This is our Story || 5SOS AU

12. Little Appreciation

CHAPTER 12: LITTLE APPRECIATION

# MERCEDES #

"What do we need?" Tony asked as I took out a list of materials for the rocket. "knives, adhesives, gloves, goggles, engine mount tube, engine hook, Mylar ring, engine blo---"

"Enfant," the man who owned the store we were in was glaring at me. "Prise vos cheval." I frowned since I forgot that this place isn't America. "Um," I sighed. "Faire ici parler de Anglais?"

The man sighed. "CURTIS!" he yelled, and then in 5 minutes, a boy about my age came running. "Papa?" he said. The man was whispering to Curtis then he turned to me.

"Sorry," he said with a smile. "My father's not much of an English speaker. I'm Curtis. How can I help you?" Damn, he was cute. And familiar. That's weird.

"We need supplies for a model rocket," Michael stepped in before I could say anything. Curtis nodded. "A water rocket or just those average rockets?" he asked.

"The average one," I said before Michael could say anything. "What materials are you looking for?" Curtis asked. I handed him the list. Curtis kept roaming around and gathering supplies.

"How many of you are building the rocket?" Curtis asked. "4 of us," I told him. "I'm included in that, right?" Michael asked. "Yeah, dude," Tony reassured him. "Don't worry."

"4 goggles on the house," Curtis handed us some goggles. "Really?" I asked. "Thanks!" Curtis smiled. "No problem," he smiled. "It's not often that a pretty girl comes here to buy stuff."

I blushed. "Thanks," I said. "That'll be 5.11 Euros," he said. Tony paid him then he, Michael and I grabbed the supplies. "I'll see you guys at school," I heard Curtis call which caused me to turn.

"You go to Plato?" I asked. Curtis nodded. "We have World History and Spanish together," he said. I felt awful. I never noticed before. "I'm---"

"Mercedes Jenkins," he finished for me. "I know. I always see you. You're the best in class." I smiled. "Mr. Moss even thinks you're valedictorian worthy." I laughed.

"That's cray," I said. "I'm not that smar--" Here comes Michael with his interruptions again. "We should go," he said. "This model rocket won't build itself and Hugh might get bored waiting in the car."

I sighed. "I'll see you at school, Mercedes," he said. I smiled. "You too," I said. Curtis went back to his work while Michael, Tony and I left the supplies store.

Tony went to the front seat with Hugh, leaving me and Michael at the back of the pickup truck Hugh borrowed from Logan. We were stuck with the supplies at the back so Michael and I had to sit close to each other.

The drive was silent, except for Hugh and Tony laughing in the front seat with whatever joke they made. Michael and I, on the other hand, are silent as the wind.

"So," Michael started a conversation. "How do we do this the model rocket?" I gave him an incredulous look. "I knew it was a bad idea to let you help," I sighed.

"I'm just asking how we do it," Michael said. "Sheesh, Mercedes, can't you see that I'm trying?" I looked at him. "What?" I said.

"I'm trying to so hard," he snapped. "I'm trying so you'd forgive me, but you always push me away!" I shook my head. "What are you talking about?" I sneered.

"This week," he huffed. "All I was trying to do was show you that I'm not the jerk you think I am but the next thing I knew, you're telling Frankie that I'm some kind of weirdo."

Dammit, Frankie. I forgot to tell her not to tell Michael about the conversation that we had about him. I said that Michael was freaking me out because he's acting so nice all of a sudden. Dammit, Frankie. Damn it.