Never Judge A Book By Its Cover

The Gang

MERIT'S P.O.V

FINALLY!

School was over! I threw all of my books not needed for the rest of the day in my locker.

I closed my locker and was about to walk away but someone grabbed me by my wrist and twirled me around. Just as I was about to slap the bastard, he caught my hand.

"Damn...those reflexes though." he said with an amused smile. I sighed, "Justin, I could've hurt you." He smiled at me and rubbed his thumb on my hand. "But you didn't." he said, reassuring me.

I looked down at our hands nervously and I think that he got the hint because he quickly removed his hand and awkwardly cleared his throat.

After a few seconds of silence, he sighed and licked his lips. "Look, I really didn't wanna bother you or interfere with your life but there's a Math quiz coming up and I really need your help." he said.

"So you want me to tutor you?" I asked, surprised that he would want me to help him out of all the other nerds in this godforsaken institution. "Well, not want...more like need." he said, giving me puppy dog eyes.

Ugh, seriously?

"Why not? When can we start?" I asked. "Yes! Um...today would be great." he said with a smile. "Yeah, sure. Just gi-" I immediately cut myself short when I remembered that me and the guys have some unfinished business to attend to tonight.

I mentally rolled my eyes. "Actually, I can't tonight because...because-" he cut me off. "Because what?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowed. "Because my mom is coming home from New York today and I promised her that I would spend the evening with her." I came up with a lie on the spot. Although I almost physically cringed at the mention of my mother, I don't think that Justin noticed.

His smile dropped and disappiontment took over his features. "Oh." is all that he said. "But we can definitely start tomorrow." I said, trying to lighten the mood. His smile returned. "Of course."

"Okay. Give me your phone." I said, holding out my hand for it. "Okay?" he whispered, retrieving the small device from his back pocket and handing it over to my awaiting grasp. I saved my number to his phone and showed him...

Merit ♡♥

"There." I said, giving him his phone. "Now you have my number so just call or text me and I'll save your phone number to my phone, but I really have to go." I pointed to the entrance doors behind me with my thumb.

"Oh. Okay, well I'll see you tomorrow Merit." I nodded. "Yeah, see you." I said before turning on my heel and running to my bicycle outside.

I quickly rode home, checking the time every once in a while. I reached home in about five minutes. Riding through the huge, black gates, I ran up the huge staircase before pushing the front door open.

I slammed the door shut and yelled, "Boys! I'm home!" After a few seconds, someone's head popped out of the kitchen. "Mer Mer!" he yelled. "Nick Nick!" I yelled back before running towards him and jumping into his welcoming arms.

"How was school, kiddo?" he asked, ruffling my hair.

Ugh! Why the hair?

I playfully glared at him. "We're the same age Nicholyle." I said in an 'as a matter of factly' tone. "Whatever. Anyways, I'm baking cookies!" he said with excitement, knowing that I love them dearly.

"Oooh! Yay!" I exclaimed with a cheeky grin. He smiled brightly. Nicholyle was always like a brother to me and so were the others but I was always closer to him, except for my actual blood related brother of course, we just kinda clicked. I don't know if it's because we are the closest in terms of age, but I'm glad that I have someone like Nicholyle in my life.

"The rest of the gang is in the living room. Cookies will be out in a minute." I hugged him before giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks Nick Nick."

"Anytime, Mer Mer." he pecked my forehead and smiled at me. I smiled back before heading off to the living room.

There the rest of the gang was having a meeting?

"Hey guys." I said, walking up to them. "Hey." they all responded. I hugged all of them, counting while doing it...

Bruce

Marcus

Logan

Elliott

And last but not least...

"Get over here." my only sibling said with open arms and a huge smile.

Jason.

I ran over to him and hugged him as if my life depended on it. His warm embrace made me smile. Jason always gives the best hugs and he is so caring and sweet but whatever you do, don't get him on his wrong side. It's never pretty.

"Hi babygirl." he whispered before kissing my forehead. "Hey Jay Jay." I said, my face still in his chest. He gave me a little squeeze before he pulled away from the hug and put my chin between his thumb and index finger, holding my face up.

He looked me dead in the eye, his demeanor and tone serious. "You okay?" he asked me. "Of course." I answered. He squinted his eyes at me, searching my eyes for any hint of a lie. "Jason." I said, holding on to his hand that was holding up my face. "I'm okay." I reassured him truthfully. He was and still is the protective type of brother and he can read me like the back of his hand. Sometimes it annoys me but I know that he is only trying to keep me safe and I honestly couldn't be anymore grateful.

"Good." he said with a smile before he bent down and pecked my nose. I smiled up at him. "So...you've all started a meeting without me I see." I said with a small smirk.

"Actually, no." Nicholyle said, emerging from the kitchen with a dish filled with chocolate chip cookies. He set them down on the coffee table. "We waited for you to come. So, let's get down to business shall we?" he said, gesturing towards the cookies.

Everyone got the hint and nodded before grabbing a cookie, me grabbing four of course, and taking a seat.

Time to get to work.

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Let me know what you guys think!

And can you believe that Merit's in a gang?!

:-O

I know right?!

But anyways, bye lovies! ♡♥♡♥