"Ok what's up?" Blaine questioned as he shut his locker door and focused his attention onto his best friend. "I thought you said you and Mercedes made up last night." Blaine spoke to Sam who stood leaning against the locker next to his with a sad puppy dog look on his face.
"Oh we did," Sam replied around a smile as his mind drifted to the make up session that he and Mercedes had on the couch, stairs, and eventually Mercedes bed.
"So why the long face and pouting?" Blaine asked as he walked off to the glee club.
"I guess I realized today that it's not going to be like it was last year. You know, when Mercedes was a student here and we got to see each other and hang out all day. I miss her already." Sam confessed as they reached the threshold of the music room where the glee club was held daily.
"Well I don't think you need to worry about it," Blaine said as he patted Sam's back and then entered the room first. Sam stared after Blaine's retreating back briefly before his eyes honed on to the vision that stood at the piano talking with one of the musicians who helped the class during their sessions. Sam's face lit up and he swiftly moved to the piano. Mercedes looked up and smiled warmly at Sam's approach.
"Good morning Sam." She greeted as he stepped to her.
"Good morning beautiful," He replied as he reached for her. She stopped him as she stepped back and placed a halting hand against his chest.
"Uhm.. What are you doing?" She asked as she darted nervous eyes around the room, and then inwardly sighed in relief that none of the others in the room seemed to be paying attention to them.
"Kissing my girlfriend." Sam answered to what he thought was obvious.
"I'm not your girlfriend," Mercedes announced and regretted her words when she noticed the way Sam's eyes instantly watered and became fright filled. "At least not until 2:45pm." She quickly added and Sam looked at her in confusion. "Remember I told you that I finished up my two courses at UCLA early to spend the Summer here, but I'd be working at McKinley for the remainder of the school year, as a TA to Mr. Schue, earning credits that can be transferred to UCLA if I go back in the Fall." Sam looked at her even more baffled now, but mostly because she had said 'if' she went back to UCLA. "Sam I told you about this last night how could you have possibly forgotten already?" Mercedes asked as she placed her hands on her hips, slightly irritated that he hadn't listened to her.
"Sorry but last night you were naked most of the time," He whispered to her. "Don't tell me anything you expect me to remember when you're naked." Mercedes couldn't stop the smile that graced her lips. Before she could respond Mr. Schuester walked in.
"Good morning everyone," Mr. Schuester greeted. "Sam could you please take your seat?" Sam begrudgingly did as he was told. "Now first things first I assume you've all noticed that we have the lovely Ms. Mercedes Jones with us today." Most of the room, save Kitty, erupted with applauds and Sam threw in a whistle.
"Thank you. Thank you," Mercedes replied as she curtsied.
"Yes we are all happy to have you back Mercedes," Mr. Schue stated as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Mercedes will be with us for the remainder of the school year while earning some college credits working as my assistant." Again the room erupted again in applauds at the news. "Now I know that some of you are very close friends with Mercedes," Mr. Schue's eye rested briefly onto Sam. "But please try to remember that Mercedes is no longer a student here, she's now considered 'staff', and so she will be held to the same standards as the rest of the staff here. So please understand that there can't be a lot of 'fraternization'. While on campus she will be your teacher not your 'friend'." The students in the room all nodded their understanding. "Ok good, now lets get to work on winning regionals because I'd say our chances of winning just increased exponentially," He said as he threw Mercedes a quick wink, and she smiled.
The day had seemed to drag on for Sam. He had initially thought it would be hard for him being at school while Mercedes was at home, but now he felt that it was absolute torture to have her at school with him, but not being able to touch her and be near her like he longed to. They had only made it through half the day and he groaned at the thought if spending another 3 and a half hours seeing Mercedes but not being with her. So he sat at his usual place in the cafeteria with the usual crew from Glee club. His eyes often drifted and locked onto Mercedes as she sat across the room at the teacher's table with Mr. Schue, coach Beiste, and Ms. Pillsbury. He wondered how he could possibly miss her so badly when she was so close. He also pondered about the physical ache he felt being so close to her and yet so far away. He gazed at her lovingly and the rest of the people in the cafeteria faded away, until it was just him and Mercedes.
"Look at this face
I know the years are showing
Look at this life
I still don't know where it's going"
Sam began to sang as he appeared to stand from his seat and face Mercedes, who looked back at him just as intensely.
"I don't know much
But I know I love you
And that may be
All I need to know"
Mercedes smiled at Sam as she too stood and took a step towards him, and then she picked up the verse.
"Look at these eyes
They've never seen what mattered
Look at these dreams
So beaten and so battered
I don't know much
But I know I love you
And that may be
All I need to know"
Mercedes sang sweetly as she walked to where Sam stood, as Sam walked to meet her half way, as he continued their song.
"Look at this man
So blessed with inspiration
Look at this soul
Still searching for salvation"
The two finally met in the center of the room and grasped each other's hands while standing chest to chest. Then together the sang the final verse together.
"I don't know much
But I know I love you
And that may be
All I need to know"
Sam leaned down to place a soft kiss upon Mercedes lips, and she closed her eyes and waited in anticipation.
"Mercedes?" Mr. Schue's voice called out and brought Mercedes back from fantasyland, and she realized that she was still seated at the teacher's table way across the room from where Sam sat. "I asked what you thought our chances were at winning regionals this year?"
"Oh...uhmm..." She took a second to compose herself. "You've got a good crew, mind you to don't have the powerhouse like 'me', or Rachel," She smiled and rolled her eyes a bit at having to admit that Rachel was a damn fantastic singer. "But I think you've got some pretty darn great replacements in Unique and Marley. With the usual practice and dedication, and of course a awesome song set, they're gonna win it." She answered honestly. Mr. Schue smiled and began ranting off ideas about the song set. Mercedes shot her eyes to Sam, who sat staring back at her from his table, and then she returned her undivided attention back to Mr. schue.
Sam gasped slightly as he was snapped back to reality by a smack to his back by Blaine who had said something he didn't quiet catch but he played it off with a chuckle. He looked back to where Mercedes sat and caught her eye momentarily, and knew that whatever it had been that he had just experienced, she had been right there with him. That thought brought a smile to his face and made his heart constrict a bit with love.
(Song: Don't Know Much (but I know I love you) by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville.)