She said walking out of her room and back downstairs just as the door opened and Sam saw a very attractive older woman walk in with the same smile as Mercedes and her sister. Was everyone in her family this beautiful?

"Well Mia wasn't lying, you are as cute as they come." The woman said, smiling at Sam before taking off her jacket and placing it on the holder along with her keys, she pulled her hair from the tight bun it was in gently rubbing her sore scalp as long curls fell down her shoulders before looking at Sam again.

"Are you staying for dinner baby?" She asked giving her daughter a hug and tapped her nose playfully before walking closer to Sam.

"I think he is, he's gonna help make dinner until we go to his dad's…" Mercedes chimed in with a nod.

"Well just invite him over and he can join us as well." She said still looking at Sam but her expression was unreadable. She gently placed her hand on the side of his face with the bruise before giving him a sweet smile.

"Thank you, I will let him know where to come then." Sam said finally after looking at the both of them wondering if it was possible that they were clones. He quickly texted his dad who responded immediately with an okay. "He said okay."

"Good! How about I make dinner and you little miss can try to come up with a solid reason why your father shouldn't ground you." Her mother said, winking at her.

"Wait what? I haven't done anything wrong!"

"You skipped and before you say anything I know it was for a good reason whatever the reason is but you know your dad. School is important to him especially since you insist on going so far away for college."

"Mommmmy! This is unfair and besides it'll be excused so no harm no foul right?" She asked sweetly making her mother chuckle.

"I'll think about helping you while I'm cooking." She said smirking and winking at Sam which made him smile. He didn't realize it until then but everyone was sweet and talked to him in a very caring way including Mercedes though her mother's seemed more motherly and her sister's more sister-like than Mercedes's. Hers was just genuine kindness and he liked it, he was happy that she forced him to leave with her because he'd probably be in the worst mood at that point.

"Hey, we can finish the movie while we wait." She said nudging him toward the couch before her phone started ringing and looked at it before rolling her eyes. "I'll be back in a second." He just nodded and resumed the movie he was watching before hearing someone open their door again, he heard a low deep voice along with a familiar one and he realized one of the voices belonged to his dad.

"Well we're more than happy to have you for dinner. Maybe we'll find out what this is all about huh?" The other man who was massive and the same height as his father donning a sheriff's uniform said to his father before they both laughed. He smiled when he noticed that Mercedes had her father's laugh only hers was softer and more feminine.

"There's mine right there." Dwight nodded over to Sam who was now standing with a small smile.

"Well hello there, I'm Keith and you must be the reason my daughter decided to skip school today?" Keith said smiling at Sam but for some reason he still felt slightly intimidated so he just nodded.

"I'm harmless, it's the uniform and since I've already met Mercy's boyfriend I don't view you as a threat… unless you're her new boyfriend?" He said holding his hand out for him to shake which he did feeling more at ease before he said the last part and shook his head.

"No sir, we're umm friends?" He said more as a question, making both of the men laugh.

"Well when you figure that out let me know." Keith said, patting him on the shoulder before looking over his shoulder at his daughter who was on the phone with an angry expression.

"Lo? Are you here?" He excused himself when his wife appeared slightly with a warm smile. "You're making enough for the Evans right?" He asked, giving her a kiss.

"Mhm. I think Mia's coming too." She replied, kissing him back.

"She's making that face again." He said in a hushed tone nodding over to their daughter.

"Let her be, she's had a long day so how about we don't ground her okay? She's never skipped before and her grades are perfect." Loren said to her husband, winking.

"Fine but don't think it's because you're cute because it totally is, I'm going to get cleaned up." He said, patting her on her butt before walking towards their room.

"Sorry, oh hi! I'm Mercedes, you must be his dad?" She asked with her hand out for him to shake which he did with a bright smile.

"Nice to meet you, you have a very lovely home."

"Well let my parents tell it, they have a lovely home. I'm just a guest." She said with a giggle. "Have you had a chance to talk to him?" She asked Sam who shook his head no.

"Talk about what?" Dwight asked, noticing his son's body tense.

"I'm going to go help my mom… please sit." Mercedes said starting to walk away but Sam grabbed her hand making her stop. She gave him a reassuring nod before sliding her hand from his and walking into the kitchen.

"What is it?" Dwight asked, noticing the bruise when his son turned slightly. "Who did it?"

"Mark but it was because we were fighting… Mercedes noticed and told me I needed to tell you and I told mom I wanted to move in with you but she kept telling me no." Sam blurted as tears began streaming down his face, Dwight pulled his son into him and hugged him soothing him until his cries were soft murmurs.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? Of course you can live with me, I'll handle your mother, don't ever think for one minute I wouldn't come for you." Dwight said, pulling away slightly his heart breaking as he looked at his son.

"I wanted to but I knew mom wouldn't let me come and stay over anymore so I just didn't. He came by here but Mercedes told him I wasn't here… I'm not even sure how she knew but she did..."

"I think we should go home so we can get this figured out." Dwight said feeling bad because he could tell these were good people but his son needed his attention more and so did this matter.

"Everything good?" Keith said, walking into the living room noticing Sam's reddened face and Dwight's angry face. "It's okay we understand if you need to leave but only if you come back next time." Dwight nodded with a half smile and shook the man's hand.

"Thank you and we certainly will, please apologize to your wife and daughter for us." Dwight said before guiding Sam out Keith waited before walking back into the kitchen noticing his daughter sporting a look like she was hiding something.

"Mercy?"

"Yeah daddy?" She said setting the table.

"Mr. Evans and Sam left, so we won't need the extra settings." Keith said.

"Really? Why?" She asked, troubling her bottom lip like she used to do as a child when she was trying to keep a secret.

"I was going to ask you the same thing young lady."

"Daddy I promised I wouldn't say anything..." She said avoiding his eye contact.

"Mercedes, that boy left here crying and his father looked extremely angry. Explain now." Her father said his voice letting her know he didn't care about the promise.

"His stepfather… they fight and I saw the bruise on his face and-"

"Oh hell no, who is he baby? What's the man's name?" Her mother said, stopping what she was doing and looking at her intensely.

"Ah.. I don't know his name." She lied hoping her parents didn't notice.

"Whew, child you know you are lying!" Her mother said giving her a look that made her regret lying.

"Mommy please you're going to do something then he'll know it was me who told. I made a promise and I intend on keeping it now if he wants to tell you then-"

"Come on, I know you know where his dad lives so come on." Her mother said, taking off her apron and grabbing her daughter's hand before Keith stepped in the way shaking his head at his wife.

"Keith.. I will not do this with you right now, that baby doesn't deserve that." Loren said to her husband who towered over her but she held no fear.

"Lo, I think she has a point… she promised not to say anything and made sure he was taken from the situation. That's enough for right now okay? Let's eat, I'll finish cooking you and baby girl can go relax and please don't let Mia know anything past what she already knows." Keith said knowing his oldest was too much like her mother.

"Don't let Mia know what?" Mia said from behind them and Keith let out a deep groan. He prayed for a son and got his two very strong willed daughters instead and he was the only man among these three women and never won a single fight.

"Nothing, let's just order out… I feel a little stressed all of a sudden." Keith said quickly going into the kitchen to grab take out menus, he would literally go all over the place to get out of what was about to happen.

"That baby's stepfather hit him and Mercedes won't tell me his name." Loren said to her oldest daughter who's eyes grew dark as she began shaking her head.

"I asked for one boy, just one boy and you send me these two." Kieth said to himself looking at the ceiling and shaking his head slightly knowing this was about to hit the fan.

"Oh hell no! Let's go sis!" She said, grabbing Mercedes's other hand and headed straight to the door and they all screamed when they opened it.

"Mrs. Jones, Mia… Cedes, I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to drop off Mercedes's homework." Shane said to the shocked women.

"Oh that's so sweet honey, Mercedes you have ten minutes then we're going." Her mother said before giving Shane a sweet smile as they went back inside leaving the two of them outside alone.

"Everything okay?" Shane asked and she just nodded, starting to grab her stuff from him but put it behind his back.

"I'm fine I swear they're just being, well themselves." She said with a small laugh.

"Babe… why did Rick see you straddling some kid in your car?" Shane asked, getting right to the point. Mercedes let out an annoyed sigh and shook her head.

"It's not what you think, okay? I needed him to stay in the car and we were fighting over the door handle. The position I was in was putting me in a disadvantage plus my skirt kept riding up so I sat on him but I didn't straddle him… not intentionally." She replied honestly.

"So why were you two alone anyways? Why did you skip? Why didn't you call me when you decided to skip?"

"Shane! I answered all three of your calls when you called today, I can't tell you why we were alone but I can tell you that nothing happened nor would it because of the situation. I didn't intend on skipping and you were already in class when we left."

"So this a new habit or..?"

"Oh my GOD! You're jealous? Why because I straddled another boy? I did it to help him nothing more, it was purely nonsexual. I admit I could've and should've handled it differently but I panicked and figured my weight would hold him in place until I could convince him to let me help!" She replied, shaking her head angrily.

"It's just that it's not a good look to have my girl alone with another dude in that short skirt you were wearing… but I understand I think." He said, handing her her books. "Just don't make it a habit of straddling dudes that's not me okay? He added with a chuckle and leaned down to give her a kiss which she accepted.

"I'll call you later, tell everyone I said bye. Love you babe."

"I love you too." She said with a smile before her front door opened and her sister was giving her an amused look.

"Don't even start!" She said, trying to go back inside but Mia blocked the way.

"Nope, let's go."

"No! Now both of you listen and I'm sorry for speaking this way but no, we are not about to rush over to Sam's dad's house pretending to be Charlie's Angels! Just… let me go alone LATER." Mercedes said, letting out a deep sigh.

"Just who in the hell-"

"Loren! The child has a point, now you and Mia come back inside. Go ahead baby, they won't follow." Keith said, grabbing his daughter and wife gently pulling them back inside their home.

Mercedes walked inside a few moments after to place her books down and grab her keys, she could tell her mother was upset but her dad gave her nod letting her know it was fine and that she could go without them following forreal.

She made the ten minute walk to his dad's house feeling bad she didn't have some type of house gift, her mother always told her to bring something if it's your first time at someone's home. She walked up the steps and rang the doorbell, waiting nervously for someone to answer before the large door opened with a creek and she saw Sam standing there.

"Hey..." She said with a warm smile, which he returned, she noticed that he looked a little more relaxed before he moved aside for her to enter.

"Hey my dad's on the phone an-" He stopped when he heard his dad's voice booming through the thick walls.

"I just came to check on you… well that and get my car." She said with a small laugh trying to lighten the mood but Sam just gave her a nod.

"I'm okay… mom's pissed, dad's pissed. Everyone is pissed, maybe I did the wrong thing.. they were just starting to get along again." Sam said, running his hands through his hair with a sad expression.

"Oh no, this isn't your fault and you can't let yourself believe it is either. If you want and I don't do this ever but if the arguing doesn't die down in an hour come back to my place… I'll sneak you in."

"I'm sure your boyfriend would be offended." Sam said with a chuckle.

"Probably.. considering I still haven't offered him that luxury." She replied giggling. "Are you going to be okay though? Like my mom and sister are wanting to knock a few trash cans over so… I need a solid answer."

"Yeah, I'm okay. Thank you Mercedes." He said starting to give her a hug but stopping, she gave him a sweet smile before pulling him into a hug anyways.

"No problem cutie. You know where to find me and the rest of Charlie's Angels if you need me." She said before turning to walk out but stopped. "Here give me your phone." She said, holding out her hand. He dug it out of his back pocket and unlocked it for her and then handed it to her. She smiled and quickly programmed her number into his phone then sent herself a message so that she'd have his.

"Now you can text me if you need me… or if you just want to talk." She said, handing it back to Sam waving as she walked out.

Last update for the night butttttt we wanted to let you know that... We're doing Christmas Minis this year!