Witness to a Love Story

Twenty: Double Trouble

I don't even bother mumbling a sorry as I instantly go down to pick up the quickly scattering flyers. Someone cusses behind me as I see a nice looking phone fall down next to me. I pick it up and wince from the crack on the screen. Still crouched, I turn around to give it back to whoever I bumped into.

They are on the ground, too, helping me pick up a few of the flyers. I freeze as my eyes focus on the soft, inviting black hair on top of the gentleman. A gasp leaves me as I realize who the hell it is.

A pair of smoldering grey eyes peer into mine. "Still as clumsy as I remember," Merrick mumbles to himself.

"Sexy!" I yell at him in surprise. I'm pointing at him with his now cracked phone in my hand.

Merrick's grey eyes briefly show surprise. A light red tint brushes his face. "Just give me back my phone!" He shouts at me. He stands up while gripping the flyers that he's already picked up.

I stand, too. "What are you doing here?" I ask, ignoring his earlier demand.

"That's none of your business." Merrick growls at me.

He tries swiping his phone out of my hand. I pull it away and hold it behind my back. I have a feeling of being dead if Merick saw the crack on his phone. My action proved pointless, however, as someone easily takes it out of my hands. I look behind me to see Jay.

With a completely serious look on his face, Jay steps next to me and holds Merrick's phone out. Merrick gives Jay a dirty look and snatches his phone away gruffly. Neither of them exchange pleasant words of 'thank you' or 'you're welcome.'

Instead, Jay asks, "Aren't you that guy from last Saturday?"

I look at Jay, a bit surprised at how good his memory is. Merrick looks Jay over before responding. "And what is it to you if I am?" Merrick cautiously asks.

"Just don't give my friend any trouble." Jay warns Merrick while patting my shoulder.

I give Jay a glare. Grabbing his wrist, I firmly tell Jay, "I don't need you protecting me, piercings."

Jay says with a playful tone, "Really? Cause you ended up walking into this guy when I wasn't around."

"You were a few feet away! And you could have told me to turn around." I hiss at Jay.

Jay simply smirks. "I did."

Merrick rudely interrupts us. "There are bigger things than who did what." His arms are crossed and he's glaring at both me and Jay.

"What?" I turn and snap at Merrick.

"You cracked my phone." He huffs out. Merrick holds up his cracked phone, the victim.

Jay, intervening, goes to take out his wallet. "I'll pay for it."

Merrick instantly turns Jay down. "No," he says sternly and looks directly at me, "She broke it, so she pays."

Narrowing my eyes on Merrick, irritation gets the best of me. "Do you think I just have money laying around?" I ask him rhetorically.

Merrick responds sarcastically. "No. I expected you to just shit out a gold brick."

Jay chuckles. I think if wasn't for that, I might have actually attacked Merrick. Letting out a breath, I look between the both of them. "Fine," I say exasperated, "How do you want me to pay you back?"

Merrick raises an eyebrow. Jay looks at me confused. "You're really going to pay me/him back?" They ask at the same time.

Tapping my foot, I nod my head. Jay and Merrick share a look. They both smirk. Jay says, "I'm impressed. You actually got kitty to listen." Jay shakes Merrick's hand.

"Kitty?" Merrick asks while looking uncomfortable with the hand shake. Jay nods his head then walks away.

"I thought you guys hated each other." I say, a bit troubled by the turn of events. The thought of Jay and Merrick teaming up reeks of trouble for me.

Merrick wipes his hands on his shirt. "I have to admit, I didn't like him at first. He doesn't seem so bad, though. What's his name?"

"Jay," I mumble.

"You two dating?" Merrick casually asks.

"What?!" I splutter out. "No! No way! Never!" I strongly protest. It dawns on me that my strong resistance might raise suspicions. Merrick raises an eyebrow. I cross my arms and look away. Steering the conversation back on course, I ask how I'm suppose to pay for his broken phone.

Merrick looks me straight in the eye and demands something I didn't think I would ever hear. "Go out with me."