Author's Note: Please forgive any mistakes
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or any of its characters
The Beholder's Eyes
Chapter 10
Sam and Mercedes arrive at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco Hotel; the place is a bustle with surgeons for the conference checking in at the front desk. At the far right was a table for the surgeons to sign in for the conference itself and receive their name tags, informational packets as well as meal coupons for the event. The theme of the conference was "Plastic Surgeries New Frontier" and many of them had seemingly known each other from prior business conferences.
Sam and Mercedes took their bags and placed them in the lobby next to their feet as they decided on how they were going to be the most productive in their time management.
Mercedes: Why don't you sign in for the conference while I go and get our rooms?
Sam: Don't you mean our room?
Mercedes: It's a suite two bedrooms and a parlor; it is supposed to have a beautiful view, I can't wait to see it.
Sam: I am already looking at a beautiful view. (Then Sam takes his index finger and taps her nose) Boop!
Mercedes: Thank you Sam. But you should hurry over to the table because the line is long enough as it is.
Sam: Make sure you get all four keys to the rooms. We can interchange them.
Mercedes: Why would I give you the key to my room?
Sam: What if you lose yours?
Mercedes: That's why I have two.
Sam: That's why I have one.
Mercedes: Sam….. Go sign up for the conference.
Sam: Mercedes….I want that room key.
Mercedes places her hands on Sam's back and pushes him toward the table.
Mercedes then stands on line awaiting her turn at the front desk. Once Mercedes gets to the counter the desk clerk speaks.
Desk Clerk: Welcome to the Grand Hyatt San Francisco. How may I help you?
Mercedes: I would like to check in; the registration is under the name Dr. Samuel Evans for an Executive Suite.
Desk Clerk: Do you have the card with which the reservation was made?
Mercedes: Yes, here it is right here. (Mercedes hands her the credit card)
The desk clerk proceeds to enter the information into the computer and then has a puzzled look on her face.
Desk Clerk: I am so sorry would you wait here for just a moment I need to confirm something with my manager please.
Mercedes not quite understanding what is going on tries to wait patiently as she watches the desk clerk disappear into an office in the back. After a few moments the desk clerk returns with her manager in tow.
Manager: I am so sorry miss but there has been a slight problem and I need to explain the details. Although you had a reservation for an Executive Suite the reservation was not actually confirmed until the following week; and by that time another doctor who was traveling with a larger party received your room instead.
Mercedes: Are you saying that we have no rooms?
Manager: Oh, no ma'am, on the contrary, we have a room but it has been downgraded to a double instead. We have still placed you on a higher floor and you still will have exquisite views of our fair city; it is just that you will have two double beds and not two rooms.
Mercedes felt a quick jolt run through her body.
Mercedes: Did you just say that we will have to share a, as in, one room?
Manager: I am sorry about any inconvenience this may cause you. We will throw in a complementary dinner for two at Alioto's one of the famous attractions at the Fisherman's Wharf; if that will be okay?
Sam: That will be just fine; not a problem at all!
Mercedes quickly looks over her shoulder after hearing Sam's voice; to find him standing there agreeing wholeheartedly with the decision that had been made.
Mercedes: But Sam, I don't think you understood what they just said. They said we are no longer getting a suite but a double; you know the same room.
Sam: (Who is now all smiles) That's fine! We'll take it!
Manager: Thank you so much for your cooperation in this matter sir. If there is any other time you find yourself in San Francisco please make it a point to stay at the Grand Hyatt of San Francisco.
The desk clerk continued to input the card's information into the system, provided them with a Visa gift card for the dinner for two, their card keys and then she instructed the bell boy to pick up the bags and take it to their room on the 22nd floor.
Sam who is now heading toward the elevator with Mercedes begins to speak.
Sam: I am so glad that it did not take me that long to register at the conference table. This could turn into quite an interesting conference don't you think? (Smiling)
Mercedes: Sam, I am actually not a part of the conference so I will be taking in some sightseeing.
Sam: Well, you may not want to come on the first day but you should come on the second day they usually pull out all the stops for the second day.
Sam continues to speak as they are riding in the elevator.
Sam: Don't worry Mercedes the view will be great from this room too.
Mercedes: It is not necessarily the view I am concerned with Sam. Sam this room will have two double beds in the same room; do you understand this situation?
Sam: Don't worry Mercedes I'm a doctor!
As they exit the elevator and walk down the long hallway following the bell boy Mercedes feels her stomach start to tighten into knots.
Mercedes: (Thinking) I don't know why am I feeling so nervous? Sam is a good guy, what are you talking about he is a wonderful guy. In all this time he has never once come across as someone who would not take my thoughts into consideration. He has always been so sweet and such a gentleman. So why do I feel jittery all throughout my entire body. Look at him; he is smiling wider than I have ever seen him. Oh, yeah Sam you are just loving this; aren't you? Do you know what this may mean Mercy? I know, I know, 1 room + 2 double beds + Sam + Me = XTAC 2 times! Why are you so afraid? (She asks herself as she watches Sam tip the bell boy who takes the money and quickly walks off toward the elevator from where he came) Just keep your cool and everything will be fine; or maybe an excuse, I can tell him I have cramps, he's a doctor he can get that reference. No, haven't I had enough embarrassing conversations with Dr. Evans. Maybe I could tell him the truth though; which would be more embarrassing than the lie about my cycle.
Sam opens the room door with the card key and proceeds to walk in ahead of Mercedes.
Mercedes: (Thinking) I still don't feel comfortable about my body yet, Sam. Hiding my body in clothing is one thing but allowing everything to hang out is quite another. Remember what Kevin said; he was repulsed enough to look somewhere else. How can I let Sam know that the confidence he seemed to fall in love with is not always here with me. I don't want to lose him like I did Kevin because, let's face it, he sees perfect bodies all day long and now is he really going to look at my body and not compare them to all the others while I am laying in a bed which is right next to his.
Mercedes walks into the room and is stunned.
Mercedes: Why is there only one bed in this room?
Sam stands there slightly puzzled, but even more willing to recommend this place to his friends.
Sam: Well, it looks like there was a mix-up in accommodations; but you do understand there is a big conference in this hotel and it is perfectly understandable that mistakes like this might be made. I am sure if they could have done any better they would have. But the point is; this is probably the best that they could do and we need not be the kind of customers who give these hard working people a hard time; not during this economy.
Mercedes: What? (Pause) Are you even going to call the front desk and mention this?
Sam picks up the phone and hangs it down immediately.
Sam: Busy.
Mercedes: Sam….
Sam: Mercedes….
After a few minutes of quiet as they stand there staring at each other and the one double sized bed in the room; Sam spoke again.
Sam: Oh, C'mon Mercedes, how would you feel if you were working a practically minimum wage job and the customer came down annoying you in the middle of a big conference about something that is really not a problem at all; when you stop and think about it. Think about that poor desk clerk didn't she seem haggard, just worn out from standing on her feet all day dealing with all those evil surgeons down there. The least we can do is not be a problem for her tonight when her shift is probably going to be over soon anyway and all she really wants to do now is go home to her cat!
Mercedes: (Pauses) You really are okay with this aren't you?
Sam: (Interrupting) You have no idea how okay I really am about this.
Mercedes: (Conceding) Fine.
Mercedes watches stunned as Sam jumps up into the air and fist pumps.
Sam: Oh wait! You didn't see that.
Mercedes just shakes her head.
Sam: How are you about food tonight? Do you think we could get through an entire meal; understand we are in different city you know? Are we going to have another eating disorder like we did in Paris?
Mercedes: As long as you are not allowed around any eggs; we should not have a problem. (She wrinkled her nose up at him)
Sam: Hey! I am a great cook.
Mercedes: As long as Botchulism is on the menu.
Sam: Hey, I resemble that remark.
Mercedes: Are we going out to dinner?
Sam: I thought you would never ask.
Sam walks over and pulls Mercedes into a kiss and then takes the card keys and gives her one as he ushers her back out of the room.
XXXXX
Once they had shared a nice dinner for two they headed back upstairs to their hotel room Sam was practically running to the elevator and Mercedes recognized that she had to walk a lot faster to keep up.
Mercedes: Sam, are you in a hurry?
Sam: Who me no! I just thought you seemed a little tired, not a lot tired, but a little tired and would like to go upstairs to relax.
Sam started pressing the button for the elevator in a frantic rapid fire movement.
Mercedes: Sam you don't want to damage the button in a nice hotel like this.
Sam: I'll make a donation (As he frantically presses the button again)
Mercedes knew this was going to be difficult; it is not that she didn't love him she figured that out a few weeks ago; it was not that she did not trust him, she really did believe in her heart of hearts that he was a really good guy. He was funny and warm and she didn't want to lose what has been the best relationship she has ever had.
Mercedes: Why are you riddled with self doubt? He says he loves you.
The elevator opens and Sam immediately rushes inside.
Sam: C'mon Mercedes watch your step now.
Mercedes just stares at Sam as she slowly walks into the elevator.
Sam frantically pushes the button for the 22nd floor. Once the elevator door closes in the lobby and the elevator starts ascending to the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th floor the elevator stops and the door opens; outside is a man with a child. Sam quickly places his hands up.
Sam: Sorry, we have a sick woman here we need to have this elevator go express please wait for the next one. (Sam closes the elevator door)
Mercedes: What was that? Sam do I look sick to you?
Sam: No, you look beautiful; but we should get you upstairs as fast as possible.
Mercedes: Why Sam?
Sam: So that we can go to bed; you know we have an early day tomorrow; me with the conference and you wanting to go sightseeing.
The elevator bell dings 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd the elevator door opens and Sam quickly pushes Mercedes out of the elevator.
Sam: Watch your back.
Sam grabs Mercedes elbow and quickly leads her to the front door of their room. He fumbles to get the card key out of his pocket and he unlocks the door. Then with a slow gesture he waves his arm at the door for Mercedes to enter the room.
Mercedes knows what she wants and she does want Sam, but she is not quite sure of how this is going to work, she was not prepared for this at all; not really. She found herself shaking.
Sam: I am really glad you came here with me, Mercy.
Mercedes: Sam…..
Sam: Mercedes….
Author's Note: Please Review