A friend indeed

 "I'm glad you didn't forget about me," Rafe said when Mercer dropped by. Of course, the place was a mess. A work in progress, no less. He invited Mercer in, who didn't want coffee, so he offered him a bottle of water. Surely, that wouldn't be contaminated.

"Such a long time," Rafe said.

"Has it?" Mercer said he didn't think so. "I saw you at Christmas."

"Oh." Rafe nodded. He guessed he was right. Finally, he was having some alone time. Ruby went to thrift with Gabby, and she took the baby with her. She was braver these days on her outings, so Rafe gave her the thumbs-up. Honestly, he wanted to nap, but he knew she expected him to do laundry and the dishes.

He stretched a bit as if he needed to get in the mood to do something. Of course, Mercer helped too.

"You don't have to," Rafe menced.

"I don't mind, really."

Rafe thanked him as Mercer picked up in the living room. He even vacuumed while Rafe loaded the dishwasher. 

Finally, Rafe got around to putting a frozen pizza in the oven. The kitchen was so pristine that he hated to mess it up.

"So what have you been up to?"

"Just work, and you know, we go and see Sterling's daughter  on the weekends." Mercer shrugged.

"That must be hectic."

"We've got it down to a schedule. It's good." Mercer told him with a smile.

"Good, wish I knew your secret." Rafe winced in thought.

"Are you and Ruby really happy?" Mercer looked at him out of concern as they ate pizza together with Root Beer.

"Um," Rafe nodded.

"You don't think-" It was as if Mercer didn't want to say anymore. As if he shouldn't have questioned Rafe to begin with.

"It's not perfect, but is anything?" Rafe laughed. "We get along, but we know we both have our faults. It's just we both need more sleep, but every day is an adventure, and I can't think of anyone else I'd rather be with." Rafe smiled. 

He didn't want to mention his brother, Mercer's ex. That was the past, and Rafe definitely lived in the present; that was all that mattered.  They talked then about Easter and what the summer might hold for them.

"Maybe we can all meet up one weekend in Shandoah. It would be good for the youngsters to be friends."

Rafe liked Mercer's idea.

Maybe you mean every word you say

 

"Are you serious?" Mercer thought Lily had to be joking. Especially by that laugh of hers. She and Brick got married?

It was just an accident that they were at the coffee shop at the same time. He was doing some last-minute errands before he went back to the university, and there she was. They didn't even live far from each other at the University, but he never saw her.

"Of course," but she couldn't stop laughing as if it were the funniest thing she'd ever done.

"Don't tell me? You two got hitched on the Internet?" Honestly, he didn't think people did that anymore, but then again, this was Lily and Brick.

"How did you know?" She asked as she picked up her cup of creamed coffee.

Mercer broke into a chuckle. He shook his head no, but had to ask why.

"Oh, we just were fooling around and thought it would be good to do. You know, show our faith in each other." She shrugged as she took a sip of coffee.

Mercer nodded. "But it's not real, is it?"

"If you have to have faith, that's all you need, isn't it?" She looked at him as if he should take the challenge. "I see you've gone blonde?"

"Oh, you know, it was just something last-minute that Sterling did to me before I left for Spring Break." Mercer shrugged back.

"Oh, really, what else is he doing to you?" Her smart mouth was in its usual tone. 

Mercer looked at his coffee. He didn't feel like telling her anything about Sterling. Perhaps, he could say they were partners, but most of all they were best friends.

Where there is a will there is a way

 

Something was going on with Brick. Kat thought her cousin was smiling way too much, but he was home for Spring Break, and Kat smiled along with him. Of course, he wanted to know all about Gavin.

"You're too young to have a boyfriend," he informed her first thing.

"Didn't you know Lily back then?" She didn't mean to make him feel old, but he and Lily had known each other forever.

He looked at her a bit silly and laughed. Before long, Gavin showed up like he always did. He would hang out watching TV or coloring a picture with Kat's little sister. Usually, he helped with puzzles, and sometimes, they would walk to the park. It wasn't a heavy-duty relationship. Their tradition was to get pizza at the Youth Center on Friday nights. And then there was bowling which could take a good portion of a Saturday morning and a Sunday afternoon.

Thankfully, Brick didn't quiz him too much, but asked if he wanted to come with him and shoot hoops.

"I don't like basketball," Gavin said rather dully. 

"What are you, a zombie or something?" Brick winced with a smile. "Come on, show me what you got." He got his basketball, which he never left home without.

"But, he just said he doesn't like basketball."

"Well, then I'll teach you." Brick was optimistic. It was a beautiful day. Besides, they could take Chloe to the park with them.

Gavin looked at Kat as if he'd rather be here. She gave him the eye. "Just for today." She shrugged back as if he knew who the real show off was. It was Brick. After all, he was on the college team now. Maybe he was expecting fans to drop by, for all she knew.

She nudged Gavin on the way and told him she thought Brick was being weird. "He's never this happy."

They trudged along as Brick led the way.

"Are you getting married?" Chloe beat them to the punch line once they got to the court.

"What?" This cracked Brick up. He made a lay-up, dribbling like a professional. It was amazing how those huge feet of his could get off the ground. But he was graceful and perfect on the court. Gavin stood stoic while Kat crossed her arms.

He then pushed the ball to Gavin, but Kat stepped in and caught the ball. She easily aimed for the hoop, and it went in. Gavin looked at her in shock. 

She told him her brother and Brick had taught her. Actually, she'd watched them enough.

"Well, there was nobody to ever play basketball with," Gavin said in defense.

"You got people now," Brick threw the ball to him, and he caught it. Gavin held the ball for the longest time, but awkwardly dribbled it. Kat was certain he'd never even aim for the hoop, but he did. Of course, his wrists were made for bowling, not basketball.

Wish I had someone else to blame

 

"I just wish I belonged, you know." 

Darry heard Nico's words, but he wasn't really listening while he was putting books away. 

"What?" Darry looked back at him and winced. He thought Nico came by to relax with a book in the back of the library, but evidently, he was here for a reason. They were sort of new friends. Well, they were going to be, and then things got a little heavy with Jude, but at least she'd gone back to studying, and they only texted a bit at night. 

"How would you know?" He fretted. "You're so..I dunno," He sighed heavily. "Something, I'm not. You've got friends. Everybody loves you. People who know me hate me in the end."

"Quit being a drama king," Darry gave him a dead stare. "Just remember, you've got a place to stay, you're able to work. Things will get better." Darry tidied up the shelf of nonfiction books and moved on with his cart, leaving Nico behind.

"Do you ever call home?" Darry wanted to know, looking back at Nico.

"For what? They won't answer. They don't have the funds. They don't need me around anymore." It sounded like the story of Nico's life.

"I'm sorry, man, OK." 

It was the best Darry could do. Maybe, Nico was right. He was so alone. "What do you even like?"

"I don't know." He shrugged, being Mr. Invisible in sweat pants and hoodie.

"Don't you, um, play games, build things?" Darry didn't know what Nico wanted to hear.

"I used to mess around with cars," Nico shrugged.

"Good." Darry nodded. He didn't know any mechanics, but there was that neighbor who ran a mechanic place. "Maybe you need to meet Joe, he's a friend of my Dad's. Maybe you could, you know, do some part-time work there."

"God, anything to get away from the Coffee Shop." Nico looked troubled as if he could be trouble.