5. The Afterparty
Unique made Rachel, Kurt and Blaine laugh with her diva-tude, as she speculated on whether or not they would even see Sam and Mercedes this night. Kurt quickly said, "We'd better see them, after coming together from all over the world to be here for them. Sure, we had no idea that this would be a proposal, but that just really added to the nature of the reunion. I'm not even bothered by the fact that Sam totally missed out on several opportunities to properly hit his notes in their duet." Blaine shook his head affectionately at his boyfriend and wrapped his arms around him from behind.
"Sam hits all of his best notes when he's visiting Miss Jones in her dressing room," Unique commented, deadpan. The group laughed at her again as she held out her hands innocently and asked, "What? What?" She eventually had to laugh herself.
Quinn was having a drink with Finn, Puck, Matt, Santana and Brittany, like old times, she thought. While waiting for the guests of honor, she modestly talked about her college career and steady boyfriend. She'd sent him several photos on her phone of her friends and the concert. The only people to have already met him were Sam and Mercedes, because his family was from LA, so they took trips to the city, at times. "Why the hell didn't you look me up?" Puck asked. She smiled tightly, shrugged her shoulders and took a sip of her drink.
"Because you're the guy that she had a kid with in high school," Santana said, as if it was obvious. "Why didn't he take this trip with you, though, Girl?" Santana asked.
"This was short notice and we already had plans," Quinn said. "He's actually still a little pissed at me for cancelling. He and some of our friends are on a ski trip in Switzerland." She shrugged her shoulders, shyly. Finn shook his head, but she ignored it. She already knew what he was thinking – that she had not changed, that she had chosen her boyfriend for status and image, etc. They all probably were thinking the same thing. That was the second main reason that only Sam and Mercedes had met her beau – because she trusted them not to judge her for seemingly picking a certain type of guy… and he loved both of them, and vice versa. He thought it was sexy that Quinn was friends with people like them.
At first, she took offense to the comment, but he expounded, "You're pretty enough, rich enough and smart enough to be able to look down upon people without most people making a big deal out of it. But, instead, you're humble enough to hang out with a cute, heavy, squishy, black girl with a totally silly laugh and a sci-fi/comic book nerd who does impressions. That's very impressive."
"Don't be too impressed. They're great people and I'd be stupid not to be friends with them," she told him. That was why she was here, and why, even though he was upset, he understood. Mercedes was the only one of Quinn's friends from high school that regularly checked on her, sent her an actual gift for her birthday (instead of a birthday post on some social network, and most importantly, to Quinn… she always called her on Mother's Day to pray with her. She chatted with the others online sometimes. But there were no two people like Sam and Mercedes in her life.
Her face lit up when the couple walked in and she rushed to hug them, while everyone else was cheering them. Mercedes had cleaned up and changed into something hot and sexy, but still casual and Sam just looked like Sam. Quinn gave them a double hug as Mercedes asked, "Where's Blake?"
"Switzerland," Sam answered and waved his phone at her, "He texted us a congrats."
"Wait, so not only have you guys met this Blake, but he texts?" Puck asked, incredulously.
"We're friends on facebook, follow each other on twitter…" Sam went on, slightly confused as to why this was, even, a problem or an issue.
Mercedes understood enough to realize that Puck's feelings were hurt and explained to Puck, "Sam is like Quinn's brother. When it comes to other guys, she brings them to him, lets him check them out, and if he likes them, they know he's the go to guy for advice and such, since they dated a while back and their great friends now."
"Dude is an awesome hunter," Sam bragged, "and his car collection is SWEET."
"No fricking way! You two go hunting?" Puck asked. He shook his head and went to grab himself another beer. Sam looked at Mercedes who simply shook her head and squeezed his hand.
Rachel rushed over to Finn and grabbed his hand to lead him to Sam and Mercedes. "Sam, Mercedes – let me just say that I had no idea when I placed the two of you in each other's arms for prom that your relationship would grow into a beautiful love almost as strong as my love for Finn…" She continued to talk while Sam widened his eyes, though not in surprise, just in the fact that he had almost forgotten how she could be. Quinn handed her own drink to Mercedes, so that the diva could shield the crazy looks that she was giving Rachel for trying to not only take credit for her relationship, but to overshadow it. On the night of my engagement?
"Hell to tha NO, Rachel! Just stop right there." Mercedes had a finger pointed at Rachel. The room was silent as Rachel stared at the finger with quivering lips. Mercedes laughed and said, "This is a party, Girl. We don't have the time to be trying to hear all of that." She waved a hand at her, then looked at Sam. Can you believe her? The face seemed to ask. Sam smiled softly at her and his eyes glazed over with the rebirth of that feeling – that 'she said yes' feeling that kept overcoming him each time he looked into her eyes, that 'she's really going to be mine forever' feeling.
Mercedes tried to tell Unique to stop taking photos. "That's Wade's job!" She joked, in remembrance of the ridiculous list of odd jobs he used to do for her, when he was still a "he." The entire time that he worked for her, though she hardly had much to pay him, she split evenly with him whatever they made when they sung on the streets with Sam and/or Puck playing guitar, and gradually, Unique became the woman that she had always seen herself to be. Mercedes and she had a professional photo shoot her first day completely changed and she kept a huge copy of her favorite one in a frame that she set next to her mirror, of Mercedes dazzling in purple, and her in all of her fabulous glory, adorned in metallic gold.
Unique slapped the camera to Blaine's chest and said, "You have to get one of Mercedes and myself, and of course, Kurt." Unique squeezed herself between the two besties and the three proceeded to strike a number of poses, none of them the same, ever, for the camera."
"Werk!" Santana called out. Quinn clapped her hands excitedly.
Unique called, "All my ladies, get yourself in this group picture!" Santana, Brittany, Tina, Lauren, Quinn, Rachel and Sugar all crowded into the space with the three of them, now centering themselves around Mercedes. Unique said, "This is just a preview of what the wedding is gonna be like."
Kurt said, "In that case, let's switch, so I can be by Cedes."
Unique threw him a look, but simply moved to the opposite side of Mercedes, so that Kurt was on one side and herself the other. "I'll just get here, instead – because of course I'll be next to her at the wedding."
"You two…" Blaine warned.
Kurt waved his fingers at Blaine and said, "Now, now, Blaine." Then, he turned to Unique and said, "You think that Mercedes is making you the maid of honor in her wedding, when we have already decided and determined that I am her maid of honor, as she will be mine, when the time comes?"
Mercedes, still smiling towards the camera now said, "I'm with Blaine on this, don't ruin the photo op, ladies!" Unique and Kurt turned to the camera and smiled brightly.
But, through her smiling teeth, Unique managed, "I think that once you ditched Mercedes to go frolicking off with Rachel Berry that you denounced your position as maid of honor."
Kurt's neck twirled as his head snapped back to Unique. The look in his eyes was something Mercedes had never seen, "I. Designed. The. Wedding. Dress! And as far as denouncing my spot, I did no such thing. Rachel is my friend, but Mercedes is my sister. The first person that I ever came out to, the woman who has already agreed to bear my children, so that I will not have to fight with prejudiced adoption agencies for a child…"
"Wait, what?" Sam asked, from somewhere behind Blaine.
Rachel stepped in, and said, "Ladies, ladies… while it is obvious that we all love Mercedes very much, tonight is a special night for her and Sam. They've gotten engaged. The twinkle of love is still fresh in their eyes and it would be a shame for anyone to ruin this night for them with violence and bickering. I'm sure that a compromise can be made. Kurt, you could let Unique be the maid of honor in Mercedes' wedding and I will have you as the maid of honor in mine."
Mike and Matt pressed their lips together, trying not to laugh at Rachel as Kurt gently moved her out of his line of sight and said, "That isn't even a solution. Mercedes," he said and held his hands out."
Mercedes opened her mouth, unsure of what to say, but Sam quickly stepped in and offered, "Mercy's gonna honor both of you. Let's be honest – we have no idea how long it'll take us to plan the wedding. First, we have a Grammy to win, then we'll have hectic schedules to work around and all of the planning arrangements. By the time we get married, Kurt – you'll already be married. Know what that means? "
"Matron of honor," Mercedes said, impressed with Sam's response.
Kurt thought for a moment, rocking his shoulders left and right, looking ready to keep up the fight, but soon hopped up and down and fanned himself, "That's even better!" he cheered.
Sam said, "And Unique, you'll still get to be the maid of honor."
Unique smiled, moved out of the group and ordered Blaine, "Take a photo of Sam and I."
Kurt looked at Mercedes and told her, "She has one more time to bark at him, like that."
Mercedes laughed, grabbed his arm and led him to more drinks.
They were seated in a circle, reminiscing and sharing about all things current and the future. Every lover was hugged up, with their own. The few singles were fine, just being around friends. Mercedes suddenly wiped a tear and Sam, alarmed, looked down at her in his arms. "I miss you all, everyday. Well, I skype with Kurt and Quinn all the time and of course I see all of my tour mates, but the tour's over now and the rest of you I just never get to see enough of."
"That'll only become harder as you and Sam continue to grow more famous," Joe said. "I've told people at my church that I was in God Squad with the two of you in high school, and they think that I'm joking until I pull out photos."
"You carry photos of the God Squad around with you?" Artie asked. Laughs sounded from around the circle.
"I keep photos of all of my friends on me. I keep a couple of small albums in my backpack. You never know when you need to see the smiling face of a friend," Joe said. Santana rolled her eyes in amusement. Hasn't changed one bit.
Suddenly, they heard Mercedes softly began to sing, "And I never thought I'd feel this way. And as far as I'm concerned I'm glad I got the chance to say, that I do believe I love you…" And Sam came in with, "And if I should ever go away; Well, then close your eyes and try to feel the way we do today. And then if you can't remember..."
Quinn and Artie smiled at each other and both began to sing, "Keep smiling. Keep shining, knowing you can always count on me. For sure."
Rachel sang, "That's what friends are for…"
And Kurt immediately cut in with, "For good times and bad times," and he and Unique tore up, "I'll be on your side forever more."
Now Blaine sang, "That's what friends are for."
Santana began to sing next, "Oh, and then, for the times when we're apart," and Joe joined in with her, grabbing her hand as he did, "Well just close your eyes and know these words are coming from my heart."
And Tina and Mike came in with them on, "And then if you can't remember." Mercedes listened, silently and watched her friends reach out to each other in love, with hugs and smiles and all the things that she loved so much about all of them and being a part of this group.
Rory now sang, "Keep smiling. Keep shining."
Sugar: Knowing you can always count on me.
Matt: Oh for sure! Cause, I'll tell you –
Everyone: That's what friends are for!
After that, there was much adlibbing from the heavies and continuous repeats of the chorus from the background singers. Mercedes simply rested her head on Sam until the song was coming to a close and for old time's sakes, she belted out the end. The old glee club cheered and Sam kissed her on the forehead.
The crew had performed some of their old favorite numbers for each other, (though Rachel discovered that without Mr. Shue there to orchestrate, most of everyone's favorites did not involve her, nor Finn.) Sam had gotten to know Matt better, having never had the chance to meet him, as the guy graduated the year before Sam came into the glee club, but he seemed pretty cool and Sam appreciated that even though he wasn't close to them that he still felt close enough to the old glee club to show up. Mr. Shue had a competition to attend, but sent his love and best wishes to Mercedes. Mercedes didn't know if she really believed that.
She felt more like Mr. Shue was embarrassed that he had put her in the background so much and spotlighted Rachel, and now Mercedes was becoming a big star and Rachel had been regularly auditioning for musicals since Nyada, but still had not had any big breaks.
Sam was lying beneath Mercedes with his arms wrapped around her. She was asleep, after having spent hours in bed with him after all of their friends went their separate ways for the night… which was closer to in the morning. He and Mercedes made love to each other over and over, more than they ever had, in history, more passionately and diligently and even though she was tired, it was almost like she could not stop until her body simply gave out in exhaustion. Now, he was blissfully staring at the ceiling, cherishing the thought of always having her here by his side.
Sam Evans woke up in a great deal of pain. His side was hurting and he was unsure of why. He didn't see Mercedes, so assumed that she was probably in the bathroom, getting ready to start her day. "Mercy!" he called out. "Mercy, I'm in pain!" She peeked her head into the room and rushed next to him. "You look as pretty as an angel, Mercy. Where are you going, today?"
The new live in nurse rushed into the room and said, "Mr. Evans, I heard you call out. What's wrong?"
"I was calling my wife," he said, politely, but sternly.
"Okay, Mr. Evans, but you know your wife's a multimillion dollar album selling, Grammy winning, icon, and while that's impressive as all get out… she's not your nurse, she's not even a nurse. But, I am… So. What's wrong?"
"She reminds me of Coach Roz," he chuckled.
"Sam, tell what what's wrong with you, so she can help," Mercedes urged, concerned.
The old man sighed and said, "Last night, my wife and I spent some quality time together and I think that I hurt myself." Mercedes covered her mouth with both hands and turned away, embarrassed. But, the nurse simply began to ask Sam different questions, to try to see what he might have done to himself.
Just as a precaution, the nurse set up an appointment for Sam to see his doctor later on in the day. Sam hated going to the doctor. Every time he went, it felt like he had gotten bad news. "I'm still thinking about the proposal weekend," Sam said to Mercedes as they sat in the backseat of the nurse's car.
Mercedes replied, "I enjoyed the proposal and the after-party, but I did not enjoy the next day." Sam laughed out loud and she just grimaced. "It was not funny."
"Not at the time," he said…