Thank you for your continued support for this and my other stories.

I do not own Glee or the characters, neither do I own the movie Everything Everything.

Next day, Mercedes found herself sitting at her computer, chatting happily with Sam.

Her nurse Santana was also there and she happened to glance at Mercedes, who sitting with a sweet smile on her face.

"What's so interesting on that laptop." Immediately, Mercedes sobered up, closed the lid and said,

"Nothing."

"It's not nothing. Something's making you smile."

"It's just cat videos."

Santana placed the basket of soiled cloths down and drew up a chair, next to her, with an expectant look on her face.

"You don't want to see this one Santana. The cat… dies."

The minute the lie left her lips, she felt awful inside. Santana was always nice to her and she considered her a friend. She had no reason to keep a secret from her, but she chose to anyway.

Santana looked at her, holding her gaze, but to Mercedes, it looked as though she was reading her mind. Hearing Santana laugh, broke the awkward tension and she lowered her head to the floor.

She lifted her eyes to her laughing nurse, after a few seconds and started laughing too.

Santana knew the signs of blossoming love when she saw it and by the look on her charge's face, she knew she was definitely smitten.

"You're an idiot," she said to Mercedes, with a smile on her face.

"I'm not an idiot."

"You are an idiot and you're not a very good liar." The only thing that Mercedes could do, was laugh. She was caught. Santana continued,

"You mean to tell me, that the only thing you could think to say, was that, it was a dead cat?"

Mercedes laughed again. She was embarrassed, but she didn't let on. "So, you know?"

Santana inhaled and exhaled loudly. Her heart went out to the young girl. "If I didn't know before, I know now. You're not very good at hiding things. I see you checking your emails and looking for him at the window."

There wasn't anything that Mercedes could have said to dispute what her nurse was saying. She was absolutely correct in her estimation.

"Maybe he could visit?" she asked.

Her question made Santana pause her actions for a beat, to look at her. Seeing no jest, she returned to sanitizing the counter top and said,

"Ha! You teenagers, you're all the same."

"Is that a no? He'd get decontaminated, and it'd just be for a half hour…"

"Are you crazy?"

"Wouldn't you be, if you were inside for eighteen years?" She pondered Mercedes' question for a moment, and then said,

"No." Mercedes kept up her persistence, trying to wear her nurse down.

"He'd get decontaminated, and sit across from me… like far, far away."

Santana allowed her words to sink in.

Truthfully, she felt really bad for Mercedes, but it was her duty to uphold the rules that would keep her safe and alive. With a heavy heart, she said,

"We can't always get what we want. Your mother will never let you."

"We don't have to tell her."

"Is it that easy to lie?"

"You know what… it's easier than I thought."

Santana turned away. She could feel herself crumbling and was powerless to stop it.

'Don't give in. Don't give in. Damn this…sweet, kind girl. She makes me want to do anything I can, to make her life better.'

She turned to Mercedes once again, looking at her for a long time, whilst the battle raged on in her head. After a while, she said,

"Okay. Let me go home and think about it overnight. I'm not promising anything, only that I'll think about it."

The joy on Mercedes' face almost brought tears to her eyes. Right at that moment, she knew what her answer was going to be.

"Thank you! Thank you so much Santana," Mercedes said, as she hugged her friend tight.

Meanwhile, Sam was busy on his computer, going through song after song, trying to find the right one for his crush.

After hours of searching he found the one he thought would best describe what he was feeling, and recorded it on his phone.

Later that night, he left his home and walked quietly over to her glass window. He carefully knocked on it, not wishing to startle her. When she looked up, he beckoned her over and as she walked towards him, the smile on her face caused his heart to flip flop in his chest.

He deftly connected his phone to her Bose speaker and pressed play.

The smile remained on her pretty face, as she stood in front of him, with her eyes closed, listening to the strains of 'I've Been Waiting for You.'

Mercedes was so enraptured by the moment, she imagined the glass between her and Sam had completely disappeared. As her imagination played out in her mind, she saw him enter and come to stand in front of her.

His eyes were so kind, so beautiful and so full of love, that she felt herself leaning in to meet him halfway, in a kiss. Just before their lips touched, the sound of his knocking brought her out of her reverie and back to reality.

The glass was still between them and he was still on the outside looking in.

He raised his hand to the glass, prompting her to do the same.

The difference in size and color threw her, when she looked at their hands resting fingertip to fingertip on said glass.

Her eyes traveled to his, and another thing struck her. He was tall. She knew that, but seeing him this close and having to look up into his handsome face, solidified it.

There wasn't a word in the dictionary that could explain what was happening to her, and she never wanted to feel anything other than what she was currently feeling.

Sam too, wasn't faring much better.

Back in New York, there has never been anyone, who made him feel anything close to what he was feeling.

He's never been more grateful for his workaholic father, than right now.

His family wasn't without blemish. They had their fair share of problems. The biggest one being, his dad working seven days a week and not spending time with the family.

Moving was a thing that he had gotten used to. Before they came out here, they were in New York for approximately six months, but after being here for this short period of time, he wanted to stay… for a long time.

After their magical moment, they decided to chat by text for a while, before both headed to bed.

Next day, Mercedes awoke with a determined spirit.

She had laid awake for a hours the night before, thinking about her life and the feelings that were slowly taking over her mind.

There was no doubt about it, she felt something deep for Sam. How, she didn't know, but she definitely saw her feelings reflected in his eyes.

There was so much to think about.

She had to be real with herself and try not to act rashly or irresponsibly.

The first thing she did on her computer that day, was to apply for a free credit card, from a company that was offering one, at zero percent interest for twelve months.

After filling out the information and submitting it, she was instantly approved.

"That was way too easy," she said to herself.

Mid afternoon rolled by and her nurse Santana walked up to her and said,

"Listen to me. You stay on your side of the room. He stays on his… I already told him the same thing…"

"What are you talking about?"

"You stay on your side… he stays on his… he's here."

Mercedes couldn't believe what her nurse was saying to her.

Her eyes widened and although she knew who Santana was referring to, she still asked, "Who's here?"

With a sweet smile on her face, Santana said, "Sam."

To say that Mercedes went speechless, would be an understatement. Her breath caught in her throat and she started stuttering, after about a minute.

Amusement masked Santana's face as she watched her young charge.

"Nod if you understand. I'm worried that you're losing your motor skills." Finally, Mercedes was able to ask,

"Why?"

"Because I'm terrible at saying no… and… because you deserve a little something."

Once again Mercedes was rendered speechless.

With tears in her eyes, she stood from where she was sitting and embraced her beloved nurse. After a few seconds, she pulled back and whispered, "Thank you."

"Dry your tears Chica. I got you… always. Is this what you're gonna wear?"

This made her laugh. She looked down at the white fitted tee and jeans, shook her head and ran off to her room.

Meanwhile, Sam was pacing up and down, not knowing what to do with himself. There was a nervous energy around him, as he awaited his crush.

This was a first for him. He was used to girls throwing themselves at him…. shallow girls, who thought looks and popularity meant everything. But meeting Mercedes and slowly getting to know her, showed him exactly what he has been missing.

She was refreshing, pure, real, beautiful and completely lovable. A voice in his head kept telling him, that she was the one and he wanted forever with her, however possible it could be.

He took his time perusing her sanctuary, the same one that keeps her imprisoned day after day, and he had to admit to himself, it was very peaceful and relaxing there.

All of a sudden, his attention was drawn to the other side of the room, and his eyes landed on the object of his desire. She looked lovely. This is the first time he has seen her wearing something, other than a white t-shirt.

The light blue, wide necked, fitted tee, coupled with fitted blue jeans, looked fantastic on her, along with the white flats she wore on her feet.

She looked shy… or scared… maybe nervous, he surmised, as she stood part-way behind the wall, peeking at him.

Mercedes was definitely nervous.

Sam looked so handsome. Although he was in his signature all black clothes, down to his socks, there was something different about him.

His smile and small wave disarmed her and she fully came from behind the wall.

"You're just gonna stay over there?" she asked.

"Santana said I had to stay as far away from you as possible."

"Cool. You're standing really still." At that, he looked down at himself, realizing the truth to her words. He turned towards her a bit more and said,

"Maybe you should come in."

"Yeah. I can do that."

She came further into the room and quietly took a seat, as he moved closer.

More nervousness took over. She wasn't sure what to do.

She tried crossing her legs, but quickly un-crossed them again, all to Sam's amusement.

"You're really different than I thought you were gonna be," she said.

"I know. Sexier, right?" he playfully asked.

This brought an almost undignified snort from her, which made Sam's heart flutter. He ran his hand through his long locks, smiling as he did so. He said to her.

"I understand that you're nervous. It's alright…you can be nervous."

"I am nervous," she threw in.

"Alright. So am I." He breathed out after his confession and placed his hair behind his ear.

"I like this room," he said.

His words brought her to her feet and broke the nervousness in the room, as she too released her breath and replied,

"Yeah. My mom built it, so that I could feel like I was outside."

"Does it work?"

"Most days. I have a really excellent imagination."

"Princess Mercedes and her glass castle."

"I'm not a princess."

"Good, because I'm not a prince."

His words struck something deep inside of her as she searched his features for any jest. There was nothing but complete honesty there and it floored her.

"So, how long have you been sick?"

"My whole life."

Neither of the two noticed they were drawing closer.

"What would happen if you went outside?"

"Probably spontaneous combustion."

"Oh, well don't. Stay inside." She laughed.

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea."

"So, let me get this straight. You've never left this house before?"

"Ah… no."

"Where would you go…. if you could?"

"The ocean."

Sam was surprised. He imagined she'd say someplace exotic, like Fiji or maybe New Zealand, to sky dive or be daring, to do something like, bungie jumping.

"Why?" he asked.

"Well, it covers seventy-two per cent of the planet and it's approximately three miles from here… and… I've never seen it." Playfully, he hissed and said to her,

"It's a bad choice." She smiled at his reaction.

"Why?"

They were now standing just about a foot away from each other. He replied, "Well, I'm assuming, you can't swim."

She laughed as she said, "Yeah, you're right…but, I'd like to try."

He went on. "I respect the ocean. I mean, it's beautiful, it's impersonal. It's murderous..."

She laughed at that and Sam felt as though he could make her laugh forever. He continued with his jargon.

"Yeah, it's Mother Nature at her finest. I mean, the point of waves, is to suck your feet out from under you, so that you'll drown faster."

He said all of this with amusement in his eyes. Mercedes played along with him. "Right. I didn't see that dark turn coming."

Her eyes went to his fidgeting hands, as he played with the black rubber band on his wrist. He gave an audible exhale and said, "Ah… well."

Finally, he took the band off and flicked it against the wall behind her.

An awkward tension begun to set in once again, as they both went quiet. Not being able to take the silence, Mercedes said,

"I'm pretty good at Tai Chi."

"Yeah?" Sam asked, his green eyes twinkling.

Without voicing a reply, she showed him a few poses, leaving him entranced and wishing he was the shirt she was wearing. She finished her routine and stepped closer to him, with a sweet smile on her face.

"What else can you do?" he asked.

"Oh man, I'm afraid that's pretty much it."

He was impressed, and he wanted to kiss her so bad. He made a step closer, looking into her eyes, holding them captive, but, before either could make a move, Santana appeared, with a skeptical look on her face.

They both turned at her subtle intrusion, knowing that their moment had passed.

"You didn't touch, right?" she asked. They answered in unison, looking at each other and smiling.

"No." Sam finished up by saying, "No touching."

Santana looked at the young couple in front of her, and laughed on the inside.

'These two fools are so into each other and so gone,' she said internally. She folded her arms across her chest and quickly nodded to Mercedes, a silent indication, that Sam should go.

If it was up to her, she would allow him to stay longer, but if Mrs. Jones found out, it would be the end of their little fairy tale and the end of her job.

She allowed the two to say goodbye to each other and then let Sam out.

Afterwards, Mercedes was on top of the world.

She wanted to call Blaine, but decided against it, until she was more calm and collected.

She calmly walked up to her nurse and placed a gratuitous kiss to her shiny cheeks. There was a peaceful, contented smile on her pretty face, as she turned and headed to her room.

That's it for this chapter. I hope it was worth your time. Much love to you.