Author's Note: So after the long wait for the Glee season 3 premiere, I gotta say, I wasn't too happy with that first episode. Seeing Mercedes with her new boyfriend was a little tough but I'm trying to reserve judgement until we see more of them. That seems fair. Oh well. Samcedes forever.
"How the hell are you gonna invite Jesse St. James into our group?"
Sam glanced up at Mercedes from his seat at the kitchen table. She had been on the phone with Rachel for about five minutes and had already said 'Hell to the no' at least ten times. He discreetly smiled down at the freshly picked flowers that were scattered in front of him on some old newspaper. Sometimes it felt like Mercedes was always fighting for something. Fighting in defense of her friends, a chance to sing the next solo, etc. At least this time it was the sanctity of their budget Prom date.
He stood and opened his mouth to say something but she held out a hand. Sam sank back down as she whispered harshly into the phone, "Fine, he can come. But don't expect me to welcome him with open arms. Especially if he comes bringing drama. And if Jesse St. James ruins my Prom night…" Rachel said something pleadingly on the other line. Mercedes rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Just make sure he watches himself. Right. Goodbye." She lowered the phone from her ear and ended the call. "I just knew something would go wrong. I just knew it."
"So Jesse St. Jerk is coming with us?"
"Yeah." Mercedes sat beside him, grabbing the tube of hot glue to secure a tied ribbon to the wrist corsage she had started before Rachel had called. "I don't know how she convinced me to say yes to that. I don't know how she convinced herself to say yes to that actually. You'd think it would be a little harder to get back with a guy who smashed an egg on your forehead."
Ouch. Sam winced. "That bad huh?"
"She must be over it. I should've let you talk to her. She probably would have told him no if she knew you had a problem with it."
Sam shrugged at that logic. "I guess it's alright if he joins our group. I really just wanted you to myself." Mercedes looked up sharply from gluing a flower under the ribbon's knot. Kicking himself inwardly, Sam grabbed a flower to hand to her once she was done. "You and Rachel. But anyway, as long as he doesn't cause any trouble, it should be okay."
Mercedes continued looking at him for a few more seconds before returning to her task. "Oh there's gonna be trouble whether he starts it or not. We're talking Finn and Jesse in the same crowded room here."
"You think Finn's going to be jealous? Of Jesse? He's going with Quinn for a reason." That whole love-square thing that Finn, Rachel, Jesse, and Quinn had going on was crazy. Personally, Sam was just happy to not have any part of it. He glanced up from watching Mercedes's hands as they meticulously glued flower after flower onto the corsage band and was startled when he saw that she was looking right at him, eyes narrowed. "...Is there a problem?"
"How are things with you and Quinn? Last time I was at the motel, Stacy and Stevie said she hadn't been over to babysit since they came to school with you."
He should have known that Stacy and Stevie would say something about that. The reason for Quinn not babysitting as much was kind of selfish on his part. Not that they knew that. After a long day of school and work, Sam just preferred to come back to the dingy motel room and see Mercedes Jones sitting there waiting for him. Sometimes she would have to leave as soon as he came back but a lot of the time they would sit at the foot of the bed where the two children slept, put the television on mute, and talk for a while. To tell the truth, he had never had much to say to Quinn.
Sam shrugged, deciding to answer Mercedes's question simply. "Things are good."
She smirked. "Really? That's it? 'Things are good'?"
"What more do you want me to say? We don't talk much. Does she talk to you?"
Mercedes gave a snort as if to dismiss his question but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Quinn and I haven't had much to do with each other since last year."
"Wait…Quinn and you…were you guys close?"
The snort turned into a soft chuckle. "I considered her my sister. She stayed here in this house for about a month. Shoot, I was there when Beth was born. So yeah, we were close. Once upon a time." She set down the finished corsage and gently stroked a flower petal with her pinkie. "Not anymore obviously."
Sam looked around the kitchen with new eyes. Quinn had lived here? "She never said anything about…"
"Why would she? That was last year. I'm surprised you two talked about Beth for all the times she's mentioned her so far." At the sight of Sam's incredulous face, Mercedes crossed her arms on top of the table and leaned forward. "It really isn't Quinn's fault that she's so cold now. After everything that went down…I can't blame her for wanting to guard herself. At least she has people looking out for her now. Even though she hasn't called or come over here since she moved out…my family would welcome her back in a heartbeat if she needed us again."
Sam smiled, tilting his head to the side. "You're incredible; you know that, Mercedes Jones?"
She laughed and smacked his arm before tossing him some long-stemmed flowers to cut. "Yeah, I know."
"You know what, baby girl?" The two teenagers turned as Mercedes's father came walking into the kitchen from his office in the back of the house.
Mercedes chuckled as her father slowly noticed Sam seated beside her at the table. "Hi Daddy. This is Sam. The Sam whose sister and brother I've been babysitting."
Sam quickly rose and stepped past her to extend a hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Jones. My name is Sam Evans. I'm in Glee Club with Mercedes. Oh and I'm taking her to Prom."
Both of the older man's eyebrows shot up, and he looked at his daughter while shaking Sam's hand. "Is that so?"
"He's taking me and Rachel. It's a group date." Mercedes explained.
"I see." Mr. Jones watched Sam return to his seat and motioned toward Mercedes. "Mercy, would you join me in the foyer for a second?"
"Sure." She nodded at Sam to continue making the other corsage, turning to follow her father toward the front of the house. "Is something wrong?"
He leaned back against the stair banister with his arms crossed in front of his chest. "Last time you talked about Prom with your mother and I, you said you weren't going. In fact, you sounded angry at us for even bringing up Prom in your presence. That boy in there is the reason you've decided to go after all?"
Mercedes rolled her eyes. So dramatic. This was where she got it. "Rachel and I didn't have dates and Sam was nice enough to agree to take both of us." She crossed her arms in an identical way. "We're going as friends, Daddy. It's nothing serious."
"Alright then. But I do want to say this…" He leaned toward her conspiringly. "I approve."
"Of what?"
"Him. He seems a much better match for you than Noah Puckerman."
Mercedes uncrossed her arms and shook her head. "Group date, Dad. Me and Sam aren't…"
"Alright, baby girl. I'll make sure your mama knows you're suddenly going to Prom so she can be ready to take a million pictures of you in whatever beautiful dress you're wearing. I need to run to the office real quick. See you at dinner." Mr. Jones pecked her on the cheek and walked briskly upstairs.
Mercedes frowned, not sure what had just happened. Finally she gave a shrug and turned to help Sam finish Rachel's corsage.
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