DISCLAIMER:I DO NOT OWN GLEE NOR ANYTHING ELSE.
ENJOY :)
Mercedes had her earphones in as she walked around the house getting her things together for the trip. Nationals was tomorrow and this year it was going to be in Nashville. She giggled at the thought of Sam being back in his roots. She knew that he was super excited for this for obvious reasons. She grabbed the the folded clothes from the couch and placed them in the bag, humming softly to the music.
Mariana had just walked into the house when she saw Mercedes packing up her stuff. She was glad that she was going with her. She had only been to one of her performances and she was floored by the way Mercedes could sing. Tapping her shoulder, she smiled when she jumped, "Surprise."
Mercedes yanked her earphones out, placing a hand over her chest, "You scared the living shit out of me." She wrapped the taller girl into a hug.
Mariana laughed as she hugged her back, "I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Mercedes giggled as she let go, seeing she didn't have her things, "Where are your bags?"
"Oh, I had Micah go ahead and put them in truck." She said as she sat down on the couch.
Mercedes nodded as she placed the last of her things in her bag.
"Hey girls." Karen said as she sat her purse down on the couch, hugging her daughter and then making her way to hug Mercedes, "Almost ready?"
"Yeah." Mercedes smiled at her as she sat by Mariana.
Karen shook her head, "Well, our flight leaves in four hours so we should be wrapping things up."
Michael came into the living room, clearing his throat, "What's going on here?"
"I was just telling the girls we're about to leave in a few." Karen looked her husband, crossing her arms over her chest.
Mercedes rolled her eyes as she got up from the couch, mumbling to herself.
"Mercedes.." He called after her, waiting for her to stop, he sighed as he rubbed his hands together, "I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to be there."
Mercedes let out a humorless chuckle, turning to her so called father, eyes set on him, "You're only going because you have a meeting that just so happen to be scheduled on the same weekend." She turned around and headed up the stairs with Mariana hot on her heels.
Karen sighed as she looked at him, "I don't know what you expect from her Michael.." She glanced at him one last time before she headed to the kitchen.
Michael plopped down on the couch in a huff. He didn't know what he expected either.
Sam smiled brightly when they made into their hotel room. He was so excited to be back in Nashville, he missed it. Even though they moved to Lima when he was in first grade, he still came here every summer to visit his grandmother.
"You look like you won a fucking lottery dude." Puck said as he sat his suitcase on the floor.
"I'm just happy to be back, that's all." Sam smiled as he plopped on the bed.
Puck snickered as he grabbed his phone, "I can tell."
Sam laughed before he jumped when he heard someone beating on the door, "What the hell.."
Puck frowned as he walked towards the door, looking out the peephole, rolling his eyes when he saw it was Rachel, he sighed as he opened the door, coming face to face with the brunette, "Yes?"
"We have sound check in twenty minutes, make sure you and Sam are not late." She said in a commanding tone.
Sam rolled his eyes from his bed.
"Got it." He closed the door in her face despite her protest, "I don't see how we put up with her these years."
"I don't either." Sam said as he looked over at his friend, hearing his phone ring, he pulled it out of his pocket and smiled once he saw it was Mercedes, "Hey baby."
"Hi.." Mercedes said as she walked down the sidewalk with Mariana and Brittany.
"Did you guys make it safely?"
"Awwww." Puck said in the background, dodging a pillow from Sam with a chuckle.
Mercedes laughed when she heard Puck in the background, "Yes we did. We're actually heading to sound check right now."
"Good, we were just about to leave." Sam said as he got up from his bed, grabbing his jacket, he patted Puck's shoulder and headed towards the door, "I'll see you soon. Love you."
"Love you too." She smiled as she hung up the phone, walking up the steps to the Grand Ole Opry.
The day had finally come for The New Directions and The TroubleTones. Decision time, make it or break it for some of them. But most importantly, it was the seniors last performance of their high school year and emotions were also running high off of that.
Mercedes sighed as she sat down in the chair, letting Karen help her with her hair while Mariana assisted some of the girls with their makeup.
Mariana stood in front of Santana with a slight frown on her face. She still couldn't believe what she did to Mercedes and Sam but she had to put that aside so that she could help all the girls today with whatever they needed, "Do you need any help?"
Santana looked up, rolling her eyes at her, "No I do not."
"Usted no tiene que ser una perra al respecto. Yo sólo estaba tratando de ayudarte." Mariana looked at her dead in the eyes, trying not to lose her cool with the girl.
Santana stood up from her seat and got into her face, "Nadie te pidió que me ayude perra."
Karen stopped curling Mercedes hair when she saw the two of them auguring, "Detenerlo ahora."
"Sorry mom." Mariana threw a glare Santana's way before she moved to the next girl.
"Yeah, sorry Mrs. Jones." Santana glared back at her.
Karen looked at Mercedes and threw her arms up in the air, "What is with you girls?" She asked in whispered as she went back to doing her hair.
Santana looked over at Mercedes, biting down on her lip, she grabbed her dress and headed to the other side of the room.
"Santana did something wrong to Sam and I and we are not friends anymore."
"Oh, okay." She sat the curling iron down and began to pin up Mercedes's hair, "But what does Mariana have to with it."
Mercedes shrugged, "Mariana has never really liked Santana." She glanced over in the girls direction.
Karen nodded, deciding not to get into the teenage drama. They could handle it themselves. She swooped Mercedes bang to the side, smiling as she looked at her step-daughter, "You look beautiful."
Mercedes leaned up and hugged her, "Thank you."
"No problem." She grabbed her phone and purse, "I'm going to head to my seat. Good luck sweetheart." She smiled as she walked out.
Mariana came up to Mercedes in a huff, "So I'm going to head out to my seat too. I don't want to end up in jail." She hugged Mercedes and wished her luck before she headed out.
Mercedes shook her head as she stood up from her chair, looking at herself in the mirror, she smiled. The TT's were wearing a red embellished skater dress and nude colored flats. She looked over when she saw a familiar blonde coming through the door.
"Hello ladies." Sam greeted with a smile on his face.
"Hey Sam." They all spoke before they went back and finished last minute touch ups.
Mercedes crossed her arms over her chest, "What are doing in here?"
"I can't come to wish my girl luck." He smirked as he stood in front of her.
Mercedes smiled up at him. She ran her hands over his black dress shirt, that fitted him perfectly. She chuckled at the amount of gel that was place in his hair, "You look handsome."
"Could do without the gel but it's okay. Thank you." He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closely, "You look amazing too." He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers.
Mercedes smiled against his lips, only pulling back to let out a breathless chuckle when she heard Quinn.
"God, can you guys not kiss for like two minutes." She said with a smirk as they rest of the New Directions followed behind her.
"I'm not sorry." Sam smirked as he kept his arm around her waist.
Rachel pushed passed Quinn, flipping her hair over her shoulder, looking at Mercedes, ready to give her a piece of her mind.
Mercedes held up a finger to her, "Good luck to you too Rachel."
Before the diva could retort back, Ms. Cochran and Mr. Schue came in, "Alright you guys, it's time for the show to start."
Sam let go of Mercedes and smiled, kissing her cheek, "Good luck sweetheart.."
Santana avoided her eyes from the couple, knowing she really needed to learn how to move on.
"You too." She smiled as they walked out of the room. Turning to her team, "Alright guys. This is it. I just want to say despite all the drama, long practices, and other things, we have overcame that. It's time to go out there and shine. Win or lose, I know we are going to do a hell of a job out there. I love you girls and you all we have a special place in my heart no matter what." She looked at each one of them with a smile, eyes flicking over to Santana in a flash, she cleared her throat and put her hand in the middle, "Hands in.."
The TroubleTones stood behind the curtain as they waited for the curtains to drop. They had to admit that it was some tough competition out there but it wasn't nothing they couldn't handle. Up first, they were doing their group number, which was a fun and flirty song that they had picked out.
Mercedes watched as Brittany stood in front of her. She has been her partner all year and this was their last performance together.
Brittany bent down and gave her a hug, "Thank you for being an awesome dance partner."
"Thank you for having me." Mercedes smiled as she kissed the blonde's cheek, hearing the announcer, she let go and made sure there mics on their dresses were on, hearing the crowd applaud and the band starting to play, they all began singing together.
Can't count the years on one hand
That we've been together
I need the other one to hold you.
Make you feel, make you feel better.
It's not a walk in the park
To love each other.
But when our fingers interlock,
Can't deny, can't deny you're worth it
Mercedes swung Brittany's hand slowly as she sung the next two lines by herself.
'Cause after all this time.
I'm still into you
I should be over all the butterflies
But I'm into you (I'm into you)
And baby even on our worst nights
I'm into you (I'm into you)
Let them wonder how we got this far
Cause I don't really need to wonder at all
Yeah after all this time
I'm still into you
Mercedes pointed to Sam in the crowd with a smile on her face.
Sam blushed slightly when he saw people turning to see who she was pointing to.
Recount the night that I first
Met your mother
And on the drive back to my house
I told you that, I told you that I loved ya.
You felt the weight of the world
fall off your shoulder
And to your favorite song
We sang along to the start of forever
And after all this time.
I'm still into you
I should be over all the butterflies
But I'm into you (I'm into you)
And baby even on our worst nights
I'm into you (I'm into you)
Let them wonder how we got this far
Cause I don't really need to wonder at all
Yeah after all this time
I'm still into you
Some things just,
Some things just make sense
And one of those is you and I
Some things just,
Some things just make sense
And even after all this time
I'm into you
Baby not a day goes by that
I'm not into you
I should be over all the butterflies
But I'm into you (I'm into you)
And baby even on our worst nights
I'm into you (I'm into you)
Let them wonder how we got this far
Cause I don't really need to wonder at all
Yeah after all this time
I'm still into you
I'm still into you
I'm still into you
The routine they had was full of silly dances. They were basically just having fun with it. They pose in different positions when they were done, earning a loud applaud from the crowd. They smiled as the curtains closed back and they ended up in one big group hug.
"That was different." Rachel said as she moved to center stage.
Mercedes ignored her and told everyone to go. She wasn't going to let her ruined her and anyone's else mood. She headed to the audience quietly to watch what Berry had up her sleeve.
Rachel held the mic with a small smirk on her lips as the curtain opened.
Close enough to start a war
All that I have is on the floor
God only knows what we're fighting for
All that I say, you always say more
Mercedes mouth dropped as she heard her. That bitch. Rachel stoled the song she was going to sing.
Santana looked down at Mercedes in shock just as everyone else did.
Rachel looked down at Mercedes with devious eyes as she continued to sing the song.
I can't keep up with your turning tables
Under your thumb, I can't breathe
So I won't let you close enough to hurt me
No, I won't ask you, you to just desert me
I can't give you what you think you gave me
It's time to say goodbye to turning tables
To turning tables
Under haunted skies I see you oh
Where love is lost, your ghost is found
I braved a hundred storms to leave you
As hard as you try, no, I will never be knocked down
I can't keep up with your turning tables
Under your thumb, I can't breathe
So I won't let you close enough to hurt me, no
I won't ask you, you to just desert me
I can't give you, what you think you gave me
It's time to say goodbye to turning tables
Turning tables
Next time I'll be braver
I'll be my own savior
When the thunder calls for me
Next time I'll be braver
I'll be my own savior
Standing on my own two feet
I won't let you close enough to hurt me, no
I won't ask you, you to just desert me
I can't give you, what you think you gave me
It's time to say goodbye to turning tables
To turning tables
Turning tables, yeah
Turning oh
Mercedes shook her head as the crowd stood up to their feet clapping for her. She knew Rachel was ruthless but she didn't think she would do something like this. She abruptly got up from her seat and headed to the restroom.
Sam saw her leave and got out of his seat shaking his head. He couldn't believe Rachel would pull a stunt like that but he should've known that she would. He pushed his way in the restroom, causing the women to look at him strangely, "I'm looking for my girlfriend."
Mercedes stood up from the chair that was in the restroom, "Sam what are you doing in here?"
Sam turned his head when he saw her sitting in one of the chairs in the corner, "You're upset. I could see it on your face when you left out."
"I'm just really pissed but I can't do anything about it now." She shrugged her shoulders, "I guess I just have to go to a backup song."
Sam looked at her, "Are you sure you okay Merce? It seems like something else is bothering you besides this Rachel thing?"
Mercedes shook her head, "No..it's nothing." She grabbed his hand and led him to the door, "Lets get out of here because people are staring."
Sam gave the women a glare before he headed out, bumping into her back, "What?" He looked down at her, following her line of sight, he saw her dad walking in on his phone, "Well.."
"Don't jump for joy yet, he's only here because he had a meeting in town." Mercedes turned to him, "Thanks for checking on me but I'm okay." She kissed the corner of his mouth because she heading to the dressing room.
Mercedes let out breath as she pulled her hair behind her shoulders, exposing her necklace that her mother gave her. After getting herself together, she wasn't going to let Rachel's little stunt upset her. She had a backup song and it meant so much more to her and it literally explains what she has been going through for years. She had on a long ivory gown with thin straps and dark purple pumps. She walked towards the middle of stage, waiting for the announcer. She held the mic in her hand nervously, biting down on her lip as the curtain pulled back, looking at her teammates, who were giving her a thumbs up. Her eyes traveling over to the New Directions who were also doing the same thing, well everyone except Rachel. Finally, her eyes drifted over to her brother, who was mouthing not to make him cry. She chuckled as she look at Karen and Mariana, who was holding up their tissues saying that they were ready. She looked over to her dad, who looked as if he was very uncomfortable. He should be she thought. She heard the band start, she placed the mic to her mouth and started to song softly.
I will not make the same mistakes that you did
I will not let myself
Cause my heart so much misery
I will not break the way you did,
You fell so hard
I've learned the hard way
To never let it get that far
Sam felt his own tears as he watched his girlfriend on stage.
Brittany and Santana wiped a tear from their eyes as she watched Mercedes sing her heart out.
Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt
Because of you
I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me
Because of you
I am afraid
She held to mic tightly in her hand, feeling her tears starting to form, placing a hand over her heart.
Mike looked over at Mr. Jones, knowing that she was singing this song about him. The pain that she had to endure for years was finally coming out today.
I lose my way
And it's not too long before you point it out
I cannot cry
Because I know that's weakness in your eyes
I'm forced to fake
A smile, a laugh everyday of my life
My heart can't possibly break
When it wasn't even whole to start with
Michael was fidgeting in his seat as he listen to his daughter practically drag him in this song. All the hurt and pain he has caused her, he was now seeing it for the first time.
Micah looked over at his father in disgust. He was glad that this was making him uncomfortable and he hoped he suffer for it. He got up from his seat and headed out.
Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt
Because of you
I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me
Because of you
I am afraid
She looked out to crowd, her eyes dead set on father. Her tears finally flowing freely, voice cracking as she sang the next few verses with passion, her thoughts going back briefly when she found out her mother died.
I watched you die
I heard you cry every night in your sleep
I was so young
You should have known better than to lean on me
You never thought of anyone else
You just saw your pain
And now I cry in the middle of the night
For the same damn thing
Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt
Because of you
I try my hardest just to forget everything
Because of you
I don't know how to let anyone else in
Because of you
I'm ashamed of my life because it's empty
Because of you
I am afraid
Her voice broke off at the end, covering her mouth with her hand. There wasn't a dry eye in there as the crowd stood up and clapped for her. She looked over at her father, shaking her head as she ran off the stage. Once she got into the hallway, she let out a sob that was threatening to come out when she on stage. She slid down the wall, covering her face with a hands as she broke down. She didn't even have to look up to see who it was when she felt someone wrap their arms around her.
Micah held his sister protectively against him, reassuring her that everything was going to be alright. He knew it's has been along time awaiting for her to breakdown, he just didn't know when it was going to happen. He kissed her forehead as he smoothed out her hair, feeling her shaking against him, he felt his own eyes started to water, "I'm so sorry Mercedes.." He whispered as he laid his head down on hers. He looked over and saw her teammates and the New Directions, "I got her. You guys go ahead on stage."
They reluctantly left, everyone's sad eyes drifting towards Mercedes, even Rachel felt bad for her, wiping her own tears as she walked towards the stage.
Sam looked at his girlfriend, who was being held by her brother. He wanted to be there for her but it seemed she needed her brother right now. He looked at her one last time before he headed for the stage.
A/N. 2 more chapters left for this story and a lot will be happening in those as well! As you can see, I deleted the sequel and I have a reason for doing that. But fret not, it will be back up the first weekend in January!