Author's Note: Super short chapter this time. I always did appreciate how Rachel related to Mercedes when she was talking about her dreams for Prom.

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.

"Hey."

Mercedes turned from her open locker, giving the smallest of smiles when she saw Rachel Berry walking toward her. She hadn't expected anyone to follow her. Well, maybe Kurt. If anyone, it would've been Kurt. Really, it should have been Kurt. Her gaze dropped to the hallway floor.

Rachel gave a comforting smile. "You know, I don't have a date to Prom either."

Mercedes looked up and faced the other girl. "Y'know, I know that I talk a big game about not needing a man and I don't." Her voice became strained. "I just really wanted to take a date to the Prom. I want the dress…and the guy." She let out a frustrated breath and turned again to her locker. "The damn corsage."

Rachel struggled for words to say, something that almost never happened. "Somebody's…somebody still may ask you."

"It's this Saturday." Mercedes closed her locker door after pulling out her purple jacket, shrugging it on. "I just…wanted to be Cinderella…just for one night." She could see by the expression on Rachel's face that she could relate to that feeling. Her eyes closed as she pictured Prom. The Prom night that she dreamed of. "One night where a guy would look at me under those corny, crepe paper streamers and say…'you look so beautiful'. Then he'd grab my hand and ask me to dance. Isn't that what Prom is supposed to be about?"

"You're not going to go to Prom alone," Rachel assured her softly. "You'll go with me."

Wow. No. Mercedes shook her head, lowering her gaze once more. "That's even more depressing."

Rachel nodded her head, her eyes showing that Mercedes's rejection had reminded her of something else. Maybe she had asked Finn even though he was with Quinn. "I have a plan."

Mercedes raised an eyebrow. "What kind of plan?"