"Mercedes! Are you listening to me?"

"Huh, what?"

"I asked you if you thought this scarf was too much."

"Sweetie you look fabulous, like always."

"Thanks Cedes. Now what is going on with you?"

"Nothing."

"Don't tell me nothing. You've been like this since Prom."

"What are you talking about? We haven't been around each other that much lately. You couldn't possibly notice how I've been since Prom."

"Starting a fight with me will not deter me from figuring out what is going on with you."

"Kurt, I gotta go. I have to be home early."

"OK. See you tomorrow at Lima Bean."

Mercedes had to admit if only to herself that Kurt was right she had been distracted since Prom. She wanted to tell Kurt but she didn't know what he would say. She thought he would tell her to be careful and not to read to much into it. That he didn't want her to be to disappointed if it didn't work out. Her phone went off before she opened her front door. It was text from her new friend and prom date.

"I rly nd hlp w/my Spnsh hmwrk. Any chnc u cld hlp?"

"Sure. When?"

"Idk. Tmrw morning."

Mercedes hesitated she was supposed to meet Kurt and Blaine tomorrow for coffee and shopping. Where she would inevitably end up the third wheel. After a few minutes she answered the text.

"Mt me lbry. 11."

"Thnx. C u thn!"

The next morning standing in line at Lima Bean Mercedes was surprised to see Kurt without Blaine.

"Where's Blaine?"

"Oh, he's going to meet us at the mall."

"He didn't want coffee."

"It's not that. I wanted quality alone time with you before he joined us."

"Kurt, that's sweet but not necessary. I like Blaine. He's good for you and he makes you happy. I'm all for anything that makes you happy."
"I'm glad you like him. I did have something I wanted to talk to you about though."

"What?"

"Sam."

"What about him? Nothing horrible about his family situation I hope."
"No, nothing like that. It's just I noticed something that I think you should know."

"Before you start I am so tired of the Finn, Quinn, Rachel, Sam drama. With Nationals coming up we have so much more to worry about."

"I agree, that's not what it's about."

"Then what?"

"I think Sam is finally over Quinn."

"Good for him! What makes you say that?"

"I saw him watching somebody with a goofy lovestruck look the other day and Quinn was no where to be found."

"He was probably looking at Santana."

"No I think he's had his fill of Satan."
"Then who was it?"

"I'm not sure. But I'm going to find out. That boy needs some love and happiness in his life considering his current situation."

"Kurt, don't meddle."

"Darling, of course I'm going to meddle and you're going to help."

"What? Why me?"

"We are the dynamic duo and between the two of us there isn't anything we can't find out."

"Kurt, I don't know."

"Don't you think Sam should be with somebody who is not using him?"
"Of course, but we've got so much else going on. Can't Operation Find Sam's Dream Girl wait."
"The code name needs work and no I don't think it can wait. It'll be fun."

"If you say so."

"I do, now lets hit the mall."

"That's what I wanted to tell you. I can't go to the mall with you and Blaine. I have to tutor."

"Tutor? In what class?"

"Spanish."

"Well, if you must. But come over later and we'll plan how we're going to help Sam."

"Kurt, maybe we should mind our business."
"Diva, you don't mean that!"

"Good-bye sweetie I'll see you later."

Mercedes did not want to hook Sam up with some girl. Ever since prom her feelings for him had changed. She was so grateful to him for giving her the perfect prom night. She had kept her feelings to herself because she didn't want to create another relationship in her head. She didn't want to experience that embarrassment again. She thought maybe he liked her but only as a friend and occasional tutor. Once in the parking lot she text Sam and told him she was on her way to the library. She saw Sam waiting on the steps with those super sexy lips. She shook her head to clear it she would never be able to get through this homework with thoughts like that going through her head.

"Hey, Mercedes. Thanks for coming."

"No problem. You actually saved me from being a third wheel again."

"Kurt and Blaine."

"Yeah, even though Blaine would have been the tag a long in this situation I would've still been the third wheel. That's mean. I don't mean to sound bitter."

"You don't. You just miss the time you and Kurt spent together."

"I really do but I am so happy for Kurt. He deserves to have somebody look at him like Blaine looks at him. He deserves love."

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Don't you deserve love?"

"What? Why would you ask me that?"

"No reason. It just seems like you care more about making other people happy than making yourself happy."

"You're wrong. We didn't come here to talk about me, we came here to do some Spanish."

"OK. Let's get started."

After about an hour Sam stood up and stretched. As he raised his arms his shirt came up and Mercedes caught a glimpse of his amazing abs. She tried not to stare but she couldn't help it his body was beautiful. When he sat back down she averted her eyes. Sam smiled at Mercedes from across the table. She returned his smiled shyly.

"Thanks so much for your help. You made this really easy."

"It was no trouble. I knew you could speak Spanish if you tried."

"How did you know that?"

"You speak Na'vi and it's made up so I knew you could speak a real language."

"How did you know I speak Na'vi?"

"Santana told me."

"Oh, I guess she also told you how lame I am."

"She said a bunch of stuff about you. I've learned how to understand her. With Santana it's all about power. How much she has in a relationship determines how happy she is."

"She should've been really happy with me because she had all the control."

"She thought she did but I think she learned that for her its about the battle for control and when you broke up with her when she sang 'Trouty Mouth' she found out you weren't a pushover."

"I guess. I gotta get going I gotta babysit Stacy and Stevie tonight."

"Oh well tell Quinn hello from me."

"Quinn's not going to be there. But you can I mean only if you want to."

"Sure. I would love to help you babysit."

Mercedes was giddy inside. She was really surprised that he asked her to help him babysit. Outside the library she told him that she had to pick up a few thing and she would meet him at the motel. He hugged her an went across the street to his car. When she pulled up in front of the motel she had everything she needed to make the night unforgettable for the Evan kids. Sam came outside to help Mercedes carry her things inside.

"Glad you could make it."

"I'm happy to be here,"

"What's all this stuff?"

"Fun in a bag!"

"Meaning?"

"Wait and see."

"OK. Stacey, Stevie this is Mercedes she's going to be helping out tonight."

"Hi, are you Sam's new girlfriend?"

"Stacey, Mercedes is my friend from glee club."

"So that means no right?"

"Yes Stevie it means no."

"Good! Mercedes since my brother isn't smart enough do you wanna be my girlfriend?"

"You'd be a step up from Puckerman! But I think I would feel bad if I kept you from girls your own age."

"Have it your way."

After Stevie went back to watching TV, Mercedes started to unpack the bag she had brought along. Inside it were feather boas, sparkling gowns, tuxedo jackets, microphones and a video camera.

"What is all this stuff Mercedes?"

"We're going to put on a show and tape it so you can show your parents later."

"We're going to put on a show?"

"Yeah! It'll be fun. I used to do this when I was a kid. I was always a Diva in training!"

"OK, Diva. Show us what to do."

After much laughter and fun the tape was ready to show Mr. and Mrs. Evans. Mercedes helped Sam put the kids to bed. Mercedes was suddenly nervous. She didn't know what to do without the buffer of Stacy and Stevie. It seemed Sam didn't either. He was leaning against the sink with a peculiar look on his face. She didn't know what to say to him and just when she had decided to say goodnight her phone rang.

"Hello."

"Diva, I thought you were coming over."

"Oh, Kurt I forgot! I'm sorry."
"It's OK. We can discuss it over the phone."

"Kurt, I can't"

"Nonsense. OK process of elimination. It has to be a glee girl because those boys have a freakish way of only dating in the circle."

"Kurt. I really can't. Rachel.."

"OK so we know it's not Rachel because well let's face it it's Rachel. He's already been down the Quinn slide. He tried Satan. He wouldn't think of Tina that way. So that" just leaves.."

"Kurt! I! Can't! Talk! Now!"

"You don't have to be rude. Goodbye!"

"Kurt, wait!"

"Damn it!"

"What was that about?"

"Nothing."

"It didn't sound like nothing."

"I don't think he'd want me to tell you."

"Oh is it personal, about his love life?"

"No, you're love life actually."

"Mine?"

"Yeah, he said he thinks you are finally over Quinn."

"I am, but how did he know?"

"He said he saw you with this lovestruck look on you face and Quinn wasn't around."

"Did he say who he thought I was looking at?"

"No, but he was going to figure it out and set you up with her and he wanted me to help him."

"Oh and are you going to help him?"

"Who you date isn't any of my business."

"It kind of is."

"Just because we're in glee together doesn't mean I get a say in your love life."

"No, you're right about that but that's not what I meant."

"What did you mean?"

"I meant that unless Kurt put you at the top of the list he's wasting his time."

"Sam, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I really like you Mercedes Jones and you've been on my mind since prom."

Mercedes didn't know what to say. Of all the things Sam could've said she never thought he would say he liked her. She realized in that moment how much she had wanted him to say he liked her.

"Are you sure?"

"More than I have been of anything in my life."

"Wow!"

"You haven't said how you feel about me."

"I thought it was obvious, I like you to Sam."

"Good. I'm glad to hear it."

Sam crossed the room and took Mercedes in his arms. He kissed her gently. She put her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.

"So what do you think of trouty mouth?"

"I don't know you might have to kiss me a couple more times."

"My pleasure."

When they finally came up for air Mercedes asked Sam the question that had been bothering her.

"What about Glee Club?"

"You mean do we tell anybody?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know. Maybe we should wait until after Nationals and everything calms down. I don't want anything to come between us."

"Me either. So it's a deal? We keep us a secret until after Nationals."

"Deal."

Then Mercedes and her dream boyfriend sealed their deal with a another soul searing kiss.