Okay, probably everyone who has this story on alert has forgotten about it! It fell by the wayside for several important reasons. I was writing No Place Like Home and that was more important and needed my time, I had full-time work the second half of the year, and most importantly, they wrote out Sam and I thought I had nowhere happy to take this! However! Sam is back, I've finished No Place Like Home, I'm on school holidays from work and I know what to do with this story again!

I would probably recommend re-reading if you've forgotten what's been happening, but here's a quick summary. Mercedes and Sam got together after Prom secretly and only Kurt and Blaine know they are together, though Finn found out accidentally and Mercedes swore him to secrecy. Kurt and Blaine are beginning to get a bit more physical in their relationship and that resulted in HJ's and BJ's at a deserted beach :P

I think that's all you need to know to be reading this chapter, but go back and re-read, because I really like this story even though I abandoned it :P It's loosely based on the song Summer Lovin' from Grease, and I am both amused and excited that Samcedes is actually doing this song on Glee next year… I'm so ahead of the trend :P

Please leave me a review and let me know what you think of the new chapter (or any other thoughts you have) because I would really love some encouragement to keep going and not just re-abandon this! :D

Mercedes giggled as Sam nibbled at her tongue with a playful growl. They were in Mercedes' room, taking full advantage of the fact that Mercedes' dad and mom worked long hours.

"God, you're amazing," Sam breathed shakily as Mercedes nibbled back on his lips.

Mercedes laughed and didn't bother responding, just kissed him harder.

Sam shifted so he was lying on top of her.

Mercedes panicked.

"Wait, Sam!" she struggled to move away quickly.

Sam looked at her, quizzically at first, then horrified when he realised his mistake.

"Oh, jeez! I'm such an idiot, I'm so sorry," he apologised, hanging his head.

"It was just a bit overwhelming," Mercedes admitted, "Sorry you have to take things so slow with me."

Sam shook his head vehemently, "No, honey, I'm the one who's sorry. I just got carried away because you're so amazing and… well, I'm a boy." Sam looked sheepish and Mercedes giggled.

"That's actually strangely flattering," she told him and reached a hand out to cup his chin.

He smiled at her and Mercedes felt her stomach swoop and flop madly. He just did things to her. It was actually painful to tell him to stop, because she wanted him too, but she knew they weren't ready. They'd only been officially secret dating for a couple of weeks, and as wonderful as that had been, Mercedes wasn't about to give away the farm just yet.

"So…" he looked at her guiltily, "What do you want to do?"

"Kurt actually asked me if we wanted to go to dinner with him and Blaine sometime this week," Mercedes felt herself blurt out and felt her face grow hot.

"Oh."

That's all he said, but Mercedes was instantly on the defensive.

"Well, if you don't want to go, you don't have to, Sam! It was just a suggestion!" she snapped and rolled away from him to sit up.

"No! No, 'Cedes!" Sam begged, "I was just surprised! You said you didn't want people to know yet, remember?"

"Well Kurt and Blaine already know, so what can that hurt?" Mercedes huffed.

"Yeah, but," Sam explained patiently, "Restaurants have more than four patrons, hon. And its Lima. Which means we're bound to run into someone."

Mercedes froze. She hadn't even considered that someone might see them.

She sighed.

"Maybe we don't have to…" she trailed off nervously.

"Have to what?" Sam pressed.

"Maybe we don't have to hide," she said quietly, sure Sam would freak out.

"Really?" Sam asked; his voice high with some emotion Mercedes couldn't place without looking at him. "You're ready for people to know?"

Mercedes found she still couldn't look at him.

"Maybe," she spoke quietly, "I mean, if you are…"

Sam was leaning across and pulling her round to face him and kissing her happily before she had a chance to worry any more. He was so sweet and it was beginning to scare her a bit how much she liked him. They'd never really talked much before the Prom. They were in the same calculus class and they sometimes studied together in the library, but it was mainly about school and Sam making weird goofy jokes that Mercedes loved. Now it was so much more.

Mercedes kissed him back, grinning widely.

"I guess I can tell Kurt to book us a table at Breadstix then?" she smiled, a little out of breath when she pulled away.

Sam nodded and kissed her again.

Sam pulled up outside Breadstix a few nights later, not reassured at all by the way Mercedes kept fidgeting in her seat. Her hands were twisting inside themselves oddly and she kept biting her lip.

"If you bite your lip one more time, then we won't end up going to dinner and I'll bite it for you," Sam muttered, his eyes fixed on her full bottom lip caught between her teeth. Mercedes truly didn't understand how gorgeous she was, and that was bad news for Sam because most of the time she ended up being so unintentionally sexy that he was beginning to have… dreams.

He hadn't had dreams that left his pyjamas sticky in a long time, and here he was, seventeen, and coming in his sleep like a twelve year old. It made him very aware not to push Mercedes, especially after the other day when he had accidentally put his weight on her. She obviously wasn't ready for that.

But did it mean she had to drive him crazy, worrying her beautiful lips like that?

"Sorry," Mercedes giggled, "Wanna kiss them better?"

Sam shook his head in frustration at her.

"You don't?" she asked in disappointment, and Sam could almost see her wilt with rejection.

"I do!" he said emphatically, "But I can't! Not if you expect me to go in there and talk to Kurt and Blaine without running to the bathroom to cool off first, okay?" he found himself snapping at her.

Mercedes just stared at him like he was going crazy.

Maybe he was.

"I'm so sorry," he said and hung his head ashamed. "I'm still a teenage boy, and you just look gorgeous tonight, and we're letting people know we're together and everyone will know that you belong to me, and I belong to you and that's just really exciting for me. Then you did that thing with your lips…" Sam trailed off, fully aware that he was babbling.

Mercedes smiled at him.

"You know I'm nervous too, right?" she said softly. "And I may not pop a boner while we're kissing, but I still really enjoy it," she smirked at him and wiped some lipstick from his cheeks, "But we have to go in there and have dinner with my best friend and his boy now. So as much as I'd love to just kiss you and reassure you that everything will be fine, that probably isn't the best move," she giggled.

Mercedes opened the car door and jumped out and Sam scrambled to do the same. He locked the doors quickly and stood next to her. She held out her hand to him and he took it, winding her fingers in his own. He took a deep breath and felt all his nerves leave. He could do this.

Blaine smiled at Kurt. He'd been bouncing for three days. He'd bounced through his phonecall with Mercedes asking them to double date (Which had thankfully come just as Kurt's sunburn was beginning to fade). He'd bounced through outfit shopping with Blaine the next day. He'd bounced in line at the grocery store. He'd bounced during movie night. He'd bounced in the car on the way to Breadstix. And now he was bouncing on the bench seats. Blaine could feel the seat rocking.

It was strange to sit on the same side of the table, Blaine realised. He had to turn his head to look at Kurt and he could feel their thighs pressed together where they sat. Blaine quickly thought about the menu. He and Kurt had not been presented with the opportunity to be sexual again since the beach, and that was nearing two weeks ago now. Blaine didn't know how Kurt felt about it, but sometimes he caught Kurt looking at him with dark eyes and he liked to think that Kurt was as eager for a repeat as he was.

Mercedes and Sam strolled in the door; hands clasped tightly together, both looking nervous. Blaine nudged Kurt.

"Remember? No interrogating," he warned Kurt.

"Hi!" Kurt bounced and waved, ignoring him.

Mercedes stole a quick glance at Sam and Blaine saw her squeeze his hand a little as she returned Kurt's wave. They were so cute. Blain remembered how nervous he and Kurt had been with each other when they had first started dating. They didn't seem like it had taken them too long to be comfortable with each other. Blaine realised from their nervous expressions as they sat down, that this was their first expedition in public as a couple. If there was one thing Blaine understood, it was keeping something in the closet. He smiled gently and Sam returned it shakily.

"What's going on?" Kurt demanded after several seconds of awkward silence. "Why do you look like someone's about to attack you?"

Blaine rolled his eyes at Kurt, who hadn't clued in yet.

"Well, this is the first time we've gone out together in public," Mercedes said slowly, looking around.

"In Lima, anyway," Sam added, "I took her to a movie in Westerville a week ago."

Mercedes smiled at him sweetly before continuing, "And I just think there might be some backlash. Sam has a couple of vindictive exes…" she trailed off.

"Quinn?" Blaine spoke up with surprise in his eyes, "I thought she was the blonde one who looks like Barbie? Why would she be vindictive? She seems sweet! I mean… she cheated on you anyway, didn't she?" Kurt smiled at Blaine struggling to remember the McKinley gossip.

"Quinn's got a bit of a mean streak," Mercedes told him. "I used to be friends with her, but we don't talk much anymore and she's a bit hard to judge lately. I ran into her in the car park at the mall last week, and she's gone a bit crazy."

Sam nodded fervently, "I delivered a pizza to her house a few days after school let out, and I was worried that she was trying to get me back or something, but she came to the door reeking of cigarettes and there was a bunch of those skanky girls that hang out under the bleachers there. She just looked straight through me like she'd never met me."

Mercedes glanced around again. "She had pink hair when I saw her. She was heading into the tattoo parlour on the corner. She wouldn't talk to me, just blew smoke in my face."

Blaine looked shocked.

"Wow… I can see why you're worried…" he said slowly, whistling.

"Well, she's tame compared to Santana," Sam continued, "I think she's still with Karofsky, but that doesn't mean she wouldn't want to cause trouble. She always wants what isn't hers." And Sam shot Mercedes a smile and kissed her cheek softly. I'm yours, his eyes told her silently, and Mercedes ducked her head with a grin, running her fingers over his hand.

Kurt sighed and smiled at Blaine, risking to lay his head on Blaine's shoulder briefly as he watched Sam and Mercedes be couple-y.

The waitress came over then, and they placed their orders, all so familiar with the menu that they didn't need to look. It didn't escape Mercedes's attention when Sam ordered from the $8.99 Pasta Special menu. She shot him a glance and mouthed, "I'm paying, remember?"

They'd come to the arrangement after much discussion. Sam had insisted on paying for them both, and Mercedes had finally won by telling him he was only invited if she was allowed to pay. He hadn't been happy, but she reasoned with him that her father was a dentist and she had money. Any money Sam earned should be going into helping his family, not buying her dinners, she'd told him firmly, and then she'd kissed him until he had dizzily agreed to anything she asked.

"I know," Sam whispered, "That's what I want."

He gave her a small smile that didn't quite meet his eyes and she decided that it wasn't the time or place to argue about money so she let it go.

"So how's your summer been, Blaine?" Mercedes asked, "I heard you got Kurt sunburnt?"

Blaine blushed madly at the memory.

He shot a guilty look at Kurt, who was very determinedly examining his breadstick and avoiding Blaine's eyes.

"Um…" Blaine began, "Yeah, I did. It was my fault," he gulped.

Mercedes narrowed her eyes in suspicion and Sam laughed at their matching blushes.

"There's a story there," he chuckled, "I think you hit a nerve."

"Spill," Mercedes demanded, and twirled her own breadstick at them like a baton.

Kurt's head shot up and he shook his head.

Blaine grinned a little at his horrified face and massaged his shoulder reassuringly.

"That's a private story," Blaine said easily, leaning back in his seat and pulling Kurt closer to him, "How about you tell us how Sam got the giant hickey behind his ear there?" Blaine smirked and rolled his tongue around his straw as he lifted his soda to his mouth. Kurt giggled.

It was Sam and Mercedes's turn to blush then, and Mercedes finally said "Listen why don't we just call a truce to teasing each other, okay?"

Kurt nodded, "Agreed."

Dinner went well. Blaine and Sam found they had a few things in common to talk about. Sam had been to an all-boys school too before McKinley, and he played guitar and football. Blaine told him the story of how he had been on the football team at his old school before he came out and had been forced to leave the team because the other guys were uncomfortable around him.

"That's pretty much when it became violent," he said seriously, "But I transferred to Dalton, and I've never regretted moving schools because I met Kurt." Blaine smiled at Kurt and Mercedes gave a little "aww".

"I know how you feel, dude," Sam agreed, and snuck a look at Mercedes who was giggling with Kurt about something. "It's like God meant for certain people to meet, and you just have to trust that He is giving you these challenges so that you'll be the person you need to be when you meet them."

Blaine sort of nodded in a non-committal way at that. He had grown up in a religious family, unlike Kurt. But he'd come to the same conclusion that Kurt had. God and religion were just ways of expressing hatred, and calling it Christianity and that never sat well with Blaine.

Kurt had noticed the shift in conversation. He knew Sam went to church, and that Mercedes was religious too, and he dreaded what he might say if it became a theological debate, so he quickly changed the subject.

"Has anyone got summer jobs yet?" he asked quickly and Blaine ran a hand over his thigh in thanks.

"Well, I'm delivering pizza still," Sam said, "But they've upped my hours for the summer which is awesome. I'm working every night and a couple of lunchtimes a week now. It's good 'cause my parents really need the money."

Blaine and Kurt nodded sympathetically.

"I'm working at my dad's surgery a couple mornings a week. Just filing and stuff," Mercedes offered. "What about you two?"

"I'm going to be working at the garage a couple days a week," Kurt chimed in and Blaine spluttered.

"You're what?" he coughed, "You never told me that!"

"Dad asked me last night," Kurt smiled, "You should see if he could find something for you too," he crooned in Blaine's ear, "You like watching me work on cars, don't you?"

Blaine crossed his legs under the table and Kurt realised that he was torturing his boyfriend in public.

"But Blaine has the summer show at Six Flags to do as well," he reminded the table.

"Oh, you got that audition?" Sam asked him, "Good for you, dude!"

"Yeah, I mean, it's going to be a lot of work, but it's a few songs and any recognition is good for the Warblers," Blaine smiled painfully, prying his brain away from the grease covered Kurt in his imagination.

"You mean McKinley," Kurt teased, "You'll cave in and follow me soon enough."

Blaine gave him a puzzled look.

"Aww, dude, you should totally transfer!" Sam piped up, "With you in glee we'd be an unstoppable force!"

Mercedes and Kurt glared at him.

"I miss Kurt, but I can't just leave the Warblers," Blaine said reasonably.

"We'll see," Kurt sing-songed and Mercedes gave him a sneaky high five.

Blaine took another sip of his soda, and forgot to pay attention to the conversation. Kurt wanted him to transfer? It was bad enough that Kurt wasn't safe… Dalton was safe. Blaine was safe there.

"Oh, my God," Mercedes moaned.

"What?" Kurt demanded.

"Puck just walked in," Mercedes buried her face in Sam's neck.

"Err, honey?" Kurt leaned across the table and pried her away, "That's just making it worse."

Puck saw them and waved.

"Hey, Kurt, Sam, Mercedes, Lead Gargler," He nodded to them each in turn. Blaine wondered if he should be offended but there was no malice on Puck's face so he let it slide, "You guys on a date?"

Sam took a deep breath and opened his mouth to speak, but Mercedes beat him, "Yes, we are, do you have a problem with that?"

Puck stared at her.

"Woah, chill, girl. I think it's cool you guys are together. I mean, when Finn told me, I thought it was weird, but you guys look happy. Good for you. And you guys," he gestured to Kurt and Blaine. "Being in a couple is awesome. Enjoy it while it lasts, guys." He made to leave but Kurt called out to him.

"Hey, wait! What's that mean? Did something happen?" he asked in a caring tone. Blaine loved knowing that Kurt was his when he was kind and amazing like this. It was taking all his strength not to just kiss him in the restaurant.

"Oh, it's nothing. Lauren just dumped my ass," Puck said forlornly, "I guess she didn't want to be tied down over the summer or whatever. No biggie. I hook up with the waitress here all the time. I just came to blow my load, blow off some steam, you know what I mean?" Puck nodded at the guys conspiratorially, completely unaware of how vulgar and inappropriate he'd sounded and how very little anyone at the table 'knew' what he meant. "Anyway, catch you guys later."

He saluted them and walked towards the ladies bathroom, patting a waitress on the ass on his way. She finished taking the table she was serving's order and delivered it to the back.

"I'm taking fifteen!" she called out to the kitchen staff.

Then she headed for the ladies bathroom.

Blaine shook his head in wonder.

"Wow… If I was straight, I think I would idolise that guy," he spoke wistfully.

Kurt poked him.

"But you're gay and all you can think about is being that waitress right now…" Kurt teased.

Blaine spluttered.

"Kurt! No! I mean…"

"Hey!" Kurt slapped him as his tone went from outraged to curious in two seconds flat.

"If it were you and me in there it'd be hot," Blaine whispered to him, "But Puck doesn't do it for me."

Sam and Mercedes were blissfully unaware of Blaine whispering filth to Kurt.

"How do you feel?" Sam asked her, finally allowing himself to stroke her arm and kiss her lips softly. "All that worry and it was already out."

Mercedes felt her skin shiver a little at Sam's touch.

"I feel like I want to shake Finn's hand," she grinned and kissed Sam in public.

What do we think? Glad this story is back?