Part Three
“That was such a foul shot!” Justin yelled.
“It was not!” Chris yelled back.
“How do you call this not foul?” Justin said and then imitated Chris’s obvious foul move.
“Nah, it wasn’t like that,” Chris laughed.
“It so was,” Justin laughed back.
“Whatever baby. If you’re gonna cry about it then you take the next shot. If you make it then you’re right. If you don’t, then that means that it wasn’t a foul shot.”
Justin looked at how close he was to the basket and then replied with a smile and said, “Deal!”
Chris watched Justin dribble the ball before raising his arms to shoot. Just before Justin shot the ball Chris ran at him and tackled him, causing the ball to go in a completely different direction from the basket. All the guys laughed at Chris’s attempt, and success, of making Justin miss.
“Oh that was wrong on so many levels,” Justin yelled from underneath Chris’s body.
“No, you just suck. My shot was so not a foul one. You just said so yourself, in an undisclosed manner.”
“You’re a sore loser,” Justin said.
“No YOU are,” Chris tailed back.
“Both of you are,” JC interrupted and shot the ball from where he was standing. “SCORE!” he yelled and then did a victory dance.
Joey rushed over to the ball and made his own free throw shot, “JC you aren’t the only one with skills.”
“Sure I am,” he said back and blocked for the ball.
Justin finally got his lazy self off of the ground and then raced for the ball which was rolling away from him and the other guys. Justin stood at what would be considered the three point spot on a real court, and shot the ball. “Swoosh! Now whose got game!?”
“Lucky shot!”
“Yeah yeah. A lucky shot which I hardly ever miss short stuff.”
“Blah.”
Their game was interrupted by a man’s strong voice yelling, “I am not gonna be the only one eating am I?”
“No way!” all the guys yelled at the same time and then took off towards the porch where Mr. Fatone had just finished grilling all the food.
“Eat up. There is definitely plenty to go around.”
“Not once your son is finished,” Chris joked.
“Shut up. I’m a growing man.”
“Yeah, you are,” Lance said and then rubbed Joey’s belly.
Joey slapped his hand and said, “Yeah yeah, get your laughs while they are still hot.”
“It’s okay Joe, we all have our faults... well minus me, but yeah,” Justin laughed.
“Oh you are so full of it!”
“Me?” Justin said and pointed at himself innocently. “Never!”
“Justin, just eat,” JC laughed and then picked up a piece of chicken for himself.
“Yeah, before it’s all gone,” Chris said quickly and then looked at Joey.
“You’re so asking for it,” Joey said and then took a big bite of his burger. “You just wait.”
“Protect me from the scary monster!” Chris screamed and hid behind Lance.
Lance moved to the side and said, “Chris, my friend, you’re on your own!”
Joey set down his half eaten burger and then proceeded to chase Chris through his back yard. They ran around for a good amount of time before Chris finally collapsed and said “Uncle Uncle!”
“That’s what I thought!” Joey yelled back at him and then the two of them laughed and headed back to the porch so that they could finish eating.
“I am so full,” Lance managed to say as he leaned back in his chair.
“The food was great,” JC directed toward Joey’s parents.
“No arguments there,” Justin said.
“Here either,” Chris added.
“Or here,” Joey said to his dad and then patted him on the back.
“I’ve gotta hit the little boys room though,” JC said as he stood up.
“Hurry up,” Joey’s mom said. “I’ve got dessert.”
Each of the guys moaned and then sat up and prepared to try to feed their mouths with more food. This was going to be a hard feat after eating as much as they already had. JC opened the door to the house and went through the kitchen into the living room, and then down the hallway to the bathroom. He swung open the door, flipped on the lights and went about his business.
In the meantime Mercedes was pulling Chris’s car into the Fatone’s driveway. She checked the address on the paper one more time and then looked around and smiled when she recognized Chris’s motorcycle on the side of the house. She pulled her purse off of the floor of the car and slowly stepped out of the automobile. Her long silky legs seems to go on for days as her foot hit the ground. She had on a short pair of shorts and a little tank top. Mercedes had went back to Chris’s after her interview so that she could get into something more comfortable before going over to Joey’s.
Mercedes walked toward the back fence since that was where she was hearing all the people conversing. She knocked on the gate and then pushed it open a little and stuck in her head. “Hello?”
Chris’s head turned at the sound of the familiar voice. He leaned back in his chair so that he could see the gate and then smiled when he saw Mer standing there. “Mer, sweetie come on in.”
“Ohhh the devil chic is here,” Justin chuckled.
“Shuu,” Chris hissed and then stood up to greet Mercedes.
Justin’s jaw dropped when he saw her. “Whoa,” he utter to Joey and Lance. “How on earth could JC have a problem with that?”
Joey shook his head, as did Lance. “I have NO clue.”
Chris gave Mer a hug and then walked her over to the other guys, minus JC. “Guys this is Mercedes. Mercedes, this is Justin, Joey, and Lance. And these are Joey’s parents.”
She smiled a sweet smile and said, “Nice to meet you all.”
“The pleasure is ours,” Justin said and then tried to pick his jaw back off of the floor. “I’d like to ride in that Mercedes,” Justin said to Joey in a very soft mumble so that no one else heard him.
Joey’s immediate response was to laugh.
“Problem?” Chris asked.
“Not at all,” Joey responded.
“Have a seat,” Joey said and then pulled JC’s chair over for Mercedes to sit in.
“Thanks,” she said and then obliged to the offer.
Just as she sat down JC opened the door. “So what’s for des.....?” he stopped dead in his tracks when he noticed Mercedes. “Dessert,” he finally finished his question.
“Nice to see you too Chasez,” Mercedes stated.
“Yeah, totally,” JC said back in his normal sarcastic manner.
“Mer,” Chris mumbled.
“What?” she said all innocently and tilted her head. “I didn’t say anything rude,” and then under her breath she said, “yet.”
“Here ya go!” Joey’s mom said as she brought out the wonderful dessert that she made. “Eat it up!”
All the guys smiled and then pulled their plates closer to them. Mer smiled and did the same. She didn’t get any weird vibes from the other guys, but she still didn’t want to be within a near amount of feet from JC. She bit her tongue and tried to resist the urge to just reach over and throw her food at him. She took a deep breath and then just put her fork to her food and began to eat the dessert while she listened to the other guys talk.
It wasn’t long before everyone had finished eating again, and each of them knew that they had consumed way too much. They each rose and about fell to the ground. They all told Mrs. Fatone how wonderful it was and then proceeded out to the center on the yard where they all crashed in the grass. All except for Mercedes, she instead helped Joey’s mother bring in everything.
“Thanks for helping sweetie,” Mrs. Fatone said to Mercedes.
“No problem. The dessert was wonderful.”
She smiled and thanked Mercedes for the compliment. “So how long have you known our Chris?”
Mercedes tilted her slim body over the counter, “I’ve known him since I was little actually. We kind of grew up together.”
“Was he always as...” she stumbled for the words.
“Always so Chris?” she laughed. “Yes,” she answered. “He’s always been a huge goof. But you gotta love him for it. He’s helped me through a lot of my not to good days. I missed having him around. He moved here before I left for Germany, but at least then we were still in good contact. We kind of drifted after I left.”
“Well, you’ve got him now,” she smiled.
“Yup. The big brother I always wanted.”
Joey’s mother looked out the window and saw the guys back at the court shooting around. “They never sit still!”
Mercedes looked out the window and laughed as she watched the guys fight for the ball. This was action that she definitely wanted involved in. “I’m gonna go out there and mess with them for a little while. Did you need anything else?” she asked and glanced around the kitchen.
“No dear, you go on out there. Thanks though.”
“Anytime,” she answered and then pushed the back door open. She slowly stepped down the five steps and then looked over at the guys again and laughed. She made her way, with a smooth stride, over to the court and then stopped along the edge.
“Wanna play?” Chris yelled over when he noticed her standing there.
Mercedes had her hands clasped behind her back and she shifted her weight to one foot. “Well,” she hesitated.
“What’s wrong? Ain’t got no game?” JC asked. He just had to get a word in.
“I didn’t say that now did I?” she hissed back.
“Ohhh,” Justin said. “And the Devil reveals her horns,” he said in a low tone so that she wouldn’t hear him.
“I’ve got game. I could probably shoot hoops around you!” she spouted.
“She is good JC,” Chris said. He knew that she played ball all through high school. She may have appeared to only be some cute preppy chic, but she was an all star athlete as well.
JC threw the ball hard at her and she caught it as it glazed her firm stomach. “Let’s play then,” JC sounded off.
“Fine,” she said and then threw the ball from where she was. It was a little closer than what would be considered half court on a real basketball court. “Not a problem with me,” she said as she watched the ball go straight through the hoop.
“Daaammmmn,” Justin stretched out the word. “She’s almost as good as me,” he gloated.
“Almost?” Lance said. “Dude, she’d probably kick even your butt.”
Mercedes jogged closer to the guys and zigged and zagged in front of JC as he tried to keep the ball from getting in her possession. JC went to pass the ball to Justin, but failed at his attempt. Mercedes got the ball from him and circled around him and did a total lay-up and made the shot.
Justin just watched in awe.
This only upset JC even more. He didn’t appreciate her going out there and making him look like an ass. He never even imagined that she would be this good. JC knew that she was a woman and all, but he knew that she could play like a guy, so he figured he would treat her like one. He raced for the falling ball and totally brushed her off. Their shoulders met and she jerked as he shoved her out of the way.
“And that was a foul if I’ve ever seen one,” Justin said in Mercedes’s defense.
“She’s not on the ground or bleeding. She’s fine,” he contested.
“You don’t have to be in a coma or anything for it to be a foul C.”
“Let it go,” Mer said. “I’m fine. If JC wants to play like he’s hot shit, let him. Two can play at this game.”
“Is that a threat?” JC asked.
“You’ll know when it’s a threat Chasez.”
“Oh Lord,” Chris said. “And to think, they both said they’d be nice,” he told Lance.
“I don’t see that happening anytime soon.”
“Me either,” he said and sighed.
JC had the ball and said, “whatever,” to Mercedes and then turned to run around Joey. As he passed by Mer again she stuck out her foot and JC went flying.
“Oops,” she said with a smile. “My bad.”
JC stared up at her from the ground. “Yeah, sure,” he said and then stumbled to his feet.
Justin just stared and then turned to Chris and said, “remind me never to piss her off.”
After playing ball for another half hour everyone decided to take a break. The heat was becoming unbearable for all of them. JC and Mercedes continued to fight the entire time, and took every opportunity that arose for them to trip, push, or hit one another. They even had to call a huge time out because Mercedes was seconds away from popping JC right in the face with her fist.
The other guys couldn’t figure out why JC didn’t like her, and why she didn’t like him. They were terrible to be around and neither of them acted in that manner when they weren’t near each other. JC was brought up never to disrespect a woman. Mercedes was brought up never to let a guy push her around, and yet never to quarrel with a man to the point that it causes utter disrespect. STRIKE! Both of them failed miserably.
“Could you two be any worse?” Justin asked JC as the trailed through the grass back over to the porch.
“She just makes me crazy J. You don’t even understand.”
“Well it’s obvious that she doesn’t keep you sane.”
“She isn’t like this with any of you guys. What the heck did I do that was so wrong?”
“You cracked on her name the first opportunity given,” Chris said.
“Yeah, but I was kidding. I didn’t think she’d take it for real.”
“I guess she did,” Justin said back.
In the mean time, Mercedes was falling behind with Joey and Lance. “So, how long did you say you are here for?”
“A week.”
“Ahh, and you’re staying with Chris right?” Joey asked.
“Dude, don’t harass her on the first day,” Lance joked.
Mercedes laughed. “It’s okay. Yeah, I am staying with Chris.”
“So why don’t you like JC?” he then asked.
“Joey!” Lance exclaimed.
“What? I wanna know.”
“He just doesn’t tickle me the right way is all. He’s rude and arrogant also.”
“Well, if you put it that way,” Joey laughed.
“Yeah,” she laughed too.
JC, Justin, and Chris were passing by the pool and still continuing their conversation about why JC and Mer didn’t get along when JC said, “I gotta fix my shoe. Hang on.”
JC bent over and began to tie his shoe when all of a sudden he lost his balance. Actually, Mercedes had walked by him and kind of gave him the extra shove, causing JC to go sideways right into the pool. Clothes, shoes, shades, and all.
“You litte....” he started to say before he hit the water. “You are a brave soul,” he yelled when he resurfaced. The other guys couldn’t help but laugh hysterically at JC soaking wet in the pool. His hair was all mated to his face and his clothing stuck to his skin.
“Don't mistake my bitchiness for confidence,” she corrected him as she stood next to the pool and looked in at him.
They both were on the deep end of the pool and then out of the blue JC disappeared into the water. Mercedes stood there for a second waiting for him to reappear again, but when he didn’t after almost a minute and a half, she leaned to look a little closer.
“JC?” she said.
“I’d be careful if I were you,” Justin stated.
Mercedes turned to Justin and before she knew it, she was being pulled by her ankles right into the water. “You jerk!” she yelled.
“No need to worry about me,” he said and then quickly hopped out of the water and stared at her as she took his place, soaking wet, fully clothed, and in the pool.
“Ha ha ha,” Mercedes mocked. “I’m glad you all think this is so funny,” she said as she watched everyone laugh.
“I sure do,” JC said between gasps for air.
“Yeah, we’ll mine was classic. You didn’t even see it coming.”
“And you did? No, I didn’t think so,” he finished for her.
“I should have. God forbid I worry why your sorry ass is under the water for longer than it would take to get that huge, shag, fuzz, curl, hair shit out of your face.”
“Damn,” Justin said in surprise. “She really doesn’t like your hair.”
“And you say this like I care,” he directed toward Justin.
“Ew!” Justin snapped. “Maybe you deserve to be in the water,” Justin said and then gave JC a huge push. Right back into the pool he went.
“Oh you’re really gonna get it,” JC yelled from in the pool.
“Uht oh,” Justin gasped.
“You better, uh, run,” Joey laughed.
“Uhm, uh, Mer help!” Justin cried out and turned to run.
Mercedes swam over to JC as fast as she could and grabbed a hold of his basketball net-like shorts. “You deserved it Chasez. Leave him alone!” she yelled as she pulled on his shorts.
“Let me go!” he jerked her.
Justin stopped to watch the action.
“Not a chance!” she yelled back and wrapped her arms around his waist making it impossible for him to get out.
“Damn it,!” he yelled and swung around.
Mer grabbed him by the shoulders and shoved. Under he went. “Learn some respect!” she screamed as she dunked him.
“Act more like a lady!” he yelled as he gasped for air.
“Treat me like one!”
“Not a chance!”
“Whoa this is good,” Joey muffled a laugh.
“This is scary,” Chris chuckled. “This is like, what, first grade.” Chris changed his voice into a high squeaky voice, “oh no you didn’t. That was my GI Joe.”
Joey, Lance and Justin laughed at his imitation.
JC and Mer proceeded to wrestle in the water until both of them gave up. Mercedes finally called truce and backed off of JC. He did the same, “just for now though,” he said.
“Deal,” she said.
JC put his hands on the edge on the pool and was in process of pulling himself up when it happened. Mercedes grabbed a hold of his shorts and yanked them off. Leaving his wet ass only covered by a pair of white tight boxer briefs. “Don’t you know you aren’t supposed to wear white in the water!” she laughed and then threw his shorts on the other side of the pool.
JC quickly lowered himself back into the water so not to show anymore of his manhood to the world. The other guys were practically on the floor laughing by now. Chris was actually. JC went after Mercedes but she managed to get out of the pool and run to hide behind the other guys.
“They can’t protect you for forever!” he yelled out of the pool. “You just wait!” he yelled.
“I’m waiting,” she yelled and then held up his shorts, which she grabbed on her way out of the pool.
“All of you are dead!”
“Well, here. Let me make it a little easier for you then,” Mercedes said as she threw JC’s shorts at him.
As much as JC wanted to just get out and beat the crap out of all of them, he figured it would be more fun to act like he was okay with it all, and then get them when nothing was expected. A sneak attack, as he preferred to call it. “Thanks,” he said sarcastically. He pulled them over his wet muscular legs and then pulled himself out of the pool.
Everyone waited for him to jaunt himself at them, but was surprised when he made no effort. “Uhm,” Justin started.
“No, no worries y’all. I’m not going to sink to Mercedes’s level and try to doop on you all. You’re safe.”
“I don’t trust him,” Chris said.
“Yeah well neither do I,” Mercedes said along with Chris.
“I swear,” JC said and walked over to them. “Things are cool for now.”
“For now?”
“Yeah, for now,” JC stammered back.
“Does this mean I should stay clear of you?”
“It means you should sleep with one I open,” JC replied to Justin.
“I didn’t even do anything really! I wasn’t the one who pushed you into the pool and took your clothes,” Justin protested and then pushed Mercedes to the front of the group.
“Hey!” Mer yelled. “Who’s side are you on anyways?”
Justin pondered both sides. “I’m not on either. Both of you scare me now!” he joked.
“Wuss!” Mer yelled at him and then hit him in the stomach and walked off.
“Where you going?” Chris yelled.
“Inside to get a towel and something to drink. You bafoons should stay out here in your legal environment.”
“Mer you don’t mean that towards me do you?!” Chris whined.
“Get over it,” she laughed and then pulled the door open and disappeared into the house.
“I wanna sin and go straight to hell if she’s the devil,” Justin laughed as he said the same comment for the second time.
“You are pathetic,” JC said back and said on the bench by the door.
“Nah, I just have great eyes and wonderful taste.”
“Well maybe you should just hook up with her then. You’re welcome to her,” JC replied.
“She isn’t some prize you’re allowed to offer off you guys,” Chris said.
“Why? Do you want her?” Justin asked.
“No way! Just quit it y’all. She’s like my sister.”
“Well hey, then maybe someday we’ll be related.”
“In your dreams!” Chris laughed hysterically. “Mer has better taste.”
“Yeah, she wants me,” Joey interrupted.
“And that’s a real dream,” Chris laughed again.
JC stared through the kitchen window. He had perfect view of Mercedes standing at the table with a glass in her hand. Her wet hair dripping down the sides of her arms and her shirt clinging to her wet body. JC shook the thoughts from his head and simply fixed them with, “I told you she was the devil.”
A few brief moments later Mercedes opened the back door and stuck her foot within it. She turned slightly and grabbed the tray off of the counter. With the side of her hip she pushed the door open the rest of the way and then slid through it. Her clothing was still wet and her hair stuck lightly to the sides of her face.
Carefully she took each step down the stairs and stopped just short of the table. “Here ya go gentlemen,” she said as she set the tray on the table outside. Atop of the tray sat five large glasses of Lemonade.
“Thanks,” Joey said as he reached over and grabbed the first glass.
“Ditto,” Justin and Lance replied.
“You shouldn’t cater to us,” Chris said. “You’re our guest.”
“She’s your guest,” JC corrected him.
Chris sneered at him. “Yes, my guest.”
“You're welcome,” Mercedes snapped as she slammed the last glass in front of JC. She couldn’t help but eye him. His shirt was semi stuck to his chest, and his hair was indescribable.
“Thanks,” he mumbled under his breath and then pulled the glass to his lips.
Mercedes watched as the liquid hit his soft lips and then entered his mouth. “Jerk,” she said to herself. “Sure,” she said aloud in reference to his slight utter of thanks to her for bringing him the drink. “Chris I really should be getting back. I need to get out of these wet clothes.”
“You sure do,” Justin interrupted.
Mercedes tried to hide her now bright red face. “And I need to prepare some of my work for my other interview tomorrow.”
Justin smiled. “Do you have interviews all this week?” he asked.
“Basically. The one tomorrow is the one that I really want though. It’s by far the most respected Law Firm in the whole state of Florida.”
“Well I wish you luck.”
“I’m sure you do,” Joey mumbled in Justin’s direction.
Justin kicked him from under the table and JC just watched as Joey flinched. “Have a nice night,” JC said sarcastically and waved her off.
Mercedes, strong willed as she was, took her hands and wiped her hair clear of her face and pulled on the edges of her shorts. “I’m sure I will,” she smiled. “Nothing could brighten my day more than to be leaving your ill disgusted presence,” she said will a full blown smile.
Lance couldn’t help but laugh. “Sorry,” he finally said.
“Well I’ll be home later,” Chris said and stood to give his friend a hug. “You know how to get out of here right?”
“Just read your directions to here, backwards.”
Chris thought about it for a second. “Hey, I never thought of that,” he said surprised.
“Oh brother,” JC replied.
“Well I will see you all later. I’m sure we’ll cross paths again while I am here.”
“We can hope,” Justin replied.
Mercedes smiled at Justin’s failure at flirting with her in a subtle manner. Then again, maybe his style wasn’t the subtle way. “Bye. Nice to meet all of you,” she said and shook each of their hands except for JC’s. He had no intention on it anyway. He was sure to keep his hands glued to his drink. Mercedes gave JC a smug look and then turned around on her way. The guys all watched as she walked through the remainder of the yard and out of the gate. All except for JC that is. He didn’t even bother to look up.
“She is such a fox,” Justin sighed and leaned back in his chair.
“Get over it buddy,” Lance laughed.
“Do you think she’d go on a date with me?”
“You’re not her type,” Chris said.
In his own defense Justin sat up straight and demanded to know why. “How would you know?”
“I’ve known her for like ever bro,” Chris answered.
“Yeah so.”
“So I know her type.”
“Well what’s her type then?” Justin demanded.
“Justin, not you!” Chris exclaimed. In all reality he wasn’t sure what her type was anymore. He hadn’t been around her since she had grown up and actually started dating for real.
“Whatever. Don’t bust my pride. A guy can at least try.”
JC laughed the whole situation off. “Well I wish you the best of luck. Just don’t expect me to buy you a wedding gift. She’d probably burn it.”
“I still don’t see what the deal is with you two.”
“Neither do I,” JC said and took another sip of his drink. “Neither do I.”
Mercedes unlocked the door to Chris’s house and threw her bag on the chair as she walked in the door. She headed for the stairs and before she made it to the top she had already pulled off her wet shirt and unbuttoned her soaking shorts. With her shirt in her hand she walked into the guestroom and straight into the bathroom. She laid her shirt over the bathtub and then peeled her shorts off of her sleek skin.
“Finally,” she said with a sigh of relief. Mercedes grabbed her brush off of the counter and then made her way back into the room. Slowly she knelt down and opened the drawer in which she had put the clothes that she brought for the week. Her knees cracked when she rose, and she cracked her knuckles to even out the body cracking. The deep blue shirt that she had pulled out of the drawer fit over her body in a baggy sort of way. “How anyone would want to sleep in tight clothes in beyond me,” she uttered to herself as she sat on the edge of the bed.
A pile of papers and a few books were stacked on the table at the head of her bed. Mercedes sighed and grabbed the stack, tucked everything under her arm, and then trotted down the stairs to the living room. With one leg underneath her, she situated herself on the couch with her stack of stuff on the coffee table in front of her. She tucked a piece of her dark brown, wet hair behind her ear and chewed on her bottom lip.
‘Mercey vs. Bomez’ was the first folder that she picked up. Mercedes had been studying trial cases and observing how each of the lawyers handled the situations they were put in. She took out her highlighter and chewed on the end of it as she read the first paragraph of the trial review. Mercedes raised an eyebrow and took the pink highlighter out of her mouth and highlighted the sentence she had last read. Her deep eyes started intently at the words and then she tossed the folder back onto the table.
“Hmph,” she sighed and the stood up. She just wasn’t in the mood to sit and work. Mercedes soft feet shuffled against the rug and her mauve colored toenails added color to Chris’s off-white rug. With her toes usually dragging underneath the arch of her foot, she made her way to the little room off of the living room hallway. “This must be his trophy room,” she said quietly to herself.
Mercedes was surrounded with plaques and trophies all around. She looked to one wall and saw specific posters of the guys. The majority of them were the covers of all their albums and singles. There were a few Fuman Skeeto posters and promo stuff on the wall as well. Lined along the shelves were an endless amount of awards and plaques. Some lined in gold, some in silver. Others were glass and some just appeared plastic. Mer ran her hand over the lower shelves and examined all the things that her best friend had accomplished. She was so proud of him. Before turning to leave she noticed the surfboard lurking in the corner of the room. It was a Teen Choice Award. “I guess they all just split them up,” she said. She giggled and then continued with, “Then again maybe they all do just get their own.”
The thin brunette smiled and left the room with the door shut as she had found it. She trailed her way back to the couch and looked down on all her work. “I guess I have to start somewhere,” she said and then sat back down and continued with her work.