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Age 24: Part 2
Age 22
"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."
Sam looked at her and sighed. "We don't know that." He said nipping at her lips.
She kissed him then nodded. "We have a crazy history of not getting this thing between us right and we finally got our friendship back in a good place… I'm afraid to risk that." She replied honestly and Sam understood.
"Then how about we just do what feels good? No rules, no holding back… just being." He countered and she smiled slightly.
"Has it been that long that you have to beg your virginal friend to be with you?" She teased and he couldn't help laughing as hard as he did.
"I was talking about making out and feeling you up but if that's included I might need to beg a little." He joked and she hit him, laughing.
"Well my moma said i had to behave so, no luck."
Sam pulled her closer and kissed her again, making her moan softly. "Your moma ain't here and I'm more than sure she wouldn't mind you being bad." He said standing up with her legs still wrapped around his waist.
"She is always lurking." She said giggling. "Are we going to finish this walk?"
Sam smirked. "I don't know, I like how we are now." He answered lightly, tapping her nose.
Mercedes blushed. "You're such a horndog." She said, unwrapping her leg and sliding out of his arms. "Show me the rest of this trail."
Sam smiled and grabbed her hand before leading her down the path. They walked down the scenic trail, Sam showed her all his favorite spots before showing her his 'escape spot'.
"I come here when I need to just be away from everything." He explained.
It was an empty meadow with wildflowers near a cliff and she could see why he liked coming there. It was peaceful and beautiful.
"I see why my mom wanted me to see this. You get to have this to yourself all the time?"
Sam nodded. "It's a good place to clear my head. I showed Ms. Melissa and she wanted to camp out here, she said one day when we're all able to we should do it."
Mercedes smiled. "We should, it'll be fun."
"We could, while you're here.. I can get some tents and sleeping bags, we can camp out like we used to, even make s'mores."
Mercedes smiled at the memory of them burning s'mores. "If memory serves me, you tend to burn your marshmallows."
"You still ate them." He teased. "How long are you staying?"
"I fly back out the day after the game, figured you want to get back to your day to day."
He nodded. "Well, should you want, you can stay longer…"
"I'll think about it, come on, show me the tour of your place and feed me. I'm starving."
After Sam showed her around his place, Mercedes got settled in the guest room, opting to take a shower to wash off that plane ride but her phone rang before she could get in.
"Hey mommy."
"Hey! Did you make it okay?"
"Mhm, I was actually about to shower."
"Shower? Are you dirty?"
"Filthy." She said, trying to hold in her laugh.
Melissa let out a sigh. "Oh sweet baby Jesus, you haven't even been out there for a full day and you two are already-" She started before Mercedes started laughing. "What's so funny?"
"Moma, I'm only kidding. He showed me the trail and we slipped, just a little muddy is all."
"Oh, okay well I'll let you go, try to have some fun." Melissa said.
"I will, I should be back in a few days." She informed.
"Mercedes, I say this with all the love a mother can have for her child, don't come home."
Mercedes let out a soft laugh. "You sound like Sam and Puck."
"Well, they're right. There's nothing here for you and you can easily switch schools."
"You're forgetting, I like my school and you are there besides… Why would I move out here? I can't leave you."
"Baby girl, if you don't know why then… I can't tell you but I do think a few extra days out there will be worth it."
"I need to shower, I'll call you tomorrow." Mercedes said.
"Don't and consider what I said." Melissa replied, hanging up.
Mercedes looked at her phone for a minute before tossing it on the bed and shaking her head. She didn't have the energy to try to figure out why her mother was pushing this so hard, she thought she was happy for her and her current success.
Mercedes showered and put on a pair of shorts and an oversized shirt before going to find Sam. She walked around downstairs figuring he would be in the living room but when she hadn't seen him she checked the kitchen and his office before heading upstairs.
"Sam?" She said walking up the stairs before seeing him poking his head out of his room.
"In here." He replied and she smiled as she walked to his room and leaned against the door frame. "How does Chinese sound?"
"Sounds delish, do you have any beer?" She asked and shot her a confused look.
"You don't like beer."
"Okay hard cider then." She corrected, giggling.
Sam chuckled. "I made sure to get you some Angry Orchard and vodka." He said nodding her over, Mercedes laughed and walked inside his room before sitting at the foot of his bed.
"I still can't get over this, who helped you decorate your place?" She asked, admiring the artwork on the walls.
"I did, actually. My mom offered but… we didn't really speak much after I went off to college and she started coming back around when I got drafted."
Mercedes shot him a concerned look. "So you two haven't spoken since? What about your siblings?" She asked and Sam shrugged before grabbing her ankle and pulling her closer to him.
"I talk to them often, they're planning a trip out here soon." Sam answered before pulling her close and inhaling.
Mercedes giggled. "What are you doing?"
"Smelling your body wash." He said into her neck and she shook her head.
"You're such a damn dork." She replied but still tilted her head to the side subtly enjoying the gentle brush of his lips on her neck. Sam nuzzled his nose along her neck and up her jaw before nipping at her chin.
Mercedes' eyes fluttered and she felt herself starting to slowly lay back as he started kissing along her neck and jaw. Sam ran his hands up her legs, Mercedes let out a soft whimper when he squeezed her thighs and nipped at her collarbone.
"Sam, what…mmm… what are you doing?"
He smiled against her skin. "You're soft." He said, gently biting her neck making her moan out.
"Sam…" She said softly, feeling his hands on her hips then she felt them slide underneath her shirt.
"I should stop." He said before kissing her deeply. "I should really, really stop…" He added lifting her shirt, exposing her stomach.
"Probably." Mercedes breathed arching slightly when his hands ran up her back causing tingles the rush throughout her body. Sam chuckled, pulling her shirt up more showing the underside of her breast and start kissing a trail up her stomach right before it grumbled.
They both looked at each other before laughing. "I should probably order that food huh?" Sam asked.
Mercedes laughed. "I told you I was hungry."
"I see." He said sitting up and pulling her up with him. "The usual?" He asked.
Mercedes adjusted her shirt and nodded. "Chinese and movies?"
Sam looked at her and smiled. "Yeah, you find a movie and I'll order the food and go grab the drinks."
Present
"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.
Mercedes let out a shaky breath before looking over at Sam then Shane.
Have you ever loved somebody
So much it makes you cry?
Have you ever needed something
So bad you can't sleep at night?
Have you ever tried to find the words
But they don't come out right?
Have you ever, have you ever?
Sam felt the hairs on his body stand up when he heard her singing the intro, his heart started to race and he felt Puck's eyes boring into him. Small moments of their childhood started flashing in his mind and his chest began to tighten.
Age 6
"Are you sure that's what I'm supposed to do?" Sam questioned his friend who just nodded firmly with a smile.
"Okay…" Sam said to him before walking straight up to Mercedes and leaning in to kiss her but instead he bit her lip making her scream then pull away. Right as he was about to apologize he felt her tiny fist connect with his face making him scream out as well.
"Why did you bite me?" She asked, furrowing her brows and rubbing her mouth.
"Because I was trying to kiss you." Sam shouted and Mercedes just scrunched up her face in disgust.
"Eww why?"
"Because you're pretty and my friend." He replied innocently and Mercedes just smiled before leaning in with her lips puckered so he could try again and Sam smiled before doing the same and kissing her right this time.
Have you ever been in love
Been in love so bad
You'd do anything to make them understand?
Have you ever had someone steal your heart away
Age 8
"Mommy, I'm okay. Sam's here, remember?"
Melissa looked at her daughter then to Sam and smiled. "I know, just… call me if you want to come home okay?"
"Okay, I will." Mercedes said, waving her mom off before heading over to where Sam was standing.
"Hey Cedie!" Sam said, hugging her. "Is Miss Melissa okay?'
Mercedes looked over her shoulder and frowned. "She's worried."
Sam looked at her mom before walking over to her. "She's gonna be okay, I'll protect her." Sam said with a smile and Melissa just looked at her.
"I know you will, baby. You two have fun, your dad is going to pick you two up in a week." Melissa said, hugging him.
You'd give anything to make them feel the same?
Have you ever searched for words to get you in their heart
But you don't know what to say
And you don't know where to start?
Age 14
"Mercedes what's wrong?" Sam asked when Mercedes walked into his room. He hadn't even known she was coming over.
"My dad, he's getting married." She said sitting on his bed, crying.
"Is that a bad thing?" He asked.
"He's going to start a whole new family without me." She said sniffling. Sam sighed and sat down beside her.
"I don't think that's true… you see your dad every weekend and you're always so happy when you come back, maybe you'll get a bonus family. Kinda like how me and pop are your bonus family."
Mercedes shook her head. "She, his ladyfriend is wanting to have kids and stuff. He asked me if I would be okay with him marrying her and I told him I didn't care what he did then asked him to bring me here."
"You haven't talked to your mom?" Mercedes shook her head no. "Cedie, maybe you should talk to your mom and see what she says." Sam suggested.
"She doesn't know I'm even back… can I just stay here until she gets off?"
Sam sighed and walked out of the room to find his dad. "Hey pop."
"Is she okay?" Dwight asked and Sam shrugged.
"She's really upset about her dad and Miss Melissa doesn't know that she's here… is it okay if she stays until she gets off of work?" Sam asked and Dwight checked his watch.
"That'll be fine, just… keep to open spaces." He replied.
"Ah, okay? Can we get chinese? It makes her feel better."
Dwight smirked and nodded. "Yeah, I'll order enough for all of us."
Sam shot him a bright smile before saying thanks as he walked away.
Dwight chuckled before shooting Melissa a text, letting her know that Mercedes was at their place and that he was ordering chinese for dinner.
Have you ever loved somebody
So much it makes you cry?
Have you ever needed something
So bad you can't sleep at night?
Age 16
"Did you have fun at your slumber party?" Sam asked when Mercedes opened the door.
"Well good afternoon to you Samuel!" Melissa said, walking to the door.
"Good afternoon Ms. Melissa, are you heading to work?" Sam asked.
"Mhm, I didn't know you were coming over today."
"Oh well, Cedie said we could hang out today."
"Yeah I told him last night when he came over." Mercedes added and her mother rose an eyebrow at her knowing that the only boy she allowed over was Kurt.
"Oh… you were here.. last night?" Melissa asked and Mercedes rolled her eyes.
"He didn't come inside because he was being a jerk." She teased lightly hitting his arm. Melissa noticed Sam's expression when Mercedes hit him and knew that something was brewing between them.
"Well you two have fun and… I can't believe I'm having to say this but clothes on at all times." Melissa said, earning confused looks from them both before she gave them both hugs.
"What did she mean by that?" Sam asked and Mercedes just shrugged letting him inside.
"My mom's weird sometimes, I have a surprise though!" Mercedes said, leading her upstairs.
Everything changed for them after that. He moved away and became the biggest asshole, all because he'd fallen in love with his best friend and didn't know how to express it.
After all the things they've been through, the moment he regrets the most was two years ago, when all he had to do was ask her one question.
Have you ever tried to find the words
But they don't come out right
Have you ever? (Have you ever?)
Have you ever?
Age 20
"Sammmy!"
"Mercedes? Everything okay?" He asked, looking at his clock and seeing how late it was.
"You never call me!" She slurred and Sam sat up.
"Mercedes, are you drunk?" He asked semi-amused.
"No!" She said before giggling. "Okay maybe a little, what are you doing?"
Sam smiled. "Literally laying in bed, it's late over here." He responded. "What are you doing?"
Mercedes giggled. "You have nice lips, have I ever told you that?"
Sam laughed. "Are you somewhere safe, Cedie?"
"So fluffy! I'm gonna come kiss those fluffy lips of yours and you're gonna love it!"
"I bet I would, drink some water and tell me that when you're sober okay?"
"You're no fun! Bye Sammmy!"
"Bye Cedie." He said, shaking his head and hanging up.
Have you ever found the one
You've dreamed of all your life?
You'd do just about anything to look into their eyes
Have you finally found the one you've given your heart to?
Sam felt like he was being forced back to that moment, that moment he tried so hard to forget. That one moment that kept him from ever coming back to Lima or ever meeting the man she said she fell in love with and was going to marry.
He looked at Shane and could tell he didn't even know that she wasn't singing to him, no, she was singing to him. She was telling him this was it and her face said it, they locked eyes and he saw the same hurt he caused two years ago. If he had just told her he was afraid. Afraid that he was like his mother and would leave her and their kid, afraid that he was like her father and miss out on the best thing because he thought the grass was greener.
He wanted to believe he was like his dad but his actions showed him he wasn't. Dwight Evans wasn't a coward. He went after the things he wanted, he wasn't like her mother either. He wasn't strong enough to risk his own heart for something that he really wanted.
Only to find that one won't give their heart to you
Have you ever closed your eyes and
Dreamed that they were there?
And all you can do is wait for that day when they will care
Age 22
"Tell me about your students." Sam said, grabbing some lo mein.
"They're amazing! A handful yes, but I love them all and they seem to like me. I love working with them and watching them get better." She answered beaming with pride.
"I bet they love you, you're an amazing singer. It's crazy you never wanted to pursue that."
She shrugged, taking a shrimp off his plate. "Fame isn't for me, it suits you though… superstar Sam." She teased.
"Eh, I think if I didn't love the game, I would be some hippy making comics." He admitted.
"Speaking of, have you gotten any more done?" She asked, about a year ago he started a short graphic novel to help with his anxiety and had been sending her updated pages every so often.
Sam smirked. "I have something better actually." He said getting up and walking over to his bookshelf. "Here."
Mercedes' eyes widened and she looked up to him smiling. "SAM!" She said jumping up and hugging him, making him laugh.
"I finished it a few months ago and waited for it to get printed. You are holding the only copy of a Sam Evans original." He replied, smiling back at her. They shared a look before she sat back down and started thumbing through his graphic novel.
"Wow." She said admiring his art work, smiling at him. "You only have one copy?"
Sam nodded. "Yep and it's yours."
Mercedes looked at him in disbelief. 'Wh-what? no , Sammy… no. You need to keep this for someone special! You might get married or something and they should have it or like maybe your first born. I can take this…" She stammered before pushing it away.
Sam pushed the book away and leaned over her. "I want you to have it, Cedie." He said.
Mercedes shook her head. "But it's your first… I'll be fine just reading it."
Sam caressed her cheek before using a finger to lift her chin. "And I want you to have it." He repeated before kissing her softly at first but deeping it when he wrapped his arms around her. Mercedes moved back giving him room to join her on his bed, Sam nestled himself in between her legs as they started making out.
Sam ran his hands along her waist and down to the trim of shirt lifting before pulling her up just enough to slip it over her head. He looked down and admired every curve before looking back to her and smiling.
"We can stop." He said mindful of the intensity of this moment. "I don't want you to think we have to do this Mercy." He added softly to reassure her that they could stop all she had to do was say it.
Mercedes gave him a shy smile. "Just… we can go slow." She replied, Sam wanted this to happen, she trusted Sam and they had known each other their whole lives.
"Just tell me when it's too much, okay?" He said kissing her and running his hands slowly up her stomach, lightly brushing his thumbs along her nipples making her whimper. Mercedes shuddered as he placed tender kisses along her breast before gently suckling on her colarbone.
Sam kissed her again before sitting up and tugging his shirt off. "Do you have.. protection?" She asked.
"I do." He answered, grabbing one from his bedside table. "But we don't have to… go all the way. I know how important this moment is."
"I know but I want to, I trust you." She replied "You'll have to be gentle with me okay?" She said pulling him down and kissing him. She ran her hands down his chest appreciating every ridge and bump of his abs. She moved her lips to his jaw and began trailing wet kisses down her neck and shoulders, Sam let out a deep groan when she ground against him and bit his neck followed by a light lick. She was driving him crazy when she moved his hand from her waist to her soft ass. He squeezed her ass then pressed her down to his hardness causing her to moan, this was new to her he could tell by her reaction.
"Mercedes are you sure?" He asked one last time before continuing, she nodded and Sam could tell she was sure.
He slowly ran his hands up her back and made her moan, he licked his lips and gently pushed her back so that he was hovering over her and wasted no time placing his lips on hers. He kissed her with so much fire that Mercedes let out a loud moan as her eyes rolled back.
Sam planted soft kisses down her collarbone and her chest until he reached her breast, he breathed in her sweet perfume before lightly licking her nipple then taking it in her mouth and squeezing and thumbing the other. She inhaled deeply and arched her back at how good his mouth felt on her body. Sam moved to her other nipple giving it the same attention and moved his hands down her body gently caressing and squeezing.
She was incredibly soft and the more he touched the harder he got, he began kissing down her body, occasionally licking and biting her flesh. Her moans were music to his ears and he wanted to make sure he kept hearing that sound. The further he got the more she moaned and when he reached her thighs he pulled away and removed his shorts tossing them on the floor before reaching for her panties and slowly sliding them down her thick thighs. He used his knee to softly open her legs more so he could center himself and slowly ran a finger between her wet slit, Mercedes trembled and moaned loudly.
He did that a few more times before flicking her clit lightly, she bucked at the sudden rush of pleasure and let out a deep guttural moan. Sam was driving her insane with all these new feelings and sensations, she had made out with a few guys before but she never wanted it to go any further but with Sam it was different, her body reacted differently when they kissed, she reacted differently.
Her mind was everywhere but also very present, he was so in tune with her body and his touch was wildly intoxicating she never knew she could want something so badly until now. Sam gently eased a finger into her core making her hiss, he caressed her thigh to help her relax and waited a few more moments before slowly easing his finger in and out of her.
Once he heard her moaning again he added another finger and let her get used to the feeling then began thrusting his fingers into her and lightly rubbing her clit with his thumb. She was very wet and he could feel her relaxing more and more.
Sam stopped looking at her deeply, gently rubbing his member against her and the sensation made both of them groan and he realized he didn't have a condom.
"Shit." He said softly and pulled away but she stopped him with a sweet smile.
"Condom." She nodded at him while he quickly slipped one one before he continued and he gave her another look letting her make sure she was okay with it and when she just smiled he moved back to his position kissing her then easing into her slowly.
She hissed and began to move away but he held her in place allowing her to get comfortable before easing in a little more, when he reached her hilt he didn't move giving her time to adjust and he kissed away a tear that had fallen before kissing down her neck to her breast taking one hard nipples into his mouth and smiling when she let out a soft whimper, she wiggled signaling that she was ready. Sam took the other nipple into his mouth before slowly thrusting into her, he kept his movements slow and steady until she matched his thrusts encouraging him to go a little faster.
Sam picked his pace but kept a steady rhythm feeling himself slipping into a blissful state buried deep within her and her soft moans and cries only elevated the feeling and when their eyes locked he felt his heart explode.
The trust and care that he saw but he also saw love and compassion, she smiled before lightly cupping his face before her eyes fluttered and she let out a deep breath he could feel her nearing her peak. He gripped her hip and drove into her gently kissing her and capturing her harsh breaths and moans until he felt her tense up before feeling her release flow throughout her body making her shudder and cry out, Sam couldn't hold back any long and thrust into her a few more time before feeling his own release saying her name softly as he did and thrusting lazily until they both came down from their high.
He laid on her for a few moments welcoming her soft strokes along his back before pulling out and they both hissed at the immediate disconnect of their once joined bodies. Sam looked at her to see if she regretted it but he only saw contentment, she gave him a sweet smile before kissing him deeply then snuggling up to him, he wrapped his arm around her and they both fell asleep peacefully.
Have you ever loved somebody so much
It makes you cry? (Make you wanna break down and cry)
Have you ever needed something so bad (so, so bad)
You can't sleep at night
Sam shook his head as the events of those months started hitting harder and harder with every beautiful note that flowed from Mercedes. He couldn't breathe but he couldn't look away either. He'd screwed up so badly and she still… she still left a candle burning for him. He called her for weeks after their blow up but she didn't answer at first and when she did, she told him she understood and that she agreed with him. Their friendship was the steadiest thing going for them and he wanted to cherish it.
"Dude." Puck said looking at him and Sam saw that even he was heart broken.
"She sounds amazing right?" Shane asked, smiling before looking back at Mercedes.
Sam nodded, feeling tears threatening to fall and she took the mic of it's holder and walked off the stage.
Shane smiled back at them. "I swear she knows how to command an audience."
"Have you ever tried to find the words but they don't come out right? Have you ever? Have you ever, ever, ever?" Mercedes sang and as she slowly walked in their direction.
"Dude!" Puck said again looking from Mercedes to Sam then back to Mercedes again.
The tension was thick and the entire bar was glued to what was unfolding in front of them without even knowing the history between any of them. Sam had been in public spaces before but never this quiet, people usually would be coming up to him and Puck asking for their autographs but everyone stayed put in their seats watching and listening.
Shane was completely oblivious to what was happening right in front of him. Mercedes wasn't singing to him, she wasn't even looking at him but because Sam was sitting behind him it seemed that way to him.
"What do I gotta do to get you in my arms baby? What do I gotta say to get to your heart?" Mercedes continued moving closer to him, Sam knew her voice better than anyone else so he was the only one to hear it crack. He felt that stubborn tear win and fall before he quickly wiped it away. Those particular words stung the most because she asked him that two years ago.
Age 22
"Are you going to wear my jersey tonight?" He asked, kissing Mercedes on the neck, making her giggle.
"I've been wearing it to the last few games, so yes." She answered, turning around and facing him. "I know we've been avoiding this conversation but I think it's time we talked about what we're doing." She said and Sam nodded.
"Okay what do you want to talk about?" He asked sitting down then pulling her so that she was sitting on his lap.
"Well I've been here for two months and we've been dancing around us dating and doing couple like things but we haven't really talked about what this is."
"Okay… so a title?" He asked.
"That's a start but school starts back soon and I need to know where we stand and if I should be looking to transfer my position."
"Transfer here." He said and Mercedes smiled.
"Okay but as what to you?" She questioned.
"As my very sexy best friend." He said nipping at her neck.
Mercedes pulled away and shook her head. "Sam we've gone past that… several times over. I can't only be your best friend, especially not after these past few months."
"I don't like titles Mercedes, they complicate things."
She rolled her eyes and got off of his lap. "But you do like having sex with me and having dates with me and taking me to your special place and making love to me for hours on end but a title would complicate things?"
"Mercedes, what we have now is good… why try to change it?" He reasoned and she looked at him like he'd lost his mind.
"Because I'm more than some cheap thrill Sam! I thought you wanted more, I thought you wanted more for us! Isn't that the reason you wanted me to stay?"
"I wanted my Cedies here with me and now you are neither of us are alone and we have this amazing dynamic and-"
"Oh my goodness! Are you serious? If you want to lay around with a woman, then find another one to do it because it's not me! Jeez! What is it going to take for me to have a permanent place in your heart!" She said, shaking her head.
"You do have a permanent place in my heart, don't think that you don't."
"As what? Your best friend or someone you want to spend your life with?" She asked looking at him and when he didn't answer the stubborn tears she'd been holding in, fell. "I said someone would get hurt and I should've left after the big game… I won't subject myself to being a play thing."
"Mercedes I never said you were a play thing!" Sam replied, grabbing her arm, making her look at him. "I've never thought that little of you but what you want I just can't give right now."
"THEN WHY PRESENT IT LIKE YOU CAN!" She shouted.
"Cedie…"
She held her hand up and shook her head. "Don't. This was a mistake. I can't be here… I can't do this… I can't keep waiting for you to… I'm leaving." She said
Present
Sam blinked and there she was directly in front of him.
"To make you understand how I need you next to me, gotta get you in my world 'cause, baby, I can't sleep!" She sang looking directly at him.
"Mercedes, what are you doing?" Shane asked and Puck just shook his head.
"Dude, she was never going to marry you."
"Have you ever loved somebody so much, it makes you cry? Have you ever needed somethin' so bad, you can't sleep at night?" She continued willing Sam to say something as tears streamed down her face.
"Mercedes!" Shane said through gritted teeth and Puck shot him a look that made him take a few steps away.
Sam just looked at her knowing this was his chance, knowing this was it for her.
"Have you ever tried to find the words but they don't come out right?" She sang getting even closer. "Sammy say something…"
"Cedie… I-"
"Tell her you love her damnit!" Puck shouted and Sam shot him a look.
Mercedes looked at him and he sighed before he grabbed the mic from her. "Show's over." He said tossing it to Puck and taking Mercedes' hand and leading her out of the bar, if he was going to do this he was going to do it with just her.
Next chapter will be the last and it will be a TINY time jump!
