Authors Note: Oh my gosh, guys! Thank you oh so much for the reviews, favorites and alerts all in one day! You all are truly amazing. Did all of you see the episode last night? AMAZING. Lots of Samcedes moments, and I hope there's more to come!
Disclaimer: No, I do not own Glee. It's so devastating.
Mercedes could hardly sleep. All she could think about was Sam. She thought about his smile, his hair and his laugh. She had truly missed him all this time. Thinking about him was one thing that could put her mind at ease. Of course if he asked she would instantly deny any connection to him what so ever. In all honesty, she may be in love with Sam, but she still loved Shane and wouldn't want to hurt his feelings. Besides, how long would Sam even be here? He might stay as long as the Glee club is surviving the rounds at regionals, but then what would keep him here? Shane was definitely the best choice. He was safe, kind and warm. Shane understood what Mercedes wanted and knew her so well. Sam was a fling that she had during the summer. Like Adele would say, a summer haze. Mercedes had to stop thinking about Sam. He just wasn't worth it.
Mercedes was interrupted from her thoughts when her phone vibrated on her nightstand. She picked it up and looked at who was texting her so late. She saw the name on the screen and sighed.
Mercedes, I'd really love to talk to you. Not over text or anything, but in person. I really missed you while I was in Kentucky. Sorry that I sent this too late by the way. –Sam
Mercedes took a deep breath and hit the reply button with her thumb.
Sam, I don't want to do this sneaking around stuff. I have a boy friend and if you haven't noticed, he's monstrous. He could beat you into a bloody pulp…we'll talk tomorrow, okay?
After about a minute of waiting for a reply Sam lit up her phone again. Her heart was beginning to beat faster and she couldn't help the blush and the flip in her stomach that occurred.
I'm going to fight to get you back, Mercedes. Sweet dreams.
She had to get some sleep before this boy gave her a heart attack.
Mercedes went to the school the next day dressed in the nines. She had her hair pinned back with soft curls, dark skinny jeans, black leather boots and a red off the shoulder sweater. She added blush to her cheeks for an extra cheery look. When Sam saw her in the hallway his jaw dropped.
Sam took off down the hallway to get near to her. This was his chance to talk to her about how he felt. He went behind her and grabbed her hand.
"Sam! What have I told you about trying to hold my hand in the hallway? I have a boy friend." She said with slight guilt. Sam pulled into the Astronomy classroom. He quickly shut the door and checked that no one was in the room. When the coast was clear, he stood in front of Mercedes.
"Mercedes, I really need to talk to you." He said as he looked her straight in the eye. He could tell she was trying not to smile. Mercedes was biting her tongue like she used to do in his car when they would be telling funny jokes together.
"Okay. Fine. Talk." She said with a half smile.
"I fell in love with you this summer. I know you like to deny it, but I know you fell in love with me too. We had more than a summer fling and I will go to my grave swearing that. I don't care how big and bad this boy friend of yours is, I will take him down even if it kills me. I would take on the world for you, 'Cedes. I hope you can see that." He said as he took her hands in his. He had forgotten how soft her hands were.
"Sam…I was in love with you. I will always be in love with you, but right now there are so many things that are pulling me in different directions. If you want to be here with me, I need to know that things with you are stable…safe. I don't know when you'll leave again and quite frankly I'm still upset about you leaving me the first time." She said with tears in her eyes. This was not how this talk was supposed to go. The pain that she had buried deep inside was something she never wanted to unlock ever again. Sam leaving in August was a huge blow. Of course she was happy for his family, but it wasn't fair that for the first time she felt love, he had to leave her.
"I can't promise you all of those things. That's why we need to live in the now. Like I always say, we need to hold on to sixteen. We will never have this chance again. I would hate it if you married Shane someday and not me, but for right now, I just want to give us a shot; to show the world that we can make it through anything." Sam said as he put gently touched Mercedes's cheek. Mercedes closed her eyes at the gentleness of his touch.
"Sam…I-I can't do this. Not right now. Not with Shane around. He's too good for me, and you're too good for me too." She said as she let go of his hands and walked through the door, shaking her head.
Mercedes found herself sitting in the choir room crying. She didn't notice Quinn coming into the room. After about a minute of staring at her, Quinn coughed. Mercedes popped her head up and quickly began wiping away her tears.
"Hi Quinn, that's a beautiful dress. Where'd you get it?" She said in a broken voice as she began to go down the steps and pretend like nothing was wrong with her.
"Mercedes, what's wrong?" Quinn asked with worried eyes. If it was one thing Quinn hated, it was seeing Mercedes cry.
Mercedes sighed because she knew she was stuck in the Quinn trap. She wouldn't let go of this until she told her what was wrong. Mercedes took a seat in one of the chairs in the front row.
"Sam's back." Was all she said before her eyes began to tear up again.
"Yeah, I saw how excited you were about that yesterday." Quinn said as she took a seat next to her. Propping one leg over the other, she turned to face Mercedes.
"He wants me back, but I'm dating Shane. I love Shane, I really do, but Sam is so wonderful. I love him too and I feel so selfish. I don't think either of them deserve me." She said with her voice shaking, threatening to break.
It was hard hearing about Sam loving Mercedes. Quinn had loved the dorky blond at one time and she didn't appreciate him. Mercedes loved him and there was nothing Quinn could do to stop that relationship from growing. Quinn had to take her own advice and mature a little bit.
"I think you deserve Sam. Shane, he's sweet, but he doesn't look at you like Sam does. Sam loves you more than you could ever imagine. If he was that happy with me when we were dating, we might have worked, but I didn't deserve him. The only girl in this whole school who should be with him is you and I think he knows that too." Quinn said with a heavy sigh.
"You loved him didn't you?" Mercedes asked with a sniffle.
"Not like you do." Quinn said simply.
"Quinn, thank you. I'm really happy that you came in here." Mercedes said as she stood up. Quinn stood up with her. Mercedes outstretched her arms for a hug from Quinn. Quinn gave Mercedes a hug. After they ended their embrace they left the choir room laughing at one of the insults Santana had given Sam the day before.
"Did you hear that line about the pickle jar? Priceless." Quinn giggled.
"Where does she come up with that stuff?" Mercedes said through a laugh.