Chapter 3 – Facing each other

"Hi."

Mercedes looked over at Sam. He looked nervous. Why would he be nervous? "Hi."

Sam rubbed the back of his neck. She wasn't going to make this easy. "Uh… Yeah, you look really good, but why the weight lost? Are you dating some looser that is pressuring you to lose weight? There was nothing wrong with the way you looked. I can't believe you are starving yourself because some fake ass, plastic MF is telling you to drop some pounds." Sam could not believe the words that were coming out of his mouth. He was like a runaway train, and he could not find the brakes.

"Oh hell to the no! First of all you have no right to worry about my weight. Secondly, who I am dating is no concern of yours, and thirdly don't be acting like you give a damn about how anybody treats me. You gave up that right when you dumped me." He had some nerve getting all up in her grill about who she is dating. He ain't slick.

"You're right, you're right. I'm sorry. It's just that I'm nervous about how to talk to you. I miss you so much, but I know with the way things went down at the end of the summer that you would be reluctant to listen to me and forgive me." Sam was sweating now. He could tell she was looking for a way out, but he could not let her leave without telling her how he feels. Then it came to him.

"Will you come back into the music room with me. I have a song that I want to sing to you. It can express what I'm feeling better than any words that I come up with. Please."

Mercedes didn't feel like she owed Sam anything. She was done. She would never give him the power to hurt her again, but they do need closure, so she would hear his song and put an end to this Cinderella story that was not destine to have a happy ending.

"Fine, but we have to hurry up. Mr. Shue will be mad if we are late."

Sam did a fist pump in his mind. He grabbed her hand and lead her back to the music room. Once there he had her take a seat in the front row, and then grabbed his guitar.

Mercedes immediately recognized the song as Sam begin to play. She decided she would put in her two cents and take control of the situation.

Whataya Want From Me – by Delilah from the Sing off Season 3 – Sam is bold, Mercedes is italic, Mercedes and Sam

Hey, slow it down

Whataya want from me

Whataya want from me

Yeah, I'm afraid

Whataya want from me

Whataya want from me

Sam was surprise when Mercedes started to sing, and even more surprise when he heard drum beats. He looked over to see Puck sitting at the drums.

There might have been a time

When I would give myself away

(Ooh) Once upon a time

I didn't give a damn

But now here we are

So whataya want from me

Whataya want from me

Just don't give up

I'm workin' it out

Please don't give in

I won't let you down

It messed me up, need a second to breathe

Just keep coming around

Hey, whataya want from me

Whataya want from me

Whataya want from me

Mercedes could feel the pain and loneliness in Sam voice as he sang. She knew now that he wasn't enjoying their breakup any more than she was. Maybe he had time to think about it and realize it was a mistake, but maybe it wasn't meant to be. There always seem to be some kind of obstacle in their way. She just couldn't risk it again.

Yeah, it's plain to see

That baby you're beautiful

And there's nothing wrong with you

It's me, I'm a freak

But thanks for lovin' me

Cause you're doing it perfectly

There might have been a time

When I would let you slip away

I wouldn't even try but I think

You could save my life

Just don't give up

I'm workin' it out

Please don't give in

I won't let you down

It messed me up, need a second to breathe

Just keep coming around

Hey, whataya want from me

Whataya want from me

Whataya want from me

Just don't give up on me

I won't let you down

No, I won't let you down

So

Just don't give up

I'm workin' it out

Please don't give in

I won't let you down

It messed me up, need a second to breathe

Just keep coming around

Hey, whataya want from me

Just don't give up

I'm workin' it out

Please don't give in

I won't let you down

It messed me up, need a second to breathe

Just keep coming around

Hey, whataya want from me

(Whataya want from me)

Whataya want from me

Whataya want from me

Sam looked at Mercedes looking for some sign of hope. She had to understand that he was sorry and wanted to give it another try.

"Sam, I get it. You are having some regrets about breaking up with me. I want lie. I miss you and yes I still love you, but I just can't do it again. You hurt me when you walked away from what you fought so hard to get back. What if I give you another chance and then a few months later you call to tell me you have met someone else?"

Sam open his mouth to protest. Plenty of girls had been hitting on him since school started, but he had no interest in any of them.

"No, I know what you are going to say. There is just always some obstacle getting in our way. First you moved to Kentucky. Then you hooked up with that shank ho." Sam rolled his eyes at that description. He never hooked up with that girl. "Then I got with Shane, and lastly you broke up with me because of distance, and your belief that I would not be able to resist Puck. Oh and if you are wondering; no we have not hooked up."

"Dude you thought I would creep on your girl. I'm not like that anymore. Besides I wouldn't have stood a chance. Hot Mama is not the cheating type." Said Puck. He knew he should have left and let them have their moment, but Mercedes was his girl and he wanted to be there for her in case Sam caused her to cry.

"Dude what are you still doing in here? We appreciate your help on the drums, but me and Mercy are trying to have a private conversation."

Puck looked over at Mercedes.

"It's fine Puck. Actually, we all need to go. We've got about 5 minutes to make it to the auditorium. If I was a student I wouldn't care as much, but since I am coming in as a mentor I need to be professional and show up on time. Don't worry Sam you and I will finish this conversation later."

"When?" Sam knew he needed to lock her down, or she would spend the remainder of her stay trying to avoid him.

"How about tomorrow evening we go out to dinner."

"Great." Sam would spend the rest of the night figuring out how to counter all the points that Mercedes would bring up. He had to help her see the light.

I am a hugh fan of the competition show the Sing Off. I think it is the best singing competition show on TV. Sadly not many people watch the show and it almost got cancelled. Anyway, I love the version of Whataya want from me that Delilah performed on the show. Of course they did a condense version on the show so it want match up with the lyrics I posted in the story. Below is the link to their performance if you want to check it out.

results?search_query=delilah+what+do+you+want+from+me&oq=Delilah+wh&gs_l=youtube.1.0.0l10.1307345.1312634.0.1314..1137.0j7j 1.8.0...0.0...1ac.1. .1rZOzm381JQ