New Directions: Lima, Ohio 1965 part 13 Dalton Academy Special part II
Mercedes jumped awake. She groaned when she read the time on the desk clock.
4am.
She got out of bed and went to the restroom. She splashed her face with water. Somehow Karofsky found a way to haunt Mercedes from 100 miles away in jail.
Every time she closed her eyes he would come to her in a dream. The dream locations varied. Her last dream, she was having a thanksgiving dinner at her house. She looked to her left and Karofsky was sitting at the end of the table. He held out his hands. "Look at them Mercy!"
Every dream he did the same thing, and every time Mercedes ignored him.
Mercedes looked into the bathroom mirror. "Get out of my head," she said.
Mercedes got back into bed, but her eyes remained open until the sun came up.
At 9 o'clock she got dressed and went downstairs to talk to Kurt. She knocked his bedroom door that he was sharing with Finn.
"Kurt? Are you in there?" Mercedes said before opening the door.
"I have to talk to you-"
Mercedes stopped when she saw Blaine sitting next to Kurt on the bed. The two were laughing about something.
"Hey Mercedes," Kurt said.
"…Hey," Mercedes replied, keeping her eyes on Blaine, who was also smiling.
"What did you want to talk about?" Kurt asked.
"…Nothing important," Mercedes replied. "I'll see you later."
Mercedes closed the door.
Mercedes watched Kurt and Blaine eat lunch at the Warbler table in the dining hall.
"What in the world is going on?" she murmured.
This new blossoming friendship between Kurt and Blaine seemed innocent, but Mercedes knew better. Everything was too coincidental to her.
Blaine whispered something to Kurt, before they both got up and left.
"Now where are they going?" Mercedes said.
"You know you have a tendency to talk to yourself?" Santana said, who was sitting next to Mercedes the whole time.
Sam and Sebastian sat behind their family in church.
It was a Smythe tradition to always attend church together on Sunday mornings.
Sam was about to fall asleep when Sebastian nudged him.
"Let's ditch," Sebastian whispered.
Sebastian and Sam slipped out of this pew, leaving the sanctuary.
When they made it outside, Sebastian lit a cigarette.
"This definitely takes me back," Sam said, leaning on the brick wall with his hands in his coat pockets.
"Remember all the fun we had?" Sebastian asked, passing Sam the cigarette.
"Hmm, I remember you got that professor what's his name fired," Sam said as Sebastian passed him the smoke.
"Professor Goldblum! That fucking asshole," Sebatsian said, pulling out a flask from his pocket. "he gave me detention!"
"You deserved it," Sam said smiling. "You called him a small-dicked bastard if I remember correctly."
Sebastian smiled. "Oh yeah, he did have a small penis didn't he," he said.
"And how the hell would you know that? Did he show it to ya?" Sam said jokingly, passing Sebastian back his cigarette.
"Maybe," Sebastian said, raising his eyebrow mischievously.
"You're fucking weird man," Sam said, as Sebastian laughed.
"Hey, Sammy… what do you know about Mercedes Jones?" Sebastian asked, passing Sam the flask.
Sam got silent.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"…You know. Like what can you tell me about her?" Sebastian clarified, putting out the cigarette.
Sam tried to look as unbothered as possible.
Sam shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know…She's a girl?" Sam said, still not sure what Sebastian was up to.
Sebastian rolled his eyes.
"I'm aware she's a girl Sam. I assumed you could tell me more, seeing as you saved her life and everything."
Sam scratched the back of his neck.
"Why do you wanna know about her?" Sam asked.
"…Let's just say she's caught my interest," Sebastian replied.
Sam gnawed at his top lip.
"She's a good girl," Sam said.
"Gotta love those," Sebastian said casually.
"Her dad's a dentist," Sam continued.
"Is she seeing anyone?"
Sam got notably tenser.
"Uh I don't know Sebastian. Why don't you ask her?" Sam said brutishly, unscrewing the flask.
Sebastian huffed, straightening his jacket.
"Maybe I will," Sebastian said slyly.
Sam took a gulp from the flask.
"Th-this isn't so scary," Kurt said as his body bounced up and down under the steed.
Blaine rode alongside Kurt on his horse. He wasn't bouncing so much seeing as this wasn't his first time riding.
Blaine chuckled as he watched Kurt's pale face grow even more frightened as they picked up the pace along the trail.
"You're sure you're okay?" Blaine asked, holding back a laugh.
"Uh huh. Woah There horsey!" Kurt said, when his horse kicked up its front legs.
"His name is Gaston," Blaine said, reaching out and petting the mane of Kurt's horse.
"I guess you're a natural at this stuff," Kurt said, as both horses slowed down.
"Me? No. It took a lot of practice," Blaine said.
Kurt quickly averted his gaze when he realized he was staring at Blaine for too long.
"So…uh. What made you want to come to Dalton? Is it like a family tradition?" Kurt asked.
Blaine shook his head.
"My father actually works for Sebastian's father," Blaine told him.
"A lawyer?"
"His driver," Blaine said softly.
"Oh.." Kurt said. "…I didn't mean-"
"No, it's alright," Blaine said. "…My father has always pushed me to want more for myself. To be a greater man than he is."
"Is that what you want?" Kurt asked.
"I don't know… Sometimes I don't think it's worth it," Blaine replied honestly.
"…But then again, If I didn't go to Dalton I would have never got to meet you," Blaine added while looking down bashfully.
Kurt's mouth got significantly dryer and his sweaty palms made it hard for him to hold on the reins. Blaine could just be extra sweet, but somehow Kurt felt that maybe Blaine could have those kinds of feelings for him.
"You know Blaine I…I want to tell you-"
Before Kurt could finish his sentence, his head smacked the branch of a nearby tree.
"Oh my God Kurt!" Blaine exclaimed, leaping off his horse.
He knelt down in front of Kurt, who lay flummoxed on the ground.
Kurt leaned up from the grass, a panicked look stricken on his face.
Blaine held Kurt's face between his hands, checking for bruises.
"Oh my God! My hair," Kurt said hysterically.
Completely taken aback by Kurt's superficial statement, Blaine started to chuckle.
"That may be the cutest thing I have ever heard," Blaine said, picking leaves out of Kurt's hair.
Kurt felt butterflies
Kurt, who couldn't care less about his hair now, stared deeply into Blaine's eyes.
Going with his gut, he leaned into kiss Blaine.
Blaine, who felt a sudden pang of guilt in his stomach pulled away.
"I can't do this," Blaine said.
"Oh God," said Kurt, even more embarrassed than he was before.
"I'm sorry Kurt," Blaine said, getting up from the ground.
Blaine got back on his horse and rode back to the stable.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid," Kurt as his eyes started to fill with tears.
In the span of a minute, what started out as the best day of his life quickly turned into his worst nightmare.
Kurt bumped into Mercedes on the way up the stairs.
"Kurt, I need to talk to you- what happened to your head?" Mercedes said, noticing a red bruise forming on the right side of Kurt's forehead.
"Just leave it alone okay," Kurt said, solemnly, heading to his room.
"Kurt, I really need to tell you some-"
"I don't care!" Kurt said, walking into his empty bedroom.
He slammed the door in Mercedes' face.
Mercedes, who had never seen Kurt this angry before in her life, walked away.
Kurt lay on his bed quietly, all the while experiencing an emotional overload in his brain.
There was a knock on his door.
"Go away," Kurt said.
There was a louder knock.
Kurt huffed, rolling off his bed.
"I told you to go-"
Kurt stopped mid-sentence when he opened his door to find Blaine standing there.
"Blaine-"
Without letting Kurt utter another word, Blaine placed a passionate kiss on Kurt's lips.
He pulled away slowly.
"I like you too," Blaine whispered, before quickly leaving.
Kurt touched his lips in shock.
Mercedes sat at the edge of her bed.
Maybe she was just overreacting at Blaine and Kurt spending time together, but it was extremely suspicious to Mercedes. It had Sebastian written all over it.
She walked to the door.
She had to get Kurt to listen to her.
"There you go again- immersing yourself in someone else's problems."
Mercedes turned around.
"Who said that?"
Mercedes saw no one.
She put her hand on the doorknob.
"You can try to hide the fact that you can hear me, but it won't work."
Mercedes turned around again.
Karofsky sat on her bed.
"I fell asleep again," Mercedes told herself.
"You're not asleep," David said.
"What is this?" said Mercedes.
"You know the truth," David said.
"I know nothing," Mercedes said backing away.
"You know everything! The answers are right in front of you and you're choosing to ignore them," David said. "Look at my hands."
There was a knock at the door.
David's image vanished.
Tina entered Mercedes' room.
"Are you alright?" Tina asked.
"I…don't think so," Mercedes said.
"You gotta be kidding me?" Sebastian said.
Blaine sat on the bed, while a chuckling Sebastian stood by the fireplace.
"This is too much. Here I am following a hunch, and I end up stumbling into a diamond mine," Blaine said. "Kurt Hummel, son of Congressman Burt Hummel is gay."
"It's kind of hypocritical to laugh at him, don't you think," Blaine said un-amused by Sebastian's glee.
"Because of a box instant oatmeal, I now have a congressman's son in my back pocket. Life is good," Sebastian said.
"I don't want to hurt Kurt," said Blaine.
Sebastian rolled his eyes.
"It won't come to that. We'll make nice with him, take him under our wing. His being gay is merely…insurance that we can have his support in future endeavors."
"You mean blackmail…" Blaine said, disliking the situation more and more.
Sebastian went over to Blaine, kneeling in front of him. He kissed him tenderly on the lips, before lightly slapping him condescendingly on the cheek.
"That's politics sweetheart," Sebastian said harshly. "I'm proud of you Anderson. You saw an opportunity and you went for it. The Music benefit is tonight. You should convince Kurt to sing with the Warblers."
"You get him to do it. I'm done," Blaine said, getting up from the bed.
"Woah woah woah," Sebastian said, putting his hand on Blaine's chest to stop him.
"You still have a debt to me," Sebastian said.
"I don't care."
"I think you do care," Sebastian said. "Remember you came to me. I helped you, not your father, not your professors, ME. The school board would have had you kicked out mid-semester if I hadn't stepped in and helped you."
Blaine kept his eyes on the ground.
Sebastian lifted up Blaine's chin.
"I know what you're thinking. You're dad loves you and he'll understand if you tell him the truth. But he won't. He'll look at you like he doesn't know you, call you a faggot, and kick you out in the street. But I accept you as you are. No one else will."
Blaine moved Sebastian's hand.
"Kurt can't get hurt," Blaine said.
"He won't. I promise," Sebastian said, miming crossing his heart.
Blaine began to walk away. When his hand touched the doorknob, something came to him.
"What about Mercedes?" Blaine asked.
"What about her?" Sebastian said, lying on the bed.
"She saw us kissing in the kitchen. If we mess with Kurt, she may get upset and tell on us," Blaine said.
Sebastian sat up.
"…I'll take care of it."
Mercedes leaned against the wall phone in the front office of the next door dormitory.
After two minutes of desperately hoping Ms. Pillsbury would pick up the phone, Mercedes hung up. For the longest Mercedes thought she was coping well after everything that had happened to her, but the trauma and anxiety had manifested itself entirely into something she couldn't ignore.
Ms. Pillsbury was the only counselor she knew and the only person who wouldn't look at her like she was crazy.
Mercedes sighed, glancing at the clock on the wall.
"You can't ignore me," Karofsky said, whose image had appeared once again next to her.
"Yes I can," Mercedes replied, leaving the phone.
"Do the right thing Mercy!" he called after her.
"Stop calling me that!"
Mercedes covered her ears until she made it out of the building and into the sunlight.
…
Mercedes climbed up the stairs to the girls rooms.
She had convinced herself on the trip back to the common room that she was merely suffering from sleep deprivation and a three hour nap would surely cure her.
When Mercedes opened the bedroom door, she was disturbed by the only thing worse than Karofsky's ghost haunting her.
Sebastian sat on Mercedes bed with his legs crossed.
"What are you doing up here?" Mercedes asked.
"Oh, I'm waiting for Quinn. I'm supposed to take her out on the lake," Sebastian said calmly.
Mercedes instinctively moved in front of the sock drawer, containing her dog tag necklace Sam gave her.
"You can wait for Quinn in the sitting area outside," Mercedes told him.
Sebastian got up from Mercedes' bed.
He walked toward her.
"Do I make you uncomfortable?" Sebastian asked touching the side of Mercedes' hair. "I know this isn't your first time being this close to a homosexual. Is it."
Sebastian smiled, when shock flashed across Mercedes' face.
"Hmm that's what I thought," he said.
Mercedes smacked Sebastian's hand away.
Mercedes: I knew it. You're after Kurt.
Sebastian: Smart girl.
Mercedes: If you hurt him I'll-
Sebastian: What? Don't even let that stupid idea enter your head… If you even hint that you're going to expose me, I'll go straight to the press with my juicy politician's son story. It'll be so big no one will even care about what you have to say…that is, if anyone actually believes you.
Mercedes: …I'm not afraid of you.
Sebastian: Really, well good for you.
Sebastian made to leave the room.
"I'll tell Sam."
Sebastian turned around.
"What makes you think he'll believe you over me?" Sebastian asked.
"It doesn't take a genius to figure out you have no friends, or you wouldn't need to blackmail people for favors. Since Sam's your cousin and only friend you don't have on salary, I'm pretty sure he's been close enough to you to figure out what a lying scumbag you are. So yeah… I think he'll believe me over you." said Mercedes.
Sebastian's calm face turned more cold.
"Make no mistake. Despite my sexuality I have no problem with hitting a woman," said Sebastian.
"…And I have no problem with killing a man," Mercedes replied.
"Well…that was a stupid thing to say," said Sebastian coming towards Mercedes.
"Sebastian, what're you doing in here?"
Quinn had just entered the room.
Mercedes moved away from Sebastian.
"What's going on?" Quinn asked.
Mercedes rushed out of the room, rushing down to the second floor.
"Mercedes!" Sam said, but Mercedes ignored him.
She was fuming.
Mercedes went straight to Kurt's room, not even stopping to knock.
When she opened the door, she saw Blaine touching the side of Kurt's face.
"Mercedes!" Kurt said jumping up. "Blaine was just teaching me the tenor part for the Warbler number. They asked me to help them."
"Get out Blaine! NOW!"
Blaine quickly got up.
Mercedes slammed the door and locked him out.
"What's up with you!?" Kurt exclaimed. "Have you lost it?!"
Mercedes went to Kurt's drawers, pulling out his clothes.
"You're going home Kurt," Mercedes said.
"Mercedes, what is going on?" Kurt said, as Mercedes threw the clothes into Kurt's suitcase.
Mercedes: Sebastian knows… He knows about you Kurt.
Kurt: Why were you so rude to Blaine?
Mercedes: Are you listening to me? Sebastian knows!
Kurt: …How?
Mercedes: How do you think? Blaine told him!
Kurt: Blaine wouldn't do that.
Mercedes: You don't know him!
Kurt: Neither do you!
Mercedes: I know enough!
Kurt grabbed Mercedes hands. "Stop" Kurt said. "Talk to me…please."
Mercedes calmed down.
Mercedes: …Kurt…Blaine is sleeping with Sebastian.
Kurt:…What? How do you know this?
Mercedes: I saw them in the kitchen two nights ago.
Kurt: Well maybe you didn't see what you think you saw.
Mercedes: Oh I know what I saw! And I received a thousand dollars in an envelope the next morning to confirm it. Sebastian is paying for Blaine's tuition, and Blaine is…paying him back for it.
Kurt: …You mean he's blackmailing him.
Mercedes: Yes, and Sebastian means to do the same thing to you.
Kurt: Blaine wouldn't let that happened.
Mercedes: Blaine is scared and looking out for himself. You don't know what he's capable of.
Kurt: He's a good person.
Mercedes: Kurt, you're letting your feelings for this guy cloud your judgment.
Kurt: And you're letting your Christian ignorance cloud your humanity.
Mercedes: You really think I don't trust Blaine because he's gay?!
Kurt: Well are you!?
Mercedes: He's a prostitute Kurt! He sleeps with other people for money, and you expect me to trust him.
Kurt: He has no choice!
Mercedes: But you do! You need to go!
Kurt: No! I have to help Blaine!
Mercedes: Don't be stupid! I'm not going to let you bury yourself for a guy you barely know!
Kurt: I'm not asking your permission.
Mercedes: Kurt!
Kurt: You're not my fucking mom okay! I'm a grown man! So do me a favor and stop butting in my life!
Mercedes shook her head, a sad smile appearing on her face.
"…That's what you think I'm doing? Butting in your fucking life?" Mercedes said, tossing Kurt's shirt back at him.
"…You know what Kurt. Do whatever you want. Elope with Blaine if you feel like it, cause I'm done."
Mercedes opened the door. Blaine was still standing on the other side.
"Excuse me," said Mercedes quietly.
Mercedes walked passed him and the others in the common room.
Sam followed her to the first floor.
"Mercedes, wait," Sam said, taking her hand.
"What's going on?" Sam asked.
Mercedes stopped, shaking her head.
"You were right Sam…It think might have been a mistake to come," she told him.
"My grandfather owns like ten cars. I could borrow one, and we can go home right now," Sam said.
The offer sounded real tempting to Mercedes. She was out of ideas on how to help Kurt, and the fact that she was seeing things that weren't there made her know she needed help.
"Samuel."
Sam's grandfather had just entered the building.
"You have to get fitted for your tux for tonight's benefit," he said, walking up to him.
"Yeah, I forgot," Sam said, taking his eyes off Mercedes.
"Miss Jones," Sean Smythe said, holding out his hand to Mercedes. "I may not see you at the benefit, but I would like to say it was a pleasure meeting you. I'm sure you have big future ahead of you."
"Thank you sir," Mercedes replied, shaking his hand.
"Samuel, we musn't keep the tailor waiting," Sean said, walking out the lobby.
Sam looked back at Mercedes.
Mercedes smiled.
"Go, I'll be fine. Promise," she said.
It was the night of the music benefit.
Everyone was dressed in black tie for the event.
Every year the warbler's performed at the benefit to raise money for their music program, but this year they would be singing to raise funds to expand McKinley High school that now held twice as many students.
Mr. Schuester and the other New Directions members were stationed at certain points of the Smythe mansion to greet people and encourage them to donate.
Sam stood with his grandfather on the balcony overlooking the school not too far away.
"I'm glad you came, Samuel," Sean said. "I'm glad I was able to see you've grown up to be an honorable man."
"…You're not dying are you," Sam said.
Sean chuckled.
"Afraid not," he replied, tousling Sam's hair.
Sean: …I feel like I owe you an explanation on how I treated your father.
Sam: You don't have to explain. I get it.
Sean: Really.
Sam: Yeah…my girlfriend's father is kind of the same way.
Sean: Aha! I knew there was a girl. Like I always say behind every great man is a nagging woman.
Sam: Ha, I'll tell grandma you said that.
Sean:[smiling] So, who is the lucky lady?
Sam: nice try. I'm not that dumb.
Sean: Hmph. So, her father's been giving you a hard time.
Sam: Don't get me wrong, I hate the guy, but he has good reasons for not liking me.
Sean: If there's one thing I've learned Samuel, its reasons, even if they're good reasons, don't justify bad decisions.
Sam: Grandpa…
Sean: You're mother will forever be an anomaly to me Samuel. In my old age I understand I was wrong to have treated her and your father so poorly. But then if I had accepted them, you would have grown up under my roof, probably turning out just like Sebastian…And I thank whatever gods may be that never happened. I was always tough on Sebastian but no matter what you tell children, they only look at your actions, and Sebastian managed to pick up every bad thing I've ever done. It's funny, you seemed to pick up every good decision your father made. How in the world did Dwight Evans, the man I've hated for years, create the only saving grace to my legacy?
Sam: Regular beatings.
Sean smiled. "Well, tell him I said 'thank you.'"
"Tell him yourself one day…Maybe Christmas," Sam said.
"Maybe," Sean said, putting his arm around Sam's waist.
The two walked back into the hall.
"So, you're really not going to tell me who this girl is," Sean said.
"Nope," Sam replied.
Santana placed her hand on Puck's back. He turned around.
Santana was wearing a strapless sequined black dress. Her land black hair was brushed to the side of the folders.
"So…what do you think?" Santana said, turning so Puck could get see the entire outfit.
Puck exhaled, shaking his head.
"I think…you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen," he replied.
Santana smiled.
She put her arms around Puck's neck.
"You wanna dance?" she asked.
Puck gently removed Santana's arms, holding her hands.
"Santana…What is this? I mean…what do you want from me?"
Santana rolled her eyes.
"Don't make this complicated Noah."
"I didn't make this complicated. You did. You know how I feel about you, and yet you're playing me," Puck told her.
"I'm not playing you," said Santana.
"You sure you're not just interested because I like Tina now?" Puck asked.
Santana narrowed her eyes.
"…You don't actually like her do you? I thought you were just trying to make me jealous," Santana said.
Puck let go of Santana's hands.
"No…She's pretty cool and smart."
"She's a dweeb," Santana said.
"She's sweet." Puck said, getting defensive.
"Noah, Don't we always have fun together?" Santana said, nibbling at Puck's ear.
Puck smiled.
"Yeah, we do," he said.
"Then live in the moment," Santana told him, pulling him out on the dancefloor.
Mercedes stood in the corner next to the kitchen. She was wearing an indigo evening dress with lace sleeves stopping at her shoulders. Her hair was down in soft curls. Though, rarely wearing make-up Mercedes agreed to let Santana do her eye shadow and mascara.
"How do I look?"
Kurt stood in front of Mercedes, wearing a Dalton uniform.
"You look like a warbler," Mercedes replied.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Kurt said.
Blaine appeared from behind Kurt.
"Mercedes, may I have this dance?" Blaine asked.
Mercedes reluctantly took Blaine's arm, following him to the dance hall where the school orchestra was playing.
Blaine put his hand on Mercedes' waist as she placed her hand on his shoulder. They started waltzing.
Blaine: You're a very good dancer.
Mercedes: You're not bad yourself.
Blaine: …I want you to know that I do care about Kurt.
Mercedes: Sure you do. You cared enough about him to deliver him straight to Sebastian.
Blaine: …I didn't think he'd try and use it against him…Sebastian has issues, but he does have a heart.
Mercedes: like the Grinch
Blaine: [smiling] Yeah, kind of like the Grinch. But he does love his cousin…You two share that in common.
Mercedes: …You know about me and Sam?
Blaine: I saw you two by the lake. Not to mention even when he's talking to someone else, his eyes end up on you.
Mercedes: Why didn't you tell Sebastian?
Blaine: Because I wanted you to owe me a favor you'd have to repay
Mercedes: You're more like Sebastian than you think.
Blaine: Sebastian won't ever stop till he gets what he wants. Kurt won't risk getting me in trouble, but you seem like a person who knows how to make hard decisions.
Mercedes: Well what do you want me to do?
Blaine pressed his face against Mercedes' cheek. "Set me free," he said. Blaine placed a kiss on Mercedes' hand and left.
Mercedes looked over to see Sam dancing with one of the alumni.
"Hey, Mercedes," Tina said, tapping her on the shoulder.
"Kurt's about to sing with the Warblers," Tina told Mercedes.
Mercedes' mind was elsewhere.
"…I'll be right back," Mercedes said.
Mercedes picked up the side of dress, quickly walking out the front door.
All the guests started to gather in the foyer where the Warblers all stood neatly in four rows.
The captain of the Warblers came forward, clearing his throat.
"I want to thank all of you for coming to support us in helping honor the New Directions of Lima, Ohio. As most of you know, the New Directions originally came together because of tragedy but they remain together because they believe in a common goal of peace and understanding. The Dalton Warblers support that goal. Tonight, we've decided to sing a song we feel appropriate to our message tonight and we hope you enjoy it.
The New Directions watched in the audience as the orchestra started to play the accompaniment to a familiar tune. The Warblers began to sing in unison.
I was born by the river in a little tent
And just like that river I've been running ever since
It's been a long time coming
But I know… a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
Cause I don't know what's out there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
Some of the alumni were shocked at the choice of song, seeing as it was regarded as the unofficial song of the Civil Rights movement. The New Directions members stood speechless, a few of them quietly mouthing the lyrics.
I go to the movie
And I go down town
somebody keep telling me don't hang around
Its been along time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will
Mercedes looked at her necklace. She put it around her neck, hiding it deep in her bosom. She picked up the envelope holding the letter she had just finished writing.
"Forgive me Kurt," she whispered.
Mercedes quickly ran down the stairs, hurrying back to the benefit at the Smythe mansion.
Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees
Kurt swayed and sung with the other Warblers. It was strange sight for him on the stage. The white alumni watched in interested silence in the audience, while between each guests was a New Directions member… each of them with tears in their eyes, each internally grieving for a special reason they've probably never told anyone else. It was at that moment Kurt understood why Mercedes answered the way she did at that dinner two nights ago; he understood why music was so important to her, and that realization made his eyes also water when he sang the words to the song.
There were times when I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gone come, oh yes it will
Mercedes arrived back at the party just when the Warbler's finished. The audience applauded.
Mercedes went up to Santana.
"Where've you been?" Santana asked, wiping her eyes.
"I need you to do me a favor," Mercedes told her. She whispered the instructions in Santana's ear.
She handed Santana the letter.
Mercedes looked for Sam, finding him at the bottom of the stairs.
When Sam saw her, his patented crooked smile appeared on his face.
"You look…amazing," Sam said.
"Thanks, I'm glad someone noticed," said Mercedes.
Sam's aunt came up to him, asking him to talk with some alumni at the patio.
"Save me a dance okay?" Sam said to Mercedes, before being dragged off.
Mercedes smiled, leaning on the stairs.
...
"I've been watching you."
Sebastian appeared next to Mercedes.
Sebastian: You left and then came back. What did you do?
Mercedes: Paranoia. It comes with being guilty.
Sebastian: Stalling for an answer are you?
Mercedes: I decided to do the right thing.
Sebastian: You ratted on me. Now I'm going to have to hurt your friend Kurt. I think I'll share his story with the Chicago Times first.
Mercedes: You know I would have kept your secret to the grave Sebastian if you had asked me nicely. You shouldn't have threatened Kurt. You can't seem to get to know people without trying to own them.
Sebastian: Loyalty grown from friendship can't touch loyalty that stems from fear.
Mercedes: And that's where you slipped up. See, my loyalty to my friends will always outweigh my fear. If you had friends, you'd know that.
Sebastian: …You're bluffing. You haven't told anyone.
Mercedes: Does it look like I'm bluffing?
Sebastian: Who. Tell me who you little bitch!
Sebastian's grandfather smacked him across the face. The slap was so hard half the hall heard it.
Sebastian, who had never been hit in face in his entire life, held his jaw that was starting to turn red.
"…Why" he said.
Sebastian saw the opened letter in his grandfather's hand.
"You disgust me," said Sean. "How could you do this?"
"She's lying! Everything she told you!" Sebastian said.
The warblers and the New Directions gathered around to see what was going on.
"It's not a lie. I can see it's the truth in your eyes!" Sebastian's grandfather said.
"She's protecting Kurt Hummel. He's the homosexual!"
"You expect me to believe anything you have to say?!" Sean said. "You would tell any lie to save yourself!"
Sebastian couldn't believe it. Mercedes had managed to shatter his credibility in one swift move.
"Grandfather…please," Sebastian said.
"You've shamed your family and this school. I want out of my sight. I'll deal with you later."
Sam's grandfather turned to Blaine.
"And as for you. I know your father. I'd expect better. Effective immediately, you Blaine Anderson are expelled from Dalton Academy."
"No!" Kurt said, as Mercedes held him back.
"Don't Kurt," Mercedes whispered to him.
Blaine closed his eyes, breathing out slowly.
"Pack your things. I want you out of the dormitory tonight," Sean said to him.
"…Yes sir," Blaine said solemnly, keeping his head down.
Sean left the crowd, going upstairs after Sebastian.
"What did you do, Mercedes!?" Kurt said.
"Shhh. Kurt, I had to. You don't understand. I had to," Mercedes said.
"Blaine!" Kurt said.
Blaine shook his head, motioning for Kurt not to come towards him.
Kurt turned back to Mercedes.
"I'll never forgive you," Kurt said, walking away from her.
As the crowd murmured about how Sean Smythe had just shamed his grandson, Mercedes and Blaine were the only ones left standing quietly in the crowd.
Blaine looked up at Mercedes. Two tears rolled down his eyes as he silently mouthed the words "thank you."
A small smile of relief came on Blaine's face as he walked away into the crowd.
Mercedes shook her head. She had sacrificed Blaine and Sebastian to save Kurt, who now hated her.
No matter how much she loved Kurt, she knew she would wonder the rest of her life if she made the right decision.
Sam moved through the crowd to get back to Mercedes.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Will you take me home?" Mercedes asked, her eyes started to water.
Sam pulled her into a hug and kissed her forehead.
Sean started to come back downstairs when he saw Sam with Mercedes. His suspicions about who his grandson was dating had been correct.
"The circle of life," he said to himself.
Sam's grandfather straightened himself before walking down the stairs with a serious face.
"Samuel" Sean called.
Sam and Mercedes pulled apart but still holding hands.
Sean Smythe stood in front of the two young lovebirds.
"Grandpa-" Sam began.
"Take care of my grandson for me, Miss Jones," Sean interjected.
"Uh… yes sir," Mercedes said.
Sean tossed Sam his car keys.
"I expect you to return my Astin Martin to me Sam, with a full tank of gas… and the rest of your family."
Sam smiled softly.
"Sure thing grandpa," Sam said.
The crowd parted for Sam and Mercedes as they walked out of the house.
Sam drove down the highway as Mercedes stuck her hand out of the car window, letting the wind blow through her fingers.
She was unusually quiet. The look on Kurt's face when he said he'd never forgive her was etched in her memory.
Sam reached over to Mercedes, taking her hand in his.
"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens," Sam sang.
Mercedes narrowed her eyes at Sam.
"What are you singing Sam?" she said.
"Bright copper kettles and worn woolen mittens," he continued.
Mercedes shook her head.
Sam nudged her.
"Sing," he said.
Mercedes rolled her eyes. Though her voice was cracked she started to mutter the tune along with Sam.
"Brown paper packages tied up with strings. These are a few of my favorite things," they both sang.
Mercedes snorted.
"When the dog bites," Sam sang
"When the bee stings," Mercedes echoed.
"…When I'm feeling sad," they both crooned. Mercedes sniffled. Sam pulled her into a one-armed hug
"I simply remember my favorite things…and then I don't feel soooo bad." Sam sang softly as Mercedes started to fall asleep in his lap.
When Mercedes and Sam made it back to Lima, the sun was just starting to rise up into the sky.
They drove past Mercedes neighborhood until they were deep in Lima Heights.
Sam waited in the car as Mercedes climbed up the tall apartment building to Ms. Pillsbury's flat.
She knocked on the door.
Ms. Pillsbury, still dressed in her nightie, answered the door.
"Mercedes?"
"I'm sorry to bother you so early Ms. Pillsbury," began Mercedes.
Ms. Pillsbury, looked Mercedes up and down, noticing she was still dressed in her evening gown from last night.
"Come in," Ms. Pillsbury said, letting Mercedes in.
…
Ms. Pillsbury poured a third cup of tea for she and Mercedes.
"Well…the good news is, I don't think you're going crazy," Ms. Pillsbury stated.
Mercedes let out a sigh of relief. "Praise Jesus," she said.
"However!" Ms. Pillsbury continued. "It's a serious situation."
Ms. Pillsbury: I don't think David Karofksy is actually haunting you from prison. It seems to me your conscience has manifested itself in the likeness of David and is trying to send you a message.
Mercedes: So, you're saying…I'm haunting myself? …That sounds like I'm crazy Ms. Pillsbury.
Ms. Pillsbury: Have you ever read the Tell-tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe?
Mercedes: Yeah, I read it to Artie.
Ms. Pillsbury: Remember when the man in the book swore he could hear the beating of the dead man's heart?
Mercedes: …Yeah? He was a murderor though. He was guilty.
Ms. Pillsbury: …Are you feeling guilty?
Mercedes: …I don't know. I don't see why I should. He kidnapped me. I should be happy he's in jail where he can't hurt me. I shouldn't feel guilty about that.
Ms. Pillsbury: You spent over twelve hours with him alone in a cabin. Are you sure a sympathetic relationship didn't form between you too?
Mercedes: Of course not! I hate him.
Ms. Pillsbury: But-
Mercedes: But nothing. He kidnapped me. He held me in a freezing shack while he had a gun pointed in my face. I was so scared to death all I could look at were his shaking hands holding that damn gun.
Ms. Pillsbury: His hands.
Mercedes: Yeah his hands! I never took my eyes off them!
Mercedes felt a sudden shiver go up her spine. She closed her eyes. When she opened them, she was back in the cabin. Karofsky sat in front of her holding the gun in his cold pale hands.
"Mercedes?"
Mercedes opened her eyes. She was still in Ms. Pillsbury's apartment.
"What did you see?" Ms. Pillsbury.
"I saw…nothing." Mercedes said, a worried look on her face.
Ms. Pillsbury looked at Mercedes.
"Well, I can't do much more to help you. I can tell you that something about that night in the cabin is bothering you, something that won't let you sleep at night. I know it scares you, but the next time you see David come to you, ask him what he wants. Find out what it is, or he'll never leave you alone."
"Thanks Ms. Pillsbury," Mercedes said, getting up from her seat.
"And tell Sam to come in next time," Ms. Pillsbury added, letting Mercedes out.
After Sam had dropped Mercedes off, she took a long shower.
The house was uncomfortably quiet.
Mercedes crawled into her bed. She pulled the covers over her head and closed her eyes.
She was back in the cabin.
Karofsky stood next to her. There was no gun, no chair. He was just standing, with his hands in his pockets.
"…What do you want?" Mercedes asked.
"Mercy…" David said, "Just look at my hands."
Cautiously, Mercedes took a step towards Karofsky as he slowly pulled his hands out of his jacket.
Mercedes looked at his pale hands. She slowly touched them. They were cold. She turned them over. His palms had a few blisters, no doubt from football.
When Mercedes was done, she pulled her hands away from his, not sure what was going to happen next.
To her surprise, a tiny half-smile appeared on David's face.
Mercedes woke up.
"So much for that," she said.
Mercedes got out of bed and went to the kitchen.
She started making herself some breakfast.
She went to the refrigerator to get herself some orange juice, only to keep the door held open.
What stopped her was her right hand holding the fridge door.
It had never bothered her before, but there was a distinct scar on her left hand – the hand she used to open the door in the fire to let everyone out. She had the hand covered in her dress material when she jiggled the handle but the hot glass still managed to burn the end of her hand and the top of her wrist.
Mercedes started to think.
Sam's hands. They had a few burn welts on his thumb and the back of his hand.
Noah's hands. He busted the glass on the door and helped everyone escape. He also hand some lacerations on his wrist and hands. He also had two welts on his neck.
But Kurt was the worst. The heat of the door handle, burnt the palm of his left hand so badly, you couldn't even tell if he had life lines anymore. And his arms had small cuts going all the way to his elbow.
Mercedes, Sam, Noah, Kurt, Mike, all the SCRO members, everyone who was in that building during the fire had some form of second degree burns. Even Shane, who was one of the first students out the school, had his hands wrapped up and some tiny scabs above his eyebrow.
And yet Karofsky had nothing…not even one mark on his pale hands.
"…Oh God." Mercedes breathed.
To be continued…