Not the Boy Next Door
They assumed it would be a summer fling, but…
Today
"Shit, sorry I don't even know what happened then?" he stood back looking down at her "Do you regret coming?" he took a second look trying to read her face
"We've both wanted this forever, so no, I don't" she smiled at him
"Good" he smiled relieved "I'm happy"
"Do you think we could stop whatever this is now anyway?" she giggled
"Honestly" he looked at her "I don't think so, I would hope if you'd have said no, I could have but…"
"It's been a long time since the last one" she giggled
"And those lips are exactly how I remember them" he pushed her back against the door and went in for another kiss "Do you know how long I've been waiting for this?" he pulled away to ask
"I can hazard a guess" she giggled pulling him back in
3 years ago
"Mercedes" Kurt looked at her, his eyes begging "Just ask him"
"Before you come at me with a that was really great Mercedes, or you deserve some sort of award, we just get straight back to what Kurt needs?"
"Please Mercedes, I'm desperate"
"The things I do for my friends" she looked across the room at Tina, who she'd just hooked up with her neighbour on the left, and now Kurt was begging her to hook him up with her neighbour on the right. They were both hot no doubt, but they were her neighbours, and although they hung out a hell of a lot, she'd never looked at either of them in the way Tina and Kurt saw them until that week.
"He's on his own now" Kurt nodded across the room at him stood studying something in his hand
"He's working out some aviation stuff for his paper plane, I'll ask him on the way home"
"Those paper toys are so cool" Kurt flapped
"It's not a toy, he enters competitions with them" Mercedes looked over at Sam smiling
"Whatever he does with them, could you make sure you ask him today?" he quickly flipped the conversation back to him
"I'll do it today" she confirmed, looking over at her friend, who was totally unaware of what was about to descend on him
It wouldn't have even been an awkward conversation before this week, she'd never seen him with a girl, he'd never talked about anyone, so it was easy to assume, he was batting for the other side. Mercedes wasn't one of those girls that would swoon over a guy or walk around telling everyone how hot she thought he was and stuff like that, she was private with her feelings and most of her thoughts. While she saw one friend as someone she'd love for life, in a brother type of way, of late she's started thinking about the other as something else, it was confusing, especially for who she thought he was, and now Kurt was asking her to approach him on that level, she was questioning her delay tack tick
"Hey" he caught up with her as she walked towards the gates
"Hey" she smiled "I thought you had practice?" she knew he didn't, she was avoiding the question for a reason only she knew
"You know I don't have practice on Tuesdays" he laughed
"Oh" she rolled her eyes "Yeah"
"I made you a paper plane" he handed it to her
"Why do you keep making me these?" she looked at it puzzled
"Because I'd spend my life making paper airplanes for you, it says fight" he looked at it "To remind you to fight for what you want"
"I will" she laughed "But you'll have to keep it for me, my dad…"
"I know" he smiled "But you can carry it until we get home, right?"
"Right" she took it off him and carried on walking
"Is something wrong?"
"No" she looked up at him
"There is, and I think I know what it is" he turned to walk backwards to look at her "It's Mike isn't it, ever since he started seeing that Tina girl you've been… quiet" he frowned "Did you like him?"
"Not like that" she screwed her face up with disgust "He's our friend, he's like my brother" she slapped out at him and missed on purpose "It's not Mike" she looked into his eyes "I have a question to ask you"
"A question?" he looked at her suspiciously
"Yeah" she hesitated "A certain someone wants to know if you'll go on a date with him"
"Him?" he asked laughed "Mercedes, I'm not gay"
"Well," she looked at him "I've never seen you with anyone, you've never been…should we say into anyone, I just thought…"
"I'm into someone, trust me"
"Hell" she hissed "How am I going to explain this to Kurt?"
"Kurt?" he laughed "I'm not into Kurt, he's a friend yes but… no, not like that" he stopped walking forcing her to stop or bump into him, it wasn't planned, it came on sudden, just like that he knew he was ready to take the plunge and let her know "I'm into you like that though" he stood waiting for a response, all he could concentrate on was her quivering lip and how he needed to grab the opportunity he had right now and kiss the hell out of her, damn the slap
"Sam I…" his lips covered hers before she could say anything else
"I've wanted to do that since… forever" he rolled his eyes "Sorry" he pulled away at the look on her face "I shouldn't have done that"
"Kurt's totally infatuated with you" was all she had
"I'll let him down gently, in fact I have a plan" he grabbed her face "I've just achieved one of my goals in life, I need a minute" he looked into her eyes
"Sam" she smiled up at him "I can't deny I feel something for you too, but we're about to start our lives, you in Texas, me in Cali we're poles apart, let's not start something that's going to hurt both of us"
"Can we at least have the summer?"
"One hot summer?"
"One very hot summer" he smiled kissing her again
"Hold that horse boy" she giggled
"I know" he rolled his eyes "First base hot, that's what I mean"
"So long as you know" she giggled leaning in to kiss him this time
The summer was hot, they'd spent most of their days at the park, or going to various paper plane competitions, to watch him win a few flights, once he won, he'd name the plane and dedicate it to Mercedes. In the evenings they'd sit on their bench by the lake talking about their aspirations, mapping out their future, and when they'd found some words of inspiration, they'd sit in Sam's bedroom writing songs or making out. It all ended too quickly; they were sat on his porch trying to find the words to say remember me
"I don't want this to end…" the cracks in Sam's armour started to show as the time drew near
"Sam" Mercedes rolled her eyes "We promised" she looked around the porch
You are the song that I long to hear once more, you are the light that I keep looking for
Roses are blue if it isn't me and you, I got to see, see this thing through
And I'd spend my lifetime, sending paper airplanes to the moon, praying they get to you
And I'll spend the rest of my days, lost in this craze for you, sending paper airplanes to the moon
"I'll send you a paper airplane whenever I think about you" he smiled at her singing him into silence
Today
"I know you're going to call me out on this, but I've always known this was meant to be" he grinned
"You're the boy next door" she smiled
"I'm not the boy next door, you're the girl next door" he laughed "And don't say all this is clique"
"Sam"
"Mercedes" his eyes ran down her body "I want to make love to you" he kissed her neck "I need to make love to you"
"Remember I'm in Cali?" she closed her eyes and took his kisses in
"Remember what we felt at the wedding?" he whispered in her ear
"I remember" she grinned lifting her neck to give him access, because right now there was no distance, or anyone else between them, his finger touched the edge of her mouth, she closed her eyes needing to remember everything. This was a more sensual kiss than the last one, this one was taking time, giving feeling, evoking emotion, who would have thought touching someone's face could be so erotic, his hot breath hitting the wet spots he was leaving on her neck forcing her to breathe heavy, and fill up with want
He suddenly pulled away to look into her eyes, she couldn't explain what she saw, but she knew for certain she wanted it, and he wanted to give it, she moved in and grabbed his lips with hers, giving the unspoken permission for things to go further. His hand left her face and went to her hair, giving more pleasure along with confusion, these were simple things, things that she'd had done before, but they were leaving her undone
"Tell me there's nobody else for you" he whispered in her ear
"There is nobody else for me" she relaxed in his arms, her hands finding places to explore, as they stood kissing
2 years ago
After Sam had done the introductions between Kurt and his friend Blaine, they'd hit it off big time, to Sam's recollection they hadn't spent a minute apart since they'd become official less than two months later. So, it was no surprise that they wanted to get married as soon as they started college and moved into an apartment together over in New York, both of them felt at home there, close to college. Soon after the announcement of a pending wedding and before anyone knew it, the day was on them Sam caught a flight home, the first time he'd been back, outside of holidays, since he'd gone off to college, he'd found it all too painful.
Sam turned onto the narrow road, smiling at the thought of seeing everyone again, it had been nearly six months since he'd seen the guys, he grinned as he passed the familiar park, remembering the summer he'd spent with that special someone, they'd spent evenings there becoming something past friends. "Memories?" Brittany, his current girlfriend asked reminding him he wasn't alone in the car
"Lots" he smiled "I grew up here" he looked across the street smiling at their bench
"Any old flames I need to know about?"
"No" he smiled, she didn't need to know the flame he thought had died was still very much alive and he was realising that as he drove closer to home, nor that since the day he'd received the invite, all he could think was that flame should be there. He hadn't told her that she was only sitting there because those dreams of seeing her again after nearly twelve months had been dashed when she cancelled three weeks ago because of some concert thing she couldn't get out of
"Which friend are you hoping to see the most?" Brittany asked
"Mercedes" came out before he could think about it "She was my constant all through school" he smiled, something he couldn't stop doing when he thought about her "She was supposed to have been the maid of honour, but something came up"
"Shame" Brittany's voice filled more with relief than with regret
So, when he'd walked into Blaine's parents' house and saw her sitting there, he was in shock, to say the least, followed quickly by a sudden pang of regret for having Brittany stood next to him. He tried to act normal, walking around the room introducing Brittany as he said hello to some old faces, but as he neared Mercedes he slowed, trying to find the words he needed to not hurt her
"Mercedes" he smiled pulling her more in than he'd planned to, taking in the familiar smells he associated with her "It's good to see you" he let go of her and held onto her hands "Still looking good"
"Still feeling good" she smiled "And you haven't changed one bit" she leaned in and kissed his cheek
"Sam" Brittany butted in, stood there feeling awkward
"Oh" he turned "Mercedes this is Brittany"
"Nice to finally meet you" Brittany offered her hand
"You too" Mercedes looked around "And this is Shane" she looked at Sam, they both looked like they were relieved that was over as they watched the two shake hands before Sam offered his to Shane
The weekend had turned out to be more than awkward for Sam and Mercedes, they'd been best man and maid of honour for their friends, which everyone knew was inevitable, but the fact that they'd spent the eve of the wedding holding hands and practicing lines while their significant others sat looking on, wasn't going down well. Even they could see the apparent sparks flying between them, making the situation worse as neither could control the urge to wonder back in their minds to that one hot summer they'd shared, and clearly wanted to share again
"Mercedes" he finally grabbed a second to speak to her out of ear shot "I'm sorry, I would never have…"
"It's fine Sam, and for the record, I wouldn't have either, I just thought this was over between us"
"Clearly not"
"I won't disrespect him like this so can we…"
"Sure" he agreed "But the second I get back to Texas I'm re-evaluating, I can't have this happen again"
"He doesn't even know we're in trouble" she looked back at Shane "Does Brittany suspect anything?"
"I never know what she's thinking" he looked across at her
The next day the wedding took place, it was a happy occasion, the grooms did their thing, and the best man and maid of honour did theirs. Kurt and Blaine drove off into the sunset, eventually to get back to their lives in New York.
"Thought I'd find you up here" Sam climbed into the tree house Mike's dad had made for them in Mercedes back garden
"My place to run to" she smiled watching him sit beside her "Where's Brittany?"
"Asleep at the hotel" he looked at her "Shane?"
"Asleep at the hotel" she giggled "What are we like?"
"Preoccupied" he laughed "Thanks for that last CD by the way, it's fantastic"
"You would say that you have bias" she laughed
"Truth isn't bias" he took something out his pocket "I have another plane for you" he smiled handing it to her "This one is called decisions"
"We have a few of those to make I'm sure" she smiled
"When are you two going to confess your undying love for each other and get on with life?" Mike asked as he stepped in "This seemed a lot bigger when we were younger didn't it?"
"It did" Sam laughed, they sat reminiscing about their childhood for a while before they hugged, Sam and Mercedes left to make their decisions about their relationships, a little surer that what they currently had, wasn't what they wanted.
Today
"I think we should close the blinds, don't you?" she asked realising the entire beach house had window walls and they were stood in full view of anyone caring to look in "And lock the door"
"We're two consenting adults" he smiled "But yes I will close the blinds, and we're here alone"
"I prefer my audiences when I'm singing" she laughed
"Oh" he assured her "I'm about to make you sing" he laughed promisingly "I think you'll feel comfortable in the bedroom"
He was a brilliant kisser, but she couldn't help but check out his slightly tanned skin against his sun-bleached hair, it made him look sexier than she'd ever remembered him, his bare chest gleaming as the sun hit it, packing a serious punch with his biceps, he'd looked after himself and the smell of him, everything was setting the scene, for a great night. "You alright?" he turned to ask feeling her hand tense in his
"Yeah" she smiled "This is just a big deal for me"
"Me too" he grabbed her other hand and pulled her with him "Music?" he asked as they walked into his bedroom "I need to calm you down Miss Panic"
"I know" she giggled "I'm stressing" she laughed nervously
"Drink?" he turned the lamp on and walked over to close the blinds
"Yeah" she looked up at his ceiling covered in planes "Are these mine?" she smiled "Paper airplanes to the moon" she smiled at his artwork
"Some you had; most I didn't have the guts to give you" he admitted closing the blinds "But yes they're all yours"
"Have other girls been in here?"
"No" he frowned "Mom wouldn't allow a random girl to stay in our beach house" he walked over to the pod and dropped his phone in it
"And I'm not random?"
"She thinks you're my best friend" he laughed "And you are"
"Okay" she closed her eyes to shut the world out of the now shady room
"Remember this one?" he turned to look at her as he tapped play
Love so divine, all our memories intertwined, I found the truth in your honey eyes
Even though it's been a while, I still think about your smile, every night before I fall asleep, I'd find you in my dreams
Somewhere in the trees
"I do" she smiled
"I like to pretend you're stood singing it to me, when I miss you enough" he laughed shyly
"I sing it a lot, when I'm missing you" she watched him walk towards her suddenly nothing else mattered but being in his arms
And I'd spend my lifetime, sending paper airplanes to the moon, praying they get to you
And I'll spend the rest of my days, lost in this craze for you, sending paper airplanes to the moon
Their lips met again, his bare chest hit her blouse as if there was nothing between them, his heat swept through her "I'm not going to hurt you Mercedes, I'd never do that"
"I feel safe with you, I always have" she looked up at him
"I'm glad to hear it" he kissed her neck
"I.." her broken word made him stop kissing her to look into her eyes "I love you Sam, I think I always have"
"I've loved you forever" he held her face and kissed her gently
1 year ago
It was one of the saddest calls they'd ever had, Mike was sobbing like a baby, Tina was worse, his father had passed away in some tragic hit and run saga, the police were less than helpful, and everyone was in despair "Come home" Mike squealed down the phone, they had to answer the call.
They'd done what they always did when they were apart, got on with life, Sam was still sending the paper planes, Mercedes was still thanking him for them, every now and again their conversations would get a little smutty, but it wasn't really until they met for the funeral of their friend's father that they really called out what they had.
The funeral was really sad, Mike had no one except his family and Tina, they were planning on getting married once she'd made partner of the firm she was interning at, he'd got the family business back home and tended to live off that while doing his dance thing as a side hustle. Convenient for them as it meant he could travel to suit Tina's needs and find himself something to do opening up small dance schools everywhere they landed. Now his dad had passed that life was going to have to change, he was needed at home to look after his elderly grandparents and mother, as well as the business, and even just five days in, that stress was already telling on him.
"I keep saying it and you two keep ignoring it" Mike stood in front of them wiping his wet eyes, he'd been inconsolable all day "Life's too short, stop wasting it"
"We're…"
"Don't even insult me by lying to my damn face" he held his hand up at Mercedes about to speak
"I admit, at first I thought this was a schoolgirl crush, but to be honest, I realised a while back it's growing into something else"
"I should hope so" Mike looked at her "You're not a girl anymore, you're a grown ass woman"
"I know" she frowned, upset at his upset
"Did you just finally admit…?" Sam looked at Mercedes shocked
"Don't even sweat it Sam, we're at our friend's father's funeral for Christ's sake" she snapped
"Yeah" he looked at Mike wondering off across the garden "This is a tough day for him, we need to make sure he gets through it"
"Yeah" she forced a smile at him threading his fingers through her waiting hand asking for support "We can do this" her voice breaking alerting him to her upset "Sorry" she looked up at him
"Don't be" he drew her into his arms and let her cry
They went late into the night, listening to Mike's stories about his father, talking about their childhood, helping Mike work through the pending changes to his life, while Tina clung to him like glue. Eventually she took him home leaving Sam and Mercedes to themselves
"Long day" she rested her head on his shoulder
"Are you alright?" he wrapped his arm around her "You've been so supportive to Mike and Tina"
"So have you" she looked at him "And for me, I've cracked a few times"
"That's what I'm here for" he squeezed her into him "I'm not just the boy next door remember"
"And I don't want you to be, but I can't think about that right now"
"I agree this is about Mike" he looked at her "But I've made a decision" he looked at her "When I finish college I'm coming back here, this is going to be base for me"
"I hadn't made a decision until just now" she smiled "But when I finish this is base for me too" she grinned "I don't want to fight this whatever this is anymore"
"So" he looked at the treehouse door "The moment you get into town when you come back, you'll come to the beach house, to me"
"I will"
Today
They'd made out so many times in so many places but this time in a bed they knew was going to see things happen between them that no one in the world would ever see felt better than against the door, that tree in the park, the side of the house, in the garden house, this was freedom.
There moans letting each other know what they liked, they took time to get to that point they knew they'd recognise when they got there. Suddenly he sat up and unbuttoned his trousers "Take off your clothes"
And if the world stops spinning, even then I'll be singing, of you, of you
And when my heart stops beating, even then I'll be dreaming, of you, of you
"Are we sure about this?"
"Are you?" he looked at her "We don't have to do this if you're not ready"
"I'm ready" she smiled unbuttoning her blouse "I just…"
"Mercedes" he stopped to look at her "You're still a virgin?"
"I was waiting for you" she moaned at him
And if the birds stop singing and the rain stops falling, and the sun won't shine on you
Even then I won't be through, through with loving you
"Sorry, that came out wrong" he smiled "You've just…" he looked around the darkened room "I'm about to achieve another one of my goals, I just need a minute"
"You" she grabbed his chin to turn his head to look at her "Were my only goal Sam Evans" she smiled "I just wanted you to be sure" she leaned down to kiss him
And I'll spend my lifetime, sending paper airplanes to the moon, praying they get to you
And I'll spend the rest of my days lost in this craze for you, sending paper airplanes to the moon, mmh
Sending paper airplanes to the moon, moon, sending paper airplanes to the moon 'Paper Airplanes' by Ruth B
"How was that?" he asked, as they lay naked looking up at the paper planes, smiling at their union being all they'd ever dreamed it to be
"Alright for our first shot I suppose" she laughed "Not bad for the boy next door"
"I am not the boy next door" he laughed pinning her down on the bed to watch her laugh at him tickling her. before he'd even started.