My Imagination
Sam had been walking in the park early one sunny morning, he was supposed to have been running that was his usual thing but this morning he'd happened on a woman as he ran and he couldn't help but walk slowly behind her as he plucked himself up the courage to talk to her. He went to make his move and panicked, rolling his eyes as he felt his pockets, how was he going to talk to a woman without being able to quench her thirst if she had one "Of all the days to forget your damn card" he said as he dug deep in his pockets, finally finding his card, he breathed with relief before carrying on his pursuit
At 28 he'd had more than his share of women, enough at least to know when class was in the house, he didn't know or even understand why he was feeling so vulnerable about talking to this woman, but something was making him think about his actions long and hard as he saw the park entrance coming closer.
He looked at his phone for the time, he had an hour tops before he had to be at the surgery for his first appointment, he'd had a good start in life his parents had afforded him a enviable education and he was a fully trained Physiotherapist at the age of 27 "Do it" he urged himself as he got some 20 yards from the gate "Hi" he called as a few people turned to see who he was talking to "Hi" he said again focusing on her bubbly round face as he spoke the next time, ensuring everyone else went back to their every day tasks
"Hi" she smiled back at him turning to fully look at him
"I saw you across the park and I couldn't help but try to talk to you" he smiled "Would you have time to get a coffee or something?" he smiled awkwardly as she stood looking at him "Or tea, cold drink, food whatever you'd prefer"
"Sorry you startled me" she smiled her teeth as white as snow as she politely beamed at him he was suddenly very aware that he was standing in front of her in typical running gear Nike from head to toe sweaty armpits he'd tried his best to dry out as he'd walked and windswept hair some tied back in a short bun. He looked at her wondering how he'd had the cheek to even confront her dressed the way he was as she stood there in her black trousers with a purple nearing Basque looking top with a black leather jacket and boots to match, clutching a medium sized purple purse "Coffee would be good" she followed it with, he stood stunned unsure if he'd heard what he thought he had
"There's a cafe just up the road, are you alright for time?" he asked focusing on her mouth, it jumped out at him
"Yeah sure" she smiled following him up the road for about four minutes before they stopped outside a cafe
"Is this one alright?" he smiled, as he opened the floor to ceiling glass door for her, they walked into an airy open space cafe, with two cabinets full of sweet eateries, bagels, morning eateries, and the smell of coffee "What would you like" he asked as they walked through the almost full cafe, the fresh pine wooden modern furniture, glass topped ceilings and fresh flowers on the tables making the atmosphere fresh and morning like, and headed to the counter
"A latte please and some avocado toast maybe " she looked at the counter telling him "And that one" she pointed at a pastry, a smile on her face,
"Two of those" he pointed at the pastry she'd requested "Two latte and two avocado Toasts please" he ordered before they found a quiet intimate corner to share their drink and food in and got lost in the excitement of getting to know new people
"Foods Good" she looked up at him saying
"You're eating a pastry" he laughed
"Yeah but it's a good pastry"
"I guess, so... should we get names?"
"Mercedes" she flicked her hair off her chest telling him "But friends generally call me Mercy"
"Hi Mercy" he smiled as he pictured himself with her on top of him, him screaming for mercy "I'm Sam" his eyes flashed across her lips as he watched her licking her lips after sipping her drink, his imagination running wild at her actions "So what do you do, for work I mean?"
"Well I'm an aspiring actress, actually I'm on my way to an audition now" she told him looking at her phone "It's five minutes away I thought it would have taken longer to get here, I'm so nervous"
"You don't look it, you look amazing, and I hope you get the part"
Stop staring at his damn lips "Sorry I keep... never mind" her eyes focused on his again as she made the decision not to tell him she kept visioning his lips on hers "So what do you do?"
"I'm a physiotherapist my clients shout at me a lot because I make them do things they feel pain doing but, on the up side every say twelve weeks or so, they say thank you" he laughed "I know I'm being forward but I'd really like to see you again, soon" his face reddening at the prospect of being rejected
"I'd like that too" she replied surprised that she was being so forward
"I can be free this afternoon we can meet up, maybe I could come to your audition?"
"I don't think I'd like you watching me, but we could meet say 1pm get some lunch or something"
"Sounds like a plan" he smiled "Maybe meet at the park just outside the gate" he suggested
They finished their breakfast and eventually went their separate ways, Mercy walked off wondering why she'd been so forward, looking back against everything her mind was telling her to see him watching her walk, and yeah she swung that ass a bit more than she needed, hell she was attracted to this guy. Sam walked backwards away from her just watching her move, his mind shouting out mercy with every bounce her butt made, he was buzzed, he got to the park gate and stood watching trying to remember the questions he needed answers to later.
They got to their places of work did what they needed to before they went to meet for their lunch date, Sam cancelling all his appointments for that afternoon, his gut was telling him this was going somewhere and he needed to give it his full attention. Sam was dressed in his navy blue canvas Masculino's with Gucci skinny jeans and a Carisma double collared blue and black shirt, patting himself down as he walked towards his destination. He got near and stood frozen, stunned as he looked ahead at Mercy standing at the gate a true picture of perfection on a stick "Wow" was all he could muster as he looked at her. She'd obviously made it back home because now she was standing there waiting for him in some red ripped jeans and a red matching top, with writing on it that he couldn't make out because he was too far away from her.
He caught himself drooling and checked himself before taking the 60 or so steps he needed to be near her "Hi" he smiled as he walked towards her, Mercy gasped at the sight of him, she'd thought he was drinkable this morning but, taking him in just now in all his fineness she'd eaten and wouldn't care if her menu was the same again every damn day for the rest of her life
"Hi" she smiled as she watched him coming towards her I'm going to kiss you she thought as her hand went up and pulled his shirt close to her while reaching up to peck his lips "I'm looking forward to this" she twisted confidently on her heels, her back now facing him as they stepped off into the park, she didn't want to give him time to react
"Everything looks so different in here today" he commented, having nothing else in his head just then, his mind was buzzing she'd kissed him and if he'd have been quicker he'd have made it count, "I'm usually running through I don't get time to really sight see" he added
"Jogging, so not me" she laughed "I'm more your watching kind of girl, so I wouldn't mind at all coming to the park to watch my guy run around, getting hot and sweaty first thing in the morning" she looked at him slyly "But I could think of much better ways to work up a sweat in the mornings"
"I guess I could too but I'm thinking none of them eligible for a first date" he laughed
"Is this a first date, I thought it was lunch" she laughed back at him
"Yeah this is lunch, if you agree for our first date to be tonight" he stopped laughing to say "I mean can we go on a proper date tonight, I feel connected to you already?" he stopped walking to look at her asking "Please, just to see what this thing is"
"Alright" she flashed her eyes telling him, she wasn't going to tell him that if he hadn't suggested it she was going to
"What?" he asked shocked that she'd answered positively after the look on her face was saying the opposite
"I said yes, I'll go on a date with you" she smiled
"Is this place alright?" he stopped outside The Rooftop looking at her, his mind unable to comprehend her beauty "I thought we could eat light, seeing as it's the middle of the day and now you've said yes to tonight, I intend on making sure you're not hungry all day"
"You're watching my figure?" she asked teasingly as she passed him
"You caught me" he laughed as he followed her in
They had lunch with lots conversation, over a glass of wine and seafood, there was a lot of word play as each made it clear that there was a spark and some finger playing as their hands touched a few times whle they ate from the shared dessert "I like learning about your life" Mercy said after listening to him for the last twenty minutes talking about his life experiences
"Yours is mega interesting too, I just wish I'd have been in it for most of it"
"Yeah" she sighed looking up from the dessert plate at him "I hope we get to change that"
"Me too" his eyes lusting as he looked back at her
"Anyway" she put the fork down saying "I'm actually full up, so please no more food for today" she giggled
"Okay" he smiled "Anything specific you'd like to do?"
"Have fun" she suggested
"That's definitely on the agenda" he told her as his phone beeped "Sorry work calls" he held it up telling her "I've got time to walk you back"
"I'm fine" she looked around the restaurant telling him, she really should have mentioned that she was only here for three days but she reckoned she'd leave that to just before she was going back home because this, whatever this was that was growing inside her, would be enough to keep her here and that was scary.
They met up that evening and did some exciting things, starting with crazy golf, through eating hot dogs and drinking slushy and were settled into watching a mini live show in the Rotunda Lobby "So I guess as we're not driving we could maybe head to Spago, get some dessert maybe and a drink?" he asked as they got up at the end of the 40 minute show
"Dessert, sounds like fun" she giggled grabbing hold of his arm as they walked, he smiled at the action, they'd formed something just a bit deeper than a friendship in one day and the proof was that she was clinging to him without prompt, he pressed her hand closer to his chest as he walked and they got into conversation again, grabbing a cab as they walked to take them a distance down the road
They jumped out the cab to find an Karaoke night going on "Woooow" she squealed as they read on "I love it" making Sam smile, music was definitely his thing
Could this night get any more perfect? He asked himself as he watched her walking towards the door, running past her to open it as she walked in
"Thank you" she stopped to say as the noise from the lounge grabbed their attention and they were off in a whirl rocking to the songs these random individuals were singing
"Dessert?" Sam finally asked as a table came free, Mercy shook her head, grabbed his hand and followed him to the table, they ordered a dessert to share again, ate it and was up dancing to the country songs again
"Oh god I love this song" she raved as a couple got started on 'Bloodstone' by Guy Sebastian "Will you dance with me" she pulled him onto the dance floor, before he could answer and they stayed there for the rest of the evening, more talking than dancing to the songs as people went on stage "My feet" she moaned some four hours later
"Time to go" Sam told her grabbing her hand as they made their way towards the door, grabbing a cab almost immediately they exited the building "We need to get to..." he looked at Mercy for her address
"Lexington" she smiled back at him
"Lexington please" he told the driver sitting down for even more conversation "I can't believe we've talked all day" he laughed "I like learning about your life" he told her shyly as he listened to her humming a song
"What is that song?" he asked as he rested his head back listening to her hum, thinking he could almost go to sleep and get a good nights rest with her humming like that in his ear
"Oh 'Just My Imagination' by Boyz II Men" she smiled "They just done a new album"
"Why imagination?" he looked her in the eye for a long while tempted to take her lips but their position was awkward and it felt awkward, so he smiled instead, taking in her face as it broke into the sun, surrounded by stars just before she looked back at the road, temptation high for her too
"Sometimes you wish for things and when they come true you have to ask you know, is it just my imagination"
"I need to listen to that song, it's talking my life" he smiled as she looked out the window again
"Oh just down by that black jeep" she told the driver as they watched him manoeuvre the car "So" she turned to smile at him saying as she pressed the button to get out the car "I guess we'll be talking again real soon?" she asked watching him jump out the car to get round to her
Sam sighed as he got in front of her, he had mixed feelings he was hoping to kiss her right now, it shouldn't feel awkward, they'd had a good day, and he was in position, but once he'd kissed her she'd be gone and then he'd spend the night thinking about all the things he could have said or done that he didn't "So" he smiled as he walked towards her "Is there any chance of us seeing where this thing goes tomo..."
"I'm seriously busy tomorrow during the day" she looked upset telling him "More auditions" she smiled awkwardly "But evening would be great if you have the time?"
"I have the time" he smiled stepping towards her, it had been months since his lips had touched a woman's lips and years since touching a woman's lips with his had meant anything like he was feeling right now, her eyes looked worried as he moved towards her, part of him wanted to protect himself from the rejection he felt he was about to get, but a major part of him needed to take this chance
He lifted his hand a stroked her face, watching all the worry leave her face as a smile threatened to break on it, he felt her shudder and smiled at her reaction to his touch, getting excited for the connection being made right now, they looked into each others eyes for what seemed like an eternity, before Mercy broke gaze and her eyes focused on his lips 'do you want me to kiss you?' His mind asked as he leaned in to take it, knowing if he'd read this wrong he'd be walking home to beat himself badly, but God if it went right he wasn't getting any sleep tonight in a good way.
He eventually went with his heart and pulled her to him, his hand on her face applying little pressure as she glided towards him, his eyes closed before hers as their lips met in a friend kiss before her mouth suddenly opened up to him and her arms wrapped around his back as his wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her into him, their tongues playing and their minds venturing to unspeakable places
"I guess date number two is on the cards then?" she asked when she finally opened her eyes, to see him smiling back at her, he replied by kissing her again
"7pm tomorrow?"
"Pick me up, no meet me at the park gate, our place" she smiled as she stood watching him get back in the cab and finally drive away
The night went slowly but the next day seemed to breeze by as they went about their day in anticipation of the evening to come, Mercy had a long soak and jumped into her little black dress with lace top and lace layered skirt, with black strapped heels and a black and gold purse her hair soft curled flowing free and gold on her arms, ears and neck, make up flawless
Sam jumped out the shower and donned his usual smart brown round neck jumper, brown Faith Connection pants, his facial hair shaped to perfection and his hair slicked back and tied off his face with open toed brown sandals kicking off his look.
It had been a warm day and the evening had just started to produce a breeze that was welcomed, As they took the short walk to the park gates, that was fast becoming their spot, they smiled almost in unison about the events they hoped would develop through their evening together, memories of the kiss they'd shared the night before that had flashed through their minds all day getting their pulse racing at the thought of revisiting that actual feeling
Mercy
Mercy stood for over an hour waiting for Sam to turn up and finally gave up at 9pm when she realised she'd actually been stood up. She moped around the hotel for the evening, went to her audition the following day, and cursed herself for not taking a number from him, she so wanted to cuss him out in the biggest way for raising her hopes like that.
She sat thinking about the conversation she'd had with her friend Tina before she came to Hollywood for the auditions. Puck had been calling her on an almost hourly basis making sure he was still in her head after their messy break up. He'd been caught yet again messing around with other girls, well one in particular seemed to keep popping up, this Quinn girl, with her blond hair and perfect nose was definitely the trophy wife type he'd always imagined himself with. She should have drawn the line when the girl came up in her face laughing like there was something funny about sleeping with someone else's person but she didn't. He'd stood listening to it all and claimed he was going to finally settle down with her but he needed to get stuff out of his system. She finally stopped sitting back and letting him get it out of his system and decided to get up, get him out of her system, and do something with her life
"I'm gong to meet a down to earth guy, who's going to fall in love with me at first sight, and we're going to get married" she'd told Tina as she watched her snatch the phone out of her hand seconds before she nearly answered Puck's call again and fell back into his trap
"Damn straight" Tina laughed "Anyone you meet will be better than that rat"
"You better be right" she'd giggled just before she got the four calls for auditions in and around Hollywood only to meet another damn loser, "Is that what the world was producing as men nowadays, what the hell is wrong with their Mother's" she banged her pillow asking "What sort of guy actually stands a girl up on a second date" she buried her head in the pillow screaming
She let herself down a bit that last night, as she found herself walking to all the places they'd been the night before, she at least expected to see him out reeling in another girl and rag him out but, there was nothing no sign to say that Sam actually existed "Just my imagination?" she asked herself before jumping in a cab and returning to the hotel, she packed that night, her coach left at 5am and she was gone, back to Los Angeles
Sam
Three months later and Sam woke up to notes all over his bedroom walls, he read the notes directing him around the room until he found his notebook, by 10am, after reading the book he knew, he'd had an aneurysm, lost his short term memory, had breakfast at Julia's on the high street everyday morning, what he needed to remember from the previous day and that he now lived with his parents
"Morning Mom" he came out of his room saying "I'm grabbing a drink then I'm off to..."
"The studio son, you work at the studio"
"The studio?" he asked shocked "What am I doing at the studio, I thought I was a Physiotherapist?"
"Listening to music and cleaning up I guess, the day job was a bit much with your memory" his Mom laughed "It's just something that was important to you when you woke up, and we thought you'd remember something if you were in the environment"
"Have I? Remembered anything I mean?"
"Not yet" she smiled stroking his face "But you will one day"
"I feel like there's something I should remember" he looked at her saying "I mean I need words around my room in a in the mornings to remember my yesterdays"
"That's because sleep takes away your short term memories sweet"
"I can't live like this Mom, I want my mind back I need my mind, I have a life to live, it's out there somewhere..."
"Calm down Sam" she grabbed his hand telling him, she was used to having the same conversation every day with him "One day at a time" she smiled "And we're all here for you"
"I know that but I just need to be there for myself, this is so frustrating" he shouted
"Calm down Sam" she held him saying
"Mom you really don't understand, these new trials everyone talks about, I don't understand, I read it but..., I need to be able to connect with people, the things I do, I just can't keep on forgetting everything every damn day, I... this not working brain is killing me little by little every damn day" he held his head tears falling for his frustration
"We're still trying Sam, you know we'll never give up trying, we're doing everything we can to help you every day, you have to believe that"
"I do" he told her, wiping his face, upset to see his Mothers tears, he turned and walked towards the door "Bye Mom" he looked back to say before closing the door behind him putting his headphones on and started running. He took his familiar run through the park, smelt flowers said hello to people and stopped at the gate when he got to the other end of the park, sat in Julia's eating breakfast and people watching before his phone alarmed "You need to get back home" he read, and without questioning his reminder, he made his way back home got washed, changed and listened the previous days reminders on his phone on his way to work.
Mercy
Mercy was back home, warding off calls from Quinn and Puck apparently Quinn had turned into the new Mercy and Puck was off servicing some other girl, while he was still begging Mercy for another chance to prove that he could be her person
"Mercy" Tina rolled her eyes at her saying "It's been like over three months since you met that... I don't even know what to call him, he wasn't even a random, just a guy, and I know you, you're still hanging on in hope for him to somehow magically appear again"
"I'm not" she moaned knowing in her heart that was the case
"I don't know how much more rejection you need, he didn't turn up for your second date"
"Something must have happened honestly I mean, we connected I mean really connected and..."
"Stop" Tina held her hand up saying "You know what I'm about to say girl, forget his shit"
"It's not really about him, I went for three auditions remember and none of them came back to me, I'm a fucking failure all the way round"
"You're not a failure" she smiled at her "You're Mercy Jones actress, singer and mother fucking diva" she hopped on the couch telling her "To have a girl like her is truly a dream come true, out of all the fellas in the world she belongs to you..." she sang making Mercy smile
"... But it was just my imagination, running away from me" they both sang as Tina hugged her
"Our time will come" Tina told her "But sweet that guy back in Hollywood is not your person"
"Okay" she told her breathing heavy at the reality of never seeing him again
Two days later her prayer was answered she received an email from her second audition, she'd finally been short listed for a call back on her Empire audition, she called Tina excited about it all, she was finally being recognised for her talent. 5 days later she packed her small case and headed back to Hollywood, the coach journey offering the usual pit stops and random conversations along the way.
She made her way back to the hotel she'd stayed at less than four months ago, of course Sam was on her mind heavily, she'd still slap him if she saw him even today, but she might actually smile after doing it. She was still living off the bank of Mom and Dad, her Dad being a very affluent Attorney had afforded her a good education, she'd graduated in the arts so she was equally brilliant at singing and acting and loved it when she got rolls doing both her first loves. She'd been in a few plays around Hollywood in the past and her Uncle worked in the hotel she stayed at so her parents got family rates for her staying there plus they didn't mind her wondering around Hollywood because they knew someone had their eye on her.
He didn't keep his eye on her half as much as her parents thought he was too busy with his job, he was a loyal employee, husband and father to his three girls all much younger than Mercy. She'd have stayed with them but they only had three bedrooms, and her Aunt's sister had already taken the couch
Sleep wasn't easy that night there was so much going on in her mind, she was under pressure for this audition, she was on needles for seeing Sam any time soon and she wasn't in her own bed. She was up bright and early the next day stomach rolling for her thoughts of being under inspection all day, she got dressed and left out her usual early time to make the short trip to the venue and take time to talk herself down.
She got to the park and was consciously looking around for Sam, she didn't know what she was going to be saying once she'd seen him but she wanted to. Suddenly a flicker of light as she saw someone up ahead of her looking very much like him, she looked discretely as he made his way towards her, "God it's him" she gasped as he came towards her, she didn't want to put a smile on her face but one appeared "Hi" she smiled as he came close enough to hear her
"Hi" he smiled as he carried on running
Mercy stood looking at him as he made his way past her and followed the path 'He didn't even look back' she stood thinking, other runners quickly filled the path behind him, it soon became difficult to see him. She was moving around trying to find him in the crowd and was about to give up when she noticed someone standing at the gate smiling, she started walking towards him and knew he was thinking about her "But why would he ignore me to stand at the gate and remember me?" before she could get close enough to talk he was walking off. She stood wondering for a while before she moved off remembering she'd got rehearsals and only 15 minutes left to get there and look sharp
Sam
Sam woke up sun glaring in his eyes, looking around the room at the blurred objects and what looked like coloured squares scattered about, his eyes flickered before opening wide as he took in the unfamiliar place "Where am I?" he asked looking around the room frantically "Where am I?" he shouted with some urgency as he saw a familiar frame enter the room "Mom?" he asked
"Yes Sweetheart It's Mom, you're having a nightmare, you know where you are, this is your bedroom" she hurried to him saying
"God I was dreaming about …... I don't actually remember" he smiled feeling embarrassed
"Here" she told him taking his book from the side cabinet and handing it to him "Read this" she told him, putting it in his hand and leaving the room for him to do that, he came out over an hour later updated in his life.
"It's Saturday I guess I'm helping Dad with the garden today?" he smiled
"I guess you're right, you like routine"
"Liking routine's a bit different to having to write everything you did today down to remember you did it" he commented
"I'm sure you're right" she smiled kissing his cheek as he took some bacon out her frying pan
"Mom" he found a chair and sat on it saying "What was my life like just before this aneurysm, I mean what happened what was I doing?"
"As far as I know, you'd got dressed up, you were off to see Mike I guess you guys were always together and on your way there this thing happened"
"Mike" he smiled "So where's Mike I haven't seen him in a while?"
"Look back in your notes Sweet, I'm sure Mike told you he was off to China for four months about two weeks ago"
"So, you read my book too?"
"Not all the time and I ask first but I always put your days in at the top of a new page"
"I just need this to stop you know" he held his head telling her "I need my life back I mean where was I going, why was I going somewhere after 6 in the evening, did I have a date, interview what?" he asked expecting an answer
"I have no idea son" she looked at him sadly, eventually the questions stopped and he went off to help his Dad with the gardening, the morning soon turned to early evening and before they knew it they were sitting in front of the TV again, Sam watching his Mom wrapped in his Dad's arms and wondering where that was for him
"Did I have a girlfriend at the time?" he asked as he watched them
"You've had a few son, but you weren't seeing anyone, as far as we know, before your aneurysm, I'm sort of thinking she would have turned up by now, called your phone or something"
"So I'm single?"
"For now yes" his Dad laughed
"I remember my girlfriends I just wondered if there was a new one"
"You were never found wanting in that area of your life" he told him making him laugh, Sam went to bed thinking about everything that happened that day, trying to think of something he didn't want to forget, he'd already jotted down everything for Monday on Friday so he found sleep.
Mercy
Mercy had thought about that chance meeting with Sam and decided that if he didn't want to know that was fine, she'd settle with the quiet rejection thing he was throwing at her and get on with her life. She'd had a night out with the girls, which had finished at a ridiculous 11pm and she went home to look at the walls, listen to the TV talking at her and quietly find sleep. She woke up the next morning and decided to take a walk, she wasn't going through the park today she'd actually decided to go round it, the sun was beaming, there weren't many people out as she walked along with her ear plugs in singing along to whatever song it played "Great Pastry" she smiled as she passed Julia's cafe, stepping backwards when she made her mind up to take that break
"Morning" she smiled as she walked towards the familiar till "A Latte, Avocado Toast and a Pastry please, any one" she looked at the array telling the cashier "I'll be over there" she pointed to an empty table positioned so she could easily see the table they sat at for their first chat, she smiled as the pictures came back of that day, how she felt, how she'd been feeling before he'd turned up and the possibilities she'd imagined on her way over for their date "Thank you" she smiled up at the waitress as she delivered her order, before going back to her thoughts
She was so far into her thoughts that she didn't notice Sam come into the cafe, approach the counter or even sit at their table, she just blinked once and when she opened her eyes again he was sitting at the table with a coffee in front of him "Sam" she heard, breaking her concentration as she turned to look at the counter to see who was talking to him "Your avocado toast and pastry" the chief shouted across at him as she watched Sam get up and go across to fetch them. Her eyes followed him back to their table and as he turned to sit down he looked up and saw her looking, her eyes weren't quick enough to divert, she held his gaze for a few seconds before he smiled and she smiled back.
"What the hell?" she asked herself as she watched this man looking at her like he'd never seen her before. She tried to avoid eye contact while she slowly devoured her breakfast and drink but they caught each other looking at one time or the other, their eyes playing across the cafe. He finally got up brought his empty cup to the till and stood in conversation with the chief for a while before he turned to leave looking to the side at Mercy for one last smile before he pushed the door open and then he was gone "What's his damn game?" she stood up and made for the door asking herself as she watched him go almost out of sight before her internal struggle lost to her instinct and she pushed through the door and followed him
He walked for about 20 minutes stopping to chat to people, mainly elderly, as he went he finally stopped and waved at someone standing in the large front window of a lovely stone fronted house, chairs and benches out front with placed potted plants along a paved drive, with a small greenery on left side and earth with tropical plants in on the other. You could see right through the lounge on the right side of the house, it looked cosy and warm a nameplate over the church like door shouting Welcome with a light above it, she smiled for what she remembered of his heart being just like that. She watched as he pushed the door open and walked in, waiting for a while to see if he'd re-emerged but he didn't so she eventually grabbed a cab and headed back to her hotel
Through the week she went back to Julia's and they watched each other, nobody spoke but they smiled and they stared, each day he sat looking at her with fresh eyes
Sam
Sam sat reading his notebook before starting his day, he found a page attached to the back 'You need to find yourself a girlfriend' it read "I put that there?" he asked looking at this random request, jumping up to go see his family "Mom did you put anything extra in my notebook?" he asked when he finally got to the kitchen
"Morning" she smiled "No I didn't"
"Okay I thought I might have forgotten something" he laughed
"Funny" she laughed as she put his coffee in front of him and kissed his cheek
His phone pinged telling him to collect his blue notebook, he picked it up and went for his usual jog, frequented Julia's, it was Friday and he'd sat in the cafe people watching again, well one specific person watching anyway, he'd started this blue notebook on this girl he'd caught looking at him about a week ago, her story was written on her face and he captured everything he felt when he looked at her on paper'Bubbly round face, teeth white as snow, her mouth eatable, not happy to be out the limelight, shouldn't be out the limelight' he wrote as he smiled sitting with his food going cold as he pretended not to be looking at this girl but at the same time writing every expression about her down on paper because he had to add those details to his memory when he found it, he didn't want to forget her 'She frowned, hope she doesn't think I'm a pervert or anything like that' remembering he was in a cafe and maybe needed to eat he picked up his toast and took a bite, looking back at his book 'I wish there was a pause button on life, I'd stop right here at this moment, she's beautiful' he wrote before he sat drawing his version of her face. He waited until she finished and left before he grabbed his bag threw his things in and left
On Saturday he got to the cafe and looked around almost upset that the girl on his notebook wasn't there, he saw one girl that looked like her he thought, from a drawing it was difficult to tell, but when she smiled back at him he didn't read 'Ray of sunshine, there was no passage to her soul, she was pretty but not actually beautiful, his heart didn't flutter' her eyes, lips or even her spirit didn't react the way he'd written it, this wasn't her. He threw his head back into his book to read more about the girl he was interested in, trying to improve on his drawing from a memory he didn't have "You can't draw feelings" he reminded himself
"Sorry I couldn't help notice you looking at me from across the cafe" a voice jolted him out of his thoughts saying as his head popped up to engage in the conversation
"Sorry that wasn't my intention, I was thinking" he smiled before putting his head back down to carry on drawing
"So you weren't looking at me?" the blond haired girl sat down asking him as he watched her half shocked at her inviting herself to his table without asking, and confused that she hadn't taken his apology and left him alone
"No I wasn't looking at you, I was concentrating, if you don't mind" he looked at her agitated
"But you smiled" she told him now she'd got his full attention
"I was being polite, when I realised you were in my stare vision"
"Well now I'm on your table, could I at least get a name for my troubles?"
"Sam, my name's Sam, now do you mind?" his face blank as he sat wondering what sign he'd actually given this woman to make her think her coming over to his table was justified
"My names Brooke" she smiled, Sam just looked back at her, it wasn't nice to meet her and she was far too pushy for him already "So are you going to be rude or are we going to have a conversation?"
"I'm not going to be rude, Brooke is it? in fact I think you're being rude, I don't want a conversation, I come here to think and I won't remember a thing tomorrow anyway"
"My bad I obviously read the signals wrong" she told him, angry as she got up and left his table
Sam's eyes didn't leave his book for a while after that and when they did he looked up to see the girl he'd been drawing sitting looking at the girl that had been at his table a short while ago. He wanted to shout "She's nothing" the look on his crushes face was like thunder, he grabbed his book and wrote what he felt she was feeling right then, there was no sentences just words as he scribbled in his book 'Jealous, offended, hostile, livid' and smiled when he realised maybe, just maybe she felt something for him too. His alarm went telling him it was time to get to work, he jumped up had his usual conversation with Del and left, looking back at his crush to give her a smile as he did so, happy when she smiled back 'Crush, I like her' he thought taking his book out to write that particular feeling down to remind himself he actually had a crush
Mercy
Mercy had been listening to this girl talking about Sam, how she'd approached him and he'd been absolutely rude about it, she was angry the girl was describing someone she knew wasn't Sam, a runner maybe but not mean, arrogant or above himself. She was shocked that she'd felt so defensive of him after what he'd done to her, she watched him approach the till, he had a conversation with the chef and he'd actually smiled at her before he left, something was going on for him and after nearly two weeks of following him around she thought it was time to confront the issue.
She looked at the counter for a long while before she got the guts up to go ask to speak to Del "Could I speak to the chef please?" she asked the woman at the counter
"Problem?" she asked
"No, not at all I just have to ask a few questions" she smiled back as the woman shouted Del from the back, he came through quickly and smiled when he saw Mercy waiting at the counter
"Can I help you?"
"I'd like to have a quiet word if you don't mind" she looked at a vacant table telling him, he moved quickly and pulled a chair out for her before sitting down himself "Well this is going to sound outlandish, even cheeky I guess but if I tell you in short some background I guess you'll understand why I ask" she told him as she filled him in on Sam and hers date for one day, him not turning up for their second date, how she sees him every day and he acts like he doesn't even know her "So what's going on with him?" she finally asked taking a breath as she sat back in her chair
"I think you maybe need to speak to him or his family" Del told her "It's just not my place to say anything"
"So you could at least tell me if this is his thing, I mean the way he treats people"
"Definitely not, and when you speak to his family or him, you'll understand why" he smiled "Sorry I have to go" he got up saying
"Sorry, thank you for your time" she smiled as she watched him walk back to the kitchen 'So it's definitely not the way he is' she thought as she sat thinking about her next move
Monday morning and Mercy walked into the cafe to see Sam sitting at their usual table, she made her order and threw caution to the wind, she walked over to him and asked "Is this seat taken?"
"No" he smiled, he'd watched her walking towards him his heart was beating fast at the thought of her being close, he closed his book that told her life story according to him, and watched her sit down as if she really didn't care what his answer was, she was going to sit anyway
"So" she smiled up at him "We've been exchanging looks for weeks now and I guess, I'm breaking my mould and taking the first step, I just want to introduce myself if that's alright with you?"
"That's fine with me, I've been wanting that for a while too" he smiled
"My names Mercedes but my friends call me Mercy" she smiled
"And I'm Sam, nice to meet you Mercy, I love that name" he smiled cheekily as he imagined himself with her on top of him, him screaming for mercy "Sorry" he told her embarrassed for where his mind had gone
"Sorry?" she looked at him puzzled asking
"Yeah I guess my minds still on what I was doing, sorry, you have my full attention Mercy, tell me something about yourself"
"Not much to tell" she smiled "I'm an aspiring actress, got a part in Empire at the moment so rehearsals and everything else takes up most of my time, mornings tend to be mine till 11am anyway" she laughed "And you, what do you do?" she quickly asked eager to find out what was happening with him
"I work at a music studio now, but I used to be a physiotherapist in a past life, that's a whole other story" he looked up at her smiling, her eyes told him she was hurting, sad even "Are you alright?" he asked concerned
"Yes I'm fine, what do you mean in a past life? Please tell me we're not talking reincarnation here" she smiled
"Oh no" he laughed sharing with her the most captivating smile, melting all the walls of revenge she could have ever decided to have on him for how he'd treated her "I had an aneurysm a while back" he leafed through his book for details "About 5 months ago now and I go to sleep every night and remember nothing from the day before, long term memory is fine but, this" he pointed between them as he spoke "Unless I write it down, I won't remember tomorrow"
'Shit, that's why' Mercy had bubbling around in her head as he spoke 'Why didn't I think anything like this, how the hell was I supposed to even guess that something like this had happened that night' "I'm sorry to hear that Sam" she grabbed his hand telling him
"It's fine I guess everyone from around here's gotten used to me asking the same questions every day, even having the same conversations, and a lot of them are in my long term memory so it seems normal sometimes" her heart breaking for him as he smiled that delightful smile that cracked the mask of pain that was written across his face as he spoke, when he looked into her eyes there was the Sam she remembered from that day connecting with her inner self "I need to get to know you" he sprung on her as she thought, getting his book out to write her name to add to his list of memories about her
"Can I come to the studio with you, being a lover of all things music, I'd love to see what you do maybe tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow is that a date?" he smiled even wider than before "Will you sing for us?"
"I might" she smiled, her face saying cute and even innocent, making him blush for those thoughts of his coming back "Shoot I have to get to work" she told him looking at her phone
"Can I …. can I get your number?" he asked as he watched her get up, handing her his phone
"Yeah" she smiled taking it to put her number in "Actually" she smiled going round to pose next to him to take their selfie "Now you've got a pic too, call me" she told him as she attached the picture to her number and handed his phone back "Maybe you can get a more accurate drawing from that" she laughed
"You knew I was..."
"Yeah" she smiled as his face reddened "Tomorrow, call me" she told him, he quickly scribbled in his book before looking up to see her smiling at him as she stood in the doorway
"Bye" he mouthed waving at the same time, smiling as she waved back mouthing the same
The Date
Sam had woke up the next morning and gone through is routine, grabbed his day book and saw the name Mercy on the front page where the day should be, he turned the page to find Tuesday on the page in his writing "Something's changed" he told himself as he went out for his usual coffee and chat "Mom something's changed" he announced as he walked into the kitchen
"I saw the word mercy on your front page, I don't even want to know what that's about, but I figured it was important enough for you to put it on the front page so I left it, and when I turned the page you'd already written the next day too" she told him as she brought his coffee to him
"It'll be something at work" he told her grabbing his phone out his pocket "Mercy" he looked at his new screen picture of them together with her name across them saying "It's a girl, Mercy's a girl" he told his Mom flicking through his day book as he spoke "My crush she told me her name, and I forgot to connect it in my morning book" he told her excitedly
"Bubbly round face, teeth as white as snow?" his Mom asked as she watched him flicking through his book
"Mom stop reading my memories" he frowned "Especially those kind, it's embarrassing"
"Just be careful"
"Of what?" he looked through his book asking
"These girls, a lot of them are out for what they can get"
"What can they get?" he looked up to ask
"You Sam" she smiled stroking his face as he rolled his eyes, before going back to his book, he'd written so much and his routine had taken his evening up what with the game, cleaning the pool, drinking with his Dad, he'd totally missed putting her in his morning memories
"Sorry Mom I've got to make this call" he jumped up saying when he got to the page he'd written 'call her first thing' on to make the call "Morning" he smiled as he heard her call hello on the other side of the phone "It's Sam"
"I know it's you Sam" she giggled and that was all he needed to hear
"So breakfast before I take you to the studio?" he asked
"That's fine, usual place yeah?"
"Where's the usual place?" he asked concerned
"Julia's"
"Oh yeah, see you then"
"Bye" she told him and he was still smiling two minutes after the call
They met, had breakfast and left for the studio, Sam walked in his chest puffed as everyone looked at his company "This is Mercy" he announced as she looked around bugging out so hard for all the names standing around the place, she grabbed hold of Sam's hand tight 'Guy Sebastian' her mind gasped as she watched him looking at her through the glass 'This was another one of her idols staring back at her'
"Sam" he shouted smiling, as Mercy watched Sam's face come alive "Guy" he pointed at himself telling him "Look me up" he pointed to the book in Sam's hand telling him
"He's obviously someone new, but this is Artie, Blaine and Kurt" he told her as he got his book out to catch up on Guy "We went to school together" his mind wondering off to read his book, he was at work after all he needed to get in gear
"Just give him a minute or two, he needs to catch up on his tasks" Blaine walked towards her his hand extended for shaking as she spoke, Mercy grabbed his hand and smiled at the welcome
"Guy's just working on a song for his new album" Kurt told her as he sat at the mixer looking like the boss of this outfit, also extending his hand
"Yeah he's the boss" Artie laughed as he walked towards her, hand ready "But I'm the brains, make no mistake"
"Guy" Sam smiled putting his thumbs up as he spoke "You know what I want to hear, perfect today"
"You got it" Guy smiled as he started singing another take on 'Vesuvius' by Guy Sebastian
"Guys been a personal favourite of his through all this" Blaine laughed "He a good guy he sings for him every day"
"He's got another two weeks before the albums finished, then I don't know what's going to happen, his routine will break and I don't know how he'll take that" Kurt looked on concerned
Mercy enjoyed her time there, everyone was friendly, she'd promised Sam she'd meet him at the park gates later that evening and, although she was excited about that, at the front of her mind was what had happened less than six months ago, and now she had a deadline she needed to plant herself firmly in his mind before Guy left and broke his constant. Their date tonight was going to be a replica of their first date, she smiled as she concocted the plan in her mind, she hadn't actually brought those shoes she wore but she'd got a good substitute, she took her phone out and asked him to lunch, he accepted and met her early at the park gate as planned
Lunch took place at Rooftop again, they laughed, joked and found out about each other all over again, when his alarm went he left, unwillingly, and went back to work "7 tonight at the gates" he smiled "That could be like our place"
They met up that evening and did some familiar exciting things, starting with crazy golf, through eating hot dogs with a slushy and were settled into watching a mini live show in the Rotunda Lobby "So I guess as we're not driving we could maybe head to Spago, get some dessert maybe and a drink?" she asked as they got up at the end of the 40 minute show
"That would be good" he told her as he wrote frantically in his book for everything he needed to remember
"You need to enjoy yourself, how about we record the good bits?" she asked as they stepped inside The Home Depot "Lets get you a voice recorder" she pulled him in telling him "Then you'll just press a button" they went in and tried a few before he settled on one that he could easily plug into his computer at the end of his day and everything would be transferred, to diary, voice, note, reminder automatically depending on where he wanted to send it "So" she said as she pulled her card out of the machine "Spago"
"Spago" he smiled pulling her with him as he led, there was no theme night but there was singing "I need to hear you song" he looked at her smiling as he spoke
"I will if you will?"
"It's a deal as long as you sing something from your show" he smiled "I only know old stuff through" he told her
"That's fine" she smiled "You first" she laughed "I can't do new stuff either, contracts and shit"
They met up on Artie and Blaine, had a couple of drinks for courage before Sam finally made his way over to choose his song asked the guys to help him out and stood singing a very lively version of 'Round The Clock' by Dan & Shay as Mercy smiled taking all his praise, laughing and dancing excitedly as she watched him dancing and singing, this was what she'd imagined of Sam six months ago, he was still in there, he'd only lost that day "Your turn" he whispered in her ear as he got close, she closed her eyes for the closeness as his breath hit her neck and ear it was only for seconds but it happened
"Will do" she turned smiling before she stepped off to go sing her riveting version of 'I'll Be Everything' by Sierra McClain from the hit drama, her eyes not leaving Sam's for the whole song as people swayed listening to the ballad
"That was..." he told her when she finally got back to him "I have no words, you're fantastic" he told her grabbing her face and pulling her towards him, he'd kissed her before even he knew what was happening 'What the hells gotten into me?' he asked himself as the impact of his lips pressing on hers took hold of him 'God' he drew breath but found it somewhere inside him, he'd fallen one kiss and he'd fallen, she opened her mouth and found his tongue waiting and although his eyes were closed they rolled and darted about as he watched the fireworks happening for him right now.
Mercy had found herself suddenly in the quietist of moments, like the silence between lightening and thunder, but every attempt she made to count the seconds between shock waves she was pulled in deeper, she sighed with content as she felt the urge to step it up a bit she opened her mouth and found his tongue 'God' she gasped as she fell in love while their tongues got married and decided they were well on their way to a romantic honeymoon in Rome, as lightening shadows passed across her closed eyes
"Wow" she finally let his lips go saying "I think if we kiss again the world will explode" she laughed
"Yeah that could happen" he laughed as they looked around remembering they were in Spago's "Drink?"
"Good idea I definitely need cooling down" she smiled
"Don't think me forward, and I mean this all above board and stuff but..." he looked at Mercy asking as they stood waiting at the bar "It's been a while since I woke up with a girl, will you sleep at mine tonight, no funny business?"
"Do you think that will help?"
"I don't need it to help, I just want the feeling back, some normality you know"
"No funny business?" she asked as he held his hand up like a scout smiling
"On my honour"
They finally finished the night and went back to his house, everyone was asleep by the time they got in and they quietly went to bed, Sam put a picture of Mercy by his bed with her name on it, and had their nights recording playing in his ear so he didn't freak out in the morning and was sat reading his morning book by the time she woke up "Morning" he smiled leaning over to kiss her as he spoke "My parents are going to freak" he laughed as she jumped up for the bathroom
"They'll have questions?" she came out asking him "And I'll have to tell the truth"
Twenty minutes later they were ready to face his parents "Mom, Dad this is Mercy" he announced and they prepared to sit through the questions, of course they came and they sat patiently answering, Sam taping as Mercy revealed everything from their first date to everything that followed. Finally breakfast was ready, his Mom had insisted they eat breakfast at home today, Mercy sat humming
"What is that song?" he asked looking up from his computer
"Oh 'Just My Imagination' by Boyz II Men" she smiled
"Why imagination?" he looked her asking holding his hand up to stop her answering "I know this" he looked at her startled "Sometimes you wish for things and when they come true you have to ask you know, is it just my imagination" he smiled at her reaction "Have we, you know?" he asked her
"No, not yet" she laughed
"There was something so familiar about being next to you last night, I thought..." he smiled "I have nightmares about not seeing you again" he grabbed her hand excited that he somehow knew that now "We have to have another date?"
"I guess date number three is on the cards?" she smiled "But I'm coming to fetch you this time"
"You were always in my imagination"
"Funny you should say that"
"I listened to the song" he smiled as he sung "Soon we'll be married and raise a family, in a cosy little home out in the country with two children maybe three" he laughed "But I don't want it to be our imagination, we have something don't we?"
"I think so" Mercy told him
"What say we try to make these dreams our reality?"
"I want that to happen"
That day they brought along their video recorder and recorded their day together, every morning Sam woke up and turned his mini film on with their song playing as it showed him his new life with his girlfriend, fiancé, wife and eventually family
THE END