You know what I realized, I haven't had either of them sing yet... me thinks next chapter I change that? Anyways, this chapter we get into well everything that you all had questions about.
And thank you for the reviews... notice you feed me it causes my creativity to kick in and I can crank out another chapter... also helps I'm off work today so yeah lol. Enjoy this and please please please give me reviews yum yum :) This one was fun to write angry Sam is always fun to write lol
I was surprised how quickly this idea hit me and how fast I could type it out but well this is what you got. I hope you guys love it and as always feed me and I'll feed you :)
Chapter 7
Sam slept peacefully with his arm wrapped tightly around Mercedes he signed feeling her breath softly on his arm... then he felt tension over his shoulder. The sun was up, early morning birds chirping and his glow from a night of making up for lost time was ruined as he looked over and saw a pixie haired firecracker sitting in his desk chair. He rolled his eyes and planted a soft kiss on Mercedes' shoulder to get her to stir and he got up not really bothering to hide his nudity from her.
Her eyes betrayed her as she gave him the once over lingering in one special spot. He rolled his eyes and pulled on some boxers motioning for her to join him in the living room. She cut her eyes at him and stood quietly as they walked out. Sam gave Mercedes one more look as he grabbed a pair of pants and shut the door behind them.
She spun around instantly, "What the hell Sam!"
He hushed her by covering her mouth and looked at his door for a few moments, turning back to her and keeping his temper in check he growled, "Keep your voice down if she wakes up all hell is going to break lose and I won't be able to save you."
She rolled her eyes, "Whatever I think I can take her even if she's bigger than me..."
Sam's eyes darkened at the dig she made and he stepped closer, "Have care..."
She waved her hands in his face, "Yes yes how I speak about the woman you love... why is it you never defended me like how you defend her? Noah so much as makes an innocent comment and you two are ready to go to battle against one another, but he flat out is rude to me and you don't even turn your head. What is that?"
He sighed and went to the kitchen to get a drink, "Because you and I were never together I told you that from the beginning. After that misunderstanding." She cut her eyes at him and remembered exactly how that entire thing started.
Sam had a long day of work, after checking, rechecking and once more checking the engines of his boat he was finally off work. He got off the boat and walked across the dock to the vehicles. Once at his car he pulled out his cell phone he left on the door and instantly sent a text he should have sent months ago, he just didn't seem to care this day and wanted her to know he was thinking of her.
"Couldn't get the last time we saw each other out my mind. I miss you beautiful." He gave a lopsided smile and got in his car and started his engine. He heard his name being called and looked over to see a tiny woman running towards his car. It was his shipmate and kind of new friend Tabetha coming to do her usual invite him to some crew get together once again and he'd have to think of a new excuse for why he couldn't go.
His phone buzzed in his pocket but looked at her instead, "Yes?"
She sighed, "So I know I know you'll say no but I have to try again, some of us are going out tonight to get some drinks you're more than welcome to join us... before you say no just think about it ok?" She held up her hands and he shrugged, feeling like she won some kind of grand victory she threw her hands in the air and took a long exhaling breath. After brushing some of the stray red hairs out of her face she turned to let him go about leaving. He nodded to her and pulled away, taking out his phone his smile grew to ten thousand watts as he read the new message.
"I miss you every day Sammy :)."
His heart was beating fast, even if she had a boyfriend she still missed him. He saw her status change and had to accept that she wasn't going to be single forever. The guy seemed nice enough and two months later they seemed happy. So he left her be, not texting unless she started it. Not bothering to chat if she happened to be on facebook as well. He simply gave her space. But today he just missed her, not just as his best friend but as more. He wanted her to know he missed her.
The drive home wasn't that long but he was more than ready to take a shower and lay down to unwind. Noah was in already taking off his boots, "HA beat you again Evans." Sam shook his head, some days he'd race Noah home but others he just didn't seem to care and let the drive take him instead of him take the drive.
"Alright Puckerman you did, I'm going to shower and lay down." He nodded his head, if he wanted dinner or something Sam would rejoin him and they'd go from there but for now he clearly wanted to be alone. Sam walked in his room and shut the door seeing his screen was still on from earlier. He looked at his computer and saw on his news feeds on facebook that Mercedes updated her status fifteen minutes prior. He smiled knowing that was the time he sent her that text.
"Mercedes Jones hasn't been this happy in a very very long time. Cloud nine party of two please!"
Sam smiled knowing she meant him and liked her status and went to get showered and changed. By the time he came back out his saw he had some notifications and looked at them seeing it was on Mercedes' status and her boyfriend had commented. He looked at it and grew instantly angry. For one he liked it which was crazy but it was what he said that threw him over the edge, "I'm glad I can make you so happy Mercy, and I knew you'd love the flowers I sent you. I love you!" He might have let it go if it hadn't have been that she liked his comment but didn't reply.
Her happiness had nothing to do with him, he wasn't the reason she was so happy, not anymore. She had a man for that. And here he was working and missing her like crazy and giving her exactly what she wanted and she was off in a relationship being happy and normal. He should have calmed down and he probably would have if in that very moment Tabetha didn't coming in as usual with her final attempt at getting him to come out with their group, "Evans... one last time you wanna come..." She didn't get to finish he turned around and took her in his arms and kissed her deeply and as his tongue entered her mouth her hands with to the nape of his neck and she tucked at the hairs, which caused him to get angrier.
Visions of Mercedes danced in his mind as he let himself sink further into his actions with this firecracker, she was speaking he could hear the faint sound of her voice in the haze of anger, but he couldn't make it out completely something like, "Wanted this for so long... no idea how much I dreamed of this... yes like that..." He tuned her out completely why was he doing this, he didn't hate the girl but he wasn't attracted to her either. She wasn't extraordinary like Mercedes there wasn't something about her that made her stand out. Her hair wasn't even the real color. Yet he continued to kiss her, finally he pulled away when his phone started to buzz, he looked at it and saw Mercedes name flashing on the screen with her beautiful smile and it broke his heart.
"Yeah I'll go out with you guys tonight..." Sam got dressed right in front of Tabetha as his phone continued to go off and she stared at him with lust filled eyes. She went to make a move and touched his shoulder and he turned suddenly just like when she entered his room, "Don't tell anyone about this... it was just this one time nothing more is going to come of this." She bit her lip and reluctantly nodded her head. Having him for just a few moments was better than wondering for the rest of her life.
They left and Sam made it his mission to drink heavily that night.
Meanwhile Sam's phone kept going off and Noah heard it from the living room he grew annoyed with it and went to answer it, "Hello Evans' phone this is his roommate can I help you." There was a sigh on the other end and he stood and waited, whoever it was kept calling for a reason and he was going to find out what they needed maybe someone died or maybe it was another love sick girl. Evans seemed to have lots of those hanging around, "Listen I had a long day at work and this phone keeps going off... if this isn't an emergency I'm going to turn his phone off cause he's out and left it here."
Mercedes sighed, "I'm... I'm sorry I was just hoping maybe he was asleep and sometimes I have to call him like crazy to get him to wake up... you said he went out, but he left his phone was he mad when he left?"
Noah shrugged, "Yeah I guess so Tabetha didn't look too happy herself after they kissed and all." She felt like someone kicked her in the chest he sent that text then went and liked her status then kissed another girl. She really had no room to talk she was after all dating a guy... well WAS being the appropriate word she broke up with him when he looked through her phone and saw the text from Sam instantly questioning her about which made her happy. The flowers or the text.
"Oh... oh ok well I'll stop calling then I'm really sorry." She sounded sad and that made Noah feel bad he didn't want to make some nice girl sad cause he couldn't stand the sound of his roommates phone going off the hook.
He sighed, "Hey listen you sound sad, I been told I'm pretty good listener if you want to talk. I know I'm not Evans but I could be a nice sub till he comes home or till you maybe feel a little better?" Mercedes laughed and he smiled knowing he brightened her a bit, "I'm Puck... well Noah but everyone here and close friends call me Puck."
She sighed and tried and failed to hide the sniffle as she wiped her tears, "I'm gonna call you Noah I'm sorry Puck just sounds like you're a thug or something and you don't sound like a thug." He chuckled and sat down in Sam's chair and put his feet up on the desk.
"Well Miss..." He looked at the phone and smiled, "Jones I wasn't always a good boy you know." She giggled and he smiled, "May I call you Mercedes is that ok?" There was a pause and she sighed and shuffled clearly getting comfortable.
As she lay in her bed she held the phone wishing she was talking to her best friend but if his roommate was as close as she was going to get then so be it, "You can call me Mercy. Or Cedes... but Sam is the only one that calls me Merc..." Noah nodded and smiled and they fell into a nice conversation. Sometime around the two hour mark he had to get off the phone but said he'd text her his number so she could call him if ever she couldn't get in touch with Sam. She enjoyed their conversation and was going to have to thank him in person one day... if she could ever make her way cross country to see her wayward best friend.
Sam got home sometime after midnight and drunkenly made his way to his room. He looked at his computer as he grumbled and peeled off his shirt, he noticed in his mirror the scratches Tabetha left all over him, "Gonna have to clip her claws." He mumbled as he brushed it off and sat down in his chair to take off his shoes. He noticed his phone was moved and charging which he didn't do when he left and picked it up and saw the missed calls from Mercedes. He sighed and read a few of the texts she sent all worried and panic and then sad. She said she wanted to talk and she needed him to wake up and she'd keep calling till he did wake up.
He saw the last call time and noticed there was a two hour time stamp with it which meant someone answered his phone... did Puck answer his phone? Why would he do that, and the he saw the text to Mercedes from his phone with Puck's number. He clinched his fists and went to handle his roommate when his phone buzzed and he saw it was Mercedes again. He would handle Puck later, right then he needed to find out why she called so much, "Hey Merc..."
"Oh thank goodness Sammy you had me worried, thankfully Puck told me where you were... did you have fun?" She sounded light, she sounded happy she sounded in love with another man. That anger Sam and he sighed and didn't answer right away, he wanted to see what else she'd say that Puck told her, what kind of name is Puck? It's a punk name, he went behind his back and snitched on him for no reason other than to steal his wo... best friend. "Sammy?" She started to sound nervous, "Are you there?"
He sighed, "Yeah I'm here... listen Merc I'm tired ok I think I'm going to turn in... maybe we can talk tomorrow or something." She held back the plea for him to stay on the phone so she could talk about her break up and about how much she missed him and all the feelings both had been hiding from. He'd made his visit almost a year and a half prior and she felt like he was there just the day before. She didn't want to push him because Noah did say he sounded like he was drunk when he came in stumbling around and everything.
She put on a fake happy, "Oh ok, sorry just call me when you get a chance. Ok um bye... I miss you." The last part was whispered and Sam barely heard it as she ended the call. He sighed and put his phone down and most of his anger had disappeared, replaced with regret for how he was going to ever look her in the face and being the crappy best friend he said he'd never be to her again. He turned to go to his bed when something on his screen caught his eye and he saw it clear as day and felt sick to his stomach, that little heart that some two months prior made him equal parts jealous and sad was back only instead it made him feel anxious and slightly happy, it said, "Mercedes Jones went from 'in a relationship' to 'single'. His heart did flips and flops.
He sat back in his chair, "That's what she was calling to talk to me about..."
Tabetha glared at him, "After that you talked to her but you messed around with me... and here I thought we'd become something." She huffed folding her arms over her chest. Sam shook his head and put his glass down thinking back to the same thing as her but more so, he shouldn't have let his anger blind him and this was his mistake come back to bite him right in the tail.
"Listen I never promised you a thing. I told you this wasn't something. We talked about it and I told you we weren't a couple. I didn't mind you coming in as you pleased but I warned you not to get attached. I told you where my heart was and who it belonged to, no matter if she was taken or not. I even gave you the courtesy of telling you she was coming so you could detach from me. But don't think coming in here attacking me in front of her is going to make me change my mind. I got her to come visit and I'm not letting her go and you and no one else is going to break us up."
She scoffed, "So what that's it? You're with her and done with me? Just like that?" Sam simply nodded and she shook her head, "That's complete bull and you know it. I know you care about me Sammy. You guys can't be a couple from opposite sides of the country... it won't work. There is after all a reason you broke up right?" Sam couldn't hold in the laughter at the situation, he was strangely reminded of a similar conversation he had with an ex a very very long time ago.
He shook his head and bit his lip, "Listen you and me are friends but nothing more... I love her and even if I was with you I would still love her. It wouldn't be fair to you. If you didn't think your heart could handle it you shouldn't have started up with me since I was more than honest with you from the beginning."
She bit her lip and nodded her head sadly, her anger fading as the realization hit her, "Right cause I let myself think that just one more time with me and you'd look at me the way you look at her..."
Sam started to speak but heard the sound of the bathroom door closing in his room, she was awake, he wasn't sure how much of the conversation she'd heard but she was awake and Tabetha needed to go, he wasn't sure if Mercedes would be kind or mean to her after the way she treated her when she first got there. He didn't get a chance to avoid the situation because his bedroom door opened and a sleepy looking Mercedes looked out with his shirt covering her and a pair of her pj pants on she yawned, "Hey..."
Mercedes woke up to the sound of muffle talking and figured it was Sam and his roommate but the voice was female and she figured it was a co worker, she got up to use the bathroom and when she didn't hear the talking anymore she thought maybe Sam left for work perhaps? When she opened the door and came face to face with the firecracker and Sam she was more than a little curious as to what she woke up to in his apartment.
She stepped out and moved around the girl to go to Sam, but stopped and looked at her with a firm looked, "Good morning... breakfast?" Tabetha was dumbstruck Mercedes was still being nice to her even after how she'd treated her and acted and Sam was just lovestruck staring at his woman in all her post sexual adventures glow. He bit his lip and Mercedes looked up at him, "Go put a shirt on... and I'll get started on something for us all..." Sam chuckled and did as he was told, avoiding eye contact with Tabetha on his way out of the room.
Mercedes sighed and started for the kitchen but stopped and looked at the girl, "You never gave me an answer..."
Tabetha looked at her and saw it clear as day, she was the one for Sam she'd always be there this unbelievable force she'd never compete with and she knew it and accepted it in the moment with that look she was giving her, that even though she'd been more than rude the prior day she was still invited to sit with them and enjoy a meal. She bit her lip and nodded, "Yes I'd like to join you if that's ok... sorry if I woke you up."
Mercedes smiled and waved it off, "It's ok... I don't sleep too well when I get my Sam fix and once he's out of the bed I just wake up not long afterward." Tabetha smiled and Mercedes got started on breakfast. There was a long peaceful silence between them and Mercedes decided to take the little bit of time they had alone to address the elephant in the room, "I"m sorry that you got hurt in all this... if it helps Sam's not a bad guy he just does bad things sometimes... try to remember that."
Tabetha looked over her shoulder at his door and sighed, "He's not a bad guy... and the only one that did a bad thing was me... when I knew how he felt about you but I still messed around with him." Mercedes nodded and the two fell back into silence as Sam finally came out completely dressed looking very much the vision of the sexist man alive.
He gave the two a smile and Tabetha bit back the tears as Sam walked to Mercedes and gave her an affectionate kiss on the forehead and got something to drink. Noah soon joined them and they were all having a nice conversation all the while Sam held Mercedes' hand under the table and rubbed his thumb back and forth over her hand. Tabetha had watched the two but it was more in envy of something she'd never know at least not with the guy she hoped for.
Mercedes giggled as Sam told of how they had a night of fun at the lake in high school with a giant hide and go seek party and he let it slip how he had a run in with his ex back then. Mercedes stopped laughing and looked at him, "You never told me about that... please enlighten me..." The table grew quiet and Sam sighed thinking back to that night.
It'd been a few months after the run in with Kamberly in the parking lot. Sam hadn't really seen too much of her but then again he wasn't looking because Mercedes took up all his free time. They were either staring at each other during lunch while talking about whatever topic they choose for the day or he was dazed off thinking about her while waiting for her. Mike had set up a senior class hang out where for old times sake they'd play hide and go seek in the woods by the lake.
Sam was excited stating he was the champ of hide and go seek they got a nice group together then Tina threw out that all the seniors should come for one last night of juvenile fun. Sam and Mercedes walked hand in hand down the path to the lake with all their fellow graduating classmates passing them as they went, "You know this is going to be fun I bet a I find everyone in like ten minutes of the start."
Sam was clearly excited and Mercedes smiled at him, "I'm sure you will try babe." He looked at her and dipped in giving her a quick kiss as he went on some more about his tactics and his mission to capture all the students. Mercedes just shook her head and they came out into the lake area where everyone was gathered. Mike and Tina set up a little campsite and stood on some rocks talking to one another getting ready to address everyone with the rules.
Mercedes stopped and Sam wrapped his arms around her and put his head on her shoulder and kissed her cheek. She leaned into his touch and they smiled as their friends began to speak, "Everyone everyone listen up... the rules are simple. We all break off into teams, you either hide or seek..."
"Clearly..." Tina mumbled and Mike looked at her as everyone erupted in laughter. Sam chuckled and squeezed Mercedes tighter hoping they ended up on the same team because then he'd just sneak off with her for some alone time and perhaps test out that theory of late night skinny dipping that she promised him a long time ago.
Mike rolled his eyes playfully, "Tina can I just continue please?" She put her hands up and motioned for him to go on and he sighed jokingly, "Thank you... now then all the teams that are seeking, stand to the left and the hiders stand to the right when I call your name Tina will yell left or right go in that direction after your hear your name... alright here we go."
Sam watched as one by one his classmates went left and right they called they were going in alphabetical order but skipped over Sam for some reason and the Js came and went Mercedes and Sam stood together confused... once it was down to the last Mike smiled, "Tina..."
She smiled, "Left... can't wait to find you later sexy." She winked at him and skipped off her rock to the seekers.
Mike took a deep breath and growled but turned back to the group, "Mike... me.."
Tina giggled, "Right!" He winked at her and looked at Sam and Mercedes still cuddled up and chuckled. Tina looked at the two and bit her lip.
Mike smiled, "Sam..."
"Right..." Tina giggled.
"Mercedes... obviously..."
Tina squealed, "LEFT!"
The two looked at each other and sighed as she turned in his arms and gave him a very passionate kiss in front of her graduating class and sighed as she pulled away, "Looks like I'll be finding you hot stuff..."
Sam's eyes danced in the torch lights and they were the darkest green she had seen on him which meant he was very much turned on and wanted nothing more for her to hurry and find him. Sam chomped his teeth at her and she giggled and pulled away to join Mike and the rest.
Mike shook his head, "Alright let's play... seekers turn around and hiders... on your marks get set... HIDE!" Mike took off into the woods.
Tina let a full minute go before she spoke, "We have to wait five minutes for everyone to get a decent amount of room between us and them then we can go find them... no plans just find them and once found come back here we'll BBQ and hang out and just have fun... good luck guys!"
They waited the five minutes and once it was time Mercedes and Tina went off in search mainly for Sam and Mike knowing the two would stick together with their own plan. It wasn't hard to figure out where they might have gone.
Sam and Mike were in a dead run hoping over broken logs and basically taking this game way too serious. Sam looked over at his friend and realization hit him that their girlfriends knew they'd stick together and would want to come looking for them together so they had to not go too far away from them. Sam slowed down and then stopped Mike did a few more jumps before he realized and slowed down and stopped and turned, "What's wrong?"
Sam took steady breaths, "The girls will come look for us... how can they find us if we race to California?"
Mike chuckled and scratched the back of his head as he finally caught on and nodded walking back towards his best friend, "Right... ok so we head back but we stay hidden till we find the girls?" Sam nodded and they turned around and headed back towards the campsite in search of their women
On the way they joked and did impressions and dance moves both enjoying one of the last times they'd hang out. Of course there was the summer but both knew they would be busy with Mercedes and Tina and neither would want to give up their alone time for their best friend nothing personal. They were the best of friends but love kind of won over everything else.
A twig snap brought them out of their amusement and Mike stopped with Sam... both looked around the woods and split up ducking behind trees and rolling into bushes. The sticks snapped some more and then the sounds of heavy breathing and whining could be heard as the person got closer and closer. Finally a stumble and whimpers brought Sam out of his hiding spot and he found on the ground a sobbing Kamberly. He sighed and helped her up after all she was supposed to be hiding he didn't know why she was out this far knowing this was off the path she clearly wasn't hiding she was looking for him.
"What are you doing?" He asked her as he picked the sticks and leaves out of her hair, she sniffled and he brushed off her shoulders and gave her a heartfelt smile. She wiped her face and sighed wondering how she became so desperate for a guy that didn't even look at her like she was a girl. He was looking at her like she was a child and he had to take care of her.
She sighed, "I came looking for you figured you'd have a nice hiding spot... and well I was hoping we could talk..." Sam tensed up and crossed his arms over his chest defensively and she understood why he did it, considering the last time they talked she pissed him off. But she certainly didn't want to piss him off now since he knew the way back to camp... she didn't think Mike would wait for her but she knew he was around there somewhere watching them, "Just talk I promise nothing bad."
He nodded and waited for her to say what she had to say. She adjusted her clothes and wiped off the rest of the dirt, "Look I'm sorry for everything clearly you're not into me anymore and Mercedes is your girlfriend and has been for awhile. I just thought I'd tell you that I do care about you and I want you to be happy and I'm glad she makes you happy... even if I sometimes don't show it." He chuckled but kept his distance as well as arms up just in case she got handsy.
"I was mean and I tried really hard to break you two up even so much as to send guys to flirt with her but Mercedes she loves you and never once took them serious just was nice to them and sent them on their way while she went on her way to seeing you. I just really want you to know that I do care about you in my own mixed up way... that's all." She gave him a slight smile and turned to stumble back to camp and hopefully be caught on her way so she wouldn't have to lie in wait for someone to be caught and just happen upon them. Lying was getting old and she just was tired of the games and the tricks this was fun aside from having to hunt down her ex and apologize for being a pain for him and his new girlfriend all year old.
Sam watched her walk away and shook his head and knew Mercedes would want him to say it, "It's cool..." She stopped and turned her head slightly, "I mean at least I have solid proof that when Merc is off at school she won't cheat on me... thanks for that but yeah you were wrong for trying to break us up but thank you for apologizing. I did care about you at one point and maybe someday when we're older and smarter I'll be able to not get angry looking at you." She smiled slightly and nodded her head and he nodded for her to go ahead as he let out a long breath, Mike dropped down from a tree above him and Sam looked at him as if he knew he was there the entire time.
"Whoa... so if she makes you angry just looking at her how are you so happy right now?"
Sam smiled and started walking as Mike joined him, "Easy... Merc is expecting me... she always has and always will."
Mercedes looked at him and bit her lip, she didn't know about their conversation but she noticed that Kamberly kept away from them that night and she and Tina just so happen to find them walking back, which turned into a fun game of chase but she was beginning to think the boys let them find them. He smiled at her and planted a kiss on her cheek taking her plate as well as the others.
Noah smiled, "So what is the plan today we're off so we can hang out or I can give you guys some alone time?" Mercedes looked over at Sam as he put the dishes in the sink and wiped his hands on a towel and shrugged looking back at Mercedes from some kind of answer.
Tabetha stood, "Well either way I'll get out of your hair I've done my job of waking up the entire place I should be going now." Mercedes knew what she was going through but at the same time she felt like she didn't know Sam like really so she had to see him with her to understand she was in hard crush mode with Sam not the feelings she thinks she has for him.
"Wait... don't go we can all hang out together it'll be fun." Sam looked at his lady surprised as did Noah, he wasn't stupid he heard the conversation with Tabetha and Sam this morning as well as the night's noises coming from Sam's room between him and Mercedes and he figured she'd want this girl as far away from her man as possible not hanging out with him. Yet she was serious as she sat there and watched Tabetha sit back down.
Sam smiled, "Great so um beach, light house tours, or mall?"
Mercedes laughed and shook her head and looked up at him and he nodded, "Rightt so it's settled."
Noah and Tabetha were confused about the conversation that didn't just happen but seemed to have happened. The pair watched as the couple got up to go in his room then Sam rushed back out chuckling at Mercedes shoved him out mumbling about wanting to have some fun before they left. Noah shook his head and spoke up, "Um I'm sorry what's going on?"
Sam turned away from his door and the thoughts of her naked on the other side pushed aside for a second, "We're going ice skating... sorry we have these conversations and we've been told we don't speak completely but we get what we're trying to say."
Mercedes came out and clapped her hands, "Who's ready to get their ice skate on?"
Noah stood and Sam and him joked about who was driving as Mercedes grabbed Sam's hoodie and Tabetha watched after the boys sadly following behind knowing from this day forward things weren't going to be the same.
