A/N: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. REVIEWS = LOVE.
Also, when they sing: This is Mercedes, Sam, BOTH.
"Hey Mercedes." Sam said with a half smile. "I know I'm early but I thought we should get this over with."
"Come in." Mercedes said opening the door for him. "I want to talk to you first."
"What about?" he said taking a seat on the sofa.
"Everything that's happening between us. I want us to be friends. I don't want you to think that I don't care about you." Mercedes explained.
"It's fine. Whatever." Sam said feeling slightly uncomfortable.
"No it's not. Listen. The other day in glee club when I said that you were Quinn's arm candy, I just meant that that's why she's with you, because you are so good looking." Mercedes started. "And yes, it's true I did know that Quinn thinks you're dumb, but she had just told me that morning. I tried to tell you that day but she called you away. Now, I don't want to get all up in your business but Santana? Really?"
"She's the only one that told me the truth." Sam said not looking Mercedes in the eye.
"Only because she got to you first. Do you want the truth?" Mercedes asked. She immediately regretted asking. She could feel the heat raising in her face.
"Yes. Of course I do." Sam said glancing up at her.
"Ok." She said. "The truth is...Santana is only dating you because she doesn't want anyone else to have you. She's like a toddler who doesn't like to share."
"Is that it?" Sam asked.
"No. Um, I like you." Mercedes whispered.
"What?" Sam questioned.
"I like you Sam. A lot."
"Why didn't you say something before?"
"You had a girlfriend and before I could talk to you, you had ended one relationship and started another." Mercedes answered.
"I don't know what to say." Sam said finally looking her in the eye.
"You don't have to say anything. You wanted the truth, so there it is." Mercedes said. "Your phone's ringing."
"Oh." Sam said. "Hello?" Sam answered getting up to take the call. Mercedes could hear Sam in the kitchen. His voice sounded strained. He returned from kitchen, his face was solemn. "I"m sorry Mercedes. I have to go." He said grabbing his backpack and rushing out the door.
"Has anyone seen Sam?" Mercedes asked Tina as she sat beside her in glee club.
"No. He hasn't been here for like three days." Tina answered.
"According to Jacob Ben Israel's blog, Sam has been seen at a motel with several glee club members." Rachel interjected. "Quinn and Kurt if you were wondering."
"What? That's not true." Mercedes said. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. The entire day, different reasons why Kurt and Quinn could be meeting Sam at a motel ran through her head. Every one of them either made her angry or upset.
"Hi Mercedes." Kurt said approaching her locker.
"What do you want?" Mercedes asked not looking at Kurt.
"Uh, what's wrong?" Kurt asked.
"Like you don't already know." Mercedes said slamming her locker shut and walking away from Kurt.
"Mercedes wait." Kurt said chasing after her.
"Go away Kurt. We have nothing to talk about."
"Yes we do. You're mad at me and I think I deserve to know why." Kurt said finally catching up with her. "Mercedes." he said grabbing her arm. She pulled away from him and continued down the hall.
Two more days went by and no Sam. She didn't know what was going on. She unloaded her back pack in Spanish class.
"Hey." she heard someone say softly over her shoulder. Turning around she sees that familiar blonde hair.
"Hi." She said.
"Um, I asked Mr. Shue for an extension on our project. So we have another week." Sam said sitting down.
"Ok." Mercedes said not looking at him.
"Are you ok?" Sam asked, placing his books on the table. Mercedes didn't answer. Class began and she was thankful. She didn't want to talk to Sam. She didn't want to hear his excuses. When the bell ran she bolted from the classroom. She walked straight to the choir room. She sat down in her usual seat beside Tina.
"Hey. Did I see Sam this morning?" Tina asked.
"Yeah." Mercedes answered. They sat silent waiting for everyone to join them in the choir room.
"Ok guys. Who wants to sing our first duet?" Mr. Schue said as the bell rang.
"Mr. Schuester?" Rachel said raising her hand.
"Yes Rachel." he answered.
"Since Sam has been absent, I think that we should hold off on these duets. It wouldn't be fair since he hasn't worked on his duet with his partner. He's been a little busy." Rachel said. Sam sat quietly in the front row beside Artie.
"Rachel, you don't know what Sam's been doing. So just back off." Quinn said.
"Quinn, you're a cheater who cheats in cheap motels with Sam." Rachel responded back. Sam still sat silently.
"Nothing is going on between Sam and I." Quinn said rolling her eyes.
"Well I blame Sam. And Rachel." Santana chimed in.
"Why me? What did I do?"
"I don't know but I'm sure it was something."
"See. I agree with Santana. Why doesn't Sam have anything to say about this?" Lauren said.
"Seriously dude. What you're doing is not cool. They both have boyfriends." Puck added.
"Shut up!" Sam said finally. "Look, I'm not messing around with Quinn or Kurt
or any one of those guys. They're just helping me."
"Oh really? Is that what we're calling it now?" Mercedes said in a snarky tone.
"Hold on. What do you mean they're helping you?" Mr. Schue asked Sam.
"Kurt was giving me some clothes and Quinn was helping me babysit my brother and sister." Sam answered quietly.
"Then why were you in motel room?" Finn asked.
"Because that's where I live now." Sam retorted. "My dad lost his job a few months ago, then we lost our house, so now we live in that motel in one room." Sam stated rising from his chair. "Are you all happy? The truth's finally out." Sam said storming out of the room.
'He's homeless.' Mercedes thought to herself. After school, Mercedes drove straight home. She ran straight to her bedroom. She pulled out her celled phone and dialed Sam's number.
"Hello?" Sam answered.
"Hey Sam. It's Mercedes." she said.
"What do you want?" he said suddenly annoyed.
"Can you come over? Please?" Mercedes begged.
"Fine." Sam said and hung up the phone. Mercedes waited impatiently for Sam's arrival. On her way down the stairs she heard a knock at the door.
"Hi Sam." she said swinging the door open.
"Hi." he said not looking at her.
"Come in." Mercedes said stepping aside and letting him inside.
"Is there something you wanted, Mercedes?" Sam asked.
"I'm sorry." Mercedes said.
"I'm leaving." Sam said heading toward the door.
"Wait Sam." she said grabbing his arm.
"I don't want your pity Mercedes." he said.
"It's not pity Sam. I am genuinely sorry about what's happened to your family." Mercedes said taking Sam's hand in hers. "Sit with me." she said as she leads him to the couch.
"I'm sorry. Just all day everyone has been looking at me like I'm some damn charity case." Sam explained. "I couldn't take it from you too."
"I would never look at you like that Sam. I know that this is probably the worse time to be telling you this but..." She started but paused in fear.
"But what?"
"I love you." Mercedes blurted out.
"What?" Sam asked sitting up on the couch and facing Mercedes.
"I love you Sam. I have for a long time now. I think knowing what you've been going through and seeing how strong you've been through all of it...it just made me love you even more." she explained.
"Wow." he whispered.
"I guess I shouldn't have told you that. I mean you're dating Santana." Mercedes said sadly.
"No. I'm not. I broke up with her today. I had to." Sam said, grabbing her hand.
"Why?"
"I wasn't in love with her." Sam said looking her in the eye. "I'm in love with someone else." he whispered. Mercedes sat in silence waiting for Sam to tell her the name of the Cheerio he was dating, but instead she felt his lips pressed against hers.
"Sam?" Mercedes asked when Sam pulled away. "Is this a..."
"Dream? No." Sam answered. "I've loved you for a long time too Mercedes." He kissed her again. This time she melted into him. She couldn't believe how amazing kissing Sam Evans felt. She also couldn't believe that it was really happening.
"Mercedes, you can open your eyes now." Sam said with a chuckle.
"No. If I open my eyes, you'll be gone, and this will be a dream." Mercedes said.
"I promise you. This is not a dream." Sam said caressing her cheek. "Look at me." She opened her eyes and Sam was still there. Smiling at her. He kissed her again and this time she pulled away.
"Sam, we should practice our song." she said rising from the sofa and pressing play on her mp3 player.
Live In My House
I'll Be Your Shelter
Just Pay Me Back
With One Thousand Kisses
Be My Lover - I'll Cover You
Open Your Door
I'll Be Your Tenant
Don't Got Much Baggage
To Lay At Your Feet
But Sweet Kisses I've Got To Spare
I'll Be There - I'll Cover You
I Think They Meant It
When They Said You Can't Buy Love
Now I Know You Can Rent It
A New Lease You Are, My Love,
On Life - Be My Life
Just Slip Me On
I'll Be Your Blanket
Wherever - Whatever - I'll Be Your Coat
You'll Be My King
And I'll Be Your Castle
No You'll Be My Queen
And I'll Be Your Moat
I Think They Meant It
When They Said You Can't Buy Love
Now I Know You Can Rent It
A New Lease You Are, My Love
On Life - All My Life
I've Longed To Discover
Something As True As It Seems
So With A Thousand
Sweet Kisses
I'll Cover You
When you're cold and you're lonely
With A Thousand
Sweet Kisses
I'll Cover You
You've got one nickle only
With a Thousand Sweet Kisses
When You're Worn
Out And Tired
I'll Cover You
With A Thousand
Sweet Kisses
When Your Heart
Has Expired
Oh Lover I'll Cover You
Ya
Oh Lover I'll Cover You
As the last note played, Sam leaned in a kissed Mercedes again.
"We can't tell anyone yet. I'm just not ready." Mercedes said.
"I will wait as long as you need me to." Sam said leaning in and kissing his new girlfriend again.
