"The hell?" She wiped her face off. "Damn ceiling." Mercedes sat up in bed and her head pounded, as if it was in sync with the rain. She stood up and took off her pajamas. She replaced them with a pair of black jeans and a shirt. Scratch that. It wasn't just a shirt, it was fabric stitched with memories. It was an off the shoulder soft, pink shirt. The front had a bird with spread wings. In dainty cursive it said we only need wings. Mercedes felt empowered everytime she wore it, so she wore it on days when she felt like she couldn't get through with out a little help. She knew that today would be a day where she needed it. She checked her phone. Seven texts, two missed calls.
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To: Mercedes From: Sam hey beautiful! calling you.
To: Mercedes From: Kurt Cedes! Call me, let's talk boys ;)
To: Mercedes From: Tina Do you want to go to thrift shop? Half off entire purchase!
To: Mercedes From: Mom Will be working late tonight. so will dad. pick up some eggs - money on the table for them and dinner. love you!
To: Mercedes From: Kurt Don't ignore me :(
To: Mercedes From: Sam Hello?
To: Mercedes From: Rachel Found some songs that would be perfect for sectionals. Do you think Mr. Shuester would mind if I emailed him audio clips of myself singing them?
The missed calls were from Sam and Kurt. She texted Kurt she'd meet him for coffee tomorrow, declined Tina's offer but rescheduled, and replied to Rachel and said that she should wait until school started next week. She went through her contacts and hit Sam's name. After several dial tones, it went to voicemail.
"Hey, hey! You've reached Sam. Sorry I missed you're call but trust me, I'll get to you as soon as I can. Thanks!" His voice reminded Mercedes of honey butter on a biscuit. Smooth and sweet. Just the way she liked it.
"Uh, hey, boo. Come over tonight? My mom won't be home. We can get Chinese or something. I don't know. Talk to you later, bye." Eek. That message sounded way too awkward. Oh, well. She knew it as time to get the dreaded task on her to do list over with. Call Quin.
Now calling Quinn was no easy task. Quinn had many sides to her and when she answered the phone you would know which one she was is. Some days she was sweet, and other days you could taste her bitterness. She slowly typed the number into her phone and put it up to her ear. Ring. Ring. Ring.
"What do you want?" Yup. Mercedes felt like she had just bit into a lemon.
"Look, Quinn, can we talk? Like old times?"
"Fine. Lima Bean. Twenty minutes." With a click of a button, the conversation had been cut. She sighed and went over to her vanity. She smoothed on some foundation, rubbed on some rouge, and applied some mascara. She grabbed her purse and was out the door.
"Mercedes! Green tea and a nonfat sugar-free hot chocolate!" the barista shouted. Mercedes grabbed the two drinks and set them on a table. Thirty minutes had passed since the phone conversation. No text saying she'd be late. Mercedes sipped her green tea quietly. She was hoping the tea would soothe her but the longer she drank, the more tense she became. The clock on the wall was frozen and the rain outside hit the window. She closed her eyes as she swallowed an aspirin. Damnit, Quinn, you need to get your ass here.
"Mercedes." A somewhat nasal voice slapped her in the face. It burned with anger and stung with vulnerability. Her eyes flew open and there she was Quinn, the queen bee. She had lilac paisley printed, knee length skirt on, paired with a tight white t-shirt. A forest green scarf draped delicately off of her neck. As Quinn went to sit down, her tan leather booties clicked against the cafe's hardwood floor. She sipped the out of the tall mug Mercedes had handed her. "Nonfat sugar-free hot chocolate? My favorite."
"I know." There was an awkward silence as both girls drank their hot (well, now warm) beverages.
"I suppose we should get to the point."
"I guess. I don't understand you at all. A year ago, we were so close. You had mistakes in the past, but you were so soft, so sweet, so nice. When you were at my house, you would call me in the middle of the night, crying. I would come to your room and hold you and you talked about how you want to break free from everything; from the past and what you thought the future held. I thought you had changed but no. You got with Sam and cheated on him with an old boyfriend that you had cheated on. So I don't get why you're so mad." Mercedes voice broke. Her temper flared like a fire so she took a sip of green tea hoping to destroy it. Quinn stared at her. "Quinn, just tell me."
"I-I," her voice broke. "I'm not a nice girl. I thought you knew that. I take advantage of people and I don't know what I want. I don't have any friends...other than you. I knew that we barely talked but I thought that maybe we were still friends. Last year, we made an agreement not to date each others exes. Everyone in Glee does that, and for the sake of each other's feelings, we wouldn't. And then finding out you two were together was so abrupt. I thought maybe you'd keep your promise. I don't know why, I don't deserve it. I'm a cheater and a bad friend." A tear rolled down her pale cheek. Mercedes no longer felt like she was burning. Now, she was the opposite. She had never considered that. She felt horrible. She had seen Quinn break down before but this time was different. Mercedes grabbed Quinn's hands.
"Girl, I never thought of that. But I want you to know, Sam and I just kind of happened. We've been friends all year and then prom just shed a new light on everything. I...I never wanted to hurt you, I hope you understand."
Quinn nodded and whispered, "I miss you, Cedes."
"I miss you too."
"Can...can we hang out again sometime?"
"I'd love too." Mercedes smiled and stood up. "I've gotta go, but I've got one last thing to say to you. This shirt that you made me brings me strength, Quinn. You are strong. Just use it for good, girl." Quinn smiled and Mercedes felt that things were going to be okay.
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Last chapter coming! All Sam and Mercedes, I promise. It will either be up tonight, or tomorrow. Hope you enjoy.