DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GLEE NOR ANYTHING ELSE.
Marisol Lopez- Camille Guaty
Quinn took a sip of her soda before putting it down, smiling as she listened to Mercedes tell her about what happened this afternoon, "You have to admit it was sweet of them to come to your defense."
"It was, but it was also embarrassing." Mercedes went to the other side of the bar and refilled the customers togo coffee cups, giving a smile and thanking them when they left her a tip before leaving. Going back over to Quinn as she grabbed a towel from the hot soapy water, "I'm already going through it with the team and them coming probably just left the impression that I go home and cry about my problems to my brothers when I don't."
"I don't think they took it like that. If anything, they should've took to never ever try to come for you or they will be dealing with the big dogs." Quinn giggled, causing Mercedes to the same. She grabbed the ketchup bottle and squeezed some onto her plate, "Anyways, are you going to the dance after the game?"
"No."
"Why not?" Quinn asked as she ran her fry into the ketchup before placing it in her mouth, turning on the stool to see her best friend shake her head.
"I don't do dances." Mercedes responded as she began to wipe the table down, looking up at her, "I'm just going to go home and chill out with my family."
"Mind if I join you guys? I'm not much of a dance person myself."
"The more the merrier. Jamison and Nehemiah can't wait to meet you." Mercedes smiled as she straighten up the condiments on the table, "And Moe has been asking me when you were coming back. He wants a rematch in Scrabble."
Quinn chuckled at the memory from the other night, "He doesn't want any of this. I'm the queen of Scrabble."
Mercedes snorted as she came from out the booth, going over to the grab the pot of coffee off the counter, "I'll be right back."
Quinn smiled as she watched her go in the back, turning around when she heard the door open, her eyes went wide as she slid off the stool, "What are you doing here, Uncle Gal?"
Galvin sighed as he looked down at his niece, rubbing his hands together, "I came to speak to Mercedes."
"I don't think that's a good idea." She spoke honestly as she crossed her arms over her chest, "You really hurt her."
"I know that, Quinn..I know..and I can't take back what I said but I can at least try to apologize for it." He said just as he saw Mercedes coming back out, when she spotted him, he patted his niece's shoulder before going around her, "Mercedes, please hear me out."
"With all due respect Mr. Evans, I really don't want to hear anything you have to say." She said honesty as she stared into the familiar pair of green eyes, shaking her head, "You made your opinion of me and lack of respect very clear already."
"And I was completely out of place and wrong. I learned that things are not the same as they were when I was growing up. Women are capable of being more than what society has set them to be. It took my son to make me understand that. He's a lot like me in ways and I hate it. But one thing I can say, he has been changing for the better these last few weeks and I think it has something to do with you." Galvin saw the shock in her eyes and he nodded, "You don't have to accept my apology but I just want you to know that I am truly sorry for my ignorance and for hurting you in any type of way. You are beyond talented and you should be able to express your talent no matter what."
Mercedes stayed silent for a moment to process everything he just said. She could tell that he was being really genuine with his apology and she respected that, "I accept your apology, Mr. Evans and I thank you for it because you are the first person to do so."
"And I don't think I will be the last." He said honestly as he gave her a small smile, "I should let you get back to work. Good luck tomorrow, I know you're going to do great."
"Thank you."
Quinn watched the interaction before moving back towards her friend, telling her uncle that she would see at home before he walked out, "Everything okay?"
"Yeah." Mercedes took her eyes off the door and looked at her with a confused expression, "He apologized and said that Sam was the one who actually sat him down and made him realize how wrong he was. Weird right?"
Quinn did her best to hide her smile from her as she nodded her head, knowing exactly why Sam did it. She couldn't believe that these two knuckleheads were this oblivious. Clearing her throat, she looked at her watch, "It's time for you to get off. Tell your boss you're leaving. You need to get some rest for tomorrow."
"Alright." She mumbled, still in thought about the conversation she just had with Galvin as she took off her apron. Why would Sam out of all people talk to his father when he felt the same way?
Sam took a deep breath as he leaned his head against the wall in the hallway. Every since last night he has the bad feeling cursing throughout him. He didn't know what it was but it was really starting to bug him. He tried to push it away to get prepared for this game but he just couldn't, and it kind of showed when Garret had to take over during the speech during the pep rally.
"You okay man?" Mike asked his best friend as he came from out of the gym once he walked out, scanning his face. He, along with everyone else, was truly confused on what had happened when Sam stopped talking and walked out the gym.
"I don't know. It's like my whole vibe for tonight is off and I can't figure out why."
"It's probably just your nerves and the fact there's going to be some scouts here. You'll be fine." Mike patted his back, turning around when he heard commotion coming from the gym.
Sam pushed off the wall and looked in, seeing that it was Eric and his teammates, he began to frown as him and Mike walked back in, the bad feeling only increasing as he got closer to them.
"That was a really cute speech you all gave. Too bad you're going to lose to us tonight."
Mercedes crossed her arms as she glared at him, not daring to open her mouth because she knew she didn't have any kind words to say.
"Why are y'all even here? Don't y'all have your own pep rally to attend or does your school just don't care."
Eric chuckled at Leo as he stepped closer, rubbing his hands together, "We actually had two this week already and they were both way better than this shit." His eyes moved around before landing on Mercedes', smirking, "I'm surprised you're still here. Thought for sure you would've broke down after the first week of practice."
"You thought wrong."
Leo moved in front of Mercedes and got in his face, "Get the hell out of here and take your clown ass flunkies with you."
"Did I hit a nerve?"
"You heard what he said, didn't you?" Sam spoke up as he came beside Leo, glaring at him harshly, "We don't want a repeat of what happen last year do we?"
Eric stared Sam down for a moment before stepping back and taking his eyes off of him, looking over at Mercedes and winking, "See you on the field, sweetheart."
Mercedes watched as they walked out of the gym before taking a deep breath, turning around and walking over to get her stuff so she could head back to class.
Sam saw Mercedes leave out the corner of his eye and he followed, "Mercedes."
"What is it, Sam?" Mercedes answered as she placed her book bag on her back and grabbing her jacket before turning to look at him.
Sam let out a shaky breath as he ran his hand through his hair, "You need to sit out tonight."
Mercedes felt her soft features turn angry as the words left his mouth, "You've got to be kidding me right now?"
"I'm not." Sam retorted as his temper began to rise once she got angry with him, failing to realize they had caught the attention of their teammates, "I'm not playing Mercedes. Do not go out on that field."
"Look Sam.." Mercedes started as she stepped up to him angrily, "Get over it. I'm not going anywhere and you're definitely not going to bully me out of doing something I love."
"Mer.."
"Stop, just stop already. I've put up with everybody's shit for the last couple of months and I'm sick of it. I'm playing and whoever doesn't like it can kiss my ass." She glared at him before pushing past him and heading out the door. She was truly done him and everyone else. She was tired of the same bullshit.
"Dammit girl." Sam groaned out in anger as he hit the side of the bleachers, running his hands over his face.
"What's the real reason you don't want her to play, Sam?"
Sam calmed down when he heard Leo's question, raising his head to look at his teammates, "I believe they're planning to hurt her tonight."
Mike looked at him in shock, "What makes you think that?"
"It's Eric we're talking about. He does stuff like this and I know he had a double meaning for what he just said to her." He stared at them seriously, "We can't let her go out there."
"If we tell her the reason why she can't, she'll just think we're lying and being our typical asshole selves." Ty spoke lowly as he let out sigh, shaking his head in disappointment.
Garret cursed underneath his breath as he tried to calm down but the thought of them doing something to her was making him mad, "We're just going to have to be there for her more than ever from here on out y'all. Alright?"
Sam watched as everyone nodded their heads as he leaned back against the bleachers, hoping and praying that nothing bad happens tonight.
Mercedes leaned back against the fence as she let her mother put a quick French braid in her hair. She was always excited and nervous before a game but tonight she was for many reasons. Not only was it a big game against their rivals but also because her brothers were here. They have been so supportive growing up and taught her everything she needed to know about this sport, she just wanted to make them proud, "Thanks mom."
"You're welcome, baby." Vivian smiled once she turned around, pressing a kiss to her cheek, "Good luck."
"Thank you." She smiled as she watched her go up to where her dad, Moses, Quinn, Santana, and Tina were already sitting, rolling her eyes when she her two melding older brothers coming.
"Don't give us that look." Nehemiah smirked as he pulled her into a big hug, shaking her lightly before planting a big kiss on her cheek.
"Gross." Mercedes pushed him back with a frown, rubbing her face as she tried her best not to smile, "I still hate you both for yesterday."
"No you don't." They both responded, laughing when she rolled her eyes again and chuckled.
Jamison raised a brow as he held out his fist, "Kill it out there. Put these boys through hell, just like you use to do the ones back home. Show no Mercy, Mercury."
Mercedes took her small fist and bump it against his, "No mercy." She waved at them as she pushed off the fence and headed for the huddle.
The game had started off very entertaining and lively just like any rival game would be. Even though Langston was down by a few points, they knew they could actually catch back up with eight minutes left until halftime.
Nehemiah had been enjoying watching his sister play. He was so amazed just by seeing her out there doing what she loved, "She has gotten so much better."
"I was just thinking that." Jamison replied as he took another bite out his hot dog before speaking again, "She's stronger and way more confident with her talent."
"She would never say this out loud but she works extra hard now that she has prove herself."
Duncan nodded his head Moses words, "Being discredited and doubted will do that to a person."
Mercedes flipped through the plays on her wrist before she walked back out onto the field, going behind her center, "River ninety-two..longhorn eight..hike." She caught the ball and moved back, her eyes trying to find either Leo or Damien. She tried to put her focus on him but couldn't when she saw Eric bulldozed his way through two of her lineman. She didn't even have time to react before he came and tackled her hard to the ground, the ball leaving her hand.
Eric laughed maliciously as he stood up, lifting his foot and pressing down against her chest harshly, earning a bad reaction from the crowd, "Football is not for bitches."
Leo came behind him and pushed him in his back, "What the fuck is wrong with you?" Hearing Mercedes whimper, he glanced down and saw her eyes began to roll back shut, causing him to kneel down beside her, "SHE NEEDS HELP!"
Before anyone could really process what had happened, Sam had ran onto the field with his teammates right on his heels and grabbed Eric by his jersey, throwing him to ground, which knocked his helmet off in the process, "You son of a bitch." He got on top of him and began to punch him repeatedly in his face.
Coach Mac threw his headset down and ran with one of his coaches to check on Mercedes, the rest of the staff going to try to break up the boys.
"No." Vivian practically whispered as she immediately got up from her seat and made her way down the steps, trying to get on the field only to be stopped by two security guards, "That's my daughter out there."
"Ma'am, we can't let you on there."
"Oh my god." Quinn breathed out as she was right on Vivian's heels when she got up, standing beside her as anger and sadness ran through her when he refused to let Vivian go.
"Get the hell out of our way." Jamison said angrily at he tried to push his way passed them, only to be pulled back by his father.
Duncan glared at his son. He knew he was upset but he needed to calm down before something else happened, "Don't get yourself arrested. Come on, there's nothing we can do right now." He addressed his family, including Quinn as he moved them all to the side, his heart beating fast as he looked out towards the field to his baby girl.
"Everyone get back." Calvin told the referees and coaches as he knelt to the ground beside Mercedes, sitting his medical bag to the side.
Marisol moved the helmet off her head and scanned her face, her heart instantly began to ache. Marisol was Santana's older sister and she had met Mercedes over the summer when she came over to their house. Taking note to her breathing starting to slow down, she grabbed the oxygen mask from her partner and placed it over her nose.
Santana had her hand over mouth as she leaned against the fence, tears starting to cloud her vision, hoping and praying that her sister could help her friend.
By this time, the rest of the referees and coaches from both teams had stopped the multiple fights going on and got them separated. You couldn't hear a pen drop throughout the entire place and that was beyond rare. The excitement from earlier was now gone and replaced with fear, anger, and sadness.
Garret tried catching his breath as he kept his arm wrapped around Sam's neck as they took a knee. He was pissed. Looking over to check on his friend, he noticed that his eyes were trained on one person and one person only.
Sam stared at Mercedes' lifeless body as the four paramedics began hooking her up to different machines. His heart was completely broken. This was the bad feeling he had and he hated that he couldn't stop this from happening because of how much of an ass he has been to her.
"I'm having a hard time seeing what's wrong." One of the paramedics said as he got an IV into her hand, "And we can't move her until she regain consciousness."
"Come on sweetheart." Marisol whispered as she stared down at her, feeling a weaken pulse against her fingers after a few minutes, "We have to get to the hospital now."
They slid her body onto the board, counting off as they carefully lifted her up and placed her onto the gurney. The loud clap of hands broke the eerie silence as they watched the girl quickly be taken to the ambulance.
The head ref came over to them after leaving the huddle with the others, "Coach, what are we doing?"
Coach Mac turned and looked at his team, seeing the looks on their faces, he already knew the answer but he wanted his captain to say it, "It's your call, Sam."
"We're forfeiting." Sam responded without a second thought, giving them a look before running off the field and heading to the locker room.
The referee blew the whistle and waved his arms, signaling for the announcers, "Langston has forfeited this game, which gives them a lost. Score is 17-27 with 7:42 left in the second quarter."
Galvin couldn't believe what had just happened. He watched as he son ran off the field and he turned to his wife, "We have to go the hospital."
"Yes, that's not an option." Shana responded sadly as she grabbed her purse and picked up Brooks. This night was suppose to be fun and exciting for the kids, and it ended up being the total opposite.
A/N. Uh-Oh :(