Give me a Song
Mercy was in the music business she'd had couple of hits and loved the attention she got because of it but for a while she'd been in a dry spell and a consequence of this was that she lost people close to her. People that had been around from day one, people she knew had her back, but when her back was up against the wall she'd lashed out at them and lost their loyalty. Who else was she supposed to lash out at? and seriously they should have understood her Diva, they were supposed to be friends after all. She'd finally after three years in the wilderness sat and had that final talk with her Agent and Producer
"Cedes you need to get rid of that damn chip you have on that damn shoulder of yours if you expect anyone to work with you, and you need to work with people to get anywhere near your vision girl" Lenny, her Agent, told her
"Get me the right people then" she wolfed back
"Sad to say girlfriend but" he looked at her seriously saying "The problem is you, and I can't carry this for much longer"
"What are you saying?"
"That you need to get yourself sorted out get your band together and get your shit rocking, I can't say it any clearer than that" he sat staring at her staring back at him "What?" he finally asked
"You're being harsh Len"
"At this point it's the only way to be, your eating into my kids money as you sit there doing nothing and living like a damn queen"
"That might be because I am a queen" she laughed
"Not funny Cedes get it sorted" he told her "Three years of writing must have produced something anything, never mind scratching, etch that fucker out" he said turning to leave the room he'd finished his conversation
"Lenny" she shouted after him to hear the door banging "Where do I get a damn band from?" she said quieter as she looked around the room "Any of you guys wa..."
"No you're alright" came back before she could even finish her sentence she just held her hand up to them and walked
The Next Day
"Len" she shouted down the phone "I asked those bastards in the studio to be my band and they all said no before I even finished my damn sentence"
"That's because as I said before your a bit of a bitch to work with Diva but you're still on that deadline I want something from you by the end of the month"
"Joke right?" she laughed
"No joke Cedes, told you I'm not carrying you any more" he said putting the phone down
In all fairness Lenny thought Mercy was a really good singer, the problem was she knew it and because of that she settled for nothing other than the best, so she'd sit back cussing other singers for getting that song that should have been hers. At first he'd agreed with her she would have sounded ripping on some of those tracks and some of the remakes she'd done were really good, if he wasn't up for getting sued to the hilt he might have let some of them off. He didn't really know when she moved from won't to can't but that's where his mind was now, she hardly sang anything any more just sat around the studio telling everyone else how good, but mainly bad they were. He was more or less feeding her, giving her free studio time and softening up other artist to even come talk to her she was that bad, his wife had sounded off at him a few times about the dead wood thing and at first he fought it having seen Mercy at her best but now, he had no argument she was dead wood and he needed to get rid so this was his way out put up or pack up, his mind telling him she was going to walk.
Mercy walked in about 2 pm alone with a few bits of paper in her hand "I have a song and I might have someone or even a band to play about 4pm. My best friend is sorting that out for me" she smiled "I'm not messing about Len I really want this
"I forgot to mention you'll need to pay for studio time too, I'll give you this one but tomorrow you start paying like everyone else"
"Fine" she said holding her hand up at him before making her way to the piano to scratch out her song "Roy" she almost screamed when she got the call "Did you get anything for me?"
"Yeah a group of guy's, well their not really a group they've met today but see what you can do with them" he laughed
"God virgins that's all I need" she giggled rolling her eyes
"Cool group of virgins" he laughed "they'll be there soon"
"When will you be back, I miss my best friend?" she asked
"I've got five more months of this play and then I'm back, we can chill yeah?"
"Yeah" she said over the phone doing the hand wave as she said it "Can't wait"
"Girlfriend I got to go, I miss you, I love you and we'll talk soon" he said blowing a kiss "Bye"
"Bye Boyfriend, I love you too and thanks"
Mercy sat hitting notes and trying to get at least the chorus sorted by the time her new band arrived. Her backing singers Josha and Ruby were at their wits end with her and she knew this, sometimes she'd sit wondering why they were still there, but when she wanted to get loose they were always there. They got excited at even the prospect of reaching the heights of fame they had tasted a while back again all three were thirsty for it .
"Hello" A blond haired boy put his head round the door saying making Mercy jump
"Hi" she said waiting for him to speak again
"Looking for Mercedes Jones" he said
"I'm she" she smiled
"Andy" he said holding his hand out to shake "I play base guitar" he smiled as three other guys piled in
"Jamie, Drummer" a rough looking ripped clothed black guy with deep eyes smiled coming towards her saying "The best you'll find in these parts" he said grabbing her hand as he walked past to let someone else come in
"Steve I play guitar" he smiled his greasy brown hair along with his brown teeth making Mercy flinch as he produced his unhealthy smile and grabbed her hand for shaking
"And last but by no means lest I'm Dave, I know everything there is to know about keyboards" he laughed as he saluted her, his brown long hair all over his face, he'd combed it back about 6 times just saying hello
"Hi guys I hear you've just met?" she asked
"Well we've had the 90 minute journey to get familiar life wise but musically, virgins I'm afraid" Andy said as everyone else stood looking around
"Cool place" Dave said
"I'm afraid this is my last free session, I've burnt all my cards with my agent and I need to get something recorded before he totally throws me out" she smiled "So what's your normal genre?" she asked "Lets hear it" Jamie came up with a spin on some fresh Drum & Base stuff and Andy soon joined in jamming with him for about 5 minutes as everyone nodded heads getting into the tune "I like it" she smiled saying
"I've got lots saved" Dave came in with plugging himself in and showing some of his skills as he played all different genre ranging from Bangra to Classical
"Great" Mercy said genuinely impressed "Steve is it?" she asked offering him the floor, he plugged in and came at her with some classic Bohemian Rhapsody stuff and an excerpt from Purple Rain
"Well I'm impressed" she said her hands clasped and hitting her chest as she came forward "I guess you know my genre" she smiled "So I guess everyone knows my first claim to fame number" she asked as everyone nodded "Lets see how we do with that, get familiar" she smiled
"Fine" Jamie said as he started banging out their version of 'Single Ladies' by Beyoncé as Mercy waited for the others to grab the tune before she started singing
"Hold up" she finally said unable to grab the wayward melody Steve was playing on his Guitar "What are you doing Steve?"
"Putting my spin on it" he replied
"It's actually a hit already we're just gelling at this point, so could you just play the tune as it is please?"
"Fine" he said as Jamie started up again and they got on with the song
30 minutes later they were still jamming trying to find a beat for her next song "This place shuts at 7 and I need to have something on the table by then
"You'll have something" Jamie smiled looking at her with intention
"Can't wait" she smiled back thinking 'In your damn dreams Mr, ripped clothes wearing, crutch sniffing sleaze bag' By 5.45 they had the makings of a very rough number "Len" she called through the corridors, smiling when his head popped out his office door
"Really?" he asked as the rest of him left his office "You have something?"
"It's rough but it's there, come tell me what you think" she said excited for getting back on that horse of hers
"Give me a song" he sat at the mixing board saying
Mercy went back into the booth and instructed the band and her singers as they sung a very raw version of 'Best Thing I Never had' by Beyoncé "Yeah there's definitely something there" Len smiled when she'd finished
"Can I book some time for tomorrow to smooth it out a bit and say 2 pm every weekday for three hours, just to rush it all on, I've got the bug" she smiled
"Pay in advance every week and that's a deal"
"Deal" she said shaking his hand
"Okay guys we're here every weekday 2 till 5 pm so no excuses we're on a tight budget" she announced as Len left the room
4 Months Later
Every day the band turned up to get on with pulling the new song together and Mercy was sure it was going to be a hit but 4 months later when it was released it reached to number 62 in the charts and then went back down with a crash
"What you need to do is bang a few out together like three good ones" Jamie suggested
"No what I need is a fucking hit" Mercy shouted back at him
"Chill man" Jamie told her with attitude "You really don't need to be speaking to people like that"
"Now I need lessons in manners?"
"Actually yeah you do" he smiled back at her
"I've got some lyrics and a chorus for my next one but I can't get even the itching of a tune for the verses for it" she carried on ignoring Jamie's suggestion that she chill
"Let's hear the chorus" Josha asked as Mercy proceeded to hum the makings of her chorus, then the rest of the day was taken up trying to get the tune to fit the words and visa versa. By the end of week two they had something they were ready for Len to hear much more together than the previous number and everyone was happy with it
"Lenny" she called down the corridor, smiling when his head popped out his office door "I have something"
"Okay give me a minute" he said going back in his office and coming out a few minutes later to join them in the studio "Give me a song"
"I'd say this was almost the finished version I'm so pleased with it everyone has worked really hard on it" she told him looking at Dave to start in with the key board as they sung their version of 'Ego' by Beyoncé
"It's really good" Len said already sitting at the mixer, letting Mercy know he was really interested in this "Lets go again" he said as he did his thing
"I was thinking a video with it to really make an impact" she told him as he sat listening back at the track
"It's an idea" he smiled telling her that was an unofficial go
1 Month Later
So three weeks in and they were wasting no time getting the chorography together for the song the girls were in training the guys were busy getting makeovers for the televised showing of the new song, the girls doing hair and getting new dressed and suddenly the prospect of having another hit dawned on Mercy "Guy's" she called as everyone went to get onstage at the talk show "I want to say well done to everyone for getting us here and break a leg" she smiled as Josha and Ruby hugged her. They went out and preformed their new song and a week later they had lift off, she was back
"You need to get a few more songs under your belt we're going on tour in like three months" Lenny told her
"God no pressure then?" she asked
"Oh there's pressure alright, now you've got it back let's not let it go again yeah?"
"Alright" she smiled going in to tell her crew "What are you guys doing?" she looked at Jamie and Ruby huddled in a corner lip on lip action going on
"We're an item" Ruby told her
"When did that happen?"
"About three months ago" Jamie told her
"Congratulations" she said as she carried on walking down the alleyway to the studio back entrance "Steve" she said shocked to find him standing in the corner at the end of the passage "Shit man you frightened me" she said holding her chest as she spoke "What are you do..." she lingered off as she looked at the pipe in his hand "Oh no please tell me that's not what I think it is?"
"It's not what you think it is" he smiled, showing those God awful teeth of his and his red eyes
"Steve" she said blowing air out hard "I can't work around this you need to make a choice here the band or that stuff there's no in between" she stood telling him knowing that right now the only thing that made sense to him was that shit he was sending to his damn brain "Steve you hearing me?" she asked him
"Yeah just chill" he said waving her away
"Back to work in like 10 minutes" she told him walking away
"Roy!" she screamed when she walked in to find him sitting in the studio, running to him, hugging him for a while "I missed you" she finally told him
"I missed you too girlfriend, I heard someone was doing a music video and I just had to get me a cameo on that mother" he smiled at her
"I've got an hour left and then I'm all yours for the evening" she smiled letting him go
"Sounds like a plan" he said as he went outside the booth to listen to the song "I've got an idea for the video" he told her when they'd finished
"Food, let's hear it over food" she smiled as she grabbed her bag and left the studio "Tomorrow Guys" she waved as they went off to have catch up after 11 months of theatre for him and a revival for her
"Thanks for being there on my opening night sweet" Roy said as they sat sharing a chocolate sundae
"It was bound to get the extra dates you were spectacular" she laughed
"As part of a team yeah, I made some real friends" he smiled
"As real as me?"
"As real but maybe not as reliable" he smiled "Well actually yeah they were, but you're my true bestie"
"Thank you" she smiled
"So no advancement on the man front then?"
"Nothing worth looking at twice" she laughed
"I don't think you even give yourself the chance hooked up in that damn studio all the hours god sends" he laughed back
"That shits not a priority for me right now Roy, I got things on my mind progressive things you know"
"I know girlfriend but seriously you don't need to be missing that ship"
"Trust me, if that ship should happen to sail past this" she said pointing to her face "I will weather the storm to keep a hold of it"
"You promise?"
"I promise" she smiled "Lets get out of here" she threw her spoon down saying as he called for the bill, paid it and left "I've been keeping your place aired and stuff, it should be fine" she told him as they walked the short distance from the restaurant to their apartment building hand in hand
"Thanks, I'll return the favour when your tour starts" he smiled
"Good night" they said when they got to their doors, giving a quick kiss before they went to their apartments.
They lived across the corridor from each other on the top floor of the building, Mercy had moved to LA for study and her well to do parents had brought her the apartment instead of renting and sharing with strangers, their preference. It was close to all the amenities, Uni and now work and truth she had everything she needed to survive in that block, venturing out was something she did on like red carpet nights or tours. Everyone knew her around there so she felt mega safe inside and outside her home. She'd met Roy on her second year of study he'd moved into the the apartment across from her with his girlfriend, she'd come home one night from a dance class she taught to find Mercy and Roy sitting in the corridor talking, assessed two and two and come up with fifteen and blew her top. Both Mercy and Roy had tried to tell her that nothing was going on but she ratted Roy about it that much for the next six months it finally destroyed their relationship, she left and Mercy and Roy had stayed friends.
So some three weeks later they'd got something resembling a music video in the bag and the song was tight "It's time to fly" Len told them in the studio "Tour dates are being announced next week, we have six venues just now and the video is due out on Monday to get the juices flowing"
"Okay we have 4 songs and a few covers" Mercy nodded
"Good" Len said walking away
The video came out on that Monday as agreed and had 12k hits in the first hour by the end of the day it had hit it's 2m mark and the next thing she knew the TV was advertising her up and coming tour and tickets were on sale and leaving box offices fast.
The Tour
"Mercy" Len called as her third venue performance was about to kick off "Everything set I'm going to give the go ahead ?" he asked
"Yep" she said looking around her crew "Where's Steve?" she asked as everyone looked at everyone else "Where's Steve?" she asked again "Len, Steve's missing" she said in a panic walking off to go look backstage "Steve" she said shaking him to wake him up "Steve" she shouted again angry this time "Fuck why did I believe this bastard" she asked herself realising he wasn't moving he was in Utopia "Shit Steve" she stood looking at him saying wondering what to do now she really didn't want to cancel
"Did you find him?" Roy came out asking
"Not that it's any help but yeah" she told him looking down at Steve in a huddle spaced out, the music wasn't a high enough for him, but he was good at what he did too "What am I going to do?" she asked Roy
"I'll see what's happening back stage and I'll get back to you" he told her walking away to go sort something out, he was resourceful like that always knew a man who could if he couldn't do it himself, she went back in to tell Len to pull the band back
"Len" she half smiled "We found Steve he's out the line I'm afraid, and before you ask no that couldn't have been done after the show" she said almost wanting to cry about it, her big break everything was pivoting on these shows and that bastard had to mess it up
"Mercy I found someone to play this gig" Roy came running up to them saying "He's listened to your music so he knows maybe three of the songs but he assures me he's a quick study" he said out of breath before smiling "His name's Sam" he said as Sam appeared behind him
"Okay" Len said "Come on get out there" he looked at Mercy saying
"Just follow the band Sam" she said running out to join her group with Sam following her "Andy, Jamie, Dave, Josha, Ruby this is Sam, he's taking Steve's place tonight" she said turning to face the curtains hearing them all communicating with Sam as she said her usual prayer
The first song went textbook Sam melted in with the band after the first minute into the song she was impressed, turning to smile at him several times as he put in little bits that enhanced the live performance experience for them and the crowd. By the time they were on song five everyone on stage was enjoying the pep Sam brought to the music with his guitar playing. Announcing the band just before the last song Mercy went through the usual vocal, instrumental showcases, Sam came to stand next to her on stage as he did his thing and she couldn't help but look into those piercing green eyes of his as she watched his long fingers make love to his instrument, she felt something making her smile to hid it 'Damn she was jealous of that damn guitar getting his hands all over it' but it still made her move her body to it her hate falling in love at the same time, the new song was the last song and they left the stage buzzed
"Sam" a woman came running to side stage saying as he moved his guitar and opened his arms to receive her "You were orgasmic" 'Seriously I can't disagree with this bitch' Mercy thought as she along with everyone else stood watching him with this woman kissing on him
"Sorry" Sam said moving her to the side "This is Diane my err girlfriend" he smiled
"Pleased to meet you" Diane said holding her hand out for Mercy to take
"Likewise" Mercy smiled grabbing her hand
Roy had been side stage along with Len watching them on stage and he knew his girl was smitten, even if she didn't, hearing the conversation he moved in "Mercy" he said grabbing hold of her by the waist "That gave me such a buzz I've just come back from the bathroom" he said pulling her in for a hug "Thanks for saving my girlfriend Sam" he told him as he offered his hand for shaking
"No charge" Sam laughed "Anytime" he said looking at Mercy as he spoke
"Actually" Roy said looking at Diane "We've got a few more gigs to do and no guitarist, we've just let him go, how do you feel about riding with us for 7 nights?"
"Any chance of work after that?" Sam asked
"A huge possibility" Mercy finally found the words to say
"I'd be honoured" he smiled, Mercy's heart skipped a beat as she saw his smile fill his face jump into her eyes and bring them to life, trying to pull her soul out and feed on it "I just need to grab some stuff so I need maybe and hour to sort stuff out" he told them
"Fine" 'Anything you fucking say is definitely alright with me, lay down, against the wall, strip, fuck, any damn thing' she smiled looking up to see Sam smiling back at her
"So that's alright with you?" he asked
"What? Yeah that's fine"
The next 7 days were bitter sweet as the group learned to gel again, Mercy had a very difficult conversation with Steve and still didn't get him to admit he had a problem, he kicked up a stink when she told him he was out and spray painted the tour bus with bitch, which meant they ended up staying in Kansas half the night instead of travelling to Los Vegas that night. Everyone was tired, mega tired for not getting the full rest before the show in Vegas and everything was just so fast there in the city that never slept, Mercy more tired of seeing Diane all over Sam at every turn she was like a clingy caterpillar 'How the fuck is he dealing with that I'm pissed and it's not even happening to me' she thought looked up out of her thought to see Sam looking at her yet again, if she'd have thought about it she'd have tried to look embarrassed but she didn't she smiled instead before Diane's face was there again in between them. 'Please don't let her come to LA I can't live like this' she thought getting back to her business
"Lunch?" Roy asked when they got off the coach in California their final venue before going back home
"Lunch" She smiled wrapping herself around him, walking off together
"Back for six you guys" Len shouted after them, Mercy waved her confirmation as they chatted, walked and laughed
"Mercy" Roy sucked on his straw after saying "I can see you feel something for Sam, what's going on there?"
"Seriously" she laughed "It's not Sam it's that damn irritating Diane he's got hanging on, she just gets up my damn nose with her clingy self" she smiled "I'm not used to it in the workplace I guess" she said sucking on her straw looking back at Roy begging him to believe her
"I think it's more than that"
"If it is I don't recognise it" she laughed "Plus he has a girl" she reminded him
"I know the facts girl I just need you to be careful"
"I am being careful" she laughed as they went through the rest of their meal reflecting on their mini tour and making plans for the next record before returning to finish the gig and finishing off back in LA on their last night
"You got somewhere to crash?" Roy asked Sam as they finished the gig in California
"Yeah I'm fine, I need to see what this is going to be before I lay anything firm down" he replied
Studio
Back in the studio, week three and Dirty Diane had well and truly bedded in, you'd have thought Sam was some mega star rock legend the way she hung on "Sam" Mercy finally called him aside "You need to tell her to back off man it's off putting, I mean Ruby and James are a couple but you'd never know in the workplace would you?" she asked
"I've tried telling her but she's not listening to me maybe you could..."
"No way, that's not in my job description" she laughed walking away from him, feeling pleased that he wasn't entirely up for all her shit
Day three and nothing had changed Mercy walked in pissed, "I have a new song" she said throwing the sheet at Dave as she spoke "See what you can do with that" she said to no one in particular. Sam Jamie and Andy huddled round Dave trying to get their take on the new melody and 40 minutes later, with instruction from Sam, they were playing a catchy tune "Alright" she smiled as they built on it and she was able to start humming her words to the melody. As soon as Sam left the group to find his spot in the recording booth Diane was on him Mercy couldn't help it she rolled her eyes "Diane what the fuck is up with you and this clingy shit, let him get on with the damn job I'm paying him to do, in fact Sam no more partners in the damn studio" she told him before looking back at Diane "Effective from this minute" she told her
Diane looked around the room before looking back at Sam "Are you going to let her talk to me like that?" she asked him
"She's my boss" he shrugged his shoulders saying
"And I'm your gir..."
"Ex Diane you're my ex please leave" he told her as everyone stood around listening with mouths open, as they watched Diane stare at Sam, pick her things up and walk out the studio
"You'll regret this Sam whoever the fuck you are" she told him as she walked
"I think not" he smiled as he watched the door shut behind her "God that felt good, thanks" he said looking at Mercy with a smile "She finally got the message"
"Right" Len came in saying lifting the mood "I hear you have the makings of another hit?" he asked Mercy "Give me a song" he said before she could answer as everyone got into position to sing their rendition of 'Irreplaceable' by Beyoncé
"This is dedicated to Sam" she smiled at him saying before she started singing, Sam laughed as she sung the words telling him he was fine as hell and he'd get another girl just like that, while Roy sat in the mixing den wondering why she was pointing him in the direction of another woman when it was clear she wanted him to herself and right now she was the only one that couldn't see that
"It needs fine tuning and we maybe need to do a few more mixes on it but basically it sounds good" Len told her as he left the booth
"He's lying" Sam laughed "He thinks it's a hit" he told everyone
"Okay" Mercy said clapping her hands "It's the 1st of March, which for us girls means the middle of our birthdays so we usually go for a blow out, everyone can join us if they want" she looked around the room saying
"Blowout?" Dave asked
"Proper blow out" Ruby informed him nodding her head
"Happens once a year kind of blow out" Josha added smiling at Sam
"I'm up for that" Jamie said banging the drums and smiling at Ruby "I'm ready to blow that up" he said to her
Blowout
"Party" Andy shouted as they entered the bar music pumping, girls jigging, men watching and booze flowing as they sat listening to some Weekend, Future and 6lack beats getting into the vibe, Sam jumped up and had a real freak out to that 6Lack tune and announced he was over it before shouting
"Next" as Josha flew up to accommodate him
"I'm not doing that" he told her walking off into the crowd of dancing people, the music moved into R&B and everyone was up on the floor dancing shouting and drinking, Ruby finally collapsed in a heap on the dance floor and suddenly Jamie got the hint, she was drunk, and took her home
Dave and Sam hooked up with two girls and danced the night away drinking until Dave decided he needed to go further and Sam walked away leaving him to it "Take the two of them Dude, seriously I don't want any of it" he said finding his crew again
"Are you two an item?" he asked Roy as Mercy lay across him on the bench sleeping or at least with her eyes closed as he sat down
"Yeah we are" she told him without opening her eyes
"No we're not" Roy laughed "It's Sam Hon" he told her as her eyes opened
"Sorry" she looked at Sam and then Roy saying "I just can't be bothered with the meat factory thing I use him as my …. well he really, is my boy friend but not the sleeping with kind" she laughed "I never explain this that deep" she looked away awkwardly saying
"Excuse me" Roy said getting up "I just saw something I could get my teeth into" he said looking at the dance floor
"So you're over Diane who didn't know your surname?" she asked Sam who'd been staring at her since Roy got up
"So over" he giggled as she sat looking at his mouth, it's slight curl at the edge as he smiled, his eyes talking to her they could hide nothing, their eyes were having a conversation all of their own as she sat not caring if she couldn't find another word to say to him right now
"Sam" Josha sat almost on top of him saying "We haven't danced all night" she said grabbing his hand
"Yet I've been dancing all night" he told her "Just sat down" he looked at her saying "And now I'm having a private conversation with my boss if you don't mind" he looked at Mercy telling Josha
"Sorry" she said with attitude getting up and finding the dance floor again
"Will you tell her to leave me alone too" he smirked
"What I don't tell your girlfri... Okay I did that one time but its not a habit I want to get into, so choose carefully" she laughed
"So what you're alright with me dating Josha then?"
"What as in food, fun and fuck?" she asked covering her mouth for where that actually came from and so venomous "Sorry that's the drink talking" she told him when she built the courage up to look at him again
"More like park bench, bun and bye" he laughed "She's not my type" he finally got out
"So now you're trying to tell me you have taste?" she laughed "Be careful how you answer that I've seen Diane remember"
"She was something that started out as fun, with somewhere to stay and then took me straight to depression, I did say thank you didn't I?" he smiled "I'd told her in so many ways to get gone but you know the kind that never really get it no matter how straight you say it"
"Fatal attractions" Mercy nodded as they laughed
"Sam" a voice invaded their conversation saying "I thought you went to the bathroom?" the brunette looked down at him asking
"Yeah I did but I need to speak to... what do you want?" he asked shaking his head telling himself he owed this woman no explanations
"What do I want? Your friend over there said you wanted... actually needed me" she said pointing at Josha
"Sorry" Sam said to Mercy getting up and taking this woman with him, there were words exchanged and Josha came back to sit down throwing herself on the bench
"What's up?" Mercy asked as if she didn't know
"I've tried everything to get his damn attention and he gives me nothing, now he's telling me off like a naughty school child" she sulked
"Give up, make him do the running some men actually like that" Mercy told her as she watched her throw a triple shot down her throat. By the end of the night Roy called a taxi found Josha and Mercy threw them in dropped Josha off and took Mercy home
Studio
"Afternoon" Mercy walked in saying, looking around the room "God have I walked in on Mr & Mrs?" she asked as she saw Jamie and Ruby loved up and checked out Andy with some new chick on his arm
"Oh Mercy this is Rose, she's checking out my skills" he said wiggling his eyebrows making her laugh
"Hello Rose" she smiled "Just don't start with the clingy shit"
"Hi" Rose said back smiling
"Where's Sam?" she asked looking around to silence "Anybody?"
"I saw him and Roy leave about 20 minutes ago and he was angry" Dave told her
"Who was angry Roy?"
"No Sam"
"Okay I guess we're stuck until the guitarist comes back" she smiled "Where's your girl?" she asked Dave
"In the bathroom with Sam's" he replied
"Fuck" she spun round saying "Were you guys drinking something different to me last night?"
"Hi" she heard in double looking beyond Dave to see the brunette from last night with Sam and a blond girl
"Hi" she smiled
"Mercy this is Brady" Dave said holding her in
"And I'm with Sam my name's Faye"
"Pleasure I'm sure" Mercy said smiling still, spinning round as the door swung open and her face froze to 'fuck' mode as she saw Diane coming through it on Roy's arm and Sam in front not happy "Did we have this conversation yesterd..."
"She's not with me, apparently she's moved on and that's fine, I just don't think she's being true to Roy" Sam said grabbing his guitar with force as he spoke
"I have a new song so if you're not singing or playing in the band could you go sit in that room please" Mercy said pointing to the mixing room as the band got into work mode everyone except Mercy conscious that someone was out there watching them while Josha was strewing, Mercy was too but she could hide it with her natural bitch characteristics. She'd had this song up her sleeve for a while now, she knew every beat of it, she'd wrote it more than 5 years ago when Anthony, that fake love of her life, had revealed that he'd got maybe two other girls on the go claiming he was way too hot to not share himself, she wanted to share him alright with all the little great white sharks in the damn sea but instead she's sat and wrote a book of songs about her feelings. Those feelings were threatening to rise up again but this time there was no way she was putting her heart on her sleeve that mask of 'I don't need anyone' she'd fitted into like a glove was serving her well now
"Roy I got a part in this for you" she told him as the bridge came
"I'm not up for that right now give it to Sam, he's into that singing stuff" he told her as everyone looked on wondering what was actually going on there
"Okay" she said as if she wasn't phased, giving Sam the sheet "Two One" she said "Intimacy"
"Honesty" Sam said
"Commitment" she said
"You, Me, us" they said together talking with their eyes to each other before she started singing her version of 'If I were a Boy' by Beyoncé
"You know when you act like that I don't think you realised how it makes me look or feel" Sam said as the song came to nearing its end
"Act like what, why are you so jealous it not like I'm sleeping with the guy?"
"What?" he asked
"What" she asked their eyes telling each other they were really asking the question
Sam laughed "I said yo why are you so jealous it ain't like I'm sleeping with the girl" he said slipping out of his jealous wondering what he was being that way about, it was him that had that woman standing in the other room
"Great" Len shouted with his thumbs up
"Remember the three B's conversation" Sam told her, as she looked at Faye making herself at home in the booth, they ran the song demo twice more and then their time was up and everyone went their separate ways, but she didn't see Faye or Brady again after that keeping a smile on her face although Josha was still in hot pursuit of Sam.
Three Months Later
Roy was still with Diane and Sam had gotten past that stuff he'd brought a few, well three girls into the studio always telling Mercy about the three B's thing like that was supposed to make it alright, she hadn't gotten round to telling him she was developing feelings for him but he'd guessed it by her actions, she was always ready to sing a new song whenever he brought anyone in and it was always the fuck you kind. Today he was definitely playing with her he'd brought his best friend, who was like a sister to him, in and told her to play up a bit nothing strong just throw a tantrum and maybe swear at Mercy if she said anything, this thing was going way too slow for him, it had been nearly 4 months since he'd got any after promising himself she'd be the next
"Afternoon" she came in saying looking around the room and seeing the strange face "Really guys you need to get checked" she laughed "Hi I'm Mercy" she gave her hand to the girl saying
"I'm Hayley" she said taking Mercy hand
"Which one are you here with?" Mercy asked
"Well Sam I guess officially but I'm up for anything" she said still holding onto Mercy's hand and looking at her deep as she spoke, Mercy didn't move her hand in fact she played the game and let Hayley take her hand away first
"Nice to meet you Hayley" she said walking towards the stand as everyone waited for her to call new song but she didn't
"Okay" she turned saying "I've come in rather than give you a call, this happened quite late and I guess I thought you needed an explanation" she looked up as Sam came into the room "I've got a date tonight for the first time in god knows how long and I really want to make the effort for this so I'm giving you the session off, sorry if you've give stuff up to be here"
"At last"Ruby said hugging her "I didn't think I'd ever see this day" she held her shoulders looking at her saying "I hope it's what you want"
Hayley stood looking at Sam his heart breaking and his face trying hard to say congratulations but she knew he wouldn't be able to find it, "That's great isn't it Sam?" she asked him as all eyes fell on him
"Super cool" he went forward to hug her saying before Hayley pulled him back and flew into his arms, Sam smiled for his friend knowing him so well, he had every intention of shaking her out of it and telling her, demanding from her that she choose him.
"I'm out of here" Jamie said grabbing Ruby and the guys followed within minutes Sam and Hayley were the only ones left
"What you thinking?" she asked
"If only I'd have had the balls maybe, if I didn't act like what I feel don't matter maybe she'd have acted on what she feels, I don't know, it's too late maybe"
"It's never to late Sam you know that"
"It feels like it is, she just literally knocked the wind out of me saying that"
"But eventually you took another breath?"
"Yeah" he laughed "I did, but that doesn't take away how losing that other breath felt"
"Okay lets go with plan M shall we?"
"Don't you mean plan B" he smiled
"I think we can say plan B didn't work, how many girls did you actually bench, bun and bye to?" she laughed
"God about four" he laughed "What's plan M?"
"Mercy, Sam keep up" she laughed as Sam grabbed his guitar the only thing that made him feel better at times like these and started strumming out a tune changing up the words to suit him
"If" by Beyoncé (Adapted)
[Verse 1:]
She's always laughing, and flirting with me, and you act like you don't even care
As a matter of fact, you've been real distant lately, acting like I'm not even there
She says that you, don't deserve a man like me, I'm starting to think that she's right, baby
[Chorus:]
If you let her take me from you, I guess I finally see, If you let her take me from you, you never wanted me
Let this happen and it proves, that your love was never true, If you let her take me from you, baby, If you let her take me from you
[Verse 2:]
Why is that when we go out, out together as one big crew, I try to chill with you, dance or whatever
And your home girl's more interested than you, she pays more attention to me lately, I'm tempted to pay attention too, baby
[Chorus:]
[Bridge:]
Girl when I try to show some affection to you, you act like you got better things to do
When you want some loving, that's when its cool, but baby girl I'm not a fool
[Chorus:]
Mercy had walked into the studio today all geared up to sing her new song for Sam, specifically to Sam because she'd planned to full on let him know she was so into him she walked around constantly with wet knickers, and she needed to tell him to do something about it. She'd spent enough time tip toeing around Josha's feelings when all she wanted was a quick dip to say she'd been there. Her chest and all it's contents hit the floor when Hayley rocked up another of Sam's bedposts and no damn way was she going to stand there to hear him say yet again remember the damn B conversation, he'd been with them for 4 months now and he was expecting her to believe he'd done nothing for the whole time, did he forget he'd told her, or as good as told her, he was with fake Diane for the convenience of dipping his stick. She had to think quick and the only thing that would not get anyone asking questions was a date so she plucked one up and left that damn studio, but there was something about Hayley that made her think and after everyone left, she'd planned on following them to find out who she was she wasn't from her parts so she was curious as to where he'd found her from, but they didn't leave so of course she needed to find out why
"It feels like it is, she just literally knocked the wind out of me saying that" she heard Sam say and stopped at the door listening to the conversation. He was telling this Hayley girl he had feelings for her and what instead of slapping the shit out him she was getting a plan M set up
"She's his best friend" Mercy smiled to herself saying as she heard the song start and stood listening until the door creaked making them stop, she hot footed it down to the back entrance and stood in the dark until they gave up looking and left the studio
The Next Day
"I have a new song" Mercy bounced into the studio saying the next afternoon
"Did you have a good night last night?" Sam asked even before the girls got that in
"Mind blowing" she smiled at him "I think I'm in love" she told him looking at him a few seconds longer than she needed to as Sam eyes thinned for what he'd seen in them "No Hayley today?" she asked
"No she's my best friend she was only here for the day so thanks for allowing me to spend time with her, she's gone back home now"
"Friends with benefits?"
"God no she really is my best friend" he told her
"The song" Mercy looked around telling everyone as they got into their mode an hour later Mercy was ready to add the words as she found herself in the corridor again "Len" she shouted as he popped his head round the door
"Coming" he told her, finding his mixing room as he listened to their version of 'One Plus One' by Beyoncé Sam's guitar bringing the song in and holding the main rhythm as Mercy moved around the room instructing the sounds and getting back to Sam to sing the chorus, he was watching her, she was making him watch her, she was talking to him in front of all these people yes she was talking to him. The smile on Sam's face as he played his guitar was priceless, she'd given him a semi-solo, he wanted to make love to her his eyes were telling her that, she smiled
"You hearing me?" she asked him when she finished
"I'm hearing you" he told her pulling her in searching her face for permission as he watched her lips quivering at the thought of connection "Can I kiss you?" he asked as her eyes closed for the intensity of the moment, he watched her still waiting for permission, her hot breath hitting his face willing him to make the move
"Yes" she finally said as he bent in and tasted her lips, Mercy had no power her hands fell to her sides, her body turned to jelly, her mind thought nothing there was no space for thought just feeling unexplainable feelings flooded over her bringing tears the only emotion that could leave her body at that moment and then she was disconnected "I love you" she said without opening her eyes
"I love you too" he told her as she opened her eyes and motion came back to her as she looked in his eyes and saw he was telling her the truth, making her smile
"Can we follow this up later?" she asked him still laying in his arms
"Sure" he smiled back saying "Can you stand yet?"
"I'm sure you'll catch me if I can't" she laughed as he moved one hand and then the other from around her smiling when she was still standing "Okay I've got a new song" she told the group
"Another one? Two in one day?" Dave asked
"Oh we already did that" she smiled at Sam saying "I want perfection people, I'm looking for a holiday tomorrow" she laughed "Lets roll it again" they spent the rest of the session searching for Mercy's perfection, until Len called time.
Mercy's Home
Sam hadn't been to Mercy's home before, from the outside he could tell the apartment building was exclusive, he went in to find the lifts had seats in them, he watched as Mercy took a key out and inserted it in the lift panel before taping in some numbers and then they were on the move
"What floor are you on?"
"Top, I share the floor with Roy" she smiled telling him
"You and Roy ever been an item?"
"No we're friends"
"Is there anything I should know?"
"Like?"
"Boyfriends, babies, scary Dads stuff"
"No; well my Dad might be scary but he's in Ohio" she laughed "Anything I should know?"
"I knew it was you watching us last night" he smiled
"How?"
"I smelled your perfume at the door" he told her as the lift came to a standstill
The door opened and Sam wasn't prepared for what he saw "So you guys live together?" he asked as he looked around the hall with it's seating, plants and a TV sitting on a glass table
"No we share a floor" she laughed as she opened the door to reveal a state of the art kitchen, all modern stuff with dining area and through living area. Mercy walked him round the house and showed him the king sized bedroom with walk in wardrobe, twin bathroom and beautiful balcony with artificial lawn, garden furniture and mini pool "Roy and I share this part of the apartment" she told him as she walked him through a small door into a mini fitness centre
"Wow" was all Sam could find to say
"Help yourself to a drink or something, I'm going to freshen up" she told him walking off back towards her bedroom, emerging 20 minutes later
"Wow" Sam said as he looked at the moving door to see Mercy standing there with a sexy Black lace and silk two piece number on the top crossed over at her chest with lace at the top and silk covering the parts he'd want to see, and what seemed like an ever flowing amount of material covering her bottom half tied at the waist, her left leg showing in it entirety every time she took a step "Wow" he said as she got to him and stood there waiting
"Can we talk?" she asked sitting down next to him on the couch, her skirt falling open to the crutch but she didn't bother to close it
"Sure I have something to say too" he took time looking at her saying
"Okay" she said, now she had his attention "My Dad's well off, we have a family business, I sing because I want to, I don't like people knowing I have money because I can't do false and I haven't been with anyone for like 3 years" she said all at once
"Okay, that's fine" he said grabbing hold of her hand "My name is Sam Evans, I'm the son of Michael Evans the Country singer"
"What?" Mercy asked covering her mouth as she spoke
"Yeah, sorry I didn't tell you that but I guess you understand my reasons, so no I'm not playing for the money either, I stuck around for you" he said pulling her towards him as he spoke "So we both need this?" he asked his breath hitting her face as she spoke
"Do we?"
"God yeah, my last sex was like nearly 5 months ago"
"I don't intend on doing the sex thing" she smiled "I need this to take time"
Sam grabbed her face and took his kiss her hands fell to the couch she became lifeless again nothing in her head, she couldn't feel her feet on the floor, her ass on the chair or her clothes on her body she opened her eyes to see Sam leaning over her opening of her clothes with such ease as he worked his way down her body and found her core, his mouth feeling cold to the touch and then his warm tongue sliding up and down her making her moan and reel as he quickly brought her to peak "God" she said grabbing his head as her body fought to cling onto the feel of his mouth pleasuring her as she pulsed uncontrollably
"Now can we make love?" he asked smiling "I need you to be here when this happens"
"Yeah" she laughed as he pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her as she stood with her back to him while he kissed her neck, shoulders, back before finding her mouth and turning her round fully, moving her hair from her face before going in again to taste her mouth lifting her up and carrying her to her bed kissing her as he removed the reminder of her clothes while she lay watching him
"I love you" he looked a her saying
"I love you" she said before closing her eyes to take his kiss, this time she didn't become lifeless in fact she woke up, her body woke up, she grabbed hold of him and kissed him back hard and urgently aware of the sensation happening between her legs as his hands wondered over her and she opened up to him willingly. Her urgency took over her and she tried to take control guiding him with her hands to do what she needed him to do surprised when he was getting there before her at every move and finally relaxing to enjoy this ride he was taking her on. His hands touched every part of her body before she pushing him off her
He stood looking down at her as she unbuckled his belt and stood up to pull his T-shirt off his torso as he smiled at her, laughed at the look on her face when he fell out of his underwear and dangled in front of her face "I'll have me some of that please" she said laughing as she went to work delivering pleasure to this man, smiling at his noises and getting great satisfaction when he grabbed her head and lunged into her mouth fully his body red with blood as she sucked every drop of it from him "God" he said looking at her with a smile on his face "I need you so damn bad" he got out before he peaked
"We got all day to sort our needs out" she smiled back saying "Bathroom" she told him pulling him with her, he stood waiting for her to do whatever she'd gone to do, smiling as she stood against the mirror, smiling at him "Furthest point" she told him as he moved forward and slammed her against the mirror grabbing her legs off the floor as they found each other in the most intimate ways, the sound of sweat meeting sweat as their bodies peeled off and sucked onto each other and their hands locked intimately as they explored bodies, rooms, furniture and food
"I've never showed anyone that much love before" he said shyly as they lay resting "I don't know how you did this to me" he laughed
"I did to you?" Mercy sat up saying "What about what you did to me?"
"I love you Mercy"
"I love you back Sam" she smiled "Please don't tell me we're going to waste our final two hours talking?" she laughed as he crawled up the bed kissing her feet, making his way up to her lips, two hours later a very tired Mercy and Sam jumped up from their nap "God that was the quickest day ever" she told him, rushing to get dressed
"Are we alright?" he asked
"What do you mean?"
"Like you still in with this ?"
"With?"
"I asked you to be my girlfriend, will you?"
"God yeah I'm still in, boyfriend of the sleeping kind" she told him rounding on him to get a kiss "Let's go tell our world" she grabbed her bag saying
The Studio
Mercy and Sam walked into the studio together faces smiling with a look of contentment "You alright Mercy?" Len asked as she walked towards him
"I'm fine" she almost sung
"Yeah we're fine" Sam told him as Mercy grabbed for him to be by her
"Sam and I are an item" she announced
"When the fuck did that happen?" Josha asked and all they could do was smile
"I have a new song" Mercy announced handing out the sheets of music out of her bag giving Sam the last sheet
"Drunk in love" he said smiling at her "Is that what we were?" he asked his sexy grin on show
"Wait till you hear the words" she laughed "Oh and you're rapping" she told him
An hour later they had put something together "Len" she shouted down the corridor "We have something" she told him as his head pooped round the door
"In a minute" he said making her roll her eyes for his constant lack of interest "Give me a song" he said as he sat listening to the song sitting in the mixing room fidgeting "It's good" he said getting up
"He's lying it's brilliant, actually it's ready" Sam told her
"I know someone else who's ready" she smiled as he walked up to her "Early finish everyone" she said grabbing her bag and making for the door attached to Sam
"Okay" Lenny laughed "You gave me a song" he shouted after them as everyone cheered