A/N: Hey guys! So like I said it's going to take a little while to get this story out because I have to use both book and movie. It's complicated at best but I love this story and I want to see it through. So I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Enjoy!
ProTIP:
Mercedes' mom's name, Yvette, is pronounced Ya-vet. (for future reference)
And as always, REVIEWS = LOVE!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own: Glee, Twilight Saga: Eclipse, any characters, places, words or phrases from with the books, movies or television show, Vassar, NYU, Columbia, University of Tennessee, Howard University, University of Florida, John Wayne Airport, Laguna Beach, California, Florida, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Hitsville, USA, The Grand Ole Opry, Universal Studios, Rochester, Strong Museum of Play, The Lucille Ball Museum, New York or anything else you can find outside of fandom. I do own The Funk Jam Celebration, Grand Funk Connection, elements of the storyline, and the OCs.
THIS FANFICTION IS UNBETA'D BUT PROOFREAD BY HUMANS. ANY REMAINING MISTAKES ARE UNINTENTIONAL. APOLOGIES FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.
By the end of the week I had ended up going over to April's house three times to help her with her invites. She had a lot of family. She asked me if I needed help with mine but I told her no. I didn't lie. I was sending one to my mom, my Grandma Sandra in San Diego and a few other aunts and uncles that moved away from Lima. Nothing big. On the second day the conversation took a...a slant.
"Thank you so much for this, Mercedes," April said as we put the last of the invites in a box.
"No problem. You would have done it for me," I said. She nodded.
"So, I'm going to Vassar, Trina is going to NYU, Sarah is going to Columbia, Jerry is going to the University of Tennessee and Robbie is going to Howard University with Greg," April listed. "What about you and Sam?"
"Oh, um, we're going to the University of Florida," I told her. "Kurt, Tina and Mike are going there too."
"Oh. That's far," she frowned.
"I know."
"Well, so what?" April said. "We'll see each other at holidays and Spring Break."
"Um," I started.
"What?"
"Well, like you said. It's far and we all decided that it'd been a waste of money traveling back and forth," I told her. That was a complete lie. We're going there because people don't know me or them so after school when we set up roots there we can stay for a while without bringing too much suspicion.
"But what about Dr. Jones?" April asked. "When are you going to see him?"
"I'll see him. Video chat or whatever," I told her.
"That's lame, Mercedes. Are you at least going to see your mom?"
"No, California isn't closer than Ohio," I told her.
"Mercedes..." April started, "don't be that person."
"What person?"
"That person who treats college as the time to forget their family and friends and move on to a "better life"."
"I'm not doing that," I said defensively.
"It doesn't seem like that," she said. I was at a loss for words. "Well, you better get going. Sam's probably already waiting." I just nodded, collected my things and went outside.
I climbed into the car and Sam pulled away from April's house.
"You ok?" he asked.
"Huh? What?"
"You're quiet. Are you alright?"
"Not really," I told him, my eyes locked on the road ahead.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his hand finding mine.
"April just said something..." I began but trailed off.
"Did she hurt you?" he asked concerned.
"Why are we going to the University of New Mexico?" I asked, turning in my seat to face him.
"It's far away from Lima," Sam told me. "You'd be able to live a vampiric live without people noticing that you haven't aged since you started college."
"So, we're never coming home?" I questioned.
"Not back to Lima," he said. "Will and Emma are leaving after we graduate and moving to New Orleans."
"So during breaks we'll be going to see Will and Emma?" I asked for clarification.
"Yes."
"Oh."
"What?"
"It's...nothing," I said, turning back around in my seat.
"What's wrong, Mercedes?" Sam asked as he pulled his car to a stop in front of my house.
"April just mentioned that it was lame to not see my parents again just because I'm going to college," I said.
"I thought that's what you wanted," he said softly.
"I don't know. I guess I hadn't thought about it," I said.
"You're parents will realize that you haven't aged, Cedes," Sam said brushing my hair out of face.
"I just need to think about it," I said opening my door.
"Do you want me to come back later?" he called out to me.
"Of course I do," I smiled as he climbed back inside his Audi and sped off.
I made dinner, studied for finals, Gordon and I ate, I took a shower and went to bed. I hadn't even thought about what April had said but Sam made a good point to. I didn't want to think about it anymore, so I just closed my eyes and went to sleep.
The next day at April's house we didn't talk about college but I told her about going to Laguna the next day. She told me to take pictures and tell my mom all about her. I promised I would before I left.
I was excited. I wanted to see my mom. I wanted to know that her life was full and satisfying. I needed to know that she was going to be ok with...well, without me.
When Sam and I landed at the John Wayne Airport my mom was the waiting for us.
"You look like her," he whispered to me as she ran toward us.
"Mercy!" she squealed as she wrapped in a tight hug.
"Hey Mom," I said hugging her back.
"How are you, baby?" she asked releasing me.
"I'm good, um, Mom, This is Sam Evans-Schuester. My boyfriend," I introduced.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mrs. Johnson," Sam said with a bow of his head. My mom looked at him, her eyes narrowed for a moment.
"It's nice to meet you too, Sam," she finally said. "Call me Yvette."
"Alright," he smiled.
"Where's Grant?" I asked as we moved toward baggage claim.
"At the house. Grand Funk is recording today," she told us.
"I really enjoy their music," Sam said as he grabbed our bags off of the conveyer belt. "I bought their CD after Mercedes told me about them."
"Oh! That's wonderful!" mom beamed. "Grant'll love to hear that someone your age likes his stuff."
"I love the infusion of jazz and R&B beats into the funk," Sam said as mom led us to the car, "it adds to the island sounds used in the background." Mom looked thoroughly impressed.
"People don't usually notice the subtle nuances of GFC," Mom said as we piled inside her hatchback.
"I believe for one to enjoy music truly they must listen in layers," Sam said.
"Are you a musician?" Mom asked.
"I play piano and guitar," Sam told her. "I also sing a little."
"I didn't know you play the guitar," I said turning in my seat to look at him. He grinned at me.
"I have many secrets, Mercedes. My guitar abilities is only one." I literally melted in my seat.
When we arrived at mom and Grant's house it was huge. Lots of floor to ceiling windows, open spaces and the deck went right onto the beach. The kitchen was giant with a large marble top island and countertops. Four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a recording studio, an art studio, and a room full of my mom's knicknacks.
"This is beautiful, Mom," I said, gazing around the spacious house.
"Right. We're actually closer to the rich side of Laguna Beach than I thought we would be," she giggled. "Grant and the boys have had such luck."
"When with Mr. Johnson be joining us?" Sam asked as he and I took a seat at the island.
"You see that red light?" Mom asked pointing at the large red bulb beside the door that led to the basement. "When it goes off, they boys will be up and hungry," she smiled as she went to the fridge and pulled out a huge metal bowl full of fruit. "So, Sam, tell me a little about your family?"
"Um, of course," Sam smiled. "My twin sister Quinn and I were adopted by our parents, Will and Emma Schuester. While he have eleven other siblings, our parents have no children of their own," he explained.
"That's wonderful," mom said. "Not that I'm one to pry but why do your parents not have any of their own kids?"
"My mother had two miscarriages and a stillborn early in life and while pregnant with a forth child she was in an accident that rendered her unable to have children," Sam explained, only omitting the part that Emma had jumped off a cliff and that all of that happened around 1914.
"Oh, poor woman," Mom said touching her hand to her chest," at least she has you and your siblings now. I would hate for her to have gone through so much loss and come up with nothing in the end."
"I'm sure that she would appreciate that," Sam smiled.
"What do your parents do for work?" she asked as she grabbed some bowls from the cabinet.
"My father is a doctor and my mother is a guidance counselor at our high school," he said.
"Ooo, a doctor," Mom winked. "Nice." Sam chuckled then pulled out his phone.
"She's impressed that you found a boyfriend with rich parents," he text.
"Embarrassed. Sorry," I text back. Sam shrugged and slide his phone back into his pocket.
"Mom," I said shaking my head. She shrugged me off.
"Sam, it was very generous of your parents to give Mercy those plane tickets," mom said as she fixed two bowls of fruit for us.
"My parents can be a bit...extravagant," he said, "especially on holidays and birthdays."
"I understand that," she nodded, handing us the bowls. "Oh, Mercy, over there in that third drawer, can you grab some forks, please?" she asked.
"Sure," I said. When I hopped off of my stool, Sam stood and took a step forward and watched me gather the flatware. When I returned the island, he allowed me to sit first then he sat. We both dug into the full bowls of fruit at the same time.
While we were eating the red light went off. We could hear voices and footsteps on the stairs, then the door flung open.
"Mercy!" Grant called. I jumped off the stool, Sam stood again, and ran and hugged him. I really did love Grant. He was a wonderful person and his love for music made him even better. "How ya been?"
"Pretty good," I answered. "I hear you've been doing good too."
"You don't even know, girl," Grant smiled as he and his band settled around the island; bowls of fruit in front of them.
"Vette it happened!" Grant said kissing my mom deeply.
"What happened?" she asked breathlessly.
"We got the tour!" he beamed.
"What?! Congratulations!" Mom laughed, hugging him.
"Grand Funk had been trying to land a major tour for the summer," Sam whispered to me. "They just found out that they did."
"What tour?" I asked Grant.
"It's called The Funk Jam Celebration," Grant said. "We're the openers for George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Soul Rebels Brass Band and a few other bands."
"That's fantastic," I smiled.
"Thank you," he beamed. "So, you must be Sam," Grant said, his eyes on Sam.
"Yes, sir," Sam said holding his hand out to him. "I'm Sam Evans-Schuester. I'm a fan of your work."
"Really?" Grant asked impressed. "What are you, 17?"
"Yes, sir but when Mercedes told me about Grand Funk Connection, I purchased your CD from your website," Sam said.
"Really?" Freddie Simmons, the guitarist of GFC asked, surprised.
"Yes," Sam nodded. "I listen to it all the time. I enjoy the layers of the music. I do think that you do not charge enough for the album."
"You don't?" Carl Hodgens, the drummer of GFC, asked.
"No. $8 is not enough for the complexities and nuances the music offers," Sam said.
"I like this boy, Mercy," Grant laughed.
The rest of the afternoon was spent with me and mom enjoying an impromptu jam session with GFC and Sam playing songs from the Grand Funk Connection album. As the sky became darker mom and I headed toward the kitchen.
"Sam's great," Mom said nudging me as I prepared the salad.
"I think so," I smiled.
"You look happy, baby," she said flipping some fish on the grill pan.
"I am happy. You look happy too."
"I am."
"That's great," I smiled brightly.
"How's your dad?" she asked me.
"He's good. He's been volunteering with the police and still running the practice," I informed her.
"Volunteering with the police?" Mom asked. "Doing what?"
"There was a wild animal search and stuff. I don't know, he seems to like them," I told her.
"Oh yeah, he told me that Toby Scott died," Mom said sadness in her voice.
"Did you know him?" I questioned.
"Yeah, we all went to high school together," she told me.
"Were you guys friends?"
"Yeah, I was the weird one of the bunch," she laughed.
"I'm sorry you lost a friend," I said grabbing her hand.
"Thank you baby," Mom said squeezing my hand. "Ok, let's call the boys for dinner." I nodded as I went to the living room.
"Dinners ready," I announced as they ended their current song.
"Alright, Mercy," Grant said moving his microphone to the side. "That was fun, Sam. You're really talented."
"Thank you, Mr. Johnson," Sam smiled, standing from the piano bench. "I enjoyed this."
"Good. Call me Grant," he said clomping him on the shoulder. Sam smiled and nodded. After they crossed the room, Sam grabbed my hand and I led him to the kitchen.
We had dinner and lot of laughs. The rest of the band went home and mom showed Sam and I to our separate rooms.
The next morning, mom made breakfast and Grant left for rehearsal for the tour, she and I went to lounge on a couple of chaises on the part of the deck that sunk into the sand. Sam sat just inside the house in the sun room reading.
Mom and I talked about some of the women she had met in the neighborhood and how she knew they looked at her like she was strange because she choice to help out with GFC as roadie or whatever they needed and not just stay home and spend Grant's money. She also knew that they looked at her because she was currently looking for a job as a teacher because she and Grant decided that she didn't need to follow him year round, just the summertime.
"Aren't you going to miss this?" mom asked as we baked in the sun. "Can't you just feel the vitamin D soaking up in your pores?"
"Yeah, I am going to miss this," I said. I know that she and I weren't talking about the same thing but I couldn't get my conversation with April out of my head.
"You know, colleges in California are a lot sunnier," she said taking a sip of her iced tea.
"It's sunny in Florida," I muttered.
"I'm just saying if you go to the University of Florida, I'm never gonna see you," she said.
"They have a really great music program," I offered.
"You mean a Sam program?" she said with a quirk of her lips. Behind my sunglasses, my eyes widened a little bit. I knew that even though he was inside he could still hear us and read my mom's mind.
"Mom..."
"I'm just saying, I knew you guys were serious but...I didn't think it was like this."
"I don't know what that means."
"The the way he looks at you. The way you look at him," she said.
"What are you getting at, Mom?" I asked.
"The way he watches you," she said, "it's like he's willing to leap in front of you and take a bullet or something."
I turned my head to sneak a peek at Sam, sitting on the window seat, his eyes transfixed on mine.
"Is that a bad thing?" I questioned, turning back to my mom, almost afraid of the answer.
"It's an intense thing," she said.
"Oh," I muttered.
"You're different with him, Mercy," she grinned.
"Different?"
"More...grown up than before," she explained. "I don't know Sam that well but there is something about him that's...different too."
"He's different too, huh?" I asked, turning to look at him again briefly. He just smirked at me.
"He's very open but it always just feels like he's keeping something," she said, "and maybe that's none of my business but the way you two are together, I'm pretty sure you know what the secret is, so I'm not too worried about it."
"What do you mean the way we are with each other?" I questioned, trying to move on from this secret she thought she knew. My mom is a very perceptive woman. She believes in the occult and the supernatural so I'm pretty sure that if given enough time, she would have figured out Sam's secret.
"He moves. You move," she said. "Like magnets. He moves half and inch, you adjust your position. Same with him."
"I don't know. I guess we're just..." I trailed off.
"In tune with each other? In love?" Mom smiled. I smiled back. "I get it. I just want to make sure you're making the right choices for you. Y'know, 'cause you're the one that's gonna have to life with them."
"I am, Mom," I tried to reassure her. "Sam would never force me to do anything."
"Good," she beamed. "Ok, enough with the heavy," she said rising from her chaise. She booped me on the nose as she ran toward the house. I sat up and watched her walk back with a large box; wrapped in purple paper and a giant royal purple bow on top.
"Mom, what are you..." I asked as she sat down.
"Congraduation!" she said handing me the box.
"I didn't want you to spend any money," I said, smiling.
"I didn't, come on," she said happily. We grinned at each other again as I untied the bow and lifted the top off of the box. I looked at it, then at her and we both started laughing.
"Are these all of our old trip t-shirts?" I laughed.
"Mmm-hmm," she answered.
"Get out!" I squealed, pulling it out of the box.
"Yep! I saved them all," mom said. "I thought they'd make a good quilt. You know to cuddle up with when you missed me," she said, a sad smile on her face. I looked at the quilt in awe. T-shirts from, Hitsville, U.S.A., The Grand Ole Opry, Universal Studios, a bunch of other movie studios. "Here," mom said as she pulled the quilt out more and opened it. "Remember this one? Rochester?"
"The Museum of Play!" I giggled.
"Yeah," she laughed, "but this one is my favorite," mom said moving the quilt around. "The Lucille Ball Museum in New York."
"This is amazing," I said, a pang of sadness rushing through me.
"Honey, I'm glad you like it," mom said happily. "I just figured, you know, when you get older, have kids, we can add to it. Maybe do something stupid and go visit the world's largest ketchup bottle or something."
"Thanks," I said as I put the box to the side and wrapped my mom in a tight embrace. It was all I could do. I had more pangs but this time they were of guilt. I was about to eternize myself and my mother was making me a quilt that was to be passed down to the children I would never have.
"I'm glad you like it. Like I said, I just thought you should have a little piece of me down there in Florida."
"Mom," I whispered, still locked in an embrace with her.
"Yeah, baby?" she asked, running her hands through my hair like she did when I was little.
"I miss you."
"Ohh, I miss you too." We broke apart finally and she wiped the tears from my eyes. We packed my quilt back up and she grabbed my hand and led me back inside. "It's time to get ready to go, Sam," mom said, peeking her head inside the sun room.
"Yes, ma'am," he said as he rose gracefully from the window seat. Mom helped me pack to make sure I didn't leave anything behind and she did the same for Sam. She drove us to the airport and walked us to the gate.
"I'll give Grant your love," she said squeezing me tightly.
"Ok," I whispered. She kissed my cheek and released me.
"Come here," she said turning to Sam. He leaned down as she wrapped him in a hug. "Take care of my baby," she said. Sam smiled at me.
"Of course, Miss Yvette," he said as they broke apart.
"I love you both," mom called tearfully as we boarded.
"I love you too!" I called back, Sam holding my hand.
"You alright?" he asked as we settled into our seats.
"I...I don't know," I said, sadly.
"She'll miss you and she's sad you're going to school in California but she's glad that you found love and that you are making your own choices," Sam said softly, his thumb caressing the side of my hand. "Does that relieve some of your sadness?"
"Yes," I whispered.
"Close your eyes, love," Sam said, putting my head on his shoulder. "When you open them, we'll be home," he said his lips pressed against my forehead. I did as he said. I wasn't tired in the physical way but emotionally I was kinda drained. I hadn't realized how much I missed mom and Grant until I was around them. I know it was only for a few days but that's all it takes. "Welcome home, Sleepy Beauty. It's time to wake up."