"No, I totally believe you."
She doesn't. There's no way she bought his story about spending time with his family.
"Family comes first."
What is that tone in her voice? Sarcasm? A hint of anger? Guilt, perhaps?
"I'll just have Brittany do your job for you. It's not a big deal."
Damn right it's not a big deal. Sam hasn't taken Mercedes out in a while. So what if he had to lie and say his family was taking a trip to the zoo? So what if Santana had somewhere she wanted to go?
"Oh and Sam, have fun on your date tonight. Just remember: you can run, but you can't hide."
"She said that?" Mercedes skeptically asks, "How'd she figure out you're going on a date?"
"She has a sixth sense about these things. But I don't think she knew for sure until I let it slip what time we were leaving for the zoo. Apparently she has all the hours of operation memorized or she looked it up. She even knew weekend and holiday closing times. She could tell I was bluffing. So I was thinking maybe we could go to dinner and a movie?"
Mercedes smiles. Being with her is a breath of fresh air for Sam. On paper, they're exact opposites. In life, they have more in common than either of them expected. She likes his nerdy jokes and doesn't mind watching Sci-Fi movies and he admires her passion for music. Dinner at Breadstix goes great with only a slight hiccup- a text from Santana that puts him in a foul mood.
Come out come out
wherever you are
7:56 PM Tue Jun 7
From: Santana L
That's actually her job. He's tempted to tell her so.
Thankfully Mercedes snaps him out of it. There's no way he's going to let Santana Lopez ruin his date. Not tonight. Sam pays for their dinner and leads Mercedes out to the car where there's a scrap of paper stuck under the windshield. Sam entertains the thought that it might be a note from Santana so he snatches it up. In a stroke of luck, it's a coupon for BreadstiX. But that doesn't mean Santana's not lurking somewhere. Sam scans the parking lot looking for Brittany's car. The former cheerleaders are nowhere to be seen. Sam opens the door for Mercedes and drives off to the movie theatre.
"Tickets are kind of expensive. Maybe we should each buy one?" Mercedes inquires.
Sam isn't fazed, "No, trust me. I got this. You want some popcorn, too?"
Mercedes is about to respond when Sam's phone buzzes.
Looks like we just missed
you and your mystery
date at the stix. One way
or another, I'm gonna
find you. B says hi.
8:14 PM Tue Jun 7
From: Santana L
"Girl's crazy," Mercedes laughs, "But it looks like she really cares about you if she's traipsing around Lima trying to find us."
At least Mercedes isn't the type to get upset about something like this.
"Crazy is right! She's not what I expected at all. I guess it is kind of sweet in a weird, possessive way."
Just save yourself the
trouble and tell me.
I'll just turn on the
homing device in my
car if you don't.
8:17 PM Tue Jun 7
From: Santana L
He refuses to respond.
"Sam, you are the nicest guy I know, but if she texts you throughout the whole movie, I will fight her."
Sam sighs. Santana's not going to be content until she figures out who his date is. And Mercedes won't be happy if that happens. And Brittany… Brittany probably doesn't care either way. Girls. Can't live with em, can't prevent 'em from fighting. The previews are just about to start when he gets the next text message.
Not at the blowing
alley, I see ;)
8:29 PM Tue Jun 7
From: Santana L
Oh God. This girl is too much. Sam didn't even think of bowling. Maybe that will be his next date with Mercedes. That is, if she forgives him for Santana's antics.
One preview goes by, then another without a response. Soon, the movie starts and Sam hasn't felt his phone go off again. He takes this as a good sign and relaxes into his seat and slides an arm around Mercedes. The theatre isn't too crowded, but a man chooses to sit next to Sam as well. At least Sam doesn't have to worry about Santana and Brittany picking those seats should they find them.
Sam is so absorbed in the movie he doesn't notice two shadowy figures slip in halfway through. He doesn't notice their linked pinkies or that they sit two rows directly behind him and Mercedes. He doesn't notice anything but the pirates dashing across the screen and his arm still around his girl. He especially doesn't notice the giant bowl of popcorn or the Dots either, until he's being pelted by both. A piece of popcorn is stuck in Mercedes' weave and Sam gently tugs it out before tossing it on the ground. He turns around to look at the perpetrators, but can't see in the dim lighting. He has his suspicions, however.
When the credits roll and the lights come up, several moans are heard from behind Sam and Mercedes. Santana still can't tell exactly who Sam's date is, so she tries to drag Brittany down to their level. Unfortunately for her, Brittany is occupied with her Dots.
It isn't until Sam and Mercedes stand up that Santana shrieks, "Oh my God!"
"Run," Sam whispers, but it's too late. Santana's blocking their exit, tapping her foot impatiently with her arms crossed.
Mercedes grimaces, "Time to face the music, whether or not we like it."
"You can always deny it, if you'd like," Sam responds.
"Why would I do that?" Mercedes answers with a small smile, taking Sam's hand into hers.
"So does anybody want to tell me what the hell is going on?" Santana muses.
If Santana can trust him with her secrets, then he can trust her with his.
He shrugs, "We're dating."
Santana opens her mouth to speak, but Mercedes beats her to it by adding, "If you have a problem with it, then you're not really our friend."
"I wasn't going to say that," Santana murmurs, "I had my suspicions, but I'd be a hypocrite if I said you shouldn't be with someone who makes you happy."
Brittany chooses that moment to wrap her arm around Santana's waist and Sam and Mercedes glance at each other. Sam's somewhat relieved that Santana knows. She's a huge part of his life now.
The four of them are eating ice cream when Mercedes asks how Santana and Brittany figured out where they were.
"Please," Santana scoffs, "there are only like four date hot spots in Lima: the mall, the movies, the bowling alley, and my personal favorite, Breadstix. We knew you were a tricky trickster when your brother started talking to us on the walkie-talkie. He had no idea about the zoo bullshit you fed me."
Brittany continues, "Breadstix is super delicious so we went there first. Santana practically knows everyone that works there and she showed them a picture of you, Sam. You know the one where you look really trouty. They said you left not too long before we got there."
Santana sighs, "From there, it was all too easy. We did run into one roadblock though, Puckerman. He and Lauren were at the bowling alley when we got there and they tried to rope us into buying them pizza. I'm all for saving the whales and whatnot, but asking me to feed one is about as likely as Kurt shopping at Walmart."
Mercedes rolls her eyes while Sam shrugs.
"After that, we drove around a while until we saw Santana's car in the movie theatre parking lot. We weren't sure what movie to look in, but I narrowed it down to X-Men or the new Pirates movie," Brittany concludes.
Mercedes is impressed, "Wow, you two are quite the sleuths."
"I played a lot of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego on my dad's old computer when I was growing up," Brittany replies.
"I'm a crafty bitch with infallible intuition," Santana offers.
Shortly after, Santana and Brittany scatter, leaving Sam and Mercedes alone again.
"I'm so sorry, Mercedes," Sam apologizes, "I had no idea they were really going to crash our date."
"Hey, it's alright Sam. They're not so bad outside of school, I suppose. I had a really great time regardless."
"Good. They certainly make things a lot more interesting. Stressful, too. Anyway, let me take you home. It's getting late and I don't want your dad to give me that evil glare again."
When Sam gets back to the motel from dropping Mercedes off, there's a new text waiting for him.
Secrets secrets are
no fun unless you
tell everyone
11:59 PM Tue Jun 7
From: Santana L
He knows she's teasing, but he wants to make sure.
You wouldn't
12:01 AM Wed Jun 8
To: Santana L
A wave of relief washes over him when she texts back.
No, I won't. But
dinner and a movie?
So uncreative. No
wonder we found
you. If you only had
a brain…
12:02 AM Wed Jun 8
From: Santana L
Sam chuckles.
If you only had a
heart…
12:06 AM Wed Jun 8
To: Santana L
There. Take that, Santana.
Nope. Brittany stole
mine.
12:09 AM Wed Jun 8
From: Santana L
That's too adorable for words. Sam dreams of whales and pirates and dancing popcorn kernels that night and ponders just how great he has it.
I can't quite make up my mind for the next chapter. It's a toss up between Trivia Night with the Pierces or Adventures in Babysitting with a few familiar faces.