A Little Mad

Chapter 69

Jerome was furiously marching to their room and everyone else was following. Mercedes spoke calmly.

"Jerome..."

Jerome turned around with red, angry eyes.

"Why couldn't you just leave it alone?! Why?!"

Jerome turned around and banged on the wall. Mercedes looked at him dumbfounded.

"I needed to know.. And Jerome you were going to shoot him! He's your brother! He's your family!"

Jerome turned around with tears falling to the floor.

"You're my family! Not him! Not after everything he's done! He doesn't get that right!"

Jerome picked up the gun off the bed and started pacing around the room. Everyone else froze as Mercedes stepped forward.

"Jerome... Put the gun down..."

Jerome groaned and set the gun on top of the dresser. He turned to face her.

"No you didn't! You could have not cared how he felt!"

A tear fell down her cheek.

"You right... I didn't need to care... But I did.."

TaTyana stepped forward.

"You are not about to make her feel bad for her loving heart. She is so rare."

Mercedes turned to TaTyana.

"Please don't..."

Jerome fell to his knees.

"I love you.. I can't lose you... And not to him..."

Mercedes set in front of him. She lifted his face as tears fell down both of their faces. Mercedes shook her head.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I'm not leaving you. You are mine and I can promise you even more that I am yours. Your brother is my friend... Yes I have feelings for him, but they are nothing compared to what I feel for you."

Jerome looked at her with sad eyes.

"Promise..?"

Mercedes smiled. She raised her pinky.

"I can pinky promise that."

Jerome stared at her hand for a minute and then bursted into laughter. He grabbed her pinky with his.

"You are so adorable."

Mercedes used her other hand to wipe his tears. She smiled.

"What can I say? I guess I was born special."

Mercedes was joking, but Jerome gently cupped her cheek.

"You really were though."

A tear fell down Mercedes's cheek. She ran her fingers down his cheeks and through his short beard. She gave him the most loving look she had ever given anyone.

"I love you so much more than you will ever know or understand..."

Bailey looked away a little sad. Ash left the room noticing her mood. Jerome smiled and took her hands.

"You stay so good with pure and good intentions... Despite all of this.."

Mercedes laughed.

"Jerome I beheaded a man and threw his head at his friend."

Jerome shook his head.

"That man was going to hurt you. You wouldn't have if he wasn't going to hurt you. You spent this whole time training and gaining information to save people. You care about other people. You just want everyone to be happy. You are so quick to see the good in someone and be kind to them. "

TaTyana was standing next to Ed smiling.

"Your beautiful heart is what I value the most..."

"You love it so much, it's yours."

Jerome stared at her disbelief. She smiled at him.

"It's yours. Take it. Twist it. Paint on it. Give it a reason to feel the way it does. Let me in. I want this. I want to see all the darkness and pain. I want to talk out everything. I want you to come to me when you're angry, upset or scared and let me help you through it. You don't ever have to be afraid or embarrassed around me. If you need to cry, I won't tell a single soul you did. I want to go out with you, because if you're going to protect me, I will be out there covering your back and protecting you. We're a team. We do this together. I want you to just let me love you.. Please.. Just let me love you."

Jerome couldn't breathe and he didn't know what to say. He did the only thing he knew to do. He leaned forward and pressed his lips into hers. When he pulled away, Mercedes got in his lap and set up as tall as she could on her knees. Jerome buried his face in her chest and cried. Ed tapped TaTyana and Bailey.

"We should probably get out of here and leave them alone."

Mercedes ran her fingers through his hair as they were left alone. She held the man crying in her arms. She thought about her life and how it ended up. If someone told her two years ago, she wouldn't believe it. One thing she did believe in despite everything was love. She knew she was holding the love of her life and nothing in this world was going to going to break them apart.

"Jerome..."

His grip around her tightened. His crying didn't slow down. She hugged him back with the same force. She kissed the top if his head.

"Okay. I got you. I'm not going anywhere."

"Should we go check on them?"

TaTyana stood up looking at Bailey.

"I got it Bailey."

TaTyana walked down the silent hallway. She was worried about the silence until she came to their room. The door seemed to always be cracked open. Jerome was sitting on the bed with his legs out in front of him and Mercedes was straddling his lap. They were both completely naked. TaTyana went to turn away when she noticed how gentle and sweet they were being. For once it didn't look like it was going to end up rough and loud. Mercedes traced her fingers down his cheek. Jerome took her hand and kissed her palm, then her wrist and up her arm. Mercedes smiled and giggled as she ran her fingers through his hair with her other hand. Jerome trailed his hands into her sides and gave her an evil grin. He quickly tickled her, making her giggle a little louder than before. Jerome pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. Mercedes laid her head on his shoulder. Jerome slowly ran his hands down her back. He lifted her head and tilted it the side. Jerome started kissing her neck and Mercedes closed her eyes. TaTyana turned, shook her head laughing to herself and walked down the hallway. She started thinking to herself.

"That was definitely my cue to leave. They're so cute, but they really need to start shutting their door. I didn't sign up to see my best friend having sex all the time. Me and her are going to have to talk about our friendship contract."

TaTyana laughed to herself and scrunched her nose. She walked back into the living room and everyone stared at her. She smiled.

"You know, I think they're going to be okay. I really do."

She set on the couch next to Ed who smiled brightly at her.