Metal Rose

Chapter 4

Mercedes stands in her bedroom mirror staring at herself. Her mom walks by and gently knocks on the wall.

"Mercedes, are you okay? That's the fourth outfit you've put on."

Mercedes looked at her mom with a smile.

"This is the one. I'm fine."

Her mom smiked brightly.

"You did some of your makeup today!"

Mercedes looked nervous.

"Do you think its a little too dark for them at school?"

Her momshakes her head.

"It is dark, but you didn't put on a whole lot and it's cute! Don't worry about anyone else. You look great and I'm not just saying that because I'm your mom."

Mercedes nodded with a smile. She ate breakfast and played with both her dog and cats before leaving for school. Pulling into the school parking lot, Mercedes immediately spots her friends by Emily's van. Seeing Hunter suddenly makes her nervous again instead of annoyed. Emily's smile beams as Mercedes walks over to them.

"Look who finally decided to join us. Oh my gosh! You look so pretty!"

Mercedes's eyes shift to Hunter who is staring. She gives him a little smile.

"Good morning."

Hunter speaks though he is almoat speechless.

"Good morning."

Kevin and Emily look at each other confused. They stand outside talking for a good fifteen minutes. Suddenly, Mercrdes remembers something. She pulls out her phone and stands really close to Hunter. This causes Kevin and Emily to look at each other confused again. Mercedes flips through her phone excitedly.

"I almost forgot to show you this. Look at this meme I found while eating breakfast."

Hunter took her phone and not even twenty seconds later he was laughing.

"Dude, no way!"

Emily's eyes widened. She tapped Kevin and got his eyes to follow hers. They could barely see Hunter's fingertips on her back by her hip, showing his hand was resting there. Hunter handed back her phone. Mercedes took a couple of steps forward, moving off of Hunter. She started talking to Emily as if nothing had happened. Hunter looked at Mercedes' long curls that were freely hanging. He then noticed a ponytail holder and a couple of bracelets on her wrist. Something in Hunter made him want to play with her hair, though he didn't know what. He cautiously reached for it, worried Mercedes might bite his head off for touching it. To his surprise, she didn't even budge. He pulled it all behind her shoulders. Kevin looked at Hunter again confused but Hunter wasn't paying attention. Mercedes continued to talk to Emily as if nothing was going on. Hunter remembered practicing on himself for shits and giggles a couple times, so he gently made three sections with her hair. Mercedes stood talking to Emily as Hunter managed to put her hair in a decent and pretty curly braid. He reached down to her wrist but Mercedes lifted her hand into the air so Hunter could get the ponytail holder. When Hunter finishes securing the braid, he gently lets it go. Emily continues talking but narrows her eyes. She looks around Mercedes questioningly.

"Hunter, did you just braid Mercedes' hair?"

Hunter didn't know anyone was really paying attention to him. He shurgged.

"Uh.. Yeah... I've done it on myself before just fucking around."

Hunter leans around Mercedes.

"Sorry if that was invasive."