Chapter 1

LA didn't have the same atmosphere as Lima did. It was brighter and filled with such diversity. Even though Mercedes had moved there towards the middle of summer, it was now time for fall to approach. As she sat at her desk reading over song lyrics for a new track she would be singing background vocals too her mind started to wander, 'Everyone should be starting school again…Sam should be starting school…' she thought as she let out a heavy sigh. Placing the papers back on her desk she opened up her laptop. She had decided to login into her Facebook to spy on her friends. Kurt and Rachel were enjoying a music festival in Central Park. Tina apparently changed her style again and was now going for a more hipster look. Artie had pictures up on his feed of the kids he was counseling at some summer camp program he volunteered at. Brittany and Santana were enjoying their day at Jones Beach before Brittany had to go back to school. As she continued to scroll through she felt her heart start to race as Sam's feed came up.

"You didn't even wait…" Mercedes whispered to the screen.

There in bold letters on his feed Sam had went from "It's Complicated" to "In a Relationship with Sugarkins Motta". Mercedes immediately felt betrayed by Sam but also by Sugar as well. Her and Sugar had become close after they both left The Troubletones and went back to Glee. She was the one of many that kept encouraging her to leave Shane and get back together with Sam. How could she do that to her? How could he do that to them? Then again she left all the cards in his hand. To avoid from crying she squeezed her eyes shut hoping to hold back the tears.

It was useless

Mercedes closed down her laptop immediately and covered her hands to her face. As if on queue her phone started to ring. Startled she looked at the caller I.D. and saw her mother's number on the screen. Sucking back her tears, she adjusted her voice as she answered the call.

"Mercedes, baby?" Her mothers soothing voice said.

"Hi ma, how are you?" she replied trying to conceal the pain in her voice.

"Are you ok? You sound funny…is everything alright, is-" Mercedes cut her off.

"I'm fine ma, I was just watching something on TV and it got my emotions going."

"Oh sweetie… well I hope some of my news might cheer you up!"

Mercedes sat up straightly in her chair, "Oh? What kind of news?"

"Your father is being honored by the Dental Society! They are having a party in his honor."

"That's great! I'm so happy for daddy," she smiled.

"We want you to be there when he accepts his award. I know you're busy with your music but we'd really like to see you. Plus we think it'd be good for you to be around family support so you don't feel isolated."

"I'm not being isolated mom, I'm just busy." She groaned.

"I know you. I know you're still upset over what happened between you and he who we shall not speak of. But baby for the sake of your sanity and health, I think you could really use the visit."

Mercedes sighed, "Mom…"

"It's been decided! We already booked your ticket for next week."

"Mom how could you! You know I don't want to be anywhere near Lima at the moment."

"You can't run from Lima forever…"

'I can…but my heart won't let me…'

Mercedes braced herself against her desk as she stared up at the ceiling. Her mother started going on about the banquet and after party plans. The sound of Mrs. Jones voice started to fade out as she reminisced about her last days in Lima, Ohio.

The last time she and Sam were together.

May 4, 2012

Although school was still in session for undergrad students all the seniors had already started to disappear from the halls. Mercedes wanted to linger a bit longer because she wanted to spend as much time with Sam that she could before moving to LA. She still couldn't believe that they actually won Nationals. Everyone in Glee had been in brighter spirits since then. She had started taking down pictures from her locker when she felt a presence near her. She smiled to herself knowing automatically it was Sam.

"Hey Beautiful," he said wrapping his arms around her waist.

Mercedes turned around quickly only to be pinned against her locker, "Hi Sam"

He started to kiss her neck, "It's lunch time! Want to cut with me and go have some alone time?"

She stared up into his green eyes. Instantly her heart started to race as his eye bore into her chocolate ones, "Sam… you shouldn't be skipping…"

"But it's not technically skipping, it's just not going to the cafeteria," he brought his face closer to hers and pressed his lips against her waiting ones.

Mercedes sighed against his mouth, "Sam…" she whispered.

Sam pressed himself against her as his hands traveled up her sides and to her face. Mercedes flattened her back against her locker as Sam grinded his bulge against her stomach. She sunk her hands into his back pockets pulling him closer to her. His hand traveled down until it snaked back up underneath her shirt. Mercedes could feel the heat coming off of him and in return made her feel like she was melting. Somewhere in the back of her mind logic was trying to surface it's way in between their make out session.

"…Sam…" she said in between breaths, "We can't… do this… here…hallway… people…"

Sam stopped kissing her and pulled his face away slowly smirking, "We can finish this somewhere else…"

He reached for her hand and gently tugged for her to follow him. Sam's speed picked up as he kept looking for an empty class room. Once he found one he turned towards Mercedes, "Do you have a bobby pin?" he asked. She nodded and pulled one from her hair. He took it and started to fiddle with the locked door until he heard a click. Smiling to himself he quickly opened the door and pulled her inside with him. Once the door closed behind them there was no holding back. Sam's hungry lips found hers as he pressed them up against the wall. Mercedes racked her nails up and down his back until she grabbed the bottom of his shirt and began to tug up. They broke their kiss as Sam allowed her to pull his shirt off and toss it on an empty desk. He brought his lips her neck and started to leave a trail of kisses down her chest. He could tell her nipples were hard through her shirt and gentle bit the fabric. Mercedes let out a gasp as Sam started to tug at her leggings. In one swift motion he yanked them down along with her underwear. Mercedes shivered as her bare legs met the coolness of the classroom wall.

"I love you so much," he breathed continuing to plant kisses all over her body.

"Sam…no foreplay, we don't have time for that…" she moaned.

His blonde head came back into view as his lips found hers. She undid the belt of his jeans before tugging the material down. Immediately Sam pressed his erected length against hers while pinning her hands above her head. "Sam please…" she whispered. The sound of his name rolling off her lips turned him on greatly. He released her hands that he was holding captive and grabbed her hips lifting her up. She squealed against his mouth as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Quickly he slid into her heat, resting his forehead in the crook of her neck. He groaned loudly as he began to thrust in and out of her rapidly. "Shit…Sam!" she cried, tangling her fingers in his blonde hair.

Sam wasn't fond of quick sex, he preferred to make love to her properly in a more private setting. However he let his politics slide as soon as he saw her at her locker. Maybe part of it was because he loved her so much and maybe the other part was because she would be moving to LA soon. The thought of LA made tears well up in his eyes. He looked at her watching her face in ecstasy as they moved to a rhythm.

He didn't want to let her go

Mercedes opened her eyes slightly to see Sam staring at her. Even though the room was slightly dark she could see a glint of wetness in his eyes. She shut hers again as the pleasure racked through her body. The familiar sensation of her walls tightening caused her to cry out his name. She felt the muscles in his arms flex and his breath quickened, he was close…

"Mercedes?" her mother's voice yelled.

Mercedes shook her head, "I'm still here!"

"Did you hear anything that I had said?"

"Of course mom. Look momma it's been a long day and I'd really like to get back to work."

"Fine, just remember that your flight leaves at 6am. I will be at the airport to pick you up."

"I will, I love you mom."

"I love you too!"

Mercedes hung the phone and tossed it back on her desk. She felt as if the world was taunting her right now. The irony that she would see Sam's relationship status, only to receive a phone call forcing her back into Lima, Ohio territory. She looked around her small efficiency apartment and sighed.

"It's just a short family visit, nothing more or less," she told herself.

She quickly decided that she would not mention to anyone else of her return. The last thing she needed was for him to find out. She couldn't face him after everything. The thought of having to see hatred instead of love in his eyes for her killed her on the inside. No force of God would be able to prepare her to see him again, even though in heart she wanted to see him. She just hoped that someday he would forgive her and she hoped that someday would be soon.