Mercedes laid in bed staring at the ceiling; she couldn't sleep. Her mind wandered back to an hour ago when Sam kissed her. It wasn't just a kiss. It was a statement, a declaration, and she had no idea how to handle this. Her eyes closed, feeling his hands roam her curves, tongue caress hers, and his body pressed firmly around hers.

But when they broke apart, Sam got a worried look on his face and ran his hand through his hair as he did when he pulled away deep in thought and just kissed her forehead, saying good night, then left to get ready for bed. How could he continue to fluster her and drive her crazy by doing nothing but touching her or kissing her? How could this be normal? People didn't fall for their best friends; this is real life and not some game or book, some fanfiction. This is a woman who needs to get her mind right.

After a few restless hours and barely sleeping, she threw on her robe and walked out of the bedroom to the kitchen. As she reached it, she froze, seeing a shirtless Sam standing over the stovetop.

"Since when have you been an early bird?"

Sam smiled, motioning for Mercedes to take a seat across from him. "Since I wanted to thank you for being here by making you breakfast."

She raised an eyebrow as Sam went to work on breakfast. "Gotta say grown-up Sam is really growing on me."

"Mercedes, I am 28. I've been grown."

"Oh?" She glanced around his living room and smiled. "The comics and Anime gave me pause."

"Excuse you, Ms. Fancy Lawyer, but you are just as into Anime and Marvel as I am. So how about you stop being so uppity and try these eggs."

Sam held the spoon up, and Mercedes leaned in, tasting the eggs, and let off a slight moan. "Oh wow, these are so good...wait… are these my eggs?"

Sam smirked. "The ones you taught me to make for my mom when I was 17, yes. And yes, it gets better with age, just like me."

Mercedes shook her head. "I swear I can't with you!"

"I think you can. That's why you are still here!"

Mercedes threw a hand towel at Sam and laughed. "So, are you ready for the rehearsal dinner? Are we wearing the same color or something different? I have a lot of choices."

Sam placed her plate in front of her and smiled. "I lifted your bag; trust me, I know. But it's up to you."

"I mean, if we are together, maybe matching wouldn't be totally bad. I guess I just have to look at your closet and see what we can find."

"Please just remember I have a gig tonight, so whatever you have me wearing should look good."

"Sam, you always look good; the outfit is just a formality."

She glanced over and notice a blush on Sam's face and looked back down to her food. "This really is delicious."

Sam nodded. "I want to show you something today. Feel like going on an adventure?"

Mercedes turned to him and smirked. "What kind of adventure? Because last time you said those words, we were egging Will's house, and you have to carry me because I had a cast."

"And you enjoyed every minute of it."

"Fine, Sam, we can go on an adventure, but if you make us late for the reception, your family will never forgive you."

Sam fist-bumped the air and hit her shoulder with his. "Get dressed, wear something comfortable and sneakers."

Mercedes drank down her orange just and nodded. "Well, I better go get dressed."

SMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMSMMSMSMSMSMS

Sam pulled into the parking lot and smirked, looking at Mercedes's face. "Hey, you agreed to go on an adventure with me."

"I didn't agree to go on a hiking trail. Do you know how long it's been since I have walked a trail?"

"Well, now, you get to get back to your roots. Come on."

Mercedes frowned, rolling her eyes as she stepped out of Sam's truck. "I hate you."

"You love me."

"No, Sam, this right here is a deal-breaker. This makes me hate you."

Sam pouts while staring at her. She bit her bottom lip; she could never stay mad at him, even if she wanted to.

"Let's just go on this stupid trail."

Sam pulled out two water bottles and locked his door. She took his hand as he leads her up the trail. Though Mercedes hated the place, she could admit it was beautiful. As they walked uphill, Mercedes stopped for a moment. "Are you kidding me, Sam? Aren't we there yet?"

"I feel like we should be in a care, and you should be a kid in the backseat."

"Sam, I work out on a treadmill in the comfort of my home; this, all this nature is killing me."

"Come on, Diva, let's go." Sam teased, pulling her closer to him. "If I have to carry you the rest of the way up, I will."

Mercedes shook her head as they reached the spot Sam wanted to show her. Sam stilled for a moment. "I found this spot off the beaten path a year ago and couldn't wait for you to come back home so I could show you."

Mercedes nodded as Sam lead her through trees and towards a waterfall. "Sam! This is, Oh Sam, this is so beautiful."

She glanced around at the clear water and flowers and rocks surrounding the place. Sam stood behind her as she took everything in. Mercedes felt her breath hitch as Sam moved closer. "Sam, thank you for showing me this place. It's perfect."

"I figured it was time for you to see another part of me, one that no one sees."

Mercedes smirked, turning towards him. "And here I thought I knew everything about you, but now I am finding out that you can cook and clean...and kiss."

"Have you seen my lips? Of course, I can kiss."

Mercedes shoved him and walked closer to the waterfall. "Okay, so tell me what is behind there?"

Sam shrugged. "I haven't; I haven't checked."

"You? Mr. Adventure and I am up for everything?"

"Wanna check it out? Share this with me?"

Sam outstretched his hand, and Mercedes hesitated to grab it. Things were getting more and more confusing by the day. She went from confident she and Sam were destined to be best friends forever to wondering if maybe they could be more. ANd this seemed like something you experienced on a date, not on whatever this was. But his eyes pulled her in, and she found herself reaching for him and walking closer to the edge. Sam let her go and kicked off his shoes, then pulled his shirt off.

"Sam, I don't have a swimsuit."

"I don't either, but that is not going to stop me, and it never used to stop you!"

"Samuel, you swore we would never speak of that night!"

Sam shrugged, "I still don't know what the big deal is; we weren't fully naked, just in our underwear."

"But what about my hair?"

"You do realize that Unique loves you so much she might have agreed to fit you in this afternoon."

Mercedes eyes widened. "Sam, you planned this?"

"Please, I know a lot about a Black Queen and her hair, and I am not stupid enough to have you get it wet without having a backup plan."

"Oh, I feel like a proud parent; I have taught you well."

"Okay, well, be proud and come in the water with me."

Mercedes only hesitated for a moment before pulling off her clothes and revealing her purple boyshorts and sports bra. "Okay, Sam, let's do this."

Mercedes dived into the water, and Sam laughed, following her into the water. As Sam came up, Mercedes laughed and splashed him. Sam swam towards her, and she laughed, swimming away from him. But Sam's arms were longer, and he reached her with ease pulling her up to him, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Sam held her close. "I have missed you being here, Merce. Life isn't as fun without you."

"New York isn't fun without you in it either. But our lives are just in different places."

"Well, that sucks."

Mercedes laughed, arms still holding him tight. "That's why we need to enjoy these times together. That's why we need to enjoy ourselves."

Sam nodding moving her hair from her eyes and smiled down at her. Mercedes couldn't explain why she felt so drawn to Sam. She bit her lip, pulling away from him. "Race you to the waterfall!"

She pulled away from him and swam towards the waterfalls with Sam on her tail. As she made it to the inside of the waterfall, she froze. The way the light hit the water and danced off the crystals in the wall, it was beautiful and romantic. Sam stood off of the rocks and helped Mercedes up.

"Sam, this place is...so..."

She turned to him and found him looking at her.

"Beautiful," Sam said softly. "So very beautiful."

Sam took her hand in his and pulled her close to him.

"Sam I-"

He shook his head. "Shhh, just enjoy the moment."

Sam wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a kiss. Mercedes let herself fall into the trance of kissing him. It was like coming home and a full-on orgasmic passionate experience all in one.

Sam's hand ran through her hair, tugging it gently as she moaned into his lips. He pulled her up to him, and she hungrily attacked his lips, needing more. Then it was all taken away from her as Sam pulled away.

"Merce, I'm." He cleared his throat. "Seems like we have this engaged thing down now, don't we? And we have a story to tell that won't be a lie about us going out and having fun."

Mercedes stepped back. "Is that all this was?"

"We should get back. You have your hair appointment."

Mercedes nodded. "Yeah." She glanced around one more time before swimming out of the waterfall and to her clothes. It didn't take long for them to make their way to the Salon.

"So I will leave my car to you; just head home when you are done."

Mercedes nodded. "Of course, but I could walk, you know."

"I know, but I will do it. I am right up the street; I uh gotta get my miles in anyways. I cant' keep my Doritos diet if I don't get my miles."

She nodded and watched him leave as her phone rang. Seeing her best NYC boo Kurt, she smiled, answering the video call.

"Boo, where have you been?"

"Blaine took me on a cruise, and you knew that. Why did I hear from my dad that you took leave?"

"Because you were unreachable, and I told you I had to come to Q's wedding."

"But you didn't want to go."

"I didn't, but Sam and I came up with a plan that I just think is a good idea."

"Oh God, what in the hell did you do."

"Excuse you, boo, I make good choices!"

"You totally do not."

"I do! But Sam needed a date to his sister's wedding, and I needed a date to the retreat, and we figured we could help each other out."

"Mercedes did you guys finally get together and bump all those uglies?!"

"Oh no! We are just pretending to be engaged."

"Mercedes, this is a recipe for disaster and only because we both know how much you and he both love each other."

"Kurt, we don't love each other like that. We are just friends."

"Girl, you both love each other, and it's no wonder why. You just haven't admitted it to yourself."

"I don't see Sam like that!"

"Never?"

Mercedes sighed, looking towards where Sam ran off. "I mean not until coming home, but I think it's just us both not being in a relationship and having to kiss. But nothing is gonna happen; I mean, Sam literally ran away from me, so that tells me that he isn't into me and what I am feeling is just because I need a man."

"Mercy me, I know you don't mean that. I know you love him. And if you just tell him."

"No, boo, I love you, but no. Sam and I are friends. That is all we are meant to be. Soon I will be back in New York, and I will focus on my career and finding real love."

"I wish you could see what I see."

"Boo, I gotta go, but I will call you later. I love you."

Mercedes disconnected the call and sighed. There was no way she and Sam were meant for each other. No matter how hot kissing him was, how good he felt. It was time for her to finally find someone to be with, and when she got back home, she would do it. She had to.