Thank you for your kind support.
On this day, three years ago, I was the saddest I've ever been in my life. My mum left us after a short bout of sickness. Today I remember her with a little sadness, because time has been a great healer and God has been my Comforter.
Standard disclaimer.
Present day…
The four friends broke their huddle, and on hearing a small giggle from Mercedes, Mike's anger dissipated.
As they entered the living room, the girls and Kurt were pleasantly surprised, to see how much tidier the place looked.
All eyes turned to Mike, who smiled sheepishly at them.
Mercedes hugged her dear friend and said to him,
"Thank you, Mike. You are an amazing man." Tina and Kurt looked on, smiling, and as they parted, Tina gave Mike a sweet kiss on the lips and said,
"Great job!"
They departed shortly after, for Mike's and Tina's apartment, to sort out their new, temporary living arrangements.
On the way there, Kurt received a frantic call from Sam.
"Where's Mercedes?"
"She's with us, as we speak…"
"Is she okay? Can I speak to her?"
"Sure, hang on a second. Sam's on the line for you," Kurt said, handing the phone to Mercedes.
A brief flash of panic crossed Mercedes' features, but with a nod of encouragement from Kurt and a gentle squeeze of the hand from Tina, she took it.
"Hi Sam," she softly said. Sam breathed a sigh of relief.
"Mercedes…how are you?"
"I'm fine Sam."
"You had me worried there for a little while. I tried calling you a few times, but I just couldn't get through. Is everything alright?"
For the first time in a while, Mercedes felt as though she could be happy again, with someone other than Brody.
"Yes. I was having a hard time, but everything is fine now. I'm going to be staying with Tina and Mike for a little while…"
Sam listened to her melodic voice, wishing he could be there beside her, even if it was just hold her.
"Good. I'm happy to hear that. I know that, they are going to take good care of you. How's Kurt taking it?" She smiled and took a quick glance at her other bestie.
"I think he's fine…he may be a little salty, but he'll get over it," she whispered.
Sam laughed and it felt good to do so. Hearing Mercedes' voice and knowing she was alright, did wonders for him.
"Yeah, he will. Umm…I'm due back in a few hours…can I come and see you later?" he shyly asked.
Mercedes' heart, flipped inside of her chest.
Her thoughts went back to the night, they were out on the dance floor, enjoying each other's company, surrounded by a feeling of rightness.
She was experiencing that same feeling now, and she found herself saying,
"Sure, I'd really like that." She heard him exhale and she smiled, as she got the feeling, he was experiencing the same thing.
"Great! So, I'll see you later…I'm not sure what time, but I'll call before I come over, okay?"
"Okay, Sam."
As she called his name, he closed his green eyes, allowing the sound of her voice, to warm his heart. They both said goodbye to each other and hung up.
Tina locked eyes with Mike, who locked eyes with Kurt, sitting in the back seat beside Mercedes.
In that short space of time, they'd all come to the same conclusion…Sam definitely had an effect on Mercedes.
A few minutes later, they arrived at Mike's and Tina's apartment and everyone was pleased to see Mercedes, looking much brighter than before.
Once inside, Tina showed her to the spare room, leaving Mike and Kurt to bring her stuff in.
"So, how are feeling now? Do you think you could stay here with us?" Tina asked.
Mercedes was touched, at the concern on her friend's lovely face. She reached for her hand and kindly said,
"I'm feeling so much better…thank you. Of course, I can stay here with you and Mike. Besides, Kurt, you two have treated me with so much love…and now…you've opened up your home to me. I owe you three so much. And I don't know how I'll ever be able to repay you."
Tina embraced her friend warmly. As she pulled back, she said,
"You have nothing to repay…don't even think about it. We are friends…family even, and if the situation were reversed, you wouldn't hesitate to come to our rescue, or anyone else's for that matter. We're just glad we can be here for you, for a change."
Kurt and Mike stepped up, after overhearing the two girls.
"Oh, honey, you've always been the one, that was there for us…" Kurt said, and Mike added,
"Yeah, Mercedes. Think back, over the years, you've been there for all of us…even Sam. Believe me, we're happy to do this…it's the least we can do."
After another group hug, they helped her settled in, then Kurt had to leave. And Mike excused himself, thereafter.
Mercedes sat on the bed, becoming a bit misty eyed, as she thought about everything.
Tina stepped forwards and shook her head in the negative saying, "
Nope…no more crying love. From now on, it's going to be like old times. This is a step in the right direction, and we will be right there, alongside you…we're in this together. Nothing is off-limits to you. I don't want you to worry about anything while you're here…so whatever you need to do, just do it. And I know Sam would feel the same way."
At the mention of Sam's name, her eyes brightened, and a sweet smile blossomed on her face.
She lowered her head, feeling her face heat up.
"It's okay Mercedes, I know you like Sam and he really cares for you…you guys have a special friendship. No one's expecting you, to jump back into a relationship so soon…especially not Sam. He just wants you to be happy and in a good place…then, anything can happen after that. You do know he would never put pressure on you, right?"
"Course, I do, Tee…and you're right, I like him. I like being around him…he makes me laugh…and I never have to worry about being hurt by anything he says. That night on the dance floor, I felt so connected with him, even more than I ever did with Brody. It just felt right being with Sam…and I just couldn't understand it. He complimented me…he made me feel beautiful, which Brody never did that night…and seldom did, anyway."
Tina listened with rapt attention, but she wasn't surprised by anything, her friend had to say.
"Well, that's certainly good to hear, although I'm not surprised…and I really don't want to add to you worries, or put pressure on you, but Sam has been in love with you for years."
An audible gasp escaped Mercedes' lips.
She locked eyes with her friend, seeing only honesty there.
She knew Sam liked her and he's always sought her out to talk, but she's never allowed herself, to think he is in love with her.
Thinking back to when they were younger, she recalls how protective he was of her, and how he'd always want to be around her, doing silly impressions to make her laugh, or share stuff with her.
As they grew older, his kindness never wavered and when her parent's died, outside of her aunt and the others, he was her rock.
He comforted her and did all sorts of things to cheer her up and when she moved closer to where they all lived, he was extremely happy.
When she'd started dating Brody, he remained kind to her, but he took a step back, and sought her out less and threw himself into his studies.
Realization dawned on her, as to why he was the only guy without a girlfriend at the time, when there were literally hundreds of girls vying for his attention.
She suddenly felt guilty, remembering the way, she sometimes used to act with Brody, around him…and to think…it may have propelled him to latch onto…Rachel, whose only motive, was to siphon whatever money she could out of him.
Tina watched Mercedes' sweet face, as it clouded with emotions and when she saw realization dawn, she knew that she had finally got it.
She, like the others, used to wonder, how Mercedes could be that oblivious, because Sam usually wore his heart on his sleeve, especially around her.
"Mercedes? Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yes, Tee. I'm fine. I don't know how, I could have mistaken Sam's feelings for me. Oh God! Tee...he must've thought I was flaunting my relationship with Brody, in front of him. Like those times when I…kissed Brody, or did silly stuff, like feed him off my plate. I feel awful," she finished quietly.
Seeing such great remorse on her friend's face, Tina said,
"Mercedes, listen to me. We both know Sam and we both know he's an upright guy…very fair and very respectful. He was happy for you…and Brody…and he gave you space, so that, you could be happy in your relationship. He never once tried to cause any problems. Except for that one night on the dance floor…which I think was unintentional, he respected that you chose Brody. Like me, I believe he saw how upset you were that night and he just couldn't help himself. By the way, you never really got around to telling me, what had actually happened."
Mercedes took in a breath, as she digested everything that Tina told her.
Exhaling loudly, she launched into the details, of what had happened between her and Brody that night, and how she almost cancelled because of it.
She also told her about, what had transpired between them, when they got home, and when she was finished, Tina looked fit to lash out at something or someone.
"Son of a gun! He has some nerve! Ooh…I wish you had told me everything that night…I would've enjoyed smacking the shit out of him…"
"Tee…you're channeling your inner Santana…forget him…I'm trying to. Besides, there's more to tell."
Not wanting to leave Mike out of it, Mercedes decided to call him, and then launched into everything, that has happened between her and Brody, in recent times.
She told them of the secret phone calls, how he would distance himself from her, to answer them and eventually what happened, when she confronted him about it.
She told them about the late nights he'd been keeping and then about him subsequently sleeping away from home.
At this point in time, Tina looked as though, she could squeeze every ounce of life, from Brody Wesson, if he'd suddenly appeared in front of her.
Moving on, Mercedes spoke of Brody's behavior and of him questioning her and Sam's friendship, when Sam's father died.
She spoke of things progressively getting worse between them, even to the point of them refraining from any sexual activity…though she admitted, it was mostly on her part.
She also admitted, it was at that point, her life began to change and not for the better.
She spoke of using food, as a coping mechanism, thus becoming an emotional eater, gradually sending herself into a state of depression.
Tina's eyes became misty and tears silently leaked down her cheeks, whilst Mike sat with a sad look on his handsome face.
Mercedes looked at her two friends and her heart warmed.
A soft smile blossomed on her face, as she said,
"Because of your efforts…and Kurt's, of course, I am feeling much better…but, there was one night in particular, when all of your previous efforts were derailed."
She spoke of the horrible shift she'd had, and the young patient they'd lost that night.
Of her going home and crying her heart out in the shower and afterwards, how Brody had snatched her clothes from her, as she tried to leave the room and the hurtful, nasty remarks that spewed from his lips about her appearance, even going as far as to mention, Sam being disgusted by her looks.
More tears leaked from Tina's eyes, as she heard Mercedes, who at this point was silently crying also…spoke about immersing herself in eating unhealthily and refusing to socialize, sometimes, only accepting calls from Sam.
She spoke of an episode that occurred months later, which brought the curtain down on her and Brody's relationship.
She told them of the strange woman calling her phone, demanding to know who she was and why her number was in Brody's phone.
They heard how Brody had rushed home, when Mercedes had called him and about the argument that ensued, leading to him leaving, and finally moving out.
Tina was so stunned, her tears ceased and desisted, for a few moments, as she…and Mike, now fully understood, what Mercedes had gone through, and the reason for her current predicament.
They now understood, why she was so inconsolable that night, when they had to call Sam.
As, if they were one, in mind and body, both rose from where they were sitting and embraced their dear friend.
Mercedes was well and truly spent after that, both physically and emotionally and welcomed the warm embrace of her friends.
Eventually, she broke the somber atmosphere, by looking pointedly at Tina and repeating her words,
"No more tears, remember? It's over. He can't mistreat me anymore. I need to get passed this…hurt…and get my life in order. If I continue to let what he did, rule my life, I'll never get the chance to fall in love again and be happy…neither will I get my body back onto shape…or my mind for that matter."
Tina smiled widely and Mike kissed Mercedes' cheek.
"That's the attitude you need to adopt, a positive one," he said.
"Yeah…and we are here to help…but only on your terms," Tina threw in. They embraced once more and then sat back in their previous seats.
"Uh…I forgot to tell you guys, that Sam is due back, very shortly…maybe in a couple hours…and he wants to come over later…to see me. But he will call first…"
Tina's and Mike's faces lit up.
Tina even clapped her hands.
With a cheeky smile, on her pretty face, she said,
"That's great, honey. He seems very anxious to see you. It's been a while…and I'm sure you two, have a lot to catch up on. Just remember…it's Sam and he loves everything about you, so there's no need to feel apprehensive about your appearance…."
"Yeah, what she said..." Mike started, and Tina cut him off saying,
"He knows you've filled out, in all the places he loves about you, so take heart in that. I doubt, he'll be able to keep his hands off you…off that…"
"Tee!" Mercedes shouted. She felt her face heating up and patted her cheeks daintily. "You've been around Santana for too long…it's a good thing she's away."
Mike pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head at the two girls.
"It's true, though...if you haven't noticed yet...Sam is an ass man...particularly yours... we have a few hours until he arrives and comes over. So, in that time, I think we can find the perfect outfit to drive him crazy," Tina said, looking pointedly at Mercedes.
She stood and reached out to Mercedes.
"Come honey, Mike can entertain himself for a while."
Like a lamb to the slaughter, Mercedes Jones, placed her hand in Tina's outstretched one and exited the room.
Mike shook his head again and watched them, until they were out of sight.
I wanted to show a few things in this chapter, like for instance, how deep the friendship is between Tina, Mike and Mercedes...and of course Kurt. I wanted to show, how comfortable Mercedes became, when Tina told her about Sam being in love with her for years, to the point of her admitting, she liked him too. I also wanted to show, that Mercedes is willing to move on from Brody, with hopes of falling in love again. I hope that you were able to see these things.
Stay safe. Much love to you.