A/N : Sorry it took so long to get this up, I rewrote it like 10 times
The end is near!
Age 20
Start Over...?
"Moma, I'm literally almost home stop rushing me!" Mercedes said into her phone rolling her eyes and giggling.
"I just want you home already, I missed you!"
"I know. I missed you too, I'm going to stop by Mr. D's to see him first." She replied making a mental note to text Sam.
"Okay just make it quick because I made your favorite." Melissa said happy her daughter was so close to being home.
"I will." Mercedes said before hanging up as she pulled into his driveway.
She'd been making sure to go by and see him whenever she'd come home to visit from school and as promised she and Sam kept in touch as much as they could but with her school schedule and his lack of communication, things had began to trickle down to a text here or there. She knocked on the door waiting for him to answer and when the door opened she was met by a familiar lopsided grin right before she was pulled into a tight hug.
"Hey Mercedes!" Sam said when he finally pulled away from his bear hug.
"Sammy! I didn't know you'd be here, I was just about to text you!" She replied smiling at him noticing how much he'd changed since the last time they'd seen each other over facetime. She noticed the hint of a beard growing in and that his hair was a lot longer sitting right at his shoulders, she couldn't help bringing her hand up and rub his beard.
"Yeah I'll be here for a few days before I have to head to my moms then back for practice." Sam said still smiling at her before moving aside so she could come inside.
"How have you been? How's college life? I feel like we haven't talked in forever!" She asked walking into the living room expecting to see Dwight but he wasn't there.
"I've been good! Adjusting to the new schedule since I'm starting quarterback my work load has tripled but it's really fun just a lot of long hours. I know seems liked forever sorry about that, just a full course load, practices and trying to maintain some version of social life has been difficult." He answered with a light chuckle.
"Whew, tell me about it! I decided to add an additional class this year and have since regretted it not to mention moving into my own place and don't get me started on dating. It's gotten to the point where I prefer to watch paint dry." She said making them both laugh as she sat down on the couch.
"So I take that to mean you're single?" He asked sitting next to her smiling again.
"Very." She answered as a comfortable silence fell over them. She noticed him looking at her and tilted her head to the side with a questioning look.
"What?" She asked finally after a few moments of him not saying anything.
"Just looking at you, I swear it seems like I haven't really seen you since the cabin." He replied noticing the subtle changes in her features.
"Feels like that was decades ago…"
"You're still as beautiful, your hair was longer then though." He said tugging it gently.
"You're the one growing a beard and dare I say amazing muscles. Seriously how often do you work out?" She joked squeezing his bicep.
"Think I can rock it?" He asked rubbing his growing beard.
"Definitely and you should keep growing your hair out too it's… sexy." She said catching his eyes before looking at her watch.
"He's not here, something about a date."
"Oh damn! Who'd the lucky woman?" She asked shocked that Dwight of all people was out on a date.
"Didn't ask but I am a bit jealous he's got a date. I haven't had one in a year."
"My last date was six months ago and I regret it." Mercedes said laughing right as her phone went off.
"Hey baby I got called in, don't hate me."
"It's okay… I'll see you in the morning." Mercedes said before hanging up sighing.
"Looks like you're not the only lonely one tonight." She said standing up getting ready to head home.
"Wanna hang out with an old friend?" Sam asked.
"Old friend huh?"
"Yes time nor distance will never change that."
"I just want to shower and watch a movie before crashing." She said sighing.
"The house is the same way it's always been." Sam replied smirking at her.
"I'm not seven anymore… we're not seven anymore." She countered and noticed his smirk growing into a sly grin.
"Worried I'll walk in on you in the bath again?" He joked and she couldn't help laughing.
"I'm sure if you did, it wouldn't be accidental this time."
"It wouldn't." He confirmed smirk gone, his voice was dangerously low and his eyes were a shade darker. She shook her head nibbling on her bottom lip.
"Maybe we can hang out tomorrow." She suggested suddenly feeling warm.
"Mercedes Jones flustered?" He teased standing and closing the gap between them.
"I'm not flustered… I'm just tired." She said inhaling slowly.
"Then stay, I'll sleep on the couch. I don't want you driving if you're as tired as you say you are."
"It's literally five minutes down the road."
"Okay." He said simply before grabbing his and her keys walking over to the door and nodding her over.
"Oh you've got to be shitting me!" She said throwing her head back making him chuckle.
"You're the one making this awkward." He joked and she knew exactly what he was talking about.
"One drunk phone call and you think you have some weird hold over me!" She said rolling her eyes.
"Was it one though? If memory serves me you called seven times and should be and I quote "kissing my fluffy lips." He said laughing harder when she groaned.
"I was drunk, so those words don't count."
"Drunk mind says what a sober mind won't." He countered smirking.
"Whatever…" She said sighing.
"Come on, one movie beside we have some catching up to do since I couldn't come up for Spring Break." Sam replied with a lopsided grin and she rolled her eyes.
"Fine but I draw the line at Avatar." She said moving pass him and going towards his old room.
"I was fine watching the movie in the living room." He quipped after she took her shoes off and sat down on his bed.
"Mhm, I bet you were." She teased back making herself comfortable before shooting him a look.
"What?" She asked.
"You do realize the last time we were here was before I moved away." He replied turning the tv on and picking a movie for them to watch.
"Oh wow… been that long huh?" She asked he just nodded sitting down and smiling at her earning an eye roll from her. "Something on my face?"
"Actually yes." He replied letting out a chuckle when he saw her eyes grow wide before she started wiping her face. "Here let me." He said bringing his hand to her cheek and lightly running his thumb along it before leaning in and placing a soft kiss on her slightly parted lips. He kissed her again earning a gasp before she kissed him back feeling her melt into him, he moved his free arm around her waist and pulled her closer deepening the kiss.
"Sam maybe we should-" She started before she was cut off by him kissing her again
"Stay Cedie." He said between kisses wrapping his other around her and lifting her slightly before sitting her on his lap. He ran his hands along her sides earning quivers from her as she nibbled on his bottom lip enjoying how soft they felt against hers. She let out a soft whimper when he broke the kiss that quickly turned into a moan when she felt his lips on her neck kissing her the sensitive flesh, she held her head back allowing him more access before feeling his hands slip underneath the hem of her shirt causing goosebumps to start forming.
"Sammy." She said breathlessly.
"Mhm?" He asked brushing his lips along her collar bone and gently squeezing her waist.
"What are we doing?" She asked moaning again when she felt his hands moving higher and before he could respond his phone started to ring, she saw him look over at it before letting out a sigh then returning his attention back to her. Mercedes looked over and pulled away from him before grabbing his phone to see if her eyes were playing tricks on her.
"What?" He asked but he could tell by the look on her face the mood, whatever mood that was there was gone.
Hello?
Umm who is this?
Mercedes.
Oh wow! Didn't know you and Sammy kept in contact… hmm well will you let him know I locked up and will see him when he comes home?
Tell him yourself.
Mercedes tossed him his phone as she got off from his lap and began putting her shoes on, Sam grimaced when he shot him an angry look. He got up reaching for her but she moved away and stormed out of his room shaking her head.
"Cedies…"
"Wow… you really… good night Samuel." She grabbing her keys and walking out to her car.
"MERCE!" Sam shouted running after her just barely catching up to her before she could close her car door.
"Sam let me go." She said wiping the stubborn tear that came out because she felt stupid for wanting this to be something more finally.
"Mercedes it's not what you think." Sam said feeling like shit.
"So you and Quinn aren't living together?"
"We are but-"
"Don't you dare stand here and lie to me." She said breathing heavily.
"We're not dating anymore…" Sam replied.
"You're still lying." and he was.
"Mercedes…" Sam said rubbing the back of his neck.
"I'm not some fresh ass you get to have because you're bored with the current one!" She said huffing and Sam shot her a hurt look.
"And I don't sleep around, Jesus Mercedes after all these years you still don't see it!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Nothing, just forget it." Sam replied moving away and shaking his head.
"No go ahead and say it!" She demanded.
"I want my bestfriend back! Sam shouted catching her off guard. "The same bestfriend that I fell in love with when I was twelve but I know that won't happen because of everything I did in the past. Pushing you away and lying to you… I've been trying to figure out a way back but even when we didn't visit each other it was still… different. Then you showed up looking as beautiful as you do and I took a leap, a chance." He admitted.
"Chance for what?" She asked softly.
"I don't know… something." He replied and she just looked at him before nodding.
"If you can't even say it, then maybe it's a good that I don't know."
"Maybe so, good night Mercedes." He agreed running his hand through his hair.
"For what it's worth, I loved you for years too." She said getting into her car giving him a final glance before pulling off and driving away. Sam let out a heavy sigh before walking inside and grabbing his phone calling Quinn back.
Hello?
Why the hell did you do that?
"Do what? She answered your phone besides it's been years. She should let it go.
Get out of my house Quinn.
What? All because you couldn't get little miss perfect?
No because we broke up and I've asked you leave a thousand times now.
Oh whatever you know you miss me, us.
"Quinn, I don't. We ended up at the same school as a fluke, be out of my house before I get back."
He said before hanging up.
Mercedes walked into a dark house not even attempting to turn on any of the lights, she headed straight up to her old room after locking up.
"I thought you told her you got called in?" Dwight whispered to Melissa from their hiding spot in the kitchen.
"I did! I even parked my car a few blocks down the road." Melissa responded.
"Then why isn't she at my house with Sam?"
"Damn Dwight I don't have super powers, how am I supposed to know? Besides-" Melissa started before stopping when there was a knock at the door.
"Do you think it's Sam?"
"Only one way to find find out." She whispered shooting a quick prayer that this was the night their kids at least rekindled their old friendship. When they heard the knock again, they also heard Mercedes coming down the stairs and both got excited.
"Sam what do you want?" Mercedes asked annoyed and Melissa shot Dwight a grin.
"When you got your period I made a promise to always get you a care package-"
"Sam-" Mercedes interrupted stopping when he placed a hand over her mouth.
"I promised and when I moved away every month, I would buy your favorite snacks and eat them. I'm telling you this because above everything I always wanted my friend, I wanted to feel close to you. I fucked up tonight and before but I meant it when I said I wanted my best friend back." Sam said moving his hand.
"Sam… I have always been here, I never changed how I treated you. You did, it's like you had this crazy notion that I couldn't make my own decisions." She replied letting out a sigh.
"Let me make it up to you."
"Sam." She started but stopped when he held up a purple gift bag and a bouquet of sunflowers making her smile.
"I miss our friendship Cedie." He said with a small smile.
"I miss our friendship too Sammy, I really do but after everything that we've said… I just.."
"I meant everything I said but our friendship means so much more to me."
"Wrong answer." Dwight muttered before Melissa shh'd him.
"Friends then?" Mercedes asked biting her lip.
"The best of friends." Sam replied smiling.
"Okay friend, wanna go watch that movie you suggested?" Mercedes asked with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Can't think of anything better to be doing." He answered with a goofy grin making her giggle. She moved aside letting him in stopping right before going up the stairs and looking at him.
"Don't kiss me again…" She said earning a smirk from Sam.
"Damn it, there goes my top secret plan to seduce you." He joked walking passed her shaking his head.
"Hey you weren't complaining earlier, don't act like I don't have power over you Evans." She teased back making him laugh.
"Puhleease, you know dame well it is I who has all the power!" He said and it was her turn to laugh as they walked up to her room.
"Well that didn't go as planned." Melissa said to Dwight after hearing her room door close.
"When did they kiss?" Dwight asked.
"When they were sixteen, again at nineteen and I'm assuming again tonight."
"Have they… have they done anything else?" He asked hoping like hell they hadn't but also realizing it wasn't his business if they had.
"No!" They heard from the stairs followed by laughter.
"Well I guess they know were here." Melissa said laughing seeing both Mercedes and Sam coming down stairs.
"Mr. D, you're gonna need to hide that huge truck of your better." Mercedes said giggling.
"Yeah pop, your truck is noticeable." Sam chimed in making his dad chuckle.
"Well since we're all here we might as well have a movie night...Sam order some pizza, Dwight grab us some drinks." Melissa said winking at her daughter. She wasn't entirely sure but she knew it was only going to be a matter of time before Sam and Mercedes finally gave into their true feelings for each other.
Soooo... yep it's nearing the end only two chapters left.
