by Pinky Dior
“You should be the last one talking Don.” Maria stated. She gave him the eye and he knew exactly what she was referring to. “I met you when I was eighteen and had my first child by you at a young age…” he cut her off.
“I don’t know why you’re siding with her. She’s only sixteen Maria. This girl doesn’t know what she wants in life yet.” Maria didn’t know what came over him, but she didn’t like how we overreacted tonight.
“You definitely were excessive tonight.” Maria said. “Asking that young man a whole bunch of inappropriate questions…” her voice was filled with rage. What’s your problem?”
“What was inappropriate about them?” Don asked. “I asked him questions to see where his head is at. Now I know what he does for a living and I don’t want my daughter around that. I absolutely will not allow it.”
“Just know that you’re being very selfish right now. I’ll never say that you ruined my life by bringing Mercedes into this world; I love her with all my heart and support her through everything. Here you are being a hypocrite. You think this is the life I wanted? Yes a beautiful family, a nice house, expensive clothes and a nice car. I have all of that, but did I ask for a drug dealing boyfriend? No, I have to honestly say that I fell in love with who you are and not what you did. I didn’t give up on you when I found out that you were a drug dealer. He’s just like you Don. Don’t you see that?” Maria sighed.
The conversation ended with Maria’s last point. Mercedes heard her door open and she quickly tried to get under the covers and pretended she was sleeping.
“Mercedes?” Maria called out her name.
“Hmm?” Mercedes moaned as she turned around. Her mother wore a half a smile on her face as she walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Are you okay?” Maria asked as she rubbed her hair.
“I’ll be fine, I’m just thinking about Chino.” Mercedes sighed. “He probably hates my guts and doesn’t want anything to do with me now. I’m sure he thinks that Daddy’s crazy. She cried as her mother extended her arms and held her.
“Don’t say that baby, Chino loves you Baby Girl. No matter what, he stood up for himself tonight.” Maria rubbed her daughter’s back as she cried into her chest.
“I know your father is a tough guy and sometimes he’s right. I do understand where he’s coming from, but Honey he’s a real nice guy. I don’t understand why your father is acting like a complete fool tonight.”
“So does that mean I can’t see Chino anymore?” Mercedes asked. She removed her head from her mother’s cheek with a hopeful smile.
“Sweetie, I don’t know…honestly your father doesn’t want you to see him and I’m supporting you all the way…but just don’t disobey your father. He’s still your father.” Mercedes couldn’t believe it, although her mother was on her side-it was still like she was siding with her father. She didn’t have any words left for her mother, she was too upset. She rolled over turning her back toward her mother as the tears silently crept down her cheeks. She only wished that Chino was here to hold and console her. She never wanted to choose between the only two men that she sincerely loved.
Unfaithful
On Monday morning Mercedes’ eyes were puffy and red from all the crying she did over the weekend. She refused to come out of her room. She had a full bathroom in there, so she had no need to venture downstairs. Claudia brought food to her daily, so she didn’t have to face her parents.
Her father tried to talk to her several times, but she completely ignored him. She didn’t have anything to say to him. Mercedes cried every time she dialed Chino’s number. He ignored her calls each time. When she did finally reach him, he simply told her he needed time to think. As much as he loved her, he wasn’t going to tolerate her father’s disrespect. Mercedes was heartbroken and blamed her father for interfering with her happiness.
She hung up the phone and lay down, but was distracted by a sharp pain in her abdomen along with sudden nausea. She had the urge to vomit and placed her hand over her mouth. She quickly ran into the bathroom. As soon as she made it to the toilet, she vomited the remnants of last night’s dinner. As she began to cry again, she brushed her teeth and got herself ready for the day. She prayed that it would be a better day, but somehow she knew she would have no such luck.
Walking over to her closet, she pulled out the first thing she could grab and put it on for school. She didn’t care and her wardrobe choice showed it. She was very irritated and in a bitchy mood. She threw her hair in a messy ponytail and made her way downstairs.
As she made her way down, she crossed paths with her father. She avoided contact with him but he initiated a conversation with her.
“Have a nice day in school Baby Girl.” Don said. Mercedes was already outside and slammed the door as she exited. She wasn’t in the mood today; if anyone pissed her off it would be a day they regretted. As Mercedes walked outside, she stopped in her tracks. Mr. Gates wasn’t there to take her to school. Instead it was Emilio.
He rolled down the window, “I’m taking you to school today.” He smiled and rolled the window back up and replaced his sunglasses. Mercedes huffed as she walked over to the car. She opened the door and slammed it shut.
Emilio noticed that she was quiet throughout the ride. Mercedes felt the awkward silence; she always listened to music when Mr. Gates took her to school. She was about to reach her hand out to turn on the radio, but frowned up her face when she noticed Emilio didn’t have a radio. He cleared his throat and decided to say something.
“Mercedes, are you alright?”
“Yeah I’m fine.” Mercedes lied.
“Are you sure? Because your eyes are red and I know I don’t know you like that, but I can tell something’s wrong.”
Mercedes tried to avoid eye contact so he wouldn’t see the tears forming in her eyes. She rolled down the window to dry her tears with the morning breeze.
“If there’s anything…” Emilio begin to speak, but Mercedes cut him off.
“I said I’m fine.” Mercedes barked through clenched teeth. Finally, they arrived at school and she hopped out of the car. She didn’t stop to acknowledge any of her friends.
After all of her classes, Mercedes bumped into her friends and they noticed something was wrong.
“Hey Missy, what’s going on?” Candy asked.
“What up Cedes?” Hazel chimed in. As Mercedes got closer the girls noticed her eyes were red and puffy filled with tears.
“Aww, what’s wrong Mercedes?” Candy began comforting her with a hug and Mercedes reciprocated.
“It’s Chino.” They all groaned at hearing his name.
“Who do I have to fuck up?” Shateeya asked.
“What he do to you Mercedes?” Candy asked. Mercedes wiped away the tears from her eyes and began to tell the story.
“Well, I invited him over for dinner Friday night to meet my father and it turned into a complete disaster. He told me that he didn’t want me to see Chino again. Chino didn’t want to agree, but he told me that he loves me but he couldn’t disrespect my father. Basically he said he didn’t want to see me anymore because he didn’t want to cross my dad.”
“I see where he’s coming from Mercedes; Chino doesn’t want to come between the bond you share with your dad.” Candy informed her. “I know your father loves you and he knows what’s best for you Cedes.”
“She does have a point.” Chamari added.
“But I love him and I can’t stop my feelings because my dad doesn’t like him.” Mercedes yelled.
“Let’s go in the cafeteria, you need to get some water to calm down.” Candy insisted. She hugged her girl again before walking down the hall. Her legs turned into noodles when she saw something that caused her heart to drop to the pit of her stomach. Dejection was written all over face. Chino and India were back together and hugging.
“Mercedes don’t.” Candy tried to pull her back, but her feet moved too quickly. She was already exchanging words with them.
“How could you?” Mercedes spat. India looked as if she’d been crying too, but as soon as she saw Mercedes’ face everything changed. She had a devious smile on her face and began to clutch Chino.
“I got him.” India mouthed. Chino turned around to face Mercedes. Before he could say anything, she ran down the hall as he yelled her name.
“Mercedes!” Chino yelled out. “Mercedes!” She ran until she reached the cafeteria. She wanted to hide from everyone and cried in anger at seeing her first love with someone else.
“I can’t believe his ass was all hugged with that bitch like it was nothing.” Mercedes spat as she sat at the round table with her girls. “It hasn’t even been a fucking week!” She barked as she watched as her fingernails tremble.
“Fuck him!” Shateeya spat. “Mercedes he’s like all these other nigga’s out here, just want the pussy then bail out on your ass.” Shateeya pursed her lips together as she filed her fingernails.
“Maybe we’re blowing this shit out of proportion.” Candy tried to assure them. “I mean, just because he was hugged up with her doesn’t mean anything Mercedes. You have to talk to him.” Candy insisted.
“The point is he was hugged up on that bitch. Especially that bitch India, he knows me and her have problems. I don’t care if that is his ex, there are boundaries.” Mercedes shook her head.
“Maybe something happened to her.” Chamari added in. “Mercedes, I see how Chino looks at you and how he treats you. He loves you girl. Just because your father doesn’t want you to see him and Chino agreed doesn’t mean he doesn’t still have love for you.” Chamari rubbed her girls shoulder. Mercedes thought she did have a point. However, it still didn’t change the fact that Chino was hugged up with India like it was nothing.
“Ain’t nothing happen to that stupid bitch India.” Shateeya laughed. She looked up and said, “And if she said something happened, she’s a lying ass hoe-she’s just jealous of you because you stole Chino. She’ll do anything in her power to get him back.” Shateeya severely pissed her off with her words. Mercedes excused herself as she got up from the table.
“I’m going to the bathroom.”
“You want us to come?” Candy asked.
“Just in case a bitch try to get stupid, I got ya back sis.” Hazel added.
“Nah, I’m good. Thanks anyway.” Mercedes smiled and headed to the bathroom. She couldn’t allow her girls and the entire cafeteria to see her upset and crying. She splashed water over her face in the sink. When she looked up, she saw India standing behind her with a smirk on her face.
“I guess you lost.” India chuckled. She shrugged her shoulders and began applying clear lip gloss.
“Excuse me?” Mercedes turned to face her with her head cocked to the side and her eye brows arched. Her nose flared with anger.
“I said, I guess you lost.” India turned and they were almost face to face. They had about one foot of space between them.
“Chino doesn’t want you anymore. He’s all mine bitch. Always has been and always will be. You came up in this bitch like you Miss Hot Shit and your pussy don’t stink.” India laughed. “You must have lost your fuckin mind. Every bitch in this school and in Harlem knows that he’s my man always and forever.”
Mercedes laughed, “Trick please, Chino despises your ass. So whatever little games you got up your dirty ass sleeves aren’t going to work. So before you try to say someone’s shit don’t stink-check yourself out in the mirror. If you don’t come correct then don’t come at all.” Mercedes smiled.
“You will never be me India, let alone walk in my Prada shoes. You will never have Chino again, he’s mine bitch!” Mercedes assured her. “Believe that!” She added in with an evil grin. She turned to walk away, but India made a smart comment that caused her to quickly do an about-face.
“If he’s your man, then why am I having his baby?” India blurted out and punctuated it with rolling her eyes. Mercedes quickly turned around and rushed straight at India. They both began to tussle as they fell to the ground. Mercedes had the upper hand; she was on top of India and punching her with both hands. She was throwing non-stop blows.
“You fucking stupid ass bitch!” Mercedes continuously punched her in the face. India extended her hands and tried to scratch Mercedes’ face. Mercedes dodged her feeble attempt and grabbed a hold of India’s face. She began banging it on the floor. India then tried to grab Mercedes’ hair, but she didn’t allow her it. Mercedes backed all the way up and kept punching. Mercedes grabbed onto India’s hair and wrapped it around her fist several times. She started pounding her face.
“Stop it Mercedes.” India begged as she screamed. Mercedes knew she was trying to scream to get attention. She was looking for someone to come to her rescue.
Back in the cafeteria the girls knew something was up. Mercedes been in the bathroom for a while and India went into the bathroom several seconds later. They rushed into the bathroom to see what was going on. They saw Mercedes on top of India punching her in the face. It was a bloody scene. Blood was all over India’s face and on the tan marble floor.
“Don’t you ever…in…your…mother fucking…life… try to come at me …again!” Mercedes punched her one last time in her nose. “And keep Chino’s name out your mouth bitch!” Mercedes banged her head onto the marble floor one more time. She got back up to her feet and looked behind her. The M.O.B.B. were staring at her in awe.
“What the fuck happened?” Candy asked.
“This bitch was talking crazy to me, she fucking asked for it.” Mercedes looked down at India who was curled up on the floor. she was bleeding from her nose and mouth.
“Oh shit bitch! You got fucked up!” Shateeya chanted. India’s clique came rushing into the bathroom and ran to her side. They were asking her what happened. Mercedes smiled and looked at her girls and said, “Let’s go.”
They walked from the bathroom and talked about how the fight started. Shateeya was real amped, saying she wished that she was in there when the fight broke out. She kept saying she would have jumped in and gave India a buck fifty to the face. They shook their heads and laughed.
“Oh yeah, there’s going to be a nice ass party at this club down in Queens.” Candy informed the girls.
“What, that 18 plus event?” Hazel asked.
“Yeah that one, I’m definitely going.”
“But your only seventeen Candy, how you getting in there?” Mercedes inquisitively asked.
“Fake ID bitch!” She high-fived Shateeya. “We don’t even need fake ID’s because we some bad bitches.” Candy chuckled. “You want to go?”
“I’m only sixteen, there’s no way I’m getting up in there.” Mercedes shook her head.
“Aww come on girl, it will be fun trust me.” Candy smiled.
“Girl we’ll get you in. Don’t worry.” Hazel smirked.
“It won’t be any fun without our other bad bitch Mercedes.” Chamari added. She looked at Mercedes with puppy dog eyes. “Pretty please,” she batted her long thick extension eye lashes.
“Alright, I’m down. But I don’t think my mom will approve. My dad won’t for sure!”
“Just tell her you’ll be staying at my crib again, or sneak out!” Candy insisted. “Chino’s going to be there.” Candy tauntingly added. She knew that’s all Mercedes needed to hear.
“Alright, I’m down.” Mercedes smiled. As they talked about the event, a security guard came walking down the hall and stood in front of them.
“Mercedes Carter, the principal wants you in the office now.” The security guard informed her.
“Oh shit, you’re in trouble.” Shateeya cooed. Mercedes told her to shut up as she followed the guard down the hall and walked into the principal’s office.
Mercedes walked into the principal’s office and gulped when she saw India holding an ice pack on her face. She was sitting in the chair looking like she just went a few rounds with Floyd Mayweather. Mercedes struggled not to laugh at the sight. She sat across from India with
a steely glare. India rolled her eyes and the principal came out of his office to address the two of them. He called them inside and they both sat down as he took his seat behind the desk.
“What happened?” He inquired. Mercedes and India sat silent.
“So no one is going to tell me what happened?”
Silence filled the room once again. Mercedes looked away and crossed her hands.
“Both of you ladies acted horribly today. Due to your refusal to talk about the incident, you both will be suspended for one week.” The principal reclined back in his chair.
“What the fuck?” India yelled. “She started it.”
“Watch your mouth young lady.” He raised his voice. “So have a nice weekend; it’s starting today.”
Mercedes grabbed her bag and threw it over her shoulder and walked out of the office. She had never been suspended from school. She was a good girl, but she was tired of dealing with the drama. She already knew her parents would be notified, so she prepared to deal with their consequences when she got home. Mercedes hung around outside until school was dismissed. She refused to sit in anymore classes since she was already suspended. Also, she wanted to let the girls know what happened in the office.
“Alright, I’ll see ya’ll Friday.” Mercedes waved.
Maria was waiting out front to pick her up. Mercedes got into the car and slid in the seat. She bit down on her bottom lip and looked out the window to avoid eye contact with her mother.
“What happened at school today?” Maria asked before she pulled off. She sat there with the car engine idling.
“This girl came out her mouth to me wrong and we ended up fighting.”
“That’s a good reason to fight Mercedes.” Maria sarcastically responded.
“I mean she came at me Ma, she disrespected me.”
“Mercedes, right now I’m so pissed at you I can’t even put it into words. I will let your father deal with you.” Maria waved her hand and dismissed her. Mercedes huffed and turned to stare from the window as her mother pulled off. The ride home was totally silent. When she walked into the house, Mercedes saw her father sitting on the couch. She said nothing and hoped that he wouldn’t either, of course that was all a pipe dream. “Mercedes Carter.” Don called out.
