Lights, Music, Action
Sam had found his voice at an early age, born in Nashville Tennessee, his Mother had made sure he used it, enrolling him in every competition there was between Florida, New York, California and Washington regardless of school, he was good real good, by the time he was 15 he was snapped up by Dice Records and by the time he was 17 he was a puppet singing songs his Mom chose for him and doing ex-rated music videos to please a crowd he wasn't even connecting with.
19 and he was standing, well not standing, sitting strumming his one friend in the world and singing his new single doing his version of the video for his take on his mix of 'Go Flex' by Post Malone "Yeah I got gold alright" he said flicking the gold brace out his mouth as he got off stage "Everything about this is false what the fuck are you guys doing to me to my damn music?" he shouted as he left the set
"Sam" his Mom shouted after him and started hastily following him when she realised he wasn't stopping
"I just need some time" he spun round telling her when he heard her getting closer to him
"But we have …."
"Time Mom" he shouted back at her before he started walking faster out of there
"Sam" he heard from the parked car almost in front of him "Come on" the familiar voice said as she jumped in the car and drove off with his Hair dresser and Choreographer
"Take me to my hotel" he told them as the car moved off, they got there and walked him all the way to his room, he turned to the guard and told him "Keep everyone out" he looked behind him before adding "And these two"
He got into his apartment, sat on his beige couch in the middle of the plain beige room and took a deep breath before taking out his rolled reefer he'd managed to get from some hippy type loitering at the stage door earlier and attempting to smoke himself into oblivion "Whoo" he said after a few puffs of this stuff he was trying "This is top class" he smiled looking at the reefer as he spoke "This is..." the next thing he remembered was some woman standing over him as he lay on the floor
"I believe in you" she was saying to him over and over again while he lay there wondering how did he get on the floor, how did she get in and what the fuck just happened. Before he could speak to get any answers there were police, emergency services and his damn Mom in the room all asking questions even he didn't know the answer to.
"What happened?" he asked the woman who believed in him "What happened?" he asked again
"You... erm you just ….." she started to say looking around at who was standing listening
"We'll take it from here" his Mom shouted and promptly nearly everyone left the room and she helped him back onto the couch
"Sort yourself out Sam we have the Grammy Awards to do in less than two hours" she said as she headed to the kitchen to make hot coffee for him "What were you thinking leaving set like that without even telling me where you were going?" she shouted from the kitchen
Sam wasn't listening he was busy listening to the news flash that had come up saying something about him attempting suicide "What?" he shouted at the TV as he heard what had been said "What pills" he turned to his Mom asking
"We've got it covered Dan's through there writing your statement as we speak" she said nodding towards his bedroom
He looked across at the bedroom still wondering what the hell had happened "Statement?" he asked
"For the press" she said as she put the cup on the glass coffee table he was sitting at
His attention went back to his bedroom door as it opened and the woman who believed in him walked out followed by Dan "Everything is set up" Dan said "We need to act fast we need to be at the Grammys in less than two hours" he told Grace; Sam's Mom
"You've got your story …..?" Grace asked the woman, waiting for her name
"I'm not happy doing this, he needs help" she said looking back at Sam as she spoke "My name's Mercy, Mercy Jones" she said as Grace shook her hand and put something in it, she pulled her hand away and looked to find a cheque for a substantial amount of money in it "I'm sorry but I don't want your hush money" she said looking back at Sam before she stepped past his Mom and left the hotel room. Sam sat watching the exchange between his Mom and this woman he now knew to be Mercy and he liked the fact that she stood up to his Mom and left her standing speechless, even made him smile and the fact that she actually believed in him was an extra.
"Drink that coffee, take time to read the script and lets go" Grace told him as he went into automatic pilot doing as she'd asked. They were standing just inside the lobby when he notices Mercy standing to the side of some officers
"What's up?" he asked her making her laugh
"They won't let me go until I learn to tell lies" she told him
"I'm sorry" he said "Will you hold my hand?" he asked offering it to her "You believe in me" he smiled making her smile all the more "You have a beautiful smile" he told her before they walked out to brave the tabloids , she did as asked telling everyone he fainted and she panicked and called services, it was a false alarm earning herself a kiss on the cheek from him
"Well" he said when they got back inside, looking at her "What actually happened?" he asked her
"I just said what happened" she said pointing to the door they'd just walked through "I guess after telling that to the world I'll have to take the facts to my grave"
"But I really do need to..."
"Sam come on we need to get to the Grammys" Grace said walking into the lobby and invading their space "Come on upstairs you need to get dressed" she said calling him on with her hand
When they got upstairs Grace needed to know what even Sam didn't know for real, suddenly he realised she didn't even care enough to ask for the truth from Mercy, the only person who might know anything about the whole situation
"Make me understand Sam" she asked as she watched him changing his shirt
"I don't know what happened" he genuinely told her
"Is this a cry for help?"
"No"
"Good because your life affords you nothing to cry about, just tell me it was a mistake, promise me it will never happen again"
"I promise it will ever happen again" he said wondering why he'd ever started this one sided promise thing with his Mom in the first place
"Ready" she said standing back to look at him
"Am I?" he asked
"You know you're ready come on lets get to getting" she said walking towards the door with Sam in tow
Grammys
Sam
He walked into the room and created a definite buzz when everyone looked at him "I just heard whisper you're closer to that Grammy than we thought" Grace told him "That's what I was trying to tell you earlier" she said bringing a smile to his face at the thought
"What am I performing fo...?" he asked
"Sam" Dan shouted calling him over to where he was standing "Come on" he hurried him up saying "Change that shirt and put the coat on" he told him as they walked to backstage
"Here's Sam Evans singing his version of the hit song 'Too Young' by Post Malone give him a hand" The commentator said as the crowd went wild for him the lights went out, the music started and at the end of the intro the stage lit up and Sam went into his performance, he sung his song and was asked to stay at the end when he was awarded with Best Video Award
"Sam" he heard bringing a smile to his face as Naomi came to his mind "I hear you need my company" she said walking up to him as he watched her walk
"I wouldn't say need but if you want to spend some time, I can work with that" he smiled. Naomi was for all intent and purposes his girlfriend, or in real terms paid hooker, with his busy schedule he didn't have time to go in search of wife material he made do with what was about and for the longest time; 6 months, Naomi had been about
"I love spending time with you, your my favourite plaything cutie" she smiled back as she grabbed his ass and walked with him
Mercy
Mercy got home to find reporters outside her home "How did you find out where I live?" she shouted at them as she got out of her car and ran into the house "Damn reporters" she said throwing her bags down and flicking the TV on as she entered to drown out the noise they were making outside
"Hey Miss Jones, we'll pay you for the truth on this" one of them shouted through her letter box
"10k" one shouted
"12k" another shouted and she turned the TV up again to drown them out more
"Grammy award winner Sam Evans cleaned up tonight but is he a casualty of his own success, it was reported tonight that police and ambulances attended his hotel room this evening just moments before he collected his award" the DSD news reported announced on her TV
She turned the TV off and stood wondering how the hell she found herself in that hotel room at that precise moment. She'd been cleaning and because the clients in room 723 were messy past belief she'd ended up running way behind her schedule, she'd cheated and done her last four rooms back to back but using the adjoining doors instead of lighting herself up by using the corridor and letting the CCTV see she wasn't on time. She'd walked in on him with a reefer in his hand and him trying to lift his head up off the couch, "Sir do you need help?" she asked but he didn't react then the reefer fell out his hand "Sir" she said again going towards him, touching his neck and feeling no pulse "Sir" she said again almost shouting, looking round the room before being filled with a strength only god could answer for. She pulled him off the couch to the floor did CPR and found a pulse eventually before calling any service she could think of as he lay there in recovery position
"I just need someone to believe in me" he came to saying over ad over again. He must have subconsciously become aware that someone was there because he turned to her, opened his eyes; which were soul piercingly green "Will you believe in me?" he begged with his eyes
"I believe in you" she said again thinking to herself at that moment she meant it, she really meant it, she looked into his soul and she meant it
The next Day
Mercy turned up for work as usual and was being treated like royalty, the tabloids were still around trying to get the dirty on the whole situation and her work colleagues were leaving pictures of Sam Evans all over the place for her to see like they were an item or something even went as far and to put paper faces in the beds, making her smile
"Okay guys lets get back to real work" she announced early afternoon when everyone got on with their jobs
She got into the third room to find a reporter sitting there "Serious talk Miss Jones" he sat in the chair smiling at her saying "50K for the story you have hidden up there" meaning in her head "and that's my final offer" he said as she held the door open for him to leave "Offer ends when the story's blown wide open" he told her as she abruptly shut the door as he left
Sam was on TV again, this time apologising to his fans for the news that had been disseminated and requesting an audience with the woman who helped him the previous night. His Label wasn't happy with the story that had been spun to the masses and were talking about dropping him and the album for the bad publicity he'd get. His Mom did what she always did, put plasters over the cracks as he sat there listening to her shit, but it worked they let up on his album and kept the release date
That night Mercy got home to more reporters and more bribes and another message from Sam asking for her to meet him outside the hotel "What the hell" she said to herself grabbing her bag and leaving her apartment
"Thanks for coming" she heard as she stood outside waiting after being denied access by the conceige
"No problem, heard you wanted to see me" she turned to see the face of that familiar voice replying
"Yeah" he said taking a deep breath, she was even more beautiful than he'd remembered "I just wanted to apologise for making you lie first off, and to thank you for whatever it is you did for me in there" he said looking up at the hotel building "I'll be right there Mom" he said when he saw her coming towards them "Well that was it really, and to make sure you were alright" he said awkwardly
"Well if that was it I'll b..."
"Is that your ride?" he asked looking around to see the bell boy nodding to her "You busy ?" he asked
"No, why?"
"Come on lets go" he said jumping in her car as she ran with him, jumped in and drove away as his Mom shouted after him
"So what now? she asked as they drove into the night
"How about we go get some food to go and you take me to your favourite place?" he asked her, she got some soul food and they drove to Mercy's favourite spot, which was a karaoke bar near South Side
"Where is this?" he asked looking at the neon sign above the small door saying 'Flavours'
"It's a karaoke bar?" she said you must know them, being a singer and all
"I know them, but I've never been in one"
"You've never been to a Karaoke bar?" she giggled asking
"Never" he said putting some food in his mouth "What does it feel like singing just because you love it?"
"Crazy high, better than any drug" she smiled "What does it feel like to sing for so many people every night"
"Crazy high better than, I don't know, sex maybe?" he looked at her saying "Maybe nearly as good depending on who you have it with I guess" he laughed
"You need to go get some help and soon before you melt down again" she told him as the laughing stopped and they looked into each others eyes
"I'm alright, it was a stupid mistake, don't I look alright?" he asked smiling
"Boy you know you look alright" she giggled
Sam looked around embarrassed as his eyes fell on the change tray, he saw a card from a reporter sitting under some coins "What's this?" he asked her, pulling it out
"Oh some fool reporter I found in one of the rooms I was doing this morning gave it to me offered me money for my story" she told him
"How much to keep your mouth shut" he shouted "Give me your number and I'll make sure you get what you need"
"Listen to me, I don't want your damn money, I don't want any ones money I wish people would stop shoving it in my face like its the answer to every damn thing" she shouted back at him
"My bad" he held his hands up saying as she started the car up and drove off "1175 Canyon" he told her
"Where's that?" she asked
"Where I want to go" he told her
30 minutes later they pulled up at a three story cream building, lights on all over it with a pool lit up inside that you could see from the drive and spotted security lights all around the boundaries "Is this you?" she asked her tone impressed, he said nothing just went round and opened the door for her to get out the car. She figured if he was going to do anything that would have happened already and really, did she mind; no, so she stepped out the car and went with him. The door opened to a very large lobby and he stepped across it and mounted the stairs as she followed looking around at the furnishings everything in it's place and new
"Its my new place, looks like its done" he smiled looking around as he spoke "It's my first time back here since I brought it" he told her
"You going to call someone, your Mom tell her where you are?"
"No, why?" he asked looking at her "You're scared of me?"
"No"
"Good because I need to do this" he said walking up to her, their eyes connected
"What?" she asked when nerves took over her as the possibility of a kiss loomed, his eyes smiling as he walked towards her putting her at ease as his hand came from nowhere and cupped her face pulling her towards him as she moved with ease into him lifting her head to feel his mouth melt around hers. Her arms went up to pull him into her as she stood wondering when her eyes had actually shut and where the hell her feet where. "Why did you do that?" she pulled away from him asking
"Because I believe in you too" he told her making her smile at him "Goodnight" she said detaching herself from him and leaving his house as he watched her
Mercy got home and received a call from her Mom "Hi Mom" she said a telling smile across her face and in her voice
"Hi Baby, you sound pleased with yourself" her Mom replied "You go out on a date and I get calls from everybody and their guard wanting to know where you hang out"
"What?" Mercy asked giggling with nerves
"Apparently you went out with Sam, Grace's son and she wasn't happy about it, demanded I tell her where you live and shit"
"I didn't know Mom, but he's good people" she smiled
"Be careful baby girl"
"I will Mom love you"
"Bye Baby, love you too"
She'd gone to bed thinking about what Sam had said to her, that he believed in her too, she had a dream when she came to California a big dream she was going to be a star no ordinary star like Lynna, her cousin who'd got her one hit wonder and come back home three years later with her tail between her legs, confidence gone, people were going to remember her forever, she was ready for the big time and god they better be ready for her. She'd got a job at Flavours within a week and loved it because of it's Karaoke nights, there was regular scouting going on every week someone would break out of there and when she got her chance she froze, literally froze for like 15 minutes, she didn't even remember blinking. That told her she was never ever going to be on any stage anywhere except that bar and just like that on that night she became a spectator listening, wishing, feeling and clapping every other wanna be, scared to go home to take her I told you so from her cousin. "But he believes in me" she said settling down to get some sleep
The next day
Mercy woke up to a message on her phone 'Rest Day' was all it said and she smiled, she had so much to catch up on washing, cleaning, shopping so much, she got up to get ready to start her chores she'd cleaned, washed and ironed washed off and was ready to go stock her cupboards and wardrobe opening the door she saw Sam sitting in a limo smiling at her "I need someone to help me get my mojo back" he told her
She smiled and got in the car "I was going to buy food" she told him as she sat down
"We can buy food after I finish this one thing" he told her as the car moved off
They ended up at the studio where she watched him doing his video for his next single, it was exciting but all those girls pawing over him made her feel strange, she didn't think it was jealous they'd only just about had what could pass as a kiss so far. They strolled in the park, she sat on the sidelines while he did an interview, walked with him through the paparazzi and honestly she had a flare for it. Having the day to watch Sam at work was eye opening for her, she watched him as his face went through all the expressions, very few genuine, how he'd look lost, lonely, agitated, sad in between his fake front, and his smile that touched the sky when he looked at her. Then later on in the afternoon some woman came on set, walking around like she owned the place "Can we get a full nude shot?" she looked at Grace asking
"Yeah sure" she lifted her head up from her mobile to say "Sam strip" she ordered without even looking at him, he stood looking at her for a short while before he complied and took his clothes off and the camera's went wild for it
"Smile for God sake act like you're loving it" the bossy woman shouted at him and he put that fake smile on
Sam was clearly upset when they got in the car to leave the venue he couldn't even look at her for the shame he felt, Mercy just grabbed his hand and squeezed it making him turn and smile at her, they gave each other a knowing look and drove to his house
"Food" he said when they got in, he'd calmed down some by then
"Yeah whatever" she replied as he went into the kitchen and twenty minutes later came out with hot food
"So you're a busy man, how do you do that stuff everyday" she asked when they finally finished eating and sat on the couch
"Its different, I get fed up of the Lights, Music, Action stuff but I live" he smiled at her "So how come you found yourself cleaning bathrooms for fake rich people?"
"A dream deferred I guess" she smiled back at him
"Deferred?"
"Yeah singer couldn't sing when shit came to the crunch, dropped my balls I guess" she laughed nervously
"Singer" he jumped up saying "Well you know every chance I get I'm going to be calling you out for that" he smiled "When your ready" he added seeing her face as he threw himself back in the couch
"I don't think I'll ever be ready again"
"You will"
"I will?" she asked "Don't be shocked when I flat out refuse to play ball" she laughed
"You can't say no to me" he laughed
"Try me" she looked into his eyes saying
"Kiss me" he told her
"No" she said before she leaned forward and grabbed his lips and stayed there until she heard his song playing on the radio spoiling the vibe
"I don't write my own stuff" he told her at all the swears coming out
"If you could what would you write?" she asked him, he didn't answer he took her to his bedroom and under the bed he brought out a box full of lyrics he'd written in the hope of one day doing his own thing, they sat reading them for a long while before Mercy called time and they walked to the door
"Today I heard a lot of talk about someone called Naomi, who's she?" Mercy asked
"We're sort of together, if I were to put a name to it" he said looking at her sad in her eyes "We sort of got together when I was doing the album and well I don't get time to do stuff like this you know it's nothing serious and I was going to tell you about her"
"Together?" Mercy couldn't believe her ears
"I'm sorry I should have said something sooner but really it's nothing"
"But it's happening your seeing her and pursuing what with me" Mercy didn't wait for an answer she just walked out as Sam stood at the door watching her
Sam
Sam went a bit wild in the aisles for a while after Mercy walked out on him, he was partying every night and sitting sulking at the end of every night thinking about having her in his arms, her smile, driving around, kissing while waking up to nothing, he had to do something so on day 5 he decided to go see Naomi
"Hi Naomi" he said as he walked into her familiar surroundings looking around at her many friends laying around the place "Can we go talk?" he asked
"Sure" she jumped up saying some blond falling off her lap to let her up, they went into the kitchen
"Listen" he said after taking her kiss "We need to talk"
"About what?"
"Whatever it is this is its not working for me right now, we need to go back to being friends" he told her rubbing the back of his neck as he spoke
"I'm not going to cry or anything but I thought you were cool with thing as they were"
"Naomi our whatever hinges on my Mom giving you a call because she thinks lack of sex is the problem, we text a few times a month let's not get this twisted"
"I'm not, I just ….. Hey don't let nobody use you alright" she said kissing him again, this time he didn't join in
"Bye Naomi" he said as he walked out
"Bye Sam" she said shaking her head 'His Mom will be ripping it out of him and he'll be straight back' she thought
An hour later he was sitting outside Mercy's place of work waiting for her to come out "Hey" he shouted as she exited the building
"Hey" she said back half smiling at him
"You've finished work right?" he asked as everyone around her shouted back that she had, she made her way over to him and got in the car before his drive drove off
"Look she said when she sat down and checked herself "I got in because I didn't want to embarrass you" she said her face vexed "What do you want?" she asked with no real emotion on her face but her body was in overdrive
"I finished with her"
"I didn't ask you to do that"
"I know you didn't but I needed to do that, and I just needed to tell you that"
"Why?" she looked at him asking "Why me, you can have anyone?"
"I want you" he looked into her eyes telling her smiling, she couldn't keep her mad face on any longer she smiled back at him
"I have something for you" she said taking her scarf off and blind folded him, writing down her address for the driver and taking him back to her house, she sat him on the couch and straggled him kissing him slow and hard as she undone his clothes rubbing herself on him until she felt movement "I need you to be my first" she told him
"Your first?" he asked taking the blindfold off "I mean, are you sure about this?" he asked his body pumping while his mind was taking in exactly what she was offering him, his first time flashed through his mind as he saw Naomi standing naked in front of him telling him to undress, lay down, cover up, move very mechanical he didn't want to leave that kind of memory with anyone and certainly not with Mercy, he felt something for her "Hey" he said lifting her off him "Our first time can't be like this" he smiled "You got a bedroom?"
"Yeah through there" she nodded and he got up with her attached and walked over to it
"I need two things" he told her
"What?" she asked watching his lips as he spoke
"For you, and I, to remember this" he told her as he lay her on the bed, taking his time to ensure their time together was imprinted on their hearts as Mercy willingly gave her self to Sam
"Will you be my date for this award thing in three days?" he asked as they lay exhausted on the bed wrapped up in each other
"So I don't have work to do now?" she asked
"It's in the evening" he laughed
"We'll see" she smiled "I need to find a dress" she said making him laugh
"You just said yes right?
"Right" she said grabbing his lips as they tried again to make unfamiliar noise, familiar
"Can I call you my girlfriend after this?" he asked showing his puppy eyes
"I thought you already did" she smiled
Awards Day
"OMG here he is Sam Evans the man of the hours" a Times reporter said as they walked towards the venue on the red carpet. Sam was draped in god and went forward as Mercy ad Grace stood to the back "The question on everybody's mind how are you doing" she asked
"I'm great" he smiled as everyone screamed as his response "Excited about tonight"
"And I see your brought your guardian angel with you" the reporter said looking behind him
"Actually she's my date" he told her, pulling Mercy up to stand beside him while his Mom's face turned into some sort of gone wrong picture making him smile
"Is this an exclusive tonight are you confirming something here are you guys dating?" the Reporter asked
"Yes" he said
"You heard it first here" the Reporter said excitedly looking into the camera
They got behind the scenes ad Grace went into Mercy "Whatever you think is going to happen here isn't, your bad for his publicity, people see him with you and they see him in that hotel room again"
"So your life is better for him or should I say Naomi?"
"She's not associated with him laying in a hotel room, nor cleaning one, which may I remind you is your job"
"As opposed to your job of looking out for your son, getting him help ?"
"He's been screwing you for what five minutes, and you feel you have the right to know him?" she asked but didn't wait for an answer "There are 70 thousand people out there all waiting to scream his name, do you think when he gets out there he'll even remember your standing at side stage?"
"Will you remember that I told you he needs help?"
"He's fine" she said flicking her false hair as she walked off kicking her heels at Mercy as she went
Sam was getting suited up for his gig and two minutes after Mercy and Grace's conversation finished he was out kissing Mercy "Lights, Music Action" he whispered in her ear making them both laugh before he heading to the stage to do his rendition of 'God Damn' by Post Malone it was some time in before he noticed it was Naomi sitting on the bed on stage taking photos and it wasn't until the dancers started trying to get his clothes off that he realised she hadn't taken the break up as simple as she'd said. He looked at his Mom to see a smile on her face and knew she had something to do with that as he all but started fighting with Naomi on stage for her to leave his clothes in tact and stop trying to drag him down onto the bed. Grace stepped forward when things stated to get out of hand but it was too late Naomi grabbed the mic
"That bull shit story about him passing out in that hotel room is shit don't believe a word they tell you" she announced as the room went quiet, Mercy walked right out onto the stage and slapped that bitch, grabbed Sam's hand and walked off stage
Sam, Mercy and Grace sat in the changing room while his Grace done her thing, talking to Dan and the crew trying to keep the record deal but it was no use Sam had burnt his last bridge, he want home and smashed ever trophy he had, in a mad rage "Sam" Mercy shouted running fro the kitchen towards him "Sam" she said grabbing hold of his hand as he went to put it through a pane of glass "Stop please" she said holding him to her
"I feel like, I'm dying in slow motion in front of everyone and no one can see my pain" he said crying like a baby as Mercy held him, when he calmed down she grabbed some of his things and threw them in a bag, went to her house and collected some stuff while he lay on the back seat of the car covered up and drove until they thought they were far enough away from everything and everyone. Mercy called her supervisor and got some time off and later that night they ended up in Nashville, his home town on some secluded ranch holiday home in the middle of nowhere just what Mercy felt he needed right now. They got in looked around and then she put him to bed where he stayed for 36 hours, while she made use of her reflective time and cooked, another of her favourite pass times
He woke up looking around for a while wondering where he was before he saw Mercy pop her head through the door in an attempt to make a quiet entry "How long have I been sleeping?" he asked
"About 36 hours but don't sweat it you needed it" she smiled at him
"Come here" he said holding his hand up
"You mean get your rank self out of that pit and get washed" she laughed
"Okay" he laughed "I'll do that but your next on the list" he said getting up to find the bathroom, he came out naked smiling at her
"Food" she said pushing a box of food across the table she sat at, he went, no argument, he realised he was hungry when he saw the food
"Who's this" he said as he rounded the bed and saw the dog laying on the floor at Mercy's feet
"Oh I just call him Mutt" she smiled "He answers to anything" she said stroking the terrier as he sat down and started eating
"I've had enough" he said taking the sandwich out of her hand and throwing it back on the plate, wiping his mouth with his arm and grabbing for her, pulling her up and over onto his lap "Wow" he said when he saw the sea looking back at him "Can we?" he asked as they got up grabbed some shorts and went on the beech to chill for a while, eventually coming in out of the heat, she fell on the bed having raced him back
"I win" she laughed
They played at sorting the bed out throwing pillows and stuff at each other until he grabbed her leg, as she kicked out after him he grab the other leg and drag her to him across the bed, suddenly they weren't playing any more foreplay had started as the look of want fell across their faces "This game's changed hasn't it?" he asked to her smile as his hand moved up her body, found her face and stroked it as her hand came up for find his face and she brought him down to meet her lips. Love making was slow, tentative and deep and they lay taking each other in afterwards no verbal communication needed to explain the perfect place they'd found within each other. The next day when he woke up Mercy had taken all her weave out showing her natural curls, showing herself to him in her purest form he smiled grabbed her to him and kissed her all over her face.
"I love you" she said as he looked down at her "Right that very second I did anyway" she giggled
"Did you just take that back?" he asked
"Did I?" she smiled as he found her funny spot and tickled her into submission
"Okay" she laughed "Okay I take it back" she said as he finally let her go "I didn't say it at all" she ran into the bathroom saying banging the door behind her as Sam ran to get in but was too late
That afternoon they went out to meet the natives and shop instead of eating fast food, he brought her a bracelet saying "This is for saving me the night we first met, for saying you love me even if you only meant it in that moment, for not caring about the fame thing and for standing here right now with me" he said wrapping the Gold trinket bracelet around her wrist
They found a Karaoke bar and stopped to have some drinks and get some entertainment "Ladies and Gentleman" he got up saying as Mercy looked at him demanding he stop but he didn't "My girlfriend has always wanted to sing would you do me a favour and let her have the floor for a second please?" he asked as everyone clapped until she made for the stage
"I guess I'll try and sing 'Get Like' by Kehlani" she nervously told the DJ while Sam sat smiling at her encouraging her to do it "Here goes" she looked across what seemed like a sea of people saying as she started singing her version of the song and everyone was up dancing and clapping along
"That was brilliant Mercy" he told her grabbing her as she finished the song and jumped off the stage
"Do you think?" she said a bit embarrassed
"Seriously Mercy you're good I mean really good" he held her face saying "You need exposure"
"Your turn" she smiled at him
"I don't have a problem with that but only if you promise to do something about that instrument you're hiding there"
"Sam" she whined
"Only if you promise" he told her
"Okay I promise" she said as he jumped up and went to the small stage found his song and started singing 'No Option' Clean version by Post Malone "Sorry" he said when he got back to her "I didn't have anything any cleaner to sing"
"That was more than fine" she said still clapping before she hugged him
That night they went back to the cabin excited for what they would learn about each other and having fun learning, afterwards they lay in bed naked witching TV as the door knocked "It's the maid" Mercy said grabbing the sheet and going to the door to find the tabloids and his Mother standing at the door "You did this?" she asked
"No they found you the same way I did" she false smiled "Sam" she barged in saying as Mercy found the bathroom
"Mom" he said as he watched Mercy walk off towards the bathroom her face like thunder "What are you doing here? How did you find us?"
"Like everyone else did that karaoke bar video you guys did" she rolled her eyes saying
"I need to speak to Mer..." he attempted to get up saying
"Sam listen to me" his Mom said holding his hand to stop him going any further "That day I found you singing in the bathroom, you were only 7 years old, your Dad had just left us and that was the first time since that awful day I'd seen you smiling and happy, I vowed I was going to do everything in my power to keep you that way" she smiled at him saying "I was 18 when I had you and 24 when I found myself a single Mom with no income nothing, and I don't know, at that moment I just knew it was you and I against the world"
"The world?"
"Still feels that way" she looked at him saying "You weren't happy, you were right to get away but we need to go back and finish this"
"I don't have a record deal what's there to go back to?"
"That video got over 400 thousand hits in the last 6 hours
"Really?"
"And Dan's back on board along with the offer of the record deal" Grace smiled at him an excitement growing in his stomach at the prospect of being back up on stage, it was his life he knew nothing else "Do you want it Sam, have you got that fire in your belly for it?"
"Yes Mom I want it" he turned to her saying as he saw Mercy walk out the bedroom across the room and out the door, glancing at him for a second before she slammed it
"Sorry Mom I got to go speak to her" he said getting up and grabbing his clothes as he headed to the bathroom , minutes later he was out the door after her
"Babe listen to me" he walked up to her saying "I needed this break and I want to thank you for that but we can't stay here forever"
"I guess I was just taken in by your happy ever after bull shit then" she turned to him to say, anger in her eyes
"Babe please don't, you knew who I was before we started this"
"Yeah I guess I did"
"You've helped me put perspective to this thing called the music business, I feel like I have the strength to fight it now"
"What your Mom too?"
"Yeah especially her"
"Does she know about your songs?" she asked him "I'll give it a week and you'll be back singing about bitches and hoes and what you can do with them"
"Why don't you believe in me?" he shouted at her
"Why don't you believe in me, I know what your saying here" she shouted back
"What?" he grabbed hold of her asking "What's am I saying here?" he looked into her eyes asking "I need you Mercy this won't work without you being here for me, with me" his eyes begging her to choose him, and all she could hear was him standing there choosing his old life back "Babe I've been working towards this my whole life, but I need you"
"No Sam you don't need me and I'm fine about that" she said walking back towards the cabin as his mother appeared from somewhere
"Come on" she said standing there with his case as if it was inevitable that he was going to return
When Mercy got back to the cabin his things were gone, in fact the place looked like he'd never been there, she sat on the bed and cried, for her weakness, her loss, her aching heart, her needy body, Sam's destiny, loneliness and doubt "Did he really believe in me?" she finally asked herself before getting up, packing her things and going back home, letting work know she was going to be back tomorrow.
Sam walked into his apartment 6 hours later to find everything cleaned up and repaired "I had everything cleaned up" Grace told him as she made her way to the kitchen, Sam sat watching her move around his pad with ease as if it were her own and suddenly realised she'd had everything to do with the sale, furnishings décor everything and smiled to himself 'Mercy I won't lie to you, I'm taking it all back' he told himself
He sat outside Mercy's work the next working morning and watched her go to work, she looked sad and he felt incomplete, He'd sung many songs about men turning into pussy's after falling for girls, left the limelight of the stage and sat in his changing room laughing at the stupid lyrics he'd sung, it didn't exist as far as he was concerned and now here he was wishing this woman; Mercy, was all his for like ever "Did she really ever believe in me" he asked himself before he tapped his driver to move off going to his meeting with Dice Records
"Okay" Dice said rubbing his hands together as he walked into the board room "Everyone knows why we're here we need to make a close on this deal and get the album running in the next week" he announced
"It's not ready" Sam announced as everyone looked on in shock
"It is" Dice told him
"No it isn't, and if my song doesn't go on it it's not going out" he told the room
"Look everything's been pressed everything is ready to go, we can't change it now" he clapped his hands saying
"Well if his song doesn't go on it's not going anywhere as he said" Grace said backing him up making him smile as she carried on "What about the get out clause?"
"We don't do get out clauses on our deals"
"Well we have a copy that was faxed to us saying we have a get out clause" Grace said pulling the sheet of paper out "And this won't be signed if he doesn't get what he wants"
"Okay" Dice said after some consideration and looks around the room "But I'm gonna need you to do something for me" Dice said throwing a magazine over to Sam "Kill this, I don't care how, just do it" he said as Sam looked at the headline telling everyone he tried to commit suicide
"Done" he smiled
"We'll hold off for no more than 2 weeks for your song so you better get to work" Dice told him as they left the meeting
Sam's House
"Mom" he said totally excited when they got into his house "That was sweet what you did at that meeting" he told her kissing her cheek
"Yeah I was cool wasn't I?" she smiled "That Academy called they want you to close with 'Too Young'"
"Really?" he laughed "Now everyone's telling me what to sing?"
"They asked they didn't tell" she corrected him
"I need to talk to the label, they've sort of confused the public with who I am, I was thinking about getting Spike to help with that last song on the album"
"It's not going on the album sweet, it's too late that album needs to fly as soon as" she stopped grabbing a pan to tell him
"But in the meeting you said you agreed with me abou..."
"Yeah that was because I wanted Dick head gone and job done he got fired" Grace told him
"This shouldn't be about your battles, it should be about me"
"The next album sweet I promise" Grace told him
"Mom" he said disappointed "I'm not signing to the label"
"Oh yes you are"
"No I'm not you work for me remember?" he asked her as she stood with her mouth open unable to fully take in what her son was saying to her "You know I always wondered why you were always up for me, your son, being nude on screen"
"That stuff is alright"
"No it's not Mom, it's never been alright"
"What so now your screaming victim, not once did you ever complain about any of it, not once"
"Yes I did"
"When"
"When I was laying on that damn floor in the hotel room not breathing Mom" he shouted at her
"You promised me everything was alright" Grace shouted at him
"I promised you it would never happen again"
"You've had everything you've ever wanted Sam and that's on me" she shouted back at him
"I've had everything you've ever wanted Mom, with all your mistakes, bad judgements and total fuck ups you never own up to, it was never about me it was always about you" he spat at her before he felt the sting of her hand across his face
"You ungrateful …." she stopped herself just then seeing what she'd done
"Your fired" he looked back at her saying as he straightened up and walked out, going to find Mercy wherever she was
"Deja Vu" he laughed as he stood outside her house waiting for her to show, unable to make his mind up whether to sit in the car or stand at the door he flipped between the two for a few hours until she finally returned home "Hey" he said when she got out of her car
"Hey" she said as he walked towards her
"That night in the hotel room, I'd had a bad hit , I couldn't control anything after the first few pulls but after the third one I liked the feeling and I thought it would just be such an easy way out of everything that was going on for me just then, but I'll be forever grateful to you for bringing me back and believing in me" he smiled "And I'm sorry it took me so long to say that"
"Me too"
"I should let you go"
"Take care Sam" she said turning to leave
"Mercy it was perfect wasn't it, what we had?"
"It started on a lie so it could never have been perfect" she said as she went in "Goodnight Sam" she told him as she shut the door leaning on it until she heard his car leave
Two Weeks Later
"I hear your going to be doing a concert in your home town of Nashville am I right?" the TV presenter asked Sam on the live TV show
"Yes I am and I couldn't be happier, its been a while since I've been home" he smiled
"Are you really from Nashville because your former girlfriend claims your accent if fake"
"I did a lot of fake things when I was with her, my accent isn't one of them" he laughed
"Are you concerned about your image?"
"Not at all"
"Dice Records seem to have concerned are they on any solid ground, I mean can they confirm any of their concerns?
"Well that one I have to put my hands up to, I believe I reached a bad place when I was in that hotel room, it wasn't an intention to take my life but when the opportunity came I had no problem letting go and thank god Mercy Jones found me and even showed me what was worth saving about me, That fake Sam Evans did fall off no doubt, but this Sam Evans is coming back stronger than ever"
Mercy was sitting at home watching the show as Sam made his confession "God" she gasped as he made his truth known, tears falling down her face for his bravery and pain for needing to be there for him when he came off that set later tonight, but she'd brushed him off, walked away and left him standing alone when he clearly needed her, she called her Mom
"Mom I gave my heart away and took it back by mistake" she cried down the phone when her Mom picked up
"So what do you want to do about that baby?"
"I want my Man Mom"
"I want you to find your voice will you do that for me baby?"
"I'll try, I love you Mom"
"I love you too baby" her Mom said putting the phone down
Sam went to the venue, sitting as usual in the back getting set up for his gig and still feeling fake about it "Three songs yeah?" Dan shouted at him
"Three songs and one of them is going to be mine" he told him
"I hope that works for you Sam"
"Three minutes Sam" someone shouted through his door as he made his way to stage
"Three, two, one go" he said and he was walking out on stage as the crowd went wild
"Lights, Music, Action" Sam timed himself onto the stage saying "Thank you" he shouted waving and smiling until the screams from the crowd died down "This is my new mix going out to the love of my life" he said before he started singing his first song 'I fall Apart' by Post Malone "Thank you" he said smiling when the crowd liked the song "This next one is something I've been working on tell me what you think?" he asked the crowd as the unfamiliar tune started and he did his version of 'White Iverson' by Post Malone half way through the song he looked to the side of the stage and saw Mercy standing there, his heart leaped and he actually stopped moving for a few seconds as he took her in she was bobbing around dancing to his song giving him a real buzz
"Yeah" he shouted as he stood up on stage on his high "There's just so much happening for me right now I'm about to take this thing to the next level" he said walking to the side stage and grabbing Mercy to bring her centre stage "This Ladies and Gentlemen is the love of my life Mercy Jones" he said hugging her in as he grabbed her round the waist "She sings, in the bathroom, and I think she's brilliant and I don't think I'm bias so please let me know if I am" he said as he looked to the band to start playing as they sung their version of 'Feel' clean version by Post Malone & Khalani when they'd finished the crowd cheered so hard Mercy cried, Sam hugged her and talked her down right there on stage before they waved and walked off together
"Sam I love you, and I'm not taking it back this time" she laughed as they stood holding each other
"Mercy I love you too, and I'm never taking that shit back, it's never going away" he told her kissing her
"Sam" he heard shaking him out of their moment "I didn't like what you did with those last two songs, it wasn't in the script" Dice told him
"That's fine, I didn't sign your contract and before you ask I sacked my Mom I'm flying solo and to tell you the truth your sound" he looked at Mercy smiling "Isn't what I want for myself so I guess we're parting company"
"But we've spent so mu..."
"Sorry Dice but that's not even my problem, but you release just one line of any of my songs and believe me I will sue your ass"
"Sam's grown up" Dan said from his spot behind Dice
"Your gone too Dan, I need people around me who believe in me" he said grabbing Mercy's hand and walking away "Can we go to yours I don't need drama from my Mom right now?" he asked
"Sure" Mercy smiled as they took the drive to the airport, flight and cab 7 hours later they were sitting in Mercy's apartment in California "So what do you want to do?" she asked
"Your call" he said watching her walk around the room
"Well I guess I'll just, flick these off; she said as the lights went out, turn this on; romantic music blasted out and get my ass over there" she smiled walking over to the couch where he was
"Whoo" he said coming out of that kiss that told him there was more "You're giving me a whole new concept to Lights, Music, Action" he laughed
"That was the plan" she said going back in
The End