Day 5 - Sunday
02:00
There was so much going on in Sam's head as he sat listening to the old crew talking crap about their pending college visits, the girls going on about designer whatever's and Maddy pawing at him, she was really sucking the life out of this fake thing. He'd seen Mercedes' text asking him what was up, he wanted to answer it but he couldn't chance Maddy seeing him, he was sitting right next to her, plus Mercedes was sitting with Stacey and he'd just promised his sister he'd stay out of things until they sorted out if there was anything between them. Stacey had pretty much had to spell her sexuality out to him about three years ago, so he knew he had no gaydar but he also knew with conviction that Mercy wasn't lady fabulous either, so he was having a hard time understanding why Stacey couldn't see that
But for now he'd made a promise so he had to make do with his mind wondering over to where they were sitting laughing every now and again, his fist clenched as he watched Stacey touching Mercedes' arm every now and again, because truth be told he was super jealous. "How the hell am I jealous of my damn sister" he'd asked himself several times as he sat trying to shake the girl out of his mind for the night, but it was an impossible task, the fact still remained, he was jealous. He was bubbling with frustration, anger and of course jealousy so much his leg was bouncing up and down fast as he sat half listening to the banter, he looked nervous. It was like a saving grace when he saw her Dad go over to them, he had to smile when Mercy sprung up at her Dad's words, telling him she couldn't wait to get the hell out of there.
He watched her get up, and at that point he didn't care what anyone had to say, he needed to grab her attention at least say bye, he smiled when she must have thought the same as him and turned to smile at him before she grabbed her purse and left with her Dad, his night was made, she wasn't mad at him
It was soon 2am and time for them to get going too, his Dad had done the look more than five minutes ago and Maddy was still hanging onto his arm "Bye" he finally got fed up of being polite and shook her off him telling her, turning to the others in the group to smile "I'm out" he told them with much relief in his voice
"Are you two..." Ryder; his cousin and right hand man, asked smiling at him as he spoke, Sam didn't answer, his face said it all "She must have something pretty bad on you" he laughed rolling his eyes as Sam knocked fists with him on his way past him
"Whenever" he told him as he walked off towards Stacey "How did it go?" he asked his sister, eager to hear Mercy had knocked her back
"She's coming for dinner tomorrow and we'll talk then" she replied, he'd never felt his heart sink so low before. They sat in silence all the way home and went to their bedrooms without another word
Sam
Sam stood in the mirror asking himself why he was letting Stacey get away with taking this girl away from him, she'd had two girlfriends and he was still a damn girlfriend virgin. It wasn't that girls weren't his thing just that he was aware of what they were about, he'd watched some of his friends get destroyed by this thing called love and to be truthful he was scared for his heart, he didn't want to turn into a bitter man treating girls like sex objects because of some childhood sweetheart messing with his head. He knew he was pretty on the outside, everyone was always telling him that stuff, but inside he was delicate, vulnerable even, which made him unsure he'd be able to come back from rejection and so he stayed away from it.
He dragged his tie from his neck with some force, mad with himself for the situation he'd found himself in, wondering why his sister was being so selfish. Smiling as he remembered the conversation he'd managed to actually have with Mercy, he liked that name, it was his name for her. She had the most infectious laugh, and when she smiled her eyes lit up too telling him it was genuine, they liked the same things, books, music, history and both wanted to protect their hearts by living in this fairy tale of finding their one true love that would last for all time. He'd never shared that thought with a single living soul before and he stood wondering whey he'd chosen to share it with her "Since we're being honest..." he'd already got a verse for his song, but these feelings were changing his mind, maybe it should be a love song
He quickly stripped off and jumped in the shower he needed it as cold as possible, this girl was getting to him, he quickly changed his mind and reset the temperature, smiling at the warmth that hit his skin, the spray feeling like pellets hitting his shoulders before he put his head under and closed his eyes. His mind playing with what it would have been like had their lips actually met, had they not been interrupted "I was that close" he muttered as the water covered his face "God Grant me patience..." humming in his head, trying to get a melody for the words, nothing seemed to work, he's started writing those words the day his grandparents passed and stopped shortly after the funeral, but these past few days, it along with Mercy had sprung at him and he knew there had to be a reason for that, he smiled as the live image of Mercy consumed his mind, she was it, and he didn't even know how he knew that
He was in bed within ten minutes laying naked under the covers, trying to force sleep but it wouldn't come, there was just too much that could have come out of that night had things gone his way "Got an early start tomorrow" he banged his pillow and sunk his head into it, rolling his eyes minutes later when he still couldn't sleep "Okay" he lay on his back and grabbed hold of his limp dick "Lets get you some sleep" he told himself as he used the tips of his fingers to massage himself with his right hand, he didn't know when his mind moved from his usual smutty pictures in his head of famous women to Mercy but it did and he found himself in a heightened state of arousal, his hand was all over his body touching his mouth, nipples he was making noise, he was aware of that, he wasn't just going to get release from this he was going to burst open. He grabbed his balls in his left hand and worked his hand up and down his hard dick fast this was intense, pictures of Mercy flashing through his mind
"Mercy" he gasped as his body flexed, he just about had time to move the covered before he emptied all over himself, smiling at his first real life sex fantasy being with someone he now knew he cared about, did she even knew she had that effect on him. He jumped up and cleaned himself up, his Mom was still into changing the sheets every damn day, he came out and sent a message to Mercy before he slid back into bed, having decided that his feelings were real, he finally closed his eyes with a smile on his face, he felt like he'd just literally had sex with her
Stacey
"Oh my God do we have the same bra's?" Stacey sat looking at her favourite teddy on her bed asking, tyring to get as much practice in as possible for the meeting with Mercedes tomorrow "That's too obvious isn't it?" she asked the teddy as she repositioned herself on her bed "What about "Nice legs" she touched her Teddy's foot "When do they open?" she asked giggling "That sound much too desperate" she got up to walk around her room thinking
She'd seen Sam and Mercedes disappear up the stairs that evening, but she knew her brother, there was nothing untoward happening there, he was a relationship virgin, he told her he wasn't interested in any one that way but she thought he was just plain scared of girls. She'd sat watching the door stewing with what was going on when Maddy, appearing from nowhere, stood in front of her
"Where's Sam?" the girl asked no hello or anything just the question, after which she stood looking at her nails, throwing her hand in the air when she didn't get an answer quick enough "Well?"
Stacey saw her perfect opportunity and jumped at it "He's gone back stage with Mercedes" she replied, she felt messed up after she'd done it, but he knew she'd got feelings for the girl so she couldn't understand why he'd gone there with this
"You like her don't you?" Maddy asked smiling
"You like him don't you?" Stacey asked smiling herself as she watched Maddy go off to do her dirty work and cause destruction
She was taken back when Mercedes walked out looking like she was straightening her clothes, Sam had crossed a line and she needed to let him know it. He emerged with Maddy on his arm making her smile for a second, but then she saw him and Mercedes share a secret sexy smile which instantly made her too upset to talk to him, because that told her something had gone on between them, she ran off towards the ladies room she needed to bawl, that ended up working in her best interest because now he was backing off and she was going to do her best to win Mercedes over "If only I could hook this opening line"
She sat thinking about the night, smiling at them sitting laughing together, Mercedes had touched her hand once, she held her hand with the memory "Maybe I should do as Maddy said and just ask her straight out" she told herself jumping back into bed and pulling the covers up now she'd made her decision
Mercedes
Mercedes and her Dad had got in and got straight on the phone to her Mom, there were tears of joy, proud moments and kisses across the phone before Mercedes left her parents to get on with themselves and went to her room. Mercedes lay in her room the TV on with no sound thinking about the kiss she nearly got, about the hand that nearly touched her, she closed her eyes and felt it happen, she rubbed her thighs with her hand raking at them before her hand went up and cupped her breasts, kneading them as she pinched her nipples, the memory of the hot water from her quick shower earlier hitting them made them pop up to attention. She was stood in the shower smiling as she relived parts of their conversation in her head, they were flirting big time, everything was set up, she was about to get her first real kiss and then... she'd stepped out of the shower mad at that Maddy girl
She smiled as she jumped into bed because her mind was already somewhere else, her mind was going wild she needed him touching her, she slipped her hand down her panties and touched her drum like clitoris, letting out a breath at the release she found in doing it. She started off just flicking the hard soft skin between her fingers before her left hand left her nipple and spread her lips apart, her hips moving against her fingers getting faster with each stroke.
She felt a tingle through her body which made her open her eyes as she gasped out loud and groaned as liquid touched her hands, she had no choice this felt exquisite her groans louder as she forced the nerve to burst out of the tip of her clitoris with a tingle followed by several jolts of a sensation that was more intense than the experience she'd felt in the shower the night before, the pleasure leaving a smile on her face.
She took her time to finish her fantasy, her mind had just come back into the room when she heard a message notification on her phone, she rolled on her side and stretched across to pick her phone up
'See you tomorrow can't wait' she read Stacey's message, frowning at the prospect of fighting this girl off, she'd never been any good at hurting peoples feelings
The next notification was a message from Sam and of course it made her smile as she read 'I'm fine, just thinking about you' with a smiling face at the end
"You would not believe what I was just thinking about you" she told her phone before putting it down, wrapping her quilt around her to easily find sleep
09:00
The Evans' House
Despite their intentions the family had slept in, which was unusual for them, everyone was busy doing something "Stacey" Mary shouted smiling as her daughter entered the kitchen "You should be at the library get gone" she handed her some sandwiches and a hot sandwich for breakfast "Dad's already in the car"
"Thanks" she smiled kissing her Mom as she grabbed the items "Oh Mom I invited Mercedes for dinner tonight" she turned to tell her
"I'm afraid all her Dad's agreed is the visit to the studio"
"Can you not talk to him, I'm looking forward to it?"
"I work for him as a bodyguard, I don't tell him what to do" Mary answered her daughter, Sam sat pretending not to listen to the conversation he was pissed off at yet another day going by without Mercy being able to put Stacey straight so they could get on with themselves, time was running out and he had so much to share
"We had stuff planned Mom could you not just get Mercedes to ask him?"
"If she's interested she'd have asked him already" Mary told her "Go on your Dad's waiting"
"Bye" she sulked "Bye Sam" she turned to finally acknowledge her brother
"Bye" he lifted his head from his phone telling her, he was sitting wondering why Mercy hadn't messaged him back, maybe Stacey had said something she wanted to hear
"Come on you" Mary jolted him out of his daydream "Studio" she smiled watching him get up to leave "What was all that with Maddison and you last night?" she linked his arm asking
"That was nothing, she wanted to feel important for the night, I wasn't doing anything else so I let her use me" he laughed
"Oh" Mary held her chest smiling
"Don't even think it when it comes to that one" Sam laughed
"To be honest there aren't many girls I... can I say the word detest?" she laughed
"I'd say that was appropriate in this case" he opened the car door for her to sit in laughing
They'd already started the journey when Mary decided to broach the subject with her son, she'd kept it light up until then "Sam" she looked at him as they neared the hotel "You do know Mercedes goes home in a few days don't you?"
"Yeah, why?" he asked without looking at her
"I can see it in your eyes every time you look at her" she touched his hand telling him "I know it's not something you do very often, let someone in I mean, but she leaves on Tuesday"
"I know" he replied still not looking at her "She's just easy to talk to"
"Plus you'd be putting my job and my reputation at risk"
"I know" he finally looked up, wondering why he was getting all this pressure and resistance from the women in his family "She's a friend" he smiled at his Mom, he wasn't about to make that promise
"Okay" she smiled "So who's at the studio today?"
"The usual, a few names I want to surprise Mercedes with too, all Country singers so I'm baptising her into the genre" he smiled "And me of course" he laughed
"I know this isn't what you want to hear, but your Dad still thinks this is your free time, you know that right?"
"Yeah" he frowned "And maybe it is, but you never know unless you try, I so want to get into NEYADA, I hope he at least lets me try"
"I know" she smiled rubbing his arm, before they fell into silence again, Sam checking his phone again for any communication from Mercy, he needed to tell her as soon as he could about backing off to let Stacey at least try, and that he'd promised his sister that.
"Wait here" Mary told him getting out the car when it came to a standstill to jump into the hotel car to get to Mercedes apartment
The Jones' Apartment
"Morning sweetheart" Mercy's Dad smiled as she walked into the main room in her dressing gown "Not feeling up to it today?"
"I had a sip of red wine, it went straight to my head, I thought it was blackcurrant" she laughed it off telling him
"Check next time" he laughed
"Daddy" she smiled already setting him up for the yes by telling him the truth "Stacey asked if I could go to dinner at theirs tonight, what do you think?" she watched him pull out the dining hair for her to sit down
"I think I'd need to agree that with Mary first, you know children don't make decisions like that" he frowned as he pushed her chair in
"That's why I'm asking" she grinned up at him "This western world is a different animal"
"Well don't get used to the animal sweet, your future is planned" he sat down telling her
"I know" she pushed her fork into the plate of eggs and threw some in her mouth before looking back at him "So, can I?"
"If Mary agrees yes, I'm out for most of the day and depending on the outcome of todays meeting I might need to do an over night visit or even extend the holiday, if that's the case, I'll need to speak to your Mother see what she wants me to do about you"
"So there might be an option to stay on for a day or so?" she asked trying not to sound too excited
"I'll be having that conversation with your Mother lady" he waved his fork at her smiling "Isn't Mary due any minute?"
"Half an hour" she looked up at the clock above the open fireplace telling him "I best get dressed" she grabbed some toast, grabbed her usual kiss and left him checking emails at the table. She'd played with sending a reply to Sam a few times already this morning but the thought of Stacey dropping them in it about last night overpowered her and she put the phone down, maybe later she went off to the shower room singing more of her music still stuck for the finish for the bridge, excited that Sam and her more or less had a day together and that was as exciting as hell, the thought of Stacey later tonight made her blood boil "I need to get my bitch out" she thought as she stepped out the cubicle
She'd thrown a little something together today, trying to look casual, sexy, cool and not even bothered, her hair was down for a change, scattered around her neck and chest covering the black laced see through blouse showing her yellow underwear, with some cling to the skin ripped yellow denims, yellow and black sneakers and a denim jacket matching her jeans, she was out to impress today
"Bye sweetheart" her Dad shouted through the door as he left for work
"Bye Daddy" she shouted back smiling at him not seeing this particular outfit, she might have been grounded, and to top the look off she was make up naked
She grabbed her purse an apple and reaches the door as Mary knocked it, you could set your watch by the woman "You're getting to know me" Mary laughed as the door swung open
"Morning Mary" Mercedes giggled "I'm excited for the studio" she squeezed her arm telling her
"Hmm" Mary replied
"What does that mean?" Mercedes stepped back to look at her asking
"Is it the music or my son?"
"Eye candy is fine as long as you know it's just eye candy, and I know it" she told her "My Dad would kill me" she laughed
"And his him" Mary added, happy Sam and Mercedes were on the same page "Your Dad agreed dinner tonight, said you could stay over if you wanted"
"Yeah, did he talk about the trip being extended?"
"He'll let me know as soon as he knows" Mary told her and that was the end of business before they jumped in the car, Sam was sitting in the front of Mary's car when they got there, she didn't disturb him, she just jumped in the back and smiled at him in the mirror
"Morning" her eyes played with his as they met in the mirror
"Morning" he smiled, both trying to look as casual as possible, they spent most of the ride to the studio in silence, the radio playing Mary's country tunes as she hummed along happily
"Okay you guys have fun, make music and I'll pick you both up at 6pm" Mary told them as they got out the car
"Are you not staying?" Mercedes asked "I thought you were my bodyguard?"
"I am, but I have a team of people working with me" she laughed "So there's that much security in there, I don't need to be, it's agreed" she smiled
"Don't tell me it's another family owed business" Mercedes rolled her eyes laughing
"Actually, technically it belongs to Sam but it's in my name for now" she laughed looking at her son "Get in then" she shooed them in
"Bye Mom" Sam smirked at her not at all happy about her passing that piece of information over
"Bye Mary" Mercedes waved before they turned and went through the shiny glass studio doors
The Studio
"Morning" Sam walked into the main entrance of Samson Studio telling Unique, the smiling receptionist "This is Mercedes Jones, she'll be spending the day, she's royalty" he smiled watching her face light up at the plush, smart, expensive looking, black leather furniture, and impressive pictures of artists she didn't know
"Nice to meet you Miss Jones" Unique held her hand out Mercy stood wondering whether she wanted her to kiss it or what, before she could make her mind up the hand was snatched away "Morning Sam" she smiled "Your entourage is waiting" she told him rolling her eyes
"How did they get in, today of all days?"
"They, well Maddy, booked sound room 4 of course" Unique told him "And went through the search and security checks, determined little..." she trailed off looking back at Mercedes "Sorry Princess" she waved her hand around before looking back at Sam "I guess you need to deal with it"
"So which room did you leave for me?"
"I put you in 5"
"Thanks" Sam rolled his eyes "Sorry about this" he told Mercedes walking in front of her towards the black double doors in front of them, of course she followed him "Look" he burst into the sound room seeing the usual fan club "I don't have time for this again today, it's getting irritatingly boring, especially as I have an important visitor with me" he looked back at Mercedes standing behind him rolling her eyes for seeing the familiar faces
"Is that the Princess again" Maddy stood up asking
"Yes and if you guys don't leave I'm going to have to get security to throw you out, I can't believe they let you all in" he told her
"Are you sure about that?" Maddy looked at him asking "I booked and paid for this room"
"It's more than my Mom's job to have everyone in here, the rest of you guys need to go" Sam told them watching as the security came in anyway, Mercedes stood watching the girls look at her with hate in their eyes, she wanted to say something the damn girls didn't even know her, she had her bitch ready for this shameless lot, but instead she smiled at their unsaid words, because whatever they thought, she was the one spending the day with the man of their dreams "You alright?" he asked when he saw the looks she was getting
"I'm fine" she looked into his eyes just a bit longer than she needed to, for effect
"I'm staying" Maddy told the security guy as he came towards her, he knew who she was, he backed off and looked back at Sam
Sam looked at Mercedes knowing that if anyone was going to cut her time short it was Maddy "She's alright" he told the guy to Mercedes dismay, this was a two pronged decision for him, firstly Maddy had the upper hand on them and secondly, he'd promised Stacey he'd back off until she found out where Mercedes and her stood, so having Maddy there was his barrier from crossing that line he so wanted to cross with this girl that had gotten under his skin "Sorry it's either she stays or you go home I had to make the choice" he whispered in her ear
"And there'll be no more of that, it's rude to whisper in company" Maddy hissed at him
"We can mess around in here" he opened the door on his right "This is where I usually sound off when we're full" he stood aside to let Mercedes in, frowning when Maddy invaded their space too "I thought you booked that studio, I didn't expect you to follow us around all day" he told her as she walked past him into studio 5
"You know what thought did" she widened her eyes at him smiling pressing herself against him as she passed
"Do you sing Maddison?" Mercedes asked, irritated at how close she was to him
"Yeah a lot actually, it's one of the things Sam and I have in common" she smiled
"Great, I'm afraid I don't sing, not professionally that is, got anything you'd want to share?"
"Yeah" Maddy threw her purse down happy to be the centre of attention, Sam stood watching the two girls interact, knowing there was a game play in there somewhere but not knowing exactly where "I'm going to sing 'Imagine' by Ariana Grande do you know it?"
"Yeah" Mercedes smiled at this girl trying to show her up "I listen to pop music"
"You can back me then" Maddy told her dismissively
"Maddy" Sam hissed at her rudeness
"What?" she asked
"You're so rude" he told her
"It's fine" Mercedes smiled at him stepping forward to back the song with Maddy
"Do you need to warm up?" Maddy asked
"No let's just go in" Mercedes laughed "You're so funny, I'll warm as I go" she put her purse down on the stool behind her and pushed her hair back off her face "Warm" she smiled looking at Sam as he plugged his phone in and found the music
"Ready?" he asked looking at Mercy, smiling when she nodded while Maddy wasn't watching
"Shoot" Maddy's head popped u pas she heard the music "I wasn't ready" she hissed before starting in on the song
Maddy (Mercedes & Maddy)
Step up the two of us, nobody knows us, get in the car like, slip, staying up all night, order me bad Thai, then we going sleep till noon (Me with no makeup, you in the bathtub, bubbles and bubbly) ooh, this is a pleasure, feel like we never (act this regular)
click, click, click and post, drip-drip-dripped in gold, quick, quick, quick, let's go, kiss me and take off your clothes, Imagine a world like that, Imagine a world like that, we go light up till I'm asleep on your chest, (love how my face fits so good in your neck, why can't you imagine a world like that, imagine a world)
"Okay I think I'm warmed up, I'll take this verse" Mercedes smiled at her opponent
"Fine" Maddy waved her in smiling
Mercedes (Maddy & Mercedes)
Knew you were perfect after the first kiss, took a deep breath like, ooh, feels like forever, baby, I never, thought that it would be you (Tell me your secrets, all of the creep shit, that's how I know it's true) baby, direct it, name in the credits, like the movies do
(Click, click, click and post, drip-drip-dripped in gold, guick, quick, quick, let's go, kiss me and take off your clothes) Imagine a world like that, Imagine a world like that, (we go light up till I'm asleep on your chest, love how my face fits so good in your neck, why can't you imagine a world like that, imagine a world)
Maddy pointed at Mercedes to take the lead on the next bit, surely she'd mess up and look the fool in front of Sam, Mercedes smiled and took it, she knew she had something to prove to this girl
Maddy (Mercedes): (Can you) imagine it x 7 (Ooh) Imagine it x 6 (Both: Imagine 6 )
"Was that warmed up enough for you?" Mercedes asked smiling
"Yeah" Maddy stood stunned
"I hate to say anything nice about you Maddison" Sam looked at her smiling "But Mercedes just made that song work for you"
"Thank you" Mercedes chuckled at the indirect insult to the girl
"Mercedes you have a beautiful voice" he smiled at her, their eyes making a connection that was deeper than it actually looked
"If I remember rightly I sang most of the lead on that" Maddy butted in
"Yeah" Sam looked at her for a second telling her
"R&B is more my style to be honest, but I'll try anything" Mercedes told him
"With a voice like that you can try anything you want" Sam raised his eyebrow at her, mystery in his eyes
"Will you two stop" Maddy shouted
"Stop what?" Mercedes asked seeing Sam was on his last nerve
"Flirting" Maddy replied
"Nobody's flirting, this is work" Sam told her, shocked at the accusation "We're actually going to buckle down and get something recorded, I promised Mom this would be a productive day"
"I don't have anything ready" Mercedes told him, not willing to share her tune just yet
"I have something safe we can work on" he smiled, making his mind up he was going to ignore Maddy until she got the hint, he needed to tell Mercedes about his promise to Stacey
"You do?" she asked surprised walking towards him, watching as he pulled some scruffy notes from under the guitar laying flat on top of the piano, while she grabbed her book out of her bag
"Yeah I've had these words written down for a while, I just can't get the right beat for it, I had more words in my head the other night, I want to try it out, see if it fits"
"I guess we could do with sandwiches, it's going to be a long day" Maddy butted in again
"I'm not inviting you to join in" Sam looked across the room at her, and watched her leave the room before he got stuck into setting things up to start the real work
Sam and Mercedes were looking at their scribbles, Mercy started playing her melody and he started singing his lyrics amazed that his words were fitting to her music "We were so meant for each other" he laughed listening to her melody "I think it's more a love song though so we'll work on that later"
"No your lyrics are good"
"I didn't say they weren't, just that I have something else in my head for your beat"
"Maybe" she smiled "I loved talking yesterday" she smiled up at him looking over her shoulder where he was stood bending over her adding to his lyrics
"So did I" he smiled, their eyes watching each others lips as they spoke, Sam caught himself and moved away from her
"What... did I do something wrong?" she asked concerned for his actions
"Nothing" he turned to smile at her, everything in him was willing him to go back "I...I just promised..."
"What's wrong?" she turned to ask him
"Stacey" he let out a breath telling her "She still thinks something can happen between you two"
"But I told you yesterday I'm not into girls" she jumped down off the stool and walked towards him
"I know that, but she was so upset yesterday for knowing we were together, I even think she sent Maddy to get us, and I sort of promised her I wouldn't make a move until you guys sort out what you are to each other"
"Am I hearing this right" Mercedes hissed "I said I'm not into..."
"I know that, but I can't break a promise to my sister"
"Fine" she went back to the stool and jumped back on it "Lets get this other song done"
"Mercy" he moaned at her dismissal, she was obviously unhappy about his promise
"Sam I have a day to get this done" she flicked her hair off her shoulder and turned back to the music sitting on the stand in front of her "Can we just get on with it" she was going to deal with this Stacey thing once and for all later on
He felt bad for going hot and cold on her like this, now all he was getting from her was cold, as they exchange silent looks and avoided physical contact "Can we take a break?" he finally asked grabbing her hand before she could answer, she fell off the stool into his arms, he turned and allowed his chest to break her fall "Sorry are you alright?" he looked down at her, her hands pressed against his chest breaking the connection between her head and his chest
"I'm fine" she looked up at him, their gaze getting lost in itself again "I know" she rolled her eyes breaking the tension "Stacey" she rolled her eyes and pushed herself off him
"She's my sister" he rolled his eyes with frustration
"I know" she let him keep hold of her hand, there was a sweet tingling feeling flowing through the connection that she really didn't mind at all, as she followed him out of the booth
"I thought you'd like to meet some of the other guests, I don't like this frost between us" he looked back at her "I need a smile on your face" he pushed studio 1's door open, she smiled straight away at the familiar country music, she didn't really know the guys but they all waved at them as they walked in
"I don't recognise any of these guys, who are they?" she asked as they stood behind the guy on the mixing board listening to the song
"They're a group called Georgia Florida Line, they're Rascal Flatts, that guy over there is Luke Bryan and of course Thomas Rhett; who Mom listens to all the while, all big in the world of country music" he told her "They're putting together a greatest country hits of all time thing, it's exciting times"
"Take two I think we have it" one of the guys shouted and the guy on the mixer started again, Sam and Mercy stood watching them putting together a song, different tones but they were making it work she looked up at Sam staring at her and giggled
"That was brilliant" she smiled at him
"That's because they're professionals" he told her "They'll want to meet you"
"Me, why?"
"Your Mr Jones' Princess" he laughed watching the men come out to meet them, they were more in awe than Mercedes was, she was stoked "Thanks guys" he nodded at them when they'd finished, grabbing her hand, there was a feeling of being home when he was connected to her, it buzzed through him like electricity, they left that studio for another
"Who are these guys?" she asked when they burst through studio 2's door seeing the two men stood singing their hearts out, and two women sitting on a stool nearby
"They're Kane Brown, Sam Hunt, Mickey Guyton, Jenna Kramer all big in the world of Country too, same album" he smiled as they stood listening to them singing "You were telling the truth when you said you didn't know anything about country music"
"Why would I lie?" she looked up at him, before looking back at the men singing this sad song about country living, they both stood venturing into dangerous ground, quickly letting go of each others hands, and looking at each other awkwardly, she smiled at his guilty look "It's not cheating on your sister to hold hands is it?"
"No" he smiled "I just didn't want to let go"
"So you feel this then?"
"God do I feel this" he rolled his eyes
"But you made a promise to your sister?"
"She's my sister" he frowned
"I don't know anything about that loyalty stuff, I'm an only child" she smiled up at him, with a twinkle in her eye "But I respect it"
"God you're such a tease" he rolled his eyes at her laughing
"You started it with your sexy Mercy version of my name" she laughed
"I promised Stacey this wouldn't happen, stop it"
"You stop it" she smiled "I don't want to do our song today, if Maddy's around"
"Okay, we'll do that other one, I need to smooth out the new lyrics anyway" he smiled "Lets get back to work" he couldn't resist any longer, he grabbed her hand and led them back to their studio, to get back to work, keeping hold of her hand all the way to the booth "Come on lets make this work" he told her grabbing some headphones for her before putting his on, he stood playing his guitar, listening and getting into mode for a while before he started them off and they did their first take on 'Love Is A Drug' by DR King & Jackie Foster
"How can I quit you, your all in my veins, your driving me crazy, your crazy insane..." they smiled at each other impressed with the start, Sam stood impressed with her slant on his melody she'd rejigged the music a bit to accommodate her style, and it actually worked, it was still dripping him, neither of them really like stuff that people could dance to they wanted them to listen to the lyrics that was what this was all about "And even though I know its wrong, I just can't get enough, because…." he looked down at her singing the chorus, he actually meant every word
"I cant stop this feeling you're all in my head, the plans we were making got burned out instead…" she sang smiling when he joined in with the chorus, it was coming together, the bridge was breathtaking, it brought sounds out of her she never knew she had
"It's vacant, naked, scared and shaken up, and even though I know it's wrong I just cant give you up because..." they sang to each other "It's fucking me up" they stood staring at each other, his right hand in the air as he struck the last note on his guitar, the background music carrying on
"What did you...think?" Sam looked down at Mercy almost under his arm asking, he wasn't even able to resist it, his head went down, his free hand pulled her face to his, their lips almost touched, inside their heads were going crazy, this had to be something more that whatever...
"This works for me" she giggled, before they closed their eyes
"There you are" Maddy burst into the room in that split second, making them jump out their skin, she was smiling, but her next sentence made them know she hadn't seen anything "I've been all over looking for you guys" she held up the bag of sandwiches "I got food" Sam and Mercy stood looking at each other, they smiled at each other both knowing they were thinking they thought the bitch had gone home
"Thank you, that's really nice of you" Mercedes stepped out of the booth towards her smiling "Did you get any salad?"
"On a cheese sandwich yes" Maddy replied "Just pick it off" she popped her hand in the bag bringing out a cheese salad sandwich "I'm not going all the way back just for that"
"I guess I'll pass" Mercedes smiled looking at the melted cheese sandwich "Could we order something in?" she turned to ask Sam
"Sure, canteen's alright but..." he took his phone out to do as she asked "What do you want?"
"A salad" she smiled, watching Maddy take a fresh Salad bowl out of the bag with a fork, obviously her lunch "With some fresh salmon please" she looked back at Sam, her smile telling him she thought this girl wanted her to get ratchet on her
They ordered their salads and sat watching Maddy tuck into her lunch, talking about the song they'd just done and how to improve it, by the time their lunch came, they'd done another take on the song and were stood holding hands, gazing into each others eyes at the end of it "What did you think?" Sam asked
"Lets go eat and listen" she pulled him out of the booth and round to stop the music so they could listen
"That wasn't too bad" Maddy told them watching Sam messing with all the gadgets before the song came through for them to listen to
They stood messing with things for a while until finally Sam clapped his hands "That's it" he hugged Mercy shouting, remembering they were in company he spun round smiling at Maddy "We did it, a recording in a day"
"Yea" Maddy thumped the air smiling "Now can we get out of here?" she looked at Sam asking
"Well I'm about to eat my late lunch, and I'm in charge of Mercedes, who can't move without my Mom so no, but if you've got somewhere to be feel free to leave any time" he told her
"Funny" she smirked "Do you remember our deal?" she asked him
"I didn't want you to blow Mercedes up in front of everyone for nothing last night so I went ahead with your crap, but there's nothing going on between us so you can tell who you want what you want"
"So you want to test me on this?" she looked at him warning in her tone
"Well, we've never so much as kissed"
"Kissed" Mercedes hissed "We're friends, his Mom's my bodyguard"
"You guys might think you're fooling everyone else with that damn stupid excuse, but not me" Maddy sniggered
"Go for it McCarthy, we know we've done nothing wrong" he answered "And try as you might, but you and I are never going to happen"
"The only reason your getting away with shit right now is because I'm off to college for two years, but I bet you'll still be here when I get back?" she waved her finger at him
"I wouldn't bet on it"
"So who else is taking over Daddy's business?" she put her hand on her hip asking "And of course it's good business sense to join our worth together, we'll be bigger than anyone around here ever could be"
"We'll see" he smiled turning to pay attention to Mercedes sitting beside him listening to all this
"We will" she smirked
"Maddison" he turned back to look at her "You do know we're both wealthy enough to marry for love, yeah?"
"And you do both know I'm wealthy enough to buy myself a harem of husbands if I really need them, all for love of course" Mercedes laughed "Come on stop this stupid bickering, I'll be gone in a few days and life for you guys will get back to normal, whatever the hell that is"
"This is normal" Sam laughed "I'm fed up of fighting her off"
"So stop fighting" Maddy laughed
"Never, I'm not into you"
"Sam" Mercedes gasped "That's not nice"
"Her threatening to tell the world lies about us isn't either"
"Granted but an insult is not the answer"
"Maybe not" he shrugged his shoulders in agreement
"So?" Mercedes looked at him waiting for him to apologise to Maddy
"Sorry I shouldn't have said that" he rolled his eyes before finally looking at Maddy for the last word
"So can we all get back to playing nice again?" Mercedes asked smiling, Sam and Maddy looked at each other smiling about being told off