Mercy [boyxboy]

Chapter Five

Friday arrives with a vengeance.

Annie has kept to her word, leaving Mercy alone throughout the week, even going as far as to avoid him altogether. It unnerves him, truthfully, but he's never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth. David has been suspiciously absent as well. Though, he concedes, their previous encounters were likely only because David actively sought him out. A part of Mercy wishes to see him, if just briefly, but a larger part of him knows it would lead to nothing good. There's no place left in David's heart for him, be it as a friend or a lover.

Mercy frowns, irritated. He shouldn't be thinking about such things so wistfully. It's unbecoming and pointless.

"What did that poor book ever do to you?" Bentley asks from across the room, perched on his bed with his legs crossed, laptop propped open on his lap.

Mercy glances up from the book he'd previously been scowling into. "Nothing."

Bentley snorts. "Then why the sour face?"

He shrugs. "No reason."

"No reason, right." Bentley makes a small, disbelieving noise before his bed creaks and Mercy's book disappears from view. "We're friends now, aren't we?" he asks, smile tentative. "That means we tell each other when something is bothering us."

"It's nothing," Mercy says, sighing. "I promise."

A frown mars Bentley's normally exuberant face. "Uh... well, um, fine. You just looked irritated, s'all."

Mercy rolls his eyes and holds out his hand. "Book," he orders. "Now, please."

"Sheesh," Bentley exhales, tossing the book into Mercy's lap. "Anyone ever tell you that you're difficult?"

Mercy pauses, familiar twinge flaring up in his chest. "Quite often," he replies softly.

"Well, whatever." Bentley returns to his bed to sulk, once again clacking away noisily at his keyboard. Mercy's allowed five blessed minutes of silence before Bentley pipes up again. "You, um, skipped your morning classes," he accuses awkwardly. "Why?"

Mercy stiffens, grip on his book tightening. "Because I felt like it."

"You never miss a class," Bentley points out, clearly suspicious.

Instead of replying, Mercy ignores Bentley and flips to the next page in his book. He'd skipped his morning class because he was unable to figure out who Annie is; which means he still doesn't know what kind of super she is or how he can prevent her from manipulating him. Langley's roster had been suspiciously removed from the online course center, and Mercy has no other way of discovering Annie's real name short of asking her. As things are now, he can't chance running into her. He's too ill-prepared, especially considering he hasn't contacted his brother.

"Come on man, don't ignore me," Bentley whines, interrupting Mercy's thoughts. "That's not cool."

"You're asking annoying questions," Mercy tells him easily, "of course I'm going to ignore you."

He represses a smile at Bentley's ensuing grumbling. "Well, at least tell me you're still coming to that party tonight," Bentley grouches, brows furrowed and lips pinched.

"Party," Mercy echoes, memory faltering. It takes him a beat to recall what Bentley's referring to. "Oh, right. That party." He has no particular desire to attend a, no doubt, alcohol fueled and hormonal college function, but the way Bentley's looking at him makes him think twice about going back on his word. "I told you I would, didn't I?"

A wide grin stretches across Bentley's face. "Great!" he exclaims. "We'll take your car, then."

Mercy pauses midway through turning to the next page in his book. "Pardon?" he says, dubious. "How do you know I have a car?"