A/n: So Sam and Mercedes wouldn't just let me end on that note. I had to do something else, so here is a short add on to chapter 19. Hope you guys like it!

Chapter 19 (part 2)

Mercy's POV

A week had passed since Sam and I had broken up, and I hadn't told my parents a thing about it. I was still coming to terms with it myself. He wanted to be friends, but I wasn't sure if I could do it. I was unintentionally shutting him out. Seeing him in class and after school in Glee Club was difficult. I'd make sure that I wasn't in his immediate vicinity, but I would always catch him staring at me sometimes. I couldn't fault him though. I did the same thing.

Tonight, I was curled up on the couch with a stuffed teddy bear that Sam had bought me. We'd named it Evan Jones, sort of combining our names. I clutched it to my chest tightly as I watched The Notebook.

"Mercedes," my mother called my name just as the credits were rolling and I was wiping stray tears from my cheeks. "You're watching another tear jerker?"

"Yes."

"What's up, sweetie? Talk to me." She sat down next to me.

"You're not going to like what I have to say."

"Is this about Sam?"

I nodded. "He and his family are homeless, mama. They live in one room in a motel."

My mom didn't give me a chance to tell her about the break up, she said, "Call him."

Confused, I asked, "What?"

"Call Sam."

Grabbing my phone, I dialed Sam. The phone rang only twice before he picked it up. "Mercy!" he sounded so excited and I winced at the ache I felt in my chest at his eager tone. I'd missed his voice, his laugh, and his smile.

"Hey, my…my mom wanted me to call."

"Tell him to put his dad on," Mom directed.

I nodded, relaying the message and handing her the phone. "Christopher Evans, how could you!" she yelled. "You're my best friend and I should have known. I could've done something." Mom paused. "I don't pity you! There is no sympathy! How could you even think that! Chris…Chris listen, pack your things. You're moving in with us."

Frowning, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My mom was actually about to move an entire family into our house. It was big enough, and we could afford it with no problem. Who was I kidding, they did it for Quinn without even really knowing her well. They'd just known that I vouched for her. Sam and his family was an entirely different story. Sam wasn't just my boy - ex boyfriend – he was a part of the family. Our parents were close friends, and no matter happened between Sam and I, nothing would change that for them.

"We have room!" Mom argued. "The kids can move into the David's room or the guest room, or they could have separate rooms. You two could have the basement, and Sam could have his choice! Or he could bunk with Mercy. At this point, I don't care. I just want you guys out of there. Please!"

There was a long pause and my mother was shaking her head in disagreement. "First of all, I will buy Sam more minutes for his phone since I'm running them up. Don't you dare hang up on me!" Was my mother crying? "Just let me help you!" she begged. "Chris, please."

Sam's POV

There she was, standing in the doorway awkwardly, wringing her hands. She was beautiful as always and a sight for sore eyes. I missed her like crazy.

"What boxes are coming today?" she asked instead of saying hi.

I pointed toward the few boxes we'd packed up already, and she walked past me to retrieve one of them. I touched her shoulder, but she kept walking like she felt nothing. I'd done this to us. When I said we could go back to the way we were, I didn't mean literally that we'd ignore each other, but I guess I couldn't have my cake and eat it too.

"I can't believe we're moving out of this hotel and into your house," I tried making small talk as we moved boxes to her car.

"My mom is stubborn."

"And my dad couldn't stand hearing her cry."

Mercy looked up into my eyes. "She loves him…and y'all." But I knew she wasn't talking about her mother when she said what she said.

"He loves her…and the rest of your family too."

For a long moment she just stared at me before rubbing the back of her neck, and I knew what was there. Her very permanent tattoo was now a reminder of what we weren't. Looking away from me, she said, "We were supposed to be permanent."

"I'm sorry. Do…they know?"

She shook her head no, knowing that I meant her parents. "Mine either, but I guess they'll find out now that we live under the same roof."

"Oh, um, apparently there's a problem with the basement, so you have to sleep in my room until it's fixed. Unless you want to sleep on the couch, or something?"

"I suppose it's okay. Friends have sleepovers, so we can think of it that way. We can sleep feet to head. I'll sleep on top of the covers if that makes you more comfortable," I babbled on.

"It's fine. I know where we stand."

I felt a pain in my chest at the sad tone of her voice. This was no picnic for me, but it would be even harder now. There would be no avoiding her. I would see her every morning, at school, and every night after work. Part of the reason I set her free was because I wouldn't be able to see her that often, but now I would see her more than I ever thought possible.

"Mercy, don't do this. I wanted us to be friends, not strangers." Walking over to her, I wrapped my arms around her in a hug.

"I don't know how to do this," she admitted, and truth be told, neither did I.

This will certainly make Prom Queen interesting! And also to JessiMae, the song will be in the next chapter! I used it as inspiration for this one and I know exactly how I'm going to incorporate it next chapter! Thanks for that blast from the past!

Thanks as always for the reviews, alerts and favorites. I'm blown away by the response I continue to get from this story!