I've created a new word to describe this chapter: angstalicious. Bam. Haha, anyway I hope you enjoy. I apologize for any mistakes I missed.


"Split a cinnamon bun with me?" Mercedes looked up at Sam who was currently holding her hand in the line at the Lima Bean.

"If you ask nicely," he said, smiling down at her. She did him one better and wrapped her arms around him in a hug.

"Will you please split a cinnamon bun with me?" He laughed and wrapped his arms around her in return.

"Yes I will," he responded, kissing her nose. She pulled away and he grabbed her hand again, eliciting an 'aww' from the woman behind them.

"You know, we may be the only people around to get hot chocolate in the summer," he pointed out as they stepped closer in line.

"So what? And we live in Ohio, so the weather could change tomorrow," she said, shrugging.

It was their turn, so Mercedes ordered the drinks and the cinnamon bun she was looking forward to before pulling out her wallet to pay. She handed the cashier their total in cash as they waited for their hot chocolate to finish being made.

"That's a shame. Don't you know the gentleman's supposed to pay?" Mercedes whipped around to the woman behind them with a glare that would put the fear of God in anyone.

"How about you mind your damn business?" Mercedes reproached with a hand on her hip.

"I was just pointing out…"

"That you're nosy and rude?" she pointed, cutting off the woman's explanation.

"Cedes, leave it alone," Sam said quietly. He was now holding their drinks.

The sound of Sam's voice brought her down and Mercedes turned back around and reached for the cinnamon bun waiting on the counter, but not before sending the woman another gut-splitting glare.


Sam was quiet the whole drive home, and now he was sitting one Mercedes' bed staring at the wall. Mercedes was sitting next to him with her legs crossed. She didn't want to press the issue, but now the awkward tension was beginning to suffocate her.

"That lady was rude." Sam's gaze rose at her words and he let out a long sigh.

"I guess," he mumbled. Mercedes was wholly unsatisfied with that answer.

"You guess? How dare she comment on something that had to do with you, me, and the cashier? The gentleman is supposed to pay? What kind of bullshit is that?" He blew out another breath and looked at her. His eyes looked a lot more tired than they had earlier.

"See, the thing is 'Cedes, the gentleman is supposed to pay. That's how it goes." She rolled her eyes.

"Sam, this is 2011. Girls do pay for things," she said, folding her arms. He groaned and got off of the bed.

"That's not what I'm saying! Your boyfriend can't even buy you a cinnamon bun." She stared up at him before rolling her eyes again.

"Because he's helping support his family. Sam, there's nothing wrong with not being able to pay when we go to Lima Bean. I get that you may feel emasculated, but there's nothing more manly than taking care of your family," she told him. He was pacing now.

"It's just…every time we go somewhere, I can feel people looking at us when you pull out your wallet. Even at the ice cream truck that comes to the lake! They see you paying for me and my little siblings and they think I'm some jerk who makes his girl pay for everything."

"People do not think that, Sam. And if they do, why should you care? We go out to have fun with each other. Money's not an issue," she said, willing him with her eyes to calm down.

"Yeah, as long as Mercedes is there with her magic bottomless wallet, everything's fine," he snapped. She straightened and stared at him in disbelief.

"I'm gonna let that slide because you're upset," she said as calmly as she could muster.

"It's true! I mean I know it's not your fault, but how do you think it feels dating the daughter of a dentist and a lawyer who doesn't need a summer job and gets whatever she wants as long as she asks? Then you want to go out, and I can't afford it, but it's okay! You can pay. You can always pay as long as Daddy fills it up."

Mercedes' mouth dropped. She knew he was upset and saying things he didn't mean, but it hurt. She slowly got off the bed, and stood, facing him as he stood on the other side of it.

"I know that woman upset you today, but that's no excuse for being an asshole, Sam. Yes, I'm blessed, but I guess you haven't gotten it through your head that I don't take my life for granted, and something like paying for dinner at Breadstix is just me helping out so you can spend everything you make to help your family get out of the motel; but so I can still be with you and get you outside of my house or that room. It's just me trying to help because I love you and I want to see you smile." She stopped and blinked, trying to ignore the tell-tale burning sensation behind her eyes. "I mean, I thought I was just helping. But I guess you see it as me flaunting my good fortune like some spoiled Daddy's girl. I thought you knew me better than that."

She walked over to her bedroom door and opened it, looking at him expectantly.

"You should leave," she said. Realizing immediately how hurtful and irrational his words had been, Sam sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

"I'm sorry…I'm a dick. I just…"

"Really, you'd better go. I should get started on my AP reading anyway." She was avoiding eye contact now, and as soon as he saw a tear fall, he made the decision that he wasn't leaving until this was sorted. Seeing her smile was the best feeling in the world, and seeing her cry made his heart feel like it was being ripped to shreds.

He walked over and shut the bedroom door, causing her to look up at him.

"I'm not leaving," he said, reaching out to hold her. She stepped back and it felt like a slap in the face. "Cedes, I'm sorry. It's just, every time I start thinking about what's going on at home and the fact that I live in a motel, I get so…angry now. It doesn't make any sense for me to be mad at the world and everyone that has what I used to have, but recently when I'm reminded of it, it's like I turn into the Incredible Hulk.

"You're right. Being upset is no excuse for being an asshole. And I know you don't take anything for granted. You're the hardest working girl I know. I should be shot for even suggesting otherwise. I was just mad at myself and taking it out on you, because it's easy to." Her arms were folded, and she just stared at him.

"What? It's easy to take your anger out on me? Like I'm your punching bag?"

"No. Trust me; I know that you will gladly kick my ass into next month for disrespecting you if you had to. It's easy to, because I know that even if you do, you'll still love me," he told her honestly.

"Unfortunately."

"Yeah, unfortunately. Cedes, you mean the world to me. I can't stress that enough. If it wasn't for you, I'd be broken by now. Completely. It seems like you're always being strong for me, and I just want to be strong for you, but it's hard. I'm all screwed up right now."

She stared him down for several more seconds until her expression finally softened.

"I'm not forgiving you yet. It's too soon, and you should not be let off that easily," she said, turning her head and side-eyeing him. He smiled at her.

"Okay," he replied, walking behind his girlfriend and wrapping his arms around her. She felt him breathing on her, but refused to indulge him. He lowered his head started planting small kisses on her shoulder and made his way to her neck. He smirked when she tilted her head to grant him better access. He licked a spot on her neck and sucked on it, causing her to elicit a deep moan. He grinned and pulled away.

"Am I forgiven yet?" he asked, running his fingers up and down her arms.

"No."


Sam trotted into the pizza shop with a blinding smile on his face and his uniform hat already on. He clocked in and eagerly took his spot behind the cash register next to Crystal, who was behind her own.

"You look like you just got laid," she deadpanned. She was smirking and counting the money in her register. He blushed and tried to subdue the smile he was sporting, but failed. Crystal was correct, and that afternoon he had gotten Mercedes to forgive him at the cost of her vocal chords.

"I've just had a good day so far, I guess," he answered. Right then, Alex walked in through the front, putting on his baseball cap with the shop's logo on it.

"Hey Crystal, Sam," he greeted. He walked over to the counter and stopped to look Sam over. "What are you so smiley about?"

"He had a 'good day'," Crystal said, using air quotes. She winked at Alex and nudged him. Realizing what she was hinting at and eyeing Sam's neck, Alex made an 'O' with his mouth and nodded.

"Get it, Sam," he said before retreating to his office. Sam rolled his eyes.

"You guys are childish. I never even confirmed anything."

"No, but Joe and Sally did," she responded, leaning on the counter. Sam's brows furrowed in confusion.

"Joe and Sally…?"

"The names I've given the pair of hickeys on your neck."


Sam walked into the motel, intending to take a shower, call Mercedes, and get some much needed sleep. He stopped when he opened the door, however, because both of his parents were sitting at the card table in the corner. Stevie and Stacey were on the bed watching cartoons. He knew his mom got off work later than him, but here she was, with tear-stained cheeks, holding his dad's hand, who sat across from her.

"What's going on?" he asked, taking off his baseball cap. "Mom? Why are you crying?" He looked at his dad for an explanation.

"I'm crying because I'm happy, Sam." His mother smiled and waved him over. He walked up, sat in the third folding chair and looked back and forth between them.

"Things are looking up, son," his dad said, smiling. At those words, Sam jumped to the first and best conclusion.

"Did you get a job?" His mother's smile grew and her eyes began to water again.

"Yes, Sam, I did." His dad nodded, with a joy in his eyes Sam hadn't seen in a long time. He almost couldn't believe it.

"What? Oh my God…really!"

"Yep. It pays as well as my last one." At this, Sam jumped up and hugged him. The older blond laughed and wrapped his arms around his son. When Sam pulled away, he walked around the table and repeated the gesture towards his mom.

"This is the best day ever," he said, settling back into his seat. Great make-up sex with his girlfriend, an influx of tips at work, and now this made Sam want to mark this day on a calendar with a sticker that said 'Awesome'.

"There is one thing, though," his dad began. His mother's smile faltered a little, because she knew her son would not take this news as well.

"What?" Sam asked, beginning to worry.

"Well, the job is in Kentucky," his dad said, searching Sam's face for a reaction.

"Kentucky…" he repeated, tensing. "So we're moving?" His parents nodded.

Sam was having a hard time computing. Kentucky was hours away, and they'd be leaving Lima for good. He'd have to go to a new school. A school that Mercedes did not attend. Mercedes, his girlfriend, would be here in Lima, while he was in Kentucky.

"Excuse me," he said, getting up and leaving the motel room, ignoring his mother's protests.

He ran his fingers through his hair and paced back and forth by the railing. He kept repeating to himself that it was okay, and his future belonged with Mercedes; he saw it himself. This was just a hitch in the road. He kept repeating it, but it wasn't doing anything. The mantra failed to stop the tears that pricked his eyes. He dropped to ground under the window and leaned back against the brick, looking up to make the tears go back.

This is just a hitch in the road.

He kept repeating it, but he couldn't fight off the feeling that this was in fact, a dead end, and he'd never see her again.


"Hey…I thought you had to work today?" Mercedes asked after opening her front door the next day to reveal Sam on her front porch.

"I quit," he replied. His eyes were outlined with dark circles from lack of sleep and erratic crying spells. She was lost, but saw how awful he looked and opened her door wider. He gave a lifeless half smile and walked inside. She closed the door and walked him over to the couch.

"What's wrong?" she inquired, sitting down. He sat down as well and stared at her. Her eyes were filled with concern and he fought with everything in him not to start crying again.

"I'm leaving."

"What? Leaving…" she tilted her head as her eyebrows pushed together in confusion.

"My dad got a job in Kentucky," he said, avoiding her eyes. Realization hit her and he heard an intake of breath.

"Oh…so you're leaving. For good…" She was saying this to herself more than she was to him. She blinked to stop the heavy tears she felt forming from dropping. He finally looked at her, and his heart broke. A few tears had escaped and were making their way down her face. He grabbed her hands and held them in his lap.

"I know this looks bad…but I think if we really try…we can make it work, you know?" he said, looking at her hopefully.

"Make us work?" she clarified.

"Yeah, us. We love each other; we shouldn't let something like distance break us up, Cedes. We'll be back on our feet soon and I'll be able to get a laptop. We can video chat, IM, and I still have my phone so we'll always be able to just talk…why are you doing that?" He stopped when he saw that she was shaking her head while he was speaking.

"Sam…maybe this is a sign."

"What? Cedes, what the hell? A sign? We're supposed to be together. The future—

"Maybe that was a dream, Sam," she said, even though she knew deep down that it wasn't.

"It wasn't a dream." He let go of her hands and stood. "You know it wasn't a dream, Mercedes. You know it wasn't." She sighed and avoided looking at him.

"You know what? Fuck the future and fuck what I saw. We're meant to be together because I know we are, and I don't need anything to convince me. I love you with my whole heart and even though you're acting like this, I know you do too. When two people love each other like we do…"

"Sam, stop," she said, cutting him off. She didn't want to hear it, because she knew if she did, letting him go would hurt more. She just wanted to let him go so this would hurt less.

"NO! When two people love each other like we do, nothing can tear them apart, 'Cedes. Not even state-lines. I'm gonna spend my life with you, okay? Somehow, some way."

She wiped the tears that were now freely falling and shook her head some more.

"Stop shaking your head!" he yelled, frustrated.

"What are we going to do, Sam? Video chat forever? Spend our senior year and most likely, our college years pretending like we have a real relationship?"

"I can't believe you don't believe in us," he said, staring at her in defeated disbelief.

"I do! I…" she sighed. "I'm just trying to make this easier. It's just going to hurt more if we try the long distance thing."

"We don't know until we try…"

"I do know! It'll be like torture, Sam! Only being able to see you on a computer screen or hear your voice through a phone knowing your hours away and there's no way for you to physically be here. It'll make me feel worse."

Sam was crestfallen. He didn't know what to say. He understood, but it was hard to see past the fact that the girl he loved was sitting before him, telling him she didn't want to try. The burning sensation was back, and he shut his eyes, refusing to let himself cry again.

"I have to go finish packing. I told them I wouldn't be gone long. Stop by at seven tomorrow if you want to see us off. Stevie and Stacey would like it." With that, he walked over to the front door, opened it, and was gone.

Mercedes sank back into the couch and buried her head in her hands, not even bothering to shut the door behind him.