~Sam's POV~

How many times must it take for me to see her, before she stops being breathtakingly beautiful?

I swear, every time I see her its like I'm back at McKinley in the gym surrounded by fake paper lanterns and streams and cheap lights and she just has this giant golden halo circling above her head, that makes her...glow.

She looks good...really good. Toned and vivacious as ever. Perfect smile, full lips, thunder thighs that just make me want to bury myself and sin-

"Sam?"

She looks at me funny waiting for my response and I have to rewind our conversation so I don't sound like an idiot.

"Yeah. New Directions. They're great" I smile in a daze.

She rolls her eyes shaking her head before she smiles. "That's awesome...but how are you?"

"Me?"

Shit.

"I'm good. More than good, actually" I recover. "I went back to school for a teaching degree and right now I'm enrolled at Ohio State for my masters."

"Wow, Sam" she grins proudly. "That's really epic."

That's one of the things I always liked about Mercedes. When I talk to her, she doesn't make me feel like I'm stupid. Or that what I'm doing isn't as impressive or important as whatever she's probably used too. She always made me feel like we were intellectually even...even though she's smarter.

"So, what do you want to teach?" She asks. And I can tell from her tone she's genuinely interested.

"Don't laugh okay, but I'm really into linguistics so I'll probably end up teaching Spanish or French. Although German's cool too."

Her eyes spread and she smiles. "I don't find that surprising in the least."

"Really?"

"It makes sense. Klingon? Na'vi?" She giggles. "I mean, you were always interested in languages."

I sit back and smile and she reaches out to touch my hand gently pulling me closer. I can feel my eyes widen a bit surprised.

"I know it might not mean much, but I'm really proud of you" she says warmly. "Like, when I found out you were gonna stay in Lima, I couldn't for the life of me understand why."

My mood sinks.

Why did she have to say that? Like, what is so wrong with me staying in a small town. With great people in a great community. Why is it so bad that I like being a big fish in a small pond? Someplace where the work I do makes a difference.

Like I don't need big mansions and fast cars or thousands of fans screaming my name. I'm happy with the way things are and who I am.

"And I think its really cool that you're becoming a teacher."

I roll my eyes and she smiles thinking she knows the reason.

"I'm serious Sam. You've always had the potential to do anything and I used to think you were settling, because it was just the glee club..."

Here we go.

"But being a teacher? I mean you're really making an impact" she smiles.

I feel better knowing that she's not thinking the same as everyone else, which allows me to ease up and relax as well.

She's not mocking me or belittling what I do and I appreciate that more than anything.

"Besides, there's something sexy about a teacher" she says getting up and I feel myself wanting to follow. "I got it. Next round's on me."

We've been drinking pretty consistently the entire night, alternating between shots and our chasers. Each of us is easily five or six shots in. Not to mention what I've been sipping on before she got here.

"She's coming back. Relax, Sam...she's coming back" I think to myself.

Its awful what this woman does to me...like every time she walks away I feel this gong go off in the middle of my chest that makes it difficult to breathe.

I keep an eye on her the entire time, until I start to feel awkward for staring. But I can't help it, she's that beautiful. She waits for the drinks over by the bar and a few guys approach her no doubt asking her to dance or get a drink.

I used to get jealous seeing this happened. I used to have to fight the urge to rush over to her side and make it clear she was spoken for...but the many goodbyes and breakups we've exchanged have practically killed that part of me. Instead I watch her longingly and disappointed, thinking of how awesome it would've been if it were me asking her those questions. And how great it would feel when she said yes...

Our eyes meet and she smiles giving me a wink before turning down another suitor and cutely scooping up our drinks to walk back over to me. I twist my mouth to keep from smiling as she passes me the next round.

She downs hers and looks at me expectantly. "Come on, Evans...don't tell me Lima's made you a lightweight" she grins starting to sway to the beat in place.

I stand up and look her directly in the eyes and she smirks trying to break the tension, but I hold her gaze right up until I take my shot. My face says it all, like I'm daring her to keep up. She gives me a look before turning her hand palm up, asking me to dance.

I take it before I can even think about it.


~Mercedes' POV~

"You and Sam are looking pretty cozy" Quinn says eyeing me carefully.

"This isn't high school-"

"And yet you and Sam still have more of a spark than ever" Tina teases.

"Spark? They're practically on fire!" Rachel squeals excitedly. "I knew it! I just knew that this was the perfect thing to-"

I look at her and she shuts up. She winces and I shake my head, turning around to face the bathroom mirror. I smooth out my hair and fix the wings on my eyeliner before checking out the rest of my outfit.

"Mercedes..." Quinn says like she knows everything. "What's going on?"

"Nothing" I lie a little too well. "We're just catching up and dancing. That's all. No more than what I do with the rest of you."

"You don't dance like that with the rest of us" the three girls cackle in harmony.

"And its okay, if you're starting to reconnect with him because its like I said before you and Sam are meant to be" Rachel recites.

I cock an eyebrow. "Was that before or after you dated him?"

"At your encouragement" she quips and I scoff. "Sam and I barely had anything, because our paths were headed in two totally different places. Not to mention, he still wasn't over you."

I let out a huge sigh looking at the three of them. Tina reaches out to touch my shoulder and I give her a sour look.

"Just stop wasting time...we all know its inevitable" she says sweetly. "You belong with him."

"She's right" Quinn adds in her cold tone. "So stop playing and go get him, before that girl back in Lima does."

"What girl?" I sass.

"Relax its nothing serious, its just an option" Rachel tries but I don't feel better.

There's like a twinge going on inside of me and its like the more information I'm finding out about Sam the harder it is to ignore it.

"This night isn't supposed to be about me" I groan. "Lets go."

I storm out frustrated and my mood doesn't get any better as soon as we're out of the bathroom because I see Sam dancing with another girl.

Pretty. Tall. Model-type. Someone like Quinn, Santanna and Britney.

And just like that all of the insecurities I thought I buried deep come floating to the surface of my soul. It feels like the negative thoughts within me line up and shout all of the reasons why Sam and I don't make sense, directly in my face as loud as they can and its like their egging me on to just lose it.

He holds her tight...like the way I like...as this girl continues to practically orgasm against him.

And then its like all I can see is red. Just, red.

I head directly to the bar and get two shots of liquid courage before storming my way over to meet them on the dance floor. I legit knock her size two ass to the side with one hand and Sam looks at me entirely confused.

"Merced-"

Before he can finish my name, my lips eat the sound.

And just like before, Sam is able to crush and destroy all of those horrible things my mind comes up with. How we don't make sense. How there's even more of a distance between us than before. How we both want different things out of life and there's probably no way that we can ever stay together for anything longer than what we tried...

His lips just silence all of it. The way his arms hug around me, securing me within his hold, making me feel safe and small...

He kisses me remembering exactly how I like it. Soft and sensual before a sudden burst of passion, mixed in with our faint moans and his grunts...

My heart hikes up in rhythm and I can feel my body clench and tighten wanting something more...deeper...

I gasp realizing what I'm doing and that he has no intention of stopping until he notices that I have. He pulls back and I stay still unable to move. My chest heaves a bit reacting to the moment, and his forehead touches mine to check-in and I feel his hand reach up to stroke my cheek. I watch his Adam's apple bob when he swallows seeing that he's flustered too.

We don't say anything, but the moment is so tense and I'm not sure what to say so my eyes end up tearing. I breathe out flustered reaching up to wipe my eyes and he chuckles beating me to it with the gentle pads of his thumbs.

"You know you're an idiot for making me wait so long" he says giving me my favorite lopsided grin.

I glare at him. "Me?"

"Well it sure as hell wasn't me" he laughs pulling me closer. "Its always been you" he says running a finger down the side of my cheek to tuck under my chin. "And I don't care what happens, it will forever continue to be you."

My body feels like its going to burst into confetti and I give him a watery laugh hugging him tight. His head rests on top of mine and we casually start to remember that we're not alone, but in fact in a crowded club with deafening music. Its strange but its like I heard him perfectly clear, even though it goes against all logic.

"You want to go someplace and talk?" He whispers in my ear and I nod feeling him reach down to wrap his hand around mine.

We sneak out away from our friends and out of the club into the exciting nightlife of Manhattan, the both of us practically beaming like Times Square.

We end up taking a taxi back to Kurt and Blaine's apartment, finding the spare key to their loft. Everything feels familiar and new, and even simple things like sitting in a dimly lit apartment feel magical and romantic.

We go over to the kitchen and find two glasses of water and drink them slow together, but as soon as they're empty Sam fills them up again. We're like three or four glasses in and I giggle trying to excuse myself to the bathroom but his hand latches around mine playfully.

"No. I have to ask you something. Right now! While we're still sober."

"But we aren't sober" I grin.

"Even so" Sam sways into me. "I have to ask you right now. Before...Before I...Forget!"

My eyes widen waiting for it.

"FUCK" he shouts before charging to the bathroom and slamming the door shut.

"What?"

"NO! DON'T COME IN!"

"Are you-"

The sounds of him puking up the night answer my question before he can actually say it. I wince hearing how drunk he actually was and lean on a nearby counter for support feeling helpless.

"Sam?"

"STAY OUT!" He groans and I cover my mouth to hide a laugh.

"I can't believe you've turned lightweight" I say with wonder.

I'm actually sort of impressed with myself; usually I'm the lightweight out of the group. I guess those nights out on tour really did make a difference.

Fifteen minutes later Sam walks out with his face freshly soaked with water, looking like he's just met death. I shuffle over to a closet to find a towel and walk over to him, taking his hand to guide him to a chair. He sits down and tries to pull me on his lap but I change the position to stand in front of him and his arms wrap around the width of my thighs hugging me closer. I lift his face carefully and wipe the wetness away and he closes his eyes and sighs in my hand, before giving me a dopey smile.

"Mercedes?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"For ruining the moment" he pouts and I smile grabbing the sides of his face.

"Its okay. Knowing you, you'll find some way to make it up." I bend down to kiss his nose. "Just no candles this time."

"You remember that?" he breathes giving me a whiff of what made him sick and I lean back with a laugh.

"It was the most romantic and terrifying surprise of my life" I say loosening his hold so I can help him up. "I swear, one candle tip over and we would've died. You set it up like a domino effect."

I take him to one of the extra bedrooms and help him out of his clothes before tucking him into bed.

"No, stay?" He says sounding like he's two.

"The last thing I need is you getting sick in the middle of the night, and it ending up in my hair" I say leaving the room to get a wastebasket. "Like...I love you but I'm pretty sure I'd kill you. This is Brazilian and when it comes to hair, Mercedes doesn't play."

"Whatever, Merce" he grins rolling over. "I still don't want you to leave."

"I'm right next door" I sigh. "Goodnight, Sam."

"Its not over, Jones" he calls and I shake my head with a smirk before choosing another guest room and crawling into bed and locking the door.