New Directions: Lima, Ohio 1965 part 14
[Thanks for the awesome reviews guys. This is the chapter before the big Thanksgiving dinner at Mercedes' house. Hope you enjoy :-)]
Quinn adjusted her ponytail in the mirror.
When she checked the time, she grabbed her school bag to head downstairs.
"Mom! I'm running late so I think I'll just eat something at school….Mom?"
When Quinn entered the dining room, she saw her mother crying over pieces of paper.
"Mom…what is it," Quinn said, looking over her mom's shoulder.
Mrs. Fabray quickly crumbled up the pieces of paper and threw them in the trash.
"I can't let you leave without breakfast honey. Let me make some pancakes," she said through sniffles, going to the kitchen.
Quinn cautiously picked the paper out of the trash. She looked over it.
Realizing what they were, Quinn slowly followed her mom to the kitchen.
"Mom…these are divorce papers," Quinn began.
Mrs. Fabray ignored her daughter, turning on the stove.
"Mom, did you hear me?" Quinn said.
"I KNOW WHAT THEY ARE!" Mrs. Fabray snapped. "And I'm not signing them!"
Quinn's lip started to quiver.
"Mom,"
Mrs. Fabray started to cry again.
"We are his family…He can't just throw us away!" Mrs. Fabray said.
Quinn pulled her mom into a hug.
"It's alright mom," Quinn said. "…We'll be okay."
Mercedes was glad when the bell rang, dismissing her to her second period.
It had been a long weekend at Dalton and she was happy to be in the halls of McKinley again.
She was especially excited to see what Artie had been getting himself into the past four days.
Mercedes walked down the hall till she made it to the music room. Nat King Cole was playing out of the record player from the inside. Mercedes opened the door.
"I know you think that I've been gone so long that I'll cut you some slack on your school work Arthur Abr- Oh I'm sorry I thought you were…"
Mercedes stopped when she noticed a boy standing at the piano.
But when Artie turned his head, she realized it was him.
"…Artie?" Mercedes said, walking up to him.
"Surprise," Artie said, as Mercedes remained silent.
"…How are you-" Mercedes began to ask, looking at Artie's legs.
"My braces are under my trousers. I still have some nerves in my upper leg muscle, I just never used them, because I knew I still wouldn't be able to walk," Artie explained.
Mercedes eyes moved up to Artie's face.
She touched his shoulder.
"Artie… you're…you're taller than me," Mercedes breathed, making Artie chuckle.
"I'm miraculously standing, and that's what's blowing your mind, that I'm taller than you?" Artie said making Mercedes' laugh.
"Artie!" Mercedes said beaming from ear to ear. "You've grown up."
"…Glad you noticed," Artie said, biting his bottom lip. He touched the side of Mercedes' face.
"Now," Artie said. "I promised you a dance."
Mercedes laughed.
"You can't walk, but you can dance," she said, as Artie placed one hand around Mercedes' waste.
Mercedes's took Artie's other hand in hers, keeping her left hand on his shoulder.
The two swayed to the music, making sure to keep Artie in the same place so he wouldn't fall.
Mercedes couldn't wipe the big smile off her face.
Artie's eyes stared confidently on Mercedes brown eyes.
"…So how do you like your surprise," Artie whispered.
"I think it can't be topped," Mercedes told him.
Mercedes couldn't help but hum along to the melody, making Artie smile at her.
The song ended.
The two stopped moving.
"Thank you Artie," Mercedes said.
When Mercedes eyes returned to Artie's face, he had stopped smiling.
His eyes were focused on her lips.
Artie moved his hand to Mercedes' cheek, letting his finger move to her chin.
Artie kissed Mercedes on the lips.
Mercedes nudged Artie, moving her face.
"Artie!" Mercedes said moving away.
She touched her lips.
"What're you doing?" Mercedes said, confused at what had just happened.
Artie seemed more confused and upset that Mercedes was.
"But you…" Artie started. "…I thought that you loved me."
Mercedes' heart wrenched.
"…I care about you very much, but I'm in love with Sam. I always have been…I-I thought you knew that," Mercedes said.
Artie's eyes started to go red.
"Artie," Mercedes said, coming towards him.
"You…led me on," Artie said.
Mercedes shook her head frantically.
"No, I-I didn't. You're my friend."
"Get out," Artie said, turning his eyes away from Mercedes.
Mercedes couldn't believe what was happening.
"Artie, I'm sorry-"
"I said…get out," Artie said more harshly.
Mercedes quickly walked out of the music room.
Artie slowly helped himself back into his wheelchair.
"Hey, Kurt. Whatcha readin?" Puck asked, taking a seat next to Kurt in the cafeteria.
Kurt quickly hid his letter from Blaine under the table.
"Nothing," Kurt said, starting to eat his soup again.
Finn, Mike, and Sam showed up at the table, taking seats next to him.
"I've been meaning to ask you Kurt…you and Brittany. You gotta home run yet?" Puck asked.
"A Home Run?" Kurt repeated.
"It's Brittany. She's not that hard to knock out," Finn said, gulping down his milk.
"Knock out…right," Kurt said.
"You're not a virgin are you," Puck asked, noticing Kurt's confusion.
"Me?! Pshhh No," Kurt said, shaking his head.
"It's okay if you are," Puck said.
"…really?" said Kurt, who didn't expect to hear this.
"Why sure. Mike here was one till Brittany took care of that sophomore year," said Puck.
"You're an ass, Noah," Mike said.
Finn and Puck laughed.
"She blew your mind didn't she big boy," Puck said, as Finn hit an embarrassed Mike.
"And what about Sam?" Kurt asked, looking at a quiet Sam.
"Oh man, you are new Hummel. Sam's conquests are legend," Puck said.
Sam kicked Puck under the table.
"He doesn't like to talk about it," Puck whispered.
Puck put his arm around Kurt's shoulders.
"We're buds, so if you need tips I'm here for you. You don't want Brittany moving on to some other jock," he told Kurt.
"Gee thanks," Kurt said, attempting to sound enthused rather than terrified.
"Yeah, Kurt. I'll help you too," Sam chimed in, a devious smirk on his face.
Kurt knew very well that Sam only wanted to help Kurt to make sure he wasn't messing around with Mercedes.
"I'm good, really. Me and Brittany are taking it slow," Kurt said.
"…That's not queer at all," Puck said, making the other guys laugh.
"Leave him alone," Mike said. "Sex can lead to horrible things like VD. Puck knows all about that, don't you."
Sam and Finn snorted out their milk, laughing at Puck's sad face.
"Ugh, that was the worst week of my life. Let me tell you Kurt. Stay away from girls with odd placed piercings," Puck said, scaring Kurt.
The boys quickly changed the conversation when the girls showed up at the table.
Santana, Mercedes, and Quinn took seats next to the boys.
Kurt looked at Mercedes, rolled his eyes, and then got up with his tray.
"What's up with him?" Puck asked, watching Kurt walk away.
"Your syphilis story scared him," Finn said.
"I can't believe you guys are still talking about that," Quinn said shaking her head.
"You okay?" Sam asked, placing his arm around Mercedes.
"Sure," Mercedes said, attempting to smile. "Have you heard from Sebastian?"
"My mom told me my uncle shipped him off to a boarding school in England," Sam said scoffing. "Which is more like a vacation then a punishment."
Mercedes was just glad he was far away from Kurt, who still seemed determined not to talk to her.
But Kurt was the least of her problems it seemed.
An hour into rehearsal, the New Directions members were already snapping at each other.
The atmosphere was stressed, because it was the day they were picking the numbers they were going to perform with the Vocal Adrenaline dancers on Dance Dance Cleveland.
"I have to perform Santa Baby," Santana said.
"It's a Christmas Special with families watching. No one wants to see you molesting Santa Clause on their television," Rachel said.
"I do," said Puck, while the other boys nodded.
"Okay, let's vote to enter Santana's Santa Baby to the list," Mr. Schuester said.
Everyone except Rachel and Finn raised their hands.
"Okay guys, we have to move this along faster." Mr. Schuester said. "We've been here for over an hour and all we have is Rachel and Finn singing Baby it's cold outside; We have the entire group doing Twelve days of Christmas; We have Noah doing The Christmas song; and Santana doing Santa Baby,"
"I could sing White Christmas," Mercedes said.
Most of the group oohhed.
"That'd be lovely Mercedes," Mr. Schuester said, writing it down.
"I wanted to do that song. Mercedes has already had a solo recently," Rachel said.
Mercedes rolled her eyes.
"Can I sing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," Tina interjected.
The group awed.
"That would be a nice one Tina," Mr. Schuester said, writing it down.
"We still need another group number," Finn said.
"What about Deck the Halls?" said Kurt.
"That's good, but it doesn't really seem like a closing number. It should be more heartwarming," Mercedes said.
"Well, what's the point in my talking, if you're going to shoot down my suggestions your highness," Kurt said to Mercedes.
Sam threw a pen at the back of Kurt's head.
"Ouch!"
"Woops, must've slipped," Sam said, with an obnoxious smile on his face.
"What about O Come all Ye Faithful?" Mike said.
"Yes! We could have two of you sing the lead parts in front of the group," Mr. Schuester said.
"I volunteer!" Rachel said, shooting up her hand.
"Any of you boys wants to sing with Rachel?" Mr. Schuester asked.
"I'll do it," Finn said confidently.
"That's sweet of you Finn…but O Come all Ye Faithful is a deceptively difficult piece. I'm not sure you could keep up with me," Rachel began.
Everyone side-eyed Rachel.
"…Well who do you have in mind?" Mr. Schuester asked.
"Jesse St. James," Rachel said.
Santana scoffed.
"You want to sing with THE Jesse St. James of Vocal Adrenaline?" Santana said.
"Why not? I'm sure he'd do it," Rachel said.
"I have to see this," Santana said, laughing.
"Alright guys. We have officially thirty days to have ALL these numbers down packed. And we'll be singing alongside Vocal Adrenaline on TELEVISION where the entire Midwest will be watching. So, I can't stress how important this is," Mr. Schuester said.
"Don't worry. We won't let you down Mr. Schue," said Kurt.
Sam pulled up to the front of Mercedes' house in the Astin Martin.
"When are you going to give this car back Sam?" Mercedes asked.
Sam scoffed.
"Never," he said turning off the engine. "I'll walk you inside," Sam said.
Mercedes laughed, taking of her seatbelt.
"Sam, you know my parents aren't here," Mercedes said.
"That's the best part," Sam said, leaning over on Mercedes' side of the car.
His partly-opened mouth stopped three millimeters from Mercedes' lips as if he was daring his girlfriend to be naughty.
Mercedes slowly opened her mouth, giving Sam permission to partake of her's.
Sam smirked before pulling Mercedes in for the kiss.
They had kissed many times before, and yet every time, Mercedes felt the swoosh in her stomach when Sam's mouth connected with hers.
Sam's hand moved slowly down to Mercedes' skirt that rode up her thighs.
The car was filled with the noise of smacking lips.
Mercedes became aware of her surroundings when she felt Sam's hand in a place where it shouldn't be.
"Sam!"
"Wha wha what," Sam said.
"This is wrong. We're on the side of the street for goodness sake," Mercedes said, still trying to catch her breath.
"Then we can go inside," Sam said, kissing Mercedes' neck.
"You know I can't have boys in the house," Mercedes told him.
"…Alright, alright," Sam said, as Mercedes fixed her skirt. Mercedes opened the car door.
"Wait wait," Sam said, pulling her back in.
"What?" Mercedes said, as Sam bit his bottom lip and smiled.
"…Your hair," Sam said, touching the strands of his girlfriend's ponytail that were oddly sticking out.
"Oh my gosh," Mercedes said, totally embarrassed.
She slapped Sam's hands away and fixed her hair herself, as Sam affectionately kissed her shoulder.
"Okay how does it look?" Mercedes asked.
Sam nodded, trying not to laugh.
Mercedes leaned in, kissing Sam one more time.
Mercedes got out of the car with her school bag.
She took a few steps then quickly turned around, making Sam jump.
"Were you staring at my butt Sam Evans?" she asked accusingly.
"No," Sam said as he nodded his head 'yes.'
"No shame Sam. None," Mercedes said turning around. Mercedes swished her butt side-side as she scuttled to the front door.
Sam reclined in his car seat so he could get the full view of his girlfriend's backside as she went into her house.
Sam looked down at his crotch.
"Baseball, baseball, baseball," Sam repeated as he started the engine.
Mercedes sat by the phone in the kitchen.
Mrs. Jones, who was also in the kitchen preparing for dinner, watched Mercedes pick up the phone for a third time, only to hang it up.
"Mercy, how many times are you gonna do that?" Mrs. Jones asked.
"Sorry mom," Mercedes said, looking at the phone.
"Just call him," Mrs. Jones said.
"He's still mad at me," Mercedes told her mom.
"It can't be too serious. You and Kurt have been through worse," Mrs. Jones said.
"I'm not so sure about that," Mercedes moving the phone away from her so she wouldn't touch it anymore.
Mrs. Jones: Is this about Sam?
Mercedes: No. Why would it be about Sam?
Mrs. Jones: Because, you two are spending all this time together now, and Kurt may be feeling left out.
Mercedes: Kurt didn't get left out. He started dating Brittany before me and Sam even started going steady.
Mrs. Jones: Maybe he did it to make you jealous.
Mercedes: I promise you, that's not it.
Mrs. Jones: You never know. I mean you've been sweet on Kurt since you were sixteen, and now with Sam around, he's not getting all the attention you used to give him.
Mercedes: I'm not sweet on Kurt.
Mrs. Jones: Child please. You still get googly-eyed over him, like he can do no wrong. Why do you think Sam doesn't like him?
Mercedes: I don't know, because…
Mrs. Jones: Because you're sweet on him. Remember when you started dating Shane? He didn't like Kurt either. That's why he introduced you to Santana so you'd have a girlfriend to hang out with instead of another cute boy.
Mercedes: I didn't know that.
Mrs. Jones: Well, it was obvious from my point-of-view.
Mercedes: [scoffing] I really need to talk to Kurt about something important.
Mrs. Jones: What is it?
Mercedes: …I wanted to know if Kurt can remember anything about the fire. My memory of it comes and goes.
Mrs. Jones: I don't think you need to remember anymore. The person responsible is locked away.
Mercedes: I think he's innocent.
Mrs. Jones: What makes you say that?
Mercedes looked at her hands.
"No reason," Mercedes said. Mercedes knew if she told her mom, she may go to the police, and the last time police were involved she was kidnapped. And because there was a high risk that the actual arsonist was still out there, she didn't want to take that chance.
"Well…the truth always comes to light one way or another," Mrs. Jones said.
"Yeah…it does doesn't it," Mercedes said to herself.
It was the next day at school. Mercedes walked cautiously to second period, constantly touching her hair to see if it was okay. She was hoping Artie had some time to cool off, and everything could go back to the way it was. She had already lost a friend in Kurt and didn't want any more people upset with her.
Mercedes knocked on the music room door first.
"Come in," Artie said, casually.
"Artie, I just wanted-"
A McKinley student in a blue dress sat in Mercedes' seat next to Artie.
"Oh, hello Mercedes," Artie said lightly.
"Artie…who is this? I'm sorry, who are you?" Mercedes asked.
"I'm Sarah," the girl said.
"She's Sarah," Artie repeated smugly.
"Hi," Mercedes said, still confused.
She turned her eyes back to Artie.
"…Artie, can I talk to you outside?" Mercedes asked.
"I'll be sec," Artie told the girl, following Mercedes into the hall.
Mercedes waited till a group of kids passed before she spoke.
"Artie, what's going on?" Mercedes asked.
"Sarah is now my tutor. Your services are no longer needed." Artie stated blatantly.
Mercedes prevented herself from asking Artie why he was behaving like this, but she already knew. Mercedes shook her head.
"I thought we were making so much progress Artie," Mercedes said.
"Progress? I don't actually need a tutor. All I need is a dopey girl to deliver me my classwork. And you, unfortunately, took on the extra duty of being a tease," Artie said.
"Don't call me a tease Artie. I helped you," Mercedes told him.
"You used me," Artie said. "You're a wallflower who got tired of being ignored, so you used me to get all the attention you wanted."
"You're a sick person you know that?" Mercedes said. "I never asked you to nominate me for Homecoming Queen or any of that. I was nothing but nice to you."
"You're full of shit," Artie said harshly. "No one's buying the nice-girl act anymore, so you can just save it for the next poor guy you use."
"I know I hurt you…but don't do this okay. You're still a good person. Another girl will like you-"
"Can you wrap this up? I have some classwork I have to go over," said Artie, cutting Mercedes off.
Mercedes shook her head.
"How immature can you be?" she said. "I thought we were friends."
"Friends?" said Artie with a smile. "Sweetheart, you were more like a paid whore. A cheap one at that; you only got two-fifty an hour. Sarah's getting three."
The words hit Mercedes like a slap in the face. She could feel the tears swelling up in her eyes.
"I hope you're happy with yourself." Mercedes said.
She turned her back on Artie and walked down the hall, holding her books to her chest.
When the second period bell rang Sam walked down the hall with Mike.
"Sam!"
Sam and Mike turned around.
"You have to come quick! Something's wrong with Mercedes!" Tina said.
"Where is she? What happened?" Sam said.
"She's in the girl's bathroom! She won't stop crying I don't know what's wrong with her!" Tina said.
Sam and Mike followed Tina to the girls' lavatory. Sam walked in. The lavatory was empty except for Mercedes who was trying to wash her tears away in the sink.
It was a disturbing sight. Mercedes was always a strong put-together girl. Even during the fire, she had enough in her to keep it together to help save everyone else, and yet here she was crying uncontrollably. She had cried this hard once before, but Sam's parents were the only ones to witness it. Something bad had to have happened. Sam knew it.
Sam rushed up to her.
"MJ! What happened? Are you hurt?" Sam asked.
Mercedes tried to talk through her tears, but she couldn't manage it, only making Sam panic worse.
"Mercedes, what's wrong?!" Sam said.
Mercedes shook her head to express that she was fine, but she wasn't convincing anyone with her eyes red from crying so hard.
"Talk to me! Baby, you're scaring me!" Sam said, shaking her.
Mercedes coughed out some more tears, overwhelmed by Sam's forcefulness.
She attempted to speak to explain her condition without freaking out Sam more.
"H-h-h-e," Mercedes stuttered out.
"He who?!" Sam said.
"A-artie," Mercedes said, as her eyes started to leak tears again.
"Is he dead?!" Sam asked.
"Noooo," Mercedes said crying with her eyes closed.
Sam let out a relieved laugh. He pulled Mercedes into his arms.
"Shhhh, it's okay, you can tell me. What happened with Artie? I promise I won't get mad."
…
Artie wheeled himself to the water fountain.
He couldn't erase the look on Mercedes' face when he said what he said to her earlier, but he wanted to hurt her as much as she hurt him. He thought her humiliation would make him feel better, but so far, it did nothing. He had half-expected Mercedes to slap him, but he managed to escape bruise-free…well from Mercedes that is.
Before Artie's lips could even reach the water, Artie was picked up from his chair and rammed into a locker. Artie felt as if he had been hit by a train. Sam held up Artie by his suspenders.
"WHERE THE FUCK DO YOU COME OFF CALLING MY GIRLFRIEND A WHORE?! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR DAMN MIND?!"
Before Artie could answer, Sam punched his Artie in his jaw, while still holding him up with his left hand against the lockers.
"ANSWER ME YOU LITTLE FUCK!"
A crowd of students watched in disbelief.
Sam hit Artie again. Artie, who had never been hit in his life, could not describe the pain surging through him. Though he had resented Sam for years, he never stopped to consider how frightfully strong he actually was or how big his fists were.
"I WANNA KNOW WHAT KINDA BALLS YOU GOT THINKING YOU CAN TALK TO MY GIRLFRIEND LIKE THAT!"
Artie trembled in Sam's arm, having never been so scared in his life.
"I-I-I'm"
"YOU'RE WHAT!" Sam barked.
"I-I'm sorry!"
"YEAH I BET YOU ARE FUCKING SORRY. I BET YOUR SMART ASS CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING CLEVER TO SAY NOW HUH!"
Mike and Tina showed up behind Sam. They were trying to keep up with him when he left the girls bathroom in a heat of fury.
"YOU BETTER STAY AWAY FROM MJ IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU! AND IF I HEAR THAT ANY MORE SHIT HAS LEFT YOUR MOUTH ABOUT MY GIRLFRIEND IMMA KNOCK YOU OUT SO HARD YOU WON'T WAKE UP IN TIME FOR YOUR GRADUATION!" Sam told a trembling Artie.
"Hey Sylvester's coming! Put him down man," Mike said.
Sam dropped Artie onto the hard hallway floor.
Mike and Tina pulled Sam away into the crowd.
Everyone still kept their eyes on Artie, who lay helpless on the ground.
Besides the excruciating pain shooting up his head and his back, the amount of shame and humiliation that engulfed Artie was enough to keep him in the floor for an eternity.
Sylvester arrived just in time to see Artie cough out some blood on the ground.
"Who's responsible for this?" said Ms. Sylvester. The crowd remained silent.
Kurt turned off his car.
He had just made it to the outskirts of Lima, behind an empty diner.
Blaine came out of the diner, and climbed into the passenger seat of Kurt's car.
"Hi," Kurt said, looking at Blaine. "You look good."
Blaine smiled. "What did you expect? To see me in rags?"
The two laughed.
"I'm fine, Kurt," Blaine said.
"I got your letter," Kurt said.
Blaine nodded.
"After my dad kicked me out, I got a one-room apartment in Dayton above a music store. The high school there is nice," Blaine said.
"Do you need money?" Kurt asked.
Blaine shook his head.
"I have a job already. I'm giving piano lessons to ten-year olds if you can believe it," Blaine said chuckling.
"You have a job so soon?" Kurt said amazed.
Blaine nodded.
"In the back of my head I kind of knew that one day I'd get caught. So I had already had a plan in motion on what'd I'd do."
"I still can't believe this happened to you," Kurt said.
"I'm okay, really. All my grades transferred over to the new school. I still may be able to get into a decent college," Blaine said.
"This is my fault," said Kurt.
"No…It's mine. What I was doing with Sebastian was wrong. I'm just happy I can start over," Blaine said, holding Kurt's hand.
"How's the New Directions?" Blaine asked.
"Same old. We have the Christmas special with Vocal Adrenaline coming up," Kurt told him.
"Sounds amazing. I wish I could go," Blaine said.
Kurt scoffed.
"You'd should. You could out sing me on your worst day," Kurt said.
"Don't sell yourself so short," Blaine said. "You're magic."
Kurt leaned into Blaine, kissing him tenderly on the lips.
"I thought I'd never see you again," Kurt whispered.
Blaine smiled, pulling away.
"You'd better go," Blaine said.
"I'll be waiting for your letters," Kurt said.
The two kissed one more time, before Blaine got out of the car.
Mercedes, Tina, Mike, Puck, Santana, Rachel, Finn, and Quinn stood outside the Principal's office during lunch period.
Sam, Mr. Schuester, the football coach were in the office with Sylvester and Principal Figgins.
"Sooner or later that temper of Sam's would land him in Figgins' office," Quinn said.
"There's no way he's not getting suspended," Puck said, pacing up and down.
"Suspended? He's expelled," Mike said.
"I knew I shouldn't have told him," Mercedes said. "This is all my fault."
"Yeah, I think we've established that," Rachel said.
"Why are you even here Rachel?" Mercedes asked.
"For your information, Helen of Troy, I was Sam's friend long before you came along," Rachel said.
"…You have ten seconds to get the hell out of my face," Mercedes said.
"Ten? I'm giving this munchkin three," Santana said, coming towards Rachel.
Just then the door opened.
Sam came out first and then coach and Mr. Schuester followed.
"How bad is it?" Mike asked.
Mr. Schuester shook his head.
"It's not good. Sam has a week suspension on his permanent record…And Artie Abram's parents a petitioning Sam be expelled."
Everyone groaned.
"Sam, go clean out your locker," Mr. Schuester said.
Sam walked away with his coach to go get his stuff from his locker.
"Shit!" Puck said.
"What're we going to do?" Rachel asked Mr. Schuester.
"There's nothing we can do at this point," Mr. Schuester said. "Sam and Artie's parents have a meeting with the principal tomorrow to discuss Sam's possible expulsion."
As the group followed Mr. Schuester to the choir room, Mercedes leaned on the office wall. She closed her eyes hoping the answer to her problem would appear in her head, but when she opened her eyes, she was only met with the hopelessness of Sam's predicament.
Kurt parked his car in the driveway of the house.
He entered his home from the kitchen door, expected no one to be home. He was surprised to see his father sitting in the kitchen table, finishing off the last of the milk from the fridge.
"Dad! You're home," Kurt said, surprised to see his father back early from D.C.
Burt walked up to his son and hugged him.
"Surprised to see me?" Burt Hummel said, kissing his son on the cheek.
"Yeah, I didn't think I'd see you till Thanksgiving," Kurt said, taking a seat at the table, as his dad, went back to the fridge.
"…About that," Burt began.
Kurt knew whatever he was going to say couldn't be good.
"Because the congressional meeting let out so early…I may have to go back during thanksgiving," Burt said.
Kurt couldn't hide the disappointment on his face.
"Dad no! You promised!" Kurt exclaimed.
"I know I know. But it's my first term as congressman, and I don't want to look like I'm slacking off," Burt said.
Kurt kept the pout on his face, unwilling to hear his dad's excuses.
"Alright alright. I'm not making any promises here, but maybe I can make it back by Thursday afternoon so we can cut the turkey together," Burt told his son.
Kurt beamed.
"I'm going to make all your favorites! Stuffing, cornbread," Kurt said excitedly.
"Hold on there," Burt said interrupting him. "I don't want another heart attack."
"Don't worry Dad. Everything will be low fat," Kurt said.
Burt pouted.
"Forget it. I'd rather have the heart attack."
"Dad, don't joke," Kurt said.
Burt looked at his watch.
"It's only three. School just ended. Aren't you home a bit early?" Burt said, checking his watch.
"Oh yeah… Mr. Schuester canceled rehearsals for the day, so I didn't have to stay afterschool," Kurt fibbed to his father.
"That's a bit odd, seeing as you all got that big Christmas TV special you're supposed to be doing. I thought he'd be cracking the whip on you kids," Burt said.
"Yeah. So! Did you see the president?" Kurt asked, changing the subject.
"Not this time. But I did bump into Bobby Kennedy," Burt said, going back to the fridge to find himself a snack.
"Ooh! What was he-"
"Navy blue silk tie, with a grey suit and black shoes," Burt replied before Kurt could even finish his sentences.
"I love the Kennedys' style," Kurt said, leaning his chin on his hand.
Burt shook his head. "I will never understand your fascination with menswear… or ladies wear for that matter," he said.
Quinn made it home by six after cheer and show choir practice.
She wasn't in a hurry to arrive because she knew that her dad had been by earlier to get the rest of his things and that she'd have to deal with whatever state her mom was in.
Quinn put her key in the front door.
"Mom I'm home!"
The house was perfectly clean as usual.
She walked through the living room.
No one was there.
Quinn walked through the dining room to the kitchen where her mom was no doubt taking her anxiety out on whatever she was preparing for dinner.
"Mom?"
On the kitchen counter there was some fresh produce lined up next to each other. She must've been shopping, Quinn thought.
On the breakfast table, there was still some smoking cigarettes resting in the crystal ashtray.
Next to the ashtray was an open wedding album.
Quinn touched the album. On top of her parent's wedding picture some ash had been flicked on her dad's face.
Quinn closed the book.
It was too quiet.
"Mom! Are you home?" Quinn called.
She walked up the stairs.
Her parent's bedroom was closed but unlocked.
She pushed the door open slowly.
Her mom lay flat on the bed unconscious.
Mrs. Fabray's lifeless arm dangled over the bed next to a pile of pills spilled on the carpet.
Quinn let out an ear-splitting scream.
Artie looked at himself in the bathroom mirror.
After washing off the scabbed-over blood on his cheek, Artie assessed the true damage of his beating.
The left side of his face, from the bottom of his eye to under his chin was purple and slightly swollen. Now that Artie had calmed down, he was a bit grateful that Sam hadn't hit him in his glasses, because he surely would have blinded him. Right at the opening of Artie's mouth was a cut, which the doctor had to close up with three stiches. Artie's bottom molar was loose, so his mom set up an appointment for him to see the dentist tomorrow.
His parents were still downstairs discussing the option of homeschool and how public school was too dangerous for him. Mr. Abrams kept telling Artie on the way home from the ER how brave Artie was for standing up to "that Evans brute." This thought made Artie feel even worse about himself.
For so long, he had theorized what a zero Sam Evans was; years he had convinced himself that without those looks only existed a vapid moron who cared more about popularity than anything else. But now Artie understood, that not only was Sam not the bad guy, but that he himself was less than zero. He was the jerk, and he was the bully who humiliated the only friend he had.
Artie looked back at his reflection, licking the cut on his mouth.
"Be a man Artie," he said to himself.
Mercedes and Mrs. Jones washed the dishes while Mr. Jones watched the game in the living room.
"You were quiet today at dinner," Mrs. Jones said, nudging Mercedes as she dried a plate in her hand.
"I'm thinking about Sam," Mercedes said gloomily. "I don't know what's going to happen to him."
"Have you talked to him?"
Mercedes shook her head.
"His parents grounded him, so he's not allowed to speak to anyone."
"I would've done the same thing," Mrs. Jones replied honestly.
Mercedes: I'm a little scared. I mean where does it end? He punched out a boy in a wheelchair. What if one day I meet the president of the United States, and he makes me cry?
Mrs. Jones: Then the president better learn how to duck before Sam smacks him.
Mercedes: [smiling] I'm serious.
Mrs. Jones: Okay, okay. Just look at it this way. You've been seeing this boy for awhile now. You know what sets him off. Learn from your mistakes.
Mercedes: But I don't want to hide stuff from him.
Mrs. Jones: Child please! Secrets are key to any successful relationship, especially when your man is bullheaded. See your father? I sneak his heart medication into his food every day, because he's still too stubborn to take them. I've been doing that for ten years! He still doesn't know.
Mercedes: Mom, that's horrible.
Mrs. Jones: Hey, he's alive isn't he? And you know how angry he gets when his blood pressure drops.
Mercedes: I guess I see your point. I still can't believe you drugged dad.
Mrs. Jones: I put iron in your eggs all through middle school
Mercedes: Mom!
Mrs. Jones: When you become a woman, you'll understand.
Just then the doorbell rang. Mrs. Jones took off her apron before going the front door. She opened it. Quinn stood on the porch. She was wearing a dress but no jacket even though it was very cold outside.
"May I help you?" Mrs. Jones asked, unsure of who this girl on her doorstep was.
Quinn wasn't expecting someone else besides Mercedes to open the door.
Quinn rubbed her hands together as she trembled.
"I-I'm sorry to bother you," she said timidly.
"Quinn?"
Mercedes had just arrived behind her mom, to see who was at the door at this time of night.
Quinn moved her hand along her arm as she kept her eyes toward the ground.
"I just got b-back from the hospital. My m-m-mother…tried to kill herself. The doctors don't know if she'll make it."
"Oh my god, Quinn," Mercedes said unable to fathom what Quinn was feeling.
"Th-the house is empty," Quinn said. "…My dad left, and my sister lives in Albany. I'm s-sorry I just…I had nowhere else to go-"
"Shh come in now," Mrs. Jones said, pulling Quinn into the house.
Quinn cried into Mrs. Jones shoulder.
"Mercedes, go into the kitchen and make some tea," Mrs. Jones said. "It's alright now sweetheart. Everything will be okay."
It was the next morning.
Artie watched Mercedes from across the library.
Cautiously, he came up to her, parking his wheelchair across from her at the table. She took no notice of him, silently turning the page of her history book.
"Hi," Artie said.
Mercedes said nothing.
"That boyfriend of yours has a mean right hook," Artie said.
Mercedes glanced up at Artie.
"Nice scar," she said, referring to under Artie's lip.
"Yeah, I lost a tooth too if you can believe it," Artie said with a smile.
Mercedes, who didn't laugh, brought her eyes back to her book.
Artie nervously cleared his throat.
"I have something for you," Artie said, holding up wrapped present.
"Why don't you give it to Sarah Artie? I'm busy," Mercedes said coldly.
Artie: I was wrong to fire you... I was hurt, and I wanted you to feel the way I did.
Mercedes closed her book.
Mercedes: Congratulations Artie. You hurt me.
Artie: I'm really sorry
Mercedes: I really don't care how sorry you are. It's clear to me now that you don't know how to treat people. And I have no interest in knowing you anymore.
Artie: I want you to come back to tutor me.
Mercedes: No thanks
Artie: I can get you the $3 bucks an hour.
Mercedes: I stopped picking up my paycheck two weeks after I started tutoring you.
Artie: …You did? Why.
Mercedes: Because…I didn't see the point in getting paid for something I'd do for free.
Artie: Oh…
Silence fell between the two.
Artie: I talked to my parents and Figgins. I told them that I started the fight and Sam was just defending your honor
Mercedes: And why would you do that?
Artie: Because it's true. I had no right to speak to you like that, and I deserved worse.
Mercedes: No you didn't. I wouldn't wish my worst enemy to get hit by Sam's fist.
Artie smiled then winced at the pain in his jaw.
Artie: You were the only friend I had and I took advantage of that. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I hope one day we can start over.
Mercedes: …I don't think so Artie.
Artie: I'm not going to give up.
Mercedes: You should.
Artie placed the gift on Mercedes' book.
Artie: Well I'm not… I'm going to win you back Mercedes Jones/
Artie slowly reversed back, then went out the library. Unbeknownst to Mercedes, he watched from the entrance, peaking over to see what Mercedes would do with his present.
Mercedes slowly picked up the gift, unwrapping it.
"Okay…" Artie said to himself, "If she smiles…then she forgives me."
Mercedes looked at the box of chocolates shaped as musical notes.
She smiled.
"Yes!" Artie whispered.
Mercedes then got up and tossed the chocolates in the trash bin before taking a seat back at the table.
Artie winced.
"Okay…this may be harder than I thought," he said.
The New Directions sat at the cool table in the cafeteria.
"Have I told you you're just about the luckiest bastard I've ever met?" Puck said, tousling Sam's hair.
"Right? I thought he was getting the axe for sure," Mike said.
"I don't know. Artie's parents changed their mind. But Sylvester and Figgins are making me do community service," Sam said.
"I'm glad this was all settled," Mercedes said. "Black and White stripes would look horrible on you."
"Hey! I didn't kill anybody," Sam said innocently.
"You beat a disabled kid within an inch of his life," Mike said. "They should have arrested you."
"I barely touched him!" Sam exclaimed.
"Uh no," Mercedes said, with a smile. "He talked to me today. Your heart was in the right place, but the boy can whistle through the hole in his chin now."
The others shook their heads.
"You saw him? What did he say?" Sam asked.
"He apologized," Mercedes said softly.
"And what did you say?" Sam said.
Mercedes shrugged her shoulders.
"That apologies weren't enough," she replied.
Mercedes and Kurt's eyes momentarily met before they looked away from each other.
"It's obvious he's in love with you," Santana said blatantly.
"No he's not," Mercedes said, narrowing her eyes at her friend.
"No, Santana might be right," Puck said.
"If that's the case, then maybe Artie may even try to join the New Directions to win back your heart," Mike said analytically. "That's what I would do."
Mercedes' stomach lurched, having never considered the thought.
"Nah…He hates singing," Mercedes said.
"I thought you said he was the best male singer you ever heard?" Santana said.
Mercedes kicked Santana under the table.
"The tuna surprise is good today," Mercedes said, changing the subject.
"Wait…this is tuna?" Finn said, looking at his plate.
"Where's Quinn?" Tina asked, noticing she wasn't there.
"She wasn't feeling well," said Mercedes.
She leaned into Sam.
"Quinn is staying at my house, so you'll see her during thanksgiving. But don't tell anyone," Mercedes whispered to Sam.
"Is everything okay?" Sam asked.
"I'll tell you after school," Mercedes told him.
"Where were you Kurt? Schuester was upset you didn't make it for practice," Santana said.
"Just felt like playing hooky," Kurt answered coolly, earning a five handshake from Puckerman.
Mercedes side-eyed Kurt. By the unusually deep tone in his voice, she could tell he was lying, but she wasn't about to interrogate him.
Everyone stopped talking when PA system in the school came on.
"Good Afternoon McKinley. This is your Principal. Will students Mike Chang, Kurt Hummel, Sarah Jacobson, Mercedes Jones, Noah Puckerman, Cindy Rawlins , and Matthew Rutherford please come to my office. Immediately."
There was some static when the announcement ended.
"What is that all about?" Tina asked.
"Maybe they're in trouble," Rachel said.
"Like Mercedes would ever be in trouble for the same thing as Puckerman," Santana said, also curious as to the odd announcement.
Mike, Mercedes, Kurt, and Puck got up cautiously from their seats, walking to the office.
…
Mercedes and the others sat in Mr. Figgins' office. Police Chief Fabray and the District Attorney stood behind Mr. Figgins.
"You're all are probably wondering why you were called you in today."
The students remained silent.
Mr. Figgins continued.
"All of you were members of the Student Civil Rights Organization and were preset in the Roosevelt High basement on September 12th 1965. There will be two hearings in which you will give testimony against a one David Nathaniel Karofsky for Arsony in the first degree and Attempted Murder in the first degree."
The District Attorney stepped forward.
"We know some of you are are still traumatized by the event. So we're giving you the option of giving us an affidavit, in which you tell us exactly what you know and what you remember. How many of you are willing to do that?"
Most of the students raised their hands.
"Good," Chief Fabray said. "But we must warn you, even if you're not in court, if you lie in your affidavit, it is perjury. In a sensitive case like this where someone's life is on the line, something like perjury could get you some jail time, even if you're minors."
The students remained silent. Mercedes caught eyes with Quinn's father, before quickly turning her gaze somewhere else.
"We'll be meeting with you separately after Thanksgiving to get your testimony," the D.A. said.
Mr. Figgins let the students out who filed quietly out into the hallway.
"Well this puts a damper in my holiday spirit," Kurt said.
Mercedes gulped.
"Kurt…There's something I have to tell you."
To be continued…
[This is probably the last short chapter. The next one will be a doozy]