***Several request for Homecoming part 2- here it goes... Hope you enjoy it... And no there won't be a part 3 lol... There will be a part 3 to Sam the mechanic tho and bonnie & Clyde...I don't own glee tho***

Sam watched as Mercedes and Derek engaged in conversation as they all mingled at a small gathering Rachel was hosting. Mercedes kept laughing at what was most likely dumb jokes. He felt they couldn't be that funny because she wasn't laughing how she laughed when Sam made her laugh. Something wasn't right about her and Derek being together. The more he saw them together the more he hated Derek.

"If looks could kill... you'd be serving 15 to 20!" Quinn said sitting next to Sam.

"What are you talking about, Quinn?" Sam asked without looking at her. Derek was now telling a joke to Mercedes and Kurt and they were both laughing now.

"You've been staring at Derek as if he stole something that belonged to you!"

"Well didn't he?"

"No... he didn't!" Quinn said standing in front of him causing Sam to look at her. "Look Sam, I know you're upset and hurt, but Mercedes is happy!"

"She's not really happy."

"She's been smiling ever since she's been here and Derek is the cause of that! You have to respect that she's happy..."

"Quinn, those aren't real smiles. I know her! The smiles she had with me were happy smiles... that right there..." He said pointing in their direction with his chin as Quinn turned to look. "Those are forced smiles." Quinn looked for a minute and noticed Mercedes sneaking looks over at Sam before laughing again.

"Maybe... the smiles are different... maybe the happiness she had with you is different but it doesn't mean she's not happy with him."Quinn paused. "Just promise me you won't do anything to break them up... let her come to you on her own."

"I won't do anything like that... I'm not like that..."he paused when Quinn arched her brow at him. "Okay maybe I was... but I'm different now."

"Alright Sam!" She said before walking away, knowing he was lying. Sam returned his gaze on Mercedes and smiled when she walked his way leaving Derek talking to Kurt and Puck. He shifted nervously but kept his gaze on her.

"Hey!"

"Hey!" He responded giving her a lopsided smirk. She played with the drink she had in her hand and smiled at him.

"So... you're coaching now..." She started. Sam nodded still smiling at her as she nervously avoided eye contact. "Are you enjoying that? Are you finally happy?"

"Yeah... I love being a coach... I could be happier though but it's a process, I guess."

"I'm really proud of you..."

"Are you happy, Mercedes?" Sam asked cutting her off. He didn't believe those smiles and laughter. He couldn't accept her being happy with anyone else. He just wanted to hear her say she was happy and mean it, otherwise he wasn't going to accept it.

"Of course I'm happy... I'm doing what I love with the people I love!"

"Are you sure about that?" He asked stepping closer to her. "Are you sure you're truly happy?" He asked again. She looked back at Derek and noticed he was fully engaged in conversation with Puck at this point. She grabbed Sam's hand and took him outside.

"Sam... I know it's hard for you to see me dating someone..." She stated once they were outside.

"You think it's hard?" Sam chuckled. "It burns for me to see you with him..." He said putting emphasis on burn. She closed her eyes obviously remembering that she said that to him. "I waited for you... and you come waltzing back to Lima with Patrick Swayze..."

"What?"

"Acting like you're happy..." Sam continued. "I know what you look like when you're really happy... I know you, Mercedes and this isn't you!"

"Sam... I am happy!"she replied softly. "You can't keep doing things like this."

"Like what?"

"Any time I'm with someone you try and break us up..."

"All I'm doing is speaking the truth... I know you're not happy with that guy..."

"His name is Derek..."

"You're not happy with that guy... not like you are when you're with me!" Sam said ignoring her correction. Sam took her hand and pulled her closer to him. "I'm still in love with you, Mercedes!" He said staring into her eyes. She stiffened a bit and he smiled. "I'm not going to kiss you... even though I really want to right now..."

"Mercedes, are you out there?" Sam heard Derek's voice say causing them to pull apart. Sam smiled at her one last time before walking off, leaving her alone on the steps. "There you are, Mermer! Why are you out here alone?" Sam watched as Mercedes walked back into the party with Derek.

Sam left and didn't return to the party that night leaving Mercedes with her thoughts. She pretended to have fun at the party but her mind was on Sam. She didn't think this was going to be this hard. She knew Sam would be upset, she expected him to say he'd fight for her, she expected him to kiss her that night on the steps as well. He didn't and he didn't fight for her either. When he didn't pursue her it made her realize she didn't want to be with Derek like she thought she did. She dated Derek because she knew if she came back single and Sam was dating that it would be hard for her to look at him.

Now she sat not too far from him at the Glee Club Alumni bonfire stealing glances his way. He didn't stop looking at her though. She could see he was hating every moment Derek would whisper something in her ear. Again, she pretended to laugh at his jokes. She continued to pretend she was happy with him. She knew then that she had to break up with Derek. She didn't want to go down the same lane as she did with Shane.

"Derek, can we go somewhere and talk?" She asked turning her gaze to him. He smiled rubbing her arms gently.

"Sure Mermer!" He replied. They got up hand and hand walking right past Sam. Mercedes felt Sam's eyes on her as they walked inside of the school. Mercedes led Derek into the choir room and sat down silently thinking if the best way to break things off where he wouldn't quit as her choreographer. "What's going on, Mermer?" He said holding her hands.

"Can you please not call me that?" She asked. He looked shocked and letting go of her hands. She never liked it when he called her that. Another thing she pretended for the sake of being with him.

"Ummm sure, sorry!"

"Derek...I... I'm so happy I met you..."

"I'm happy I met you too! I've never been this happy with a girlfriend before. I was even thinking about telling my parents about you and..."

"Wait... let me finish please..." Mercedes said placing her hand on his. He was about to make this harder now. "You came around a time when I was extremely lonely and... I... feel like you were a great friend... still think you are and want us to continue in the route..."

"Mermer... sorry... Mercedes!" He said pulling his hand away from her. "Are you breaking up with me?" She didn't immediately answer. "You've got to be kidding me!"

"I'm still in love with someone else."

"Sam?" He questioned. Her eyes looked up at him and it was all the confirmation he needed. "I knew it! I knew it!" He said walking over to the piano. "You know your friends sort of warned me. They said that you and Sam do this all the time, playing with peoples hearts!"

"I didn't intentionally play with your heart!"

"You did! You told me you were over him! And I believed you!"Derek shouted startling her. This was going the way she hoped. She'd never seen him upset like this before.

"Derek... I'm really sorry... I really believed I was over him as well..."

"Bullshit!" He said cutting her off. "The moment you cut days out of the tour just to come help an "old friend" I had a feeling you were coming here for him! That's why I had to come! I had to see if you really were over him. I almost believed you!"

"I... I'm sorry!" She said getting up to at least try and hug him. She hated that she hurt him this way.

"Save it!" He said backing away from her. "Have fun with Sam!" He smiled at her nodding before walking out of the choir room.

Sam became worried when Mercedes was gone for too long. He watched them walk into the school and wondered if she was actually leaving. He got up after waiting on them to return to the bonfire when Quinn stopped him.

"Sam... let her come to you!"

"I can't Quinn!" He said walking past her and running inside of the building. He knew she wasn't in the auditorium since it was locked up at this hour. So he ran to the choir room bumping into Derek. "Hey!" He said feeling as he'd been caught stalking. Derek looked upset, and he was alone. Where was Mercedes?"

"Treat her right, Sam!" was all he said before walking past him and back towards the bonfire. Sam unsure of what just happened continued towards the choir room where he found her sitting alone.

"Mercedes?" She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. He hated seeing women cry but he really hated seeing her cry. Knowing in a way, he was the cause of it. He walked into the room and sat next to her as she sobbed. He pulled her into his arm. It all was a bit familiar, reminding him of how she cried when they broke up.

"I told him about us." She said reminding him again of the other time they broke up. Well, they sort of broke up. This time he didn't say anything. He just held her, afraid he'd say the wrong thing. "We gotta stop doing this!"

"I wonder... how many times we gotta do this before we get it right?" She looked up at him and smiled.

"I actually thought you gave up on us!" She said. He wiped her tears off her face and kissed her softly.

"I'm never giving up on us!"