by Pinky Dior
Mercedes started schooling the rest of the girls about Prada, Chanel, and Fendi; any expensive brand that all girls dream about. She wanted her girls to step out in style, just because they were rocking with Mercedes Carter. She was always ten steps ahead of the game, just like her daddy, Don Carter. Of course, Mercedes was the leader of the crew. She represented herself as The Baddest Bitch.
After getting approval from her mother, she spent the majority of her time with the girls. They went into the city and did a little bit of shopping, went out to eat, went to the movies, and did what teenage girls like to do. They talked about boys and sex. Mercedes was anxious to lose her virginity. She was spending a lot of time with Chino and it was only a matter of time before she gave it up. Due to her father’s traveling, he still hadn’t had the chance to meet him.
She recalled one day when she and Chino were sitting in the sand on the beach and holding hands. They watched the sunset and the waves splash on the shore. They had the most perfect view into Manhattan, as the lights from the buildings reflected on the water. Mercedes loved looking at the stars that glistened in the sky.
“The water is so beautiful.” Mercedes whispered, as she watched the waves. “And I love stars.”
“Yeah, stars are beautiful things and they mean a lot to me.” Chino said.
“And why is that?” Mercedes asked.
“My mother told me there are plenty of stars in the sky, but there’s always one that catches your eye. When it does, you will never forget it. You will always see that star and it will forever be in your heart.” Chino smiled, “And it’s like I have a star that I see every night, it’s my father. I always talk to it every night before I go to sleep. Stars are like scars.”
“Aww, that’s really sweet Chino.” Mercedes responded.
“Yeah, I guess. I love coming here when I have to get something off my chest, or when I’m going thru something and just want to be alone.” Chino admitted.
“So is there something you need to get off your chest?” Mercedes inquired.
Chino turned to her giving her his full attention while looking into her eyes, “I know I’ve only known you for like a month and some change, but it feels like I've known you forever.”
Chino took a deep breath and Mercedes listened to the words that were charming her heart. “You’re so beautiful, intelligent and smart. I mean look at you and look at me.” Chino joked as they both laughed, “Nah, but you’re everything that I ever wanted in a girl and more. The more time I spend with you, I can’t help but think that you’re my soulmate?” Chino smiled as he looked into her eyes. “All I want to know is, will you be my girl, my baby, my everything?” He sincerely asked.
Mercedes’ eyes lit up with a wide smile. She had no idea he was going to ask her that question. She looked into his eyes and eagerly replied, “Yes Chino, I will”
Chino grinned and they started kissing. He ran his fingers through her soft and silky hair. Mercedes loved Chino’s tongue game; he made her see stars when they kissed. After they made themselves an official couple, they took their time getting to know each other better. Mercedes was one of the luckiest and most hated girls in school because she was she was Chino’s girl. India still couldn’t get over the fact that they were dating. She envied Mercedes and wished she could be in her shoes. She knew that she could never walk in Mercedes Carter’s shoes, but that didn’t stop her from trying to put a wrench in the plans anytime it was possible.
Mercedes got home and found her mother sitting on the couch reading a magazine. She had the lamp on and a few vanilla scented candles lit. When she noticed Mercedes walking through the front doors, she put down the magazine and rested her elbow on the couch.
“How was your date?” Maria asked. She eagerly wanted to know the details.
“It was nice.” Mercedes smiled as she walked over and sat down on the couch beside her mother. “He took me to the beach and we just sat and talked.” Mercedes smiled, “It was really romantic Ma.” Mercedes New York accent came out.
Maria had a smile on her face as she watched her daughter talk about Chino. She was really happy for her; she knew her daughter was falling in love. She was concerned about what Don would think of Chino, but didn’t express her concerns to Mercedes.
“That’s nice, and it is romantic. There aren’t many young men who like to do things like that.” Maria said. “All they want to do is have sex with you.” She bluntly stated.
“MA!” Mercedes eyes widened.
“What? I’m just saying. Mercedes, are ya’ll having sex?”
“No Ma, I’m still a virgin.” She playfully rolled her eyes, “Now can we please change the subject?” Mercedes asked. She didn’t feel comfortable talking to her mother about sex.
“Alright,” Maria smiled, “If you ever do have sex, please use a condom. It’s not that I want you to have sex now; I just want to let you know you can talk to me. I want you to be safe.” Maria told her. She knew her daughter was getting aggravated, so she quickly changed the subject.
“So, how do you feel about turning the big 1-6 tomorrow?” Maria exaggerated.
“I mean, I don’t know.” Mercedes shrugged her shoulders, “I’m still not legal yet.”
“I know that’s right!” Maria said as she grabbed her drink from the coffee table.
“So just because your sixteen don’t start thinking you’re grown and will come in all wee hours of the night.”
“Ma, I know. Tonight was special though, but it won’t happen again.” Mercedes rolled her eyes.
“Well goodnight Ma, I’m going to bed.” Mercedes lied. She wasn’t really tired; she just wanted to get away from her mother. She didn’t want to have this conversation with her mother.
“Good night baby.” They exchanged kisses on the cheek. Maria watched as Mercedes walked up the spiral stair case. When she got to her room, she took off her clothes and crawled into the bed. She couldn’t wait until tomorrow; she would finally be the big sweet sixteen.
Super Sweet 16
Mercedes lay sound asleep in her canopy bed with the covers wrapped firmly around her body. She did not want to wake up just yet. As much as she wanted this day to come, she had mixed emotions that it was here. This was supposed to be her big day. She turned over, trying to avoid the sun light that peeked in through her pink sheer curtains.
After several moments of debating whether or not to get up, Mercedes heard a knock on her door. It was her mother; she walked into the room holding a small Carvel ice cream cake that had the number sixteen in the middle.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to Mercedes, happy birthday to you baby.” Maria sang. She placed the cake on the nightstand.
“Aww come on Mercedes it’s your birthday, wake up.” Her mother pulled the covers off of her daughter’s body and playfully tickled her stomach. She knew that would wake her up.
“Alright Ma, I’m up…I’m up.” Mercedes chuckled, as she held back the laughter. She sat up in her bed looking a hot mess. Her baby hair was all frazzled and pieces of her wavy hair were falling over in front of her face.
Maria chuckled at her.
“What’s so funny?” She was curious.
“Your hair girl…looking like a damn lion, you need to go get your hair done.” Maria smiled, knowing how to make Mercedes smile when she was cranky in the morning.
“Whatever Ma” Mercedes playfully rolled her eyes as she let out a chuckle.
“Make a wish.” Maria smiled. She grabbed the ice cream cake off of the night stand and placed it in front of Mercedes. She closed her eyes for about ten seconds, made a wish, and then opened them back up.
“What did you wish for?” Maria jokingly asked.
“No, I can’t tell you Ma. If I do, my wish won’t come true.”
“I’m going to put this back in the freezer and Claudia is making breakfast. Be ready in about a half an hour. It gives you enough time to get showered up and dressed.” Mercedes watched as her mo
ther walked out of her room and disappeared into the corridors of their home.
Mercedes quickly snatched up her Hello Kitty robe of the door and walked into her bathroom. She turned on her shower and wished she could just sit in the jacuzzi and relax. But today was her birthday, and she didn’t have time to sit and lamp around.
When she was done in the shower, she threw on her robe and headed towards her walk-in closet. She quickly scanned over it to see what she was going to wear. It really didn’t matter; she looked good in everything.
Today was her Sweet Sixteen party and she still had more items to purchase. She settled on an all pink Juicy Couture track suit and accessorized with some matching custom made Dunks. She chose a white velour Heritage tote to carry.
Mercedes finished getting ready and began descend the spiral stair case. Her stomach growled as she smelled the aroma of the food that the maid prepared. Mercedes walked into the kitchen and placed her purse on the empty chair so she could chow down.
“Good morning Claudia.” Mercedes greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.
“Buenos dias.” Claudia said in Spanish, as she finished up preparing breakfast.
“Good morning Mami.” Mercedes kissed her mom on the cheek and hugged her. Maria wasn’t really paying attention because she had her nose buried in the New York Times. She was sipping on a cup of hazelnut coffee.
“Mhmm, something smells good.” Mercedes New York and Cuban accent kicked in heavily. She pulled out the stool and sat down, “What did you cook?” Mercedes inquired.
“Your favorite…I cooked some blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon, sausages, hash browns and french toast. I cooked a whole feast.” Mercedes and Claudia chuckled.
“Well thank God you did because I’m starving.” Mercedes rubbed her stomach as she watched Claudia pile some food on her plate.
“Where’s Papi, Mami?” Mercedes looked up at her mother. Maria took off her reading glasses and let out a sigh.
“Your father went out of town; you know that honey.”
“But he said he would be back today.” Mercedes barked.
“Sweetie I know, I know, but maybe he will be here tomorrow morning.”
“He can’t miss my birthday party! He never missed any of my birthday parties.” Mercedes’ entire mood changed. She knew she didn’t want to wake up this morning for fear of bad news and now it was confirmed. She was mad that her father wouldn’t be there for her first big official party.
“Mercedes I’m sorry Honey…your father had some business to take care of.” Maria apologized, but Mercedes wasn’t trying to hear it. She had heard it plenty of times before. She had hoped today, of all days, would be different.
“I have a surprise for you.” Maria picked up her Gucci purse and started digging through it. Mercedes watched as she slid three different shaped black boxes across the kitchen table.
“What’s this?” Mercedes asked as she looked at all three of the boxes wondering which one she wanted to open up first.
“You have to open it up to see.” Her mother assured her with a sly look on her face. Mercedes quickly opened the smallest box; it was a 3 finger ring platinum diamond ring. The diamonds spelled the name Carter. She opened another box that held diamond earrings which said Mercedes; they were huge. Finally, she opened the last box from her father. It was a long diamond necklace with a key dangling. She wondered what the key was for, but she didn’t think too much of it.
“And this is a present from me.” Maria smiled as she picked up a pink gift bag off the floor. It had pink tissue covering the top. Mercedes snatched up the bag and it revealed a black and fuchsia goat Peakaboo bag from Fendi to match a pair of black and fuchsia Peakaboo shoes. Last but not least, there was a little box inside that contained some pink Baguette Fendi glasses. Mercedes absolutely adored them; she had wanted them for a long time.
“Thanks Mom.” Mercedes reached her arms across the table and hugged her. She was almost squeezing the life out of her. “Okay.” Maria said through gritted teeth, as she made a face and patted Mercedes on the back. Mercedes smiled as she pulled back from the embrace and sat down in her chair.
Mercedes ate her breakfast and was finally ready to get her special day started. She hoped her father would be there to complete it; that remained to be seen.
“Are you ready to go Mercedes?” Maria asked as she stood up.
“Yeah I’m ready.” Mercedes washed her hands in the kitchen sink after placing her plate and utensils there.
“Alright let me grab my keys and we can leave okay?” Mercedes nodded as she grabbed her purse and her Juicy Couture pink sun glasses. Her mother returned with the keys, they thanked Claudia for her wonderful breakfast and left their home.
The sun beamed down on them as they walked down the steps. Mercedes put on her glasses and swung her hair back as she walked towards her mother’s 2006 BMW X5. They put on some Mary J. Blige and bumped it throughout the entire ride. They hit up the malls and brought some new shoes and clothes. This was a regular occasion for them. After they were done picking up her dress, they headed over in the city to the Dominican salon to get their hair done.
“I need to get my own salon.” Maria said out loud as they got out the car and headed into the salon. It was always a dream of hers to have her own, but she didn’t need to work or want for anything.
Mercedes decided to get it washed, pressed, and to have Shirley temple curls with a bane that hung a little bit below her eye brows. Mercedes was looking as gorgeous as ever for her birthday. After they got their hair done, they went next door to Lucy’s to get manicures and pedicures.
It was now time to prepare for the party. She couldn’t wait until later that night. She was about to have the biggest and most anticipated party of the year. This party would shut the city down, this was her night and it was all about Mercedes Carter.
Hours later…
Standing in front of the vanity mirror in her room, Mercedes finished putting spritz on her Shirley temple curls to keep them in place. She unloosened them to give them a fuller look. Her hair looked perfect. Her pink and white French manicure matched her dress and her pink eye shadow brought out her green eyes. Mercedes chuckled at herself as she played around in the mirror, pursing her lips together blowing kisses. She was indeed beautiful and nobody could tell her anything different.
She accessorized with a small Etoile four-row band ring from Tiffany’s that brought out her long French manicured nails. Her small ears were glistening with Tiffany metro hoop earrings and she wore the necklace her father had brought her. She didn’t care that her mother said she had too much jewelry on, she was so icy that Gucci Mane didn’t have shit on her.
Mercedes grabbed several of her Tiffany metro bangles-each of them were worth almost $6,000 each. She slid them on her right arm.
She admired her beauty with her hands on her hips and gazed into the mirror. She eyed her voluptuous curves, which were perfect for the dress she was rocking. She looked and felt amazing in her two toned, white and pink strapless cocktail dress by Paris. The pink satin waist band was designed with faceted jewels that were replaced with real diamonds. It hugged tightly around the top of the dress making her breasts look plump and perfect.
Maria stood at the bottom of the spiral staircase beaming with the anticipation of seeing her daughter.
“Mercedes!!!!!!!!!!”
“I’m coming Ma”, Mercedes said as she grabbed her white clutch and made her way down the spiral staircase. Maria began taking pictures with one of her professional cameras. Don bought them for her and Mercedes hated them because she was always snapping pictures like a paparazzi. She did it every year for her birthday and on other occasions as well. Mercedes smiled and her dimples were in full effect. Her girls sat on the couch laughing at Mercedes as her mother kept snapping.
“Mom you know how I feel about that camera.” Mercedes chuckled as she was standing next to her mother.
“I know, I know, baby but this
is your Sweet 16 girl. This only happens once and I must capture every moment. I remember when I was sixteen,” her mother smiled.
“Ma!” Mercedes cut her off giving her a look that said-‘this is not the time for that.’
“We have to go.” Mercedes reminded her mother, as she saw the two toned pink and white limo entering the gates.
Mercedes smiled as she followed her mother through the front door and they got into the first limo. The other limo driver picked up her girlfriend’s in a black limo.
As they pulled up to the banquet hall, Mercedes saw many people inside and outside. Some were still trying their best to get in. If you didn’t have an invitation, you wouldn’t be able to set foot into the party. There was a white carpet which rolled out to where the limo was parked. The driver got out and walked around to the passenger side. He opened the door for Mercedes and her mother.
Mercedes made a grand entrance. The onlookers envied her as her heels touched the ground showing off her dress. She loved to be the center of attention.
Entering the huge foyer, pink and white balloons bombarded the ceiling and every one screamed “HAPPY BIRTHDAY MERCEDES.” There were more than a thousand people in the hall. Many people braved the crowd and tried to give her hugs, kisses and mostly gifts.
Inside there was a private lounge with tables filled with her father’s workers. They provided the security and all of them greeted her. She thanked them as she looked for the one person who should have been there to greet her. He was nowhere to be found and she felt that he had let her down.
“Happy Birthday, Mercedes.” The girls said in unison as they all walked up to her and gave her individual hugs.
“You look good.” Candy complimented her.
“Thank you.” she yelled over the music. Mary J. Blige’s, “Family affair.” pumped from the speakers as the bass thumped and the music spread throughout the entire hall. Everyone started wilin’ out and showing off their dance moves.