A/N: Y'all I promised I was going to finish all my stories lol BARE WITH ME!
Enjoy
Chapter 11
Nashville
"So Merce, how have you been?" Mary asked, placing a cup of tea in front of her before she sat down.
"I've been good, just busy with music and life an of course there's-"
"Don't lie to me sweetheart, your momma called me and I have questions." Mary said, giving her a look that let her know to be as honest as possible.
"I ah, I'm engaged and I know that I don't want to be..." She replied honestly looking around before Mary turned her face so that she was facing her.
"I'm still in love with your son and I'm stuck in this mess and now he's being affected because of it..." Mercedes said, feeling tears burning in her eyes.
"Affected how?"
"He's not here by choice and it has everything to do with him. We have to fly to New York after he finishes here and I feel like I should just go back to California and… I don't know how to handle it somehow." She replied, looking down at her tea.
"Look at me, now you listen to me my son wouldn't fight for something this hard if he didn't believe in it. Everything you two have been through and you're still the only woman that makes him smile the way he does, you think me and Dwight would get this excited over any other woman? No we wouldn't and I hope you know that because we've been waiting for that pretty face of yours to be this close again." Mary said firmly and Mercedes believed everything she was saying.
"I just hate that he worked this hard and the second I stepped back into his life this happened… I really wished I knew why any of this was happening." Mercedes replied honestly before her phone started to ring. "If you'll excuse me it's my assistant." She said before walking out the back door answering her phone.
"Hello?"
"Where are you?"
"I'm in Nashville, why what's up?"
"So we did a thing..."
"Who is we, Monica?"
Will you tell Wheezy to calm down, we did this for her.
"I should have known! You pulled Santana into this? Her of all people?"
"You need to listen to me, we found out how Tank got that information on you… he's getting help from Shane Tinsley." Mercedes froze hearing his name and tried to rack her brain on why he would do this to her.
"That doesn't make any sense Monica, we literally saw him before we left and he seemed..." She stopped when she realized he did seem a little off when they ran into him.
"Mercedes there's more… Tank's been planning this since before you met and he now knows we know. You need to warn Sam and you need to stay low for now… I have another plan in place but I'm going to need some time. A few days maybe a week but Mercedes listen to me, you can't trust Shane and you need to basically make yourself invisible."
"Why would Shane help him though?"
"I'm not sure, something about an old tiff, look boss lady just do what I said and I promise to call with an update soon."
"Monica be safe."
"I will. You do the same." She hung up after that and just stared at her phone for a minute before trying to remember what would make Shane hold on to whatever it was for this long.
Flashback
Mercedes sat at the piano in the choir room patiently waiting for time to wind down and when she finally heard the bell she couldn't help but smile, after the assignment Ms. Pillsbury assigned her and Sam she was finally ready to tell him how she felt. She walked out of the choir room hoping to see Sam in the spot they agreed to meet if the feelings were mutual and sure enough she saw him and her smile widened. He walked up with a smile of his own and they looked at each other for a brief moment right before they could say anything she saw his smile fade and heard Shane's voice.
"There you are, baby. Are you ready?" Mercedes looked at Sam not knowing what to say before turning to Shane with a smile but a confused look.
"For lunch, we're going off-campus, right?" Shane said then asked but she didn't respond she just looked back at Sam who had a pained expression on his face.
"Hey, Sam." Shane said after noticing his girlfriend still hadn't responded and only received a half smile in return before he grabbed Mercedes' hand and started to walk away.
Mercedes looked back at Sam who let out a sigh before turning to walk away, Shane said something to her forcing her to look back at him but she looked back one more time at Sam but his back was turned and she had to force herself to smile while they walked to his car.
"Is there something you want to tell me?" Shane asked when they got inside in his car.
"N-no why?" She asked calmly.
"It felt like you were having a moment." Shane replied, giving her a hard look.
"No Shane." She responded impassively looking out the window before he grabbed her arm forcing her to look at him.
"I don't like how he looks at you and I know you two have a history."
"We're only friends." She said yanking her hand away knowing that she was lying.
After that day Sam and Mercedes tried to steer clear of each other stealing glances every now and then but it was getting harder and when Sam gave her an ultimatum to finally tell Shane the truth she found herself having to make a difficult decision.
"Shane, we need to talk." Mercedes said, pulling him into an empty classroom making him sit down on one of the desks.
"Okay what's this about?" He asked and she took a deep breath knowing this was going to be hard but needed to be done.
"Shane, I haven't been honest and it's time that I am… Sam and I have been sneaking around and I just can't lie to you anymore. Let me finish, I didn't know that my feelings for him were still as strong as they are. When he came back it was like I was thrown back into summer and had him back… I know what we did was wrong and I know apologizing won't make it any less hurtful but I am so sorry." She said giving him a minute to process what she just admitted.
"What do you mean by sneaking around?" He asked as tears filled his eyes and she had to swallow the growing lump in her throat.
"We've been kissing and making out, that's it..."
"That's it? Then why does it feel like there's more?"
"I won't lie and say that the feelings I have for him aren't greater than the ones I have for you. I care very deeply about him and with him being this close but not being able to act on it has caused more issues because of what I have been doing."
"So you're breaking up with me." Shane said, shaking his head wiping a tear away. "I love you Mercedes." He added, shocking her because she hadn't felt they even reached that point yet.
"Shane I- I'm sorry." She replied looking down at her hands before looking back at him. "I really am sorry." She added before leaving.
…
"I know it's early, but… It's a statue of St. Valentine." Sam said, handing Mercedes a heart shaped box before she opened it and shooting him a confused look.
"Well, actually, it's a statue of one of the three wise men. I repainted it to look like Saint..." Sam added before noticing the tears growing in her eyes.
"I told Shane about us." Mercedes said, closing her locker and looking back at him.
"Wow. Was he mad?"
"He was sad. He cried and said it felt like I punched him in his heart." She replied, tearing up more.
"I saw this MMA guy get punched in the heart once. He died for, like, a minute." Sam said, trying to lighten the mood but Mercedes' expression didn't change.
"That sucks."
"At least it means we can be together for real now." He said moving in to give her a kiss but she placed her hand up shaking her head.
"Whoa. What we did... What I did to Shane was wrong. I lied, I cheated, and it makes me feel awful, and I love you, but being with you just reminds me of that… that I'm not the person that I thought I was. We would never do that to each other. I thought that I'd never do that to Shane. But I have to face the truth. When it comes to love, I don't know who I am, and until I find out, I can't be with anyone. I-I can't be with you." She said, trying to hand him his gift back but he just shot her a look before shaking his head and walking away leaving her there with tears falling down her face.
She chose to sing I Will Always Love You to help Sam understand that she just needed time but when he stormed out after she performed she wasn't sure he was willing to wait, what she didn't know was that Shane saw the whole thing and something inside of him went cold. He had told her he loved her and all she said was that she was sorry but Sam got a whole damn rendition of one of the most beautiful songs and her expressing her love for him in front of the whole damn Glee Club.
As time went along he tried and somewhat managed to get over that heart ache but when he saw them at prom he felt like he had been played for a complete fool, he put all his focus into getting recruited and when he did he told Mercedes who congratulated him but that wasn't enough.
He watched their final days as Mercedes and Sam paraded their relationship in front of him like they had shared nothing, he watched her thank Sam for helping her get noticed by her label after he basically told her to be more confident and he couldn't stop the growing hate for Sam but his disdain for Mercedes' lack of care is how he ended up pushing himself to the breaking point. Shane had planned a whole life with her and now she wasn't even with him anymore because of her foolish love for a guy who he felt didn't deserve her.
End Flashback
Mercedes shook her head before walking back inside trying to get a hold of Sam but his phone kept going to voicemail. She still wasn't sure where the studio was and was apprehensive about asking Mary.
"What's wrong?" Mary asked as soon as she walked back inside.
"I need to get to Sam and he's not answering." She said nervously.
"Come on, I'll take you." Mary said not asking anything passed that.
…
"Evans, I don't know who you pissed off but I'm glad you're here." Mark, one of his clients, asked, patting him on the shoulder.
"Long story, all I know is I have to be in New York this time tomorrow so we gotta start now." Sam said, letting out a sigh.
"I still don't understand because I never called this session and when I heard you'd be here I just rushed over so I wouldn't be keeping you waiting so if you have to go then by all means, we're set for the tracks you sent over." Mark said and Sam had the strongest urge to hug him because he was overwhelmed.
"Mark, umm there's a Mercedes Jones here… like THE Mercedes Jones." They heard over the intercom and Mark's eyes grew wide.
"What the hell? She's like the biggest thing right now… the hell is she doing in Nashville? Send her in!" Mark said more to himself before shouting to his assistant.
"Dude! Do you know how epic this is? If I can get her on a feature… shit!" Mark said to Sam who just smiled before it grew when he saw Mercedes entering but it dropped when he saw his mother.
"Miss Jones! It's an honor! I wasn't even aware you were in town let alone coming to my studio." Mark said introducing himself and Mercedes politely shook his hand.
"Hi, it's nice to meet you as well but I'm not here on business." She replied looking over to Sam.
"Woah you know Evans here, dude why didn't you say anything?"
"It's like she said, she's not here for business." Sam answered before excusing himself so he could see what was up.
…
"Hey what's up?" Sam asked when they stepped outside the studio.
"Shane Tinsley." Mercedes answered and Sam shot her a confused look.
"He's the one that's been helping Tank with all of this mess… also Monica and Santana did something, I don't know exactly what but they did something and now Tank knows that I know." Mercedes explained and Sam closed his eyes and let out an annoyed sigh.
"You're telling this is because of some High School bullshit!" Sam said angrily.
"Sam, I… I didn't know that he would hold a grudge like this." Mercedes said feeling horrible.
"I take care of my family doing this and all this because I lov-... what else did they tell you?" Sam asked, shaking his head and checking his watch.
"That I should probably lay low… she has another plan but I'm not sure I should-" She stopped when his phone started ringing.
"I have to take this." Sam said before stepping away right as her phone started chiming.
Sad. Guess I'll handle this on my own.
Who is this?
Don't play dumb.
Shane?
I'll be seeing you soon.
Shane, don't do this, there is no reason for you to treat me this way.
"That was my client in New York, they're expecting me sooner so I have to go in here and see if I can move our session until I can come back." Sam said looking at his watch trying to figure out if he could get a flight for the next few hours.
"Sammy, I'm really sorry about all of this."
"Mhm, look you should head back to my parents and I will swing by on my way back in… gonna try to get us some tickets." Sam said, giving her a quick peck on the cheek.
"Sam, I…"
"I'll call you when I'm headed out." Sam said before walking back inside leaving her standing there feeling like shit.
…
"Why didn't you tell me you knew Mercedes Jones?" Mark asked as soon as Sam came back inside.
"We went to high school together, even dated for a while. Look, can I reschedule this session? I have to get to New York and then deal with some other drama." Sam asked, getting more annoyed by the second.
"Wait! You dated Mercedes Jones? All these years of knowing each other and you never let that slip? Do you know how much cred you would get just by even knowing her?"
"I'm not trying to get cred from knowing her." Sam muttered checking his phone for flights out.
"You know you can borrow the jet if you need to leave soon, I have no problem loaning it to you." Mark said.
"Thanks man, I really appreciate it!" Sam said before noticing the sly grin on his face. "What is it costing me?"
"Just a meeting with Mercedes, she has a dangerous pen too you know?"
"I can't promise anything but I will ask her."
"That's all I need to hear." Mark said before calling his assistant for Sam. "The jet will be ready in an hour. I'll text you the address, good luck."
"Great, thanks again man! I'll be back to finish our session." Sam said before heading out.
…
"Um… Hello?"
"What's up Karofsky? I need a favor..."
"Nope, nat again. I've paid my debt so no more favors!"
"I just need information on Shane Tinsley."
"Shane? WHy? I haven't spoken to him in years."
"He's started some shit with my girl and I need to know everything you can find out."
"Look, we have Titan meetups every so often… he hasn't been but I heard he was coming this time. It's going to be in New York to celebrate Azimio being traded to the Bills. "
"When is it?
"I'm already in New York, we meet Friday night."
"Shit, thanks and you're off the hook!"
"FINALLY!"
Santana hung up and looked at Monica before sighing. "Shane's going to be in New York on Friday."
"I'll take it from here." Monica said, trying to figure out her next move.
"We should warn Mercedes... "
"We will but they're in Nashville so she should be fine there."
"Whatever you have planned, better end up with Lips and Wheezy married." Santana said before taking her leave so she could get back home to Britney.
Monica walked back into the room where Tank was still tied up and decided to ask a few more questions.
"I gave you all the information you needed, now untie me." Tank demanded and Monica just chuckled.
"No you didn't, who else is helping you because it's not just Shane. There's no way you were able to do this with just him, who else is helping?" Monica demanded.
"Seems we're at an impasse, you need information and I want to be untied." Tank said, smirking.
"Ha, that's cute. You really think I'm going untie you?" Monica asked with an amused smirk.
"You will if you want to make sure Mercedes is okay…"
"You can't hurt her anymore." Monica said matter-factly.
"I didn't mean me." Tank replied and Monica wasn't sure if he was bluffing or not but she sure as hell couldn't let him go.
Soooooo... now we know Shane is fucking bat shit crazy! Until next time xoxo
