Enjoy!
Chapter Two
Dear Merce,
How is getting ready to go home for Christmas? The end of the semester is always busy for me, we have a big game coming up, you know, so it's been nonstop practice. How has your showcase been coming along? I was thinking about that question you asked me last week. The one about changing the past. I don't have an answer for you because there are things in my life I wouldn't want to change, and things I would. Its a complicated question, one that really made me think. Now I have one for you. If I were to ask for a photo, would you send it?
Yours, Sam
Closing out his email, Sam sat back in his chair as Rory walked into the room.
"Are you ready for practice, coach said if I was late one more time I would sit out this game, and I am not trying to do that."
Sam stood grabbing his bag. "Yeah I am ready, I was just shooting off an email."
Rory smirked. "Oh? Still talking to your penpal?" He sang teasing him.
"Why do you say it like that? We all have them?"
"Yeah but we talk to ours maybe once a week, on a good week, you two talk everyday. It's like you are dating."
"For one, I like talking to her, she has a great mind, and she challenges me. And B, you are just jealous that I got a good one and you got a dud." Sam said as they got onto the elevator heading down to his car.
"She's not a dud, she's just… different…found out Lord Tubbington is her cat. That made things weird. But she's kind and that makes up for it."
"Her cat? So when she was talking about knighting him, she wanted you to knight her cat? Yeah I am thanking God right now for sending me Mercedes cause I wouldn't know how to handle that brand of crazy."
As they reached his car he froze seeing Jane, his ex, leaning against his car. "Jane, how many times are you gonna try to hitch a ride with me?"
"As many times as you will let me! Shoot it's hard out here."
Sam laughed, shaking his head. "I swear you are lucky you are still cute or I will make your butt walk."
"Cute? Ha you and I both know you still find me fine as hell Evans, it's okay, you still look good too baby." She teased.
Rory shook his head, "I still think this right here is some weird shit. You two dated for like a year and a half. None of my exes act like this to me."
Jane shrugged, "That's cuz your exes are blowup dolls."
Sam snorted as he unlocked the car. "She got you there."
Rory moved to the front but Jane stopped him. "Not today satan! I don't sit in the back. Ask Rosa."
Rory laughed, shaking his head. "You know that was a bus and this is a car."
"I don't care, I bet I still won't sit in the back."
Rory moved to the backseat shaking his head. "You are lucky you can kick my ass. Or I would have fought harder."
Sam pulled his phone and wallet out as he started the car and drove. "So where am I taking you m'lady?"
"To the field, I want to get some good shots in for the paper. Odds are you guys are favored to win, and I got money on the game so you better."
"You bet on us?" Sam questioned.
"Maybe."
Before Sam could reply his phone beeped and he reached down to grab it but Jane was quicker.
"Oooo lets see who is messaging you!"
"Jane put my phone down, that is none of your concern."
"It's probably his girlfriend." Rory laughed.
"Sammy, you got a girl and didn't tell me? I am crushed." Jane said, faking sadness.
"Stop, she's my penpal. And those are private emails, so don't open it."
Jane laughed as she ignored him. "Sam you really need to change your pin, how is it still the same?"
"Because I didn't expect you to break the law and go through my things."
"Oooo Mercedes Jones? WIth a name like that you know she's a sistah. I think you have a type, Evans!" Jane laughed but paused. "Well damn, Sam. I see why you like her, she's gorgeous."
Rory reached for the phone. "Let me see."
Jane started to turn the phone so Rory could see but Sam grabbed it. "Seriously, these emails are private!" He said, wanting to look but instead he locked his phone and put it out of reach.
Rory smirked. "So on a scale of one to ten, what would you rate your competition?"
Jane snickered. "She's out of his league, hell I would try to date her but my boat don't float like that." She answered, looking at Sam. "Are you gonna send her a picture of yourself?"
Sam huffed. "If she asks, yes but it's just to put a face to the person I've been talking to for the past few months."
Rory snorted. "Sure, you're into her and don't want to admit it."
"You know it's absolutely possible for people to just be friends, right?"
"That's what they said about us and we both knew what we were doing when that sock was on the door and it was anything but friendly." Jane chimed in, scrolling through her social media. "Shit she's even prettier on her social."
Rory shot up. "Let me seee!" This time Jane was able to show him a picture of her and even Rory had to admit she was gorgeous. "Shit… Artie's gonna have a hay day with this information, what's her handle?"
"mercyjsings, holy crap look at her Halloween costume!" Jane replied, showing Rory the picture.
"SHE HAS AN ASS! Dude… ima add her!"
Sam shook his head, parking. "No! You have no reason to add her and what if she sees that we're friends? You both are so annoying, I haven't even seen her and y'all are already objectifying her."
They both looked at him with knowing expressions before laughing. "Oh come off it! You and I used to look at girls' butts together and we both know you're an ass man." Jane said.
Rory nodded. "That was literally the first thing you noticed about Jane." He pointed out.
Jane shot Sam an amused grin. "And here I thought it was my quick whit and potty mouth that turned you on."
"Jane, Rory, get the hell out of my car and her ass wasn't the first thing I noticed, your smile… then your ass." Sam replied cheekily as he tried to suppress a smirk.
Jane rolled her eyes and grabbed her bag, while Rory followed her out of the car. Sam watched as the two of them continued to banter in the parking lot. He waited until they were far enough before finally checking the email Mercedes had sent over.
Dear Sam,
I am ready for Christmas break, that's for sure, though I am not sure if I am going home or staying here with some friends. My showcase is coming along! I narrowed the song choices down, but it's so hard to pick one fabulous song; there are so many amazingly talented women performers. I do understand changing the past risks changing your future, so I guess it all depends on if it's worth the risk. Though I agree, it's not. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger right? I will attach a photo, but you better not laugh, and I expect one in return.
-MJ
PS Ignore the guy in my photo he's just so clingy.
Sam read the last part and was confused until he opened the photo and smiled, seeing her smiling next to an adorable dog. The picture was exactly what he thought she would send for some reason and he loved it.
Dear Merce
Wow, I knew just from talking to you that you would be cute, but damn, excuse me, but still you are beautiful. And that handsome guy with you is very lucky. What's his name? I will attach a photo for you, but I must warn you not to fall in love with me. It's been known to happen. Gotta get to practice, but don't forget, you still owe me a song.
Sam
Mercedes sat at the piano, running her fingers across the keys as she hummed, her mind on her showcase, and maybe a part of it was on Sam, wondering if he indeed liked her photo. She felt her phone vibrate and smiled as she read the reply from Sam, a blush creeping up her face.
"Ahem, and what's got you blushing all like that?" Quinn asked, coming up behind her and reading the email. "Oh I see, your mystery boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend, and quit being so damn nosy."
"Mmmm he's cute, and limber. You know what that means…" Quinn teased.
Mercedes rolled her eyes. "Is sex all you think about? Aren't you supposed to be studying for your boards?"
"I needed a break so I came to steal you away for lunch."
Mercedes shook her head. "Nope, can't do it. Every free moment is being used for this showcase."
Quinn closed the lid to the piano and sighed. "Mercedes you are gonna burn out if you don't take a break. We both know you are ready. So come with me, let's grab some food and look your dude up on insta. Whats his full name."
"Stop. I am not doing that!"
"Why not, I can guarantee he's already looked you up. I bet he saved that video of you working out, the one where you bent forward and showed the world that ass. You know Mike has it as his screensaver right? He didn't think I noticed but I did."
Mercedes snorted, shaking her head. "Wow, you two are fools. Fine, we can go to grab some food, but then I have to come back and work on this program."
Quinn sighed. "You work too hard Cedes, its why Anthony says you won't commit."
"Ugh girl Anthony and I are not together. We hooked up a few times but that's it."
Quinn rolled her eyes. 'Y'all did more than hook up, otherwise he wouldn't still be stuck on you like that."
"Yeah well as fine as that man is, he wants something I am not ready to give him."
"A blow job?" Quinn smirked.
"I hate you!" Mercedes laughed. "I am trying to be serious here."
Quinn snickered. "Mhm. Besides we know you gave him a little head or you were really stuck on his zipper." She teased.
"I was stuck…after I gave him head but that's besides that point! We aren't becoming a couple."
"Merce, girl I love you but you can't keep just hooking up with these fine ass men then throwing them away. You have to think about the future and if you're tied to all these random men… who am I kidding, I don't even believe this shit. Just come out with mee!"
Mercedes burst out giggling, shaking her head, "Let's get some food in you before you start acting like a maniac."
"Thank you, a bitch is starved. Let's go!"
Mercedes stared down at her phone before she put it away and linked her arms with Quinn, she would write Sam back later once she was home. "Speaking of boy toys, where are yours?" Mercedes asked.
She smirked, flipping her hair. "Where he needs to be… on call waiting for my text."
"Dayum! Girl, sometimes you make me so proud."
Quinn laughed. "Well I learned from the best, you still got Tank stopping by and that was what? Three years ago?"
"Men do it all the time, they have different girls for different reasons, so why can't we? I don't want a relationship. I just want to work towards my future. They understand that so I get my fun, they get me, and everyone wins."
"And that's on period." Savannah said, walking up behind them. "Cause I'm still trying to shake my TA… like I get it I'm in my Jazmine Sullivan BPW era but damn, let me breathe!"
"Girl where are you popping up from? It's like every time we mention sex, poof there you are." Mercedes laughed.
Savannah ducked her head, smirking. "I mean I can't have all my men in one area."
"How can you two manage all these men? I have trouble with my one." Quinn sighed.
"Oh girl, it's easy! Just put them on a schedule and let them know their place."
"Exactly!" Mercedes laughed high fiving her.
"Oh? Does that mean your email boo is gonna be on your list Merce?" Quinn smirked.
Savannah raised an eyebrow. "You still talking to him?"
Mercedes nodded. "He is my pen pal, he's not my boo."
As they stepped into the car, Mercedes sighed pulling her phone out. She listened to Quinn and Savannah talk as she finally decided to text her mom back after a week.
CJ- Are you coming home for your break?
Mercedes looked at the text, like she had for the past several days wondering if she wanted to reply but she figured she had no choice but to reply now since she'd decided to go home and had already told her dad she'd be home.
MJ- Yeah… I'm staying at pops.
Mercedes hit send and waited for her mom to reply but after five minutes, she figured the message was received. She wanted to dwell on it but she also knew she didn't need to, her mother was likely pissed that she decided to spend her break with her dad's family rather than her moms.
"Okay, where are we going?" Savannah asked. "Because I don't want to go to the same place again, let's go to the street bar! I hear there's a lot of fine men there."
Quinn nodded. "Okay, plus we can get some food too. I'm starving!"
Mercedes eyed her friend. "Have you been skipping meals? You've been saying you're starving a lot lately."
Savannah snapped her head. "Bitch, you pregnant?"
Quinn scrunched up her face. "Ew, hell no. I've just been hungry, you remember how bad it was before I started taking care of myself? I thought you'd two be happy that I wanted more food."
Mercedes nodded, remembering how bad it was when she found Quinn crying on her dorm room floor during their freshman year. She felt overweight and unwanted due to her family issues, but even though they had all just met, Mercedes Savannah stood by her side and helped make her feel like she was worth it.
With her soul sisters, as she called them, on her side, it wasn't long before Quinn reached her personal weight loss goal and Mercedes and Savannah couldn't have been prouder. They loved her the way she was, but they could see her confidence grow, they could see the real Quinn with every pound shed.
Each woman gained something better when the other was on their side, Mercedes would have never had the guts to pursue post her viral music video's, and Savannah wouldn't have had her muses for her fashion blog. They made each other better, which is why neither Savannah or Mercedes were buying Quinn's story.
"I remember." Mercedes said. "But I always know when something is wrong and you are hiding something. And bringing up your past which you hate talking about means it's big."
Quinn laughed, shaking her head. "I am serious, I am good. I just finally feel like I have gotten to where I want to be. Shoot I am finally living my best life. And enjoying the benefits of that life."
Savannah raised an eyebrow. "Girl who is over here laying down that pipe this good. Cause I need to know!"
Quinn blushed before talking. "Okay fine! I might have finally hooked up with Biff…I don't know what you said to him, but once you two told his ass off, he stopped being a major dick and we just clicked."
Mercedes laughed because as hot as they all thought Biff was, he felt he was God's gift to women. He made the mistake of telling Quinn she was lucky he even took the time to see her when he could have been inside some sorority chick, and Savannah damn near castrated him, while Mercedes verbally assaulted him.
When he looked to Quinn to defend him, she didn't hesitate to join in with the girls letting him know that if he wanted her to waste her time with him, he needed to change. Then she left. It didn't take him long to seek her out and apologize.
Granted neither girl thought the man had changed, but Quinn was feeling him, so they held their tongues.
As they arrived at the street bar, the women climbed out the car, looking over each other to make sure they still looked as hot as they felt. Walking into the bar, with all eyes on them, wasn't anything new. The women knew how to make an entrance, not to mention, they enjoyed the attention.
Acceptance of who you were, went a long way, especially in college, how can others accept you, if you didn't first accept yourself. As they walked to the bartop, someone slid behind Savannah with hands on her curves.
"Now I know there is a God. I was just saying I wish you'd bring this fine ass out tonight."
Savannah turned, rolling her eyes. "Brody, if you don't get your hands off my ass I will break them. You haven't earned that right yet boo."
"Aww come on Vanna, I have been waiting for weeks to get at this ass and you have been teasing me," Brody said, pulling her to him. "You know I can make you feel amazing, I got references."
"Brody, your references are skinny mini little girls. I am a real woman with curves and nothing about you says you are ready for this ride. Now I am with the girls, so excuse me."
Savannah removed his hands from her and gently pushed him back towards the crowd. She moved closer to the girl's and Mercedes snickered.
"You done crushed that man's spirit. I couldn't be more proud."
"You know I am gonna eventually give him the ass, but that man ran through all the cheerleaders, his dick needs a break before he comes anywhere near me."
"Didn't you go through the football team?" Quinn teased.
"That's different. Some of them only gave ya girl head." She laughed. "Only the good ones get to ride this ride."
"Oh?" Quinn raised an eyebrow. "So how was Brody at making them toes curl?"
"The man put forth the effort, that's for sure, but I don't know what chick told that man his tongue was heaven 'cause I felt like the man had his training wheels on. It got to the point I just told him to stick out his tongue and lay still so I could ride his damn face and get that O. Cause I wasn't leaving without one."
"Girl!" Mercedes giggled. "I mean, you ain't lying; if you can't lick Ms. Kitty Kat to completion, you can't get inside for the main course."
"Exactly!" Savannah said, high-fiving Mercedes.
As the bartender turned to the women and they ordered their drinks, Mercedes felt someone behind her. Turning she offered him a small smile. She made the mistake of giving him a taste and now he followed her like a sad puppy.
"Hello beautiful." Anthony said reaching for her.
Mercedes sighed shaking her head moving slightly out of his reach. "Hey Anthony, what brings you here tonight?"
"Well, I was hanging with some friends and I saw your beauty from across the dance floor and knew I had to come over. I missed you the other day, I thought maybe we could catch a movie or something."
Mercedes tried her best to find different ways to turn Anthony down, but the man was not getting the hint. "Anthony, I am not…I am not sure I have the time."
"Well, how about now, you did promise to save me dance a few months back." He said moving towards her and running his hand down her arm. "I know I can come on strong sometimes but I really like you."
Mercedes sighed as she looked at him, she really didn't have any other options at the moment and he wasn't a bad guy. "Yeah, we can dance."
Anthony grinned pulling her to the dance floor as a fast pace song began to play. Mercedes smiled dancing around him, just out of reach until he pulled her close. Mercedes turned pressing her back into him as she swerved grinding against him.
She heard Anthony inhale sharply as she dropped it down low and brought it back up. Anthony's hand went to her hips, moving his lips to her ears. "You are sexy as hell beautiful."
Mercedes was about to speak when her eyes went to the door and locked on a man walking in with his friends. She stopped moving as his eyes found hers. She had never seen him before but damn he was sexy, looking like Morris Chestnut in his prime.
They held each other's gaze for a moment before his friends pulled him to the other side of the bar. Her eyes followed him, watching as he looked back at her a few times.
Anthony gently pulled her towards him. "Merce. Are we gonna finish our dance?"
Mercedes turned towards him and smiled softly. "I need to get back to my girls but thanks for the dance Anthony." She patted his chest as she walked over to Quinn who was sipping something clear and Savannah who danced alone to whatever song that was playing in her head as she texted on her phone.
"Damn, y'all could've helped me get away from him." Mercedes said and they both looked up at her.
Quinn shrugged, sipping more of her drink. "I mean… we've all seen the dick pics, we figured you wanted to feel it one more time."
Savannah nodded. "Cause I know that thang poking after y'all little dance."
Mercedes snorted feeling eyes on her, turning to find the source she laughed. "Please a big dick is great and all but he is desperate and that is a turn off for sure." Her gaze stopped as she landed on the man from early.
Savannah followed her gaze and smirked. "Oh I see you have found Damien."
Mercedes looked to her friend. "Damien? Why does that name sound familiar?"
Smirking, Savannah nodded him over. "Because, that's the dude I was trying to hook you up with last year but you were still dickmatized by Anthony and kept shooting him down."
"See that's on you." Mercedes said, shaking her head, "Had you told me how fine that man is, I would have hopped off Anthony so damn fast!"
"Uh uh you ain't blaming me for that! Oh shit he's coming over here."
Quinn snickered. "You probably should've told her that you showed him pictures of her first."
Mercedes snapped her head looking at her friends. "You did what?"
Savannah hit Quinn. "Damn girl, I was gonna tell her after they had sex. Look you know Bas be showing everybody your damn pictures and when I told him I had a bad homegirl he wanted proof." She replied, shrugging.
"Which pictures did you show him?"
Savannah opened then closed her mouth. "Just… the good ones…" Mercedes narrowed her eyes, starting to say something when she was surrounded by the sexiest scent she'd ever smell. A mixture of Amber and Bourbon and something that just screamed man, turning she started to take a step back but a strong arm wrapped around her waist keeping her in place.
"So this the one that's been dodging me?"
Her eyes widened as his husky baritone voice sent shivers up and down her spine. That man had her in a vice in only eight words.
Savannah smiled. "The one and only."
Damien licked his lips. "That's okay, good things come to those who wait. It's nice to finally meet you, beautiful." He said, staring down at her.
Mercedes blinked, looking him over. He looked taller than what she originally thought when she saw him walking inside. He was at least 6'4, with broad shoulders and the sexiest pair of lips known to man.
"I would say the same but I only learned about you tonight." She quipped, "But I agree, good things do come to those who wait."
He raised an eyebrow, running his tongue along his bottom lip. "Well shame on Vannah for not telling you more about me but we can remedy that now. Come with me."
Mercedes tilted her head, amused. "Just like that? You want me to just go off and what?"
"I could spit some lame ass game but I won't, we're gonna take a walk and you're gonna ask me some questions then I'll ask you some. After you've learned what you need to learn, you're gonna let me kiss you and give you my number so I can take you on a real date."
"Mhm…" She said trying to hide how flustered and aroused she was, this man was saying all the right things, and the way he held her, made her want to move closer to him.
Smirking, he leaned down to her ear. "Don't pretend like you don't want to go, I promise fighting it will only prolong the inevitable."
She couldn't stop the shiver that flowed through her body or the flood of naughty thoughts that flashed through her mind. Having him this close was already dangerous and she'd just met the damn man.
Flashing her eyes at him and offering a soft smile. "Maybe." She said, hating how breathy it sounded because she wanted to sound more confident. "But not right, I'm here with my girls."
Savannah sucked her teeth and shook her head. "Bitch, if you don't go with that damn man. We don't want you!"
Mercedes cut her eyes at Savannah and looked back at Damien. "I will accept your number though."
He nodded, smiling and she damn near came just from how pretty his smile was. "Alright, bet but I'm not giving you my number." He countered. "Give me yours."
"Controlling I see." She teased, holding her hand out for his phone.
Reaching into his pocket, he grabbed his phone and handed it to her. "You like it." He bounced back, his eyes trained on hers. "I don't beg but I just might, if you can be a good girl."
She put her number in his phone and handed it back to him. "Being good isn't my strong suit." She said, smirking and sauntering away.
Damien looked at his phone and smirked seeing she added herself as "Sexy ass" in his phone.
Mercedes stepped into her bedroom, kicking off her shoes and falling onto the bed, after she left Damien and all his fine assets, she and the girl's were given a couple rounds of shots, and she got home feeling good.
Picking up her phone, she smiled as she looked at the text from Damien.
D: You do have a sexy ass, among other things…
D: I want to see you again, don't keep me waiting for long.
She chewed her bottom lip, there was no way she was gonna text him back, she didn't want to look desperate. She thought about texting the girl's but they were probably passed out already.
Pulling up her email account, she hesitated before she sent an email to Sam. She liked talking to him, and maybe he could give her some insight.
Dear Sam,
You will never guess what happened to me tonight, went out with the girl's, minded my own business and bam! This fine and sexy man walked up to me like out of one of those made for TV romance movies. That man was tall, dark chocolate and had me weak in the damn knees! Ugh it took everything I had not to climb that man like a tree. His sexy ass.
Mercedes
As she hit send she laid back on the bed before she realized what she just did. Her eyes widened as she sat up grabbing her phone again.
Sam, ignore that email! I don't even know why I sent it.
She smiled feeling triumphant before sleep won it's battle and she fell asleep, hoping Sam would ignore her first email as she said.
This is why you don't drink and email! Until next time xoxo!