Chap 17
Tina paced the concrete floor of the 14X8 jail cell, trying desperately to keep herself from hyperventilating and start to cry. She looked around her temporary concrete box residence with a scowl. The cell consisted on two medium sized cots, one folding chair, an old ceramic sink and a small wooden table. One of the cots was currently being occupied by an older white woman with wild, bright blue hair. She smelled like she swam in a tubful of alcohol. She was snoring loudly on the cot, looking a lot like Yogi the Bear. Tina rolled her eyes as she turned around, leaned her head against the cell doors, and let out a long moan. She closed her eyes and tried taking deep breathes.
I have no one to blame for being here but myself, she inwardly scolded herself as she ran her hand along the bar of the cell. I could have said "no" at the rental car place. I could have said "no" at the hotel. I could have said "no" in the car. But did I? No. And why? Because I'm an idiot! A blithering idiot! Tina sighed loudly, leaning heavily on the cell bars.
"Get your hands off my poodle!" The drunken woman on the cot screamed as she sat up abruptly. Her eyes were wide open. She turned to look at Tina, whose own eyes sprang open at the unexpected commotion, and then she passed out on the cot again. Tina ran her hand down her faceand shook her head. She lifted her head when she heard the clanking of heels coming toward the cell and two voice singing harmony to a song. Walking towards her was Mercedes harmonizing with a tall, skinny blond female police officer as they walked towards the cell. Mercedes and the officer were laughing carefree as the officer opened the cell door.
"That's right, Eleanor. You just need to watch those flat notes. They are easy to miss if you don't pay attention. You have my number. Keep practicing and call me next week so we can go over it again." Mercedes leaned against the door of the cell and lightly rubbed the arm of the tall officer. The officer smiled brightly at Mercedes.
"Thanks Cedes. You helped me a lot. My church's Founders Day ceremony is only in a couple of weeks and I really need to be on point." The officer turned to walk toward the police desk in the other room when Mercedes called out to her.
"Eleanor! Don't forget to close this cell door, girl. You don't want to get in trouble with your captain." Mercedes yawned as she walked to the empty cot and sat down.
"Oh yeah. I almost forgot." The officer shrugged casually. After locking the cell, the officer turned to Mercedes.
"I'll be up front, but if you need anything just give me a holler. I ordered a pizza five minutes ago, so it should be here in a second. I also ordered Cokes." Mercedes frowned and shook her head.
"Eleanor! You know you can't be drinking that stuff when you are trying to get ready to perform in a few weeks. Just water! Oh and you know I only drink the artisan kind." Mercedes narrowed her eyes and pointed her finger at the officer who was nodding her head in agreement.
"Sure thing, Cedes. I'll make sure they bring that." The officer promised as she scurried away from the cell. Tina watched the whole exchange dumbfounded.
"Unbelievable." Tina mumbled, shaking her head as she paced the floor. "We are stuck in a prison in fucking Canada and you get the police to cater to you. And they are bringing you artisan water, no less!" Tina's voice was close to yelling level. Mercedes looked at her confused.
"Did you want spring water?" she asked innocently.
"No!" Tina screamed frustrated. "I want you to see the seriousness of where we are right now, Cedes! We are in jail. Jail! And in Canada! This is not the time to help someone with their vocals!"
"Yahtzee!" The drunken woman on the cot screamed out as she sat up again. Then she slumped back down and went back to sleep. Mercedes side-eyed the drunk woman, got up and walked towards Tina. When she was a few steps away from her, she could see that her friend was angry to the point that she was shaking.
"Tina…"Mercedes ran her hand through her hair and looked at Tina sympathetically, "we're fine here, I promise. I called Sam and he's coming here with my i.d. and yours. The officers already said that once they have them, they'll let us go. They are not pressing any charges. No one knows why we were really there and we're not in any real trouble."
"The only person you called was Sam? You were gone for almost an hour." Tina was really questioning Mercedes' divulgence of the entire truth at the moment. She had a feeling in the pit of her stomach that Mercedes was doing sneaky. And that could only lead to trouble. Mercedes twirled a piece of her hair in her finger and looked towards the corner of the cell, avoiding Tina's glare.
"No, he was not the only person I called. I had to make another call to take care of some other errands." Mercedes huffed. Mercedes raised her hands to her ears to brace herself for the tongue lashing she would probably get.
"Mercedes fucking Jones…" Tina breathed as she felt her blood pressure rise. Mercedes raised her hands in surrender.
"Tina, you obviously do not want to know the details of what's going down, so I suggest you just leave it alone. Don't ask questions when you really do not want to know the answers." Tina lifted her hands up and shook her head as she walked away from Mercedes.
"Fine. Fine. Don't tell me about the call." Tina quickly turned and faced Mercedes.
"But atleast tell me this much, Cedes. Why me? Why did you drag me into your diabolical scheme for revenge?" Tina asked with her arms stretched wide over her head. Mercedes crossed her arms and looked down at her shoes.
"It's just…" Mercedes paused and took a breath as she continued to look down. Tina was tapping her foot on the floor waiting. "I knew that even though you were scared to death and probably didn't approve of my plan, you wouldn't let me down. You would finish it through with me, in spite your fears. I needed someone I could depend on. And…well..you're my best friend." Mercedes walked to the chair, pulled it to the table and sat down. Tina watched her silently.
"That's the first time you called me that." Tina finally mumbled.
"I know. I'm not the best at being vulnerable with someone, you know that." Mercedes outlined a carving of skull and crossbones that were chiseled on the top of the table. Tina walked over to the table and sat on top of it.
"Truth be told, you're kind of my best friend too." Mercedes looked up at Tina who has looking down at her with a smirk.
"Really?"
"Um, do you think I would plot a break in with someone I thought was just ok?" Both ladies chuckled. Mercedes reached up and took Tina's hand.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this." Tina shrugged her shoulders.
"Let's chalk it up to bonding time." Mercedes smiled and laughed softly as she looked down. Tina started singing softly.
(Tina)
If you're lonely
And need a friend
And troubles seem like
They never end
Just remember
To keep the faith
And love will be there
To light the way
(Mercedes) Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
(Tina) You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
(Mercedes) Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
(Tina) So don't you ever be lonely
Love will make it alright
(Mercedes) When the shadows are closing in
And your spirit diminishing
Just remember
You're not alone
And love will be there
To guide you home
(Tina) If you just believe in me
I will love you endlessly
(Mercedes) Take my hand
Take me into your heart
I'll be there forever baby
I won't let go
(Both) I'll never let go
(Both) Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
So don't you ever be lonely
Love will make it alright
The ladies wiped the tears that slid down their faces and hugged each other tightly. They stopped when they heard the lone clap coming from the hallway. Sam was leaning on the wall, smiling and shaking his head.
"Only Ms. Mercedes Jones would have an impromptu concert in the middle of a jail cell."
"Sam!" Both women screamed while running up to the bars. This was the first time Sam felt his heart finally calm down since the moment Mercedes called him. His heart melted when he saw her face. The ladies grabbed his hands through the bars.
"Are you guys ok?" He held Tina's hand and caressed Mercedes' face.
"Yes, we're ok. Just ready to get hell out of here." Mercedes sighed as she grasped the hand that was still caressing her face.
"Well I gave the officers both of your ids and they are processing your release now." Tina leaned her head back and let out a shout.
"Hallelujah!" she screamed. The drunk woman on the cot suddenly stood up and saluted them. Then she fell back onto the cot, passed out. Sam shook his head at the demonstration.
"Tina, I told Mike where you were. He and the baby are fine and back at the hotel waiting for you." Tina ran her hands over her face and smiled brightly.
"Thanks so much Sam."
"Ofcourse. Now you want to tell me what exactly happened?" Mercedes slowly backed away from the cell bars.
"Huh?" she squeaked.
"What happened?" Sam asked as he watched Mercedes curiously and crossed his arms, leaning on the cell bars. Mercedes shrugged her shoulders casually, her palms facing up.
"Mistaken identity. They didn't know who we were, thought we were vandals or burglars and arrested us." Tina nodded in agreement vigorously.
"I got that part. The part I'm confused about is why were you even there. Tina told Mike you guys went shopping." Mercedes looked at Tina and nodded her head calmly.
"We did. We went shopping and I needed to get some music that was in my dressing room."
"At 11pm at night?" he asked suspiciously.
"You know me, I go when the moment strikes me."
"Ok but the police didn't find any shopping bags in your car when they impounded it. They just told me that." Mercedes rubbed her chin.
"Really? Oh yeah, we dropped our bags at the hotel room AND THEN we went to the arena." Mercedes tapped her forehead as if the memory suddenly came to her.
"But when I went to your room to get your id, I didn't see any bags. And when I went to Tina's room to get her id from Mike, I didn't see any bags." Sam narrowed his eyes at Mercedes.
"Wow, that's weird." Mercedes replied innocently.
"Mercedes…." Sam knew something smelled very rotten.
"What!" She answered shocked. "God, you act like I robbed a bank or something." Her face frowned as she crossed her arms defensively. Sam looked toward Tina, who was working hard at avoiding his face. He walked the bars til he was closer to her.
"Tina…" He whispered quietly to her. Mercedes watched them as she chewed her bottom lip. Tina looked up at Sam's peaceful face, her stomach twisted with guilt and anxiety.
"Tina, you've been awfully quiet. Why don't you tell me what really happened." Sam's voice was so velvety smooth and reassuring, Tina felt her resolve melting. She turned to look at Mercedes, who looked at her with a blank face. Then Mercedes' face softened and she smiled warmly at her. Tina smiled back at her. Tina felt so connected to Mercedes at the moment, she felt her heart swell.
"You heard what my best friend said," Tina responded confidently as she walked to Mercedes and interlocked their hands. "Nothing happened." Mercedes' face lit up like a 180 watt bulb.
Sam watched the two women and knew he was going have to go about this a different way.
"Ok, I take it nobody is going to talk, huh?" The friends looked down at the ground.
"Ok. Fine. I'm going back to that front desk and telling the cops I was mistaken. You are not Mercedes Jones and you are not Tina Chang. You both can stay here for the majority of the festival. Bye." Sam backed away from the bars. Mercedes' jaw dropped. Tina's face turned chalk white.
"You wouldn't dare!" Mercedes screamed.
"Try me, baby." He shouted as he walked slowly down the hallway.
"Sam!" They both bellowed. He stopped dead in his tracks and slowly walked backwards in front of the cell.
"Yes?" he answered softly, cocking his eyebrow.
"Sam," Mercedes answered softly as she walked seductively towards him. "Baby, come on. Why are you being such a meanie?" She cooed. Sam leaned down until they were eye to eye.
"Because you are playing games with me, Baby and that's not what we are about. We are about honestly and truth, remember?" Mercedes bit her bottom lip and blinked rapidly.
"Mercy, I thought we loved each other? I thought we trusted each other?"
"I do love you Sam and trust you."
"But Mercy, how am I supposed to trust you when you are clearly keeping things from me? I thought we meant more to each other than that, Baby?" he asked sincerely. Mercedes looked down as she kicked her foot against the cell.
"We do." She answered quietly.
"Then trust me." He held her face in his hand, lifting her face to look at him. Mercedes lifted her eyes, which were rimmed with unshed tears.
"I was getting back at Ciara. I won't go into the details of what I was doing, but I roped Tina into it. It was all my idea."
"Ciara, Mercy? Why?" Sam prodded gently. Mercedes backed away angrily.
"Because she disrespected me, Sam! I couldn't let her get away with that. I am not going to let anyone just disregard me and try to take away what's mine." Sam tilted his head, as he watched Mercedes' rage increase.
"What's yours? Is that all I am to you, Mercedes? Someone that you consider your possession?" Mercedes shook her vigourously.
"No, of course not, Sam. But Ciara is just like those others skinny little bitches out there that think they can just shake their little asses in front of you and take you away from me. I won't let anyone of them get away with that." Mercedes turned her back from him, fighting the tears threatening to fall down.
"Mercy…"
"No Sam! You don't understand." Mercedes screamed walking to the corner. "You don't know what it's like to really care somebody and know that everybody around you is whispering 'Why is he with that fat girl?' You don't know what it's like to be constantly afraid that one day the person that you love is going to finally wake up and realize that he could do ten times better than you and leave you alone in an empty apartment with no money, no clothes or no furniture. Nothing. Not even a damn letter saying that he didn't want you anymore." Mercedes wrapped her arms around herself tightly. She held on to those insecurities for so long, she never realized how deep they lived inside of her. Tina stood near Mercedes, enough for her to turn to her and hug her if she needed, but also far enough so Mercedes didn't feel hemmed up. She knew that Mercedes was not the touchy-feely type, but she hated seeing her friend in pain and wanted to hold her badly.
"And what about me, Mercedes?" Sam asked quietly. He walked to the corner where she was standing.
"What do you mean?" she asked softly, avoiding his eyes.
"The scenario you just described wasn't me, Mercy. It was Devante. Let's talk about me now. Every single time I walk down the street with you or get to tell anyone that you are mine, I am the happiest man in the world. I will never suddenly wake up and want someone else because there can never be anyone else. You ARE what I want. I can't do better than you, because you are the best. You are amazing, Mercedes. You are the best woman in the world for ME! Anyone else is pathetic seconds." Sam watched as Mercedes' face softened a little.
"Mercy, do you know where I was tonight? After rehearsal?" Mercedes shook her head.
"I was with Ciara." He said flatly. Quickly, Mercedes turned her head.
"What?" She cried.
Three hours earlier- at the hotel bar.
"Thanks again for the ride to the hotel, guys. I really thought I was going to be stuck at that arena all night." Ciara laughed as she sipped on a glass of wine. Mike was bouncing the baby in his arms as Sam took a chug of his beer. They were seated in a small table by the entrance."
"Not a problem. In fact, I'm glad it happened because I needed to talk to you about rehearsal." Sam looked Ciara squarely in the eyes with a serious tone.
"Ok. You are kind of freaking me out with your posture right now." She said nervously.
"Look Ciara, I am with Mercedes. She is my girlfriend. You pulling me on stage like that and then gyrating all over me- naw. That can't happen again for any reason." Ciara made a face and took a gulp of her wine.
"Why because Ms. Mercedes didn't like it?"
"Mercy has nothing to do with me talking to you."
"Really? Because I could tell she didn't like it."
"No. I'm talking to you because I didn't like it. I wouldn't want her to do that in front of me with some half naked dude, so I damn sure not going to do that to her ever again. I didn't want to embarrass you and make a scene in front of everybody at rehearsal. But I absolutely did not like what you did back there." Ciara cocked her eyebrow and tilted her head.
"So you didn't like it even just a little?" she asked in low seductive tone. Sam put his bottle on the table forcefully and leaned into Ciara.
"Not. One. Single. Moment." Ciara swallowed and leaned back.
"I'm sorry. It won't happen again." She replied as she looked down at her lap, Sam glaring down at her. Mike leaned his head into the baby's neck to hide his massive smile.
"You told her that?" Mercedes asked, her eyes wide open in astonishment. Sam grabbed the bars and leaned in.
"Ofcourse I did, Baby." Tears began to stream down Mercedes' face as she ran to the bars and placed her hands over his.
"I'm so sorry, Sammy. I don't know why I let my rage and jealousy get so crazy." Sam leaned in and kissed her forehead between the bars.
"It's ok, Mercy." He whispered in her ear. "But you've got to believe in me. In us. And you've got to talk to me, before you decide to be a part of America's Most Wanted." They both chuckled.
"I will, Sammy. I love you so much."
"Nowhere near as much as I love you." He replied with a smile. He kissed her softly at first, but it grew into a hot, steamy exchange. They stopped when they heard Tina clear her throat and turned toward her.
"I'm sorry to break this beautiful moment," Tina pled with a strained grimace, "But can I please get the hell out of here to my own husband and baby." Sam laughed and began running down the hallway.
"I'll go check on it now." He called out as he ran to through the hallway. Mercedes watched him with glazed over eyes and turned to Tina.
"I love that man so much." She confessed as she leaned against the bars.
"He's..(hiccup)…a real keeper." The drunken woman on the cot muttered as she rolled over. Mercedes and Tina laughed as they looked at each other.
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Mercedes sat in her dressing room going over her sheet music one last time before performance time. She loved the new song she was singing with Sam. It was the perfect mix of their voices. Each time they rehearsed it, she felt like they were completely alone, just enjoying each other's love. She turned her head when she heard a knock on her door. After beckoning them to come in, Tina walked into the room with Mike, the baby and Sebastian. Tina ran to give her a hug.
"Just wanted to wish you good luck with the show. The crowd is awesome tonight and they are going to love you, BFF." Tina reassured her.
"Thank you, BFF." Mercedes whispered back.
"Not to mention, you look hella fine, if I do say so myself." Mike interjected playfully. Sebastian nodded his head in agreement. Mercedes laughed and covered her face. She did feel gorgeous in her canary yellow halter dress with yellow feathers along the bottom and brown strappy sandals. She was wearing her down in tight waves that cascades down her back.
"You guys are fabulous for my ego." She teased. Sam suddenly came into the dressing room after a quick tap on the door.
"Baby, looks like we are going one early." Mercedes smiled nervously as she jumped off her stool.
"That's cool, but I thought we still had to wait on Ciara's set before we were up." She asked. Sam shrugged his shoulders.
"Yeah, well Ciara's set was cancelled. Seems during their security check, the police dogs found traces of meth along the bags of her costumes. Her whole team, including her, had to go down to the police station for questioning. She'll be there all night clearing it up."
"Crazy". Mercedes muttered. "Well, come on Baby, let's go." Once Mercedes and Sam left the dressing room, Tina turned her head to Sebastian.
"Sebastian, something I always wondered. Why weren't you at the police station with Mercedes last night?" she asked inquisitively. Sebastian smirked as he walked toward the door.
"Got a call from a friend and had to run some errands for her." He replied before winking and walking out of the room.
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Mercedes waved both hands at the crowd as they screamed excitedly at her. The outdoor venue was lit up as the sky turned dark.
"Thank you all so much for being such an amazing crowd. But now I want to bring to the stage the sexiest, hottest, most talented new singer-songwriter in the business right now- Sam Evans!" Sam ran onto the stage and ran straight for Mercedes, kissing her on the cheek.
"Hey Y'all!" He greeted as he grabbed his guitar and microphone. "I am Sam Evans, and I want to share a song I wrote for y'all tonight. I will be graced with the musical accompaniment of the one and only Ms. Mercedes Jones, who is looking like the sexiest Tweety bird that ever walked the stage." Mercedes laughed as she pushed him playfully. Sam begins to play his guitar.
(Sam)
I've got this friend
I don't think you know him
He's not much for words
He's hid in his hardened way
Oh I've got this friend
A loveless romantic
All that he really wants
Is someone to want him back
(Both)
Ohh, if the right one came
If the right one came along
Ohh, If the right one came, along
(Mercedes)
I've got this friend
I don't think you know her
She sings a simple song
It sounds a lot like his
Oh I've got this friend
Holding onto her heart
Like it's a little secret
Like it's all she's got to give
(Both)
Ohh, if the right one came
If the right one came along
Ohh, if the right one came, along
(Sam) It'd be such a shame
(Mercedes) (If they never meet)
(Sam)She sounds lovely
(Mercedes) (He sounds right out of a dream)
If only
(If only)
(Both) If only
(Both)
Ohh
Ohh, if the right one came
If the right one came along
Ohh, [Mercedes](I've got this friend) if the right one came
If the right one came along
Ohh,[Mercedes] (I've got this friend)
If the right one came, along
Sam took Mercedes' hand and they both bowed in front of the crowd. He then twirled her slowly, pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently. The crowd went nuts, screaming and shouting. Mercedes covered her face embarrassedly. Sam laughed as he took her hand and led her off the stage. While Mercedes ran into Tina, Sebastian and Mike's arms, Sam walked to a corner and pulled out his cellphone. He dialed a number and put the phone to his ear.
"Hey…Mama. It's Sam. Yeah. Listen, I'm coming home next weekend. And I'm bringing someone."
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**Hope you liked the update, everyone. This update meant a lot to me. Hope you felt the sincerity in it. Let me know what you think. Tootles xoxo**
**Songs were Mariah Carey, Need A Friend, and Civil War, "I know this friend."**