New day and apparently I can write a new update in a few hours. I hope you like this one because I'm sort of speeding things up a bit.

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Disclaimer: Glee and/or its characters are not mine. Everything belongs to Ryan Murphy, his colleagues and Fox. I just love to borrow them for entertainment purposes.

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Happy reading...

Chapter 8

Weeks have passed since the first tutoring meeting between Sam and Mercedes and the tensions between them decreased rapidly. Long gone were the fights or the insults; actually, they were finding ways to understand each other, to everyone's surprise. Sam's life changed drastically but he was content with the outcome. The insensible asshole, who only cared about popularity and parties, was rapidly disappearing and the new and improved Sam was gaining more real friends than ever. Between studying, working and spending time with Mercedes, Mike, Santana and Joe, Sam found himself busier than ever. He tried his best to be civil with Finn and his other friends but things between them were definitely not the same anymore.

As the Thanksgiving break approached, Sam could not hide his excitement to go back home for a few days. Honestly, it was the first time in years, he was really happy see his family, particularly his siblings. Before heading back to his apartment to get ready for his trip, Sam and Mike stopped by the café because Sam wanted to see Mercedes one last time. Since it was a busy day and Mercedes was one of the most solicited servers in the café, Sam and Mike opted to sit at the bar.

"Are you off today?" Joe asked.

"Yes, I am. I'm heading to Tennessee tomorrow morning and I asked Shuester for the night off since I haven't pack." Sam answered keeping his attention on Mercedes.

"Nice." Joe said as he looked to where Sam gazed. "When are you going to tell her how you feel, Sam?"

"What?" Sam asked trying to hide his embarrassment and while Mike chugged down his drink.

"Dude, he just spotted you." Mike said.

"No, I didn't. I'm just asking for the obvious." Joe replied. "Everyone in this place knows what the deal between them is. What bothers us is Mercedes' blindness. I swear, she's one of the smartest girls I've ever met but when it comes to dating and that kind of stuff she is completely ignorant about everything. But fear nothing Sam Evans; nobody is going to open their mouths to spoil your moment." Joe added, making Sam feel like his stomach was tying itself into a tighter knot. "I'll be around if you need me." He said and walked away.

"Interesting guy." Mike said staring at his friend. "He has very insightful knowledge."

"Tell me about it." Sam said mortified.

"Hey Mercedes!" Squeaked Mike, when she approached them.

"Hey guys!" She said sporting her brightest smile. "Sam, I'm happy to see you before you head back home. I wanted to tell you that I got my literature midterm."

"Yes? How did you do?"

"A-Minus."

"A-Minus. That's great!" He said happy for her achievement.

"I wanted to thank you personally, really."

"It's ok. It was fun tutoring you." They both laughed at the sight of Mike.

"Well… I have to head back to check on my customers but let me know if you need anything. Good to see you, Mike."

"Likewise." Replied their Asian friend. "Mercedes, wait! Do you have any plans for Thanksgiving?" Mike asked.

"No. I'll be here."

"Oh… Well, have a good vacation." Sam said.

"You too, Sam."

Seconds later, Mercedes was gone and Mike was looking at Sam in a very disappointed way. "What?" Sam asked his friend.

"I can't believe you, Sam Evans!" Mike stated. "You should've invited her to Tennessee with you."

"Are you crazy? That would be weird. I just got into her good graces not that long ago and I don't want to lose that." He explained.

"In my book, you guys are finally friends. She was a nut hard to crack but in the end, you found your way around her."

"I know. I just don't want to get rejected, you know." Sam confessed, looking at the object of his affection from afar.

"Well, I am going to take my chance and I am going to invite her to spend some time with me back home. You wouldn't mind, right?"

"No. No, of course not. You guys are friends as well. Why would I mind?" Sam said visibly uncomfortable.

"I don't know." Mike teased.

Mike got out of the bar stool and approached Mercedes, noticing that Sam was following his tracks. "Hey, Mercy!"

"Yes?" She said as she turned to face Mike and surprisingly find Sam standing right next to him. "Is everything alright?"

"Oh yes! I wanted to asked you… since you don't have any plans for Thanksgiving, I was wondering if maybe-"

"…You wanted to spend Thanksgiving with me and my family?" Sam said interjecting Mike midsentence. Sam was surprised at his bravery while Mike was happy Sam finally took action, even though, he had to push him to his limits. Mercedes was stunned and she knew her facial expression was betraying her; she knew she looked like a deer stuck between headlights.

"Sam, that's a very generous invitation but I don't want to impose. I know how excited you are to spend some time with your family and I don't want to take that away from you."

"No. No, you won't. I really want to introduce you to a true southern Thanksgiving celebration. What do you say?" He said.

"Sam, it is really nice of you but-" She tried to say but Sam interrupted her.

"Come on, Mercedes! It would be fun and you don't have to worry about anything I will take care of whatever you need. Don't make me get down on my knees and beg you in front of everybody." He said as he slowly knelt. Mike was really enjoying the moment he was witnessing.

She laughed. This was something completely new to her and she did not know if it was a good idea but she was going to find out. "Get up! Please, Get up! Ok, I'll go." She replied.

He threw a fist in the air. "Yeah!"

XXXXX

Sam helped Mercedes out of the taxi and when she got a chance to take a good look at Sam's house, she was completely out of words. Sam picked up the bags from the taxi's truck, paid the driver and headed to front door.

"Hey!" He screeched as he saw his parents already waiting for them at the door.

"Hi sweetie!" His mother said as she kissed him on the cheek.

"Hiya, captain!" Sam's father said as he wrapped his son into a hug. "You look good."

"Thanks!" Sam said as he pulled himself out of the embrace.

"Sammy!" Sam's siblings said in unison as they ran to hug their older brother. Mercedes was happy to see that Sam's family was as happy to see him, as he was to see them.

"Hi, kids! You guys are bigger than the last time I saw both of you."

"Duh, Sammy! We are are still growing up." Sam's little sister responded.

Sam smiled at his sister and quickly turned to Mercedes. "Mom, Dad, Stacy and Stevie… This is my friend Mercedes." She shyly smiled. "Mercedes, this is my family. My mother, Mary, my dad, Dwight and those two in the back are Stacy and Stevie."

"It's very nice to meet all of you. I'm glad to be here."

"It's very nice to meet you. Sam has spoken wonders about you." Sam's mother said.

"It's good to have you with us." Sam's father added. "It's funny the only college friends of Sam we've ever met were all boys. It's good to finally meet a girl." Dwight joked, causing everyone to laugh while Sam blushed.

"Please, come on in! Sam is going to take you to your room." Stevie said.

"Please, make yourself at home." Stacy added.

Mercedes politely smiled and followed Sam to the second floor of his house. "They don't seem so bad, Sam" She said when she knew she was far from their hearing range.

"They're not. I think I was the complicated one." He clarified. As they reached the second floor, Mercedes felt overwhelmed all of the sudden. Sam's house could easily be shown at an episode of MTV Cribs, yet it felt so warm and welcoming. The hallway that guided to the bedrooms was long and fully decorated and Mercedes got lost into all the art and the pictures she found on the walls. "Your house is huge." Mercedes said still stunned. "And… Look at all this stuff. It's impressive."

Sam chucked. "Not as impressive as you."

Mercedes smiled and thanked the heavens for her dark complexion. She was still not used to all the compliments he would say to her.

"Here we are." Sam said as they stopped in front of the guest room and he guided her inside. "My room is two doors down. I'm going to let you unpack calmly but let me know if you need anything." He said as he dropped her bag on the bed and started to walk out of the room.

"Thank you, Sam… for everything."

"You're welcome." He replied and he closed the door.

Mercedes ran to the door and opened it. "Sam, wait!"

Sam turned around. "Is everything ok?"

"Yes. Yes, it is. I just wanted to ask you something. It's silly but I wanted to ask you anyways."

"Ask away." He said happily.

"What happened to the insufferable Sam I met at the library at the beginning of the school year?"

He smiled, as he remembered their first meeting. It seemed like years had gone by and it had only been a few months since they met. "He's gone, Mercedes."

"Really?" She asked suspicious.

"Yes. Actually, I wanted to thank you for that."

"Me? Why?" She asked strangely confused.

"Because meeting you was what I needed to become a better person." Sam told her. Then, he kissed her on the cheek and walked to his room; leaving a dazed Mercedes in the hallway, trying to catch her breath.

"Oh shit!" She exclaimed as she touched her cheek.

A/N: Could it be?

What about Sam's invitation? Will it bring them closer or push them apart? I think is going to be interesting!

Until Next Time,

XOXO