As he made his way down the stairs of the dimly lit auditorium, he heard light sobbing and knew he had found her. He spotted her sequin shirt glistening in the light, as she sat in the first row in front of the stage. As he approached her, he saw her body stiffen from behind, and knew that his presence had been made known.
He sat in the seat beside her. "It's hard, isn't it?" Mike stated to his friend who was attempting to wipe her face from the tears that had just been falling. "Coming back here, seeing... them again. I know how you're feeling, and I just want you to know that I'm here for you," he said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she rested her head on his.
With her big brown eyes, Mercedes peered up at him. "Does it get easier, Mike? I mean, at least Tina acknowledges you, even if it is with disdain. Sam acts as if we never had anything between us. As if the summer before and my senior year weren't real. As if we never... loved each other." She sniffled again.
Mike could feel the sleeve of his plaid shirt become damp, and knew that she was crying again. "And here I thought Tina's and my love would last the test of time," he mumbled to himself. "Couldn't even make it to the start of the school year." He chuckled bitterly.
She looked up again. "And do you mind telling me what's so funny Mr. Chang? Because all I see here are two heart-broken pathetic individuals. Hell, at least you're good enough to find someone else to love you..." she whispered the last part under her breath hoping he would disregard it, but no such luck.
He sat her up and looked at her sternly. "First of all, we may be heart-broken, Ms. Jones, but we are NOT pathetic. Secondly," he stated more softly, "any man would be lucky to have a woman like you. You are doing yourself a disservice by selling yourself short like that. Where's the Mercedes I know who was confident and proud of who she was? Who brought Rachel Berry to a concession with her powerful solo of And I Am Telling You? Who knew that she rocked her audition for Maria in West Side Story, and refused to share her rightful spotlight with anyone else? Who headed the TroubleTones? And who followed her dreams and moved all the way to LA to pursue them? Where's that bright-eyed, bushy-tailed Cedes I know?"
A small smirk crept up on her face despite the tears brimming in her eyes. "Right here, I guess." She nudged his shoulder playfully with her own. "Dangit, Chang, you weren't supposed to make me smile this easily." She paused. "But... it still hurts so much. I thought I'd moved on, but seeing him just brings back a rush of feelings I thought I had buried so deep. Seeing him makes me miss being loved again."
"Cedes, I'm your friend. I'm supposed to make you smile. And it's going to hurt. Trust me, I'm right there with you. But we can't wallow in depression and dwell on what's in the past. We are here in the present and that's what we need to focus on." He stood up and grabbed her hand to pull her up, too. "And you have no need to fear that you won't find someone else. Any man stupid enough to pass up on this steaming cup of hot chocolate standing in front of me doesn't deserve to be with you anyway."
Mercedes laughed aloud at that as they made their way up the stage to get ready for the call back dance number for those hoping to score the roles of Danny and Sandy in the Grease Musical they were helping to put on. She knew he was just being nice, but it made her feel good nonetheless. "Well then," she started, "where is this man who'll be man enough to love me, since you know so much?" she teased.
They reached the center of the stage, and Mike felt Mercedes go rigid. Still holding her hand, he turned around. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" He was looking at the shorter girl, but she was displaying a far off look. He waved his hand in front of her face. "Earth to Mercedes!"
She relaxed slightly and her gaze hit the floor. The rush of emotions swept over her like a hurricane. "This is where it all started," she whispered. "Asking him to prom, Human Nature, our first and only duet, a shared kiss..." She touched her fingertips slightly to her lips, remembering the way his full lips felt on her own. Her head then snapped up. "I'm sorry, Mike. I can't do this. This is just too much." She turned around and attempted to leave, but Mike never let go of her hand.
He pulled her back to him in one swift motion, and held her face in both his hands. Making her look at him through blood-shot eyes, he said, "Hey now. You're stronger than that, Cedes. You CAN do this. We can do this... together. I know you wish you can take all the memories and erase them so you never have to feel this pain again, but these same memories are ones we'll smile about later." He then grabbed both of her hands in his. "Love is out there waiting, for both of us. So until your Prince Charming comes, Mercedes, you'll have me to lean on. I'll be here for you, if you'll have me. Friends?" He held out his pinky to her.
A small smile formed on her lips, and she raised her hand to loop her pinky with his. "Friends. And the same goes for you. I'll be your rock if you be mine."
He returned her smile. "That's a deal, Ms. Jones." He pulled her into a tight hug and kissed the top of her head. If only she knew how much she meant to him. If only she knew how his heart broke more for her than himself. He just wanted to hold her and shield her from the pain forever. She was precious to him, already his rock, no, his precious gem. She was the one right there to see him through his break-up with Tina. Though he still kept in touch with many of his high school friends, Mercedes had become his best friend. Since she was so close to Tina, he looked to her for advice and ended up gaining much more than he could have asked for. Little did he know that soon after, he'd return the favor when Sam broke it off with her. They were each other's confidants, and he loved her fiercely, maybe even a little more than just a friend. But right now, she needed him as a friend, so that was what he was willing to be.
He released his hold on her, and wiped away the last tear from her cheek with the pad of his thumb. "Okay! Now let's get to work on that Hand Jive! We've got an hour to make sure you got it perfected before the audition. Can't have the kiddies out dancing you," he teased. "Booty Camp's a go!" He shouted, tapping his friend on the backside as she walked to get to her spot on stage.
"Ha Ha. Very funny, Chang. And leave my Booty out of this." She smirked.
Mercedes was so thankful to have a friend like Mike. Despite his relationship with Tina, or lack thereof, she and Mike had grown close over the summer, what with them all double-dating. It had almost been like Tina and Sam both planned to break up with them at the same time. They found solace in each other through the pain, but built a friendship on the joy and hope and comfort they gave one another. She rarely talked to Tina anymore, or Kurt, or Rachel, or anyone for that matter, but she always managed to make time for texting, calling and Skyping with Mike. He was more than her friend, he was her backbone. Even with the thousands of miles in between them, it didn't put a strain on their friendship. She didn't know what lay ahead for the two of them, but she was just grateful for his presence in the here and now.
"Well, what can I say?" Mike asked. "My friend's a cutie with a booty." He smiled at the blush creeping up on her cheeks though she was trying to hide it behind a mean glare. "Now, let's make some of our own memories on this stage... Hit the music!"