Hey, a quick update. After this chapter, we'll time jump a month or so, you'll see why…
"Ok, let's play 20 questions." Mercedes and Sam decided to take a walk from the lake to the community park. "me first," Mercedes said.
"Ok, shoot," Sam replied grabbing her hand.
"What is your favorite thing to do before falling asleep, besides pray," She asked.
"Hmm, maybe watch Golden Girls. Sophia is hilarious and I like to fall asleep happy," He said.
"Are you serious," She asked skeptically.
"Yeah, I'm serious. I know it's about 4 little old women…"
"No, no judgment," She laughed shaking her free hand. "It's just; I do that before bed as well. That and the Nanny are my favorite shows to go to bed to."
Sam laughed, "Nice to know that Mercy. Maybe we'll watch it together one day."
"Oh really and how soon are you hoping for that Pastor," She replied with a chuckle.
"Not like that Ms. Jones. Please stay away from those gutters," He laughed, "anyway it's my turn. When, with who, and where did you have your first kiss?"
"Really Sam, now who's easing up to the gutter," Mercedes said.
"Hey, I just want to know where you learned to kiss so well."
Mercedes gave him the side eyes and answered, "I didn't learn to kiss well until I was with Noah. He was the person I told you about, my first real boyfriend. Anyway, my first kiss was with Darius Carter at the 5th grade social, behind the gym of my elementary school."
"Interesting, please elaborate," Sam said beginning to swing their arms.
"Well, Darius was a very shy guy so when he asked me to dance, I was surprised and happy. Under those paper lights and streamers, I gazed into his eyes and knew I wanted to kiss him, so when the song was over I pulled him outside and led him to the back of the building. He was so nervous when he asked me what I was doing, but I didn't say anything. I just pushed him into the brick wall and laid one on him."
"You are aggressive," Sam said shocked, "But you know it really doesn't surprise me, you seem like a little tiger. You got some fire in you," He said.
They made it to the park and Mercedes spotted the swing. She stopped walking, making Sam stop. She turned to him, pecked his lips, and said, "I know what I like," she let go of his hands, "now, race you to the swings." She began to run and Sam himself out of his daze and ran after her. Mercedes made it first and began to pump her short legs. Sam quickly got behind her and pushed.
"So Pastor Sam, tell me about you first kiss,' She said yelping and giggling from the tickling she felt the higher he pushed her.
"My first kiss was with Emily Davis," Sam said with a little pride in his voice.
"Emily sounds like she was something else. What was with that voice?"
"Oh Emily was," He laughed, "She was the girl every boy in the 6th grade had a crush on, but what I had on them is Emily was my neighbor and she went to my church. Anyway, the summer before seventh grade, Emily and I decided to walk together for church camp. We became friends. Then one day Emily asked me if I'd ever kissed anyone and I told her no. She said she didn't either and that we should be each other's first. So on our walk, we stopped by the neighborhood park where they had this huge oak tree, and behind that tree we both eased into our first kiss. She became my girlfriend right after that and we stayed together throughout high school.
Mercedes began to slow her swing and Sam stopped her and held the chains, pulling her close. "That was really sweet Sam," She said.
"You're sweet," He replied looking into her eyes. He lowered his head and kissed her. When they released, Sam let go of her chains and she swung and jumped off the swing. "How about we head back? It's really late."
"Yeah," Sam walked around the swing and grabbed her hand, "Let's go."
"Ok, so my turn to ask something. What happened with you and Emily," Mercedes said.
"Our relationship ran its course. There was love there, but more than anything, it was convenient. We had the same values and we were great friends, but there wasn't any passion or spark. I felt like I was missing something and she did too. We parted amicably. Tell me more about your high school love experiences."
"Ha, Noah and I had too much passion," She laughed, "I fell in love with his charm and his bad boy attitude. Like I said, we dated from freshman year to junior year. He was my first everything besides kiss. Every time we did something, whether it was have sex or party, it was wild. It was scary and at the time, I thought that was what living and fun was, but it wasn't. I was internally hurting myself."
They made it back to the lake and to Sam's car. "Let me show you something," Mercedes said. She pulled her hair up and told Sam to push down her shirt. On the back of her neck was a tattoo of a bleeding heart with the words "we live to die" in the middle. "We got these together and back then, it meant something different to me from what it means now. Now it means my flesh dies daily and all things are made new so that we can live a more righteous and holy life, so I kept it for that."
"Wow, that's amazing Mercedes. Never let your past define your present or future. That's beautiful," Sam said.
"You're beautiful Sam. Your spirit and humility is beautiful," She replied. Sam smiled and released her shirt. "You said that already."
"I meant it." They both got into Sam's car after taking each other in for a while. When they made it to Mercedes' home, Sam walked her to the door.
"So, I'll see you at church on Sunday," He asked.
"Of course, I'll be the one in the choir stand helping direct," She said.
"Good," He replied, "I can't wait." Sam pulled her into him and gave her one last kiss.
When Mercedes made it to her room, she decided to check her emails before she went to bed. She found the typical emails, some from her manager, another from her publicist, a few from producers in Columbus confirming studio time. She then stumbled upon another email, one from the parents of her friend Angela's birthday. She opened it and tears began to form in her eyes. It was an invitation to perform for a benefit held on Angela's birthday in her honor. Her parents were opening a center for people struggling with depression and suicide.
Mercedes immediately replied yes to the email and called her team to make plans to be in Los Angeles the event. Mercedes also booked another ticket because something or let's say someone had placed it in her spirit to take Sam with her.
"I'll be obedient Lord. Let your will be done," She said after confirming the tickets.
This story, like my others, isn't planned. It's written on impulse, so we'll see where it leads. Until next time..
