Hi! I'm here again and this time it wasn't a one-shot. This fic is an AU where Sam and Mercedes never met in Lima,Ohio.
I publish this fic in Spanish and Anni read it. She likes it so much that she said to me, "hey! I can translate it for you." You guys don't know how happy I am that she is gonna translate it. Is a hard work, but you Anni are doing it justice. Thank you so much for doing this. I don't know how to pay you for this. Give us a chance, guys. Give Anni a chance :) Thank you so much, tell us what you think about the story in a review if you want. Thanks again!
Sam's thoughts are written in italic ^^
Disclaimer: Glee isn't mine. Just some characters of the story ;)
Searching for a heart:
And I can't stop now, I have fear of the loneliness.
Leaving behind the place I grew up in, and armed with courage
I don't know if you'll cry when you think about me
But I'm a wanderer
Searching for a heart that points towards me
Searching for a heart I'm searching for a heart which belongs to me.
"Honey, thanksgiving is in two weeks. You can't miss it this time, your grandpa wants to see you and you know he gets sad when you're not here to celebrate with us."
Sam Evans jerked the steering wheel heading right around the bend and loosing mobile phone coverage and total contact with his mom.
"Your brothers and sisters are all coming, you have to be here. Tell your boss not to be so hard on you. Come on, come home"
"Mom, I've already told you that I'll try" her son replied, adjusting his hands free headset.
"Don't tell me you'll try. If you don't come home this year, you'll break my heart" His mother began to cry again just like she did every time he called her. He couldn't stand it. His missed his family but his life was on the open road, his whole life was the truck he drove all day. At the other end of the line his mother sobbed murmuring things that didn't make any sense.
"I have to hang up mom. I'll be there, I promise."
Before she could answer he disconnected and took off the headset placing it on the seat next to him in the life was the truck. He was twenty-six and he'd been travelling throughout the whole United States since he'd been eighteen just like his uncle John had done his whole life. He had left the truck to him in his will and Sam loved it. It was his home on wheels. It had a fridge and a bed and that's all he needed. He liked to travel. He had covered so many miles and miles in that truck and when he went home he missed it. Missed it as much as he missed the heat of a woman.
Being a trucker meant having a girl in every bar, at least that's what everyone else thought. Of course he had fun from time to time with some of them, but he never promised anything else. He didn't want to hurt any of them the way his uncle had during twenty years of trucking. Sam knew that his uncle had left some of them pregnant; because he himself had told him, but because they could never find a way to contact him they were never able to make him face his sins.
When he was eleven Sam swore that he would never give break any girl's heart and he had lived up to that girls, who looked him over, never wanted more than a moment with him and then they would never even say goodbye. He'd lost his virginity at seventeen whilst on a final trip with his uncle. The girl was twenty-five and the daughter of the woman that his uncle had wanted to sleep with.
"Flirt with the daughter. It's been a while since I've been with a woman" Sam had agreed against his better judgement and the girl had seduced him into bed.
"That wasn't bad," she had said getting dressed and leaving him in the motel room. He never saw her or her mother again. His uncle had died the next month and he'd started on his own journey three months afer that. Travelling from one place to another, stopping to eat at whatever bar on the way, betting in poker games. This was Sam Evans, tall, blond with gorgeous green eyes. With an athletic body and a weakness for food.
Two weeks…
Two weeks to get to Tennessee. He still had a few runs to cover before hitting Tennessee. At least his mother had not told him to bring a girl with him. Probably because she had finally understood that he was a lone wolf. He had never been with any woman who had inspired him to know what love was. Sam didn't know what it was like to fall in love and perhaps would never know. He doubted whether his uncle had known it either before dying. However although he believed he would never do it, Sam wanted to fall head over heels in love.
Two weeks until Thanksgiving. His grandpa missed him as much as Sam missed his grandpa. It had been too long since he'd seen him. He'd hated his uncle John, Sam's father's brother, as much as he loved Sam's father. They were two different people. His dad had not lived his life on the highway like his brother had. He had fallen in love with his mother and they had gotten married and brought up their five children on a farm in Tennessee. Sam was the middle child. The firstborn was Scott who was twenty-nine, followed by Mary-Ann who was twenty-eight. Then he was born on a June morning causing his mother to wet the bed when her waters broke. And finally years later Stevie and Stacey were born, seventeen and fifteen years old respectively. They were all blonde like their mother but their eyes were different. Scott, Stevie and Stacey had blue eyes whilst he and Mary Ann had the same colour eyes as their mom, a gorgeous shade of green. His grandpa loved the five of them like they were his own; His mother was his only daughter and she had all of his love and affection, as did her children when they were born. He was named Samuel after him and is grandma had always said he reminded her of him when he was younger. Adorable, sweet and a dreamer was Samuel Riley and his grandson was made in exactly the same mould.
"Do you think someday I'll find a girl who loves me as much as Grandma loves you?" he had asked him when he was nine.
"Sam, you should never demand that someone loves you. You should be the first to show what you feel" his grandpa has replied while the boy had looked at him amazed.
"'What's it like to love someone Pop?"' the man had smiled ruffling his hair.
"When you find that someone, you'll know short stuff"
But seventeen years later he still didn't know what it felt like to love. His grandma had died two years later, breaking his grandpa's heart. He saw how happiness turned to sadness when he could no longer be with her. And so at eleven he had made that promise; that he would never break any girl's heart. He couldn't bear to remember how his grandpa had suffered when his wife had died. It had been such a great wound that although it had gradually eased as the years went on, it would never go away.
Sam had never known love but his grandpa had lost it. They were two lonely men.
His grandpa had been livid when he had learned his uncle had left him his truck. He didn't want Sam to turn into was his greatest fear. But as the years went on he had understood that his grandson could never be like him. The only thing that hurt now was that he didn't see him often. This was why Sam was going to the Thanksgiving dinner because he too wanted to see him.
He shifted bit in his seat, leaning forward to turn on the radio, rapidly returning his gaze to the highway. If he was fondly imaging that the journey to Cincinnati was going to be peaceful, he was about to find out that he was sorely mistaken. A long way off he could see two men on the grassy verge pushing a black girl to the ground. They were obviously trying to steal the bag that she had with her. His foot sought the accelerator, increasing the speed of the truck. It would be two against one but at least he'd be able to make sure nothing happened to the girl. The wheels screeched as he stomped on the breaks and his body slammed into the steering wheel. He switched the engine off, grabbing his keys and jumped down quickly from the cab.
"For fuck's sake, give us the bag! We won't hurt you, we just want the bag! Fuck!" one of the guys shouted pulling on said bag, managing to drag the girl with it. The girl quickly got up and bit his hand furiously.
"Fuck, Nick! Help me!"
The other man, who supposedly was called Nick, grabbed her from behind holding her arms and shoulders whilst the other grabbed the bag and made off with it,' As she tried to free herself she saw another young guy coming up behind the would-be robber, making as if to hit him.
"Watch out Joe!" cried Nick whilst holding her immobile. He spun around just in time to receive a fist to the face and one to his stomach, knocking him off balance and to the ground. Nick pushed her, throwing her to the ground and grabbed her bag taking off running.
For a second Sam considered chasing him but knelt down beside her instead attempting to help her.
Fuck! What a punch! Sons of bitches! Oh, fuck!
The thief's partner in crime, who he had floored, had got up behind him. He ran towards his buddy's car which was already running to make their escape.
Great! Run away, you cowards!
Sam touched the girl's cheek trying to wake her, but failed. His fingers pulled her eyelids back and she sat up rapidly throwing him off onto the ground. From this position Sam could see how she straightened herself and brushed her trousers, which were full of dirt, off. Her hands swiped her backside to get rid of the stones that has stuck to it. He looked at her for a while from the ground, vaguely noticing how cold his hands were getting from the contact with the ground. Finally she looked at him, still on the ground. Sam took notice of her features and curves whilst he tried to pick himself up off the ground. The girl didn't look friendly at all and what's more looked like she wanted to slay him with a look which startled Sam into stopping his attempt to get up and start to worry about her. She looked fine, he decided, so there was no reason to worry.
What did I teach you, Samuel? You've got to treat girls with respect. They need to know someone is looking out for them. Believe me, your grandma used to tell me that all the time.
His grandpa was right; it didn't matter that the girl was looking at him as though she would love to strangle him. All he wanted to know was that she was ok and get back on the road.
"Are you ok?" he asked giving her a false smile.
"No" the girl replied, pursing her lips disagreeably.
Of course not. It would be weird if she were ok considering she had been thrown on the floor and robbed.
"Are you hurt?" She looked at him incredulously.
Without a doubt, wrong question.
"Thanks to you, white boy I've had my bag stolen. Are you happy" the girl gestured with her arm as though she were channelling Beyoncé?
Hang on. Happy? Yes, without a doubt. I'm jumping for joy here.'
"Thanks to me? Come on…you're shitting me!" Sam couldn't control his laughter.
"I had everything under control, Blondie until you came along…"
"Yes! Yes, you had it way under control," he said stretching his words and watching how annoyed she got.
"I know how to defend myself, you know!" she said putting her hands on her hips in exasperation.
"I don't doubt it," he replied joking.
She gave a sigh, attempting to count to ten, and then speaking again waving her finger at him.
"If you hadn't arrived…"
He pushed her finger back from his face before replying calmly "If I hadn't come they would have stolen the bag just the same. The difference is that in this case you are still alive thanks to me. You really think you could defend yourself against those dudes? Frankly, right now you'd be lying either unconscious or dead in a hospital. That's of course if anyone stopped to call an ambulance."
The girl looked at him, still not agreeing with him and refused to reply.
Sam shrugged his shoulders and turned around to get back on his way.
"Hey! Where are you going!" she shouted at him running behind him.
"Back on the road,'" he told him turning to face her and bumping into her abruptly. She was about to topple over due to the impact, but Sam grabbed her in time with his arms round her hips, but she keep going reminding him that she was no size two so he grabbed her around the waist, plastering her to him. The heels she had on brought her to his height and he realised that without them she was quite short. She placed her hands on his chest and pushed herself away from him, at the same time as he regained his composure.
"You're going to leave me here alone, Blondie?" she gaped at him astounded.
"Why not? You said you knew how to look after yourself perfectly well."
And I have no doubt that you can too.
She opened her mouth to shout at him but made an effort to calm down, sensing that it would get her nowhere.
"Let me remind you that thanks to you I'm without my bag". Sam looked at her incredulously.
My God, what a hard-headed chit!
"Let me remind you that thanks to me you are still alive."
"Yes well, thank you very much," she said moving towards the truck.
Jeez, what a butt…hey! One moment…where does she think she's going?
"Hey where do you think you're going, girl?" Sam ran behind her grabbing her arm and spinning her round, bumping into her again.
This is starting to become a habit.
The girl pushed him back and looked him up and down
"I'm getting into the truck"
"What?" Sam's eyes were like saucers.
She isn't serious, surely?
"It's the least you can do. I've got no money or bus tickets. Just take me to the nearest city."
"Are you serious?"
She looked at him, amazed.
"Of course I'm serious. Do I look like someone that jokes around to you?"
I'm sure you don't. You've got a very sour disposition. I bet you it's been ages since…
"No you don't seem to be."
"Fine, well now we're clear about that are you going to let me in or what?"
For a second Sam thought he saw a flash of hope in her gaze but it disappeared quickly like a cloud of smoke, making him doubt whether he had really seen it in the first place. What could he do? She had lost everything and was on her own. Of course he wasn't to blame and he'd done everything in his power to prevent her bag being stolen but had failed. The real question wasn't what he should do because he already knew the answer to that but rather how he was going to stand the long journey to the nearest city with a stranger who blamed him for the loss of her bag.
"To the next city and that's where you get off," he said seriously.
"Deal," she said offering him her hand to seal the deal.
"Deal" he replied, taking her hand and feeling a charge shoot up his arm.
Fuck! What the hell was that?
Apparently he was the only one to have noticed, she was standing waiting for him to open the door for her to get in. However, not only did Sam open the door but he helped her climb up, his hand grazing her backside by accident.
"Could you please keep your hands still, Blondie?" she said once she was seated in the cab.
What? If you think that I wanted to touch you up you're dead wrong. You're not my type, not by a long shot. Maybe you should try being nicer. Maybe…
Sam shut the door in her face without replying. He went round the truck in four strides and mounted the steps up to the cab in a matter of seconds.
I've a feeling this is going to be a long journey…
He turned on the radio, avoiding eye-contact. Maybe if he concentrated on the highway he could imagine that he was travelling on his own and forget about the crazy girl next to him. Because she was completely crazy! What was she thinking of doing when she got to the city anyway? She didn't have any money, she only had the clothes she stood up in. He observed her unobtrusively, looking at her up and down. She had a short-sleeve T-shirt on with jeans and high heel…
Fuck! It was as cold as hell out there. When was she going dressed like that? You could even see her nip…God!
Sam turned his attention back on the road. It had been so long since he'd gotten laid; it was a perfectly normal reaction to have in the face of those breasts and that big ass. He had never been with anybody like that. The girls he'd slept with were always skinny and flat, which was why his curiosity rose more and more each time as he looked at his companion. What would it be like to sleep with someone like that?
Come on…she's not your type. Don't worry. Just think of something to talk about.
"Where are you going?"
"To Alabama," she replied, eyes fixed on the highway.
"Sweet Home Alabama?" he asked, amused.
What a crap joke for God's sake.
"No. I'm from Ohio," she said smoothing her trousers down for the third time. Her hands rubbed her arms as if trying to warm them up.
Just as I thought….where the hell did she think she was going dressed like that.
"Ohio! I've got friends there," said Sam realising how little interest she was showing in the conversation. "Were you thinking of walking to Alabama?"
She looked at him, stunned. "Actually, I was hitch-hiking"
Hitch-hiking….and I'm sure someone would have taken you….yes, yes.
"Hitch-hiking is dangerous. Didn't your mother ever tell you that? Don't know what kind of murderers you could come across?" he told her half serious.
"I don't doubt it," she said pointedly looking him up and down.
"I'm not one though, so don't worry. You're safe with me"
In all sense of the words…I would get close to you even if I was desperate.
"See how much better I feel" she answered amused.
So she does know how to laugh…
Sam smiled at her. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye then gave him a slight smile.
So she does know how to smile. Maybe she won't make the entire journey miserable.
"And your case?" he asked her watching as she rubbed her arms to gain some warmth. 'Let me see if I can guess….they stole that too?'
"Well. Yes. I went to the toilet at the station and they stole it. I had to leave it outside because the toilet was too small and when I came out it wasn't there anymore."
Sam suppressed his laughter. It really wasn't a laughing matter.
That's all I need…a dumb chick. Please God, don't let me have a puncture.
"Did you have a lot in it?"
"Not really no." the girl bit her lip trying to remain silent.
"And now they have stolen your bag." She turns towards him in a foul mood.
"Thanks for reminding me! I've only just managed to put it from my mind!" she spat venomously.
It is about time your claws began to show again.
"I'm sorry' he laughed 'you were right, you had everything under control."
Come on I've given you enough provocation. What are you going to come out with now?
"You don't believe that."
"Really, no." Sam started to laugh again.
She hissed in anger and turned towards him.
"Stop the truck! Stop it now!"
Sam stomped on the break and they both smacked into the dashboard. She rubbed her breasts trying to soothe the area where she had been hit. Her nipples grew hard as he stared at her.
Fuck! Stop doing that…
She looked at him the expression on her face changing from pain to anger but before she could say anything Sam confronted her.
"Are you crazy? Do want to kill us?"
"I'm getting off here, Blondie. I can't stand you anymore," she said grabbing the door handle. Sam's hand shot out to stop her and felt another shock that she didn't feel.
Fuck!
"Come on…we both know you won't get very far on your own," he said with humour.
"Go fuck yourself in the ass!" she screamed at him opening the door and jumping down from the truck.
He did the same, slamming the door shut and running after here.
"Hey! Get back in the truck! It's getting dark," he said finally catching up to her. She kept going, without stopping to look at him.
"Leave me alone!"
"Get back in the truck, right now!" Sam shouted grabbing her arm. She wrenched her arm away as if she had received an electric shock, one however he did not feel this time.
"Look. I don't have time to waste here. I need to get to the city by nightfall. So you either get back in the truck or I leave without you." She turned and carried on going in the direction she had been going.
"You know what? We made a deal, so now you have to stick to your side of it. Get in the truck; I'm not going to leave you here alone"
What fuckery! I should just let her go…she's a pain in the ass.
She looked at him haughtily whilst trying to stop her teeth chattering from the cold.
Stubborn and stupid! Is there anything else I need to know?
Sam took off his corduroy jacket and placed it around her shoulders. If he looked at her breasts again he'd be lost.
"Come on let's go. Now" he said abruptly. He walked back to the truck without glancing back at her. She followed him slowly. This time he didn't help her up and by the time she sat down next to him he already had the engine running.
"Tell me to stop again and I won't go looking for you" he warned her.
"Laugh at me again and you'll taste my fist" she said waving it at him.
Great, I'm stuck with a bruiser…
"Well before I meet your fist can I at least know your name?" asked Sam.
I've been in your company for half an hour and I haven't asked you...shows how much you interest me.
"My name is Mercedes. Mercedes Jones" she said putting the jacket on.
"Mercedes…what kind of name is that?" he laughed, amused. She looked at him with murderous eyes. He noticed and introduced himself.
"I'm Samuel Evans."
"Ok Evans now we've made our introductions do me a favour and get us out of here?"
Believe me no one wants to get to the city more than me. It would be a pleasure to get rid of you; you're a pain in the neck.
Sam saw how she tried to zip the jacket up without success.
"Not your size? Maybe you could wrap yourself up in a bed sheet, it's a lot bigger."
I would have never had said that grandpa. It's just that I can't help myself. Don't judge me.
"Just shut up and drive" she took the jacket off giving him again a view of her breasts and covered herself with it. She lay down across the seat, closing her eyes. "Let me know when we get there, I'm going to sleep so I don't have to listen to you."
"As long as you don't snore, everything will be peachy" he told her, laughing nervously.
"You never shut up, do you?" she closed her eyes, trying to sleep.
He wouldn't get to the city before nightfall as he had forseen. There were only two hours left of light so he drove to the first motel he could find. He had to wake her up but he had no idea who she'd react when she found out they still hadn't made it to the city.
"Mercedes," he shook her gently. She grabbed him by the neck, ready to punch him with her right fist. He managed to stop her with his hand but the jacket that was covering her slid down over her breasts giving him another chance to admire them. Sam pulled back quickly, hitting himself on the steering wheel.
"What do you want Evans? Are we there yet?" she said getting up from the seat.
"No, it's night time now. We'll sleep in a motel and tomorrow I'll drop you off in the city." Mercedes reluctantly accepted knowing that he would not keep going no matter how much she begged him.
They climbed down from the truck, locked the door and entered the motel which bore the sign 'The Happy place'. Sam wanted to open the door for her, but she hurried in front of him opening the door and shutting it slightly so he had to open it again.
"Good evening. We need a room with twin beds for the night" she said quickly before he had a chance to speak.
"Have you had a fight?" the old woman behind the reception desk asked.
"What?" Mercedes asked confused.
"Didn't you see the sign on the door? We only allow married couples in. We don't want open relationships, nor home wreckers nor incestual liasons nor anything of that sort. Isn't that right Matthew?"
"That's right, Helen" her husband said in agreement. They looked at each other stupefied. Mercedes turned to go back to the truck but Sam grabbed her waist, pressing her against him.
"No we haven't had a fight. It's just that my wife has a bad headache and can't sleep. The baby wakes her up every hour and she doesn't want to wake me up. I've told her it doesn't matter but she is as stubborn as a mule" Sam explained rubbing Mercedes' belly and giving her a soft kiss on the cheek. Mercedes dug her nails into his hand in reply and he bit his tongue to stop from crying out.
"Oh! You're pregnant? How wonderful! But you need to sleep with your husband, honey. What are they here for if not to look after us and protect us? We have one room left, sign here. Matthew being them the keys." They smiled at her and she gathered the papers for them to sign. Mercedes pushed him away muttering beneath her breath.
"Were you saying something?" the woman returned her gaze to them.
"My wife is very tired, right honey?" he asked her putting his hand on her butt. Mercedes' eyes were wide as saucers and she bit down on her lip, furious.
"Here you go. Go up the stairs, it's the first door on the right, room number six." She grabbed them and went upstairs. Sam waved goodbye after signing and ran up after her. Once he shut the door he waited for the explosion that was coming.
"You touch my butt again and I'll cut your hands off, understood?" She warned him waving her index finger at him. "Same goes for the rest of my body." Sam couldn't help laughing.
"Don't worry. I wouldn't touch you if you paid me!"
"Oh you're an idiot!" she cried exasperated.
"Look who's talking!" he said shaking his head.
"Did you just call me stupid?"
"You called me it first" he said as an excuse.
"Why don't you go to the truck and leave me alone?" she said with her hands on her hips.
"I'm sorry?" Sam gaped at her with his mouth open.
"You heard! There's only one bed and I'm not going to share it with you so go sleep in the truck."
"I think you forget who has paid for this room. You go and sleep in the truck," he said emphasizing the 'you' by pointing a finger in her face.
"You want me to sleep there alone?"
"Of course, I don't think anyone's going to steal you, if they did they would bring you back within five minutes."
"You're a moron!" she shouted at him turning round and marching into the bathroom, slamming the door.
"Yes! But at least one with good taste!"
For God's sake I want to get there already! What a pain in the ass!
Sam threw himself on the bed without even taking off his shoes. He made himself comfortable and instantly fell asleep dreaming of curvy, big-breasted woman who melted beneath his mouth. His body rolled on top of the sheets almost off the bed. His trousers grew tight, waking him up. He opened his eyes and noticed that she still wasn't back from the bathroom. He then heard her shouting from behind the door.
What the hell is wrong now!
He got up hurriedly, running to the door.
"Have you seen a bug and want me to kill it?" he asked.
"I'm locked in, idiot! Get me out!"
Locked in? Perfect!
"No way, I'll have the bed to myself" Sam laughed.
"Open this door now or I won't let you sleep Evans!" He carefully tried the door handle but to no avail.
"I'm trying, I'm trying but it won't open. You'll have to stay there!"
"Open this door at once!" Mercedes said desperately.
Shut up!
"Get away from the door"
Sam slammed his shoulder into the door with as much force as possible but it still wouldn't open.
"Leave it! I knew you wouldn't be able to. Go get help."
Absolutely no way!
He could not leave the room in the state he was in. The motel owner would toss him out immediately. He kicked the door with his foot and the door handle turned and the door opened. Unfortunately the door hit her in the head knocking her to the floor. Mercedes was completely naked before him. The towel she had wrapped round her opened, showing him every one of her hidden treasures.
"Hey! Wake up! Come on!" he said trying not to gaze at her naked body "Mercedes!" She opened her eyes suddenly noticing how cold she had gotten. She got up quickly, covering herself with the towel and spying the erection he now sported behind his trousers.
"Get away from me, pig" she was out of the bathroom in two strides.
"What?'" She turned and directed a fulminating look at his crotch.
"Don't worry, this isn't for you. I already told you I have good taste."
Mercedes sighed pulling the sheets back on the bed and getting in, towel and all.
"You're not going to get dressed?" he asked disbelievingly.
"I'm not wearing dirty clothes to bed," she told him disdainfully "Anyway I don't turn you on, so what's the problem?"
The problem is that you're a woman after all and I'm too horny right now!
She closed her eyes and covered herself completely with the sheets whilst he went into the bathroom for a cold shower. He needed to get to the city and fast, maybe he'd meet up with Anna and they could enjoy some of the wild sex they always indulged in. He let the cold water run over him trying to forget everything that had happened in the last few hours. He went back to the bed and noticed how she had uncovered one bare shoulder from the sheets. He lay down beside her, leaving his trousers on but taking his T-shirt off leaving him naked from the waist upwards and covered her again with the sheet.
I'm not doing it because I care, grandpa. I'm doing it to keep her skin away from mine.
She turned towards him, asleep.
Great, you're the clingy kind. Perfect!
The rays of sunlight which came through the window woke him up the next morning. His trousers began to constrict again whilst he saw how her hands were anchored around his waist, caressing him with her nails. Her breasts were completely pressed up against his back. He unsnapped the button on his jeans and unzipped them, trying to release the pressure a bit. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and tried to relax.
Mercedes woke beside him, moving slowly so as not to waken him. The sheets however followed her escape out of the bed, leaving his body uncovered and she could see just where he had his hands. Mercedes grabbed the towel quickly and wrapped herself in it.
"You're sick!"she cried getting out of the bed and running to the bathroom for her clothes. He got up behind her holding his trousers up so they wouldn't fall down.
"Would you prefer it if I used you instead?" Sam entered the bathroom, again seeing her naked.
"Get out of here!" she screamed whilst trying in vain to put her bra on.
It was really fun watching her, from the doorway, seeing her struggle to put it on.
"Do you want me to help?" he offered, amused.
"You're disgusting!" she broke a nail trying to snap the fastenings together.
"I'm being serious, I've had lots of practice…taking them off and putting them on." She had finally managed to put the bra on and had hurriedly finished dressing. However she was missing something.
"You look for my jacket?" She turned to face him.
"Where is it?"
"What do want it for if it doesn't fit you?" She walked up to him pulling him so that he leaned towards her and reached up to murmur something in his ear.
"I need it" she purred.
Oh no! Don't do that…
Sam watched as her hand stroked his leg through the material of his trousers.
No, do not do that….
"Enough! What do you think you're doing?" He moved away from her quickly, stepping out of the bathroom. He grabbed the jacket and tossed it to her. She caught it mid-flight and felt the pockets, looking for something.
"What's that? A present from your boyfriend? God no, no one could stand you for more than half an hour," Mercedes found the ring which she had put in the pocket of the jacket and she put it on under his intense gaze. Then she left the jacket on the bed and sat down stroking the ring gently whilst she began to breathe calmly again.
"Hey put the jacket on!" Sam placed it over her shoulders and sat down next to her on the bed.
"'Is it from him? From your boyfriend?"
I take back what I said. I'm sure there is someone on this earth who wants to spend the rest of their life with you. Someone who is crazy enough.
She shook her head. A tear ran down her right cheek.
Oh come on! Don't screw me! Don't cry now!
"Who is it from?" he found himself asking.
"It was from my mom." She said in a barely audible whisper.
Was? Oh shit!
"Is she alive?" She shook her head, caressing the ring with her index finger.
"And your dad?"
Since when have I become so nosy?
"I never knew him. The son of a bitch left when my mom told him she was pregnant."
Son of a bitch was too good for him!
"I'm sorry," Sam said, wiping the tears from her cheek. She looked at him, stunned.
"If you're trying to soften me up so I'll sleep with you it's not going to work, Blondie" she said pushing his hand away and drying her eyes.
"I would not sleep with you even if I were desperate" he said annoyed. She got up, exasperated.
"Bet you've never been with someone like me, right" he said.
"And you? Have you been with someone like you?" she jeered at him.
"Very funny I'm dying here! Have you or not?"
"I don't like white boys" she said finally.
"Racist" Sam said under his breath.
"What?"'
"I called you racist," Mercedes eyes were wide with incredulity.
"Have you been with someone like me? I think not!" she asked defiantly.
"You mean…someone your size? No, I can assure you of that,"
"You are an imbecile!" she said pushing him with her hands on his perfect abs.
"I thought that much was already clear," he laughed.
"Why don't you have a cold shower and then we go?" she said, stepping back.
"Maybe we could share…How long has it been? You know…" he gyrated his hips and thrusted along with pumping his arms to illustrate what he meant. "You know…black guys may have them bigger, something which I doubt, but don't know how to use them like me or you wouldn't be so uptight"
Mercedes snorted in rage at his side and turned her back on him, trying to remain calm.
"I want to get out of here," she said without looking at him.
"Ok give me two minutes," Sam entered the bathroom and stripped quickly and stepped under the cold spray. He would get to the city soon and be free of her and he could go and see Anna for a bit of fun.
He came out and said "You're not going to shower?" putting on his T-shirt. "You are not getting into the truck smelling like that." She opened her mouth to reply but finally did as he said and went into the bathroom. She might not get an opportunity for a shower in such a hurry.
"Do not come in," she warned him.
"It hadn't even occurred to me," he watched her close the door without shutting it fully. She didn't want to be locked in again because he would probably leave her stuck there. Mercedes came out twenty minutes later, with wet and curly hair falling down to her shoulders. Sam adored girls with long hair, because his finger could play with it whilst they were having sex.
"I was about to leave without you,"
"And break our deal? I bet you're not one of those that doesn't keep their side of the bargain up," she said, putting the jacket around her shoulders and walking to the door.
"You're right. Come on" he said opening the door for her. Without being able to avoid it he stared at her butt as she tied to release her hair from under the collar of the jacket. The motel owner waited for them with a smile on her face.
"Good morning, Mr and Mrs Evans. How did you sleep? Well, I hope. Breakfast is included. Would you like something special?" She said as though on auto-pilot.
"I need a coffee to wake me up," Mercedes replied.
"No honey, you can't drink coffee in your condition. I'll bring you a hot chocolate" the old woman said.
"Bring another one for me please. Hot chocolates for everybody" said Sam beside her. Mercedes looked at him annoyed.
"Come on Mercedes, smile a bit will you or the baby will come out a real sourpuss" they followed the old woman to the dining room. Sam pulled out a chair for her and she reluctantly sat down.
Five minutes later, the woman came back with a tray full of pastries and two cups of hot chocolate.
"How quiet you are!'" she said putting the stuff on the table.
"Oh cookies!" Sam grabbed a handful and stuffed them in his mouth without delay. Both Mercedes and the woman looked at him in shock.
"Is he always that hungry?" the woman asked.
"Apparently so," Mercedes said dumbfounded.
"Enjoy them!" she said leaving them alone.
"Ank you," Sam called whilst chewing "They're great! Yuwanna one?"
"No thank you. I've lost my appetite watching you eat."
"Come on, honey. Eat something, or the baby will be skin and bone." Sam laughed again, trying not to choke offering her a cookie from the plate.
"Come on, just one, she's watching us," Mercedes turned to see where the woman was but she was nowhere to be found. When she turned back to the table Sam rammed a cookie into her mouth. Whilst from taking a bite she took the opportunity to sink her teeth into his fingers.
"Ow! Be more careful!" Mercedes covered her mouth with her napkin trying not to laugh. Sam looked at her, shaking his head whilst taking a sip of the chocolate.
"The moustache doesn't look good on you," she said, amused. He looked at her confused for a couple of seconds, then realised what she meant. He grabbed his napkin and wiped the moustache the hot chocolate had left.
"Drink yours…let's see how it looks on you" he said laughingly. She put the cup down, annoyed.
"Come on don't be stubborn, do it for the baby,'' Mercedes leaned forward beckoning him with her finger and with the same finger tapped him on the forehead repeating
"There is no baby Evans. You'll end up believing your own lies," he shrugged pushed the cup towards her.
"It's an order. If you don't drink the chocolate, you don't get in the truck,"
"If you don't shower, you don't get in, and if you don't drink the chocolate you don't get in…What's next?" she asked tiredly. He looked at her laughing biting his lower lip.
"I'm not going to sleep with you. I would rather walk to Alabama, if necessary."
"You wouldn't even get there in two years," he told her again pushing the cup towards her.
"'Well at least I wouldn't have to make love with someone I abhor," she said whilst she took a sip from the cup.
"I don't make love, sweetheart. I have sex. Wild and unrestrained sex," he replied, arching his eyebrows. She left the cup on the table, almost choking on the chocolate, whilst dying of embarrassment.
"Well go find yourself someone else," she finally replied.
"When I get to the city, that's the first thing I'm going to do," said Sam grabbing another cookie and swallowing it whole.
"Good for you," she replied.
"-Ood," he said chewing. "You too should look for someone to get rid of that sour mood you're in," She was about to answer him when the old woman suddenly appeared, saving her from continuing the argument.
"Would you like more chocolate? More cookies?"
"No, thank you." Mercedes said drily.
"But you haven't eaten anything honey! You're the pregnant one, not him. You're the one who has to eat," she said.
"I've told her, ma'am but you know she's as stubborn as a mule."
"Don't worry, I'll get you some more," she was on her way to the kitchen when she turned around remembering.
"Honey, wipe that moustache off, I can't believe your husband didn't tell you." Mercedes narrowed her eyes at him as she saw Sam laughing hysterically. She grabbed a napkin and wiped her mouth.
"Come on lets go," she whispered leaning forward with her hands on the table. "I can't stand that woman," she covered her mouth with a hand, in case someone heard her.
"Why because she reminds you of yourself?" he smiled arching his eyebrows and biting his lip again.
"Really? And just how is that?"
"You're both a pain in the butt; the only difference is she at least gives me cookies."
Sam put his napkin down catching the murderous glance of his companion. Truth be told, he'd miss her. He'd be alone again with no one to make the fun of. He was also curious as to what she would do, given that she had no money and only the clothes she stood up in and was without anywhere to stay day or night. She was alone, completely alone. Her mom had died and her dad didn't exist. She was alone with no one to turn to. He watched her playing with her spoon, completely wrapped up in her own thoughts and he thought she looked even more vulnerable than when she had told him her mother had died. Even more so than when he had seen her cry for the first time. He was sure that she was not at all like the image she presented to the world. He was also sure that she would never open up to anyone the way she had just done with him. It had happened due to a moment of weakness when she had found her mother's ring but it would not happen again. Mercedes had put her armour back on.
"Let's go," he said regaining her attention.
"Don't you want more cookies?" she asked grumpily.
"I'm full, if you don't want to eat anything, then I won't force you. Come on, let's go,"
The old woman was making her way back with another plate of pastries and cookies just in time to see them get up from the table.
"You're going? But you haven't eaten anything, honey," she said worried.
"We're in a hurry. Could we have the bill please?" Mercedes replied, grabbing Sam's hand.
What are you doing?
Their fingers laced together as if they formed part of the same mould. As if after so long they had finally found their twin. She looked at him giving him a beautiful smile, which the old woman watched emotionally.
"You make a lovely couple. Look after her and the baby. Promise?" she asked Sam, smiling.
He nodded his head, caressing Mercedes' thumb with his own for a second.
"Follow me, you can sign and then go," she went in front of them but turned round every so often to see if they were still holding hands.
Sam signed the papers and handed over the bills to the woman whilst Mercedes gave the key back to her husband. They had just gotten to the door when the old woman shouted something that made them turn back towards her.
"You promised, son! You said you would look after her!" He waved farewell to her.
Yep, I promised. Only until we get to the city, then we will go our separate ways.
"What was that," he asked, once they were out of the motel.
"You see? I can act too but I didn't need to touch your ass to make her think we were married." He laughed at her flippant remark.
I will definately miss you when you've gone.
He opened the door for her to climb up, this time without pushing her. Her foot slipped and she almost fell on top of him. His strong arms held her and helped her up into the cab, so she could sit down.' She let out a relieved breath, she had been sure she was going to end up on the floor.
"Haven't you got a joke for this?" she said annoyed.
"No." he said seriously. "I thought you were going to fall and we'd lose the baby."
"There's no baby!" she screamed at him whilst her closed the door and took two strides around the truck to his side.
"We should think about names. Samuel is good- like his dad and great-grandfather," he told her amused.
"Can you just stop joking about someone that doesn't exist and will never exist?" she asked, tired of the sheer idiocy of it all.
"Why don't you want to have kids?"
"Not with you!" she shouted in exasperation.
Sam laughed to see her so apoplectic with rage. He had to acknowledge that he loved to get her angry; he couldn't stop looking at the wrinkles that appeared on her forehead when she got mad.
"You've hurt me," he said biting his lips as if in pain. "I hope you're happy,"
"Samuel-" she called him by his first name for the first time.
Samuel! It sounds much better than Evans coming from her lips.
"Yes?" he paid her as much attention as he could without taking his eyes of the road.
"Just shut up and drive."
"Roger that, boss" Fifteen minutes later Sam was bored of the monotonous journey, the radio and the silence that now reigned in the cab.
"Jones…" he called, making her turn towards him puzzled.
"Now you call me Jones?"
"Now you call me Samuel?" he replied suavely.
"What do you want time to call you? It's your name," she said, stunned.
"You called me by my surname before," he explained, scratching his head.
"Well I hadn't shared a bed with you, or had breakfast with you or held your hand."
"So we are something more now?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"And we're back on the same topic! I'm not going to sleep with you!"
He shifted in his seat irritably. "Do you think I'm incapable of travelling with a woman without going to bed with her? Because I can do it, I assure you. I promised that woman I'd look after you, and I always keep my promises. And that promise also implies not touching you."
"I would never let you touch me," she relied arrogantly.
"Yeah, right. That's why you grabbed my hand not even half an hour ago," he jeered at her.
"The woman was there! Would you have preferred it if I had kissed you?"
That's a rhetorical question, right? Because if it's not…the answer is yes.
"'I would not have kissed you," Mercedes went on seeing that he had not yet replied "I don't go around giving kisses away, you know. Kisses are earnt, affection is earnt. Love is earnt,"
Sam looked at her out of the corner of his eyes whilst remain focused on the road.
"You've become a poet!" he couldn't help laughing at her.
"Yes, yes you laugh. But I bet you've never known what love is, I bet you've never loved anyone in a way that would make you want to leave everything behind and be with them,"
No, I've never known that kind of love. I don't know what that is and I'm afraid that you seem to be able to read me like an open book.
"You're wrong Ms Smarty-pants," he said scratching his head again. "Of course I have known love. In fact all of the girls I've been with have known love thanks to me," he joked.
"I'm not talking about sex Samuel. I'm talking about feelings," she said shaking her head.'
"I am too," he insisted.
"I can't imagine you being in love," she said stroking her mother's ring with her fingers, making him take his concentration off the road momentarily.
That makes two of us, Mercedes. That makes two of us.
I supposed by how you speak about it so easily, you have fallen in love several times' She shook her head beside him.
"I'm driving; I can't see your gestures,"
"No Samuel. I haven't fallen in love. I still haven't found the guy who'll say 'Hey baby, I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Just tell me yes and make me the happiest man in the world' and for me to be able to reply 'I also love you, and my answer is yes' "
I hope you have better luck than mine. I'm serious; I don't think I'm ever going to feel it.
"Pure sappiness," he said, pursing his lips while he shook his head. Mercedes shrugged her shoulders, knowing he was never going to change his mind. For a few minutes silence descended, but Sam broke it and brought her out of her thoughts by continuing with what seemed to be his favourite topic.
"So…if it's a boy we'll call it Samuel and if it's a girl Mercedes?" he smiled at her, amused. She snorted beside him.
"Are you going to keep carping on about the same thing the whole journey?"
"Do you want to talk about something else? I happen to like this one…what was your mother's name," as soon as he said it he wanted to smack himself over the head with whatever he coud lay his hands on.
Her mother? You had to go and mention her mother! Fuck! You are stupid, stupid, stupid!
"She was called Patrice," she said once again touching the ring.
I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I mentioned her. I'm an idiot.
Sam saw her put her head down, lost in her thoughts. Obviously he hadn't only reminded her of her mother, but her mind was torturing her now with past memories.
"I'm one of four," he said changing the subject quickly "they all live in Tennessee."
Mercedes looked at him curiously. He had seemingly managed to get her to forget the bad memories for a second.
"Are you the middle one?" she asked interestedly. He nodded his head, smiling at the way she was finally taking an interest in the conversation.
"How old are you? You seem young," she said looking at him intently.
"Twenty-six and you?"
"In three months I'll be twenty-six," she replied, still smiling.
"Well, maybe we'll be lucky and the baby will be born around the same time?"
She sighed, thoroughly fed up off hearing the same nonsense.
"You want to be a dad, don't you? That's what you really want, isn't it?"
"What," Sam gaped at her incredulously, looking away from the highway for a couple of seconds.
Mercedes turned her away, her eyes on the road.
"That's the only reason I can see for you to be going on about a non-existent baby," she explained.
He laughed under his breath.
"I keep on about it because it annoys you,"
"Yeah, that's what it looked like to me…" she said shaking her head. "Tell me more about your family."
So, what do you think? Tell us in a review ;)
In this story, there will be tears as well. Not just smiles and laughters ;) In the next chapter you'll see ^^ Thanks for reading it :)
The title and the song are translated too. The original song is "Buscando un Corazón" by La Guardia.