Dead But Never Gone
Chapter One
The birth of a baby is a life-changing, bittersweet moment.
A baby is a sign of life. A baby, which grows inside the womb of a woman, is a symbol of mother nature. In mother nature, everything happens naturally. The feelings a man and a woman have for each other is natural. How they express these feelings are natural.
The way they express their feelings – while sweet and breathtaking – lead to a woman's body changing. Some changes are good, and some are bad. Regardless, all of these things build up to when a fetus grows on the inside for approximately nine months of a woman's life.
However, the due date – to a woman – is like a horror movie to some extent. Pain is shot through their body, and it feels as if they're stuck in a torture room, having their bodies torn open and ejecting blood and other disgusting contents.
When the pain is over, though, they're greeted by a big ball of one of God's creations, who had been waiting inside for nine grueling months for someone to let them free. Yes, it would be a pity for them to open their eyes and allow their eyes to burn in the sudden light that shines on their wet little faces. But they'll get a chance to encounter their mother and father for the first time, and not be stuck in a bubble forever.
Many women have this worry in their lives. They want a baby to love so badly. They want to prove to the world that they know how to handle the little balls of sunshine, and be as loving as they promise to be. But they hear frightening stories of how the birthing process is.
Some people could possibly scare them with that, and others can't. There are reassurances when they find out about the birthing process. Plus, they'll always have their spouse and family right by their side.
The whole process of pregnancy and birth is a beautiful thing, whether there's pain or not. God has and will bless every couple with a wonderful delight to love and take care of for as long as they live.
This was one life lesson sixteen-year-old Mercedes Jones has learned in her life.
Her life story was pretty common with teenagers in the world just like her. Here's how it all began.
Mercedes Jones grew up in the calm city of Lima, Ohio. Her life was decent – except that she had so many bullies in it. Every time she headed on into school, someone would mention her claimed-to-be oversized weight and call out some racist remarks. She only wanted to make new friends, and this was the payback she got from everyone?
The slushies were the worst things about school. She would always get hit with a cherry or grape Slushie once or twice a day. She was especially annoyed with the cheerleaders, known as the Cheerios, who would call her chubby and ugly. Usually she wouldn't take crap from any bitchy cheerleader; but the amount of times they've gotten to her made her break down.
One day, somewhere between third and fourth period, she had hidden in the school's library and covered her face with her hand, trying to figure out how she would make it out of there alive.
And that was the moment when she met him.
He was so muscular…and ultimately cute. A part of him was quirky, too. He was hanging out with a couple of football jocks and two Cheerios before he had made his way to the curvy girl in the corner by herself. He had heard her sniffles right after his friends had left to the lunch room.
He removed Mercedes's hand from in front of her face, eyeing her beautiful, brown eyes. His were blue and brighter than the light shining in the room. Sure they were full of concern, but they lit up that whole area of the room from where Mercedes was sitting. His hair was so golden, too. And his biceps were – wow. Mercedes hadn't been this attracted in her saddest state in her life.
He had asked her what was wrong, and she explained everything. She watched as Sam's ears grew red. She wouldn't expect anyone like him to understand what she was going through. He was a football player himself. He was one of the popular guys in the school. Everyone looked up to him, and expected him to be a part of cool crowds and beat up losers.
This guy was nowhere near that part of the social circle.
He introduced himself to the girl. Sam Evans. That was a pretty simple name. He had promised to Mercedes that he would stop whoever was doing this to her. Mercedes didn't really believe much in him at first. For all she knew, she could be set up in another trap.
Her fingers tangled up her long, black hair. She needed an extra friend, though. There she was, crying her eyes out and skipping class just because of what some mean girls have told her. She couldn't afford to do this every day. She was slipping in a couple of classes because she had been skipping out. Her mother scolded her for attempting that each day of school. She's had enough torture for one day. Why must she go home to her mother yelling at her?
And with that, she agreed. A period or two later had passed, and Sam Evans had shoved two guys into the lockers once Mercedes walked past and called her a fat pig or something like that. There was almost going to be a fight in the hallway before Sam had held the two jocks tightly up against the metal doors and scolded them strictly.
Mercedes couldn't help but smile at the blonde boy. He was right all along about helping her. He was her knight in shining armor. He would do anything to help her.
It went like that throughout her freshman year, and he promised to continue with it through the rest of high school as well. Hopefully, it would help Mercedes move on her way. He was right. She gained a little more confidence with herself each day. Before she had the need to head on to the gym every day after school. Now she felt a little bit at ease to know someone had her back.
Plus, Sam actually liked the way Mercedes looked. He beamed every time she smiled at her. Mercedes would watch as the blonde football jock blushed so hard that his face would get redder than his varsity jacket. He didn't really have to do anything to make her faint. He was just…well, him.
As their friendship grew, regardless of Sam losing his popularity as the cool kids stated, they developed a little romance. They won't get over each other. They had to see their face each day. And if not every day, then at least a text or something between them whenever they can get around to it.
They just need to hear some kind of good news or wonderful words from each other. They wanted to see each other and drown in their appearance.
And as they continued on with this, they knew right around the time when their love for each other was almost uncontrollable.
They had attended a party planned by their fellow classmate, Artie Abrams. Sure, the handicap able guy wasn't as popular as some of the students in the school; but he still planned cool parties nonetheless. He once teamed up with Noah Puckerman, and that was the first party that was considered a success.
This party, co-planned by Noah Puckerman once again, was Sam and Mercedes's moment for it all to blow over.
Neither one of them were for beer and the other alcoholic drinks Artie's parents had stored in their garage, for they both have been horrified over the video clips they had seen during driver's ed class. They didn't want to end up like that. They wanted to have their lives saved. Being dead at a young age was not the thing they were looking forward to. Plus, alcohol was not satisfying at the moment.
As the party continued, everyone was jamming to some R&B music that had come on, fist pumping and dancing their asses off. Mercedes and Sam had taken a moment away from the crowds just to sit in the guest room. It wasn't quiet; the music was so loud that it could be heard from ten miles away.
They could care less about the music. They wanted to just be together and have their sweet moments. They've been apart for a while since the summer began, and they couldn't get enough of each other. They realized that they needed each other.
And at that second, the wait was long gone.
They made out on the guest room bed, their fingers ghosting over each other's arms and making it to their faces and necks. They pressed into each other as hard as they could. They never realized how real a teenage romance film could be like until now. They kept reaching their tongues in to taste each other, and just couldn't get enough.
They had lost all control, for they had lost their clothes in under a second, almost, and continued making out. Their skin rubbing against each other was like being lifted into heaven. It was such a wonderful feeling, having being in front of each other and sucking the taste out of each other.
Mercedes had lay down on the comforter and allowed Sam to bend down and lick around her thighs and clit. It sent shocks through the girl's body. She gasped and had so many orgasms a teenage virgin could have. Sam knew she was enjoying it, and kept on doing it. She ended up yelling the boy's name, grabbing hold of the sheets and mattress. She thought she would never get to experience this until she was around thirty-three or something.
She knew at that very moment that she was wrong.
Sam had finished his business getting the taste of the woman into his mouth, and sat up so he was able to kiss her lips. Mercedes had gotten a taste of what she was actually like down there, and then was welcomed with the taste of Sam's tongue again. Her mind twisted and turned in summersaults, and her eyes fluttered shut. Everything was taking a mind of its own.
Mercedes hadn't realized how much she completely lost it when she felt thrusts coming onto her from the blonde boy above her. They were both breathing heavily and grunting. The feel of Sam's length inside her made Mercedes feel so tingly. She welcomed all of this. She wished that it would last forever.
Unfortunately, there had to be an ending. And that ending that Mercedes and Sam had was the most glorious of their lives.
Sam had gaped at the feel of something wet spewing out from his member. His eyes were closed shut, and sparks were sent down his spine. Mercedes did the same, and laid her head back as she allowed Sam to release himself inside of her. She had so many wonderful sensations at that very moment. She couldn't imagine better sex with anyone in her life.
While their relationship got stronger, other aspects about their lives got weaker as well.
About a couple of weeks after their first time, Mercedes didn't show up at school for about a few days. Sam got awfully worried about her. He had the assumption that Mercedes had left due to one of her parents getting a promotion, or the fact that she had been bullied once again by one of those snarky Cheerios.
Sam was wronged twice. Actually, he couldn't settle down as the news had been brought up to him by Mercedes's dad, who had come into the school to have a discussion with him about his and Mercedes's love life.
It was all true. Mercedes did love Sam, and Sam loved her back. But now, they had a baby to deal with.
A baby. A baby growing inside of Mercedes. The poor girl had been getting morning sickness and hasn't attended school due to the fact that she had been feeling so ill.
They both knew that they were too young to raise a child. Neither one of them had graduated from high school, and were yet to go to their respective colleges outside of Lima. They had dreams to accomplished, sites to visit, people to see, jobs to attempt on working.
Was it really going to be wasted all because of a teen pregnancy?
They had discussed this all at the park one day, understanding all of the sacrifices and difficulties they had to face. Sam was willing to help out if Mercedes parents would let them. He liked the idea of having a son or a daughter. He found it pretty easy, especially since he has taken care of his brother and sister before.
Sam took Mercedes hand that day, comforting her any way he could, and vowed to be there for when the baby was born. He also vowed that he would protect both his girlfriend and his son or daughter, and someday getting married and make their family whole.
In a matter of weeks, everything was starting to build up. Sam visited Mercedes almost every day to help study and nurse her for a while. They had their little romantic moments, sure; but most of the time was spent on looking up research on what would happen when the baby was born, and studying for any tests or exams coming up.
Mercedes's confidence grew back. She couldn't believe how much easier it got when Sam was right there helping her each step of the way.
Unfortunately, everything didn't seem as easy once the moment came. It was all unexpected, too. Whoever knew the tables would start turning so quickly.
Everyone had panicked at the moment. It was time.
"Mom. Mom, I made it okay." The blonde spoke through his cell phone. "Yeah, Uncle Jim, Quinn, and Brittany are here with me."
It was all such a rush. One moment, he and Mercedes were slow dancing on the dance floor as some 80s music came on the stereo. They guffawed at Sam's aunt, Millie, and his uncle, Jim, were boogying down and causing a hilarious scene.
The next, Mercedes's water breaks and the baby attempts punching its way out of her. She ends up worrying so much, and grabs hold of the nearest hard object so she wouldn't allow the contractions to break her apart or something like that.
Sam and his family had made it to the Charleston Hospital moments after Mercedes's water had broke. The blonde boy had been pacing around in the waiting room for about ten minutes now. His older sisters, Quinn and Brittany, were surprised that he hadn't gotten dizzy at all.
"Sam, calm down." The shorter blonde spoke, grabbing hold of his shoulders. "Mercedes is going to be fine. I checked with the doctors. They have given her an epidural to stop the pain for a little while. They need to make other arrangements, but everything will be okay."
Her younger brother hung up his cell phone and took some steps to the left. "I…I don't know, Quinn." His eyes settled on the floor, and his balled up hands rested in his jacket pockets. "This is…my baby. Our baby. I just have these nerves a regular father would feel."
He took a liking to both of his sisters. They always put him in the right place. Quinn was always sure of herself when there were situations like this. And Brittany…well, she was always the one to cheer him up. Even if the thing she did to cheer her up was often childish.
Regardless, they had her back. He wouldn't make any regrets about that.
Quinn brought her hand up to Sam's shoulder, massaging it to Sam's liking. Never in years would she have imagined that her own brother would've knocked up a teenage girl and given her the seed. She always expected it being Brittany. Of course, she was a seductive, witty girl. She could get anyone out of their pants.
Still, she would've understood Brittany's worry while going through pregnancy like she did with Sam at this moment.
"Mercedes will be fine," Quinn assured. "You'll be fine. Your baby will be fine. Take my words into consideration, Sam. Everything will be fine. I promise you."
Sam allowed her to rub little circles on his back. He'll never understand why he wished he didn't have an older sister when he was nine years old. Quinn was a big help to him. Maybe seeing his son being born won't be a bad thing after all.
Brittany, the taller blonde, walked over with a video camera in her possession. She had it with her at the family reunion and decided that the Evans-Jones family needed more memories anyway. Plus, she'll go crazy when it comes to videos and pictures. God, Sam can't stop thinking about how many her Facebook has.
Sam's eyes fell upon the girl, his big guppy lips grinning at Brittany's gushy smile. "Hey Sam, let's make another video for the baby."
And yes, Brittany always wants to keep up with videos for the baby up to the day he was born. It's been like that since their cousin, Max was born. It was probably something Brittany had taken from her mother, being that she spent so much time with her and that Mrs. Evans considered Brittany as the favorite child.
Sam just couldn't resist it, though. This was an overwhelming moment, yes. But this was his first baby – his son. He would've accepted any gender, but this was still his first child. Memories do need to be cherished, especially now. He could care less if he was a teenager; before he thought it was hard, but now it's easing up a bit.
Well, he would have to worry about nonstop crying, diaper-changes, and waking up in the middle of the night.
He didn't care. It was worth it.
The tall blonde had turned the camera on, aiming the lens at her, Quinn, and Sam. She had the proudest big-sister smile on her face. This moment was too precious to waste.
"Hey there, nephew!" the girl greeted into the camera, waving her little fingers. "It's Aunt Brittany."
The shorter blonde chimed in, waving her fingers into the camera and grinning. "And Aunt Quinn."
"We can't wait to see you. Be good to mommy and daddy, you hear? And feel free to come over Aunt Brittany and Aunt Quinn's house whenever you want to. You're always welcome."
Quinn's grin grew wider. The anticipation was getting to her as well. In a couple of hours or so, she would get to see the adorable ball of sunshine Sam and Mercedes had been keeping in the oven for nine months. "We love you, sweetie! I can't wait until you're born!"
Sam almost chuckled at the two girls. They were so adorable with it. Honestly, he couldn't wait to see his son, either. He had been having bittersweet conversations with his baby mama about what they would do with him when he was born, what they would name him, how they would take care of him – everything.
To think when Mercedes's mother first found out that she was pregnant, she was about to either kick Mercedes out of the house or give the baby up for adoption.
It would be a pain in the ass for Mercedes to live out on her own. Giving up the baby for adoption would break both her heart and Sam's. At least they could learn responsibility when having a baby. And Quinn and Brittany were there to help. This baby was bringing a lot of people together in so many ways.
Let's say that Sam and Mercedes's new baby is some kind of angel baby or something.
Sam gazed up at the camera his older sister was holding and chuckled a little. It wasn't an actual human being he was talking to, but it was about to be.
"Hey there, son." It sounded awkward saying son at first, but he was going to get used to it. "We're in the hospital with your mommy right now, okay? It'll be a few hours, but you'll soon be introduced into the world. Your first breath, your first gaze, your first movements into the outside air. I hope you're ready for it. Daddy loves you."
Brittany almost got shaky with the camera, for she was gushing and grinning widely at her sister on the other side of him. Quinn almost cried for a moment, and swallowed the lump in her throat.
As Brittany turned the camera off, Mercedes's mother walked over to them, coming from her daughter's hospital room. "Hey sweetheart," she greeted. "Mercedes wants to see you in Room 331."
"Gotcha," the blonde boy replied with a thumbs-up in the air.
His heart was going to leap out of his chest. Only a few more hours. No biggie. Just a few more hours.
But God, was he so nervous.
Don't panic, Sam Evans. You're going in there; you're going to help your girlfriend with any pains she has; and you're going to help bring another life into the world.
He really hoped he could. He could only hope.