DISCLAIMER: I don't own glee nor do I own Sam and Mercedes. This is a work of my over active and sleep deprived brain.

Sam and Mercedes' legs dangled off the edge of the stage. Silence surrounded them, but it wasn't uncomfortable or particularly heavy. It was just quiet. Sam expected her to be angry after their kiss, but she simply turned from him and placed herself on the edge of the stage. Sam stayed standing for a few moments, unsure of what course of action to take until she turned slightly to face him and motioned for him to join her. And that is how they sat for the past fifteen minutes.

"I'm sorry," Sam said finally breaking the calm encircling them.

"No you're not," Mercedes said without the slightest trace of resentment or anger.

"No I'm not," Sam said not removing his eyes from his tightly laced Chucks.

"I knew you had something planned. I knew you would try something. I just didn't…I thought I could be stronger than this…than you," Mercedes said finally lifting her face from her own ankle boot encased feet.

"So you came here to what? To prove you were over me? To show me I was wasting my time?" Sam said the slight stinging of her words fading in and out of his voice with each word spoken.

"Yes," she replied so softly he wondered if he had imagined the answer.

"Well I think we can say you were wrong," Sam said staring longingly at the hand that rested only a few inches from his own. Everything in him wanted to close the distance and entwine her delicate fingers with his more calloused ones.

"You were always good at stating the obvious," Mercedes said around a giggle. Her first genuine one since they kissed.

"So…" Sam said hoping she would say something that would soothe his racing nerves.

"So…" she replied utterly lost because her own nerves were still tingling from the kiss.

Realizing she wasn't going to be the one to address the tap dancing pink elephant in the room, Sam turned his gaze once more to the simple temptation that was Mercedes' lightly taping fingers.

"Cedes, I didn't ask you here with the intention of kissing you or even putting the moves on you. I just wanted to give you a small taste of your dream…of your future," Sam said finally giving into his instincts and closing the gap between their fingers. He didn't hold her hand like wanted. He simply rested his fingertips against hers and was content when she didn't flinch or pull away. If anything he was surprised when he heard a peaceful sigh escape her lips.

"I am with Shane. He and I…"

"Aren't right together. I have overheard the two of you talking. It sounds more like a business deal than a relationship."

"What was I suppose to do Sam? We were over and you were gone."

"I didn't want us to be over. You made that decision for the both us. I was willing to try," Sam said letting his fingers drift higher up her knuckles.

"I know Sam. I am well aware of what I said," Mercedes responded turning her hand palm side up allowing her fingers to engage in a subtle dance with Sam's.

"So why shouldn't we try now? I'm here and I'm not going anywhere any time soon. We can be together and do it right this time." Sam said ending their dance by fully grasping her hand in his.

"Sure Sam. Let me just drop Shane. You know the guy I have been dating for the past five months. The guy who has been good to me," Mercedes said desperate to get free of his hand and hold tighter at the same time.

"He's a rebound Cedes. A distraction at best. I know you still have feelings for me. You are just scared to leave the safe little bubble you have built. I was willing to wait for you before and I am willing to wait now," Sam said before leaned over placed a gentle but searing kiss on Mercedes' cheek. With a final squeeze to her hand, Sam hopped off the stage and walked up the aisle.

Mercedes eyes closed as soon as Sam's lips made contact with her cheek and did not reopen them until she heard the distant closing of the auditorium doors. She let out a heavy sigh and her shoulders slumped forward with the weight of her feelings. On the one hand she cared for deeply for Shane but Sam awoke feelings she thought she had long moved on from.

She placed a hand on the spot where Sam had branded her with a kiss. As she absently caressed the spot, she thought back to all the kisses she shared with Shane. She struggled to come up with one time where Shane's kisses invoked more than a polite smile or the slightest of flutter of butterfly wings. With two simple kisses, Sam managed to set off a flight of eagles in her stomach and a fireworks display worthy of a New Year's Eve celebration. Mercedes shook her head at the predicament she found herself in. How could she go from one fake boyfriend and no real prospects to two guys each hoping to own her heart? She was pulled from her musings by the ringing of her cell phone. It was Kurt ranting about a meerkat Warbler with CW hair. She stifled her giggles happy to be distracted from her own complicated love life. Mercedes hopped from the stage agreeing to meet him for coffee and lady chats. As she slipped her phone back into her pocket Mercedes took one last look at her name in lights. The gesture was amazing but Mercedes took it as a sign that Sam was throwing down the gauntlet. She chuckled humorlessly to herself as she made her way up the aisle.

"Game on Sam. Game on."

a/n: This is my first time posting. The spoilers and upcoming glee eppys have influenced my brain.I hope you guys enjoy this. If you do drop me a line. If not...well constructive criticism is welcomed.