Chapter Six: Justification

"You're gonna rot in hell, Cedes." Ronnie said as he sauntered towards Mercedes. They were in the alley and he was wearing the same clothes he wore the last time she saw him.

"You're dead, Ronnie." She said, not believing her eyes.

"Who said I was dead? You didn't kill me." He spoke with his signature smirk.

"Yes, I did. I killed you Ronnie." She said.

"No you didn't." He said getting closer to her.

"Step back, Ronnie." She said as she picked up a brick from the ground.

"But I love you." He said with a sad smile.

"No, you don't." And she smashed his head with a brick. She felt someone shaking her and calling her name.

"Cedes, Cedes." It sounded like Christy's voice but it was faint. The person shook her again, harder this time which made her wake up.

"Cedes." Christy called.

"What happened?" She asked as she sat up, covering her mouth as she let out a yawn. She looked at her best friend who was still in her nightie.

"I think you had a nightmare.You kept on calling Ronnie's name." Christy said worriedly.

"Thank God it was a dream." She said in her mind.

"I did?" She asked as her eyes went to the alarm clock. It read 5:12am.

"Are you okay?" Christy asked as Mercedes got up from the bed.

"I'm fine." She answered while stretching.

"You sure? You're sweating." Christy said worriedly.

"I said I'm fine." Mercedes snapped. She immediately felt bad for snapping. She didn't even know why she snapped. Christy's face held a hurt expression.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to snap at you." She apologized but Christy didn't say anything. She sighed and decided to tell her the truth.

"I had a dream about Ronnie and I killed him again." She said and sat back down on the bed.

Christy looked at her bestie in concern. "Don't you think you need therapy?"

"I don't. I'm fine." Mercedes declined.

"You're not fine." Christy argued.

"I don't need to talk to a shrink about my nightmares. I'm fine, I've been living with it just fine." Mercedes

"That's why your boobs aren't growing." Christy snapped.

Mercedes looked at her in surprise mixed with confusion. "What?"

"You keep a lot of things in your heart which is causing your nightmare and if you talk to someone about it, you'll get better and your boobs will grow." Christy spoke.

"So my boobs aren't growing because I have nightmares?" Mercedes asked, trying to get the sense of what her best friend was saying.

"Not because you have nightmares. It's because you don't want to get help." Christy clarified.

Mercedes frowned. "Now I know you're stupid. How will you say such a thing? What does my boobs have to do with my nightmares?" She yelled.

"Ce-" Christy started.

"My boobs are perfectly fine and I don't need a therapist."

"I was joking." Christy said laughing.

"It didn't sound like a joke to me." Mercedes frowned with her arms crossed.

Christy laughed. "It was a joke, Cedes. You should've seen your face." She continued. "You have the finest boobs I've ever seen." Christy said and scratched her left thumb which Mercedes noticed.

"Are you okay, Christiana?" Mercedes asked in concern because she knew Christy always scratched her left thumb whenever something was wrong.

"I'm nervous." Christy mumbled.

"About what?" Mercedes asked.

"I'm going to start working at Aves & Dave's today." Christy said and Mercedes eyes widened.

"Holy shit! That's today?" She exclaimed in surprise and Christy nodded.

"Shit, I totally forgot." She facepalmed and looked at her best friend. "You're supposed to be getting ready, Chris."

"I know but I'm a nervous wreck right now." Christy said in a low voice.

"You'll be fine. It's your father's company anyway." Mercedes assured with a smile.

"That's the problem. It's my father's company. What if the people see me as nothing but a daddy's girl who didn't have to work for a dime in her life? What if they see me as the five year old girl who couldn't walk on heels?" Christy rambled.

"Chris, that happened ages ago and the people who saw that are probably dead by now." Mercedes said.

"Dad isn't dead." Christy said.

"Yeah, but some of those people might be dead and most of them are all retired. Your dad is retired too. So don't worry, you'll be fine. You'll do really great as the new CEO of Aves & Dave's." Mercedes encouraged with a smile.

"I'm only twenty one and I just finished college." Christy muttered looking down at her hands.

"I believe in you, Chris. Your dad believes in you too that's why he chose you as his heir not Tyler. He sees a potential in you and he knows you'd be able to be a better leader than he was."

"Why don't you come with me?" Christy looked at her bestie.

"I told you Chris, I can't. Your family has been there for me ever since I lost my dad in high school. My high school and college were all your family's help. And now I got myself in this mess and your family is helping me which I'm very grateful for. I don't want to burden your family by working at the company."

"You're not a burden to us, Cedes. We like having you around." Christy said honestly.

"Thank you but for the fifth time, I decline the offer." Mercedes chuckled.

"How am I gonna be as good as my dad if I can't even convince you to come work with us? I-" Christy started anxiously.

"Don't do that, Chris. Don't belittle yourself. You're as good as your dad. You couldn't convince me because my mind has already been made up since day one."

"So what if-" Christy started again.

"No 'what if's'. You're good, Chris. Believe it." Mercedes said firmly.

"Thank you." Christy finally smiled and pulled her best friend in for a hug.

"So my boobs huh?" Mercedes smirked as she broke the hug.

"You know I say shit whenever I'm anxious." Christy said with a chuckle.

"Most times you say the truth. So my boobs are small?" Mercedes asked, feeling anxious about Christy's answer.

"They're your size." Christy said which made Mercedes smile.

"Come on let's have breakfast. It's almost six." Mercedes said and got up from the bed.

"You're cooking." Christy got up from the bed.

"Of course. I don't want you burning the kitchen because of your anxiousness." Mercedes said as they left the room.

"Hey." Christy yelled and slapped her bestie's shoulder which made the latter laugh.