Author's Note: Hey everyone! I'm so happy that you all like my story! You guys are the best! Thank you to everyone who favorite this story, reviewed and added it to their alerts. I really love the support you're giving me. So because of all the love I'm getting, here's a brand spanking new chapter just for you! Warning, more drama is beginning now.
Mercedes sped through the rest of her day going through the motions. She went to her classes, ate lunch and talked with her friends. She wanted to get through this day and go to practice after school. By the time her seventh period rolled around, she could barely focus on Shane due to the excitement she felt to see Sam.
"Mercy, are you okay? You seem really distracted." Shane said while he was writing down Spanish verbs on his notebook paper.
"Me? Distracted? No, I'm not distracted. Why would you say that?" She said as she began drumming her fingers on her desk.
"Well ever since Sam came back into town you seem different." He said with a frown on his face. Mercedes felt so guilty. She was just stringing Shane along on this ride. He didn't deserve this.
"Look, Shane…" Mercedes began. She was interrupted by Shane's hand on hers.
"Rumor has it, he's trying to get you back. Now I know he has that California shine on him, and I don't really compare, but if you do decide that you still like him, I want you to know that I love you. Even though it's going to hurt, if you like him back still, there's no hard feelings. You're amazing Mercedes and I just want what will make you happy." Shane said as he rubbed his fingers gently on the skin of her hand.
"I'm happy with you."She said as she looked at her desk.
"That doesn't sound too confident." Shane said with a sad smile.
"I love you. Nothing will ever change that." She said with a weak smile. What was she doing? Why couldn't she just simply say 'Look Shane, you're nice and stuff, but I don't want to date you anymore!'? What was she going to do when he found out she lied?
"I love you too." He said with a trace of a frown on his face. Mercedes got up and kissed Shane's cheek.
"I have to go. Glee club is having an emergency meeting and I have to be there." She said as she picked up her bag and began to take off. Before she could exit the room, Shane opened his mouth to say something.
"What if I joined the Glee club?" Shane asked, looking down at his desk. Mercedes held in a shudder. Sam and Shane being in the same room for more than a few seconds wasn't really a comforting thought.
"Shane, sweetie, you're already so busy with football and everything, I just think another extracurricular will be too much."
"Do you think I can't handle it?"
"I think you can handle it, I just don't think it's the best choice." She said with a smile. What was Mercedes doing? This was so rude of her. If Shane wanted to join the Glee Club why should she be denying him? It would make him happy. It wouldn't make Sam happy, but it would make Shane happy.
"Actually, maybe you should audition. We always need new guys in it. You can come with me to the meeting." Mercedes said as she gave him her hand.
"Okay." He said with an unenthusiastic smile.
Mercedes and Shane walked to the choir room hand in hand. When they had reached their destination, they saw that mostly everyone was in the room talking amongst themselves. They saw that everyone was staring at Shane. Mr. Schuester dismissed the kids to their seats. Mercedes sat Shane up front with her.
"Alright kids, we need to have another fundraiser to go to Nationals this year. I really believe in this group, but we need the dough. Any ideas?" Mr. Schuester announced to the class as he waited for hands to go up.
Suddenly, the door flew open and revealed a flustered Sam.
"Hi everyone, sorry I'm late. I was helping a freshman with their locker." He said with a smile. Mercedes looked at his smile and practically melted to the floor. He was just so cute…
"That's fine, Sam. Take a seat." Mr. Schuester said, excusing Sam for being tardy. Sam took one look at Mercedes and was slowly coming to a rage.
"Why is he here?" He said pointedly to Shane as he walked by Mercedes to sit by her.
"He wanted to try out for New Directions, so I would like Mr. Schue to listen to his audition." Mercedes said with a smile at Shane, tightening her grip on his hand.
Mr. Schuester gave Shane a look and told him to take his place in front of the choir. Shane took a deep breath and looked at Mercedes for comfort. She gave him a small smile and she took a deep breath.
. Mercedes really needed to know it felt to be in his shoes. Seeing Sam look at her with love in his eyes was almost too much for him. Why was she so in love with him? What did Sam have that he didn't? Mercedes had done so many things to help him and now she was falling in love with Sam all over again. Really, what was the point of even trying out for Glee club? To show her that he could be just like Sam? To show Mercedes that he could provide for her just as much as Sam can if not more? What exactly was he trying to prove?
Shane was so lost in his thoughts; he couldn't concentrate on the song as the band played behind him, waiting for him to sing. Shane shook his head and gently said, "I don't know what I'm doing here. I'm sorry everyone. I can't even sing." Shane said, tears filling his eyes with each word he spoke. He left the choir room in a quiet shuffle. Mercedes stared at him walking away and looked at Sam. She got up out of her seat and followed Shane outside to the hallway.
The hallway was empty except for Shane sitting against on locker. Shane had his head in his hands. Mercedes sat down next to him.
"Are you okay?" She gently asked as she took one of his hands. She rubbed her thumb against his skin.
"No, I'm not. I'm falling apart because everything is wrong. It doesn't add up." He said with a sad smile.
"What are you talking about?" She asked with concern. Mercedes knew exactly what this was leading up to.
"I'm not the first person to make you feel beautiful. I know that. I'm not your first love and hell, I might even be a rebound because I see the way you look at Sam. I could only pray that you would look at me that same way someday. Deep down though, I know that's not going to happen. Not with me, not with anyone else who finds space in your heart. It'll always be Sam Evans. Am I happy about that? No I'm not. I mean, how on Earth could I ever be happy about that? My drop dead gorgeous girl friend wants to date her ex. That's a messed up situation, but that's one thing we need to learn…love is messed up. It has its highs and lows, but right now I'm in a low and I don't want to bring you down with me. It just wouldn't be fair for you." Shane said as he let go of Mercedes's hand.
Mercedes felt pricks in the back of her eyes. Tears threatened to push through.
"If that's really how you feel," she began before choking up. "If that's really how you feel, I think it would be best for us to break up." Shane only nodded in agreement.
"I think you're right. Have fun singing. Your voice really is amazing. You're amazing. I only hope Sam knows that." Shane said as he stood up. Mercedes gave him a long hug. Shane let go and walked down the hallway with tears filling his eyes.