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Chapter 8: Just Friends…..
The next week was a blur for Mercedes. From her newly uncovered feelings for Sam, and their almost kiss, and mounting pressure from her father and Shane, it felt like her world was caving in. Add to that the fact that Sectionals was coming up fast, and she hadn't even picked a song to audition for lead solo with, Mercedes was slowly drowning in her life, and began to show to other.
"So what are you going to sing?" questioned Kurt as they walked into the choir room, his arm linked in hers. "I ask because Rachel and I have a bet going. She said you are going old school R&B but I have a feeling that you will go more contemporary" Kurt beamed in a way that showed he was proud that he knew his best friend so well.
Mercedes shrugged "I don't know Kurt, I haven't picked one yet"
Kurt's eyes widened in disbelief "What? You don't know yet? Mercedes you are aware auditions are next week? I mean Blaine has been practicing his solo for two weeks now. Right now he is just cleaning up his choreography and any slight pitch problems. Personally he never has any but he SWEARS he hears some" Kurt rambled.
"Well I guess I should congratulate him now huh?" Mercedes huffed.
"Mercedes this is serious. When Finn, Rachel and I graduated we expected you guys carry our legacy as leaders" Kurt said proudly. "You have to be focused Mercedes. News like this does not help that lazy stigma you have earned in this group" he whispered pulling her closer.
"I have a lot going on in my life right now Kurt. I'm trying to figure out how where I'm going next year, and who I will be with when I go" Mercedes snapped.
"What? What about your 'Life Plan' with Shane" Kurt lightly mocked "the way he talked about it, it was fool proof?"
Mercedes sighed. She's wanted to talk to Kurt about the new developments in her life but she still hadn't worked out what everything meant yet. "Okay Kurt, I'll work on everything for next week. I promise"
"Please. Because this group needs you" Kurt said sternly.
With that the school bell rang and class began.
After school Mercedes decided to stick around and go to the library to go over possible songs. While she packed everything into her book bag and going over a list in her head, Sam spotted her. He had noticed ever since their talk, she seemed down. She was withdrawn in glee and seemed like she was always in deep thought. And since she was finally alone, since she and Shane always seemed to be joined at the hip, he snuck up on her.
"Hey 'Cedes" he smiled.
Mercedes jumped. "You have got to stop doing that" she huffed in an attempt to catch her breath.
"Sorry" he chuckled at the easy he could scare her. "How have you been" he asked leaning against the closed locker next to hers.
"I'm okay" she sighed in an unconvincing manner.
"'Cedes, look I know your not. You've been out of it and distant"
"I'm fine" she insisted
"Look you can tell me, what's going on?" Sam pressed.
"It's just….. I have a lot going on. Between my father, and glee and-"
"Me?" Sam questioned slightly raising his eyebrows.
Mercedes looked up into his big green eyes. "To be honest, yes" she relented.
"Look, I get it your with Shane" Sam sighed. "Do I love the idea of it? No, but I didn't say all of that the other night to cause you any stress. I just wanted to clarify everything. I miss my friend, and no matter what my feelings are I still want you to consider me a person you can talk to" he said sincerely.
"So what you're saying is that you're fine with us just being friends?" Mercedes questioned, in disbelief.
"Yes, I miss my friend and if you don't come by soon Stacie has promised to come to school with me" he laughed "we started as friends right? We should be able to go back" he reassured her.
Mercedes stood quietly thinking. Was it possible for her and Sam to erase all of their romantic feelings for each other, and go back to being friends? After everything that was said, could they just forget it all?
"Okay' she smiled. " We're just friends. And this wont be-"
"Weird?" Sam finished her sentence "No. I mean it will be only if we let it" he said in a reassuring tone. "We should be fine" Sam smiled.
"Okay then." Mercedes smiled "We're friends"
"So friend" Sam smiled "How about you come over this weekend? I'm serious about Steven and Stacie. If I don't' bring you over they are going to stage a sit in until you do" he chuckled. "I've seen them conspiring and making signs"
Mercedes laughed at the thought of his younger siblings with little sighs while chanting 'hell no we won't go' and how cute it would be. "Okay. How about this Saturday evening? That way you can help me with my solo"
"I'll be honored to assist you "Sam bowed slightly as the waist. "So Saturday it is!"
"Cool" Mercedes smiled feeling a new weight lift off of her chest. "Do you want me to bring any thing?"
"Yes, oddly enough, I do." Sam grinned mischievously "You wouldn't happen to have the last chapter of Harry Potter on DVD would you?"
Mercedes smiled warmly "You already know I do" she giggled.
"Then that and your wonderful personality is all you need. Can't wait friend"
Mercedes smiled "Right back at ya buddy"
With that Sam took off down the hall to avoid being late for practice. Mercedes headed to the library, happy she had one less thing to worry about. With a little bit more clarity, she was ready to find her solo.
"So how about we go to the Mall" Shane asked as he and his girlfriend sat quietly in the butterfly park. It was a brisk fall Saturday afternoon in Ohio. The leave had changed from shades of green to brown, orange, and red. The crisp air caused the duo to trade in their favorite iced coffee drinks in for warmer beverages.
"Oh babe I can't" Mercedes sighed as she sipped her spice pumpkin latte. "I'm going over to Sam's "
Shane stiffened. "Yeah you want me to tag along?"
"Why? We're just going to let the kids watch Harry Potter, and then he's going to give me some critiques on my solo" Mercedes shrugged. "Nothing you want to be around for"
"May be I do" Shane huffed getting off of the bench he shared with Mercedes.
"What is going on with you?" Mercedes questioned, genuinely concerned.
"I'm sorry if I'm not crazy about the idea of my girlfriend hanging out with another guy" Shane sighed.
"Look, we're not hanging out alone" she reassured "His kid brother and sister will be there. And plus I thought you liked Sam?"
"Okay and? That doesn't mean I still don't like the situation"
"Look Shane, Sam and I are friends. I'm going over there to see his siblings and work. And when I get home I will phone my love and talk to him until he falls asleep" she cooed as she spun him around and grabbed his face. She gently planted a kiss on his cheek. She looked him in the eye and rubbed her nose against his.
Shane gave her a weak smiled and sighed. "I guess."
Mercedes hugged her boyfriend close. She wasn't sure why but she felt the need to comfort him even more then she would naturally. I mean why would he worry, she and Sam are just friends.
When Mercedes arrived home that after noon she went up stair showered and put on some more comfortable clothing. She then went down stairs to put her movie in her bag for the kids. She then ventured into the kitchen to gather ingredients for snicker doodles to bake with the youngest Evans. As she moved around the room humming some of her solo, Joyce walked in quietly watching her grand daughter.
"Hey baby girl" Joyce greeted Mercedes "what's going on?"
"Oh nothing" Mercedes sang.
"Something must be up, since your packing a bag"
"Oh I'm headed to my friend house. You remember Sam?" Mercedes questioned. Joyce nodded a yes as she recalled the tall blonde boy who used to spend everyday with her grandchild the summer before last. "Well he's back in town. So I'm going over to his house to hang out for a while"
Joyce's face grew concerned. She traveled over to the kitchen table and had a seat. "Really? So does Shane know Sam?" she questioned.
"Yeah, their teammates on the football team" Mercedes answered nonchalantly.
"Humph" Joyce huffed to herself. "So how's your friend Janie?"
"Who" Mercedes questioned as she reached for the flower with her back turned to her grandmother.
"Janie. You know the friend of yours who was having relationship problems. How is she doing?" Joyce clarified.
"OH!" Mercedes exclaimed "Oh she's fine. She found a way to work everything out" she smiled back at Joyce.
"Really? So who did she decide?" Joyce questioned
"Oh she is still happily in love with her boyfriend" Mercedes smiled as she grabbed some sugar and placed it into a Ziploc bag.
"And the other boy, what about him?"
"Oh she told me they decided to just be friends"
"Really? And Janie's boyfriend is okay with this arrangement?" Joyce quizzed
"I don't know I didn't ask" Mercedes shrugged as she grabbed the vanilla out of the family pantry.
"Well she may want to check in with her boyfriend" Joyce sighed. "And I've seen this before and even though people think that they can be friends after emotional feeling have been shared, those feelings always seem to have a way to show their face again down the line"
"Oh grandma you're paranoid" Mercedes giggled.
"I maybe" Joyce sighed getting up from her chair. "But this situation Janie is in can have some real traps and downfalls. And as easy as being friends seems at the onset, mark my words she is going to have to choose between the two of them." And with that Joyce left the kitchen and Mercedes to think about her warning.
As she pulled up to the address Sam texted her, Mercedes was impressed at how well the Evans were doing. Although it was not large by any means, it was great that they had a house considering where they were previously living. She was happy that they had found a way to pull themselves out of their hole.
She parked on the street in front of the house and grabbed her bags. She headed to the side door and rang the bell. Laureen answered the door with a large smile on her face. "Mercedes" she sighed opening her arms wide to embrace the teen as she walked in. Mercedes noticed how much better she looked. The last time she laid eyes on Mrs. Evans she was pale and her hair was stringy and oily. She was also very thin. The woman, who greeted her, however, was glowing and looked five years younger.
"Hi Mrs. Evans" Mercedes grinned as she hugged Sam's mother.
"Oh you look beautiful" Laureen squealed as she pushed Mercedes back to take a good look at her. "You look so mature now"
Mercedes giggled "Thanks Mrs. Evans" noticing she was dressed up in a black wrap dress and heels. "You look amazing"
"Thanks honey" Laureen smiled as she twirled around. "Once we heard you were coming over to watch movies with Sam and the kids George decided it would be a good night for us to go out" she beamed.
"That's wonderful" Mercedes replied setting her bag down. Just then the sound of little feet filled the hall outside the kitchen. Within the blink of an eye Mercedes felt the embrace of a tiny blonde child.
"Mercedes!" Stacie squealed.
Mercedes smiled as she bent over to hug Stacie back. "Hi sweetie". She pulled her back to get a good look at her. "Look at you" Mercedes said in amazement "you're so much taller than the last time I saw you!"
"Yeah" Stacie grinned "Mamma said I had a growth spurt"
Mercedes looked up to notice Steven standing in the doorway of the kitchen. "Hey Stevie" she sang. The young boy blushed and smiled revealing he had lost two of his front teeth. "You're not going to come and give me a hug?" Mercedes questioned.
Steven nodded shyly walking over to Mercedes open arms. "You've gown quite a bit too!" she exclaimed.
Sam opened the basement door to find Mercedes talking to his younger siblings while his mother stood to the side smiling. "Looks like I missed the reunion" he joked. He was dressed in a white ribbed tank and his McKinley sweatpants. "Hey 'Cedes glad you made it" he laughed.
"Ha ha ha very funny" she sighed.
At that moment George walked in dressed in a suit. "Why hello Mercedes" he said with a smile while holding out his hand to shake it. Mercedes never really got to see Mr. Evans when the family first lived in Lima due to the fact that he was always out looking for work. But he, like Laureen looked considerably better than the last time she saw him.
"Hello Mr. Evan" Mercedes smiled as she took his hand and shook it.
"How have you been?" George questioned
"I've been great, thank you for asking" she replied politely, much more formally than she was with Sam's mother.
"Okay sweetie you ready to go?" George questioned his wife
"Yes" She beamed cheerfully "Okay Sam I left some money on the counter so you guys can order a pizza"
"Oh so you're eating pizza again?" Mercedes chuckled to Sam. Before he left Lima, due to being around it so much as a delivery boy, Sam totally stopped eating pizza. Even the smell of it made him nauseated.
"Yeah" Sam sighed remembering that the last time she saw him, he was totally off of it "I can tolerate it now"
"Well that's fine because while we wait for the pizza, I brought the ingredients to make snicker doodles" Mercedes announced to the kids. They both grinned, having eaten them before at her house. "If that's okay with you" she questioned Ms. Evans.
"That's alright by me" Laureen smiled "As long as you save me some. And don't let the kids eat too much" Laureen continued "And make sure they are in bed at a decent hour"
"Got it" Sam smiled at his little siblings. He knows if it was up to her they would have their normal bed time but because it was him, he was going to allow them to stay up later.
Sam kissed his mother goodbye and waved to his father. He was happy they would get some alone time to enjoy each other. Ever since they had returned to Lima they have both been all about work. He was happy they were getting a night out alone.
"Okay guys" Mercedes clapped "Sam you order the pizza and you two go wash your hands so you can help me bake cookies"
"Yes Mam" Sam said saluting Mercedes. She giggled as she pre heated the oven.
Sam went downstairs to order the pizza and by the time he came back up, Mercedes already had the children mixing the cookie dough, making a slight mess. He smiled at the way she interacted with his younger siblings, and how they responded to her with giggles and smiles. As he gazed at her he felt a warm feeling rush over him. He fought it stating to himself "We're just friends!"
The pizza arrived by the time the first batch of cookies were in the oven. The four of them sat at the kitchen table and enjoyed their dinner. Mercedes asked Steven and Stacie about school, friends, and homework. She loved how smart and well mannered the Evans children were. As she got up to get the first batch of cookies out of the oven, and put the next batch in Stacie blurted out "Stevie has a girlfriend!"
"Nuh huh!" Steven refused with a serious look on his face.
"Yeah you do, Melissa Towers said she was your girlfriend" Stacie giggled
Sam raised his eyebrow. This was the first he had heard any of this. "Oh really" he inquired.
"NO!" Steven insisted "She likes me but she is NOT my girlfriend"
"Well do you like her?" Mercedes questioned as she sat back down at the table.
Steven blushed at the question. "She's okay" he answered in a shy tone.
"Well if you like her it's okay to make her your girlfriend" Sam reassured.
"Yeah" Stacie chimed in "Look at Sam and Mercedes! She's Sam girlfriend so it's okay, right?" said in a matter of fact tone.
The kitchen fell silent. The teens nervously eyed each other across the table. Stacie eyed them waiting for them to agree with her. Mercedes gulped her soda while Sam rubbed the back of his neck. He knew he had to field this question but he really didn't know how to explain it to the kids in a way they would understand.
"Well" Sam started "Mercedes and I aren't girlfriend and boyfriend" he said slowly.
"Yeah you are" Stacie insisted.
"No, Mercedes has a boyfriend but it's not me" He'd hate to admit it but it stung to say those words out loud. "Mercedes and I are just friends" he smiled at Mercedes. She smiled back weakly.
"Nuh uh Sammy. You're Ron and she's Hermione so you guys are boyfriend and girlfriend" Stacie explained in a matter of fact tone.
"Well, it's like we are the kid versions of them, when they were just friends. And she and her boyfriend, they are the grown up version of them" Sam reasoned.
"But you like her don't you Sammy?" Stacie questioned in a sad tone.
"Well yeah I like her but-"
"And you like Sam right Mercedes?" Stacie questioned cutting off her older brother.
Mercedes sighed wishing it was time to get the last batch of cookies out of the oven. "Yes Stacie I like Sam" she said quietly looking across the table into Sam's eyes. She really did still have feelings for him but she fought them.
"Well then you guys are boyfriend and girlfriend because that's how it works" Stacie settled the issue.
"But just because you like someone doesn't mean you are their boyfriend or girlfriend" Sam sighed wishing his head strong sister would give up the topic and change it to something else. "So we like each other yes, but as friends"
"See" Steven observed "I don't have to be her boyfriend just because I like her too. Sammy didn't!"
Stacie sighed "But your Hermione" she said in a sad tone to Mercedes. Mercedes swallowed hard. She reached over and patted the young girl on her shoulder.
"Okay, how about we all go downstairs and watch that movie" Sam exclaimed in an attempt to get the children off of the subject at hand. With that he stood from the table and opened the basement door. The children rose from the table and were gently herded downstairs, while Mercedes removed the last batch of cookies and turned off the oven. Sam grabbed the DVD and followed behind his siblings. He set the movie up in his laptop that was connected to his television.
Stacie and Steven settled onto the floor in front of Sam's bed surrounded by pillows they had brought down from the upstairs area of the house. Mercedes and Sam sat on his bed on total opposite ends, placing as much space between them as possible.
As the children were captivated by Harry's battle against Voldemort, Mercedes and Sam traveled upstairs to get the children cookies and milk. As Mercedes gathered some cookies onto two separate plates, Sam leaned on the counter next to her, watching her delicately transfer the confections from wax paper. "Look I'm sorry about earlier and the whole 'Mercedes and Sam boyfriend, girlfriend' thing" he sighed with a remorseful look on his face.
"Its okay" Mercedes shrugged "they don't fully understand that a boy and a girl can be just friends, that's all" she smiled as she headed to the fridge pulling out the milk.
"Yeah but still it was awkward" Sam explained with a chuckle.
"It's fine. Hey were do you guys keep your glasses?" She questioned looking around the Evans kitchen.
"Oh in this cabinet" Sam answered, stepping behind Mercedes, so closely, that his chest pressed against her back. He reached over her head, and all she smelled was his soap. She felt her knees go slightly weak. She then stiffened up and repeated to herself "No Mercedes, your just friends!"
Sam feeling her stiffen, realized just how close he had gotten to her. He grabbed four cups and quickly placed them on the counter in front of her and back away to the other side of the kitchen.
"Uh sorry" he apologized awkwardly not exactly sure what he was sorry for, but the moment felt like it needed an apology.
"Oh no, no it's fine" Mercedes replied with a weak smile. She quickly poured the milk, and handed to Sam to place back into the fridge. He grabbed the glasses with his large hands while she carried the plates back down to the basement. She sat one of the plates between the children and went back to her seat on Sam's bed. Sam set the cups on his desk and handed each child one. He then took the last two to his bed handing Mercedes one as he sat down. They sat in silence as they watched the rest of the movie. Right before the credits began to roll, they both reached for the last cookie, on their plate, accidentally touching hands. They allowed them to linger a second to long before they each pulled their respected hand back. They awkwardly smiled at each other and resolved in their mind that the other could have the last desert.
"Oh no you take it" Sam whispered
"No I made them for you and your family. Please, I insist" Mercedes pleaded.
"I'll take it" Steven jumped up and snatched the last treat from the plate.
When the movie ended the teens took the children up stairs and placed them in their pajamas. Sam put Steven to bed while Mercedes took Stacie. As she tucked the young girl into her bed Stacie made her promise to come back over soon. "I promise" Mercedes smiled as she turned off her bed room light.
After she made sure she was snuggled in tight, Mercedes left Stacie's room and headed back down to Sam's. He was already seated on the end of his bed waiting for her.
"Stacie is sleeping silently" Mercedes smiled
"Thanks. You know you're really great with them" Sam observed
"Yeah, maybe I should take up nursing at Ohio State and become a pediatric nurse like my mother suggested" Mercedes sighed sarcastically
"So you're really staying here?" Sam said in disbelief "What happened to the 'Cedes who promised to be on the first thing smoking after graduation?"
"Shane" she sighed as she leaned on his desk. "He so dead set on playing for Ohio State, and my father wants me to stay in state and get a 'solid education'. I want both to be happy, so there you have it, Mercedes is going to Ohio State"
"But what about what you want? You were so excited when you talked about moving to New York with its traffic, sub ways, and concert halls. Or California with its beaches and great weather all year round" Sam recalled. "You wanted that so much before. I just don't get it"
Mercedes shrugged with a dark look on her face. Even though it hadn't happened yet, it already felt like her personal dreams were slipping away. Sam noticed the look on her face and felt he needed to relent on his line of questioning. He only wanted her to seriously think about what she wanted to do with her future, not put a damper on the entire night.
"Okay" he smiled "let's hear that solo"
"You sure you're not too tired?" Mercedes questioned
"Oh I'm never too tired to hear you sing" Sam grinned as he leaned back onto his bed, propping himself up on his elbows.
"Okay, but I won't sing it full out. I don't want to wake the kids" Mercedes reasoned. She stood in front of him and began to sing "Feeling Good" by Nina Simone, in a tone way lower than she would normally sing. She still sounded effortless in her delivery. When she was finished she looked at Sam who was silent. "Okay. What do I need to work on?" she questioned.
"Honestly?" Sam pondered
"Please" she begged.
"Nothing" he smiled as he sat up "that was beautiful"
"Come on Sam, that was okay but I know I have to work on my transition to the bridge" she huffed as she sat next to him on his bed.
"No, that was beautiful" he reassured her "Just don't over think it. Just sing from you heart and you will be singing the solo at sectionals"
"Yeah, I'm not sure I'll get it anyway" she sighed.
"Hey, now that's no way to look at it. You'll be fine 'Cedes" Sam said as he placed his arm around her shoulders in a supportive manner.
"Yeah well we'll see" she sighed as she instinctively rested her head on his shoulder. He closed his eyes as the smell of coconut filled his nostrils. He took advantage of the moment, to take it all in.
"Well then you can sway with me in the background" he joked as he poked her in her ticklish spot on her side. She jerked in a giggle, which made him tickle her even more. She doubled over in laughter into Sam's lap. When he stopped she was laying across his muscular thighs. He looked down into her eyes lightly brushing the hair out of her face. She paused and smiled as she gazed into his eyes. "He is so handsome" she thought to her self for a split second. The room around them fell silent as they stared at each other for what seemed like forever. Suddenly both of them sat up straight scooting apart to the opposite ends of his bed with a nervous chuckle.
"Well" Mercedes sighed "It's getting late, I better head home"
"Yeah, yeah" Sam agreed not really wanting her to go but knowing if she stayed any longer, he would end up doing something to ruin her relationship with Shane.
She stood up and gathered her belongings, and headed up stairs to get the cookie ingredients. Sam assisted her as she packed her things. He walked her to her car. It was a cold night in Lima, with a bright full moon to guide their way across the Evans lawn. When Mercedes reached her car, a cute little purple Ford Focus, she unlocked her door and opened it. She tossed her bag into the passenger side door and turned to a shivering Sam, who walked outside with out a coat.
"Okay" she smiled "I had a great time"
"Yeah" Sam agreed chattering his teeth "we have to do this again soon. And don't worry about your solo, you'll do great" he reassured stopping his quivering lip enough to give her a quick smile. He wrapped her in a tight embrace. The warmth of her body instantly warmed him. He held her tightly allowing her to linger in his arms. Mercedes snuggled in, allowing her self to let go of all of her apprehension. It felt so good to be in his arms, she instantly admitted to herself. They stood in that embrace, silent, just enjoying being in the other's presents.
Sam broke the hug first, sliding his hands down to her waist and gently pushing her away. "Good night 'Cedes" he said in a melancholy tone.
"Good night Sammy" she smiled weakly. She got into her car and started it. She watched as Sam quickly jogged to his door. She sat there for a second and thought. Her grandmother was right; she would have to choose between Shane and Sam. Even though she cared for both, she couldn't keep going back and forth. And for the first time, she knew who she wanted more.
