Mercy

Chapter Four» Stories

**Braxton's POV**

As we tell each other goodnight I can't help but think of her. When she was telling me her "story" she told me that she has lived here all of her life. Her father was in the military so he is strict. He had to come back when Caroline was five years old because her mother had died in a car accident. I felt bad for her, losing someone you love is always hard.

She told me about this guy named Shawn, he's her best friend. Apparently they have grown up together. I can't help but be a little bit jealous of him. She told me he was like the brother she never had.

I told her about me moving here from California. Like any other girl, she asked me a million questions about what it was like there. I don't see what the big deal is, it's just another place.

We cut our conversation off at this point so we could to sleep. We have school tomorrow and I'm nervous. Being around Caroline gives me a strange feeling in my stomach. I push the thought aside and tried to fall asleep.

**Caroline's POV** (the next morning)

I wake up to the sound of my alarm going off on my phone. I laugh at what my song choice is, Glamorous by Fergie. It never fails to wake me up though. I pick up my phone and start to scroll through Instagram. I have a new follow request from who I am guessing is Braxton. I quickly follow him back and start to get ready for today.

I decided that I want to try to look cute today. I pull on my light wash skinnies and a burgundy silk shirt with lace on sides. I start to do my makeup putting on some foundation and bronzer first, then my mascara. I guess you could say that makeup is my security blanket.

After I finish getting ready I head down stairs to grab an apple for breakfast and tell my father goodbye. I don't live far from school so I walk most of the time, unless it's raining or something. I walk out the door and feel my phone buzz. Braxton.

Braxton:  heyy

Me:  hello :)

Braxton:  do you always walk to school?

Braxton:  ha ha turn around!

How does he know that I am walking? I decide to glance behind me. Sure enough, he is there, walking too.  I start laughing while he catches up to me. "You really are a stalker, aren't you?" , I tried to be serious but I failed. His face was priceless! He thought I was being serious again. Boy, he has a lot to learn.

We walk into school together, laughing about some joke he had just said. I look up to see Shawn glaring at us. Braxton notices this at the same time and says, "And I'm guessing that is Shawn?". I shake my head yes and we continue to walk.

"Hey babe, what's up?" I always call him babe. He does too. It isn't weird because we are so close. Braxton tells me that he'll just meet me in Hicks room and walks off.

"I was just waiting on you. I didn't realize that boy toy brought you to school today". His voice seems harsh. He is never like this. Ever.

I was trying to be gentle with Shawn, he can have a temper sometimes, "First of all, he isn't a 'boy toy'... and second I was walking to school at the same time he was so, yeah." All he did was shake his head and said "yeah".

He was still upset, I could tell. I gave him a hug and told him that I would catch up with him for third.

I walk into the classroom and find Braxton. I take the empty seat beside him. We start talking and class begins. I have a feeling that we are going to become close. And I think Shawn knows it too.

*** after school ***

Today was better than I thought it would be. Me and Braxton got paired up for a project for Finchum's class. It's over World War I, I think. Who knows? I wasn't paying attention. It's due in exactly two weeks from now and we won't have enough time in school to finish so we agreed that we could work on it at his house. At the thought of that I get butterflies in my stomach.

I'm already home and Braxton is texting me. We are talking about the project and whether or not we want to start it today. I suggest that we should just in case we get tied down with something else and don't have time to finish it. And plus I want to see him again.

He sends me his address. His house is only a block away from mine so that's good, I'll just walk. I have to admit I am sorta nervous. I mean the only guys house I have been to is Shawn's. I'm not much for dating or just hanging with a lot of guys. I'm more conservative I guess.

I walk up to a house that looks like a two story. It is absolutely stunning. It is white with navy blue shudders. The wrap around porch is amazing! I check his message from earlier and it matches the address on the mailbox. His parents must make a ton of money to keep up with this.

I walk up to the huge mahogany door and knock gently. A middle aged woman, who I am guessing is probably Braxton's mother, greets me with a huge smile.