enjoy!

"Can you see me?" Sam asked looking into the web camera he had just purchased with his earnings from the Dairy Queen.

"I can see you! Yay!" Mercedes giggled looking into her own webcam that was built into her computer. "You cut your hair! You look so handsome!" She smiled wiggling her eyebrows.

Sam laughed as his heart did somersaults. He missed her giggles and he missed that face. "You look beautiful, as always, Mercy" he said in a sad tone.

"Sam! None of that! We agreed to talk through Skype but no sadness! Okay?" Mercedes spoke into the mic trying to be strong for the two of them. She spoke a good game but deep down inside she was torn apart.

"I'm sorry. I just miss you so much. This whole not dating thing really sucks" Sam said bowing his head. "The good thing is in like 40 years when I've made enough money for a car, I can go visit you!" Sam chuckled.

His laugh did things to her that really shouldn't after only a month and half of dating. The thing is, for all of June and some of July, Sam and Mercedes were inseparable. They had grown so close people would ask for the other if only one was present.

"40 years? That's all? You're going to take my grandkids out for a spin too?" Mercedes laughed.

Sam laughed and then quickly thought about what she said.

"Well, hopefully it won't be that long and hopefully it will be our grandkids" He said honestly to his ex-girlfriend.

"Sam! Don't!" Mercedes said fighting back her tears.

"okay, okay. Sorry. This is too hard. How about this, if in ten years neither of us are married to anyone, we should go ahead and elope. No matter where we are in our lives." Sam said with hope in his green eyes.

Mercedes touched her computer screen and smiled. " I'd like that" She said smiling to him.

He smiled back at her and he was also touching his screen wishing it was really her face.

"There's something I need to tell you" He said in a serious tone.

"uh oh…" She laughed. "This sounds serious"

"Well, I need your advice on something. I have a job interview…" Sam started saying massaging his neck with his hand.

Mercedes knew this was something he did when he was nervous.

"Sam! That's wonderful! Better than DQ? How's the pay?" She asked him enthusiastically.

"Well, the pay would be great. Fantastic, actually. I would have the money for a truck saved up in no time. And I can drive to see you whenever I want. We can try doing the long distance relationship thing. I'd be making like 400-500 bucks a week! I can help my parents with anything they need!" Sam said trying his best to convince Mercedes this was the best job for him.

"Okay, what's the catch?" Mercedes was too smart for Sam's persuasive ways. It was too good to be true and knowing her Sam, he would be suckered into anything. She almost wishes she was there so she could meet the person that was trying to con her boyfriend…um ex-boyfriend.

"Well…" Sam started

Mercedes looked at Sam deeply into her camera.

"Sammmm! Tell me!"

"It's a dancing gig" Sam said quickly turning away from the camera.

"A dancing gig…you don't even know how to…HOLD ON! You mean…?" Mercedes cried in disbelief . She looked around her to make sure no one was in earshot and whispered "stripping?"

Sam covered his face and peeked out as if seeing Mercedes' reaction was too much for him "yes" he mumbled underneath his big hands.

"yes? Yes what?" Mercedes asked getting angrier by the minute.

"yes, it's a stripping job. Mercedes, it pays well. I need this. It's only temporary, it's so we can be together and I can help my family. Once I have that truck, things will change"

"Stripping? Sam? Have you lost your mind? Your parents will kill you!"

"They don't know and I'm keeping it that way!" He said defensively

"nnno! You can't! no! no no no! Sam! No!" She said shaking her head no as vigorously as she could without it snapping off. "I'll get a job and help you if I have to but no. mmmm mmm no! nope. Not happening. No!"

"oh yeah, my ex girlfriend will help me! That's exactly what will do. Sounds like a good plan" he said sarcastically.

"Listen, Evans! I can help you if I want to! Besides, I can as my parents if I can drive out there. It's what? 4 hours? I should be fine. I'll come on the weekends and help you with Stacey and Stevie like we did all summer!" She knew this was all random ideas she was shooting out that would probably never come true. Her parents were over protective and as much as they loved Sam Evans, they would never allow her to drive 4 hours to see him.

"Mercy, stop. You know that's almost impossible. Listen, all jokes aside, I need this. Its only a few nights a week. I just need to be sure you're okay with it. Your opinion matters to me. I need this."

Even though they were speaking through a web camera, his eyes still pierced into hers and managed to send chills down her spine. Her heart still fluttered, her palms got sweaty, and her walls broke down.

Mercedes let out a huge sigh

"I'll support you. On one condition…"

Sam smiled and kissed his screen making her laugh. "anything."

"you don't put school to the side. This is senior year. All that work we put into planning for college will go to waste. You'll apply for that art scholarship and you'll start applying for schools in November. I'll help you. We'll meet back on Skype everyday after school to do homework. Deal?" Mercedes asked sternly.

Sam smiled. He loved this girl so much it hurt.

"Deal!"

Mercedes smiled. "So when's your interview?"

"Next week, Friday. I need to come up with a dance and a name. I've been working out so I think I look the part" He said innocently.

Mercedes smiled at his boyish qualities and it pained her to know the love of her life had to go through this.

"Sam? I'll help you through this. I promise. Now, about that dance…and the name…I have some ideas"

Sam smiled at the camera and sat back. "Hit me with your best shot Jones"