Mercedes was pulled into a bone crushing hug.
"I'm gonna miss you so much!" said Sugar.
Mercedes tried to breathe.
"You're cutting off her circulation," said Tina.
"Sorry," Sugar laughed. "I really wish I can change my flight. But my family reunion is tomorrow."
Mercedes gave her a side hug. "You can visit me in L.A anytime."
"I will, I promise." Sugar gave everyone one last hug and drove off in a taxi.
"Mercedes's we're still on for our shopping spree this weekend?" asked Tina checking her phone.
"Hell yes, I'm so excited to be spending time with my girls."
"Quinn we'll sleep over right?"
Quinn who had been talking to Puck nodded to Tina absentmindedly. Mercedes wondered what was wrong. Puck had been acting like an asshole to Jesse the entire night. What had set him off?
She looked for Jesse who was standing against his car waiting for her. Jesse caught her looking and gave her a smile.
"So I see things are going well with Jesse." Tina wiggled her eyebrows at her. Mercedes rolled her eyes.
"We're just friends Tina."
"With benefits?"
Mercedes chuckled. "Good night Tina. I'll see you this Saturday. Mike."
She hugged him. "See you soon babe."
"We all should definitely meet up again." Mike squeezed her and gave Artie a fist bump.
"Course we are, before we all split up again," said Artie accepting a hug from Mercedes. "Take care of yourself Mercedes." He looked at Jesse and back to her again. Artie, Tina and Mike left in Kitty's car.
"See you around Mercedes." Puck hugged her. "It was good seeing you again."
"It was good seeing you too until tonight."
Puck gave her an innocent look. "What did I do?'
"You were acting like a total asshole to Jesse," Mercedes gritted her teeth. "Why?"
Puck pursed his lips. "Look Mercedes you need to know that-"
"Puck we should get going," Quinn cut in smoothly. She hugged Mercedes.
"See you Saturday, It's going to be great catching up."
"Bye Quinn."
Puck looked like he wanted to say something but he kept quiet and he reluctantly left with Quinn.
"Ready to go?" Jesse opened the car door for her.
"Am I ever."
Jesse dropped her off at the apartment she was staying at and walked her up to her door.
"Thanks for coming as my date Jesse." She took of her crown of red roses and placed it on his head. "You were my prince for the night."
"It was my pleasure." He said.
He wanted to kiss her again but held back. He didn't want to overwhelm her.
"Good night Mercedes."
"Good night." Mercedes closed the door behind her.
She rushed into the bathroom and made a beeline for the toilet bowl. She grabbed the edge and threw up everything that she had eaten at Breadstix. The smell was horrible. She flushed and ripped off a few pieces of toilet paper and wiped the edge of her mouth. She brushed her teeth and peeled off her dress and headed into the shower. The warm water did feel nice but it didn't take away the awful feeling that was swirling in her stomach.
I can't live without you.
She got out of the shower and went to her room and rummaged in her suitcase to find a pair of pajamas. Her hand found something soft and she pulled out a white silk nightgown printed with red lipstick kisses. She had bought this with a matching set.
This is the way you make me feel Mercedes. I want you to always remember that.
She pushed it back down into the pile and pulled out a pair of black shorts and threw a white T-shirt over it.
She grabbed a glass of water because her throat was feeling a little itchy. She didn't bother turning on the light in the living room and plopped herself on the couch. She turned on the TV and settled on a channel that was playing some sitcom.
Sam we are not going to ever have sex in an elevator!
Hey we gotta keep our sex life interesting when we're married Mercedes. It's in the statistics.
Mercedes switched the channel and was shocked to see Rachel on TV. "One of the worst shows of the year was That so Rachel starring former Broadway star Rachel Berry. After one episode complaints were being sent in by viewers that they couldn't stand the main character who they claimed was unrelatable and I quote 'a self-absorbed bitch.'"
I'm going to give Sam the one thing that you were never willing to give him!
Mercedes clapped her hand on her mouth to stop herself from crying. She tried to find some joy at hearing about Rachel's failure. Her cell phone buzzed and she saw Kurt's name on the display screen. Kurt had left the wedding earlier because Carol had suffered a break down. Kurt had explained that from time to time, she still had a hard time dealing with Finn's death.
"Hey, how's Carol?"
"She's talking to a -a friend right now." Kurt was trying to keep his voice steady. "It was really awful. It was as if he died yesterday you know."
"We all miss him," said Mercedes trying not to choke up. "So-"
"What's wrong?" Kurt switched into his best friend mode. "Did something happen with Sam at the wedding-"
Mercedes took a second before she could answer but her voice was shaky. "No Kurt-"
"I'm coming over." And before she could reply Kurt had already hung up.
Damn it. She just wanted to be alone and get away from it all. She just wanted to forget. But thoughts of Rachel and Sam and their limbs intertwined together bombarded her.
She heard a rapid knock on her door. She turned off the TV and she opened the door to Kurt who was holding a small grey duffel bag.
"You didn't have to," Mercedes began but Kurt dropped his duffel and pulled her into a hug. Surprised by his kindness and that he came all the way to comfort her had Mercedes finally in tears.
"That's it." Kurt continued to hold her. "Just let it all out. I'm here for you."
Later on they were in Mercedes's bedroom, lying down on the bed with a bowl of ice cream on a tray between them. After a few scoops of ice cream Kurt finally asked her what had happened.
"Sam slept with Rachel."
Kurt almost gagged on his spoon.
"What!?"
"Yeah, they are probably getting it on right now." She told him about their confrontation.
Kurt stared at her gob smacked "You made out with Jesse?"
Mercedes rolled her eyes. Trust Kurt to latch unto that minuscule detail. "Yes and I liked it."
She left out that she had imagined kissing Sam.
Kurt considered her words before taking another scoop. "I am neither for or against Jesse but you really shouldn't be kissing other men when your heart belongs to another."
Mercedes scowled at Kurt. "Well considering that the supposed love of my life is banging Rachel I can kiss whoever I want."
She winced. Hearing those words come out of her own mouth really hurt. Kurt grabbed her hand and gave her a sincere smile. "Honey, Sam hasn't slept with Rachel."
"You don't have to lie to me Kurt."
He shook his head. "I know for a fact. Rachel is at my house right now."
"What the hell is she doing there? You guys are still hanging out?"
"Are you kidding? Hell no." Kurt scooped out a big scoop and fed it to Mercedes. "She and Carol have sorta become close."
Mercedes nodded understanding that the two women were going to be forever connected because of Finn.
"Just when I had calmed her down Rachel came through the door." Mercedes fed him a scoop this time. "Carol had called her. Any ways I heard the two of them talking in her room and Rachel was sniveling like some little girl. Sam had cancelled their "special" plans for the night."
Mercedes's heart lifted. "He did?"
"Yep so what are you going to do about it?"
"What do you mean?"
Kurt looked like he wanted to strangle her. "Hello, Sam did not sleep with Rachel. That means he's still in love with you so therefore you two can get back together."
Mercedes heart sank. "That doesn't mean anything."
"Mercedes."
"I asked him if he still loved me you know." She felt a painful twist in her gut. Sam had said it with no hesitation. "He told me that he didn't know and when I asked him if he loved Rachel…"
Kurt narrowed his eyes. "He didn't."
"Yes he did, he loves her. Kurt how can I compete with that? In his eyes I don't compare to her."
Kurt hit her with his spoon.
"Don't you ever let me hear you say that about yourself again."
He put down the spoon and grabbed her head in both of his hands. "Listen to me. You are incomparable. I still believe that you're the only that has his heart Mercedes. Rachel doesn't stand a chance against you. If you want Sam then you can just take him back."