Sam's POV (Friday morning)
My mother returned from her impromptu girls day out yesterday rejuvenated, happy and ready to go back to her new job. I didn't know how she managed a girl's day out when to my knowledge; she had no new friends in Lima yet. I also didn't understand how she talked her way out of going to work yesterday, but with everything else around my household, I didn't ask questions. I was happy my mom was happy and got to do stuff she used to do. This all would've been great if her newfound energy hadn't been directed towards bothering me more.
"Spending time with Margret Fabray and the Berry's at the spa was completely enlightening yesterday. Did you know Margret has a daughter? Her names Quinn and she's captain of the cheerleading squad. If she's anything like her mother, she's sure to be a knock out!" She said to me as I poked at my breakfast before school. I didn't care about Quinn; I didn't even know her.
"I'm going away this weekend with her to visit the senator! Isn't that exciting? I was thinking maybe you'd come along for the ride?"
After fantasying about getting a weekend to myself, not to mention anticipating my test results, this did not sound exciting. It sounded painful. But I didn't say anything. "So you want me to go to the senator's house with you?"
"Her house isn't going to be filled with political figures or anything," She said, as if that was what I was asking. "It'll be relaxing, and I heard Senator Clarice Jones has a few kids herself!"
"You know, after talking to Margret yesterday I realized something," Mom continued as she made plates for Dad, Stevie and Stacie. "If I can keep a good relationship going with her, who knows who I'll get to visit next? So what I'm trying to say is,"
My mom sat down next to me at the kitchen table with a glass of orange juice, staring into my eyes. "I think you should pursue her daughter Quinn. It'll be a complete win-win situation: You date the head cheerleader and I retain a great ally in the process. This would be a great opportunity for both of us, don't you think?"
Hearing my mother say this I felt a sense of dread, knowing I should tell her that it wasn't a good idea. Using someone to get ahead wasn't right and what was the point when you'd soon move on to the next person? I knew without Dad in the kitchen this was the perfect time to say that. But I froze up, and stayed silent.
Stevie came sprinting into the kitchen at that moment, running away from an enraged Stacie. She had a Barbie doll squeezed between her fingers, and I noticed that the doll's head was almost bald. I snickered, grabbing a piece of bacon off my plate and standing up to leave. Mom smiled before turning her head and scolding my siblings to stop the ruckus. I'm sure she's happy that I'm taking a road trip with her as well as pursuing Quinn Fabray, whoever that was.
Now, as my father came rushing into the kitchen, already ten minutes late mom jumped up to bustle him. She kissed him-to my utter horror- and fixed his tie, wishing him a good day at work. I brought my plate to the sink and ran some water on it. I looked back to my mother and saw her shaking her finger at Stevie, who appeared guilty but unashamed. I saw him walk over to Stacie and apologize, in which she accepted and they both went to go eat breakfast.
I was almost out the door when I heard them say goodbye and wondered that again, this was the perfect moment to go tell mom I didn't want to help her in her pursuit of climbing the social ladder. I started to go back down the hall, but I stopped myself. The kids were in there eating, I didn't want to interrupt. So I said goodbye and backed out of the hall, leaving the house.
"Do you play any sports?"
I was asked this question many times before, but never from complete strangers. It was in AP Physiology & Anatomy during third period that I was approached this way. The class hadn't started yet and students were still coming in the room, so most were up and talking to their friends. It was my second week at the school, and I still didn't have any friends to talk to. Puck, or that's what I heard his name was, came up to me once I sat down and started firing questions before I even got the chance to introduce who I was.
"No, I haven't signed up for anything yet. I'm Sam by the way." I said, just in case he got me mixed up with someone else.
"I know who you are, the whole damn building knows." He paused to roll his eyes. "Have you planned on showing the school that you're not just a pair of big lips? You have to play football; it's really the only way to redeem yourself."
My lips weren't even that big… "Why do I have to do that?"
"Because if you don't people are going to think you're gay. I mean, some already do." He said. "I thought you were myself until I saw you glancing at a few girls' asses."
It was particularly unnerving when a guy says that he's seen you stare at other people's butts. "But I don't care what people think."
"Uh uh, this is not the place to be acting like Edward Cullen." Puck said shaking his head. "That shit will get you hurt. No one wants to be considered gay unless you're Kurt."
"What about Kurt?" I asked my fists already balled.
My eyes narrowed at the mention of Kurt's name. Yes he was flamboyant and could be considered androgynous at times but that didn't make him gay. And even if he was, what right did someone like Puck, for God's sake, have to treat him differently?
Puck took sight of my expression and his eyes widened. "Look man, I didn't come over here to piss you off. I just wanted you to join football."
Football wasn't on my mind at the moment though. Kurt was. "Have you been fucking with him?"
Puck started to shake his head, and I raised an eyebrow. "No, I swear-"
"Put that on something." I said. I could hear muttering going on around us as people were taking notice of our conversation. Still, I didn't care. This punk was going around with his dick friends terrorizing my only friend. Kurt told me about these guys, I just didn't think I'd get the chance to put faces with names.
"Alright, fine. My friends have messed with him." He relented. "But I never did anything to Kurt."
I sat back in my chair, staring Puck down. "Fuck you then."
He blinked. "What?"
"I said," I started a bit louder. "Fuck you. I'm not joining the football team."
"Wait!" He said. "I have a deal for you."
"Nope."
"Sam, just listen-"
"I don't want to hear it. We're done here." I told him.
"It involves Kurt."
I gave him a look. "Go on."
Puck sighed, sounding pained. "If you join the football team, I'll get the guys to leave Kurt alone."
"What's in it for you?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Our school's team has a better chance of going to State this year." He replied.
"But there is no guarantee that I'm good at football."
Puck nodded. "I know that, but it can't get worse then the losing streak we've been going through for the past three years."
"Okay. I'll do it."
"Good." He said.
"You better make good on that deal, Puck." I said as the teacher walked in the classroom, telling him to get off my desk.
"I will if you do." He responded as he hopped off my desk, walking away.
The fate of a whole team was a lot of pressure to be putting on one person, but I was up for it. I had the experience of going to state once even if the team I was on didn't win. That was a lot more than what Lima's football players could say. But as long as they quit bullying Kurt I was ready to help them to the best of my abilities.
I walked into fourth hour not knowing what to expect from the other jocks. If they gave me any problems I'd definitely handle them, but that didn't mean I wanted to. A guy named Mike walked up to me when I was only a few steps past the threshold, talking excitedly about the guys and that they were ready to see my skills.
"Puck told me you were joining the team." He said to me now.
"Yeah well, I have to try out first." I replied.
"Don't worry about that. As long as you can run you'll get on the team." He looked around before continuing. "And sometimes even then."
I nodded, half listening to him. I looked everywhere but Mike, trying to find a perfect escape route. To be honest, I was tired of talking and hearing about the football team. I was about to turn to face him when my heart almost stopped beating.
At first, I almost didn't recognize her. She was sitting at her desk with a bun on her head and her face clear of makeup or blemishes, just like all those years ago. Nothing about her had changed and I wondered that when she acknowledged me would she feel the same way. That was if she remembered. She had to.
She leaned down to her backpack to retrieve something and when she came back up; her eyes were focused on me. It was startling at first that her eyes were automatically directed towards me but I didn't question it. I was too busy boring holes into her. I smiled and she returned the gesture before looking away and biting her lip. I waved so she wouldn't get the chance to let our interaction go. She waved back. I walked away from Mike at that point and to my desk, determined to talk to her once this class was over. It would be lunch soon, so I would have the perfect opportunity.
By the time class was dismissed I contemplated if Mercedes was freaked out. Every chance I got I turned around in my chair to smile at her. When I wasn't doing that I was looking over my shoulder, almost as if I was checking to make sure she was still there and not just a figment of my imagination. I knew that I must have gotten annoying, but I couldn't help it. I hurried as I gathered my homework assignment and shoved it in my backpack. I walked briskly to the front of the classroom and waited for Mercedes. She was still at her desk, slinging her bag on one shoulder and pushing her chair in.
"Hey stranger! How's life been?" I greeted her.
"Uh, I've been fine. What about you?" She was jingling her car keys in her hand and looking around nervously. I didn't know what that was about, but I wasn't that concerned.
"I was okay, but I'm better now." I furrowed my eyebrows suggestively and she giggled.
"My names Mercedes, what's yours?"
"Sam. I'm Sam." I replied as I followed her to her locker.
"Sam. Hmm…" Mercedes' said, her voice low. I felt my face heating up at the way she made it sound. Then it dawned on me.
"You're Kurt's friend!"
"Yeah, I'm 'Mercy' to him." She said, "So I guess we've already been introduced."
"Yeah, he's really something huh?" I said as I tried to keep the conversation going. Mercedes wasn't as talkative as I had hoped, but with time anything was possible.
She shook her head and chuckled. "Something else is more like it. How is tutoring with him? Is he annoying you?" As she opened her locker door a binder fell out and she crouched down to recover it.
I bit my lip. "He's annoying," I started but trailed off when Mercedes came back up, staring at me. She was so pretty.
Her laugh filled the space between us. "Kurt is annoying, but you have to learn to ignore him most of the time. Unless he's teaching you something."
"Sam?" She said after a moment of silence from my part.
"How do you feel about tater tots?"
"Tater tots?" She repeated, "What?"
"You know," I said. "Potatoes deep fried in the shape of a tot. They're delicious."
Mercedes actually took a step back and gave me a look.
"So what do you say? Are you up for some?" I was saying.
"Up for what?" She asked.
"Some tater tots. "
"Now?" She said glancing at her phone.
"Did you already have plans?" I asked, praying that she didn't.
"Well, no, but-"
"Good. I'll take us to a diner I really like." And with that I grasped her hand in mine and walked towards the exit of the school.
Mercedes' POV (Present)
I was happy that I had an excuse not to use my car and get stares, but at the same time leery about getting in any car with Sam. That tater tot question was leaving me suspicious about his sanity and I just didn't know about him. Everything was happening so fast, I barely had enough time to send Santana a quick apology for not eating lunch with her.
Lololol, don't worry wheezy. You're with Trouty and that's what we wanted, right?
Yeah I guess. It was what I wanted, but leaving Santana like this left me worried.
You better tell me all about it too. And if the opportunity presents itself, jump his bones.
I rolled my eyes. Oh my God, Santana.
What? I almost saw her quirking an eyebrow at me. Make Froggy put his big lips to some use.
I'm gonna pretend you didn't say that.
Santana replied within seconds. Pretending doesn't change anything.
My fingers started typing out a response, but I stopped myself. I couldn't help but feel that maybe she wasn't talking about me. What if she meant something else by that? I thought, but didn't mention it.
We're getting in his car now so I gotta go. Love you bb.
It took Santana two whole minutes before she answered, Love you long time.
The last time Santana used those words with me she was moving in permanently with her grandmother, and she was a living wreck. The beginning was hard, but we both knew it was for the best. Now I don't know if I should've convinced her otherwise. She was going on and heading off, leaving me like all those years ago. Seeing that sentence brought back memories of freshman year and how everything used to be. I thought of how we were back then, and how far we had come. I kept my eyes on that last text message as long as I could. At some point, though, I knew that the screen would go to sleep, leaving me peering into the dark.
"So if you don't order tater tots in here, I'm pretty sure the manager will ban you from the place."
I listened to Sam rave about this hole-in-the-wall diner, and strolled up the walk-way to the front door. The first thing I noticed about Tastee Freeze was that it was easy to overlook. I've driven this way many times on my way to the gas station and never even looked over here. The tiny building was obviously old but from the looks of it, full of life. I could hear the stereo going, and the strong aroma of potatoes.
"Wow." I said.
"Yeah, it's pretty amazing right?" He asked.
"Right." I agreed. Wrong, very wrong. I worked too hard losing twenty pounds in the summer to gain it back with one sitting. Tater tots were my weakness.
Unsurprisingly, the joint was packed, with what felt like little room to breathe. I looked up at the menu for a low carb option on the tater tots, but found none. Sighing, I continued to look at the menu and saw a milkshake I planned to order.
"What's the Monster Milkshake?" I asked as we came to a stop at the end of Tastee Freeze's busy line.
"Well," He began, glancing over at me. "First you have to know that it's not really called that."
I looked over at the people walking away with giant sized clear cups in their hands. "No?"
Sam shook his head. "Nope. It's original name was the Chocolate Champion milkshake. But at this point it the name 'monster' fits it well."
"Why?"
"Because you'd have to be a raging monster to eat the whole thing."
I thought for a bit. "Or Shane Tinsley?"
"Who?"
I shook my head. "Nevermind."
Eating lunch with Sam was everything I imagined it to be. It was slighty awkward at first, but things picked up fast. He was funny and encouraging, but best of all he was easy to be friends with. He convinced me to eat a tater tot, and once it slipped past my lips I was hooked. The Monster Milkshake had me holding my stomach in pain after I made it halfway through, which humored Sam. He promised to take me out again since I liked the food there so much. But only for the tots, He said after I gave him a dirty look.
"You should call me som etime." He said now as we pulled up to the school parking lot.
"Okay." We exchanged numbers and I made a move to get out of the car.
"Hey." Sam said, staring right at me. "Seriously call me, okay? I want to hang out sometime."
I nodded, about to tell him I had a good time when I heard yelling. I turned my head to see what was going on, and my eyes immediately zoned in on my best friend shrieking at the one and only football star, Finn Hudson.
"Don't you ever lie on me! I will go Lima Heights Adjacent on your sorry ass, don't think I won't!"
"Oh God." I gasped, grabbing the door handle and pushing out of the Ford pickup.
"Wait," Sam said. "What are you-"
"I'm sorry. I have to... she's my friend." I explained and stepped out of the truck, closing the door behind me.
Great, what did Santana get herself into this time?
What do you think is going on? What do you think will happen during the Evans' weekend? Where does Quinn fit into all this? Comments, questions? Tell me! Review please!