I really hope you all enjoy.
Revised Chapter (2).
Sam rubbed his chin as he stared at the candle in the middle of the breakfast bar that divided the kitchen from the living room. The white candle stood between two plates and dinner settings.
Was it too romantic? Was it not romantic enough?- he wondered.
He leaned forward blowing a gush of air over the flame extinguishing it. He proceeded to pick the candle up and study the space he had prepared for their dinner. It looked too bare without the candle.
Sam lit the candle again and placed it in its previous position but soon insecurities led him to extinguish it again. He wanted to create ambience but he was not sure what atmosphere to go for. The candle screamed romantic but the lack of a candle screamed informal and relaxed, like two buddies meeting up. He and Mercedes were far from just two buddies meeting up though but neither were they lovers, unfortunately. To Sam, the fate of the whole night hinged on the presence (or absence) of one unassuming candle.
He lit the candle again, this time promising it would be the last time, before grabbing the food delivered to his house a few minutes ago. Sam placed the food in dishes and dinner bowls he had received as housewarming presents which he had never used. He knew Mercedes knew he could only cook the basics so there was no need for him to pretend to be the one that cooked the food, but the fancy dishes created more of an atmosphere than take away containers. The candle caught his eye again: it had to go.
Before Sam could blow out the flame a knock came from the door. Sam decided to leave the candle be and make his way to the door passing the hundreds of other burning candles scattered across the room as he did so. For some reason, those candles were left untouched after they were set on fire.
Sam fixed his shirt and self-consciously ran a hand through his hair before opening the door to the woman seemed to have the superpower of knocking his breath away by merely existing. She stood in front of clutching a six-pack of beer nervously. Her black hair fell in gentle curls over her shoulders and chest. She wore a red knee-length dress which wrapped itself around her chest and middle before flaring out at her waist. The colour looked magnificent against her brown skin.
"You look beautiful," he said with a gentle smile.
"So do you," she quickly says before realizing her mistake. "I mean-uhm- you look handsome."
And he did. He wore a white t-shirt underneath a black biker jacket and dark skinny jeans with red and black Nike sneakers. A sliver Cross chain hung around his neck.
The two of them silently studied each other for nearly a minute before Sam realized he should probably invite her in.
"Where are my manners? Please come in."
She did as he said only to be greeted by hundreds of candles and flames dancing against the walls. She smiled feeling her heart swell at the familiar scene.
"It's a wonder you have never started a fire before," she joked turning around to stare at him with a mirthful gaze. Sam was closer than expected thus making her bump into him. She blushed but said nothing as he wrapped her in a hug. The pack of beer, however, dug into her chest. Sam let go.
"Sorry, let me take that from you. And thanks for the beer."
Mercedes smiled and nodded before following behind him.
"It's Bavarian Beer," she explained. "I got it for you when I was in Europe during my tour."
Sam put the beer down and turned around to hug her again. She stepped into his waiting arm and wrapped her arms around his waist tightly. She closed her eyes breathing him in as he did the same- allowing the familiarity of her to overtake his senses. She smelled like her trademark DKNY perfume infused with vanilla scented body butter. The scent of her was tattooed into his senses after he sharing a bed with her years ago in New York. It always took him back to midnight conversations and gentle morning kisses.
"I missed you, 'Cedes. Calls and texts just aren't the same as physically seeing you in front of me."
She let go of him in order to look up at his face. Immediately his body mourned for her as it yearned to be near her again.
"I missed you too, Sammy."
He was her confidant, biggest supporter and best friend. Even though miles threatened to pull them apart their friendship remained strong. At times weeks could pass before her schedule allowed them to catch up, but even then it felt like no time had passed between them at all. They just had a connection like no other, even though they were polar opposites. She was a diva, he was a geek. She was a pampered poodle whilst he was a nature guy. To the world, they had nothing in common but those casual observers did not know about midnight phone calls or Skype movie nights.
Sam cleared his throat feeling a wave of embarrassment and timidity wash over him at the look she gave him. He nervously rubbed the back of his neck as he asked her to take a seat. He did the same and poured them each a glass of wine. He hoped she liked it. He was not much of a wine guy so he took the wine that sounded the most fancy, or the most foreign, and had the most expensive price tag glued to it.
"So, how has life been treating you?" She asked taking a sip of the red wine.
"Good, really good. I mean, I'm twenty-five in a few weeks and I finally feel like I have vision for the first time in my life: I have a degree, a car and I'm planning on buying a house soon. So, things are good. How about you? How long are you staying before you go back to LA?"
Mercedes smiled; he looked so satisfied with life at the moment. She, though, she had no idea where to go or what to do now. She had no plan. She was merely winging life for a while and hoping and praying that things fall in place because honestly, she was at a crossroads.
"I don't know," she answered honestly. "I'm taking a break for a while."
Sam raised an eyebrow silently prompting her to expand on that statement.
Mercedes sighed and weaved her fingers together before resting her chin on her enclosed hands and looking up at him through her thick lashes.
"I feel...I feel like something is missing, you know?"
"What do you mean?" he said leaning subconsciously leaning in closer to her as if she was sharing a secret only for him to hear.
"For these past few years my music was enough for me. It made me happy. My career was all I wanted and it left me fulfilled but not anymore." She said with a sigh. "Don't get me wrong, I still love writing music but it's not enough anymore. I feel incomplete."
"What do you want?" Sam asked seriously as he tucked a stray hair behind her ear. He lingered for a few seconds before pulling away.
Mercedes swallowed the lump that formed in her throat when his finger tips danced over her neck and jaw far a few seconds. That moment of contact was enough to cause tingles up her spine and warmth coursing through her veins. Sam was the only person that could ever elicit such feelings with a mere touch. Mercedes looked into his forest coloured eyes losing her in their beauty and depths.
"I-I think I'm ready to settle down," she whispered. "Take a break from the music industry. I don't know...maybe start a family and in a few years I can make a comeback album- like Toni Braxton did." She bit her lip. "Most of our friends are married and starting families- Rachel and Jesse, Klaine, Britanna and Artie and Tina, as well as Puck and Quinn, are engaged. I feel like I'm ready for that too."She gave a little laugh. "But where does one start?"
It took every fibre in Sam's body to jump and do a body roll. She wanted to settle down. She wanted to get married. She wanted to have children. Now if she would only want those things with him he'd be the happiest man in the world.
Rather than making a fool of them both he smiled at her.
"When did you realize that?"
Mercedes was too lost in the admiration of the beauty sitting across from her that she did not listen to a word he said.
"I asked when did you realize you wanted to settle down?" Sam asked doing little to hide the smile stretching over his face.
"I've been feeling like something was missing since the beginning of the tour. After every show...I felt kinda hollow but I did not understand why. I was still in the middle of my world tour in France and Kurt and I was video chatting. Blaine was out so when Nicholas woke up from a nap so he got him while we were talking and I watched them together. That's when I realized what was missing. I wanted that; I wanted a baby and a love to talk to."
"So how do you envision your future? How many kids do you want? Where do you want to live?" He fished.
"A big house- I know some people think just because I have money I'd want to live in a castle but that's not me. I want to live in a three-story house with a big yard and a massive pool. I want two large dogs to play with my three kids- two boys and a girl. I always wanted an older brother when I was younger to protect me, so I hope my daughter has one and a little brother. I want to live in a small town. L.A and New- York are awesome places but I don't want to raise my children in a hectic big city…."
Sam listened to her speak of her ideal future with the same excitement she had when she used to speak to him about her music during the nights neither of them could fall asleep six years ago. He smiled realizing that everything she wanted, he wanted as well. He and Mercedes were finally on the same page. Now all he had to do is convince her that he was the perfect guy for her to have those things with. Sam glanced at the small candle between the two of them.
It seemed like that candle was just perfect where it was.
Mercedes gently closed the door behind her careful not to make a sound in the dark. She locked the door behind her and took off her heels before walking down the hall. She passed the living room to find a lamp on allowing her to see a plump figure of her father sitting on a comfortable chair staring at the door frame she almost passed by. He had a drink in his hand looking like a villain out of a movie.
"Wait, I turned around too early. Let me quickly do it again."
Her father proceeded to turn around in his chair, the back of it facing her before slowly turning around again to find her staring at him with folded arms.
"Well-well, is this the time to come back home?"
"Did you seriously wait up for me just so you could do that?" She asked switching on the light.
"Honestly, I was watching TV when I saw the car lights, so I thought I might as well make a show out of your arrival."
Mercedes rolled her eyes and looked at the time flashing across the digital clock it was 3am. She sat down across from her father.
"So, how was your time with Sam?"
"Okay, it was nice seeing him again."
Her father gave her a look.
"Good, good."
"What?"
"Nothing." He quickly said. "I just think you should invite Sam for dinner someday."
"So that you can be all weird and freak him out again. I think not."
Her father was eccentric at times and found pleasure in her embarrassment, thus she feared what would happen if they had dinner with Sam. She knew Sam would be able to handle her father as the two of them had a lot of similarities, though her father was more down to earth and sensible. Mercedes, however, was not looking forward to her father's openness to asking uncomfortable questions.
"When have I ever 'freaked' Sam out?"
"Junior and senior prom," Mercedes pointed out.
"I was merely looking out for my daughter," he said with a shrug as he took a sip of his drink.
"You made him sign a contract that if I was not at home by twelve that you could legally sell his pancreas on eBay, Dad," Mercedes deadpanned.
"And it worked. You were home before twelve, weren't you?"
"Let's not forget senior prom-"Mercedes began only to be interrupted.
"I've no recollection of-"
"You showed us both pictures of the effects of sexually transmitted diseases, Dad. Sam and I had to watch 10 cat videos afterwards just to try and forget," Mercedes said shivering in disgust.
"And neither of you have kids out of wedlock. I'll take my Father of the Decade award now, thank you very much."
Mercedes just shook her head at her father as she stood up.
"I'm going to bed now, Father of the Decade."
Her father lifted his glass giving her a wordless goodnight.
Mercedes went upstairs and got ready for bed. With a small smile on her face, she fell asleep with the thoughts of caramel green-eyed children lulling her to a peaceful slumber