A/N: Hey guys! So this story idea basically came to me during the middle of Samcedes Week. It's supposed to be for the 'Time Travel' prompt, but I started writing it and decided it was way too great of a prompt to limit it to a one shot so here's another multi-chapter fic! I plan to update on Sunday for the final day of Samcedes week. This is sort of the introduction to the fic. Happy reading and as always let me know what you think!
Sam Evans dumped three more unopened letters on top of the growing pile on his coffee table.
More bills.
His Abercrombie and Fitch modeling contract had ended a few years back and with the new digital "do it yourself" art installations popping up all over town, his macaroni art business had taken a serious nosedive.
Collapsing on top of one of the last pieces of furniture he hadn't pawned yet, Sam turned on his tiny television. Any distraction he could have from his miserable life was more than welcome.
He was flipping through channels when he came upon a familiar face. Flipping back to E! News, he saw Mercedes Jones, his former flame, being interviewed by a correspondent on the Grammy red carpet. Sam clapped his hands over his mouth.
She'd made it!
She was talking about her debut album "Dreams" which was up for multiple awards that evening.
He couldn't believe it. She looked so stunning standing on that carpet! Her midnight blue designer dress hugged her curves in all the right places and hair flowed freely in long, voluminous ringlets. She spoke animatedly about whom she was wearing, her hopes for the evening and the handsome man on her arm.
Sam squinted at her date. The fellow looked surprisingly familiar. Taking a closer look, he realized that he was right. The 'mystery man' by Mercedes' side was none other than Noah Puckerman. Sam didn't recognize him without the Mohawk and with the addition of scruffy facial hair and the wide rimmed glasses he was wearing, Puck was sporting a completely different look! But Sam just knew it was his friend from the past.
He regarded the young couple glancing at each other as they continued chatting with the interviewer. The correspondent asked Puck a question and Sam watched as Mercedes gazed up at him.
He knew that look well. Mercedes used to stare at him the exact same way. When the correspondent turned her attention back to Mercedes, Puck looked back at Mercedes with the very same look. It reminded Sam of the way he used to gaze at Lauren Zizes.
They were clearly in love.
Sam felt ridiculous when a pang of jealousy hit him straight in the heart. Why was he being so silly? He hadn't said a word to Mercedes in years. She owed him nothing. Least of her heart. But Sam couldn't help it.
Try as he might, after all those years, he'd never really got her completely out of his system.
Deciding to watch the rest of the program, Sam got comfortable on his couch. He watched as the categories she was nominated for came up and shouted in excitement every time her name was called.
The Grammy for Best New Artist goes to... Mercedes Jones!
Best R&B song ... Mercedes Jones!
Record of the Year... Mercedes Jones!
Song of the Year goes to...Mercedes Jones!
She swept every category her name was in.
It was glorious!
Sam was on the edge of his seat when they prepared to announce the coveted 'Album of the Year' title. Mercedes was the only rookie in that category, going up against seasoned veterans including her idols Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson and Adele. When the presenter called her name, tears instantly filled his eyes. They spilled over when the camera zoomed in on Mercedes' reaction. She was still sitting down, her hands covering her face. As she stood to her feet, Sam watched Puck pull her in for an embrace and kiss her tenderly on the lips. Holding onto the train of her dress, she finally made her way onto the stage.
Once she reached the mic stand, she took a deep breath. Tears continued to roll down her brown cheeks, but Mercedes made no move to wipe them away. The first person she thanked was God and she lifted her award to the sky. She thanked her mother, father and brother for supporting her. She acknowledged her label, her agent, her songwriting partner, her producers and a bunch of other people Sam didn't know, but he was so, so happy for her. His face was stretched into a wide grin...until he heard her say his name.
"And Sam...wherever you are...Thank you for believing in me when I stopped believing in myself."
Sam stared back at the screen in disbelief. He tried to swallow, but the lump that had formed in his throat was making that very difficult for him.
She thanked me... why would she thank me?
He got so caught up in his thoughts that he completely missed the next thing that happened, but when he looked back, the entire Grammy audience was going wild! Puck was now on stage.
He rewound the footage again and his heart nearly stopped in his chest.
"And to my Baby... " Mercedes said staring adoringly at Puck. "YES! Yes, I'll marry you! The deal was one Grammy, but four additional ones makes this much sweeter doesn't it? I would love to be Mercedes Puckerman!"
The camera zoomed in on Noah's face and Sam felt his heart shatter in his chest as a memory from so long ago played in his mind...
"Hey! Pretty romantic huh? Think you're gonna get married someday?"
"After I win my first Grammy..."
"...my first Grammy..."
"...Grammy..."
The memory played over and over again in his brain.
She'd won her first (and second and third and fourth and fifth), but she wasn't marrying him.
Sam paused the screen on a close up shot of Puck and Mercedes kissing and just stared for a moment. How did his life end up like this? And most importantly, how had he ever let her go?
He didn't have the answers to any of those questions but one thing was for sure, Mercedes Jones would always be the one that got away...
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Next chapter, Sam is offered an opportunity that may change his life…
Until next time! A.k.a. Sunday!