It had been nearly a month since Sam had left and Mercedes was proud that she'd been putting on a much braver face to Kurt and her family. Both had been concerned for her in the first week after his departure. The spontaneous bouts of tears didn't help. But then she'd somehow managed to convince them that it they had only been together for a short period of time and no real damage had been done.

Her parents seemed to be buying it at last, but Kurt was a tougher cookie to crack. Sometimes he would just look at her really hard and she'd feel that he was boring into her brain to see what was really going on.

But she did know what she was doing. In order to move on she needed a sense of closure. She needed to lock away her feelings for Sam. And she did, in both a physical and emotional sense. She had an old musical jewelry box from when she was a little girl. Once upon a time, when it was opened, a small plastic ballerina figurine would spin in a circle to a very 'tinny' version of the 'Nutcracker.' The aforementioned figurine had been ripped out in an extreme moment of curiosity back when she was in single figures, and the music mechanism had suffered the same fate. But the lock and they key still worked.

After spending a good hour searching, she finally found the box, buried with some other memorabilia in the furthest corner underneath her bed. Amazingly it still had the key with it.

With a heavy heart she gathered her things together. Into the box went the things that reminded her of Sam: the flower that gave her after prom which had been pressed and kept in her diary, the till receipt from the first time they went to the Lima Bean together and he'd opened up to her about his weight then hugged her afterwards, the snow cone keychain he'd bought her in New York. There was also a collection of other small items that may have meant nothing to another person, such as the paper label from the bottle of sweet tea she drank on their first date, but to her held true and dear memories. As she gently placed each item into the box, she kissed them softly and caressed them fondly. It took her a while and a multitude of tears, but when it was done she placed the final item on top, the letter that Sam had written to her from Tennessee after she had failed to reply to his emails and messages. With a sigh she finally closed the box, turned the key in the lock and spent an hour just sitting and staring at it.

But where to put it? After giving it some thought she finally took a chair and put it on top of her closet, pushing it as far back as she could against the wall. Out of sight, but not necessarily out of mind, and definitely not gone forever.

She needed to reclaim her life back. She'd had no desire to see any of her Glee friends over the summer apart from Kurt, and even the idea of going shopping had lost its appeal. Days were spent at home curled up watching Avatar and the rest of Dr Who series. Nights were spent reading emails from Sam, the 'reply' box open, but no words forthcoming and the 'send' button never pressed. She knew all about his new life in Memphis, his grandparents, his siblings and even the fact that for some reason he was still struggling to make things right with his dad. She knew about the summer job he had because he was saving up for a computer and how Stacy was learning to dance in summer camp. How the dyslexia tutor he had was scary but somehow was doing something right because he felt that he was actually starting to understand things better. She knew all about how much he missed her, how sorry he was for the way things had ended and how much it would mean to him to hear even just one word from her. Just to know that she was doing okay and that her world was not falling apart like his was on the inside.

But she'd ripped the band-aid the day he left. It would be crazy for her to start picking at the scab now! It wasn't fair to reopen feelings in him that she was powerless to act on. It was hard enough dealing with her own feelings!

Her thoughts were interrupted by a text on her phone. It was from Shane.

Shane: Hey girl. Meeting some of your boys at Breadstix 2moro. Wanna hang?

She had to hand it to the guy. He knew how to network. Through Kurt he'd met Finn and through Finn he'd met the other Glee boys from the football team. Finn had also introduced her to Rachel and Kurt had introduced him to Blaine. Within weeks he'd met half of her friends and spent more time with them than she had! He was going to have no problem at all with not knowing anyone on the first day of school. As always however, she had no desire to hang with him at all.

Mercedes: Sorry. Maybe next time.

Shane: :o( U said that last time + time b4! One nite won't hurt. Where's your sense of fun?

Mercedes started her reply. She was annoyed that Shane implied that she wasn't fun. Sam had found her fun. Luckily she had the perfect excuse.

Mercedes: Getting hair done. No idea what time we'll finish.

Shane: Understood. Well if you're done by 6 come join. We'll give our verdict. ;o)

Mercedes: No promises

Shane: Not an outright no so I'll take that! ;o)

Mercedes huffed and threw the phone on to her bed. The boy was always inviting her to stuff and wouldn't take no for an answer. And she knew that if she kept replying he'd drag her into some long text conversation that she really didn't want to have.

"So how's your friend?"

"Which friend?" Mercedes was alone in the salon with Felicia who was sewing in the end of her new shorter length weave.

"The one with the lovely soft blond hair just like my fiancée. You know, the one that totally adores you?"

Mercedes wanted to jerk her head away but was more than aware that the woman still had a sharp needle in her hand. For a moment the question threw her when she realized that the woman was referring to Sam.

She suddenly recalled with horror that the afternoon Felicia had cut Sam's hair at her home, she'd been called away by her mom and there were at least ten minutes when she had been left alone with Sam. Her curiosity got the better of her. "What did he say to you?"

"Oh, nothing of consequence."

Felicia was an experienced hairdresser. She didn't need ten minutes to find out all about a person. It rarely took above three! "Your boy really loves having his hair played with. He practically purred while I was doing the cut!"

"He's not my boy!"

"Is he not? Coz the way you guys were looking across the bathroom at each other I could have sworn..." She purposely left the statement open ended, waiting for Mercedes to bite. It didn't take long.

"Ok so we liked each other for a bit but he moved back to Tennessee and that was that!"

"Not for you missy! I can see it all over your face."

Mercedes felt herself becoming defensive and angry. This was none of her business. She didn't even talk to Kurt about Sam anymore, why would she share anything with her hairdresser? A woman who would probably have no qualms in passing on the story the next time she was at someone's home spending six hours putting in a head of single plaits!

The needle was now a safe distance away and she turned her head. "There wasn't enough time for it to turn into anything. He moved away and we've both moved on. End of!"

The funky haired young woman didn't look convinced. She'd seen something in both of their eyes that day which had seemed beyond their years. Something that she had seen in the eyes of her fiancée and which had led her to fight for him tooth and nail for the last five years, despite the comments and the pressures, she WAS going to marry the man she loved regardless of what the rest of the world thought. But she could see Mercedes getting worked up and knew it wasn't worth making an issue of it so she wisely changed the subject. "So what have you planned to do tonight, now that your hair is laid!"

Mercedes shrugged. "I was just going to put a pizza on and watch a movie. Mom and dad are out on a date tonight and JJ went back last week."

Felicia stepped back from trimming her bangs and stared at her with disbelief. "Cedes I cannot believe I've just spent the last couple of hours making your hair look fierce for to just go home and eat frozen pizza! It's Saturday night for goodness sake. I refuse to believe nobody's invited you to do something. Even Andy's taking me out later!"

Mercedes thought it through as she gazed at her reflection. She was looking good with the new style (lose a man, shorter hair, never thought it would happen to her but hey ho...), and the guys probably would give her some much needed attention. "Well I was invited to Breadstix tonight at 6..."

"Girl it's only 5.30! Your hair will be done in 5 minutes once I've sprayed some moisturizer on. Your outfit's fine and I hardly did any trimming so you haven't even got any hair on you! I can give you a ride there myself. I just need to sweep the floor first. Can you get a ride back?"

"Definitely. Puck or someone will do it."

"So who else is going?"

"Shane says some of the guys from school."

"Shane? Isn't he the kid that's aunt Esther's whatever?"

"Great nephew? Yeah."

"Don't you find him a bit - I don't know... intense?"

Mercedes smiled. "I know what you mean but no. I just think he's new to the area and trying to make friends as quickly as possible. He had to leave behind his whole life in Boston and start from scratch here. It must be really hard."

"I suppose so. I guess I was watching him at church and he really seems to stare a lot."

"Stare?" Mercedes laughed. "Maybe he needs glasses! He plays football so he'd going to have to sort that out before the new semester starts and he meets coach Bieste!"

"We'll I've not really spoken to him. As long as you say he's okay I'm sure he's perfectly normal. There… you're finished."

Mercedes blinked as the cloud of spray around her eyes and nose finally cleared and she came face to face with her new hair. It was a full head weave as usual but thus time with shoulder length bone straight bangs along with her trademark fringe.

Then she pulled out her phone to text Shane.

Mercedes: Okay, count me in.

Mercedes climbed out of Felicia's car and walked into Breadstix at ten past six. After scouring the big tables she finally saw Shane and Artie at one of the small ones. She smiled at Shane and flung her arms around Artie. She hadn't seen him since school broke up and until that moment hadn't realized just how pleased she was to see him. He looked really well. She took the seat next to him and as he whistled his approval of her new look.

"You look smokin' Cedes!" he grinned.

Shane nodded. "Yep you do look beautiful." He looked at her harder before adding, "But I definitely like you with long hair more." Artie frowned at the bigger boy's instant dismissal of her new look but he appeared not to take the hint. Mercedes seemed to miss the comment too because she was busy looking at their half-eaten plates.

"I guess you were here earlier than six!"

Shane looked sheepish while Artie spoke. "Shane asked me this morning if I was up for a gaming session today so we've been holed up in my den 'til about an hour ago. He suggested we grab something to eat then a movie."

"And where's everyone else?"

Artie looked questioningly at Shane. "It's just been the two of us all day. I didn't even know Cedes was coming until-"

Shane shut him down. "This was just a last minute thing. Do you want me to order you some food?"

Mercedes shook her head, confused but not hungry, "I'll just get some breadsticks." She always ate well before getting her hair done, knowing it could take several hours.

"Are you coming to the movies with us?" Artie still looked really pleased to see her.

Mercedes smiled at him. "Sure why not."

"I'm getting picked up at the theatre."

"Cool. Maybe I can get a ride home with you. I got dropped off straight here from the salon so I don't have my car."

"I can drop you home," offered Shane. Both Artie and Mercedes chose to ignore the fact that he'd butted into their conversation.

While Shane tried to get the attention of the waiter to order Mercedes' breadsticks, she turned to Artie and asked, "So, your summer so far... Fill me in..."

He grinned back at her. "Well, actually... there's this girl I met online..."

The movie was an action epic that didn't really move Mercedes but she was glad for the distraction of having been out. Unfortunately, not long after it started she developed a pounding headache. By the end even Artie looked tired and his ride arrived at the back entrance of the movie theatre within ten minutes of the finish.

"Are you sure you don't want a ride?" he asked as his chair was being folded and put into the trunk while he fastened his seatbelt.

Not part of the Plan! Before she had a chance to answer, Mercedes felt a protective arm around her shoulder and Shane had replied for her. "Don't worry. I've got this."

Artie nodded and the car pulled away. Shane looked like he considered leaving his arm where it was before wisely letting it drop. They headed together towards the main parking lot where he was parked.

"Do you want to grab an icecream or something?"

She shook her head. "No. I really should be getting back. I think I need to go to sleep. My head hurts."

He looked disappointed but they headed back to his car.

The ride home was short and quiet. He looked like he wanted to say something and as Mercedes had no conversation to make, she was happy for him to be the one to make the effort and come out and say something. So they sat in a companionable silence. Once outside her home, he insisted on opening her car door and walking her to her front door. The lack of lights told her that her parents weren't yet back from their date. At the door things got awkward. How exactly was she supposed to say goodbye? A handshake would be too formal and he was so tall that if she suddenly reached up to give him a peck on the cheek, a whole heap of things could potentially go wrong.

Her key was in her hand and halfway into the lock before she heard his voice.

"Mercedes. I need to ask you something."

She turned and gave him her full attention. She suspected she knew what this was going to be and was mentally scrambling around in her brain for an answer that would let him down gently but she had to let him actually say it first.

He took a deep breath. "I really like you. I think you're beautiful inside and out and I was wondering if one day we could go on a proper date. Just the two of us." He could almost sense the fear in her eyes.

"Shane- I don't know what to say… I-"

It wasn't the outright 'yes' that he'd been hoping for, but it wasn't an instant 'no' either... He decided to go smoother... "Look Cedes, I'm not trying to be weird, I just wanted to let you know that I like you and just want the chance to spend some time with you. Just once. Just a meal. No obligation. You don't even have to decide now if you can't."

She was biting her bottom lip with a worried expression and he almost felt sorry for her. She should have been flattered for the attention. What was holding her back? "Why don't you just go inside and think about it. Take the whole day tomorrow and tell me on Monday. If the answer's no then I promise I'll back off. But if it's yes you'll make me a really happy guy."

She was stood, frozen to the spot. He took the fact that she wasn't running or screaming which is a major good sign...

"I can tell you on Monday?" her voice was quiet and unsure.

"Yep. Monday. No pressure."

She nodded silently and played nervously with her keys.

"In the meantime, I was kind of jealous of that big hug you gave Artie and was hoping that at least you could..." He was relieved to finally draw a shy smile from her and he opened his arms and pulled her in for a hug.

Shane knew he gave good hugs but was careful not to linger too long. He didn't want her to think he was creepy! But damn she felt good, even if she did smell like an afro hair salon! Yes he definitely preferred the longer hair but there'd be plenty of time to fix that...

He reluctantly released her saying, "Now get in that front door. I want to hear it shut properly before I leave!"

She nodded and without another word went inside.

Mercedes didn't sleep a wink that night, her mind playing Shane's words over and over. Sixteen years of no interest and then two guys within the last couple of months! Had she really changed that much?

Subconsciously she'd pretty much known from the start that he liked her. He managed to somehow tell her she was beautiful every time he saw her. Each Sunday at church he was friendly and each Monday at work he was more than attentive. And she hadn't missed the looks that aunt Esther gave them. At the very least they would be making an old lady very happy.

By 3am her head was still pounding and nausea had set in. She barely made it to the bathroom before vomiting up what remained of the breadsticks. By the time that she'd cleaned herself up and come out through the door she was surprised to see her mother on the other side of it.

"Are you ok?" She asked, "I heard you running to the bathroom."

Mercedes shook her head.

Her mother pulled her into an embrace before feeling the heat coming from her daughter's skin. "Mercy you have a fever! You need to go straight back to bed!"

She nodded weakly and allowed herself to be led back to bed. Her mom brought her some medicine to take and checked her with the thermometer. "You've had worse, but I'm going to keep an eye on you. If you're not feeling better in the morning I'll call the doctor."

Mercedes drank half the glass of water that her mother insisted she swallow to prevent dehydration before finally falling into a fitful sleep.

They were standing in the desert, the sun beating down heavily on them. Sam was dressed in flowing white robes that were flapping gently in the breeze. He was holding on to her and his voice was strong and true.

The location was different but the words were the same.

"You'll meet someone. Someone with a good heart. Someone who thinks you're beautiful. Who sees your beauty the way I see it. Someone who realizes that your smile has the ability to make them feel like a million dollars. You'll move on. Just as long as you promise to never forget me."

"How can I? They say the first cut is the deepest." She held on to him tightly. But her tightest grip was not enough. Try as she might she felt Sam slipping through her fingers, melting into sand which became dust which scattered into the wind.

She collapsed to the ground, sobbing, not caring that the sun was still beating down on her. Not caring that it would eventually roast her to death. What did it matter? Sam was not here anymore.

Suddenly she felt a cool shadow fall across her. She looked up and met Shane's eyes.

"What do YOU want?" Her tone was harsh and bitter. She was hurting. Why could no-one understand this?

"I want to help you. I want to be here for you. But you have to let me. You're too beautiful to be so sad."

He reached for her but she started to pummel him with her fists. "I don't want you! I want my beautiful boy with the golden hair, the kryptonite eyes and the lopsided smile!"

"But he's gone now. But I'm here. Let me help you get through this." He silently pulled her into a firm embrace.

And damned if it didn't feel a little bit comforting...

She could see the sunrise through her partially open curtains. Her bedclothes were strewn and her hair slightly matted.

Sam's name was on her lips and a hole was in her heart. After struggling to find a cool spot on her pillow she eventually slipped away again...

She and Sam were in the Tardis. And they were dancing around the wide space surrounding the controls. Dancing to no music. But somehow that was ok. Their laughter and kisses was all the music they needed.

Suddenly there was an almighty CRASH!

Sam ran from her arms, pulling knobs, pushing levers and yanking the information screen closer for a better view.

"Sam what's happening?"

His brow was knit and he was totally focused on the task in hand.

"Sam? Talk to me!"

The shaky movements finally stopped.

She looked over at him and he was fingering the controls sadly. He looked up at her and his eyes were sadder than she'd ever seen them before. Something was wrong.

She went to move towards him.

"No! Stay back!" He'd never shouted at her like that before and she felt hurt. "Don't come any closer!"

She wanted to come be mad at him for shouting but she could see the pain in his eyes.

"Mercy, I'm so sorry but I have to go now and I'm not going to see you again. Not like this!"

She didn't understand. Was he breaking up with her? Things were fine five minutes ago!

He continued, "At least not with this daft old face!"

"But I love your fa-"

Sam groaned and doubled over, clutching his stomach as if in literal pain.

She tried to go towards him but he screamed at her again. "STAY BACK!"

He leaned heavily against the controls and smiled up at her weakly. "Before I go I just wanted to say one more time how beautiful you are. And that you were fantastic. Absolutely fantastic!"

What was with the past tense and where exactly was he going?

Before she could get her questions out he'd stepped away from the controls. Suddenly his body contorted, his head and arms thrown back.

She tried to go towards him but she was pushed away by the bright yellow light that suddenly flowed out from his head and arms.

Unable to tear her gaze away she watched as he slowly grew taller and broader, yellow light continuing to pour from the exposed parts of his body.

What had happened to her Sam?

The light finally stopped and he brought his head forward. Only it wasn't his head anymore. It wasn't Sam. It was some huge black dude with a moustache!

The new guy looked at her and smiled at her brightly. "Hello! I'm Shane-" He stopped, his expression confused, his tongue roaming around his own mouth. "New teeth! That's weird!"

Mercedes was speechless.

The new guy just smiled even more brightly and held out his arms. "So- where were we?"

It was midafternoon before Mercedes felt well enough to go downstairs. Her mom re-checked her temperature and the fever was definitely gone. She felt that she was returning back to normal. Maybe it was just some 24 hour bug. Her weave on the other hand hadn't fared so well considering she'd spent most of the night sweating under it and hadn't had the energy to wrap her hair before eventually falling asleep.

After some soup she returned to her room and switched on her computer. There was yet another email from Sam. He'd finally bought his computer (just a secondhand laptop) and had just finished setting it up so he could now mail her from home and chat on Skype.

Again she sat with the reply box open. But the first time she actually began to type.

"I miss you so much Sam, you have no idea. I wish you were here. I need to talk to you about someth' she was interrupted by a knock on her door. Her dad stuck his head around. "Hey babygirl! Just wanted to see how you were feeling."

"Better thanks!"

"I'm glad. Make sure you still get lots of rest. If you want me to call aunt Esther and tell her you can't work tomorrow I will."

"Thanks dad. But I'm sure I'll be okay by then."

"Cool. Everyone at church sends their love." He then smiled at her and left her in peace. She'd forgotten about work tomorrow. That meant she'd be seeing Shane in the morning. And she needed to have her answer by then! She sat back down at the computer. When her had had knocked she'd grabbed a pot of cocoa butter as the fever had made her skin go ashy and she was absentmindedly fingering it while lost in her thoughts.

She was suddenly roused from them by the sound of her phone buzzing with a text. She'd been so deep in thought that she had jerked to life and dropped the pot, watching it roll along the floor. She sighed, resolved to pick it up later.

Shane: Missed you today at church. Hope you're OK. No pressure x

So if there's no pressure why the hell are you texting me?

She returned to her computer and the sight on it made her blood ran cold. The box on her screen read 'Your message has been sent to the above recipient: SamIAm95'

The pot must have hit the keyboard before it rolled on to the floor...

Before she even had a chance to react her phone was ringing in her hand. She'd saved the contact while she was in Florida. It was Sam's new number. She'd listened to every one of his voicemails over and over but never had the courage to call him back.

She couldn't reject the call but neither could she answer it. She decided to let it ring until it hit voicemail.

Clearly he was online. But her message was never supposed to have been sent!

Luckily she was not logged in to either Skype or MSN.

The phone rang a second time and she shoved the phone under her pillow to drown out the sound, tears streaming down her face.

She wanted to answer it so badly but she couldn't. Not now. Especially not now! What would he think of her?

It didn't ring a third time but after a moment it did beep with a voicemail.

What would Sam say about Shane?

Surely they would like each other if they met? He seemed to get on OK with the rest of the Glee club.

She hadn't just dreamed it. Sam had definitely told her she should be with someone who thought she was beautiful. And Shane told her pretty much every time she saw him that he thought she was.

But when she was with Shane she felt nothing. Whereas with Sam she felt everything.

Then again surely being with somebody was better than being with nobody! Maybe Shane really could be just like a regenerated version of Sam. Rose Tyler had manage with the transition between Timelords. Sam of all people would understand what she was going to do.

She couldn't face another year of school being the only one that was single. A whole year of playing the spare wheel to Kurt and Blaine and a Valentines Day and prom spent alone. She wasn't ready to go back to that dark place. Not yet anyway.

On the other hand, at least nobody knew about her and Sam. They wouldn't know that things had changed for her over the summer. She could go back to being anonymous Mercedes. Maybe she didn't need Shane.

But then she remembered. That night at the fairground! Jacob Ben Israel! She'd always flown pretty much under his radar until now. Come the first day of school however, and he would blab to the world what he'd see and who he'd seen her with! Nothing would be able to shake him off that story. And there was no way she was in any shape to deal with the fallout from it.

There was only one way to fight fire... She needed to go back to school with her own even bigger story.

Maybe Shane could be of use. Just until the first few weeks of school were over and rumors were forgotten.

People could see in it whatever they chose to see, but only she knew what was really going on in her heart.

In a moment of perceived clarity she knew what she was going to do.

Taking the phone from under the pillow, she hit 'ignore' on Sam's voicemail and quickly typed her three word reply to Shane hitting the 'send' button before she had a chance to talk herself out of it.

Mercedes: Where and when?

She curled into a fetal position on the bed and let the tears flow in earnest.

Oh my god! What had she just gone and done...

It had been an agonizingly long week for Shane to wait after he received her text. But finally Saturday had come round again and here he was sat across the table from her in the small Thai restaurant that he had let Mercedes choose. He didn't like Thai food but he would let it ride just this once. It was a means to an end. Once he'd got her to return to the long hair and lose those dreadful zebra print pants she'd be exactly how he wanted her.

He'd known from the day he set eyes on her that he wanted her, and from the moment she opened her mouth to sing in church he knew he wanted to marry her. She fit in to his Plan so perfectly. She was gorgeous and talented. The perfect trophy wife.

He hadn't been lying when he said that he wanted to marry and have kids. He did. He wanted to have it all. And his plan was to get it all. For a sportsman like him, girls would always come and go, but there should always be someone to come home to at the end of the day. Somebody solid and respected. Much as he loved bimbos, they were and only ever would be, good for one thing. Whereas a good wife is good for many things. And a successful wife, well, that was even better. He saw the talent of Mercedes Jones and knew it would go far. But once she was famous she would never look at him twice. He knew he wasn't the best looking guy in the world, but growing up in a female household meant that he more than made up for it with charm and charisma. He had to get her and lock her down before she got famous. To make her feel a sense of debt and gratitude to him.

Even after his sporting career ends, he would still have the limelight of being with a star, and all of the perks such a lifestyle could bring. And even if in the future things went wrong and his roving eye eventually caught up with him, he would still have the legacy of his famous family.

He would push her to the top and ride the crest of popularity with her. But before she became too big the babies would start. To bring her focus back to home where she should be, rather than lapping up the adoration of the rest of the world. After all, she was just a woman. And his woman at that!

Yes, a lot of thought had gone into his Plan. His world had been rocked when he was a child and he never wanted that to happen again. He wanted security and for that to happen he had to make it happen. There was no such thing as a perfect woman. You had to mold her into what you wanted her to become. And over the years he'd become good at molding people to his whims without them realizing it. All he had to do was ease her away from all the people that were holding her back and push her in a new direction.

She didn't need anybody except him. From now on he would be her world. He would take charge and he would make her into the best she could possibly ever be. She would be grateful and she would adore him for it. And as the person who stood by her from the beginning she would be obligated not to leave him.

He smiled at her across the table and she smiled nervously back at him. Her eyes were incredible. So innocent. Yes Mercedes Jones was exactly what he'd been looking for. This move to Lima was the best move he had ever made.

Dinner was relaxed and he did his best to put her at ease. Afterwards they went for a walk and spoke about their respective lives and childhoods. Before long he was walking her back to her front door.

Mercedes felt her stomach rise into her throat as they approached her front door. What happens now? By the look on his face he's going to go in for the kiss...

"Mercedes. Don't look so scared! I was going to ask if I could kiss you but don't worry. We don't have to!"

Now she felt terrible.

"No! Sorry. I was just feeling nervous. Of course you can kiss me."

As she saw that awful moustache heading towards her she had to close her eyes.

The kiss was very short and soft. And it was...

… not as bad as she thought it was going to be. It wasn't horrible but it didn't rock her world either. Only one person's kisses could do that. And she felt like she'd just cheated on him.

"Goodnight Shane," she quickly said as she hurriedly opened the door and made her way out of his line of sight.

Once the door was closed she leaned against it and sighed heavily.

Oh my god! What have I just done...

Obviously no Dr Who copywright infringement intended but yes the dream was based on the regeneration of 9 into 10. This fever dream thing seems to be a running theme with me.

I don't think I can ever truly understand Mercedes' actions. We all deal with hurt differently. Some ignore and some go into denial. At this point she and Shane are both using each other bur obviously the motives of one are far more sinister.

But don't worry. Next chapter is Sam's POV and then we're back to school!