No Mercy by Shannon Dermott

 
    Chapter One - Flynn
     
     
     
     
    Sitting in my car, I watched as the dark haired beauty passed by.  She was chattering away with that red haired friend of hers who was always attached to her at the hip.  Walking by, her infectious smile showed because she wasn’t looking at me.  If she had been, her face would have shown nothing short of contempt. I didn’t understand my fascination with the girl.  There were certainly easier targets.  Even her friend didn’t glower every time she saw me.
     
    “I don’t see what you guys see in that Mercy girl,” I vaguely heard spoken to my right. It hadn’t been said very loud, so I ignored that comment. I continued to watch that girl tuck a loose hair behind her ear hoping she wouldn’t turn my way, notice my stare and scowl.
     
    The bright side was it was spring and the girls were coming out of their winter shells.  And she was no exception.  Hidden in baggy clothing, I could still make out the shape of her…
     
    “So?” the girl sitting in the passenger seat spoke, reminding me why I was still in the parking lot at school. 
     
    Turning, I viewed the blond bombshell. A junior and a year ahead of me didn’t stop her in the least from making a request to “talk” to me after school. Her pink pouty mouth looked moist and kissable. Her fair skin and colorful cheerleading uniform were a contrast against the dark interior of my car.  For a second while her mouth moved I heard nothing.  Instead wondered just what it would be like to kiss those lips.
     
    “Flynn,” she said sharply, sounding a bit irritated. 
     
    “Yeah,” I said, a pause and then silence quickly followed. I went ahead and added, “Sure,” because the look she had suggested she wanted an answer.  I wasn’t certain what I’d agreed to.  But the way she’d questioned me with just my name, I went for broke. The one word seemed simple enough and damn the consequences.  I wasn’t going to ask her to explain again.
     
    She narrowed her eyes at me. The frown suggested she was onto my bullshit.  She knew I hadn’t been paying attention, I would bet on it.  Waiting a single moment for her to call me on it, her face morphed into a pleasant expression.  Maybe a hint of wickedness showed there too. “Your place or mine?” she asked in challenge.
     
    Damn, she moved fast. I knew that look in her eye. I could feel her emotions roll off of her. Lust. What the hell had she been saying to me?  Never one to back down on a challenge, I thought about her question, your place or mine . Conclusion, I didn’t relish either location.  I wasn’t in the habit of taking girls back to my house if there were other options. And lately, I’d had too many close calls at girls’ houses.  Dads and brothers were always constant threats, popping home at the wrong time and such.
     
    Still thinking, I looked up into the waiting pool of students on the front lawn. That girl I’d been eyeing was nowhere to be seen.  Turning the key, I pushed the thoughts of her to the back of my mind.  Now I would focus on Amanda.  She was the key to getting my life back on track and too bad about the timing.  Only this morning, I’d finally broken up with Shelli.  Putting the car in gear, I couldn’t help but think of Shelli’s tear strewn face when I had told her it was over.
     
    Turning on the radio, I’d hoped to block my thoughts on that subject too.  I could have engaged Amanda in conversation but she might bring up something she’d already said that I’d missed.  Or maybe she’d back down on what I knew was her challenge and I needed what she was offering.  Shelli and I hadn’t done much lately because I knew I had to break things off.  And the thought of what I had to do, put me off on dealing with any other girl in the meanwhile.
     
    Amanda continued the silence while relaxed in her seat. Godsmack was blaring loudly just the way I liked it and she didn’t complain. Score one for me. I had