Chapter 1
"I swear I lived... hmmmm... ooh oooh ooooh"
As the music fades out everyone in the auditorium starts to cheer and hug eachother. Its been quite some time that the original New Directions members had seen eachother much less sing together. Artie was in the midst of directing a new movie and helping his fiance Tina with the planning their upcoming wedding. Kurt and Blaine have had their hands full with the newest member of their family, Charolette Rachel Anderson-Hummell who was now 6 months old and full of her fathers Kurts personality. Brittany and Santana were currently living in Florida, Santana had opened up a modeling agency and Brittany was busy helping NASA out on the "ultra secrect, only Lord Tubbington knows, project". Quinn and Puck are still dating and finally have taken the step to move in with eachother. Puck is stationed in Illionios at Scotts Air Force Base and since their daughter Beth still lives in Lima they make the 7 hour roadtrip every other weekend to see her. Mike was still living in Chicago since we was offered a postition to be a instructor at The Jeoffrey Ballet Academy. He comes and visits Sam more often then the others because the only dancing skills Sam has are his uncoordinated body rolls, that he does way to often. If it wasn't for Mike they would never have a chance at the competitions. Rachel and Jesse are still basking in the glo of her Tony win and she never wastes time reminding everyone of this fact. Mercedes just got done with her "Hell 2 The No" world tour and was planning on getting back into the studio for her next album.
Sam's life, on the other hand, has remained consistant since taking over as Glee instructor for the New "New" Directions. He goes to Breadstix every friday night for karaoke, a new marketing ploy, and goes fishing with his brother Stevie every Sunday. It was rare to have everyone under one roof and since she was there, Sam was feeling even more aware of his surroundings. It had been a long time since Sam saw Mercedes face to face, they usually text eachother once or twice a week but it was always small talk. 'How are you?' 'Hows the album?' 'How was sectionals?' Since that day in the auditorium that Mercedes told him that he should persue Rachel he felt as though she had moved on. Seeing her today, with her beautiful brown eyes and dazzling smile, made those feelings that he had buried for her rise to the surface. 'I wonder if she's seeing anyone'
Before getting completely engulfed in his thoughts Puck spoke up.
"How about all of us head to Breadstix to catch up?" Looking around Sam noticed that it was only Artie, Tina, Kurt, Blaine, Rachel, Jesse, Mike, Santana, Brittany, Quinn, Puck, Mercedes and himself standing in the auditorium.
"What a great idea, its been so long since we have all been together. I have been so busy doing interviews since my big Tony win that it will be nice to see what everyone else has been up to" Rachel said as everyone rolled their eyes.
" You do realize I just got done with my World Tour right?" Mercedes expressed feeling very proud of herself. Rachel looked over at Mercedes with her eyes squinted but before she could respond Puck had walked over to her and put his arm around her shoulder.
"Its settled then. Lets go I'm starving!"
Everyone was walking towards the exit of the auditorium as Sam fell to the back of the crowed. His eyebrows burrowed as he went back to his thoughts 'She couldn't possibly be seeing anyone she never mentioned it in our texts. Although why would she, I never told her when I was dating someone. Plus our text always stayed in the "aquintance zone", how sad I can't even consider our text as two people in the "friend zone". Where did we go wrong?' Sam was about to go into a meditative state to figure out that last question when he was jolted from his thoughts with a pat on the back from Mike
"Come on dude, stop daydreaming"
As Sam looked around he realized he was the last one standing in the auditorium and that Mike had came back to get him. Sam smiled at Mike and they rushed to catch up with the rest of the group. He didn't feel like expaining to Mike why he was just standing in the auditorium staring off into space.
As Sam and Mike reached the group they could hear Tina gripping on about something that seemed to be a constant factor in her and Artie's relationship.
"But I was so great in your last movie, you even won an award. I just don't understand why you aren't considering me, your future wife, for your new movie"
Artie adjusted his glasses and looked up at Tina, "Tina, I know you would do great, I just don't see you as a fit for the role"
"Its because I'm Asian right? You do realize that one day you will have half Asian children and they will have..."
"Tina," interrupted Artie with more annoyance in his voice, "You know that you being Asian has nothing to do with it. Let's discuss this later, we're ruining the mood."
Sam looked around and noticed everyone had been staring and Artie and Tina's argument. Tina shrugged her shoulders and walked away hand and hand with Mercedes as if nothing even happened.
Everyone divided into groups as they got to the parking lot, Mike came up to Sam and asked it he could ride with him.
"Sure," Sam said as he climbed into his 1956 Chevy Stepside that his grandfather had left him when he passed away. The truck wasn't pretty, in fact it was far from it, but Sam had plans for it and he took comfort in it knowing that it was his grandfathers old truck.
"You seem a little out of it, is eveything ok?" asked Mike as he searched around for a seatbelt only to realize there wasn't one.
Sam turned the key as the engine rumbled to a roar blowing a cloud of black smoke into the parking lot. He debated whether or not to tell Mike that all he could think about was Mercedes. He decided that he would just shrugged it off and gave the excuse that "it was weird seeing everyone again."
"Especially a certain someone?" quizzed Mike with a knowing look on his face.
Sam had forgot that last time Mike came into town they had gone to Karaoke night at Breadstix. After having one to many drinks he ending up pouring his heart out to Mike, making for an awkward "I was totally wasted last night" coversation the next day.
Sam looked over to Mike and sighed, "We used to have such a strong connection. It's weird that we only conversate as friends now, and distant friends at that. The last conversation we had was via text and it was just the usual 'how are you, hows the weather' coversation."
"Well, she's been busy, you've been busy. Alot has changed in 5 years, I mean Kurt and Blaine have a baby. Who would have thought?"
Sam knew Mike was just trying to cheer him up so he just shrugged his shoulders and agreed with him.
"Yeah a lot has changed, I figured you would have been the one marrying Tina but then Artie swooped in. Feelings change I guess, maybe I just need to accept it."
Mike chuckled, "But if you really think back on it wasn't it I who swooped in first? Artie just got his chance back after I had taken it from him"
Sam smirked, " I guess thats true"
As Sam rolled up to a parking spot at Breadstix Mike said something profound.
"If you feel like it isn't over and you still have feelings for her then you need to tell her. The worst thing she could say is that she just wants to be friends and you won't be any worse off then you already are"
Mike got out of the truck and slammed the door shut. "Now come on man, we have some catching up to do"
Sam got out of the car slammed the door shut ensuring the doors were locked, although no one in their right mind would ever attempt to steal the thing. He looked at Mike with a look of thanks as they walked up to Breadstix entrance.
