I know... it's been 84 years lol!
Age 24
"This is my fiance. Shane, this here is the infamous Sam I've been going on about." Mercedes said, introducing her fiance to Sam.
"Nice to finally meet you." Shane said holding his hand out to shake Sam's with a warm smile, Sam smiled back at him before shaking his hand.
"I was starting to think she made up the friendship, with you being a huge NFL star and all." Shane joked.
"Nah, I've known Cedie since we were five… I've been meaning to come visit but with practices and games, I haven't been able to but I do leave tickets at every game in case she wants to attend my games."
"I usually make them but Shane's not a big football fan so I go with my mom or your dad." Mercedes chimed in, shooting him a knowing look.
"Yet you never stay long enough for me to actually see you." Sam teased.
"To be fair, I tried but you have a lot of fans." She replied with a shrug.
"Speaking of, can you not spray perfume in my rooms and stop leaving lacy panties on the floor?" He asked, trying to hold back a laugh, noticing the smirk on her face.
"I have the slightest idea of what you're talking about."
"HOT MOMA!" They heard from behind Sam and she couldn't help shaking her head then laughing when Shane shot her a confused look.
"Oh goodness." She muttered before being completely lifted off the ground and spun around by Noah Puckerman.
"Damn girl, I should've married you when I had the chance." He said kissing her on the cheek.
"When exactly did you have the chance?" She asked giggling.
"Don't be that way! I know you have to spare Evans here but we both know the truth." He joked.
"Ookay… anyways this is my fiance Shane Tinsley. Shane, this is Noah Puckerman." Mercedes said, noticing the confusion that crossed his face before he looked at Shane then her and finally Sam.
"Nice to meet you! I heard she was engaged… guess I didn't believe it."
"Well it's very true." Shane said beaming at Mercedes and noticed that both men shifted slightly.
"Well congrats! I say we celebrate, we're in town for a few more days so how about it?" Puck asked.
"Oh no that won't-"
"I'm game!" Shane said, cutting her off.
"Then it's settled… say we meet at Vox in an hour?"
"Sounds great." Mercedes realized Sam hadn't said much and only shot her a smile before saying bye.
"She's engaged…" Puck said for the thousandth time.
"She's been engaged dude." Sam informed nonchalantly.
"Mercedes Jones-Evans is engaged to another man!" Puck shouted looking at Sam like he had lost his mind.
"One, stop adding my last name to hers and two she looks happy." Sam said wanting to change the subject.
"I will not take your last name off of your wife's name! Mercedes is engaged and it's not to you! I don't understand…" Puck replied, shaking his head.
"We're just friends, I don't know why this is so confusing."
"Because if one thing was ever certain, it's you two being together with kids and dogs and stuff!"
"Have you been drinking?' Sam asked, actually concerned.
"No! How are you so… okay with this? She is literally your soulmate, has been since we were five." Puck asked fully serious and deep down Sam knew it hurt that she was engaged but what could he do? He refused to be old Sam and react like a jealous teenager.
"After we reconnected we agreed to be friends, I'm respecting those boundaries besides I'm happy for her."
"Lie to anyone you want but you're not happy about this or are you forgetting I know what happened two years ago?" Puck asked and Sam shot him a warning look.
"Mhm, when she flew out to watch you play for the first time and instead of leaving she stayed."
"Nothing happened." Sam said with a look telling him to stop poking.
"Being someone's first isn't nothing and it damn sure isn't nothing when you literally screw it up because you're too much of a coward to admit that no matter where you are she is your heart walking around."
"Leave it alone."
"She is going to marry another man because you chose to respect those boundaries after you-" Puck stated, but stopped when Sam slammed his things down.
"Yeah, your reaction clearly shows it was more than nothing, be ready in ten." Puck said before walking out of the room to head downstairs. Sam stared at the door for a while before going to get changed and get ready to have drinks with Mercedes and her fiance.
Two Years Ago
"Yes I have my ticket." Mercedes said into the receiver, shaking her head.
"And you have a ride to the airport too."
"Yes Sam! I've been on a plane before, if I knew you'd be this excited about me watching you play, I would've come out sooner." She replied with a soft laugh.
"It's not like I haven't been leaving you tickets for the past year." He replied and Mercedes sighed.
"I know, I'm sorry but I had to get settled and couldn't leave. It's a new school and my class was a mess but I'm coming now, that counts for something right?"
"It depends, are you actually coming this time? Your mom and my dad have made it to almost every game."
"I'm literally packing my bags now."
"I have to go, gotta get the spare room ready. I'll see you in a few hours!"
"Wait, I got a room Sam so you wouldn't have to do that." She said.
"Cedes, it's no big deal besides all the hotels are out of the way and we'd spend more time driving than actually hanging out. Text me when you board, I'll see you later tonight." He replied before hanging up before she had a chance to protest any further.
Mercedes sighed and shook her head before finishing up her packing. They kept their promise this time and actually stayed in touch with each other, she attended his graduation and his draft day and he attended her graduation. He was even there for her first day of teaching, her students got a treat considering he brought his guitar and helped them run some scales.
He came home to visit his dad as often as he could before finally moving to Seattle for his job. Both of their parents coordinated their schedules so they could visit and see him play but because of her new job, she hadn't been able to attend any so far but she would watch faithfully on tv and cheer him on. She also always sent cards to wish him luck and they face-timed almost everyday. After she finished packing, she called for an uber and called her mom.
"Hey baby, you all packed?"
"Yeah, I'm waiting on my uber now can you make sure my plants get watered?"
"How long do you plan on staying out there?"
"A few days, I'm not sure, I just wanted to make sure they're good." Mercedes replied feeling like a dork.
"Baby, I say this with as much love as a mother can, you need to get a boyfriend."
"Mommy!"
"A girlfriend? Look, I don't care but you need to get out more. Calling me about some damn plants, girl!" Melissa said and Mercedes couldn't help laughing.
"My plants are my babies!" She joked.
"Mhm, you know he's excited about you coming out finally. His house is amazing, you know?"
"I've seen the pictures and I plan on going out there to visit more… I just wanted to get my first year under my belt."
"Well you make sure you make him take out on the trail and please try to have some fun."
"I will moma, I'll call you after I land okay?"
"Okay baby, I love you, have fun!" Melissa said hanging up and letting out a deep sigh.
"Is she really going this time?"
"Yes, she's finally going." Melissa replied, shaking her head.
"My son has been talking about her coming for months and now it's finally happening, thank God." Dwight said. "I mean you'd think after Christmas they'd get together already!"
Melissa nodded. "They really think we didn't see them stealing looks or all that touching.
Dwight rubbed his temples. "I don't think I can keep pretending like they are not self sabotaging themselves."
"We can't do anything but wait for them to realize what's going on between them, what has been going on between them for years now."
"Here's to hoping time alone and away will finally make them see what everyone around them sees." Melissa said.
Mercedes was at baggage claim when she heard a whistle and immediately lowered her head before looking over her shoulder and seeing a familiar face. She quickly turned back around and hoped like hell he wouldn't make a scene but the second she heard him howl she knew there was no escaping him.
"HOT MOMA!" Mercedes pretended to not hear the old nickname given to her by Noah Puckerman but when she felt her feet leaving the ground and a pair of arms around her waist she knew it was no use.
Puck spun her around before setting her back down and placing a swift kiss on her lips. "Damn woman, it's been too long!" He said excitedly and she couldn't help but laugh at him before it quickly turned into frown when several cameras began flashing and random people started asking her a thousand questions.
"Calm down people, she's just a childhood friend of mine and she's not even here to see me." Puck announced and some people muttered before walking away but the ones that stayed pressed and asked who she was coming to see if not him.
"Just say that you're a school teacher." Puck whispered and she looked at him skeptically before nodding.
"I'm a school teacher." She said and the people immediately looked at her in disgust before walking away. "Do they have something against teachers?"
Puck laughed. "Just the really hot ones, you don't look like a school teacher so it threw them off when you said that." He explained before taking the bags from her hands. "Evans, would've picked you up but he had a last minute call from our coach, so he asked me to come instead."
Mercedes nodded. "It's fine, I'm sure you guys are so busy especially with the big game coming up." She said letting him lead her to the waiting SUV.
Puck smirked. "So you have been keeping up then?" He asked opening the door first then putting her bags in the trunk.
"Of course I have, by the way, nice play." She said getting settled in her seat before her phone buzzed.
Puck's picking you up.
Oh shit, you won't see this until after he's already there.
Sorry but don't kill him, we need him for the next game.
Mercedes laughed before replying and letting him know that Puck was still indeed alive and that they were headed to his place.
"So how's the teacher's life? Breaking kids' hearts?" Puck asked after getting in and pulling off.
"It's really great and no hearts broken, well maybe Jasper Howell… he's a feisty little thing." She answered, shaking her head.
"I would be into you too if you were my teacher." Puck teased. "Do you wear those tight pencil skirts?"
"Sometimes, mostly dresses and pants… kids don't care and put their little hands anywhere and everywhere."
"I thought you were teaching Middle schoolers?"
"I teach first through seventh grade and it's… a task but I love it." She answered and Puck could tell by the smile on her face she meant it.
'Well shit, I guess trying to convince you to move out here is out of the cards."
"Sorry, no can do. I love my kids and some of them I will get to see grow up so, no dice."
Puck nodded before looking over at her. "You know he's really excited that you're finally coming out right?"
Mercedes knew it because he practically demanded that she come this time and she would be lying if she said that there weren't other reasons keeping her from coming but there were. They agreed to be just friends and were doing fine until Christmas… they hadn't seen each other in a while and for a brief moment, they'd both forgotten their agreement.
She was flirting with him and he was flirting with her, harmless yes but what no one else saw was that when they snuck off to get away from the party, they ended up making out. She would be able to blame drinking too much eggnog but they both knew the truth. Neither of them had too much to drink, it was them allowing themselves a brief reprieve from an agreement they were too cowardly to admit was bullshit.
She didn't know why they were so hesitant on just giving it a try but a part of her knew if they did, Sam would move to whatever city was nearest to her work make it work even if that meant giving up his dream team. She couldn't let him do that, not when he'd worked so hard to get there and make a name for himself.
"I know, I'm excited too." She said softly before looking out of the window and noticing the cityscape changing to more country area and she had to admit it was beautiful.
"He lives outside of the city, said he needed a break when he came home from games. I think you'll love his house. It's amazing. I even tried to get him to let me stay on his property." Puck said with a chuckle.
"You two living in the same place? I think you would end up killing Sam." She joked.
Puck nodded in agreement. "His impression would be the death of me, you know I thought he'd grown out of them but he'll randomly do one and I have to remember there's still a dork inside the man I call my best friend."
Mercedes smiled. "His impressions aren't that bad… I like them, they remind me of Sammy and not Sam Evans, the football star."
"Hmm. Maybe you should get to know the new Sam Evans…" He replied turning down a long road and Mercedes looked at him wondering what he meant by that because she'd spoken to Sam often.
"I talk to him all the time."
"Talking over the phone and being present with him are two different things. We're here." He said stopping at the gate, rolling his window down and typing in a code that activated the gate. "The gate is to keep reporters and groupies out." He explained.
"Groupies… I'm sure he has plenty of them." She muttered.
"Like I said, you should get to know Sam Evans." Puck replied.
They drove through the gate and down the road a while longer before reaching a beautiful home and she saw Sam sitting on the steps waiting patiently.
She shook her head and giggled. "Reminds me of when he would wait for me to come home from my dads…" She said and Puck laughed.
"Well go put him out of his misery, I'll grab your bags." He said before getting out and waving at Sam who just nodded and waited for Mercedes to get out of the truck.
Mercedes unbuckled and got out of the truck smiling as she walked over to where Sam stood.
"Hey Sammy." She said.
"Finally! Now I can show you how cool it is out here!" Sam said, giving her a bear hug, making her laugh.
"Puck already tried to get me to move out here and the answer is still the same, no dice." She said and Sam shot Puck a look.
"What? I figured if we both asked she would say yes!" Puck reasoned and Mercedes just shook her head. This felt like old times and the two of them bickering over nothing had her feeling nostalgic.
"Umm I was promised a tour…" She chimed in and both men stopped bickering before Sam took her bags from Puck.
"Get off my property." He said and Noah just shrugged before grabbing Mercedes' hand and walking her inside like Sam hadn't just told him to leave.
"The house itself is pretty cool, there's an upstairs and downstairs but I want to show you my favorite part." Noah explained guiding her through the living room, which was beautifully decorated in dark blues and black, to the french doors and out the back.
Mercedes' mouth fell agape when she saw the view before her, Sam had a large infinity dropoff pool with a beautiful mountain view as the backdrop. She could feel the cool mountain air and smell how fresh it was out there, there was so much land beyond the pool and she could see the makings of a trail.
"Oh my goodness…" She said stepping away from Puck and walking around the pool to the edge, she could see more of his property and was in awe.
Looking back she saw Sam standing there and smiled. "This is beautiful."
"Right? He refuses to let me bring my dates here, so unfair." Puck said, making her giggle.
"Well forgive me for having standards, if you want I can show you the trail Ms. Melissa likes to go on and I can show where me and pop like to go fishing."
"I'd love that… will we have enough time to do all of that? You guys have practice right? Then the big game?" She asked and they both nodded.
"Well, we can do the trail tonight and after practice tomorrow I can take you fishing." Sam replied.
"As long as you're sure you won't be tired."
Puck smirked and shook his head. "You two… I gotta run, it was good seeing you, Hot moma!" He said, giving her a hug.
"I'll see you again right?" She asked, hugging him back.
"Damn straight you will, you gotta meet my girl!" He said before walking back inside.
"Puck has a girl?" Mercedes asked and Sam chuckled.
"He has many girls but I think this one will be the one that sticks. So do you like the place?"
"I love it! I see why my mom is always gushing over it. Looks like you're doing good for yourself." She replied, looking at him and smiling. "I'm proud of you."
"Thanks, so you want the grand tour?" He asked and she nodded.
"There aren't any snakes out here right?" Mercedes asked as they began walking down the trial and Sam laughed.
"You really think your mom would ever come back to my place if there were snakes?"
Mercedes couldn't help laughing. "You're right, she would've told me to stay inside and wear socks…" She replied while taking in her surroundings. "You really hit the jackpot with this land, I see."
Sam nodded. "It wasn't easy, I had to fight really hard to get it and make sure it was a forever kind of home, you know? I love the city but being out here is so relaxing… my life went from zero to one thousand in the matter of four hours."
"I remember watching that game and I just felt it immediately. I was like 'his life is about to skyrocket' and it did, you're a freaking celebrity now." She said still in disbelief.
"It's so weird… people coming up to me and actually knowing things about me. That's why I had Puck pick you up… I didn't want those crazy women trying to dig into your life."
Mercedes laughed. "I assumed as much considering the second he told the reporters I was a school teacher they were immediately bored with me."
"Yeah, a supermodel or even a groupie would've held their attention, they know Puck's not the type to settle for a teacher. Had it been me though… you would've received threats and I can't have anyone being mean to you like that."
Mercedes couldn't help smiling. "Well I do appreciate it, I doubt my school would let me stay if it had happened, then I would force you to take care of me for the rest of my life out of revenge." She teased and he laughed.
"Damn it! And here I thought I would have to seduce you to move here." Sam joked and Mercedes rolled her eyes.
"Please, as if you could besides I heard you were dating someone… Kitty or something."
Sam scuffed. "No, I am not dating her. She's someone my manager threw at me and forced me to go on a few dates with to seem more desirable." He said, helping her down a steep hill.
"They couldn't use your oh-so adorable looks to do that?"
Sam smirked. "I am pretty adorable, huh?' He joked before slipping on a rock, he grabbed Mercedes to prevent her from rolling and landed on his back near the river bend with her on top of him.
"Shoot! Oh my God, Sam are you okay? Are you hurt?" She asked, checking his face and arms. "See, I come to visit and potentially injure you before the big game…"
Sam chuckled and shook his head. "I'm fine, it's not the first time I've fallen. I'll just be bruised but I'm fine." He replied looking up at her worried face.
"Oh, let me get up… probably crushing you." She said relieved that he was okay.
"You're not. Feels nice.." He said tucking her hair behind her ear. "You look amazing, I meant to say that earlier but Puck was hogging your attention."
"He's not now…" She said softly.
Sam nodded looking at her intensely. "We'd be breaking the rules again." He said gently caressing her cheek.
Mercedes swallowed. "We would…"
"Why do we have those rules?" He asked sitting up, he kept his hold on her as he did and adjusted so that she was sitting on his lap.
"You know why we have those rules… our friendship is-"
He cut her off by kissing her and Mercedes immediately melted before kissing him back. "Our friendship should've never stopped this from happening." He said in between kisses.
"It's not that, it's us. You're here and I'm all the way over there." She replied, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him deeply.
"Then why not forget them for now." He asked leaning back so he could look at her.
Mercedes looked at him before sighing. "Because one of us will end up hurt."
Present
When Sam walked into the lobby he saw Puck talking animatedly to Mercedes and Shane and he couldn't help but wonder what had them laughing so hard, as he approached them he couldn't help but notice how Shane and Mercedes weren't standing close to each other or when Shane would attempt to caress her arm she would purposely move away.
Puck's words were still floating around in his mind and he knew deep down everything he'd said was the truth but he got one thing wrong, he didn't mess up and she wasn't the only one that lost something that night.
"What's so funny?" He asked, smiling at everyone.
"Oh Noah was telling us about the time you two tried reenact the scene from Risky Business and you went crashing through the wall." Mercedes responded with a light laugh and he couldn't help looking at her closely. She looked back at him before blushing and turning her attention back to Puck who was still chatting with Shane, Sam tapped her shoulder and nodded her over away from them slightly.
"Yeah?" She asked.
"How are you? Sorry I haven't been able to get out there to celebrate your engagement." He asked and she just smiled.
"I'm good Sammy, how are you?"
"Good… good, you know I got a house in Lima. I just haven't time to get out there and set up." He explained and she just nodded looking over her shoulder seeing that Noah was keeping Shane entertained before looking back at Sam.
"That's great! Dwight mentioned it in passing and said it would be like old times minus us having sleepovers."
"I'm not opposed to sleepovers." He teased and she just rolled her eyes trying not to smile.
"As long as you're okay with Shane being there too." She countered teasingly.
"I didn't know you were into that kind of thing but I think I can make an exception." He quipped, moving closer.
"I…" She started taking a step closer before stopping when Puck and Shane approached.
"You guys ready?" Puck asked, eyeing them both and they just nodded.
"Let's get some drinks and hear Cedes here sing!" Puck said, draping an arm around Mercedes and walking her into the club while Sam and Shane lingered for a moment before heading inside as well.
True to fashion Sam and Puck were noticed immediately and stopped to sign a few autographs and take pictures, while Mercedes led Shane to a table and ordered a round of drinks as they waited.
"Your friends are really famous." Shane said and she could tell he was impressed by that fact.
"Well maybe to the outside world but to me they're just Sammy and Puck." She answered with a smile.
"Puck seems… infatuated with you." Shane pointed out and she couldn't help but giggle.
"Noah is many things but infatuation with me is not one of them, he just likes to tease."
"And Sam seems cool, we haven't talked much… I kinda figured since he was your best friend he would have grilled me already. I mean I am marrying his best friend after all."
"Trust me, you don't want him to grill you… it'll only hurt your feelings." She replied muttering that last part but Shane heard her.
"Is there something about the two of you that I need to know?" Shane asked but before Mercedes could respond they guys appeared.
"So what song are you singing?" Puck asked and Mercedes shot him a look that made everyone laugh.
"I thought we came here to catch up." She stated.
"I haven't heard you sing in YEARS, that is a part of catching up." Puck said, looking at Sam for back up.
"She sings for me all the time." Shane chimed in earning a look from Puck.
"I think you should sing, it has been a long time." Sam said and Mercedes sighed before reluctantly agreeing.
"Fine but just one song, I have to save my voice for my students." She said walking towards the stage and as soon as she did the guys looked directly at Shane.
"So are you and Mercedes really getting married?" Puck asked and Sam face palmed himself.
"Yes, we're in the planning process but we're hoping for Spring." Shane and Sam snorted before taking a sip of his drink.
"She chose Spring?" Sam questioned.
"Well it's better for me and my family to do a Spring wedding."
"What made you ask her to marry you?" Puck asked, narrowing his eyes at the man.
"She's amazing, I'm still trying to figure out how I got lucky that day when I ran into her but for some reason she said yes when I asked her out and the rest is history." Shane responded hoping his answer was good but based on their expressions it didn't even reach good.
"What about her is amazing?" Sam asked and Shane knew he needed to impress him with this answer.
"Her smile, the way her brain works, her loving nature and her beauty."
"And her flaws?" Sam questioned catching Shane off guard because he wasn't expecting that kind of question.
"Flaws?"
"Mhm."
"Oh umm, she doesn't have them, at least to me." Shane answered and Puck looked closely at his friend, noticing the unamused look on his face.
"Hmm and how long have you two been together?" Sam asked and Puck could tell this was about to get intense.
"I wonder what song she's going to choose?" Puck said, hoping to change the subject.
"We've been together for a year."
"And you live together I presume?"
"No, we're actually looking for a house to buy actually." Shane informed shifting slightly.
"What is taking her so long?" Puck asked, looking around before spotting her waiting to go on stage.
"What exactly are your intentions for Mercedes? You had to ask for more than the fact that she's amazing so what was it?" Sam continued his questioning.
"I like being around her and she makes me happy."
"You know she likes Crunch bars when she's on her cycle?"
"She actually likes Snickers?" Shane corrected and Sam chuckled.
"She has a mild peanut allergy, she can't eat those." Sam said, shaking his head.
"Wait what?" Shane asked, confused.
"Did you know that one of her favorite movies is October Baby but she only watches when she's sad?" Sam questioned getting slightly annoyed that he didn't know these things about her.
"Or that she loves fishing but forces us to put them back every time? Did you know that she-"
"Dude, give him a minute to answer." Puck said, shooting him a look.
"How about the scar on her left leg? Did she tell you how she got it?"
"Scar?" Shane repeated, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
"It's on her upper thigh, surely you've seen it. It's hard to miss especially when-" Sam started but Puck kicked him hard.
"Okay we have someone who's willing to sing so give a round of applause to Mercedes!"
"Oh thank God." Puck signed, noticing that Sam was looking at Shane intensely.
"I think I'm going to move closer to hear her sing." Shane said getting up and walking closer to the stage.
"What the fuck was that?" Puck asked when Shane was out of ear shot.
"Just making sure she's marrying a good guy." Sam replied, taking a sip of his now warm beer.
"Bullshit! If you're going to ruin her engagement at least have the balls to let her-" Puck started before hearing the song and looking back at Sam realizing that he wasn't the only one trying to sabotage this union.
I mean I think we all know what song she's gonna sing... right?
