It was the last day of summer break for the kids who attended Dunbar High School. Mercedes Debois, Dunbar's head cheerleader and most popular eleventh grader, is spending it at home. She lives on a big horse ranch with her mother Mary, her two sisters Charlotte age twelve and La'Nita age eight, and her brother Andrew age one. Her father is still in her life, but since her parents are divorced he lives in Mississippi and visits once a month. She was helping her Mom go over the health records of the horses they had, which in total is nineteen, when the phone rang. "Hello" Mercedes answered. "Hey Mercedes it's Mackenzie, I wanted to know if you wanted to go to the mall I need new school clothes and mom's at work" Mackenzie Shiver was a thirteen year old girl who had known Mercedes for a long time and was starting the ninth grade at Dunbar. "Sure Kenzie I'll be right there" Mercedes said hanging up the phone. "Hey Mom, can you do the rest of the records by yourself?" Mercedes asked. "Sure honey why?" her Mom replied grabbing a pen. "Kenzie and I are going to the mall" Mercedes replied grabbing her purse. "OK honey be back around six for dinner" her Mom said. Mercedes agreed and hugged her Mom. She got in her new 2006 GMC savanna cargo her Mom bought her over the summer and got her keys out of her purse and started the car. As show drove through Dayton she noticed all the stores and restaurants that needed some series makeovers. She finally turned the corner on to Phillips Avenue and pulled up in front of Mackenzie´s house. "Hey Kenzie hop in!" Mercedes said opening the door. Mackenzie hopped in and they were off to the mall. When they got there they went into a store called A. J. Wrights. It's a store were girls Mackenzie and Mercedes age like to shop. Mackenzie looked on one of the shirt racks and found a short sleeve shirt. "Hey Sadie, how about this shirt?" it was a purple shirt with the word brat on it spelled out in blue glitter. "Oh that's pretty and it's the perfect word to describe you" Mercedes said laughing. Mackenzie rolled her eyes at Mercedes and looked at the price on the shirt. It was ten bucks so she put it in her little shopping basket and looked on. Mercedes thought that the store had a lot of pretty clothes put she really wanted some new jewelry. She turned around saw a store across the isle called Sparkling Jewels. She went over to the store and looked around. She saw a beautiful silver necklace with diamonds in it. She looked at the price tag and it was seventy-two dollars. She took one and kept looking. She saw a pair of diamond earrings that were on sale for forty dollars. She bought the necklace and earrings and went back to where Mackenzie was shopping. "Hey where did you go?" Mackenzie asked looking at some low cut skirts. "I went over to that jewelry store and bought a necklace and a pair of earrings" Mercedes said eyeing a light pink sparkly skirt. She bought the skirt for fifteen dollars and put it in a bag with the jewelry she bought. After they left the clothes store Mackenzie asked if the could stop by one of the food courts so she could get something to take home and eat and Mercedes said yes. They stopped by a burger counter and Mercedes sat down a table waiting for Mackenzie to get her food. As she sat there she noticed a guy looking at her. He was very cute and looked around her age. He smiled, but she ignored him. Mackenzie finally got her food, they were getting ready to leave when Mackenzie's friend Bonita West-Stone walked up to them. "Hey Kenza what's up?" Bonita asked. "Nothing getting ready to leave" Mackenzie said tying a knot in the bag she had her new clothes in. "Well, me and my Mom were gonna sit here and eat we'll drop ya off if ya want if that's OK with Sadie" Bonita said looking at Mercedes. Mercedes said it was OK and she walked out of the mall. As she was walking to her car she heard someone yell "Excuse me miss!" she turned around and saw the same guy she saw in the mall and he was walking up to her. "Can I help you?" she asked. "You go to Dunbar don't you?" he asked. "Yeah I'm the head cheerleader" she replied. "Oh so you're the ever lovely Mercedes Debois?" he asked in a sly voice. "Yeah.. isn't there something you wanted? She asked. No, I just wanted to meet you you're very pretty.. well see ya around school sometime bye" he said and walked away. Later at home she was eating dinner watching her baby brother make a mess on his clothes with his dinner when her Mom got an emergency call from her vet office. Mary Debois was the most loved and respected pet doctor is town. "Sadie honey make sure your sisters take baths before bedtime and give Andrew a warm bottle before he goes to sleep" her Mom says walking out the door. Later that night while watching TV she made La'Nita get in the tub first and then she turned the channel to Maury. It was an episode about abusive and controlling husbands and boyfriends. This one girl was on there and she told Maury that her boyfriend beats her up if she wears a short sleeve shirt. She watched another girl come on and say her boyfriend rapes her if she refuses to have intercourse with him. (I'd never let a guy treat me like that) she thought to herself. She went to the rest room to tell La'Nita bath time was over and she was already out and Charlotte was in. She looked at the clock and in was nine'o clock. She went into the kitchen and made Andrew a warm bottle. She laid Andrew in his play pen and gave him his bottle. She sat on the sofa and turned the TV to a music channel. They were showing a video of her favorite singer Angel. She was singing her hit song "Can't Break Me Down" and Mercedes was singing along in her head. After the song went off she went and told her sisters it was time for bed. She picked up her brother and went upstairs to her room. She but the baby in his crib and went into the bathroom to shower and change. Her Mom kept a spare crib and Mercedes room in case she had to work late. Mercedes put on her night clothes and brushed her teeth. She decided to wear her new skirt with a matching pink top that said sugar on it and her new necklace and earrings tomorrow. and she turned out her light and went to bed.
Mercedes alarm clock went off at five’0 clock in the morning. She got up and looked in the crib and Andrew was gone, that's how she knew Mom was home. She grabbed her clothes and went into her bathroom. She got dressed and brushed her hair and teeth. She put on a pink pair of high heels and grabbed her purse and book bag. She went downstairs and into the kitchen where La´Nita and Charlotte were eating cereal. Mercedes warmed up a bagel and went out to her car. On her drive to school she thought about the boy she met at the mall, Randall. She thought he was cute and was even hoping to see him at school today. When she pulled up to school she parked in the students parking lot. She walked to the front of the school and saw Mackenzie and Bonita standing on the school's front steps. "Hey Kenzie hey Bonita" she greeted. "Hey Sadie cute outfit" Mackenzie said as the bell rung. All the students were rushed into the auditorium where they learned the grades were going to be mixed this year and they also learned all the rules other stuff they needed to know. After the second bell rang students started to hurry to class. Mercedes first class was gym. She headed to the gym room and got there as the bell rang and hurried into the girls locker room to change. In the locker room she saw that her and Bonita had the same class. She put her gym clothes on and went and set on the benches with the rest of the girls. She saw that the teacher was Mrs. Tucker the cheerleading coach. Mrs. Tucker was a very pretty teacher. She had brown hair and eyes, she was very thin, and wore the cutest outfits almost like a model. "OK girls this year we are doing nothing but dancing´ Mrs. Tucker said grabbing a binder off the bench. "First dance we are gonna learn is actually a cheer" Mrs. Tucker said excitedly. She looked on a page in the binder that had a list of students names in it that were in that class. "OK let's have Sarah Mills, Tina Rivers, and Mercedes Debois come down to the floor first" She said as the girls walked to the floor. "OK Mercedes show them how to do the school cheer" Mrs. Tucker said. Mercedes did every move perfectly.
After she was done Mrs. Tucker made the girls do it together. "OK Tina you go set down and I want...Bonita West-Stone to come down." Mrs. Tucker demanded. Bonita came down and took Tina's place. "OK Bonita did you watch the girls do the cheer earlier?" Mrs. Tucker asked. "Yes, Mrs. Tucker" Bonita replied. Mrs. Tucker said OK and made the girls do it together again. Mercedes was shocked to see how fast Bonita moved. After they finished Mrs. Tucker made all the girls do it together one last time. "OK girls hit the locker room and tomorrow we start learning the hustle" Mrs. Tucker said. After Mercedes freshened up and got dressed she caught up to Bonita put her stuff in her gym bag. "Hey Bonita I was impressed at how good you danced" She said. "Yeah I'm real good it's like my talent" Bonita responded as the bell rung. They walked out of the gym and Mercedes wondered if Bonita would join the cheerleading squad. "Hey Bonita you should try out for the cheerleading squad" Mercedes insisted. "Umm cheering isn't really my thing" Bonita said walked into her next classroom. Mercedes went to her locker to get some notebooks and other supplies when she saw Randall again. He was talking with a group of his friends. He looked over and smiled at her and she smiled back. She walked over and to the elevator and pushed the up button and waited for it to come down. As she waited Randall walked over and talked to her. "Hey Mercedes where do you go next?" he asked. "Oh English with Mr. Reese." she said in a very happy voice. "Cool me too" he replied as the door of the elevator opened. "Ladies first" he said leading Mercedes into the elevator. They got to class and sat in desks right beside each other. "OK class today I want you to use your imagination and write a story about anything mythical" Mr. Reese said writing the assignment on the board. "This is due next Friday class get started" he said sitting down at his desk. Mercedes started writing when Randall passed her a note. The Note said:
Dear Mercedes:
Hey cutie what's up? I wanted to know
if you would give me the pleasure of taking
you out on a date Friday night if so call me my
number is 555-9003
Randall.
She put the note in her purse and kept working on her assignment. After school she was going to her car when she looked over and saw the auditions for the school's step team. She walked over and saw Bonita sitting waiting to audition. She stood and watched as Bonita took her turn. She was amazed at how awesome Bonita was and Mercedes knew she was going to get in. Mercedes went home and helped her Mom look over applications for new horses. "Hey Mom this is a white horse with black spots and it's name is Dessert King? ´ She asked showing her Mom the paper. "I don't know the horse doesn't race and it's a little to old to breed" She stated. "Oh look Ms. Coil is given here horses babies away and she has a baby black stallion for adoption Mom" Mercedes said with joy. "OK I know you've been looking for a Speeder, Jr., Speeder can't breed" her Mom said. "OK so we'll call Ms. Coil about the baby stallion´ Mercedes said writing it down. Ok oh heres a horse from the Anderson Ranch her name is Desire and she's solid white´ Mercedes said. “Oooh we gotta get her" Her Mom said. "OK so call the Anderson's and Ms. Coil right?" she asked her Mom. "Yep´ her Mom said. Mercedes went to the phone and called Ms. Coil first. "Hello" Mrs. Coil answered. ´Hey Ms. Coil its Mercedes DeBois of the Peaceful Isle Ranch and we wanted to adopt your baby stallion would that be OK" she asked. ´Why of course Hun" Ms. Coil said. ´What price are you asking for the horse? ´ Mercedes asked hoping it was in their price range. "For you Hun forty dollars" Ms. Coil said. "OK Ms. Coil bye" Mercedes said and hung up the phone. Next she called the Anderson Ranch.
"Hello" Mrs. Anderson greeted. "Hey Mrs. Anderson this is Mercedes DeBois of the Peaceful Isle Ranch and we're interested in buying Desire" she said. "Oh good" Mrs. Anderson said joyfully. "How much are you asking for the horse?" Mercedes asked. "Well, Desire has been in the family for a few years.. I'd say about.. Two-hundred dollars" Mrs. Anderson suggested "OK thanks Mrs. Anderson" Mercedes said and hung up the phone. Mercedes gave her Mom the paper with the two horses names and their prices on it and she left to get a moving truck for the horses. Mercedes decided to take Speeder to the racing track so she went and changed into her horse riding clothes which were a black T-shirt, a pair of faded jeans, and a pair of cowgirl boots. She told one of the stable helpers to bring speeder out and she hopped on his back and he gently galloped to the race track. When she got there she saw Charlotte helping organize the prizes. On The Peaceful Isle Ranch the didn't allow gambling so whoever picks the winning horse in each race gets to pick a prize basket. Mercedes went to the sign up counter and signed for a girl rider against girl rider race. "You're race is in fifteen minutes" the lady behind the counter said. As Mercedes was preparing Speeder for the race she heard the lady announce the race. "OK ladies and gentlemen there will a girl rider against girl rider race in ten minutes the racers are Mercedes Debois of the Peaceful Isle Ranch and her horse Speeder against Molly Tolting of the West Island Ranch and her horse Mysteria.. bids start now!". "Don't worry Speeder win or lose mommy will always love you Mercedes said petting Speeder. She climbed back on Speeder and went to the starting line to wait for the race to start. "Racers ready....GO!" a voice said over the intercom and the horses started running. Speeder was a fast horse. He made the other horse look like it was walking.
Speeder won the race and five people got prize baskets even Mercedes. She picked out one that had make-up and jewelry in it. She saw it was almost six and slowly rode Speeder home. When she got home she saw that Charlotte was already home and she was playing with some of their baby horses. She had one of the helpers take Speeder back to the stable and give him a bath. She went in the house and up to her room to change back into her clothes. When she got out of her room she saw La'Nita sitting in her room playing tea party with her Barbie dolls. She went into the kitchen, got a soda, and went into the living room to watch TV. She turned to a channel called E! and they were doing an interview with Angel. They asked about where she lived as a child and she said until she was thirteen, when she started singing, her and her Mom lived in a very small: rundown apartment building. Mercedes was getting into the interview when the phone rang. "Hello" Mercedes answered. "Hey honey" her Mom said, "I am on my way home with the truck of horses behind me tell the girls to get washed up I'm bringing Chinese home for dinner." "OK Mom" Mercedes said hanging up the phone. She went outside and told Charlotte and to put the baby horses back in their stables and get washed up for dinner and she did. Her Mom pulled with the horse truck right behind her. She helped take the horses to the stables ad get them settled. At dinner they all talked about what to name the new baby horse. "OK girls who was the last one to name a horse" Ms. DeBois asked. "I was Mommy" La´Nita said. "OK well then it's back to you Mercedes" Ms. DeBois said taking a drink of milk. "I wanna name him Speedy" she said. "OK Speedy it is" her Mom said. After dinner Mercedes and her Mom sat down and went over the medical history for the horses and filled out Speedy´s birth certificate. "OK so Desire has had all her shots right Mom?" Mercedes asked.
"Yeah but it says that she has a bad leg and can only do gallop races" her Mom stated. "OK is she a showcase horse?" Mercedes wondered. "Yes, she's won five in the last year" her Mom said. "OK anything else I need to write down?" "No" her Mom replied. "OK now when are you giving Speedy his first shot?" she asked getting up and standing by the calendar. "Umm I was thinking Thursday" her Mom said. Mercedes wrote it on the calendar. "OK now anything else we need to take care of?" Mercedes asked sitting back down. "Yeah the Sunrise Ranch up in Kettering is having a baby horse showcase and I want to enter one of our baby horses in it" her Mom said. "OK what horse?" Mercedes asked. "Maybe Nibbles" her Mom said. "I say Breezer" Mercedes insisted. "Well, the showcase is only for girl horses" her Mom said. "OK then Nibbles it is, we'll start training tomorrow at four" Mercedes said and went upstairs. Mercedes sat on her bed looking at the number on the note Randall gave her, she wasn't sure if she was ever going to call him. She saw La´Nita walking out of the bathroom. "La'Nita come here" she said putting the note back in her purse. What Sadie?" she asked. "We entered Nibbles in a showcase and we're gonna start training tomorrow at four´o clock OK?" she asked. "OK Sadie night" the little girl said and went to her room. The next day on her drive to school Mercedes stopped and got a fresh doughnut. When she got to school she Bonita sitting on the steps. "Hey Bonita where's Mackenzie" Mercedes asked. "I don't know, I think she had a doctors appointment" Bonita said. "Well, we better get to gym" Mercedes said and the two walked to class. The girls in gym were having some trouble learning the hustle except Bonita. At lunch Mercedes ran into Randall at one of the snack counters. "Hey lovely lady" he greeted. "Hey Randall" she greeted back. "What's you pleasure for lunch?" Randall asked getting his wallet out of his pocket.
"Um well I really want an order of cheese fries and a Pepsi," she said. "Umm give me an order of cheese fries, a Pepsi, a chocolate milkshake, and an order of chicken poppers" Randall ordered. He paid for the food and they sat down at a table together. "So are you ever gonna call me about Friday?" he asked. "I don't know I'm pretty busy helping around the ranch" Mercedes said eating a cheese fry. "Ranch?" he asked. "I live on a horse ranch with my siblings and Mom" she said. "Cool well I gotta go please think about Friday" he said kissing her hand and leaving. She ate her lunch and walked around looking for a familiar face. She finally found her best friend Kimberly Gibson. "Hey Kimmie where ya been the last couple of days?" Mercedes asked. "Not much just mad at my Mom" she said. "Why?" Mercedes asked. "She wants me to sale my horse Lightning" she said in a sad voice. "For how much?" Mercedes wondered. "three-hundred dollars" Kimberly sighed. "Tell ya what come over to my house after school and we'll talk to my Mom about buying Lightning" Mercedes said as the bell rung. After school Mercedes and Kimberly drove to Mercedes‘´ house and talked to Ms. DeBois about buying Lightning. "Sure but we need her medical history" Ms. DeBois said. "Thanks" Kimberly said hugging Mary. After Kimberly left Mercedes hung out in here room for a while. She was watching an episode of Roseanne. It was the one were everyone found out Jackie was being abused by her boyfriend Fisher. (If a guy treated me like that I don't know think I'd wanna live) she thought to herself. Just then she heard a knock on her bedroom door.
"Come in" she said. It was La´Nita. "Hey Sadie can I ask you something?" La´Nita asked. "Sure Lita what?" Mercedes asked. "I wanna know why you and Charlotte have your own horses and I don't" the little girl said. "Well, Mom's rule is that you can't have a horse until your ten so when you turn ten you'll get your own horse" Mercedes explained. "Well, OK it's four so lets go train Nibbles for the showcase" La'Nita said running out of the room and downstairs. They trained the little horse for about an hour and then put her back in her stable. They went inside and La'Nita went to her room to play on her computer. Mercedes was laying on the couch in silence when the phone rang. "Hello" she answered. "Hey Lovely lady" Randall greeted on the other end. "Hi Randall how did you get my number?" she asked. "You're in the phone book" he said. "anyway I wanted to know about Friday? "Well, I guess we could hang out on Friday after school" she said. "OK lovely lady bye" Mercedes hung up the phone and smiled. She went outside and sat on the porch watching the horses play. "OK honey I just got a flyer about the showcase Nibbles is in" Ms. DeBois said handing Mercedes the flyer. The flyer said the showcase was Friday at two´o clock. "OK so how should Nibbles look?" Mercedes asked. "Well, I wanted to get on the computer and work on a look" her Mom said. "OK Mom I'll do that later" Mercedes said. After dinner she got on the horse program on her computer and worked up a look. "OK Mom how about this picture?" Mercedes asked handing her Mom the picture. The horse had clear blue beads hanging from its mane and tail and glitter all over it's fur. It also had a pink shinny bow at the top of it's tail. "It's perfect" her Mom said.
Friday came and Mercedes and Randall passed a note during English class.
Are we still on for today?
Yeah.
OK meet me by your locker after school.
OK.
Mercedes put the note in her notebook as the bell rang as Mercedes was walking to lunch she heard the principal say over the intercom that school was ending early today. School let out at twelve and Mercedes stood by her locker waiting for Randall. She waited for a while and then looked at her watch; it was one fifteen. Mercedes decided to leave so she wouldn't late to the show. She got home and changed into a cute little outfit for the show. The family got into the horse truck and drove to the horse show. La´Nita walked Nibbles out to her show spot. The crowd loved Nibbles. Mercedes thought her look was cute. She heard a lady's voice come over the intercom. "Ladies and gentlemen this little one is from the Peaceful Isle Ranch and her name is Nibbles, She is the first of a new litter to be in a show at her ranch." The crowd cheered and screamed with delight. There were so many beautiful horses in the show; around eight the winner was announced. "OK ladies and gentlemen the runner up in this competition is....Nibbles from the Peaceful Isle Ranch!" the lady on the intercom said. Mercedes went in her room and laid on her bed. A few minutes later her cell phone rang, but she let her voice mail answer it and she went to sleep. Around ten her Mom woke her up so she could eat supper. She listened to her voice mail then:
"Hello! Mercedes Pick the damn phone!....Look you little bitch pick the fuckin phone up!...you better get back with me bitch." Mercedes was shocked at the message Randall left. She was a little angry too. (Where the hell does he got off talking to me like that) She went downstairs and ate supper. Later that night her Mom noticed she was really quiet. "Hun is everything OK?" Mary asked. "Oh yeah Mom, everything's OK I'm tired so I'm gonna go to bed night" Mercedes said and went upstairs. She laid in her bed and wondered why Randall talked down to her like he did. Monday at school she ignored Randall. He tried to pass her a note in English, but she just pretended he wasn't there. After school she had cheerleading practice and as she was walking to the field he stepped in front of her. "Please let me explain" he begged. "OK explain" she said bitterly. "Look I was angry because football tryouts were really hard and I might not make the team, so I knew that seeing you would make me happy, but you weren't here when I went looking for you and I guess I got mad" he stated. "That still doesn't give you the right to talk to me like that" she said. "I know I'm sorry" he said. "Prove it" she demanded. "I'll take you out to a restaurant called Denny's tonight" he said. "OK" she said and walked on to the cheerleading field. While at practice she wondered if Randall really meant he was sorry.
When she got home she saw her sisters helping with the horses. She went inside and looked for her Mom. "Mom!" she yelled. "Upstairs honey!" she replied. "Hey Mom you working tonight?" Mercedes asked. "No why baby?" Mary asked. "Because a guy friend of mine is taking me out to eat tonight" Mercedes said. "OK honey, but be back around ten it's a school night" her Mom said. "OK Momma" Mercedes replied and ran to her room. She went into her closet to find something to wear. She picked a baby blue mini skirt and matching top and high heels. She got dressed and did her hair and make-up. Around seven Randall showed up and rang the doorbell. Mary answered the door. "Hi Ms. DeBois I'm here to pick up your daughter Mercedes" he stated. "Oh come in" she greeted, "Mercedes will be down in a sec." A few minutes later Mercedes walk down the steps. "Hey Randall" she said. "Hey Sadie you look beautiful" he commented and the two left. They got to Denny's and the waitress gave them their menus. "Ooh everything looks so good" Mercedes said. "Can I take your order madam?" the waitress asked. "She'll have the number six and a diet coke and I'll have a number four with a coke please" Randall said. "I could've ordered for myself Randall" Mercedes suggested. "No, a guy always orders for his lady" he said strictly. The two sat in silence as they waited for their food. "So how's your horse ranch doing?" he asked as they waiter came back with their food. "Good one our baby horses..." "Cool I had a hard day at football practice that day" Randall interrupted. "That was rude Randall" she suggested. "Watch how you speak to me girl" he demanded. "No I'll talk the way I want to" she snapped back. He threw some money on the table, grabbed Mercedes by the arm, and stormed out of the store. "Ow your hurting me Randall!" she cried. He turned around and slapped her across the face. She stumbled and caught herself on a truck. "Don't you ever disrespect me like that again bitch!...now get in the damn car I'm taking ya ass home" he snapped pushing her into the car. He pulled up in front off her house and she got out of the car. He drove off and she hurried into the house. "Is that you Sadie?" Mary asked. "Yeah Mom I'm going to be I don't feel good night!" she replied and ran up to her room.
She locked her door and started crying. She couldn't believe what Randall did. After a while Mercedes convinced herself that it was her fault. She thought that maybe she just pushed him to far and he couldn't hold back. The next morning when she was taking a shower she noticed her face had a bruise on it and so did her arm. She put on some foundation to cover up the bruise on her face and wore a long sleeve shirt to hide the ones on her arm. She drove to school and met up with Mackenzie. "Hey I heard you have a boyfriend" Mackenzie said cheerfully. "Yeah..maybe" Mercedes replied. The two girls talked while at breakfast. Mercedes went to gym and changed into her gym clothes. While she sitting there she noticed Bonita staring at her face. "Sadie what's wrong with your face?" she asked. "Oh it's nothing Andrew just threw a toy block at me and it hit my face" Mercedes lied. Bonita looked with a look that sorta said I don't believe you, but she ignored it. Mercedes and Bonita were chosen to dance a step. When Mercedes raised her arms Bonita noticed the two bruises. In the locker room Bonita confronted Mercedes about the bruises. "Hey Sadie I saw the bruises on your arm...do they have any connection with the one on your face?" she asked. "Yeah Andrew's in that stage were all he does is pinch, now I gotta go" Mercedes said and left. Later that day Bonita met up with Mackenzie. "Hey Kenzie have you noticed anything different about Sadie lately?" Bonita asked. "Not really other than she's been hanging out with Randall Sterling" she stated. "Hmmm come on we need to talk" Bonita said rushing Mackenzie into the bathroom. Mean while Mercedes was walking to English when the principal mad an announcement over the intercom. "Attention students! this Saturday at eight´o clock will be the sixth annual seventy's dance, remember to wear your best seventy's style clothes." Mercedes got a smile on her face and got excited. She loved dances themes from the past. After school Mercedes met up with Mackenzie and they went to the mall. The went into a store called ´Past Fashion Era´ and looked around. Mercedes was looking at some bell bottoms when Mackenzie decided to ask her about Randall. "Hey Sadie can I ask you something about Randall without you getting mad?" she asked. "Sure?" Mercedes said. "Well...ummm does he hit you?" Mackenzie asked nervously. "What?...did Bonita tell you that?" she asked a little angry. "Well, she said she saw bruises on your arm and your face does look a little swollen" Mackenzie said. "Look Andrew had a mean streak yesterday, it wasn't Randall, so let's just shop" Mercedes said taking a pair of black bell bottoms off the rack. After the girls shopped for their dance outfits they stopped at a food counter called ´Frosty Land´ for some ice cream. Mercedes went to the rest room while they waited for their ice cream. While Mercedes was gone Mackenzie listened to her voice mail on her cell phone and heard the message Randall left. She was shocked. (How could Sadie let him talk down to her like that) she put they phone back and waited for Mercedes.
When Mercedes got home she put on her riding outfit and took Speeder for a ride along the beach. While she was riding she thought about everything that had happened with Randall and how she was gonna keep it from her friends. (I'm sure I just pushed him to far, and he snapped) she thought to herself. She thought about all the shows she saw and convinced herself she was nothing like those girls. When she got home she was cleaning her room when her cell rang. "Hello" Mercedes greeted. "Hey lovely lady" Randall said on the other end of the phone. "Hey Randall" she said. "I wanted to call and ask my only girl to the 70´s dance, so will you?" he asked. "Sure see ya Saturday" she said and hung up the phone. The next day at school Mercedes, Bonita, and Mackenzie were standing by Mercedes locker. "So you going to the dance tonight Nita?" Mercedes asked. "Yeah I think it'll be fun, but I'm going by myself" she said. "Well, I gotta go girls see ya tonight" Mercedes said and walked off. After Mercedes left Mackenzie rushed Bonita into the bathroom. "What?" Bonita asked. "I think Sadie is being abused by Randall, I listened to a voice mail she had on her phone from Randall and he said some really mean things" Mackenzie said. "I always thought Mercedes would stand up for herself" Bonita suggested. "Maybe she did and that's where all the bruises are from" Mackenzie suggested. That night Randall picked up Mercedes around nine. They got to the dance and hung out with one of Randell´s friends, Christopher Stiles. Randall and Mercedes were dancing when Bonita decided to talk to Christopher about Randall. "Hey Christopher um is there anything Mercedes should know about Randall?" she asked. "Yeah actually you need to let her know he has bipolar disorder" Christopher said. "What's that?" Bonita asked. "I'm not sure, but if he doesn't take his medication he can get really mean" he said. Bonita ran over to Mercedes and asked her to fallow her out into the hall. "What Nita?" Mercedes asked. "Sadie is Randall hurting you in anyway?" she asked. "No, God are you still on that?" Mercedes asked in an irritated voice. "Look Sadie he has bipolar disorder and might not be taking his medication" Bonita suggested. Mercedes ran back out to the dance and asked Randall if they could leave, but Bonita wasn't letting her go that easily. "Sadie I wanna ask him something first" Bonita said. "OK Bonita shoot" Randall said looking at Mercedes. "Do you abuse Sadie in anyway?" she asked firmly. Randall got a mean look on his face and pushed Bonita to the ground. "No one talks to me like that on Sadie!" he yelled grabbing Mercedes by the arm and rushing out of the dance. "Ow Randall your hurting my arm" Mercedes said. Just then Randall turned around and slapped her in the face. "Look bitch you better not ever let that little hoe of a friend of yours talk to me like that again" he said getting in his car and driving off.
Mercedes sat on the edge of the sidewalk crying when Bonita came running out. "Sadie why won't you leave him when he hits you?" Bonita asked. "Look Nita he doesn't mean too" Mercedes said. "Yes, he does, I talk to Chris and he thinks Randall hasn't been taking his meds" Bonita suggested. "Whatever I'm gonna call a taxi to take me home" Mercedes said taking her cell phone out of her purse. On the ride home she thought about what Bonita said about Randall. She got home around eleven thirty and quietly went up the steps. When she got to her room she saw that Charlette´s bedroom door was open and so was hers. She walked in her room saw Andrew sleeping in his crib and she knew her Mom had to work late. Mercedes went and took a hot bath and went to sleep. That morning she woke up saw that Andrew was gone and she went into the bathroom to change. She put on enough foundation to hide the hit place on her face from her Mom. She went downstairs and into the kitchen were everyone else was. "Good morning honey, how was the dance?" her Mom asked getting out some plates from a cabinet. "It was OK" Mercedes said sitting down at the table. As they ate breakfast Mercedes kept noticing her Mom stare at her. "Honey why is your face a little puffy?" Mary asked. "Oh me and some of the other girls at the dance were doing a step and I fell, but I'm OK" Mercedes said eating her breakfast. Later that day Mercedes was helping Charlotte fold laundry when one of the stable helpers came in screaming. "Come quick come quick!. something’s wrong with Speeder!" he said. Mercedes, Charlotte, Mary, and the stable helper ran to the stable were Speeder was laying on the ground. "Speeder!" Mercedes yelled kneeing down to him. "What happened?" she cried. "He's been poisoned. We found these pellets in his food dish" the helper said. Mary went to call for help while Charlotte and Mercedes stayed and tried to comfort Speeder. When a vet finally got there it was about an hour before he found out anything. He told Mary that speeder consumed killer pellets and if he ate three more he would've died. "Just give him one of these pills every night along with a bottle of ice water and he'll be OK in about three weeks" the vet said giving Mary the bill and leaving. Later that day Mercedes was sitting in the stable with Speeder when her phone rang. "Hello" she answered. "Hey Sadie It's Chris, what's up?" he asked. "Not much just worried about Speeder" she said trying to fight back tears. "What happened to Speeder?" Christopher asked. "Someone poisoned him" she said. "OK well maybe to get your mind off of it for a while I thought you might wanna hang out with me and Randall for a while" Christopher said. "I don't think I wanna see Randall right now" she stated thinking back to the night before. "Look Sadie he took he's meds today I watched him. Please" Christopher pleaded. "OK I'm waiting for you guys" she said and hung up the phone. She kissed Speeder on the cheek and told him she'd be back later.
She sat on her porch reading the label on a bottle of water when the boys pulled up. She got in the front set where Randall was driving and they left. "So where are we going Chris?" she asked. "Well, there's a fair downtown, let's go there" he said. "Then the fair it is" Randall exclaimed and drove on. They got to the fair walked around. Mercedes road a few roller coasters and bumper cars. After a few hours Mercedes got hungry so they went to the picnic area. "Hey Mercedes go in the drunk of the car and get the basket my Mom packed some good treats" Chris said as Randall handed her the keys. Mercedes walked to the car and opened the trunk. Her eyes got real wide. She sow the same horse poison that was used on Speeder in the trunk of Randall's car. She grabbed her purse out of the front seat and ran down the road. She got to a little diner and ran inside. She hid in one of the booths and called the animal police on her cell phone. "Hello" a lady greeted. "Hi this is Mercedes DeBois and I would like to report an animal poisoning" Mercedes stated. "OK was this animal yours?" the lady asked. "Yes, his name is Speeder, he's a black stallion" Mercedes said. "Do you know who poisoned your horse?" the lady asked. "Yes, a boy by the name of Randall Sterling" she said fighting back a lot of anger. "OK and where is Mr. Sterling?" the lady asked. He's at the downtown fair in the picnic area" Mercedes stated. "OK Ms. DeBois where are you?" the lady asked. "I'm at the little coffee shop down the street" she said. "OK we'll have an officer meet you there and escort you to the fair" the lady said. "OK" Mercedes said and hung up the phone. About ten minutes later an officer showed up at the coffee shop. When Mercedes and the officer arrived at the fair the all ready had Randall in hand cuffs. "Sadie what's going on?" Randall asked. She slapped him so hard across his face that the whole fair probably heard it. "Sorry ass peace of work I was OK when it was just hitting me or swearing at me, but you went way passed the line of hurt when you tried to take Speeder from me!" she screamed and hit him again. "What are you talking about?" he asked. "I found the same kind of poisoning used on my horse Speeder in the trunk of your car" she said and walked away. She went back to the picnic area where Chris was sitting. "Hey Chris need a ride home?" she asked. "Yeah" he answered. Mercedes called her house and her dad answered the phone. "Hello." "Hey Daddy can you come and get me and a friend?" she asked. "Sure Honey where are you at?" he asked. "The fair where sitting in the picnic area and bring the van" she said and hung up.
On the drive home Mercedes didn't say much. She looked out the window and thought about everything she had been through the last couple of weeks with Randall. They dropped Christopher off at his house and went on to the ranch. When Mercedes got inside she saw Bonita and her Mom sitting on the couch. "Mercedes we need to talk" her mother said. Mercedes sat down and looked at Bonita and she knew what she told her mother. "OK Mom" Mercedes responded. "Mercedes has Randall Sterling been abusing you?" Mary asked her daughter. "Yes" Mercedes answered. "If you knew he was dangerous when he didn't take his medicine then why didn't you leave him?" her Mom asked. "Mom I was under the impression that he was on his meds" Mercedes stated. "Well, I think we should call his parents" her Mom suggested. "There's no need to Mom he was arrested at the fair today" Mercedes said. "Why?" Mary asked. "He was the one that poisoned Speeder I saw the pellets in his car" she said. "When will we hear anything?" Mary asked. "They said they'd call in a few days" Mercedes said and walked outside to the stable where Speeder was. Bonita followed her and saw her petting Speeder's head as he laid it on her lap. "I'm sorry about Speeder Sadie" Bonita said sitting down beside her. "Me too I just hope he makes it" she said. A few days passed and they heard nothing about Randall. Then one day the phone rang. "Hello" Mercedes greeted. "Hello may I speak to Mary or Mercedes Debois please" the women on the phone asked. "This is Mercedes DeBois" Mercedes stated waving for her to come over. "Ms. DeBois my name is Angela Cook and I'm a lawyer for animal rights and I'll be representing you in court Monday" the woman said. "Court?" Mercedes asked puzzled. "Not a big one just me and you and Mr. Sterling and his lawyer in a judge's chambers" Ms. Cook said. "Oh what time Monday?" Mercedes asked. "At two thirty in the afternoon" Ms. Cook said. "OK" Mercedes said and hung up. Monday afternoon came and Mercedes, Mary, Ms. Cook, Randall, and his lawyer were all sitting in front of a judge. "Good afternoon everyone I'm judge Steed" the judge said. "Ms. Cook why are we here today?" Judge Steed asked. "Umm an animal cruelty case your honor" Ms. Cook replied. "OK Ms. DeBois I take it that the animal that was hurt is yours" the judge stated reading a paper on her desk. "Yes, your honor" Mercedes replied. "It says here that your pet horse Speeder was poisoned right?" Judge Steed asked. "Yes, your honor" Mercedes said, "he's been my pet horse for six years." "OK well Ms. DeBois do you think you know who poisoned your horse?" the judge asked. "Yes, your honor, Randall Sterling poisoned my horse" Mercedes said. "Why do you think he poisoned your horse?" Judge Steed asked. "Well, your honor a few days ago me, Randall, and another friend Chris went to the downtown fair and once we got hungry we decided to eat in the picnic area, so when I went to the car to get the picnic basket I saw the same poisoned horse pellets that were used on my horse Speeder in the trunk of Randall´s car" Mercedes said flashing back on the whole incident. "OK and how does your client explain that Mr. Bunker?" the judge asked Randall´s lawyer.
"Well, your honor my client has bipolar disorder and sometimes he can't control what he does, so there for if He's angry he cant remember what he does" Mr. Bunker stated. "And?" the judge asked. "And being angry after an argument the couple had he got so mad he decided that revenge was the only way to handle things" Mr. Bunker said. "Your honor I followed up on Mr. Sterling's condition and all reports show that as long as he's on his medications he's fine" Ms. Cook stated showing the judge the reports. "So Mr. Bunker does you client know he has to take his medications?" the judge asked. "Umm I don't think so your honor" Mr. Bunker replied a little unsure. "Well, in this report Ms. Cook handed me it says he does know he has to take his medication" the judge stated showing Mr. Bunker the report. "Well, your honor on some occasions my client my have forgotten to take he meds a few times" Mr. Bunker said, "but he doesn't know what bad things can happen when he doesn't take them." "Your honor in the second report I gave you it says that Mr. Sterling knows he can become very violent when He's off his medication which he has been very abusive to my client at some times, all times in which he did not take his medication" Ms. Cook stated. "Mr. Sterling do you deny this?" the judge asked. "No, your honor" Randall said. "OK I am calling a short recess so I can decide what to do" the judge said as everyone walked into the hall. As Mercedes sat on a bench in the hall she knew Randall was looking at her, but she didn't look back. She thought about everything she went through with Randall. The abuse and hate she had for herself for letting it happen. Just then the Judge's door opened and an officer told everyone to come back in. Everyone went back in the room and sat down. "Well, the defendant please rise" the judge said as Randall and his lawyer stood up. "Randall Sterling I find you guilty of animal cruelty and relationship abuse, you will serve six months of community service at three different animal shelters and you will pay for all of Ms. DeBois' horse's medical bills, court dismissed" the judge said. As Mercedes walked to the car she heard Randall call her name. "Mercedes!". She turned to find him right behind her. "What do you want Randall?" she asked. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry for everything I've done" he said. "I just hope you learn to take care of yourself" Mercedes said and walked away.
The End.