Chapter 2
The weeks passed smoothly and soon Mercedes became friends with Denisa, Reggie and Leah. They travelled, toured and talked together. It was clear to everyone but Denisa that Reggie liked her, and Mercedes was determined that by the end of the trip she would get them together. She and Leah forced them together (although not much forcing was necessary) as much as possible, but by the end of the trip, they still weren’t together.
Mercedes, however, found that she would always see Luke watching her when he thought she wasn’t looking. It unnerved her a little but she just focused on finding – and keeping – new friends. On the plane trip back, Mercedes once again sat next to Leah, who chattered non-stop until they reached the first fuel stop. Nearly running off the plane in her haste to get some peace and quiet, she bumped into a tall form and glanced up in surprise. Luke stood staring down at her, a grin on his face as he murmured, “You should probably watch where you’re going…”
Blushing a fiery red, Mercedes swallowed and tried to think of some reply but she heard Leah’s voice approaching from around a corner and blanched, “Um I really have to go...” She muttered quickly before walking briskly down the corridor.
As soon as she arrived back at New York, she caught up with Denisa and Reggie. You couldn’t miss Denisa in her bright red dress and Mercedes immediately said to her, “That is the most awesome dress I have ever seen.”
Denisa blushed and said, “Really, girl?”
Reggie nudged her and said loudly, “She made it herself.”
Mercedes immediately began to compliment her before a silky laugh rang out and a sugary voice said, “I can tell…” Mercedes turned as Victoria laughed and strolled past.
Turning back to Denisa, Mercedes was shocked to see that Denisa was fuming, “Denisa, it looks beautiful.” Denisa’s face softened a little but Mercedes could see that she was barely holding it in. Reggie put his hand on her shoulder and without a word they left the airport. Mercedes trailed after, slightly bemused and soon became separated from them in the crowd. She was jostled by by Sam who had several couriers following with her baggage. She headed towards the double decker buses, sporting elaborate BLAIRWOOD signs, but still could see no sign of Denisa and Reggie. Victoria was getting into a personalised white Limousine, but she could see nothing of Luke. Not, she convinced herself, that she was looking.
Heading for the first massive bus, she clambered inside and saw that it was nearly full. She hesitated in the doorway as she searched for an available seat. She heard people climbing up behind her as she hesitated and Carolina’s voice rang out, “Luke’s saving me seat. Victoria would never approve, but seriously, she has to –“ She broke off as she saw Mercedes, who quickly started to walk as she searched for an available seat. She was just about to sit next to a random, pimply nerd when she was jerked into a seat across the aisle. The seats were designed to face one another with a table in between and she came face-to-face with Luke. She was about to utter a complaint when he shushed her urgently, as Carolina stood in the aisle smiling not-very-kindly at them.
Carolina spoke with barely controlled anger, “Luke, I thought we had an agreement…?” She trailed of in expectation as she looked at their joined hands (Luke still hadn’t released his grip from when he had grabbed her) and crossed her arms childishly.
Luke rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, “Well, the seats kind of taken.” Carolina stood there huffing for an extra minute before walking huffily away. When Luke’s gaze returned to her, Mercedes raised an eyebrow in question and he shrugged, “She’s been chasing me the whole trip.”
Mercedes frowned in confusion as she slowly retracted her hand from his, “I thought that you guys were… together.”
Luke nodded his head as he explained, “We used to be together, going on dates and everything that normal couples do, but Victoria never liked Carolina.” He took a sip from a glass of water and continued, “We grew up together but I began to resent how they would always drag me back into their fights.”
Mercedes spotted Denisa waving to her from a few seats down and smiled. Luke followed her gaze and Mercedes said, ‘I don’t get all the drama. Denisa and your sister seem to hate each other.”
Luke shrugged, “They both want to be the Queen of Blairwood.” Seeing Mercedes bemused expression, he continued, “It’s not real, of course, they just want the power.”
Mercedes sighed tiredly, she was beginning to think that everyone wanted that crown.
