Part V
Author's Note: Here it finally is! The last chapter of my Samcedes story. And it's LONG! Thanks to everyone for reading. Your reviews are amazing. I'm choosing to believe that my story is not AU but is closer to what is going to really happen when Sam reappears in canon. I know, I'm insane, but I'm okay with it! Haha. At some point, I intend to write an epilogue that takes place a year later. Hopefully, I'll do that sooner than later. Let me know if you'd be into reading that so I'm motivated to write it. ;)
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee!
When Mercedes woke up in the morning, it took her a minute to realize that she had not been dreaming. Sam was really here. Smiling, she slipped out of bed. She quickly showered and dressed for church, a modest skirt and cardigan. She spent some time on her hair and makeup and threw on some flats before heading downstairs.
As she passed the front window, she noticed it was raining slightly. Poor guy, she thought, and decided to she go outside to make sure Sam was up. But as she reached the kitchen door, she found him sitting at the table with her parents. All three of them were holding a cup of coffee and reading a section of the newspaper. She had to stifle a laugh because they were so inadvertently adorable.
She immediately observed how good Sam looked. He was wearing a light blue button-down, a sage green tie that matched his eyes, and black pants. When he noticed her standing in the doorway, he shot her warm smile, which she matched.
"Good morning," Mercedes said to him.
"Good morning, Mercedes dear," her mother responded as she folded up her section of the newspaper. "Sam's been up helping me chop the fruit and veggies so that we can easily throw things together after church for brunch."
Mercedes continued to grin at Sam and answered, "He's nice like that." He grinned back.
"Are you ready for church?" Mercedes' dad asked loudly, breaking the intense teenage stare-down that clearly had not escaped her parents.
"Yes, just let me grab my rain jacket," she responded and left the kitchen to walk to the front closet. As she swung the door open, someone warm hugged her from behind.
"Good morning, pretty girl," Sam said into her ear, his voice low and velvety. He nuzzled his lips and nose into the side of her neck. She leaned back into him.
"You know," he whispered, "Since we've been together, we have spent forty-three nights in different states. They've all been hard, but last night was pure torture." Mercedes turned her head to try to look at him over her shoulder and waited for him to explain, "Knowing that you were so close to me but that I had to be a good boy scout and stay in my tent." Sam shook his head and grinned, "Torture."
She smiled and turned in his arms to face him, never breaking their contact. He dipped his head in to kiss her lightly then stayed close, gazing into her eyes.
"You were a boy scout, weren't you?" Mercedes asked him with a smirk.
Sam shrugged his shoulders, "Where do you think I learned to assemble that tent?"
She laughed, allowing herself just a moment to picture him in a cute little uniform.
"How do you feel today?" he asked, reaching up to brush a strand of hair out of her face.
"I'm so happy," she beamed then sighed shallowly, "but I can't seem to shake these nerves."
"About your performance?" Sam asked.
"Psh, no, I got that down. The divatude is on." Sam grinned widely. He loved her ferocity. Mercedes explained, "These last couple of weeks have been insane. I'm worried about Marcus. I'm worried about Kurt. I just feel… uneasy."
Sam nodded then and reached down to intertwine one of his hands with one of hers, wrapping his other arm around the small of her back to pull her even closer to him. "I'm here, Mercy," he told her, his tone serious, "Clearly, I'm not always here in Lima. To do this." Squeezing her hand and waist, he twirled them both ever so slightly, almost like they were dancing really slowly. Then he continued, "But I'm always here. Always on your side. Always proud of you. No matter what anyone else thinks. I'll hold your hand under every table we can find until the absolute second I have to get in that truck tonight and drive back to Nashville. But even when I'm gone, I promise: I'm here." Mercedes looked into his deep green eyes and understood him.
"Thank you, Sammy," she whispered. She stood on her tiptoes, and wrapped her arms around the back of his neck, placing soft kisses along the crux of his jaw until they heard her dad shout from the garage.
"Mercedes! Sam! Church! Let's go!" Sam helped her put on her jacket and they walked quickly towards the garage.
Ten minutes later, they were in the backseat of Dr. Jones' BMW on their way to First Methodist Church of Lima. Their seatbelts and her parents in the front seat kept the two teenagers from sitting as close as they would have liked. But thanks to Sam's long arms, Mercedes was able to hold his hand in her lap as she absentmindedly played with his fingers. He watched her look out the window into the rainy morning, clearly deep in her thoughts. When they pulled into a parking space outside the church, Dr. Jones jumped out quickly to meet with the other ushers before the service began. Mrs. Jones hesitated for a moment, looking at Sam and Mercedes in the rearview mirror.
"I know you two are happy to be seeing each other and this is really none of my business, but aren't people in this town still thinking that Mercy is dating Marcus?"
Mercedes sighed sadly and looked at Sam. He sent her a sweet smile and pulled his hand back from hers. Mrs. Jones nodded and then stepped out of the car, slamming the door behind her.
"Right. Got it," Sam said, "No touching. I'm your platonic friend Sam, visiting to support the football team for Homecoming."
"I hate this! I'm so sick of all these damn secrets," Mercedes said, leaning back against the headrest, "I just want to shout from the microphone in there, 'Sam Evans is my man and he's wonderful.'"
"The minute Marcus doesn't need us to cover for him, I intend to tell the whole world," Sam said seriously. Mercedes buttoned her jacket and pulled up the hood.
"Just picture us in Chicago, Mercy," he said tenderly, "Me and you. No hiding it. We'll be us and we'll be together and we'll be happy. It's just a matter of months."
"Just months," she repeated quietly to herself.
Sam turned to look out the back window. He glanced to their left and right, making sure no one was around and then he leaned in, underneath the hood of her lime green rain slicker, and kissed Mercedes gently. He sat back up and she smiled at him brushing her palm against his freshly shaven cheek.
Sam looked into her eyes for a moment then said, "Just in case, we better have your mom sit between us in church. You know how the spirit can move me."
She playfully pushed him away before popping open the door, "Let's do this."
An hour after the service ended, Sam and the Joneses were in the kitchen getting ready for the big brunch. Marcus was on his way and Blaine had texted Mercedes last night that he should be able to bribe Kurt into coming. Mercedes wasn't comforted by Kurt's needing to be paid off to be in her company, but she knew that if she could get his attention, he might actually listen.
When the doorbell rang, Mercedes hurried to the front, opening the door to reveal Marcus standing in his McKinley football jersey holding a big red umbrella.
"Hey beautiful," he said, but his smile seemed a little forced.
"Hi," she said as she pulled him inside, grabbing the umbrella from him to toss into the corner. "You doing okay?"
He nodded, "It's just weird in my house. My mom is silent. She's in denial or something."
Mercedes smiled when she noticed Sam walk into the living room behind Marcus' back, "I have a surprise for you." She pointed.
Marcus' face instantaneously brightened, "Sam! How are you, man?" The two boys embraced in a sweet, brotherly hug.
"I'm good. Really happy to be visiting," Sam smiled and his eyes fell on Mercedes next to him.
"We've missed you so much, buddy," Marcus told him then clarified, "but in very different ways."
Mercedes laughed hard and Sam pulled her into his side, wrapping his arm around her waist.
"It's good to see you guys together," Marcus said, "The way it's supposed to be. Not this messed up situation we've dug ourselves into."
"We'll get through this," Sam promised Marcus then turned towards Mercedes to his right, "We will all get through this."
"Brunch in five!" Mrs. Jones shouted from the other room.
"I hope you're hungry, Marcus," Sam said, adding, "The Joneses have had me up chopping vegetables since dawn."
Mercedes reached up to ruffle Sam's hair into disarray, "He is lying, Marcus."
Again, the doorbell rang out piercingly.
"That's probably Kurt and Blaine," Mercedes told them. She turned to Marcus and explained, "Kurt may have some words for you. Or he may ignore you. I don't know. I just want you to be warned: he's still mad."
"And you two? Does he know?" Marcus asked.
Sam shook his head and Mercedes whispered "No, not a clue." She walked slowly towards the door, but before she reached the handle, Sam leaned in to kiss her cheek.
"You'll be great and, if a fight breaks out, I can hold your earrings."
She laughed, "Thanks, baby, " then took a deep breath before swinging the door open.
There stood a smiling Blaine and a very surly-looking Kurt.
"Hi boys, thanks for coming," Mercedes said, moving aside to let them through the door.
"Sure! Thanks for having us, Mercedes!" Blaine pushed Kurt into the living room and Mercedes noticed him lovingly squeeze his boyfriend's forearm.
"Yes, thanks," Kurt said softly, looking uncomfortable and throwing his eyes crazily around the room to avoid making eye contact with anyone.
"Sam?" he said louder when he spied the blonde boy in the corner of the room. "What are you doing here?"
"Here for a visit," Sam answered quickly and choppily with his prepared response, "To support the football team for homecoming. And see the Glee kids. Mercedes was nice enough to offer her yard and tent."
"Tent?" Kurt asked sneeringly.
Sam nodded.
"How boy scout-esque"
Sam laughed trying to avoid looking at Mercedes. She could sense his nerves but she doubted that Kurt could. Sam being awkward wasn't anything new for anyone.
"Hi, Sam," Blaine interjected, "It's nice to see you again." Sam leaned forward to shake Blaine's hand: a slightly clumsy yet gentlemanly handshake.
Kurt and Blaine turned their eyes to Marcus in the back of the room, Blaine still smiling, Kurt now back to scowling.
"Hey guys, it's nice to see you. I'm glad to have chance to get to know each other a little better," Marcus said confidently, surprising Mercedes. She noticed Kurt's face soften just a bit.
"I'm sorry about all the lying," Marcus went on, walking closer to the rest of the teens, "I have this cousin, Vince. He was disowned and kicked out by our family when he came out over the summer. Frankly, I've been terrified. Mercedes has just been being Mercedes. Taking care of a friend." Kurt's eyes were glued to Marcus so Mercedes allowed herself a quick peek at Sam who was smiling softly at her.
"I'm so sorry that this created a rift between you two," Marcus told Kurt who finally looked at Mercedes. "It was a desperate situation and I know she never meant to hurt you." They all stood in silence for a long moment.
"Kids! Food's ready!" Mercedes' mom shouted from the kitchen. Sam led Marcus and Blaine toward the dining room. Mercedes started to follow, but Kurt grabbed her wrist to stop her. She turned to him, seeing tears in his eyes.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"I'm sorry," she replied and pulled him into a warm embrace where she needed to hold him for a minute.
Mrs. Jones had decided that since today was Mercedes' big day, they would eat brunch in the formal dining room, which was usually reserved for events like Thanksgiving and grandparent visits.
When Mercedes and Kurt slipped into the room, everyone else was seated and waiting for them. The two open spots were directly across from Sam and Marcus, between Blaine and Dr. Jones.
"Dig in, everyone!" Mrs. Jones directed as she stood from her seat on the other side of her husband to start dishing plates of ham, "There are four teenage boys in this room: I expect no leftovers."
The food was phenomenal and included most of Mercedes' favorites. Marcus, Sam, and Dr. Jones talked college football as Blaine got the details of Mrs. Jones' French toast recipe from her. Kurt and Mercedes fell easily into their old groove and chatted about the pep rally and the various drama that surrounded it.
"Rachel told me that she was thinking about approaching Figgins about a secondary song," he told Mercedes.
"Another song? Other than the 'Star-Spangled Banner'?" Mercedes chuckled, "That girl has lost her mind."
"That's pretty much what I told her. I said that people are not going to the Homecoming pep rally for a musical variety show."
Suddenly, Mercedes phone beeped loudly. She grabbed it out of her lap, flipping it over to reveal a text from Sam.
"Wish I was sitting next to you…"
She laughed softly and met his waiting eyes. Sam grinned at her widely.
"Oh my god!" Kurt nearly shouted. Everyone at the table stopped and stared as he blinked dramatically towards Mercedes.
"I just figured it out!" Kurt told them, "The text! That smile!" He pointed to Sam, "That smile! You two! You're together!"
Afraid that his anger would start all over again, Mercedes nodded slowly, moving her eyes between Kurt and Sam. Everyone waited.
"Ah, I'm so happy for you two!" Kurt finally shouted, leaning over to wrap Mercedes into a big hug. From his embrace, she looked over at Sam who was clearly as relieved as she was.
Kurt sat back, clapping a few times and dancing in his chair until he suddenly stopped and said, "Why is no one else reacting?"
Sam and Marcus laughed. Dr. Jones leaned back in his chair with a big sigh. He made an effort to be oblivious to teenage drama. As long as his daughter was safe and happy, he didn't need to know the details of her romances and friendships, but today it seemed to be acting itself out at his dining room table.
"You all knew, didn't you?" Kurt said. Blaine reached out to grab his hand and nodded.
"Blaaaine!" he said embarrassedly and everyone laughed again, including Kurt. "I don't even mind because I love it," he swore to Mercedes. She breathed a little easier.
An hour and a half later, the teens were headed to the high school. Marcus had left quickly after brunch to meet the team before the rally. Before departing, he hugged everyone including Kurt, Blaine, and a thoroughly confused Dr. Jones.
Kurt and Blaine offered a ride to Sam and Mercedes, which she gladly accepted, desperate for any moment with Sam away from her parents' snooping eyes.
"Seriously, you two are adorable," Kurt said when he turned to face them from the front seat. This car ride, Sam made the choice to sit in the middle seatbelt, allowing Mercedes to curl up under his shoulder.
"Well, one of us is," he responded and kissed her cheek.
"Okay I can't even handle the cuteness!" Kurt squealed to Blaine behind the wheel.
"Leave them alone, honey," Blaine said, "They only have this car ride then it's back to secret lovers."
"I still can't get over the fact that it's been almost five months. All this hiding for Marcus?" Kurt asked, turning around to look at them again.
"It didn't start out that way, but it is what it has become," Sam told him, "He's our friend and we had to do what could to help him." He turned to Mercedes who was looking up at him from her spot snuggled into his chest. Sam kissed her forehead and protectively pulled her in tighter to his body as they drove into the crowded McKinley parking lot.
"Thank god for tinted windows!" Blaine pointed out.
The Glee kids (minus Puck, Finn, and Mike who had to be with the team) had decided to meet in the choir room to wish Mercedes good luck and try to get seats together in the auditorium. When Blaine, Kurt, and Mercedes walked in with Sam, the club exploded with excitement.
"What the hell, Trouty?" Santana asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Uh," Sam hesitated as everyone stared, "I wanted to support the Titans for homecoming. I really missed ya'll."
"Listen to that accent!" Tina pointed out, "It's stronger than ever."
"He was always a country boy at heart," Mercedes inadvertently answered softly.
"Where are you staying?" Artie asked him.
"Well, I'm headed back to Nashville tonight, but Mercedes was nice enough to let me stay in a tent in her yard."
There was silence then Kurt saved them by lying, "He asked me first but my dad's re-sodding this week. Sam wanted the visit to be a surprise."
People bought it.
"Sam," Rachel began from the corner of the room, "I assume you have heard that Mercedes will be singing a solo today."
Sam turned to Mercedes and nodded, "She'll be great.
Mercedes just grinned then realized she was probably running late. "I should go find Principal Figgins. He'll be looking for me," she said to her friends.
"Good luck!" "Break a leg!" Her friends shouted as she walked towards the door. One twangy voice stood out as she reached for the doorknob, "Can't wait!"
After letting Figgins know that she was there, Mercedes peeked from the side of the stage into the auditorium to see how big the crowd was. Indeed, Lima had turned out. The front section was reserved for the student body and the upper levels were filled with family and fans. She spotted her own parents, as well as the Hummel-Hudsons, and Marcus' mom. It was funny, she thought to herself, that the Glee Club had performed here so many times and struggled to bring it an audience for Rachel's many solos but now Mercedes was about to sing and the joint was packed.
Mercedes found her friends in the student section and noticed that they had snuck Sam in with them. He was sitting next to Kurt in the front row. They were deep in quiet conversation and Kurt was clearly grilling Sam for information. Mercedes chuckled and mentally wished Sam the best as she headed backstage to wait for her cue.
Principal Figgins took to the stage and announced the 2011-2012 McKinley High School Titans. Then, the football team entered the stage from the opposite end and took seats on sets of bleachers that had been put there.
Mercedes eyed Marcus and waved to him. He nodded and smiled in her direction. Figgins introduced Coach Beiste, who welcomed everyone to this year's homecoming pep rally.
As Beiste finished her speech, Mercedes knew it was her turn. She heard the coach say, "Now please rise as McKinley senior Mercedes Jones leads our national anthem."
Mercedes stepped onto the stage and moved towards the microphone in front, center stage. Suddenly, the student section erupted into a roar of crude hoots and hollers. On stage, members of the football team started chanting, "Way to go, Marcus! Way to go, Marcus!" It got louder and louder as the rest of the students caught onto the chant.
Mercedes stopped next to the microphone, frozen, as the young crowd continued to laugh and screech. She looked out into the auditorium. She was unable to see most people's faces because of the bright spotlight shining directly into her eyes, but she could see her friends sitting in the front row. Making eye contact with Sam, she knew he was stunned. He never thought the students of McKinley would actually have the nerve to do something so rude and hurtful. Mercedes could read the anger in his furrowed brow as he stood next to their friends, his arms crossed across his chest firmly. Kurt put his hand on the back of Sam's shoulder, obviously trying to ground him enough to keep him from doing something rash in front of the entire town. The jeering still hadn't died down.
"Hey!" someone suddenly yelled from behind Mercedes. She turned to see Marcus stand up and move toward the front of the stage.
"HEY!" She had never seen him like this: so livid and assured and loud. He didn't even need the microphone.
"This needs to stop!" Marcus said fearlessly to the massive group of peers and the rest of the town, as they stood by and watched in confusion, "My relationship with Ms. Jones is no one's damn business." He paused as the crowd grew silent. Mercedes was certain that Marcus had never had this much attention in his life. He looked out past the student seats into the higher sections of the auditorium and said, "And not that it's anyone's business, but Mercedes and I are not together. And in fact, I am gay."
The crowd's sound transformed into to a wave of whispers as Marcus turned back toward his seat, not even looking at Mercedes as he passed her. He had clearly shocked himself with the split-second decision to come out so publicly. Mercedes was once again left staring at the crowd, frozen in uncomfortable silence.
All of a sudden, the whispers were broken up by some loud noises in the front of the audience and then Sam leaped up onto the stage from the orchestra pit down below.
He walked towards Mercedes and grabbed the microphone off its stand. "Hi, everyone. I'm Sam."
Mercedes glanced behind her just in time to see Coach Beiste throw up her arms in defeat and confusion. She then caught Puck shoot Finn a confused look then shrug his shoulders and turn back to watch Sam.
Sam faced Mercedes as he said into the microphone, "Mercedes Jones is my girl. She's wonderful and I love her."
She kept her eyes glued to him, no longer concerned with the fact that Lima was watching.
"Really?"
Sam nodded with a perfect lopsided grin.
"Me, too," Mercedes told him. Sam quickly placed the mic back onto its stand before moving to her, pulling her face to his and kissing her with all the passion and emotion they had been hiding for months.
The crowd remained silent. Mercedes and Sam didn't pull back until someone cleared his throat into the microphone. They turned to find Principal Figgins staring at them, clearly annoyed.
"Can we proceed with the national anthem now?"
"Uh, yeah," Mercedes said quickly and shyly, turning to the crowd but avoiding the faces of anyone she knew.
Figgins eyed Sam and he backed up, motioning towards backstage, "I'll just be over here…" The crowd laughed and Figgins announced, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please, the national anthem…"
After Mercedes finished, (she nailed the song of course) she skipped off stage finding Sam waiting near their favorite velvet stage curtains.
"Well, we can never make fun of Finn and Rachel for Nationals again," she said quietly as she approached Sam. They laughed blissfully as they embraced.
"When you said that you were announcing our relationship the minute Marcus didn't need me, you weren't kidding, huh?" Mercedes joked.
Sam just smirked at her and shook his head.
Mercedes ran her hand up to his chest and pushed him backwards into the familiar soft nest. She reached up to entangle her fingers into his golden brown locks and eagerly find his lips.
"Sam," she whispered as he nibbled on her earlobe, "I should probably go greet my adoring fans."
He whispered into her ear, "Excuse me, but as the President of the Mercedes Jones Fan Club, I demand to adore you first." She easily gave in.
After what was apparently at least another hour, someone cleared his throat exaggeratedly just outside the curtains. They froze and Sam pulled the panels of material back to reveal Principal Figgins, once again frazzled and uncomfortable.
"Time to go, children. Kindly vacate this area. The pep rally is over. I need to lock up. Also, Mr. Evans, in the future, I ask that grand romantic gestures be limited to enrolled McKinley students when performed during a school function."
Mercedes blushed and muttered, "So sorry..." as Sam chuckled and pulled her by the hand towards the stage door. It opened onto McKinley's senior hallway, swarming with students who immediately turned to stare at the two teens. Sam gripped Mercedes' hand tighter and pulled it up towards his lips for a quick kiss.
Mercedes breathed deeply in and out. Then, one by one, people turned away and went back to their conversations and lives.
"See? We're already old news," Sam whispered as they started down the hall towards the front of school, where her family had said they would be waiting.
"This part will be interesting. I'm a dead man, aren't I?" he said half jokingly as they turned the final corner of the hallway, wrapping his arm around his girlfriend's shoulder.
They stepped into the lobby and the crowd thickened to include lots of family and various Limans. Sam kept his arm around Mercedes, tracing his fingers in tiny circles on the top of her arm. Mercedes located her parents standing near the door with Kurt and Finn's parents. As she approached they applauded and Mrs. Jones held her arms out to her daughter.
"You sounded beautiful, baby girl. Just beautiful."
Sam waited a few feet back while Mercedes stood in her mother's embrace. He put his hands into his pockets and shifted his weight awkwardly from foot-to-foot.
"That was quite a show," Dr. Jones said when they all had spied Sam in the background. He looked at the boy, seeing a blush spread across his face and neck.
Burt Hummel took a few steps towards Sam and reached over to swiftly pat him on the back.
"I know you're a good guy, Sam, and you'll be good to our Mercy," he said as more of a command than an observation.
"Of course," Sam nodded sharply and picked his stare up off the floor to meet Mercedes' eye line. "She deserves the best."
"Yes," her dad agreed, putting on his jacket and gesturing towards the door at his wife. Sam could tell this talk wasn't over.
"We're going to head home, honey. You can catch a ride with a friend?" Mercedes' mom asked her.
"Yeah," she nodded in response, "Someone will drive us."
Mercedes suddenly realized how limited her time with Sam was. The countdown had begun.
"We're so proud of you, Mercedes" Carol smiles as the adults started for the door, "And happy for you." Burt winked and then Mercedes' four parents were gone. She took a deep breath and turned to Sam.
"Choir room?" he asked. The Glee Club had agreed to meet after the rally ended so they could say goodbye to Sam before he went back to Nashville. Mercedes had a feeling that they were in for an earfull after their display.
She nodded, grabbed his hand, and they started to push their way back through the crowd. Before they left the lobby, out of the corner of her eye, Mercedes noticed Marcus wrapped around his tiny mother in a silent embrace. Mercedes looked up to see that Sam was watching them too. His lips perked into a small smile then he squeezed her hand tight as they continued toward the back of school.
When they entered the choir room full of their friends, it was silent. They instinctively took to the floor, front and center, as if they were waiting for their punishment. Kurt sat in the back row, Blaine's arm wrapped around him and a big smile across both of their faces. Those smiles made Mercedes feel a little better but still she waited.
Taking point for the group, Santana stood up at her seat. Sam and Mercedes continued to grasp hands tightly but Santana's harsh stare forced them both to instinctively drop their eyes to the floor.
"Marcus is gay?" she asked them.
They both nodded, heads dropped dejectedly.
"And you two are dating?"
They nodded again.
"How long has this been going on?"
Glancing at Sam quickly, Mercedes answered loud enough for everyone to hear, "Five months."
"Since after prom," Sam added.
Santana's eyes opened wide in disbelief as she turned to look at the faces of the rest of the club who remained silent.
"So you're telling us," Santana clarified, "that you two have been together under all of our noses for months and none of us noticed?"
"Well, technically, I did," Kurt said quietly in the back. Blaine smiled at him, but everyone else ignored him. Silence engulfed the room.
Then suddenly, Brittany jumped up from her seat in the front row and wrapped her arms around both Sam and Mercedes, squeezing them into each other, "I'm sorry we didn't see it."
"Sorry," everyone else voiced at varying volumes.
Tina smiled, "We love you both and we are so happy for you."
Mercedes looked up at Sam who was grinning at her. He pulled her closer to him and gently kissed her forehead.
"Isn't it hard to be so far apart?" Blaine asked, his hand now firmly grasping Kurt's knee.
"Of course," Mercedes said quietly, locking eyes with Sam for a moment, "but we try to look forward to the future. Oh, speaking of the future, Sam has some exciting news to share!"
Sam blushed. The group stared at him and waited.
"I'm actually going to college. For songwriting. In Chicago," he announced clumsily then grinned at Mercedes who wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled into his chest. When they looked back at the group, everyone was smiling. Even Santana. Even Quinn. Even Rachel.
"Songwriting?" Finn asked, "I didn't know you were that kind of musician, Sam."
"Well, I've recently become very inspired," he answered matter-of-factly.
Mercedes heard Puck say somewhat under his breath, "Well that explains the rhyming dictionary he carried around all spring..."
After Sam and Mercedes had adequately answered their friends' lingering questions and curiosities, the group stood around in more casual conversations.
While talking to Artie, Tina, and Mike, Mercedes felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to find Rachel.
"That was an unexpected performance, Mercedes. I'm so glad I didn't have to deal with all that yelling."
Mercedes rolled her eyes and started to turn back to her conversation, but Rachel added, "No, I mean, that was impressive. You were a true professional out there. Not letting them win and finding the courage to sing."
"Thanks, Rachel," she nodded sincerely and turned back, noticing Marcus peek into the window of the door. She excused herself and sneaked away to talk to him in the hall.
"I'm so sorry," he said to Mercedes as soon as she closed the door behind her. He put his arms around her, smooshing her into a strong hug.
"What are you sorry about?" she asked, her voice muffled by his belly as he continued to hug her, his stature much taller than hers.
"You came out, Marcus! For real! It was amazing!"
"I'm sorry I left you hanging up there like that. I couldn't believe my own words. Luckily, that boy of yours sure knows how to rescue his lady."
They both laughed and then Mercedes asked, "What happened with your mom?"
Marcus smiled brightly and she noticed his eyes fill with tears. "She said she was proud of me and that she loved me."
Mercedes smiled back and reached up to rub his shoulder
"It doesn't mean everything is perfect," he said, "but I think it could actually be okay."
Now Mercedes had tears in her eyes. She heard someone shut the door behind her and turned to find Kurt and Sam with concerned looks across their faces. Marcus smiled, showing them that these were happy tears as Sam approached Mercedes and nodded supportively at her.
Kurt reached out to hug Marcus tight. The two of them looked so cute embraced so lovingly. Mercedes and Sam could not help but to giggle. The two boys ignored them, Kurt saying something to the bigger boy in a voice so quiet that Mercedes couldn't hear a word. Marcus listened intently and nodded at various points.
As this virtually silent conversation continued, Sam whispered into Mercedes' ear, "I'm so proud of both of you." Then he kissed her cheek lightly.
After a lot of goodbyes and congratulations, Sam and Mercedes accepted a ride back to her house from Marcus. Her stomach ached with sadness and anticipation as they pulled up to her house. Marcus got out of his car to hug them both one more time.
"Take care, Sam" Marcus said to his friend as he climbed back into his car, "And thank you."
"No thank you necessary, buddy," Sam answered, his arm around Mercedes' waist. "You let me know how your college visit goes next week."
"Everyday in high school seems so important. So consequential. But this is really just the beginning, isn't it?" Marcus said to them, not really looking for an answer. They smiled at him and waved as he drove away.
It was getting dark already and Mercedes knew that Sam would probably have to drive straight through the night to make it to school on time the next morning. They had to say goodbye.
Walking into the house, they headed for the kitchen, finding Mercedes' mom and dad sitting there, working on some bills. Sam had packed up the tent and lined up his things in a stack by the Jones' back door before they had left for the pep rally.
He started grabbing his belongings and Mrs. Jones asked, "You heading out, Samuel?"
He nodded and instinctively wrapped her into a hug. When she pulled back, he reached across the table to shake Dr. Jones' hand firmly.
"Thank you both so much for everything. For lending me your tent and your yard. For brunch. And for letting your daughter be seen with the likes of me," Sam laughed self-deprecatingly but no one joined in. They were silent.
"We actually couldn't ask for a better man," Dr. Jones said, making more eye contact with Sam than Mercedes had ever seen before. He shook his hand again, nodding.
Without a word, Sam and Mercedes grabbed the bags at their feet and walked towards the front of the house. Going out to his truck, Sam opened the door and threw his things into the small back seat, along with Stacey's special care package and a container full of brownies for Stevie.
Mercedes didn't know how she was going to do this. They had had less than 24 hours together and now she didn't know when she'd see him next.
When Sam turned back to her, he found the tears in her eyes.
"Oh, baby," he whispered, leaning his forehead against hers, "Please don't cry."
"How is it possible that I miss you already?" she sobbed, a few tears dribbling down her cheeks.
He pushed the hair out of her face and brushed away the stray tears with his thumb. "Remember: Chicago in just a matter of months."
She nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling into her spot there. There were so many things she could say but she just wanted to spend these last seconds ensconced in his touch.
When she finally looked up at him again, she knew it was time. She stood back so he could get into the front seat, but she moved in next to him, not letting him go just yet.
Sam set the keys in the ignition then reached over to grasp Mercedes' chin with his fingers, leaning in to kiss her. She kissed him back deeply and consciously tried to burn the feel of his lips into her memory. Against her mouth, he whispered, "I love you, pretty girl." She kissed him a moment longer and answered, "I love you too, Sam."
They looked into each other's eyes for a long moment, searching for the strength for this goodbye.
"I'm not saying it," she told him.
"Me, neither," he vowed then added, "Kiss me one more time."
She followed his command and then pulled back, moving out of the way so he could slam the door and open the window.
Sam turned on the engine and smiled over at Mercedes cheekily, "And always remember, baby, that somewhere out there, beneath the pale moonlight, someone's thinking of you and loving you tonight."
She smiled and shook her head, rolling her eyes a little, "You and that damn mouse."
Sam leaned out the window for one more quick kiss then threw the truck into gear, grinning at Mercedes as he drove away, headed south.