The Unknown Roads of Life

Our paths crossed in a way we never expected, that moment changed life as we knew it but together we found the meaning of the unknown roads of life.

Mercedes' POV

Walking the aisles of the William McKinley High were always like a maze game, full of students chatting, others looking for books at their lockers and some just lost in their own little worlds. For me it was a maze of discoveries because I was the new girl and I look like a deer in headlights and even though I was eager to make a good impression and get some friends in the process this school looked like it was distributed into cliques and I did not see myself in any of them.

I found my way into the principal's office and like any new student; I sat and waited for the secretary to organize the last details of my schedule when I heard Principal Figgins call my name.

"Ms. Mercedes Jones, please come into my office there is something I need to tell you before I let you go to enjoy your first day." I looked at him and gently smiled, he had a heavy English accent that made him seem somehow cute and approachable. "Take a seat, please." He politely said. I took a seat and felt like I was at some sort of doctor's appointment and he was going to give me some strange news and then he started talking again. "First, good morning and welcome to McKinley High. I'm excited to have a great student like you enrolled here and I know how difficult changes can be and as a new strategy to get everybody involve and adapted right away we are assigning you a 'buddy'." He smiled like he just has won the Nobel Prize or some crap like that.

I looked at him with confusion and then I manage to say, "I think I am a little too old for that and besides I come from New York, one of the toughest cities out there. I think I can handle myself in this school and this little city of yours." I wanted and try to sound confident but my facial expression gave away the feeling of horror any new student has. I moved to Lima, Ohio about a month and half ago from Manhattan. I was so shocked that I didn't leave my new house in the suburbs of Lima for two weeks and even when I did I didn't make myself approachable in any way. New York was everything for me, everything I wanted was there and great detail, all of that was within walking distance from my amazing home. My life there was perfect, my parents are well known doctors, my dad is a dentist and my mom is a surgeon and they are both damn amazing at what they do. That's the reason I was not surprised when my mother got the offer of being the head surgeon at Lima Medical Center and we all packed our bags and ended up here.

"I understand your hesitation Ms. Jones but it is a new school welcoming policy." Then he stood up and walked to the door to make way for my 'buddy'. I could not be more annoyed by this new school policy, but I have to suck it up and deal with it because Lima, Ohio was going to be my home for quite some time.

I refused to look at first because I was annoyed and then because I was terrified to see who this person was. The worst and craziest thoughts came to my mind until Mr. Figgins made me snap out of them when he was calling my attention for the uncomfortable introduction. When I turned around I thought my eyes were failing and I was going into sort of trance because in front of me was standing the cutest boy I had ever seen. I got lost looking into his green orbs so inviting, tempting and welcoming. Then I look at his whole face making a halt at his mouth, his strangely big mouth totally sexy and kissable. His blonde hair well put on a cute boyish haircut and damn this guy was tall. My heart and mind were racing like crazy and I had to take deep breath to come back to life.

"Hello, my name is Sam Evans and I going to be your 'buddy' and really hope that we can be friends after this whole process is over" His voice was like a melody to my ears and that southern drawl was already killing me. In that moment Sam Evans became the death of me. After staring awkwardly for a few seconds I composed myself and answered "Hello, I'm Mercedes, uh, Mercedes Jones. Yeah, that's my name." I smiled timidly and stretched my hand to answer his intention of a handshake and when our hands touched for the first time I felt so much electricity I thought I was going into cardiac arrest. Yes, Sam Evans was going to be the death of me.

Days went by and Sam I got to know each other very well. He was really great at everything, he played football, he was part of the synchronized swimming team as random as it sounds and he was part of the school's glee club. Sam Evans was a little orchestra man.

"Hey Mercedes, I know we haven't been able to spend time together for quite some time because I've been really busy but I am going to make it up to you tonight. I was wondering if you want to go out for dinner." I was not surprised by his action because for the past months we have been pretty much inseparable making it into the rumor mill as the new and upcoming couple, but we both knew that was not true. Sam and I were friends and besides he only saw me as friend because he was head over heels for this girl, Quinn Fabray, one detail that was killing me inside. I got my books out of my locker and looked at him, his eyes were excited and he had that lopsided grin that made my heart skip a beat or two. "There's something I want to tell you, something so great I can only share it with someone as great as you." With that statement, I just nodded and said, "Ok Sam. I'll go out for dinner. But may I ask is this like a date or just a dinner for two friends to catch up?" Right when those words left my mouth I felt betrayed by my feelings and I was hoping Sam didn't catch my little panic attack. He started laughing and said, "Mercy, a date. No, no, no, no, no. I mean you are a gorgeous girl but for me, Sam Evans, you are a friend, my kickass friend, the one that knows everything about me. From my Avatar's obsession, to my impressions, to my issues with dyslexia, you know everything Sam Evans has to offer." With those words my heart sunk into sadness but I couldn't do anything about it, Sam was my friend and I wanted to keep him in my life even though I wanted him to be so much more.

Sam's POV

Coming back for a new school year was always exciting for me. I get to see all my friends and meet new friends. McKinley High was a great school and a great place to be, even with the occasional slushie wars and the other strange events that happen every once in a while. When I got called into the principal's office the very first day I was shocked. Did I do something wrong? Were my grades were so bad I didn't make into my junior year? My mind was going like a Formula 1 car and it was only 7:30 in the morning.

I sat down in the principal's office and blurt out, "Mr. Figgins is something wrong? I mean it is the first day of school and I am already in here. Not fair." Principal Figgins looked amused by my terrified rant and said, "Mr. Evans, you are here because I need a favor from you." He explained me the new 'buddy' system and I was really flattered he chose me as the very first person to put it to practice. He asked me to wait outside until it was my time to meet my new school friend.

While I was in the hallway this vision in purple came to sight. She was short, a body with curves to die for, raven curls that hung just a little bit below her shoulders and a face so angelic and cute. She was perfection personified. I knew she was new at the school and I started to wonder if she was going to be my new 'buddy'. A little time passed and Mr. Figgins came out looking for me and there she was, she looked even more beautiful than before and my heart was skipping beats like crazy but I managed to keep my cool and make the introduction less awkward. I smiled when she said her name and looked so nervous but the moment for me was when we touched for the handshake. Jolts of electricity went through my body and in that moment I knew Mercedes was it for me.

"So, where are you from, Mercedes?" I tried to sound casual.

She was walking those hallways like she knew everything about this school. I was tripping in cloud nine. "I'm from New York, Manhattan to be more specific. I move here because my mother is the new Head Surgeon at Lima Medical Center." She was definitely proud of her mother's accomplishment and I only thought, if she's great as daughter I bet she's going to be a great mother and wife. Yes, I was totally tripping. "Where are you from, Sam? Because the accent is definitely giving you away, boy."

I knew my face was red, not because I was embarrassed but because she was catching so many little details about me in so little time, details not even my best friends could catch. I open my mouth trying to sound sexy, "I'm from Nashville, Tennessee. Southern boy all the way." She smiled at me and I melted like butter in the sun.

Weeks passed and we grew closer and closer, long conversations sharing secrets, likes, dislikes, almost everything, because I couldn't be honest and tell her how I felt, she got the wrong impression that I like Quinn Fabray just because she caught me talking to Quinn by her locker once.

"Mercedes, why are we watching this?" I asked. We were at her place watching one of her favorite movies, Letters to Juliet. She was so into the movie I had to speak up again, "Mercy, why are we watching this, again? We've seen this movie like 5 times already." I have to say I love spending time with her but watching this movie again was plain painful because I wanted to grab her and kiss her senseless just to prove her that a love like that exists but I knew I was going to scare her away and I wanted her around even as a friend.

"Sam, I have to watch this movie at least once a week. This is just a perfect romantic movie to watch with friends, and you are my friend." she said those words without looking at me, it's like her sight was glued to her TV. "Do you think I'm gay? Because this is the kind of movie you watch with a gay BFF," I said and she burst into the most adorable laugh.

"Sam, you are funny and no I don't think you are gay. C'mon you are like in love with Quinn. Everybody can tell. I don't know maybe watching this kind of movies will help you out into managing a way to tell her how you really feel about her." That's the moment when I lost it. I wanted to tell her how wrong she was, that my heart was occupied by her and only her, but she seemed so sure and so uninterested in me, I gave up. I got so frustrated and said, "Mercedes, I just remembered that I have to run to the grocery store to get some stuff for my mom," and with that I left her house and cried for the first time because of a girl.

Weeks went by and I started to keep my distance and guard up around Mercedes, without strangling our relationship but I needed her out of my heart because she kept friend zoning me and it was killing me. I managed to keep myself busy with glee club, football and swimming but I missed her deeply. I missed my other half, my one true friend, the one that knew everything about me and the person that shared everything with me.

One good day I decided I was going to tell her the truth; I was going to pour my heart out and hope for the best. She was at her locker getting her books for fourth period and I walked to her like it was a now or never moment. "Hey Mercedes, I know we haven't been able to spend time together for quite some time because I've been really busy but I am going to make it up to you tonight. I was wondering if you want to go out for dinner." My words came out so smoothly I forgot how nervous I was. She kept looking for her book and I thought that was her way of rejecting me. Then she looked at me and said, "Ok Sam. I'll go out for dinner. But may I ask is this like a date or just a dinner for two friends to catch up?" I didn't know what to say, she was so forward, so direct I panicked, I started laughing and before I could make a fool of myself I opened my mouth and said the stupidest words that have ever left my mouth. "Mercy, a date. No, no, no, no, no. I mean you are a gorgeous girl but for me, Sam Evans, you are a friend, my kickass friend, the one that knows everything about me. From my Avatar's obsession, to my impressions, to my issues with dyslexia, you know everything Sam Evans has to offer." I was so shocked at myself that I wanted to face palm myself for being a total moron. I didn't even know how to fix this and just like that I lost any hope to be a part of Mercedes' life in any way more than a friend. I was in trouble; I killed myself without even trying.

We talked about where to meet, the time and all the other details about the dinner and then we parted ways. I looked back at her as she walked to her class and I couldn't help it, I sighed and said, "Mercedes Jones, you are going to be the death of me, unfortunately you will never know."

A/N: Hello Everybody! This is my very first fic and the very first time I write something but I have to say that after reading a bunch of fics about my favorite OTP I got really inspired and wanted to put myself to the challenge. I know there are so many wonderful writers in this section and I am not trying to compete with any of them, I am just trying to unleash my imagination like the slogan on this site says.

Let me know what you guys think of the story and where do you want this two overly confused friends to go from here. I have a beautiful idea of what I want for them but you guys can decide some of the things that will happen. I am a great listener and I am open to everything.

A big Thanks to Lovessamcedes for helping me getting started and been such a great inspiration. YOU RULE!

Until next time, Vittorina