Author's note: Thank you all who are reading this story and giving me your reviews I am grateful for them. This chapter is longer than most but I hope you can bear with it anyway. Please forgive any mistakes and please review.
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee nor any of its characters.
I Knew You Were Waiting for Me-Part II
Chapter 4
Sam looked again toward where he thought he saw Mercedes but by that moment Russell walked up to Mercedes and Trey on the dance floor and introduced them to a few reporters. Sam watched as this man wrapped his arm around behind Mercedes and held on to her waist and introduced himself to the reporters; he took business cards from them, he smiled at Mercedes for photos with her; and shook their hands as if he belonged there-as if he belonged with her.
"I must say that I don't appreciate your tone." Jennifer said. "Is that the way that you thank someone who has done you a service? Because you know it needs work. I've been more delicate breaking and resetting bones. "Jennifer continued.
Sam still watched Mercedes being led away with the crowd getting bigger beside her; flashbulbs went off, and they shook the hands of, and had small conversations with, a few of the players. Sam couldn't help but think again. "He was walking with her as if he..."
"Sam, are you listening?" Sam was brought back to Jennifer's presence. "Um, no returning my phone was good of you but it was that kiss that was unexpected." He said. "Was it unwelcomed?" Jennifer asked. Sam's eyes watched Mercedes work the room with ease, grace, and confidence. She was glowing, she was beautiful, and she was a star-as always. Jennifer tapped him on the shoulder. "That kiss-yes it was, I'm sorry." Sam said as he left Jennifer and slowly walked behind the crowd that was surrounding Mercedes waiting for an opportunity and, after two hours, the crowd had finally dissipated and that man was trying to dance with her yet again, when Sam attempted to make his move toward her but he was grabbed on his left arm by a drunk An-jella. "Es...Es...what does he call you?" She looked puzzled "Never mind, someone said that Mercedes Jones was here. Did you see her?" Sam could not believe that she of all people would be asking him anything. "Yeah, she's over there." and when Sam turned around to point to her she was gone.
Sam turned and gave An-jella a frustrated look as he hurried from his position and began looking through different areas of Mr. Pettway's home in the hopes of finding her again; but she was gone. Sam ran outside to the front of the house and attempted to call her on his cell but her phone only went to voicemail. Sam immediately sent a text "I saw you tonight-I'll love you always, Sam." He then left and went home-there was no response.
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It was four o'clock in the morning and Russell, Trey, and Mercedes where sitting and having a drink it the empty bar of the Hyatt hotel. "Baby girl, you did a great job tonight." Russell said as they all tapped their glasses together. Mercedes lowered her head and smiled briefly "Thank you, will you excuse me for a minute please, I'll be right back." Mercedes said as she gave her clutch bag to Russell, got up from the booth, and went towards the ladies room.
Russell looked at Trey "So you got what you wanted right- a night on the town with Mercedes Jones! Are you happy now?" "It was amazing, I really don't want the night to end; it would only take one more thing to make me truly happy." Trey said as he took another sip of his Black Russian. "Yeah, well if you think you are getting that too-you're dreaming it's known worldwide that Mercedes doesn't put out." Russell said as he continued to drink scotch from his own glass. "There is a first time for everything." Trey smiled. "HA, oh you're that nigga huh?" Russell questioned. "Yeah, I could be." Trey spoke in a very cocky manner. He seemed very sure of himself. Russell looked down at her clutch that he was holding, her phone was vibrating inside, and then it stopped. "It was nice knowing you kid-but, it ain't happenin'." Russell shook his head at the mere thought of this guy thinking that was even a possibility after tonight. "Russell you don't know me-that's all." Trey took another sip of his drink. Mercedes clutch started vibrating again. Russell reached in and turned-off her phone and placed it back in her bag. "I think you just don't know Mercedes!" Russell laughed again.
Mercedes came back to the table "Well guys, it has been a long night and I am going to go to my room. I hope that you enjoyed yourself Trey and you felt that it was worth traveling out here." Mercedes spoke as she retrieved her clutch bag back from Russell. "It was great...let me walk you up to your room." Trey took the last sip of his drink, stood up and threw some money down on the table. "It's not necessary." Mercedes said sweetly. "I insist, besides I already got a room here myself, when I picked you up tonight (I didn't think that I would try to travel back after such a late night) but now I am going to extend my stay until after the game). One of the secretaries, I think her name was Crystal gave me four tickets to Sunday's event so that we can watch the game together after you perform; in the VIP lounge. "Trey pulled four tickets out from his pocket and showed them to Mercedes. Russell scooted from within the booth and snatched two of the tickets from Trey's hands. "Thank you very much; I will see you early Sunday Morning for rehearsal and photo shoots- Mercedes. I have to drive out of town tomorrow for a little bit but I will be back on Sunday morning" Russell kissed her on her cheek "Later." Russell walked past the hotel desk in the lobby and gave the order "to hold all of Ms. Jones' calls until Sunday morning. She needs to rest up for the big game on Sunday." He thought.
Still standing in the bar Trey asked "Shall we?" thenTrey led Mercedes to the hotel elevator to take her to her room.
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An-jella, who is extremely drunk, held out her glass to the waiter behind the buffet table. She was wearing a form-fitting silk gray dress with spaghetti straps and tastefully placed sequins down the front and her push-up bra was working overtime. "I would like more champagne please." The waiter who was placing fresh Salmon on the serving tray said "Ms. that you can receive over there at the bar" as he attempted to point toward the bar which was at the back end of the lawn. "If I wanted to walk that far then I wouldn't be asking 'the help' now would I?" This was her sharp rebuttal. Ricky had been standing right next to her, holding a plate in his hand filled with steak, potato salad, and a kind of stuffing of some sort that he couldn't quite make out but he thought he would try it anyway. "Do you want me to get it for you babe?" Rick asked. "If I wanted you to get it I would have told you to get it!" She snapped at him. "I am dry and this party is lame; no one good is here. I heard a rumor that Mercedes Jones was inside but I looked around and I didn't see her at all. This is what I get for leaving the planning to Crystal."
"Ouch, that hurt." Crystal said, indifferently, as she walked up to the couple who were still standing at the buffet table. An-Jella side-eyed Crystal, while Rick said "Hello." Crys-these events are tired and done." Crystal looked over at Rick and then she looked down at the plate he was holding and then asked the waiter for "the same except no stuffing just some mixed vegetables, please." The waiter smiled agreeably happy to oblige. Then Crystal said "Mr. Pettway approves of it; he told me so earlier this evening. " "You saw Mr. Pettway-TONIGHT-WEARING THAT!" An-jella shrieked. "YOU DO KNOW THAT HE IS A SINGLE MAN RIGHT?" Crystal looked down at herself "What's wrong with my dress?" Crystal questioned. "Yeah..." Rick questioned too "She looks nice." As Crystal was saying "Thank you" An-jella laughed wholeheartedly in her face.
Crystal was feeling smaller and smaller by the minute from this conversation. "You see Crystal this is why you can't get or keep a man. He is clearly lying to you straight to your face and you are so gullible that you are eating it up like that oversized plate of food that you are holding." An-jella turned away in disgust but then looked at Rick with disdain. "You are not helping her at all... just eat your food and stay out of it you don't know her like I do. Crystal you are never gonna learn are you? I have been telling you since middle school... An-jella's tirade continued... but you just don't seem to care-I need to be the one what is having the meetings with Mr. Pettway not you." She said matter-of-factly.
Crystal's voice began to betray her it revealed the weakness in her throat as it prepared itself to spasm due to the flooding of tears that she was about to release. She tried to restrain herself and not let her embarrassment in front of Rick to show but it was quickly becoming a losing battle. "I told you before that it is just a matter of seniority." Crystal lowered her eyes slightly. "I am sorry to have been such a disappointment to you." Crystal said as she looked at Rick's plate once again and walked towards him. She took the plate from his hand and replaced it with hers. "This stuffing has cranberries in it; your mother said that you are allergic." Rick looked more carefully at the two plates underneath the night sky and then looked back into Crystal's sad eyes. He never wanted to see that sight again. "Enjoy the rest of your evening." She whispered to Rick as she walked away dejected.
Rick watched as Crystal walked away and then threw the other plate that she was holding into the garbage at the other side of the table. "Thanks Crystal...." his voice trailed slowly "...keep your head up." He called after her but he could tell with all the music and the people around that it was completely drowned out-she didn't hear him.
"An-jella, that was foul! Why would you say things like that to her?" Rick asked. "Oh please, she gets on my nerves-she doesn't listen." An-jella rolled her eyes to imply that she was over it already. "But you were just wrong for the stuff that you said to her; she's a nice girl." Rick continued. "Please, I have been hearing that crap about her practically all my life; being a nice girl has gotten her absolutely nowhere. SHE IS SURROUNDED BY NFL PLAYERS AND NOBODY WANTS HER-that's when you have to start taking a long hard look at yourself. I could have had all these men three times over by now and then some; and I have." She giggled to herself while Rick's head jerked in shock. "How is it that she works in a stadium and doesn't know how to play the game? Oh, but she can play football though right-my bad, hahaha" An-jella spoke in a mocking tone and practically cackled as she laughed at the thought of it. Rick walked away from her, plate in hand, as he heard her still demanding more champagne from the poor waiter. Rick asked himself a question that he had never asked himself before "Did he even like An-jella?" His answer was "No."
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Mercedes didn't want to be rude but after seeing Sam with that woman tonight and not having a moments peace to herself to try to figure out what it all meant was difficult for her. Seeing him with another woman hurt and she couldn't deny it but he had the right to see other people they had already discussed that-it was just such a surprise after the way he has always spoken to her; especially lately. She knew that she had no right to be angry and she wasn't; she was there with Trey and now she was here with Trey who also seemed to have a hard time taking the hint that the night was definitely over.
"Thank you again, and I hope you had a good time." Mercedes said as she swiped the card for her room door to open. It was then that Trey began pressing his body against hers in an attempt to get a kiss goodnight. Mercedes really did not want to but gave him the quickest of pecks on the lips and opened her door wider and stepped further inside. "I would like to think that I can have a little more than just that." Trey said as he stepped into her room reaching his hands out and grabbing onto her waist. Mercedes put her hand to his chest and told him "No, you actually need to leave now." "I heard you have been waiting for the right man to come along. Well, here I am." Mercedes face hardened slightly. "What are you talking about?" She asked. "When I found out that you were a virgin I knew right then and there that you were simply waiting for me to show up." Trey's eyes smoldered with anticipation. "I know that I am game, we are going to make this a night of many 'firsts' for you." Trey dragged his tongue across his lips and wet them. "OH HELL TO THE NO! YOU GET OUT RIGHT NOW BEFORE I HAVE TO HURT YOU!" Mercedes started forcefully pushing him back out of her doorway.
"Seriously?! How old are you anyway?" Trey questioned "How long are you going to keep holding out?" "I am old enough to know that I am not compromising on my principles; and especially not for YOU! There is only one man on this Earth that I might have done that for and you most definitely are not him!" Mercedes then shoved Trey completely out of her room and into the hall and slammed her door.
Trey was furious that he did not get what he had planned on getting from Mercedes that night but he realized as he walked into his own hotel room that he did not have to be Mercedes first as long as everyone believed that he was.
Trey took out the several business cards that he received from the reporters and made some calls about a story he was willing to sell about a night out with singing sensation Mercedes Jones.
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Sam's cell phone rang and he snatched it up instantaneously to answer it; hoping that it was Mercedes returning his call, but it wasn't, it was Rick. "Esse... I need to ask you something. Do you think that An-jella and I are good together?" "Is this a trick question?" Sam replied. "No, I'm serious; tell me truthfully what do you think about us as a couple?" "Honestly, I think that you are in a toxic relationship and that you need to get out of with the speed of Usain Bolt." "Damn, man, don't sugar coat it or anything." "You asked." "How long have you not liked her?" Rick asked. "I have not liked her for you, since she left Crystal to do all the work to help your career to get the best beginning possible and yet she wanted to be known as the loving, girlfriend for all the photo ops. She doesn't care about you-she is just using you for her own gain." Sam said. "Why didn't you say something Esse?" "Because you had to figure things out for yourself if I told you why you shouldn't be with her you would have fought tooth and nail to prove me wrong; it would have only forced you in deeper into a bad situation. She's not the girl for you." "Then who is?" Rick asked. "Do you really want me to tell you what I think?" Sam questioned. "Always...you know that." Rick responded. "I think that you need to get to know Crystal better-she is a sweet young woman and she sincerely wants what's best for you; you would be a fool to pass that up."
"An-jella was horrible to Crystal tonight. I just left An-jella, I'm done. I am on my way to finding Crystal to see if there is anything that I can do to cheer her up. Do you think that she will give me a chance after being with An-jella and all?" "You better give it your best shot because it would be a shame if you miss out on a girl like that because you were too busy being more horny than wise; I'll pray for you tonight that she is willing to see past An-jella enough; that there can be some hope for the two of you." "Thanks Esse, I can always count on you, you're the best. Oh, by the way I heard that your obsession was at the party tonight. Were you able to meet her or get her autograph?" Rick asked excitedly. "I couldn't get close enough to her." "Oh man, I'm sorry about that, but maybe on Sunday before the game-don't let her slip through your fingers again; you may not get another chance." Those words resonated in Sam's heart powerfully. "I am giving you the same advice about Crystal, don't stop until she falls in love with you and then love her even more-I think that she deserves it." Sam said. "Me too..." Rick answered reflectively. "I am going to try to go and catch her before she gets to her car-bye." Rick hung up the phone.
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Crystal was walking to her car to leave when she heard her name being called from behind her; not wanting to get caught up in any other party related business she just pretended not to hear, and just kept walking until she reached her car. Then she heard fast approaching footsteps behind her on the pavement and a hand reached out and touched her shoulder. "Where are you going?" Rick asked her. "I'm going home." Rick moved quickly around until he was standing in front of her and blocked her from putting her car key into her door lock. "I was hoping that you would get some coffee with me?" Rick smiled and snatched the key from her hand. Crystal was taken aback. "Rick what are you doing?" "I am asking you to come with me for some coffee." He said as he held the keys over her right shoulder then quickly switched them over to his other hand and was now holding them over her left shoulder; just out of her reach and fully taking complete advantage of their height differences. "Thanks but no thanks-I know that An-jella needs coffee but I don't think that I am in the mood to sit with her and drink coffee right now." She kept reaching for her keys but he kept switching hands and wouldn't let up. "Let An-jella; find her own coffee- I meant us." He said playfully. "Rick, I know that you are trying to be sweet but getting sympathy from you right now doesn't help my ego at all so we should probably just let it go."
"I am not her to give you sympathy I am here to give you reality- cause I don't ...you need my reality – cause I don't know what kind of delusional crap An-jella was spouting back there to you; but it sounds like her own issues to me. I just don't want you walking away thinking that her crazy is reality because it's not." Crystal stopped reaching for her keys and turned her back to him so that he could not see the two tears that just streamed down her cheeks. Rick walked past her and grabbed her hand but did not look at her as he walked her towards his car instead. "There must be some truth to what she said" Crystal spoke solemnly "I am twenty-five and alone." "Don't knock yourself because you have high standards." Rick stopped at his car and opened the doors "get in." "Can't I get a rain check?" Crystal pleaded. "No, because the last time I checked it wasn't raining-aren't I cute?" He said as he smiled and she chuckled in spite of herself. "Now let's go...by the way, I think that the only reason that you are alone is because, if you always put guys through all of this when they ask you out on a date-no wonder you don't go out much. The answer should be 'Yes, I would love to go out with you.'" And then he batted his eyelashes overdramatically.
"I thought that you were dating An-jella? I am not the kind of girl who shares guys with friends and..." Rick interrupted her. "I thought I was too; but, what you don't know about me is that I am a big enough man to admit when I am wrong or when I have made the wrong decisions; and I fix them." "But..." Crystal started. "Don't pull the whole girl code thing on me because honestly although you two have known each other for a long time I would hardly call you two friends-from what I saw-not due to any fault of yours; so I say, that you should say; the hell with her!" "Is that what you are going to say about her though, directly if asked by her?" Crystal questioned. Rick smirked and nodded his head. "I like you Crystal you are a smart woman; yes you won't have to worry about An-jella and me anymore." Crystal thought about what Rick said. "I suppose you are right we are not friends after all-maybe we never really were; you're right the hell with her. " Crystal seemed to regain some of her self-confidence. "Now, let's go!" Rick opened his passenger side door and she got into his car.
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"I thought that you said that we were going to get coffee?" Crystal questioned. "There should be coffee here someplace." Rick countered. "At an Amusement Park?" She said suspiciously. "Yeah, probably near the water rides." Rick grabbed her hand and walked toward the rollercoaster line but he felt her hand fidgeting in his. "This is about to be the most fun that I've had since I've been in Atlanta." Rick said enthusiastically. "And it is about time that I see you laugh too- you are too serious all the time; I'm going to help you with that." Rick continued as Crystal feeling uncomfortable, not being used to this type of attention from him, let go of his hand. "You know that we are overdressed for this right?" Crystal decided to go ahead and mention the obvious especially since people were staring at them. "It's our first date it's okay to look good. So Crystal, I've noticed that you seem to know a lot about me." He leaned his forehead against hers and then raised his eyebrows up and down & said "Unh, huh?" Then he moved away which made her giggle. "So what do I have to do around here to learn more about you?" He asked.
"My life is pretty boring I guess." Crystal said. "Oh, somehow I doubt that very much but why don't you let me decide-okay." He said as he reached down and held onto her hand again and moved forward in the line this time holding it tighter than he had before; but he could still feel her slightly shaking and fidgeting again while he held it. "My dad had a lot of siblings, there were eight of them, and growing up they shared a love of football. My mom's side of the family too-my mom is the middle child out of five children. I always remember family get-togethers in the park and playing football." She said as they moved closer to the front of the line. "I remember family barbeques and playing football. My mom & dad had a hard time conceiving and I was their 'miracle baby', I guess you could say; I think my dad wanted a son so he treated me like one. He taught me how the throw a spiral by the time I was three and I was the best in the neighborhood by the time I was eleven beating the girls or the boys, and although I don't look it I am fast on my feet too." Rick let everything that she was saying sink in, he didn't have a big family it was just him and his mom; and Esse who was like a father to him; but he had always wanted one and hers sounded kind of great; then he noticed that she slowly let go of his hand again but he did not let on and he was certainly not deterred. "To make a long story short I went to college for business management and I found an opportunity online to do some interning for the NFL. I did a few summers, and then all year long when I was in my last year of school. So when the opportunity came for me to apply for a job; I interviewed and, I think my love of football sold it, and I got a job working for the Falcons, which was only one of my favorite teams, so I couldn't pass it up. After I had been hired for a while then An-jella got in contact with me because she needed help-her cosmetology business wasn't going as well as she had hoped; so I helped get An-jella a job here too." Crystal's voice started to lose its confidence again and she began to feel a little foolish now. Rick noticed. "I am so going to enjoy playing one on one, touch, with you." Rick interjected as he helped her into the rollercoaster car. "Bring it- I can totally take you." Crystal began the trash talking early. Once they got strapped in and he reached over and had taken her hand again for the third time; this time he felt the resignation in her hand as she held his more comfortably than before. They both took in the fact that they were going to be sharing in this new adventure together, feeling the electricity pulsing through their bodies as they began ascending; both knowing that this particular ride might actually take their breath away.
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The jet lag had finally caught up with Mercedes and she slept her whole Saturday away. When she woke up it was three o'clock Sunday morning. Mercedes read her bible and said her prayers. She prayed for "Sam's happiness, and for their love." She prayed "that she could handle the situation about this woman of his in a graceful manner and she thanked God for his protection against Trey." She understood the reality that although she fought him off; that he could have tried much harder and it could have turned real bad, real fast. She also prayed "that this swelling in her throat would go down in time for her show later that afternoon. In Jesus name she prayed – Amen."
Mercedes got ready to go to rehearsal and she got ready by doing her vocal warm ups.
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Sam was devastated-he did not understand- this made no sense in anyone's world. All Saturday long he tried to get in contact with Mercedes and he never got a response, that was bad enough, but it was when he saw the news that afternoon; that is what he could not believe what was happening. It was everywhere. That guy Trey had been interviewed on every channel and by now it was running on a loop. "He was first introduced as Mercedes Jones' date which began giving him some credibility especially when the photos of the two of them together at the party surfaced." One reporter said.
Trey had found that the reporters would pay anything to get some juicy tidbit on "Moral Mercedes" as it seemed they liked to call her. He first started talking about "his world wind romance with the star." He told "how they had met at the airport, and how they shared the same flight back to the states." He spoke of "their numerous phone calls to each other and late night dinners that they shared." He spoke of "how she invited him to the Atlanta Falcon party as a coming out, as it were of their love, and then he spoke about the first time they made love together." This had received, a great deal of air play, from the media outlets with headlines such as: 'Moral Mercedes Virgin No More' and 'Moral Mercedes Missing Since Make-out Session' or 'Moral Mercedes Doesn't make it to Matrimony.' But when Trey began saying that because Mercedes had waited 'so long' she had, as he put it, developed 'A healthy, sexual curiosity about many things, positions, and sex toys that he himself couldn't keep up" that all went viral in twenty minutes time.
Sam shook from anger and frustration. He knew that this could not be true but he had to calm down because truthfully- "what if it was? She saw him with Jennifer last night and they never got to speak. Even his text message of love was left unanswered. The question was where was she? Why was she not saying anything?" Then Sam's thoughts went dark. "What if he hurt her somewhere?" Sam was in a panic he even reached out to Mr. Pettway himself to get the number of Mercedes Manager but he could not get in contact with him either. Sam got down on his knees by the side of his bed and simply cried, and then he prayed "God please tell me that after all this time; it doesn't just all fall apart-like this? I am worried about her Lord. Is she still alright? You have to help me Lord because I want to kill this guy with my bare hands. If any of this is true; he is not even enough of a gentleman to not reveal it all to the press and everyone. Please help me to find and talk to her although I don't know what to say. In Jesus name Amen."
Sam spent the rest of the evening battling the conflicting feelings he had of worrying about Mercedes well-being, and being upset about this betrayal of his heart all at the same time.
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Russell started banging on Mercedes hotel room door Sunday Morning at ten o'clock. Mercedes opened the door ready to leave. "What happened to you I slept all day yesterday and you didn't call me once-you never allow me that much rest-did you meet a girl or something?" Mercedes said in a chipper mood. Russell however was almost pale in comparison as he walked into her hotel room. "I have been trying to call you all day yesterday." "Nobody has tried to call me at all." Mercedes said sadly. "Seeing Sam with that woman and then not hearing from him at all made her think that there was more to that relationship than he may have wanted to own up to at this time." She thought. Russell asked to see her phone out of her clutch from Friday night. "I turned off your phone when you went to the ladies room at the bar." "You did what?" Russell turns the phone back on and bells started chirping as several message alerts started rapidly revealing a whole host of phone messages that she had missed. Russell handed her-her still alerting phone. Messages from her mother, and her brothers, she got several messages from Russell and several more from Sam; reporters asking for comments; there was even a message from Santana in Lesbos "wondering if Mercedes needed her to come back and kick this guy Trey's a**!" Mercedes looked at Russell "What's going on?" "Mercedes, I know it is none of my business but did you sleep with Trey on Friday night?" Russell asked. "What! You're right that would be none of your business; but the answer is no, of course not. Why?" She asked. "Because he has talked to almost every media outlet in the country as well as some abroad saying that he did." "WHAT!" It's bad baby girl...I have heard from Pettway three times this morning he is furious he said this thing is going to overshadow his whole anniversary event-he said you better sing the best that you can today and change the narrative to how you slayed at the 30th anniversary of the Atlanta Falcon's Stadium."
Mercedes head started spinning "He didn't." She shook her head. "Oh, yes he did and he is not being a gentleman about it either. He is giving descriptions, positions; it is a bloodbath I am not going to lie to you." "HE'S LYING! HE'S LYING!" "WHAT CAN I DO? IT'S NOT TRUE!" "The bell is already rung baby girl- I wish I could say something but it's out there now. You could have a doctor verify that your hymen is still in place, and people will still believe him over you; people love to see stars fall from grace and the headlines over this past weekend have proved it. I'm sorry baby girl-you can sue him for slander and defamation of character but at the end of the day that won't amount to much of anything."
Mercedes was devastated what was she going to do how was she going to face her family, or the press, or Sam? "Sam what must he think of all of this?" "Excuse me Russell..." he heard Mercedes say then she walked into the bathroom closed the door he eventually heard her muffled crying through the door. Russell didn't know what to do or say but he wished he had forced that kid to leave with him when he left the hotel. Mercedes cried and prayed in that bathroom for about an hour before she came out trying to find the strength to do this show, and deal with all the press that was about to come her way.
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Pettway was already at the Stadium with reporters who had their crews positioned at different areas across the fifty yard line on the football field one area was set up for the Ricky Raven interviews as the new Treasure Trailz model and spokesman; standing in front of his huge new image. In the center was where the crews were set up to interview the singing sensation Mercedes Jones; and next to Mercedes on the other side were where the crews were set up to interview Coach Sam Evans previous Treasure Trailz model and spokesman in front of his image on the opposing side of the fifty yard line.
Crystal had been excited about the day and had been extremely busy but she felt a few butterflies in her stomach when Rick showed up to get ready for the big game and blew a kiss to her in the hallway as he walked by. They had such a great time at the amusement park together that night, just having fun and spending time together. He won her stuffed animals, and he wrapped his arm around her during their ride through the fun house, the devil's door, and the creepy crawler ride. Every time she didn't want to go he got her to go anyway. She started believing it was just so that he could hold on to her more and more. She was almost angry at herself at how quickly she was developing a crush on Rick Raven.
The crowds started pouring in for all of the pre-game festivities, Crystal set up most of them, which consisted of photo booths with the players, face- painting, football tosses, follow the trails to treasure, and guess how many bricks did it take to build the stadium? If you guess correctly you could win $100,000 dollars.
The seats filled up quickly and twenty minutes before the game started the interviews were to take place. Russell had done a pretty good job of keeping Mercedes hidden in an upper room of the stadium away from it all; thanks to Crystal giving them somewhere to hide. Mercedes sat in that room looking at all the messages that Sam had sent her. She had known Sam a long time and she knows when he is trying not to say something. His messages were full of concern and worry but there was also so much hurt and disappointment. "Everything is ruined." She thought although all of the messages still ended with 'I'll love you always.' She doubted it for the first time in the last fifteen years of their lives.
"I just have to make it through these twenty minutes and then sing the song, that's it, then I can get out of here and go home; just twenty minutes and one song; twenty minutes and one song." It had become her mantra. The room was so quiet but in the distance she could hear the crowd growing outside. "Please Lord; I don't know how to defend myself from this. No matter what I say my truth will be like screaming into a vacuum-no one will hear me. Why? Why? After all this time of attempting to do it right? What can I do Lord? She began crying again "Not my will but yours be done, in Jesus Name – Amen." She cried again and then dried her tears and prepared to go straight into the lion's den.
The overhead announcer made his first announcement "Ladies and Gentlemen the 30th Anniversary of the Atlanta Falcon's Stadium would like to present to you the 2029 Treasure Trailz new model and spokesperson-Rick RAVEN! The crowds were screaming when Rick Raven walked out onto the field he turned around and around and waved to as many spectators as he could. The he looked for Crystal who was standing in the shoot watching. He smiled at her and waved his arms up and down three times rapidly and then threw out his arms wide and made them taught and performed a gliding motion. The crowd went wild, cheering and stomping their feet, they started shouting "RAVEN! RAVEN! RAVEN! RAVEN!" and screamed again and again. Then Rick through up his hands for them to stop and he looked over and saw Esse now standing in the shoot with Crystal. Rick waved Esse out onto the field.
The overhead announcer made his next announcement "Ladies and Gentlemen the 30th Anniversary of the Atlanta Falcon's Stadium is proud to present the Treasure Trailz model and spokesman of 15 years ago (2014) and the how does Rick put it his 'Personal Coach' the one and only- Sam EVANS!" The crowds began screaming again as Sam who just couldn't believe that this was happening ran out onto the field, shook Rick's hand, and waved to the screaming crowds of people that were all over the stadium.
The overhead announcer made his next announcement. "Ladies and Gentleman the 30th Anniversary of the Atlanta Falcon's Stadium is proud to present a woman who needs no introduction. She is the Queen of R& B, the Queen of Pop, the Queen of Soul, Hell she is just the Queen of music in general because there is absolutely no genre of music that she can't slay... Everybody give a warm welcome for-Ms. Mercedes JONES!" The screams and noise was so deafening you would have thought that the city started clapping and not just the people in the stadium. Mercedes who was now also standing next to Crystal in the shoot looked out and saw Sam standing out there and waiting for her. She took a deep breath and walked out onto the open field of the stadium and the crowd started screaming and chanting her name. "MER-CED-ES! MER-CED-ES! MER-CED-ES! MER-CED-ES! MER-CED- ES! The screams and shouts practically rocked the whole stadium when the screams finally died down the clapping continued. She waved to the audience as she did complete 360˚ turns and continued to wave. Rick nudged Sam with his elbow as he was clapping for Mercedes and he said "Here's your chance Esse; don't blow it!" Mercedes walked up to where Rick and Sam were standing and Rick gave her a kiss on the cheek and said "Hello" to which she just nodded and smiled. Sam however simply kissed her for the entire world to see. The words" KISS CAM" jumped up on to the Jumbo-tron and the camera zoomed in on Sam Evans grabbing Mercedes Jones in his arms and epically kissing her.
The crowd went wild again.
Mercedes was shocked once Sam had actually let her go from the kiss but he whispered into her ear "I'll love you always." Mercedes didn't know what to make of this "HAD THE WHOLE WORLD GONE CRAZY WHILE SHE TRIED TO GET SOME SLEEP!" It was then that they were all lead to their perspective camera crews for the questions and answer portion of the segment to begin and they were being shown on the Jumbo-tron.
Now the reporters went wild over Sam and Mercedes "What was that?" What happened to that guy Trey? Are you making up for lost time Mercedes?" The questions just kept coming. Mercedes was quickly overwhelmed she just didn't know where to begin but Sam obviously did. "I have been in love with this woman since I was sixteen years old; we went to high school together and lived together in New York before her first mall tour." The reporters where eating it up and Rick Raven was completely shocked. "Esse, you have been hiding things from me again!" He shouted "Why didn't you tell me!" One reporter shouted "Sam, what do you make of that guy Trey? Didn't he just seem to steal your true love?" Flashbulbs continued to go off and Mercedes turned to look at Sam not knowing" how she would ever get him to believe her; that everything Trey said was a lie." She thought. "I don't know if what Trey said is true or not; but I know one thing that if he just tried to steal my true love, he better watch out because I am coming with everything I've got to steal her right back from him!"
The crowd went wild again.
Sam took up the whole twenty minutes declaring his love for Mercedes Jones and all the time they had left was for her to sing the song and for the game play to begin.
Mercedes felt her throat tightening when the music began to play.
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed as the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, (Her voice faltered)
Over the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, (She missed this note and the crowd noticed)
The bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there,
O say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave (Mercedes misses this note too and Sam notices)
Over the land of the free (this note is flat)
And the home of the brave? (This note doesn't leave her throat at all).
Mr. Pettway was pissed!
Mercedes felt like her whole world was falling apart and there was nothing that she could do about it. The crowd of people attempted to clap to show support but you could see that they were all surprised by the fact that Mercedes could not sing properly.
Reporters started questioning her again. "Are you losing your ability to sing?" "Hey Moral Mercedes are you like Samson? He loses his hair and he loses his strength; you lose your virginity- you lose your voice?" Mercedes couldn't take it anymore she ran out of the stadium and down the shoot; she just wanted to go home.
Before she could get all the way through the players of the team came rushing out to the field she struggled to get past them all. She didn't speak at all the lump in her throat had felt like it was the size of an onion. She continued to move through to get to her car and she was grabbed and hugged tightly from behind by Sam.
"Sam, what are you doing here?" She questioned. "I work for the Falcon's that is what I was trying to tell you. Now let's go." Sam let go of her body grabbed her hand and walked her outside to the parking lot. "Sam if you just said that you worked here that means you can't leave." Sam started shaking his head up and down while he still held on to her hand and then he began walking further away from the festivities, pulling her right along with him. "Sam, where are we going?" "To my car; we're leaving." "Sam, how can we leave you have a game?" She said but her voice strained more and more and the pain had been growing exponentially. "I can't have you messing up your job for me not after just messing up your relationship. Besides why did you say all that stuff to the reporters -what about your date the other night?" "I did not have a date; I had a woman who returned my cellphone that I had lost and who kissed me because she saw something that wasn't there." Mercedes may have believed what Sam had just said but there was still the matter of Trey. "Well, I have a problem Trey has become a very big one and I can't drag you into that." Mercedes responded. Sam stopped walking and held his head down for a minute "That's the same guy from the airport and the party right?" Sam's voice lowered. "Yes" Was Mercedes only response. "I know...the two of you have been all over the news for days." "Sam... " "Is he important to you?" Sam asked.
Mercedes had no idea if he would believe her but she had to tell him the truth just once. "Sam, I barely know him. He is lying, we never slept together he tried to force himself on my on Friday night but I fought him off and threw him out I swear-if I was willing to do something like that at all; you know that it would have been with you." Sam breathed a sigh of relief "Good-I knew that it wasn't true because I know you- now, we are leaving."
Sam continued to walk Mercedes to his car and once he got her inside he walked around to the driver's side and got in and then he drove away. "Where are you staying?" Sam questioned as he drove down the road. "Why?" She responded. Mercedes had a general idea of what his answer would be but she wanted for him to say it anyway. "Because we are picking up your things and you are staying with me; this work thing is done, and you said that you would stay with me for as long as you can after that-you promised me; and I am not letting you go back on your promise." Mercedes began to smile as she watched him driving down the road. "I am staying at the Hyatt on 10th and Grand Avenue. Sam punched in the information into his GPS system. The system began to talk and provide directions. "Look to your right" the automated voice said. "Turn right." "I wouldn't think of going back on my promise Sam." Sam pulled his eyes away from the road for a moment and really took it in; Mercedes was sitting in the car right next to him. She was sitting on the right side of him. "Your destination will be on your right" The automated voice said again. Sam looked back at the road checked his mirror and pulled over to the 'right' side of the road and stopped the car. "What is it? What's wrong?" She asked.
Sam leaned in and whispered "this is what's wrong" then Sam got closer and kissed Mercedes it was delicate and gentle and then it became more of a need that he desperately wanted to satisfy; this kiss held so much promise of what was ahead for the days to come and he could not have been more overjoyed about the prospect of it. "Your destination is on your right." The automated voice spoke one more time.
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Sam used his key to unlock his door and step inside his place he was carrying Mercedes bags with him; Mercedes followed closely behind. "Oh, Sam it's beautiful." Sam placed her bags down on the floor and then closed the door behind them. "May I see your cell phone for a minute, please" Sam asked. Mercedes grabbed it from her purse and gave it to him while she continued to look around his apartment. "Oh, you have still have Chia pets!" Mercedes couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah, and they are all alive too!" Mercedes then looked over her should at Sam still holding her cellphone. "If you want to put in your new contact information, go to contacts and..." Mercedes began until she turned around and saw Sam removing the sim card from her phone. "Sam, what are you doing?" She said as she started moving toward him. "I am doing the same thing that I am doing to my own phone." Sam took his cell phone out and removed the sim card from his as well. He looked around his place and placed the sim cards in a vase that stood on top of the cabinet in his kitchen; the cards were now just out of reach enough for both of them to struggle to reach them.
Mercedes looked at him and shook her head but Sam was the one who began to speak again "I have the day off tomorrow and so do you...from this moment on you are mine completely; no phone calls, no texts, no messages, not even emails. I want and need to have you all to myself, you are my port in the storm Mercedes and as much as I have tried to be okay without you; the truth is it has been hell without you. So, I want you to give this to me-alright? Starting right now I want your undivided attention, even if we can't make it through the day, and you are fighting with me-that fight will be mine and mine alone; or if we sleep the entire time that sleep will be ours alone-agreed?" Mercedes could see it in Sam's eyes that he was serious about this request. "So let me get this straight; you want to just shut out the entire world, and have this time to be just about us?"
"Can't you give me, at least, that?" He asked her as he reached out and held on to both of her hands. "Sam, I would not have it any other way." Mercedes smiled let go of Sam's hand and reached her arms up (standing up on her tippy toes) and placed them around his neck and pulled him in for a big hug. "Not, any other way," she whispered again in his ear as she held onto him for dear life; and he held onto her just as earnestly.
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Sam and Mercedes took turns taking a shower and changing into more comfortable clothing. By the time that Mercedes was done her throat was still so swollen that, she came out of the bathroom asking "Sam do you have any Benadryl?" That is when she saw Sam as he had just walked out of the front door but within a few moments he re-entered and locked the door behind him. "What were you doing alerting the paparazzi that I am here tonight?" She asked. "Never sweetheart, I just wanted to take out the recycling in case we overslept in the morning; I didn't want to miss the truck." "Oh...," was her reply. Sam pulled a blanket from off of his bed and went and sat down on his couch with one foot on the cushion and his knee bent but his other leg was still on the floor, he also wrapped the blanket around his back and bid her to come to sit on the sofa between his legs. When Mercedes sat down he covered her with the blanket also and she laid her head back on his shoulder; then she spoke "Sam tell me about this job with the NFL-how did it all happen?" Sam began telling her about "how God used young Ricky Raven to come into Sam's life and opened doors of opportunities for dreams that he had given up on a long time ago." It was then Sam sincerely said to her "Mercy, I want to thank you so much for your being such a good example of a godly woman-the way you lived your life challenged me to look into my own relationship with God and with myself. My relationship with God has grown so much and I know it is because you showed me how to take prayer seriously; and since I have God has truly blessed me-look He even brought you back to me again." Sam stated. "Thank you Sam that was so sweet of you to say. Prayer is a powerful thing and if you keep praying for me and I'll pray for you we will make it through." She smiled and sunk into his arms a little deeper. Then he spoke softly in her ear "How are you planning on dealing with this Trey thing?" He said as he kissed her cheek and then lowered his head to hers so that he could hear her every word.
Mercedes cringed a little bit. She began to tell Sam about how "although she loved performing she had no idea how daunting and ridiculous the schedule would be; or how much of the music industry was still strong-armed by radio play, which met big business and advertising." She told him about "the hard time that she had loving her fans but hating her fame; and then there was the complete lack of privacy by the media-they not only follow you around everywhere, for a story, but then they get the story wrong and don't even try to correct it. Like the story about Trey and me, for example, all he did, at first, was help me get through a crowd of people at the airport who refused to take no for an answer and now they are listening to his lies and writing stories about us that I am, probably like, having his child or something." Sam wrapped his arms around her tightly and held her in his blanket covered arms.
"You don't know how happy I am that they got that story wrong." Sam said. Sam held her for a few minutes longer in the quietness of this room and then he said to her thoughtfully "How long?" Mercedes attempted to turn her head around to see his face but he squeezed her a little tighter so she could not move. "How long what Sam?" "How long are we going to keep pretending that we are apart and not a real couple?" "Sam..." "Mercedes, I don't want this with anybody else, just you; and it wouldn't be fair to other women to even let them think that they have an opportunity to have my heart when, deep down inside, I know it's not true...my heart will always belong to you."
Mercedes took her right hand and began to slide it up and down along the top of his right thigh which was leaning against the back sofa cushion. She did this action for a few minutes then she pulled herself out from his arms and turned around to face him before she spoke and said "Sam, what would you say, if I told you that, I think that I may be ready to settle down and start a family?" Mercedes immediately saw Sam's entire countenance change and then he quickly replied "I'd say...Will you marry me Mercedes?" "But, we don't know where we would live?" She continued. "I'd say...Will you marry me Mercedes?" "And, I don't know what I would do for a new career?" She spoke again. "I'd say...Will you marry me Mercedes?" "Before, I had to travel all the time, but now with your new job, you will have to travel all the time..." She countered. "I'd say...Will you marry me Mercedes?" "And what about now, having to deal with this whole new Trey- debacle. Mercedes said. "I'd say...Will you marry me Mercedes?" "I'd say...Will you marry me Mercedes?" "I'd say...Will you marry me Mercedes?" His conversation got swifter each time he said it. "I'd say...Will you marry me Mercedes?" "I'd say...Will you marry me Mercedes?" "I'd say...Will you marry me Mercedes?" He continued over and over again. "I'd say...Will you marry me Mercedes?" "I'd say..." Mercedes interrupted him by covering his mouth with her hands and spoke this time herself. "I'd say YES!"