A/N: bold-Matt; italics-Mercedes.

I feel compelled to say that the previous chapter was just friendship, not a relationship, despite Santana's sexual preferences under certain circumstances. I greatly enjoyed writing this, and getting into Mercedes' and Matt's characters and building their story. This chapter is more of friendship, and maybe the seedlings of a relationship, but not too much. Enjoy.

–

'so, this is love'

chapter four:

so grateful to you

"Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly."

-Rose Franken

–

Matthew Rutherford had always wanted a best friend, but he was so shy as a younger child that most of the other kids just left him alone. It stopped bothering him that he didn't really have any friends in sixth grade, which was when Mercedes Jones had moved to Lima and sat next to him at lunch on her first day there. She had talked all the lunch period, not letting Matt get a word in edge wise, but he didn't mind, he just really enjoyed her company.

He had joined the football team in ninth grade, after he had grown six inches over the summer, and it turned out he was one of the decent players on the pathetic team. It had been Mercedes idea that he join glee, after finding out that they needed at least twelve members to compete. He had a decent singing voice, he just didn't really like crowds, and he could dance better than most people he knew, with the exception of Mike Chang.

Mercedes had always been his friend, even though most people didn't even notice it. Kurt didn't realize the friendship until he walked into find Matt on Mercedes' couch watching the game with her father. Matt was very comfortable with the Jones, as they had got used to him being there on Sundays, and Matthew didn't mind that Mercedes talked all the time. He liked the sound of her voice, and he cared about what she had to say.

Mercedes Jones was very fond of Matt. He was quiet, and very kind to her; he had never once made fun of her or mocked her weight. He was always there for her, long before Kurt had ever come into her life. Matt was the first to make her feel at home in a new place, and she would always love him for that, all her life.

Matt was pretty much her exact opposite. He was quiet, shy, and very reserved. He liked football, and couldn't care less about fashion. She didn't like any of his favorite foods, and he thought most of her jokes weren't very funny at all. Somehow, though, they had formed a strong bond over the few things they loved and agreed on, such as music. It seemed as if everything in Mercedes' life always came back to music.

It was a warmer Sunday when she walked out to her dad's shiny BMW to go and see Matt again, the roadways that let to his house were both familiar and comforting to her. She had become a regular at the Rutherford's for dinner on weekends. Matt had a big family, three sisters and one brother, she always guessed that was why he was always so quiet.

Matt was the oldest, and worked just as hard as his parents to take care of his younger siblings. Picking them up from various practices, taking them to see their friends; he was the best big brother that any kid could want. He was also a straight A student, who would graduate the following year with honors. Mercedes didn't know what she'd do when she couldn't see him everyday again.

Matt opened the door, and found his best friend standing on his doorstep, wrapped up in bright colors as always, her smile just as bright as usual. She waved at him, as was their tradition whenever they saw each other. He moved out of her way so that she could come into his brightly lit and familiar home, just like always.

"Hey, homie." She said, taking off her large black jacket and draping it on the traditional coatrack.

"Hey, 'Cedes. How're you today?" He asked in his quiet voice. He always asked how she was, which never went unnoticed for her.

"I'm aight. Dad's got it stuck in his head that stripes and plaids still go together, like we're livin' the the nineties or some shit." She said laughing, causing him to smile and roll his eyes at her easy irritation. "But, how's my boy today?" She asked politely.

"I'm okay, I've been teaching Stacy how to multiply fractions." He said softly again leading them to the den to practice their music.

"I'm telling you, you need to volunteer at the children's hospital with me as a tutor. It's a whole lotta fun." She said. Mercedes had been tutoring in math for a year, ever since she had discovered her ability in the subject outmatched all of her classmates but Matt and Rachel Berry.

"If I had any time, 'Cedes, I would." He smiled kindly, and turned to the old piano in the corner of the room.

"Of course you would. So, what're we gonna sing, 'cause I am not singin' anything from Snow White." She said, causing him to laugh loudly, which was a weird occurance.

"No worries. I've got it all taken care of, all we have to do is practice." He smiled, offering a hand to help her sit with him. She took it, feeling the butterflies that seemed to be popping up every time he was around her lately.

–

The two were standing and watching a surprisingly good performance from Santana and Tina. Mercedes never got nervous, not before any performance in her entire life. Now she felt the weird squirming feeling that came with being nervous, and she knew it was because she had been partnered with Matt, to sing a song for lovers.

Matt rubbed her arm in a comforting way that she knew meant to say that everything would be okay for her. He was always reassuring her, and thank goodness he was there to do it, or else she would just fall apart all over the place all the time.

"Our next duo are the lovely Mercedes Jones and Matt Rutherford." Mr. Schue announced and the two quickly walked out on stage, before Mercedes sat on a nearby wall as Matt lifted the mic to his usually silent mouth.

"If I never knew you

If I never felt this love

I would have no inkling of

How precious life can be

And if I never held you

I would never have a clue

How at last I'd find in you

The missing part of me"

He walked to her, and his heart was beating faster that it had around her before. He took in her smile as she watched him sing evenly to her, his eyes not leaving her as she swayed to the sound of his voice.

"In this world so full of fear

Full of rage and lies

I can see the truth so clear

In your eyes

So dry your eyes

And I'm so grateful to you

I'd have lived my whole life through

Lost forever

If I never knew you"

He held out a hand for her once more, and she took it standing to sing along side of him.

"If I never knew you

I'd be safe but half as real

Never knowing I could feel

A love so strong and true

I'm so grateful to you

I'd have lived my whole live through

Lost forever

If I never knew you"

She sang evenly, standing next to him, her fingers locked tightly with his before he lifted her arm and spun her underneath their interwoven fingers.

"I thought our love would be so beautiful

Somehow we'd make the whole world bright

I never knew that fear and hate could be so strong

All they'd leave us were these whispers in the night

But still my heart is saying we were right"

He smiled at the sound of her voice as she sang to him, leaning against him, his arm wrapped protectively around her warm shoulder.

"Oh, if I never knew you

There's no moment I regret

If I never knew this love

Since the moment that we met

I would have no inkling of

If our time has gone too fast

How precious life can be

I've lived at last"

The traded off, and when they finished she hid her face from him, to keep from betraying the feelings that were written plainly on her face. He took a hand and gently lifted her face to meet his gaze, the mic lifted to his lips.

"And if I'm so grateful to you

I'd have lived my whole life through"

She smiled at him softly before touching his face. He closed his eyes before singing,

"Empty as the sky

Never knowing why"

They both took the other's hand and walked forward, smiling at all the children who had tears in their eyes after watching the two African American teens serenade one another with feelings they never recognized they had before.

"Lost forever

If I never knew you"

They ended the song together to loud clapping and cheering. They looked to each other, Matt's eyes searching those of his best friend. He watched her smile, and then he kissed her forehead softly, feeling accomplished that he made the girl he loved smile.