A/N: So we're nearing the end! Sorry it took so long to update this but I kinda changed how this chapter played out!

Age 18:

Not The Same Anymore

"You have everything you need right? You gassed up? Your phone and charger? GPS?" Melissa asked while Mercedes just rolled her eyes.

""Yes woman, I'm going to be fine. We're just going to Tina's family cabin for a few days and I promise to call as soon as we make it."

"I know baby but I have every right to be concerned your my baby girl."

"I stopped being your baby when you left me at camp for a week… I haven't forgot!" Mercedes joked making her laugh.

"Okay fair enough and you weren't alone you had Sam." She reminded and noticed the look that crossed her face.

"Yeah… well I want to get on the road before it gets too late plus I need to go get Kurt and Blaine. I love you and I'll call as soon as we make it." Mercedes said hugging her mother and started to pull away but her mother stopped her.

"Phones work two ways."

"Apparently not in this case, bye mommy." She replied before grabbing her bag and heading out with Melissa in tow waving her off before sighing, praying that Dwight would be able to follow through with her request.

…

Mercedes, Kurt and Blaine made the two hour trip to Tina's cabin, singing and gossiping about everything under the sun. They had to make a few stops on the way but when they finally made it they were all happy to get out and stretch their legs. They were immediately greeted by Tina's smiling face and Mercedes and Kurt both shared a knowing look before going to grab their bags.

"Hey guys!" Tina shouted from the porch waving wildly.

"She's a little too happy..." Blaine said laughing.

"She got some." Mercedes and Kurt replied in unison before bursting out in laughter and walking up the stairs to greet her.

"Come in, Mike's already here obviously and Artie just got here too." Tina said nodding them inside Blaine and Kurt going inside first before Kurt stopped dead in his tracks causing Mercedes to bump into him.

"Ow! Why'd you stop?" Mercedes said nudging Kurt.

"Oh no reason..." He said moving and walking inside looking at Mercedes with a sly grin. She looked at him confused before seeing a familiar pair of green eyes looking back at her.

"SAM!" She screamed before hitting Kurt in the arm. "Jerk, why didn't you say anything?"

"I'm dramatic, sue me." Kurt said with a light laugh.

"So are you going to give me a hug or no?" Sam asked smiling before she dropped her bags and ran over to where he was standing but when she reached him instead of hugging him she brought her hand up and slapped him so hard it might have left an impression.

"Don't mistake my being happy seeing you as forgetting." Mercedes said with a mean expression on her face.

"I didn't think that was going to happen." Kurt muttered and everyone else nodded in agreement.

"Merce I'm sorry, just let me explain please." Sam said rubbing his face before quickly grabbing her hand as she brought it back up to hit him again.

"Let me go!" She said struggling to get free/

"Just let me explain!"

"There's nothing to explain, you promised to call but you didn't! You promised to keep in touch but you didn't! So I called only to get one word answers, I planned a trip and right before I could come you canceled and then I had to find out that it was only canceled because of that bitch Quinn! I emailed, I texted and then nothing… I got nothing. I had to ask my mom to call your dad to make sure you were okay!" She said growing even more angry bring in her free hand up and hitting him in his chest before he grabbed that hand too.

"Listen to me!" Sam shouted causing her to jump slightly before he let out a deep breath. "First, don't slap me again it's not okay. I couldn't respond but not because of Quinn I wanted to respond to you so badly but..." He started before stopping and looking at all of their friends.

"It's different with my mom… she didn't approve of our friendship. She kept going on and on about how we were too close and how I needed to branch out. It was almost like she wanted me to forget that part of my life, like she was trying to erase all those years and just start over but I couldn't. When you called I lied because I didn't really know how to explain this to you… but I broke up with Quinn." Sam finished feeling her relax slightly.

"Wait you did?" She asked looking at him confused still processing everything else he said.

"Yes."

"That's not what she'd been telling everyone at school." Kurt said with Tina nodding in agreement.

"She was lying… I broke up with her the day after I left." Sam said firmly before letting Mercedes's hands go and taking a step back. "Look I know you don't want to believe me but I really did want to reach out but after a while you stopped texting so I figured it was best I didn't… I don't know, pop back up and ruin whatever you had going on but I missed you and Ms. Melissa a lot."

"I believe you." Mercedes said softly. "I missed you too."

"Can I finally have a hug now? We have a lot of catching up to do." He asked then said and she smiled before nodding and hugging him.

"Great, now we can have some fun!" Tina said right as there was a knock on the door, Tina walked over and opened the door smiling before it quickly fell.

"Hey I hope it's okay MJ invited me."

"MJ?" Sam asked pulling away and Mercedes shot him everyone an innocent smile.

"Oh… wow. Didn't know he was coming." Tina said with a forced smile.

"I… ah just figured it would be okay plus I didn't want to be the fifth wheel..." Mercedes whispered when she got close enough to Tina.

"Oh Merce… why didn't you say anything?" Tina responded and she just shrugged.

"Everything okay?" Anthony asked.

"Oh of course! The more the merrier!" Kurt said nodding him inside.

"Oh cool! Where should I put my things?" He asked noticing Tina's and Kurt's eyes widening.

"Well Artie's rooming with Sugar, I'm with Mike and Kurt and Blaine are sharing a room… Cedes was supposed to room with Sam but-"

"But I came and messed it up… right. I can go it's fine." Anthony said and Mercedes shook her head walking over to him shooting him a sympathetic smile.

"No I invited you, there's an extra room… Sam can just have his own room and me and you can share." She said and everyone else nodded their approval.

"Wait what? Mercedes you can't sleep in the same room as him." Sam said shaking his head and pulling her away from Anthony.

"Oh God… not this." Blaine said shaking his head.

"Sam, it's fine and it's not like it's the first time beside who are you to tell me that?" She asked narrowing her eyes at him.

"Oh so you're just sleeping with him now?" Sam shouted and Mike and Artie both face palmed themselves.

"Dude… let it go." Artie said trying to warn him and Mike nodded shooting Sam look to calm down.

"On the couch after watching movies, you don't get to judge me!" Mercedes shouted back.

"I don't care, no he and I can share a room." Sam said still shaking his head.

"It's third grade all over again." Tina said to Artie who just nodded before shaking his head.

"Come on guys lets get settled, they're going to arguing for a while." Tina said to everyone else offering to show Anthony which room would be his as Sam and Mercedes fought over where she would be sleeping.

…

Mercedes was still mad when she walked out of her room after Sam basically put her in a room by herself while he and Anthony shared another, she could hear them talking and laugh as she walked into the living room and earned a bright smile from Sam when he saw her to which she rolled her eyes.

"Hey MJ, Sam was telling me about your fear of clowns… I didn't know you scared of them why didn't you tell me? I Would have never taken you to that carnival had I know." Anthony said with a light laugh.

"Well to be fair I did a really good job of avoiding them that day so it was fine. Did he tell you that he was afraid of dragonflies?" She asked smirking at Sam who shot her fake hurt expression before smiling.

"Does he know that you cry watching Finding Nemo?" Sam countered laughing when she hit his arm.

"Marlon deserved so much more." She defended making them both laugh.

"You were so brave when we watched it." Anthony said and Sam shot her a look.

"I can handle it now but every so often I'll cry."

"So I take it you two are dating?" Sam asked and they both shook their heads no smiling slyly.

"Nah, we tried… lasted for a good little minute too but we're better as friends." Anthony said winking at Mercedes.

"Mhm..." Sam said and an awkward silence fell over them.

"Hey… let's go out to the lake? Get a swim in!" Mike suggested and everyone agreed. They all went and to change into their swim suits.

"So you and Cedie dated?" Sam asked pretending to look for his trunks.

"Yeah for a few months…" Anthony answered calmly.

"And you slept together?"

"If you're asking what I hope like hell you're not asking the answer is that's not for me to share." Anthony replied shooting him a look that didn't sit well with Sam so he moved closer to the tall guy standing there.

"All I'm asking is if you slept together… clothed."

"Again, that's not for me to share and it certainly isn't your damn business." Anthony answered with a little bite in his voice.

"I think it's best if you stay away from me and Mercedes for the rest of this weekend." Sam growled and before Anthony could reply there was a lite tap on the door right before it opened.

"You guys ready?" Mercedes asked looking at them both with a concerned expression.

"Will be in just a sec MJ." Anthony responded not looking away from Sam who's jaw was clenched tightly.

"Yeah Mercy, just a second and we'll be out." Sam said narrowing his eyes at Anthony before looking over at Mercedes seeing she was still sporting her concerned look. He looked at her bathing suit and had to bit back a groan when saw that she'd filled out even more and looked even more beautiful than the last time he'd seen her in a bathing suit.

"Okay well hurry up!" She ordered before walking away leaving the two boys alone again. They both went and changed before heading out keeping a very safe distance from each other, as soon as they walked out Anthony made a show out of picking Mercedes up and holding her close as he spun her around making her laugh.

"Don't something stupid." Sam heard from beside him. He looked noticing Tina standing next to him looking at Mercedes and Anthony now playing in the water and felt his self grow even more jealous.

"She's not that same girl you remember when you moved away, she doesn't tolerate too much bullshit and she will leave if you make her uncomfortable." Tina warned and he shot her a hurt look.

"I would never do anything to make her feel that way." He grumbled.

"Then stop acting like you are owed something from her and be her friend."

"I don't feel like she owes me anything I just don't like him…"

"You were the one that told her to date him instead of having the balls to tell her you're in love with her. Mhm, I know just like everyone else does… she might not know it yet but you making her get there faster than she'd ready is only going to push her away, again." Tina said patting his shoulder before walking away.

Sam let out a sigh deciding to just sit on the shore and watch his friends have fun while he thought about what Tina said. Had she changed that much that he didn't notice or was he still hoping she was the same? Had he changed too, well he knew he had but there was still that piece of him that was solely dedicated to his friendship with Mercedes. He wasn't sure how long he sat there until his legs suddenly felt warm but wet and when he looked he was met by a worried smile from Mercedes.

"Are you not getting in?" She asked moving his leg so she could sit down.

"Oh yeah, I was just working on my tan." He lied with a light chuckle.

"So we lie to each other now, noted." She teased and he couldn't help but laugh.

"Sorry, I was thinking about stuff. Kinda got stuck in my head for minute there." He admitted and she just looked at him waiting for him to explain.

"I'll tell you later deal?" He said standing and holding his hand out to help her up.

"I'm going to hold you to it Evans." She joked before pushing him and taking off running with him chasing after her. All of their friends enjoyed swimming and playing various games before Mike and Blaine stepped away to start the grill for burgers and hot dogs. The girls and Kurt went inside to get changed and to help get the sides together leaving Artie, Sam and Anthony to set up the tables but when Artie was called away to 'help' sugar it left Sam and Anthony alone.

"Look, I want to apologize for what I said earlier." Sam said figuring it would be best to mend fences before he completely burned them down.

"Hey no harm bro." Anthony replied with a shrug.

"Cool."

"It's not like you exactly had a chance with MJ anyways." Anthony said with a sly smirk.

"What?" Sam asked slamming his hand down on the table.

"It's true, you ruined whatever chance you did have because of your jealously. What do you think is going to happen next year when she goes to college? All those guys are going to see exactly what you see and when they get to know it's going to hell." Anthony replied with an easiness that unsettled him.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Please you ruined her first kiss with me." Anthony said rolling his eyes. "But I was able to make up for it later so you'll always to live with the fact that you were never her first kiss."

"Funny because if memory serves me correctly after you left I did just that but then again she had no reason to tell you especially since I was the one that convinced her to give you a try. Sure she may have liked you but you got where you are because of me, not fun is it?"

"What's not fun?" They heard from behind them and Sam hadn't realized he was standing closer to Anthony with his fist balled up.

"The heat I think it's getting to Sam a little." Anthony lied and Mercedes shot him a look before looking at Sam noticing his fist.

"The heat… right. Sam you want to talk a walk with me?" She asked moving in between the both of them clearly feeling the tension and he just nodded still shooting a mean look to Anthony who just smirked. She grabbed his bawled up fist and led him away from the house closer to the lake before finding a spot to sit.

"What's bothering you?" She asked after a minute of them not talking.

"You." He answered honestly and she looked at him confused and slightly hurt.

"Me? I haven't done anything to you, hell I haven't seen you in two fucking year and no all of a sudden I'm bothering you? You know what Sa-" She was cut off when he covered her mouth with his hand.

"I didn't mean it in a negative way and I'm sorry for not coming to see you. You're just different and I don't know what to say to you without it sounding piggish or possessive."

"Oh…" She said when he moved his hand.

"Yeah I don't even know where you're going to college or if you're going to take a year off or anything. I only know that when I look at you I see Cedie, the girl that I would spend weekends with and would spend vacations together. I hate that I had to move away and if I could I would try to fight harder to stay… I just never thought it would cost me by best friend." Sam said sighing deeply.

"Is that all? You feel like you lost your bestfriend?" She asked and for some reason her question didn't seem one dimensional.

"I don't like Anthony." He added and she giggled.

"I know that but is that all?"

"I don't like that you went off and had this life that didn't include me and I don't like Anthony." He answered making sure she understood he did not like her ex-boyfriend.

"You're the one that told me I should date him remember?" She joked nudging him with her shoulder.

"True, clearly I had lost my damn mind." He said chuckling.

"Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"This is weird…" She said sadly.

"I know." His voice matched her sadness as he leaned his head onto of hers sighing.

"It's like we have to relearn each other all over again huh?" She asked wrapping her arms around his middle.

"I guess so… I don't even know where you're going to college or what you decided to major in."

"NYU, I'll be living off campus with Kurt, Blaine and Rachel. They're going to NYADA and I'm going to school for an education degree to be a music teacher." She informed and he couldn't help smiling.

"Well look at you, I knew you'd get into your dream school sucks that I'll be on the other side of country at UCLA. I got a football scholarship and I'm majoring in music theory." Sam said feeling her shift before feeling her hit his arm.

"Sam! That's incredible! It's just like we would talk about… you being on the West Coast and me being on the East."

"Mhm… spring break and Christmases together before you finally came to your senses and came out to the West with me." He said remembering fondly their old chats as preteens before looking down at her with an uncertain smile.

"Then we will try to do it and we'll actually keep in contact this time too." She said and he could tell she was serious.

"Okay I promise to try." He said smiling down at her before leaning down and kissing her gently. She hesitated for a brief moment before kissing him back and she knew then why it was weird. She knew it was going to weird after they'd kissed two years ago because their friendship had changed and neither addresses it and now he was kissing her again but without the promise of being anything else.

"Come on let's head back before Kurt sends a search party." She joked after pulling away trying to hide her true emotions. Sam looked at her before simply nodding and getting up holding his hand out so they could head back to rejoin everyone else.

Sooooo... yep left it on a cliff hanger and the next chapter is very entertaining of sorts! Until next time! XOXO!

*Fun fact I was actually going to have this chapter end with her leaving early after she and Sam had a fight over something stupid he did but he's maturing now so i needed it to show* Even if he was still acting like a jealous ass who hasn't truly faced his real feelings for Mercedes lol!