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[mercycjones]

[mercycjones]

When I First Saw You

INVOLVED: Mercedes Jones, Christopher Jones, Samuel Evans LOCATION: University of Miami; Miami, Florida TIME FRAME: Flashback NOTES: Samuel is tutored by Mercedes brother Christoper. 

Samuel scanned the page.  “Just give me one easy one.” He mumbled trying to at least work through one problem without needing help. Scratching at his lower lip he shook his head in disdain.  “I give up.” He snapped the pencil in half and threw the pencil to the rough, burgundy, library carpet floor.   “I don’t get it. Show me again.” He asked looking to his new tutor, Christopher Jones.  

Christopher observed the boy quietly, he wandered to himself how someone so good at a sport that subsequently involved numbers couldn’t solve them. He licked his lips and looked back down at the problem he just worked on his own sheet of paper. He looked back up as the man retaliated against the problem. “Okay” he said, nodding his head, he wrote out the problem again. “It’s simple,” he said with reason. “You have to stop overthinking it” he suggested as he showed the man slowly step by step the problem and it’s solution again. “Got it?” He said quietly. 

Samuel watched Christopher go through the problem once again. “Okay.” He said, nodding slowly.  Not for the first time he cursed being poor and the Georgia school system.  Unable to decide which was more at fault for his lack of sound education. He growled low under his breath.  “Stop… Pause, hold up.” He told the man waving his hand in surrender.  “Give me a second.  My brain is overloaded.” He laid his head on top of the paper and exhaled out a heavy sigh.  “How did you get so good at this stuff.” He asked, trying to change the subject for a minute. 

Looking over at the man again, his head low Christopher shrugged his shoulders a bit. “I guess it comes a little natural for me” he breathed, not sure how to really answer that. He assumed all the private schools and tutors over the years helped too, but he wasn’t one to mention those things. “What’s your grade right now?” He asked the guy. 

“I wish that was me right now.” Samuel said, sitting up slumping in the chair.  “Everything is just slipping away from me.” He was exhausted. In earnest it was his new position as starting Quarterback that had his mind completely clogged.  He chuckled, “Right now, I have a ‘D’.  If I don’t pass this next test.  That's going to be my ass.  I can’t have any of this affecting my scholarship.” He said, admitting what he would never under any other circumstance.  A weakness and being shit broke all at the same  time. 

Christopher sat his pencil down and he sat, hands in his lap. As the man went on to paint the obvious picture he’d already imagine he nodded his head. Christopher looked down at the work before Samuel and then at the man again. “I could…” he started “do the work for you” he breathed without much thought. His eyes leave Sam to see his sister approaching them both. 

Mercedes walked up to Christopher in one of the many study areas on campus. Her hands holding her backpack straps, she said “hey, I thought we could grab lunch when… you guys finish?” Questionably. Her eyes never really moved towards the well known guy she knew her brother was tutoring. 

Samuel twisted his head, and raised his eyebrow.  He’d be lying if the idea of cheating hadn’t entered his mind.  Hell, he had done so in other classes.  He bit his lip and sighed, opening his mouth to give the man his answer, however before he could say a word a woman approached. Samuel smirked.  Samuel closed his books and began shoving them in his backpack. “I could eat.” He said quickly.  “I mean… I don’t want to interrupt a lover’s luncheon.” He said, steady packing.  “But a quick bite might be just what I need to get my mind back on track.” 

Christopher looked at Mercedes and nodded his head before he furrowed his brows at Samuel. Before he could speak, his non to silent sister beat him to it, of course.

Mercedes slowly looked at the man that spoke up, as he gathered his things she looked at her brother and then the thin man again. “This is my brother” she corrected, with a little venom laced in her quick response. Men repulsed her more so now than ever before. And this one, she could see, would make her sick most. “Which is who I was talking to, however if you insist. I suppose you are welcomed” she said, voice proper and straight forward. She looked back down at her brother slowly, ignoring the man’s existent once more. 

Samuel slowed his packing, looking up at the woman as she spoke. Both eyebrows moved up his forehead and stayed there for a moment as he decided what to say next.  “Sister…” He repeated and nodded, absorbing the stinging lashes from her tongue.  “Despite the tone.  I’ll accept your generosity. Thank you.” He said, getting to his feet. Brushing his hand down over his jeans. He extended it as he shouldered his pack.  “I’m Sam. And you are?” 

Christopher nodded his head and said “yeah” knowingly as he stood several feet tall. He grabbed his bag and balled his piece of paper up. “This is my baby sister, Mercedes” he gestured. “She’s a Med student here," he told Samuel. It were to imply Mercedes being out of his league though he was sure Samuel wouldn’t be stupid enough to attempt anything with his sister. 

Mercedes looked over at Samuel again “tone?” She questioned, before she looked at her brother. “Hm” she said simply. Her brother introduced her and she rolled her eyes gently “hardly a baby, and it’s just a year’s difference” she said smiling up at her brother. 

Samuel let his hand drop, now using it to rub his over other arm dramatically with a small shiver for good measure.  “Mhm, tone…” He stressed.   “The arctic kind.” He added with a  chuckle.  The respectful haze of girlfriend terrority dissipated as both siblings confirmed their relation to each other. He took the woman in as the two bantered.  She was  exceptionally short, feisty.  With a doll’s face, complete with a button nose and full lips that seemed more created than naturally occurring. “Baby is big brother speak.  Which means don’t you even think about it.” Sam informed the girl, eyes finally moving back to his tutor.  “I got a set of sisters myself. One older and the other younger. ‘Baby’ is a dude code for she is protected.  Keep your hands and everything else to yourself. My older sister threatened to kill me for telling her ‘fiance’ that i was older when i met him. In my defence I didn't trust him.”  

Christopher smirked at Mercedes “either way” he told Mercedes easily. As Samuel spoke he nodded his head at him, so the guy knew good. As he assumed Samuel wouldn’t be foolish when it came to his sister. 

Mercedes looked at Samuel allowing him to speak, spilling his thoughts and when he was finished she said “Christopher knows he has nothing to worry about” cryptically. “Besides, I handle myself” she smiled wickedly at the man before she said “come on” to her brother more so. “I’m hungry” she said cutely to him as she began to retreat back into the direction she came. 

Samuel chuckled.  The girl had no idea how the minds of men worked but he’d let it slide. He raised his eyebrow at Mercedes' response, but shrugged it off.  If she thought so… Then breathing became hard to do. There were very few perfect things in life and in the space of two seconds Mercedes Jones had shown him two.  The woman had the most perfect lips he’d ever seen and now… Sweet baby Jesus.  She had an ass handcrafted by God. He stood transfixed for a moment, face scrunched, ‘God damn’ he mumbled, shaking his head.  He’d never considered himself an ass man, but this was something to be worshipped. After hanging back longer than need be, he had to jog quickly to catch up with the pair. He coughed, clearing his throat needlessly,.”So pre-med and pre-law you guys are a parents dream team.” He said idly as they made their way to the cafe, trying hard to keep his eyes off Mercedes ass. 

Christopher chuckled, shaking his head and he moved behind his sister knowing Samuel would follow suit. At his words he looked back at him nodding his head “yeah” he told him exiting the room and moving for the building exit next. 

Mercedes looked to the milky skinned man and pursed her lips a bit, a slight chuckle leaving her. “Yeah, well. We are the youngest. We are just following in the footsteps of our other 5” she told him easily. “Our siblings laid the foundation” she sighed with a shrug. She opened the door and walked out the building, holding it for her brother. 

Samuel slowed, utterly stunned.  “And I thought my parents were busy.” He said, shaking his head as he moved out of the building behind Christopher. “There are five of us. I have an older brother and sister, -twins.  And a younger sister and brother that are only about 2 years apart.  So you guys are the babies in the family? You two aren’t twins are you?”  

Christopher could agree with his sister, they would have been squared if they didn’t go to school for something that was deemed ‘practical’. “We are adopted” he spoke softly, jumping over that hurdle. “Then mother had another kid, our younger sister, after we were added to the household” he clarified. 

Mercedes nodded her head “we are a year apart” she responded to him, tone light. “We have 3 older brothers, and two older sisters. Us, and then Bella” she mentioned. “She’s a year younger than me,” she told him. 

Samuel adjusted the strap to his bag, turning his head, leaning in to catch what Christpher said. He mouthed the word adopted having to read the man’s lip more than actually hearing the words as they move through the courtyard. “I see.” He told the pair a broad smile coming to his face.  “Alright Jeffery.” He said, playfully mocking Christopher. “Household” He said, doing a pretty good Jeffery from the Fresh Prince impersonation. “Dude you're so formal.” He added lighting the mood a bit.  “That’s cool though, how you all push each other.  I’m on my  younger sister and brother all the time about grades and going to college. I want to build a legacy in our family. Like you guys. If I graduated I’ll be the first in my family to get a college education. That's the other reason I try to keep my grades up.” He  shook his head as if coming from out of a cloud. 

Christopher looked at Samuel “Jeffery?” He questioned, confused. “Who is that?” He asked him. “Formal?” He repeated back to the guy looking over at his sister for some understanding. “I’m sorry, I believe I am a little confused,” he said. “Us going to college wasn’t an option. My father was an Attorney. He believes strongly in education and quite frankly, they showed us a lifestyle we otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford without one and an amazingly well paying job”.

Mercedes tilted her head “formal?” She too said with her brother. “I don’t see the relation” she replied to Samuel. “Christopher and I often compete GPA wise. It does help motivationally. Right now I’m at a 3.8” she chuckled “Christopher has me beat but not for long” she said, bumping the man gently with her shoulder. 

Samuel raised an eyebrow, trying to decide if they were joking or being honest in their confusion. He looked back and forth between the pair, “The Fresh Prince.  Now this is a story all about how…” He rapped, trying to jog fruitlessly to jog their memories.  He puffed out a big breath, “Nevermind.”  At Christoper’s complete explanation, it became clear.  Money… funny how something so small could make such a big difference. A hint of self consciousness slid up Samuel’s back.  Whatever their financial situation.  They were both here at UM that had to mean something. “Right now I’m just hoping for a solid 2.5” He told the pair honestly.  “Hopefully Christopher can get me there.” 

Christopher looked at the man and nodded slowly, he still was clueless. “We just have to practice it as much as you do with football” he responded.

“I don’t think we’ve ever seen that” she said seriously as she said Ickes hair behind her ear. Mercedes looked at him, his GPA wasn’t a shocker, she knew plenty of people in his predicament: they just weren’t on the football team nor the quarterback. Interesting.

Samuel nodded his head at Mercedes, eyes stretched with a  sarcastic, 'yes I know' evident on his face.  He was dealing with a pair of nerds the likes he has never met before.  He'd let it slide, Christopher seemed cool and Mercedes was cute.  "we'll see." He told Chris, skeptical of even his own ability.  "So if you two don't watch television, what do you do besides study?" He asked, reaching out pulling the door open holding it for Mercedes to pass through. 

Mercedes looked at Samuel again and said “plenty of things” with a chuckle. “I horseback ride, we like to play chess,” she listed. 

Christopher butted in “polo” as an additive “golf, poker” he shrugged lightly. 

“Skiing, snowboarding, dad has a boat so we fish a lot as a family” Mercedes said to the man honestly. 

The list of extracurricular activities did nothing but confirm what Samuel already knew. The pair were absolute nerds. Despite that fact, he was drawn to Mercedes laughter. There was something in the quality that made him want to hear her laugh all the time. His eyes stretched wide, “Horseback riding, chess and polo. No offence but you two are whiter than me.  I was playing but my lunch is truly on you two.”

Christopher looked at Samuel and he shook his head a bit with a smirk. “Oh really?” he asked him jokingly. “We hadn’t noticed,” he told him amused. 

“Or well rounded, depends on who you ask” Mercedes replied back to Samuel. She squinted a little at him before she chuckled again, “yeah sure” she said “you should have a meal plan like us” she tested, her glue gliding over her lips gently. The woman moved to decide what she would desire to eat today. 

Samuel grinned, looking around the cafe.  The chatter of dozens of people and clinking trays all mixing into the sound of campus life.  “Do you think I’m lying?  I’ve mucked out a few barns but I was never allowed to ride.”  He said, following the pair.  “What? Are you reneging?” He said, rolling his neck. “Ms. Jones… Ms. Jones… Ms. Jones.  Don’t do a brother like that.” 

“Reneging?” Mercedes asked with a raised brow “I don’t remember committing” she told him as she surveyed the choices. “I am getting pizza Chris” she told him easily as she moved for that line. 

Christopher looked at Samuel and shook his head again, “where are you from again?” he asked the guy. At his sister's words he nodded his head “okay” he told her as he looked at the selection. 

“I’m from Georgia.” Samuel shrugged, “A place called Coffee county. It’s south of Savannah. -true be told it’s closer to Jacksonville.  What about you guess?” He sucked his teeth, “See how woman do you? Miss you offered me lunch.” He chuckled.  Holding up two fingers to the attendant who shook her head and offered Samuel a familiar smile. “Are you behaving today? On second thought don’t answer that.  I can already tell the answer is no.” She said, as she made two plates, one with a slice of pizza for Mercedes and the second with two huge slices of supreme pizza on another plate for Samuel.

taChristopher nodded his head at Samuel and said “we are from Dallas” easily. He decided he wanted a burger and fries, he reached into his pack pocket for his I.D. 

Mercedes grabbed her lanyard and held her I.D in her hand as she looked to the woman. She gave Samuel a sly glance out of the corner of her eye before she watched him and the woman. As she made them plates, she raised a brow at her “um” she said, glancing between the two. “Can I have two slices?” she asked, holding up two fingers. Had the woman not been cheesing in Samuel’s face so hard she would have given her the chance to say. 

Samuel whistled.  “I would have never guessed.  You two gave me Atlanta vibes.” Samuel grinned cheekily.  “Oh yeah of little faith.” He winked, moving up to take the plate.  “I would ask how you’re doing today. But as always I see you are fine.” The lunch attendant's face was on fire with the ear to ear grin she currently wore. Without much acknowledgement, she added a slice of pizza to Mercedes’ plate and passed in along.  “Did you want anything else? The pasta is good today.” She asked, focusing on the blond.  “Nah.  I better not. I need to watch my waistline.” He chuckled, rubbing his waist with his free hand.   

Christopher moved in line to grab his meal and he looked over at his sister curiously. 

Mercedes watched the woman and she narrowed her eyes at her a bit before she grabbed the plate “thank you” she said with a bit of an attitude. She rolled her eyes at the interaction and moved to grab a drink to go with her meal. 

The attendant glanced at Mercedes, then smiled kindly in spite of her attitude.  “You have a nice day!” She said waving at the girl. “Thank you, Darlin.” Samuel said, voicing oozing with southern charm, he winked at the woman as he moved off behind Mercedes. “Hey, I see a table over there with some of my friends.” he pointed out as they moved towards the cashier. 

Christopher grabbed his burger and fries, then moved to grab himself a soda to compliment it. He moved to the register to pay for his meal looking towards his sister again. 

Mercedes grabbed a coke and then raised a brow looking towards Samuel. “Your friends?” she repeated with a chuckle, what made him think that she or Christopher wanted to hang with his friends? She moved in the line to check out and said nothing more as she stood a person apart from her brother. 

“Yes, my friends.  Why do you sound so surprised?” Samuel asked, towering over the girl as she got her drink.  He opted for a bottle of water and got in line right behind Mercedes. A coveted spot as nearly every man in line behind the woman, snuck, glances at her ass.  Samuel shook his head, a pained expression on his face. Sweet little baby Jesus, -in a manger. He thought. Taking full advantage of the time he had to fully appreciate the woman’s assets. 

“Nope,” Mercedes said in a quick response to him, right to the point as she moved up in line. When it was time for her to pay she swiped her ID card and followed behind her brother. “See you” she said to Sam, as she went along to find a table with her brother. Hopefully Samuel would choose to sit with other people and she no longer had to be bothered. 

Chilly.. Samuel thought, listening to the one word respond coming from the little, thick woman in front of him. His smile was slow and broad. He glazed back toward the lunch attendant girl, and snickered.  “Later Ms. Jones” Samuel said, a shit eating grin on his face, he slapped Christoper on the back. “You’re sister…” He shook his head. Opting not to finish his sentence. “I’ll catch you after lunch.” He said, moving off towards his friends, trying hard not to look towards the mysterious thick woman. 

Christopher looked to Samuel with raised brows, yeah the guy was in for a rude awakening messing with his sister. For more reasons than one honestly. “Alright” he said nevertheless as he moved behind his sister for whatever table she was leading them.

[mercycjones]

Moving In

INVOLVED: Mercedes Jones, Christopher Jones, Samuel Evans  LOCATION: University of Miami; Miami, Florida TIME FRAME: - NOTES: Samuel tries to pursue Mercedes on move-in day, again. 

Samuel handed down the last box from the back of his powder blue Ford 1976 pickup truck before jumping down from the tailgate, landing beside his best friend. “I don’t know why you didn’t bring that shit when you moved in over a month ago.” He said, struggling to get the tailgate to close. He pulled up on it for a few minutes before turning to his preoccupied friend. “You mind!” he fussed.  “You know this thing takes two people to get it back in place.” 

Montray stood idly by gazing lovingly at every woman his eye could follow. The campus was bursting at the seams with returning upperclassmen.  “I could have but then I couldn’t have you chauffeuring me around town.” He said, mockingly blowing a fake kiss at Samuel. “This is going to be one hell of a year.  Bro did you see Janet?” Montray looked over at his friend and sucked his teeth. Setting the box down the shoulder in stand at the ready beside Samuel.  “This truck is trash man.”

Samuel chuckled, “the pleasure was mine. After all this little trip got me your sister’s number.” He said easily, not bothering to look at his friend. Every other minute Samuel glanced toward the entrance to the house expectantly. “Yeah, I saw her. Touched her too. And I have plans to touch her again tonight.” Sam’s jaw clenched, “Fuck you. Don’t talk about my  baby. On the count of three, 1, 2, 3,” He rattled off,  putting all his muscle into lifting the gate. 

Montray‘s head jerked toward Samuel. “Man, nix that shit.  My sister is off limits. You hear me?” he said, but followed Samuel’s line of sight, shaking his head at his friend's stares towards the dorm. “What are you looking for Evans?” He asked face sporting a shit eating smirk. “Man you are a greedy motherfucker.  You know that’s why Mercedes ain’t fucking with you…” The laugh came out loud echoing the square.  “I forgot how sensitive you are about this piece of shit.” He said, adding his weight to Samuel’s, finally getting the truck’s gate to slam close. 

“I know bitch.  A man gotta eat.” Samuel said, licking his chops. He sucked his teeth dismissing Montray’s assessment. “Mercedes who?” He asked dismissively, with another quick look towards the dorm entrance. “Keep talking shit. I’m going to remember that the next time your ass needs a ride.”

Climbing out of the large black Escalade, Mercedes pulled her backpack onto her shoulders closing the car door thereafter. She allowed her brother to take the lead, opening the trunk of the truck and grabbing her large suitcase and duffle bag out of it. She placed one bag over the other before she pulled her book bag down to retrieve her dorm room key. “Aren’t you glad I packed light this time?” she joked with the taller boy. 

Christopher looked at Mercedes, an eyebrow raised as he turned his eyes back to the other three storage bins she had in the trunk. “Yeah” he said sarcastically  “you have saved me so much work” he said as he pulled the bins out of the trunk and stacked them up on the sidewalk. 

“I hardly doubt this could be classified as light” Caleb said as he grabbed Christopher’s duffle bag from inside of the family car. He looked to the parking spots nearby, seeing his wife tucked safely inside. “This process has gotten old, quickly” he said in a husky voice. “It would be much easier if the both of you let your mother and I get you two an apartment here” he said exasperatedly. 

Mercedes scrunched her nose at her brother, and even offered their father a chuckle. “I am getting better with packing” she noted as she looked at the welcoming packet they gave everyone year after year. “My room is on the third floor, 304” she told her brother with a smile. “Dad” she said giving him a knowing look “we are fine” she said speaking for her and Christopher as she often did. “It adds to the college experience” she said offering the older man a smile before she tucked her packet away and added her room key to her chain. “Next time, I’ll pack even lighter so that Chris and I can travel alone, and you and Mom won’t have to come all this way” she told him. 

Montray continued to laugh, slipping forward as the gate slammed shut. “You’re full of it. Mercedes WHO?” He mocked in a high pitched voice, righting himself, he brushed dirt from his chest.  “I can’t believe you are still on her. Evans, Evans, Evans… Has it ever occurred to you that the woman doesn’t care for white dudes?  That girl is a full grown cornbread feed sister. She is trying to date a Malik, a Jermoine, dare I say it?  A Montray.  I love you like a brother but dude.  She shot you down repeatedly last year.  She just ain’t into your type.” He said reaching down to pick up the box. “It’s time for you to stand aside and let another dude shoot his shot. Besides I have told you time and time again. A white man can’t handle that kind of ASS.” He said, body trembling with the thought of it. 

The thought had actually occurred to Samuel, maybe he wasn’t her cup of tea.  Nevertheless he didn't admit defeat, not today.  Which was evident by how presently, Montray was tap dancing on a nerve that he didn’t know was so sensitive.  He chucked his friend off, grabbing two heavy duffle bags from the pavement.  “I’m every woman’s type” he corrected moving towards the dorms. “Beside you assume too much..” Samuel paused letting a black SUV pull in front of the building, then continued up the walk.  Call it a sick sense of just dumb luck.  Back turned the faint smell of familiar perfume drew his eyes back over his shoulder. He squinted for a second, an indescribable feeling in the pit of his stomach.  “Speak of the devil and he shall appear.” He moved quickly to the side dropping Montray’s bags to the pavement.  “I’ll be right back.”  He brushed his hand over his shirt and pants, and adjusted his hat.  He strolled calmly back towards the entrance. Taking the time to nod casually toward the odd person as he went. Aligning with her brother, he turned back pedaling as some random girl reminded him to call her. Hands over his heart, “I got you.” He said, bumping into Christopher almost falling over.  

Christopher looked up and nodded his head “yeah dad, we are cool” he cosigned as he looked to his little sister. “Next time, we will get it done ourselves” he breathed huskily as he hoisted the bin up. 

Caleb gave the younger girl a displeased look before he nodded his head, grabbing a bin he hoisted it up and moved to rest it to the side, helping essentially. “I’ll be right back” he told the two as he moved towards his wife. 

Mercedes chuckled at Caleb and she watched the men work holding onto the handle of the luggage bag. “Okay” she said to their father as he walked off. 

Christopher nodded his head at Caleb, he looked to see the one Samuel Evans, bumping into his large frame. “Evans” he breathed before he looked at his sister knowingly. “It’s okay” he told the man kindly as he moved around him, towards the stack. 

Mercedes looked at Samuel as he all but fell into her brother, the pair swapped glances as he turned the man’s helpful hand down. She smirked to herself knowingly before she turned her back to him, “I’m going to go up Chris” she called back over her shoulder as she moved towards the entrance with her duffle and suitcase. 

“What the…” Montray sputtered as Sam dropped his bags and rushed off.  Moving to stand guard over his things he saw what, or rather who had grabbed the man’s attention. 

Shaking his hand reached for his bag sliding the strap over his shoulder. “Damn, a new fool.”  Struggling now with his things Montray headed towards the elevators. 

Samuel spun, righting himself missing the totes by only a heartbeat, “excuse me.” He rushed out before smiling broadly at the siblings.  He hadn’t managed to say another word before Mercedes put her back to him and scurried off. He grinned, watching her retreat for a second. Chuckling, he yelled out, “Thank you Ms. Jones.”  Pointing for approval at a tote, “Hey man. Nice to see you again” he said conversationally, to Christopher.  “Let me give you a hand.” He shoulder the tote and used his long legs to catch Mercedes.

Christopher looked at the man “yeah” he said with a slight head gesture at the apology. “Uh yeah” he said, in reply “good to see you to” he man of few words tossed out. Christopher wasn’t blind or dumb, every time Samuel gave his sister that look he knew where his eyes most likely landed. And he didn’t really like it that much. He swore on the life of his nonexistent children that he’d always protect his sister from any man that gave her that look again. As he pressed the issue he watched him, a small growl leaving his lips. He looked back at his parents before he picked up a bin lifting it and moving behind the two. 

Mercedes hummed happily as she moved inside the massive building. Once inside she breezed past some other students, making her way towards the elevator. She adjusted the backpack on her back and she stopped in front of the metal doors, pressing the up button. Looking down the hall, she saw Samuel again and seemingly looked past him on purpose before she waved at another familiar face.

Motherfuck… Mercedes was playing his game better than him.  Samuel thought, moving into the lobby, trying to catch the woman. Honestly, he knew she was in the building but had no clue where her room was.  Though, holding her things for ransom was an intriguing idea. He mused, steadily gaining ground on the woman.  He saw her wave and smile almost betrayed him. But game peeps game and he glanced back over his shoulder to see some random girl, waving in Mercedes direction. 

Gordon’s huge form worked like a wall as he moved through the denison.  And with Josh in toe, together, they damn near created their own ecosystem. Even on his job, Gordon spotted the fair haired quarterback, immediately.  Pointing  towards Samuel, he raised an eyebrow at the tote the man carried up the hall. “That’s Montray’s?”’ 

Samuel shook “No! It’s Mercedes.  Josh, go find Tray and help him with his shit.  I left him over by the drink machines.”  He said, throwing his head to the right as he continued to move forward, passing by the men.  Turning he backpedaled for a second. Gordon, that’s Chris see if he could use help with some more of Mercedes’ stuff.” He ordered, nodding at Mercedes' brother. 

 Gordon and Josh nodded compliance and moved off to respective targets.  Gordon jogged over to Christopher. Have a vague notion of who the man was because the bin he carried as identical to the one Samuel had. “Samuel said you might need a hand?” 

Samuel made it to the elevator and sat the tote down on the pavement.  “Woman you see me.” He said, standing to straighten his shirt. “You could have at least said hello before giving me the cold shoulder.”   

Christopher trotted behind both Samuel and Mercedes, damn Sam made carrying this heavy ass shit look easy. Why did his sister have a habit of bringing all of her best and newest outfits to school each year he didn’t know. Seeing, whatever his name was, George? Or something. He nodded “yeah, it’s two more of these out there” he huffed finally sitting the bin down in front of himself and catching his breath. “I’ll wait for you, I know the room number,” he told the guy. 

Mercedes watched Theresa as she scurried to the destination she was pursuing her heart thumping in her chest just at the thought. When Samuel spoke she finally looked at him “hello Samuel Evans” she said without much care in her voice. “I see you convinced Christopher to let you help” she mused looking at her things. The elevator doors opened and she moved inside of them, placing her finger on the open button to actually give him time to get on. “Though I’m sure you have something else, or someone rather, you could be tending to…” she said finally looking into his green eyes, brow raised. 

“Alright. I’ll be right back.” Gordon nodded moving out the doors. He bent to lifting the two stacked bins testing the weight.  Deciding one trip was better than two he lifted the bins with a small grunt and walked them steadily back to where the man was waiting. 

Samuel’s mouth dropped in mock shocked delight… “So, you do remember me.  And my government name too. Progress.” He told the woman rubbing his hand together.  “Convinced?” He questioned, careful to keep his eyes off the giggling girls that exited the elevator, as he took up the bin again,  “It looks like you brought everything you owned back with you.  The man needed some assistance. Wait  -I know you weren’t going to make that man carry all this stuff up by himself? Ms. Jones... “ He playfully scolded, moving into the elevator.  Her hazel eyes met his and there it was again.  That stirring of something that made him keep pursuing  this girl, despite her numerous rejections. He cleared his throat and leaned back against the elevator wall. Her words were clear. No doubt he could be anywhere else, but in fact he was exactly where he wanted to be, in this moment.  He smiled broadly and licked his lips, shaking his head,  no, to her very loaded question.  

Christopher nodded his head, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand as he took a look around.

“UM’s most prized possession? Oh how I wish I could forget…” she rebuttal. “Christopher is a strong young man, he could’ve handled it” she told him pressing the 3rd floor button and looking off. His head shake caused her to roll her eyes “I have no doubt there’s a few more giggles who’d love to have you, carry, their things up” she said, her voice very assured in her statement. She hummed, eyeing him in their close proximity before the doors slid open and she walked off the metal box pulling her luggage with her. She moved for 304 and used the key to turn the lock opening it up. “You can sit it by the door, au revior” she spoke fluently, dismissing him. 

Gordon moved on towards the elevator, scared to stop once he started moving.  “What floor is it chief?” He yelled back at Christopher, moving past the man. 

“Jokes…. I like that in a woman. It keeps me guessing.”  Samuel told the short woman, making a serious statement in the most unserious tone. “Wow…” Samuel shook his head mournfully, hefting the tote, feeling the weight of it for the first time. “That’s messed up,” He grinned then looked over at the girl.  “You sound jealous.” Chuckling, “Yeah, but I don’t want to carry their things” He said, following her out of the elevator “I want to carry yours.” She pointed to a spot near the closet, then tried to dismiss him in what he assumed was french. “This is nice.” Samuel set the box down, rubbing the sweat away from his palms on his jeans. He moved deeper into the dorm room, he fingered the single desk, then took a second to pier out the window, before turning back to face Mercedes.  “So, you have this whole room to yourself? Lucky you.” He said, wondering how much this room cost. 

Christopher watched the boy bypass him with two bins, his brows stitched. “3” he said as he picked his back up and followed behind the guy. “That isn’t heavy?” He asked curiously. 

“Jealous?” Mercedes asked the word leaving her tongue, seeping like poison of out a fresh wound. “No, I believe it is you who’s the comedian” she said. As Samuel made himself at home, looking around her new spot. “There’s no luck involved, I have to pay to stay in this singular room” she reminded as she rolled the luggage to the spot she desired and pulled her backpack off her back. She sat the bag down on the empty desk and moved to turn on a light. She fell quiet as she examined the door room for herself taking it in, ignoring Samuel’s still obvious presences. 

Gordon grunted, “Shoot yeah. What’s she got in these things.” He quickly sat the bins down by the elevator.  Breathing hard.  “How many more does she have?”

Samuel folded his arms in front of himself, “What's funny?  That man sees a woman he likes and wants to get to know her.  I thought that was some tale as old as time shit.” He rebuttal raising an eyebrow,  “Okay, then, I guess blessed is proper wording.” He dropped his arms,  “Hmm” he looked down at his feet, then back up to the woman with a small smile on his face.  “I thought we had at least moved past idle ignore Mercedes. Damn, I texted you at least once a week the whole break.” 

Christopher chuckled a bit “clothes, shoes” he said with a headshake. “Sorry” he told him as he put his bin down and pressed the up button. “This is it” he told him with a smile, “thanks for the help” he added as the doors open. 

“It’s only funny if you are one of many women, I guess” Mercedes said back to him with a shrug. She sighed loudly, licking her lips and folding her arms as she looked at him. “And I saw each one,” she said, licking her lips again and she looked away from him. “I don’t know what you want, I am sure whatever it is I can’t give it to you. So why don’t you just stop?” She breathed. “You’ve never seen me with anyone anyway, I am just here for a medical degree” she emphasized. 

Samuel stopped and turned green, eyes shining.  “I want to get to know you. That’s easy to see.” He finished, nodding as he  moved on, grabbing the handle of the door. “A question, why do you think I chase women?” He asked, stopping once more, he raised an eyebrow.    

“Because you can” Mercedes said simply “why do any man do what they do?” She said bitterly. She swallowed down her bitterness and backed away from the boy a little. She didn’t know why he played this game of cat and mouse, he only wanted one thing. They both knew that. And she wasn’t buying what he was trying to sell so diligently. 

Samuel frowned, licking his lips as the mood in the room changed in an instant. He pulled the door open and stepped out into the hallway.  Adding more space between him and the woman. He held the door open, his large body taking up most of the space in the doorway, gazing at the woman, feeling again some weird ass need to make her comfortable. “I don’t chase women.” He said in a low calm tone. “I like women and most of the time they like me back.” He stood up tall, “I’m not trying to chase you Mercedes.  I am trying…” He looked from side to side checking the hall for anyone that might over hear the dopey shit he was about to say.  “You’re a good girl.” he said looking back to the woman. “I’m trying to court you.” He rubbed his chin, “I better go.” 

Mercedes watched him out of the corner of her eyes and she shifted on her feet. Watching him leave, but of course he stopped to speak once more to her. Expressing his feelings directly and she looked up slowly, she almost believed him but he couldn’t be telling the truth. It wouldn’t make sense, she was nothing and no one special. 

[mercycjones]

[mercycjones]