Coffehouse Sweetheart: Merlie Fanfiction

Chapter 7

Meryl thanked the lady and hastily grabbed her latte, turning around to head to their table. But she turned around too fast, and bumped into a man behind her, spilling her drink.

"Sorry! I'm so sorry!" They both apologized at the same time, but Charlie used a deeper voice.

Meryl looked up at him. There was something familiar about his friendly grin. . . But she couldn't quite make out what it was. "I'm sorry, I should've watched where I was going. Here, I'll buy you a new shirt!" She said politely.

"No, I shouldn't have been in your way." Charlie tried to make out if it was Meryl, but her shades and hat covered half of her face. Though her voice sounded familiar. . . "I'm Matthew. You're Mer. . .?" He stopped himself before he could say Meryl and shot a look at his friends, as if to tell them to shut up and play along.

Meryl's eyebrows raised. He knew her name? Oh. He must've heard her friends call her Mer. She shot a glare at the girls behind her and quickly lied. "Meredith. You must've heard my friends call me by my nickname, Mer." She grabbed the napkin that Brooklyn handed to her and started dabbing her skirt.

Charlie's heart sank in disappointment. He really thought it was Meryl, but she had already introduced herself as Meredith. But there was always that part of him that told him it was really her.

"Well, I'll get out of your way now. I'm really sorry about that. Here, take this to buy yourself a new shirt. And your orders on me." Meryl felt really bad about the situation, and handed him a wad of money.

"No, I have plenty of money. I'm an Olympian, with sponsors. But thank you, you're too kind," Charlie looked at the girl in front of him and was shocked by her kindness. It reminded him of something Meryl would do. And then he realized what he just said.

Meryl looked up in surprise. He was an Olympian? With sponsors? It was then that a thought of Charlie ran across her head. No, it couldn't be, he said his names as Matthew, and besides, Charlie doesn't like covering his curls with a hat, she thought to herself. "You're an Olympian?"

"Err, no, I mean, can Olympian for a little charity event my, um, school is having. And yeah, there are rich sponsors for that too." Charlie lied and mentally slapped himself.

Probably not as much as Ralph Lauren and Kellogs, she thought proudly to herself. "Oh." She laughed. "I was gonna be like, oh my god, did I just spill coffee on an Olympian?"

He frowned a little bit at her response. Meryl wouldn't say that, she stressed how Olympians were just normal people. And she's an Olympian herself. But she's also a great actress, the stubborn part of him persisted.

Meryl saw him hesitate, but couldn't really read his expression because of his large sunglasses. He must think I'm an idiot, she thought, I should just walk away now. "Well, it was nice meeting you, I should really go now." She gestured towards her friends, who picked up the cue and headed towards a table.

"Wait, Meryl!" Charlie was afraid he wasn't going to see this pleasant young woman again. Then he realized what came out of his mouth.

Meryl, Brooklyn, Kassie, and Jessica all froze in the middle of their steps and slowly looked back at the man in shock. He figured out who she really was? The thought ran through all of their minds.

"I mean, um, Meredith." He panicked and suddenly remembered something that Meryl had said in an interview. "Sorry, my sisters name is Meryl, and we all call her Aunt Meryl, because she's a wonderful aunt, and for some reason you remind me of her? Probably the outfit, looks like something Meryl would wear. Or maybe your size? Aunt Meryl is short too. No offense, I actually really like short people. But don't worry, I have nothing on you." Charlie rambled on and on, before Derek elbowed him.

"Sorry." Charlie's smiled sheepishly.

Meryl laughed. Matthew really reminded her of Charlie, and the way he would stutter when he lied and how he rambled when he was nervous. Stop, she sternly thought to herself. "Well, aunt Meryl seems like a wonderful person. I'd like to meet her one day." Meryl took another napkin from Brooke.

Oh. Charlie didn't think of that. "Yeah, I think you two would be good friends."

"It was nice meeting you, Matthew." Meryl said firmly with an air of finality and headed to her table with a friendly smile. As she passed the cashier, Emma, she handed her a wad of money, whispering, "This is for Matthews order. That's Matthew right there."

Emma, a pretty dirty blond around Meryl's age, nodded and smiled, handing her a new coffee. "Here. I made a new one for you."

Meryl gratefully took the cup. "Thank you so much! You shouldn't have." She smiled and strolled to her table, leaving Charlie staring after her.

He recognized the ending tone in her voice and realized he should stop bothering her. But Charlie desperately wanted to talk to this beautiful young woman, if it was Meryl or not. He wasn't surprised when he found out his order had already been paid for, immediately knowing it was Meredith.

Derek had been watching Charlie, and instantly knew he was interested in Meredith. Or maybe he was just desperate for a female companion after being ditched by Meryl. Especially when Meredith resembled Meryl way too much. "You should go talk to her. Get yourself a girlfriend, man, stop waiting for Meryl. And while you're at it, find out if her friends are single for us, 'kay?" He urged Charlie.

"I'll talk to her. But Meredith's not gonna be my girlfriend, and don't ever say that about Meryl again. Meryl will always come first, even if were not in a romantic relationship." Charlie said firmly, angrily grabbing his food. "Just for underestimating Meryl's importance, I will NOT introduce you." He stomped off to the girls table.

Derek had the brains to not talk back to Charlie. Instead, he exchanged glances with David, Joe, and Josh. They all knew that Charlie would always love Meryl, no matter how many girls attracted his attention. And especially now that she was gone, Charlie was extremely sensitive on the topic of Meryl Davis, and could use a distraction. Which is what the guys were trying to do. Not that it was working.

Meanwhile Meryl and her friends have been gossiping, planning, if you will, about the guys and her identity.