Please don't hate me for this chapter. There is a reason for everything.

Sam quickly pulled on his clothes, his eyes not leaving the beautiful sight of Mercedes as she slept. This morning had started off all wrong. During the night he had formulated a plan of exactly how today was going to happen. He was going to go downstairs and make her some breakfast. He knew her kitchen better than he did the one in their old Lima house. And then they were going to talk. And they were going to fix things. Because she was worth far too much to him to lose. He was going to hold her out of reach from Marcus or any of the other drooling guys from the party who might start getting ideas.

And then they were going to have fantastic sex before he went to work. Not that weird twisted shit from last night, but some proper Southern 'luvin'.

He smiled and shook his head at that word. He wasn't saying that he loved her, it was just that… Last night was cold. It was better with feelings.

Shit! He didn't mean that either!

Or maybe he did…

On second thoughts, maybe now wasn't the greatest time to have this chat. He needed to get his head straight and his words in line. Words were not his strong point and he was determined not to talk himself into a corner like he had the tendency to do.

He looked at the clock and realized that ten minutes had passed. A whole ten minutes of him just standing watching her sleep! It was time to go. Sam leaned forward and kissed her cheek gently, brushing away a lock of hair which had somehow come loose. At some point during the night she must have got up because her hair was now mostly covered with a loosely tied scarf. It was a very domestic picture. Standing slowly, he took a mental photograph of her, preserving that image in his brain.

Reaching the door he turned back towards her and spoke quietly. "Don't worry. I'll be back later beautiful. Last night's clusterfuck of drama is in the past. Today is a new day. You and me baby, we're something special."

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

Did you get my message? Are you on your way? We're waiting for you to have lunch.

He sighed. And with one final glance at her he was gone.

"Hey mom! Hey little guys!"

"Sammy!" Stacy hurled herself at his legs, nearly toppling him over. "Where did you go? I was worried about you!" He grinned and picked her up, pulling her into a huge embrace.

"I slept at a friend's house because we were out late. I told ma that I might do that."

She buried her face in his chest before scrunching her nose. "Eeew Sammy, you smell sweaty!"

He laughed. "Yeah. That's coz these are last night's clothes and I didn't get to have a shower coz mom asked me to come straight home."

"Did you have fun at the party?" His mom was eyeing him seriously.

"Yeah. It was cool." The party seemed so long ago now. "So what's this important news? And where's dad? I thought you said we were having lunch."

She smiled at him. It was the happiest smile he'd seen from her in a long time, but it also held a hint of nervousness. "He's coming. If you're quick you have time for a shower before he gets here."

Sam looked over to the kitchenette corner of the motel room and noticed that everything was in order. There were no signs of food preparation. "So what's for lunch?"

Again with the smile. "It's a surprise Sam. Go have your shower and get dressed. By the time you get out dad should be back and he'll explain."

"Can't you tell me now?"

"No. We discuss this as a family. Now hurry. The kids are hungry and so am I!"

The expression on his mom's face was one he knew well. She could be stubborn sometimes, just like Mercedes. And with both of them it was always better to just let them be. He smiled to himself. His mom would totally love Mercedes. They had a lot of similar personality traits. He knew there was no way he was going to be getting anymore information right now so he grabbed his towel and a set of clean clothes and headed into the bathroom, praying that there would at least be a little bit of hot water left for him.

By the time he came out his dad was back and the kids we're climbing excitedly all over him despite his laughing protestations. Again, he had smiles that Sam hadn't seen for a long time. Dwight Evans had aged considerably over the last couple of months as had his wife Mary, but something had restored a glow to them and Sam prayed it was going to be good news that would get them out of this godforsaken motel.

"How was your party son?"

"It was good."

"So you slept over at Mike's then?"

"Well-"

"Sammy we're going to a restaurant!"

Never had he been so glad for Stacey's interruption. He really didn't want to have to lie to his dad, but he couldn't exactly share the details of what had gone down last night. And besides, what was this? They never ate out anymore. They barely had money to eat as it was!

"Dad! How can we-"

"Don't worry Son. It's only the local IHOP."

"But still-"

"All will be revealed." He stood and reached for his smiling wife's hand. "Are we all ready to go?"

Stacy was literally bouncing. Stevie was trying hard to look more dignified as the older one, but it was clearly obvious that he was excited too. There was only so much mac'n'cheese, ramen and leftovers from the pizzaria that can be eaten before insanity sets in.

Sam smiled as he followed them out the door. This could only mean one thing. His dad had found a job. They were going to be okay!

Sam smiled at the waitress that brought their meals to the table. They had all ordered from the 7 for $7 menu. This was a treat but there were five of them and they weren't about to go overboard with it. The waitress reminded him of Mercedes. She was curvy with a chocolate skin and a pretty face. Well, actually, she looked nothing like Mercedes other than those three features. He just clearly wanted to think about her yet again.

"So," his dad began, "As you've probably guessed, I've finally managed to get a job. And not just any cheap job, it's a managerial role similar to what I had before which actually one that pays pretty well. Enough to get us back living in a decent property again!"

Sam's smile was huge. Even if they left the motel tonight it wouldn't be soon enough! "Dad. I'm so happy for this!" he said with genuine appreciation.

"So am I. It's been unfair that you've had to work to support us, but that ends this week."

Shit! He had forgotten about work. Being out for lunch meant he didn't leave enough time to pop back and see Mercedes before his shift starts.

"Sam! Did you hear me? You can quit your job now because it's no longer needed."

"That's great! No more late night shifts and stinking of pizza!" And more time to spend with Mercedes!

"But there is something else about this new job." Suddenly both parents shared that nervous look. Sam noticed but was distracted by the sudden realization: I haven't told Mercedes where I am. She would have woken up alone thinking I've abandoned her!

He quickly pulled out his phone to send her a text.

"Sam! This is NOT the time to be texting right now!"

"I know, it's just something I forgot earlier-"

His mom looked livid. "We are having a family discussion Sam. Hand over the phone!"

He desperately hit the keys as fast as he could.

"NOW SAM!"

Chat later

He managed to hit 'send' on the two word text before his dad snatched the phone away and his mom stashed it in her purse for safe keeping. She shot him that look of angry disappointment that made him feel like a five year old and he hung his head in shame.

"I can't believe you would disrespect your father like that. Let alone attempt to text at the table while we're eating. Haven't we taught you any manners Samuel Evans!"

"Yes maam. Sorry." There was no way he would be able to explain just how important that text actually was.

The kids noticed the tension and Stevie attempted to break it by cooing over the dessert menu with Stacey. "Hey mom, can we get a sundae after this?"

She snatched the menu away from him. "No! We're not made of money!" Then she caught herself and softened her tone. "But we will pick up a big tub of ice cream from the store on the way back so that we can eat it with a movie. How does that sound?"

The kids smiled and Sam saw the guilt in her face for having snapped at them. She ran her fingers through her hair in exactly the same way he always did when he was stressed before turning back to her husband. "I'm sorry Dwight. You didn't get to finish what you were saying."

All eyes were back on the sandy haired man and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "So, although I had my interview here in Lima, the job is actually located in their head office."

Sam felt as if someone had just run an ice cube down his spine. It was like Peter Parker having his spider senses going off. "And where exactly is this head office based?" he asked, food suddenly forgotten.

"Kentucky."

Mercedes!

"That's four hours away dad!"

"I know. That's why we need to discuss this as a family. It would mean that we would have to move all over again. I know that we've only been here a year and I appreciate that it means you kids would have to start over with new schools yet again!"

"I want to go to a new school" said Stevie "The kids in my class are horrible and say that I smell because I don't have a proper house!"

Sam's heart went out to his little brother. It hadn't been easy for any of them, and the kids in school could be really cruel. It was unfair that he was having to deal with the brunt of it at such a young age. "Sometimes they say stuff about Stacy too but she doesn't always notice."

Sam watched his mom bite her lip and fight back her tears at the boy's words. His dad took a long shaky breath. "What about you Sam?"

"My school is fine. I love Glee club and being on the football team. I've really found my place there." And a girl that I'm actually really into.

"I see."

Sam shook his head. He knew how selfish it sounded. This was the perfect job opportunity for his dad. And his siblings really did need to get out of the school that they were in. He was the only one who wanted to stay. He had to think about the greater good. He stared hard at his plate, appetite completely vanished. It took every ounce of energy to force the words out "But this is too good an opportunity to pass up dad…"

But Mercedes!

He could feel four sets of eyes boring intently at him and he was glad for the long bangs covering his eyes on his tilted head. "How soon can you start?"

"Next Monday."

Shit! That's only a week tomorrow!

His mom took his hand but he refused to look up, knowing that his eyes were welling. Knowing that his world was crumbling.

It was his dad's voice that he heard next. "I was thinking, tonight could be your last shift at the pizzeria. You've not been there long enough to have to work off a notice period. And that way you can have your last week in Lima to hang out and say goodbye to your friends.

I don't want to say goodbye to my friends.

And I definitely don't want to say goodbye to Mercedes!

Much as he hated it, this was not the time to be selfish. Especially with the kids at the table looking so excited. He blinked his eyes several times, and when he was confident they were no longer moist he lifted his head. "So when do we leave?"

"I was thinking Friday. One of the line managers has a small apartment that he usually rents out that he's willing to let us have rent free for a couple of months until we sort out our own place. If we drive down Friday after lunch, we can use the weekend to move in and get settled. Then next week mom can organize getting you guys into new schools and start looking for a part time job for herself."

Sam forced a smile and started eating again. "Sounds like a plan! Congratulations on the job dad!"

"Thanks son. Things will get better from now on, I promise."

Sam was quiet for the rest of the meal, allowing Stevie and Stacy to chat excitedly. How the hell was he supposed to break this news to Mercedes? Suddenly he was glad that he didn't have the chance to speak with her in the morning. Imagine if they had made things official in the morning, only for him to have to end things in the afternoon because he was having to move away?

No, he shouldn't be upset. He had a lucky escape. Technically they were on a break. So by leaving now he wouldn't be doing anything wrong.

Time passed quickly with his family, talking through their plans of winding things up at the motel and getting things organized for their new place. It was only a couple of short hours before he found himself dropped off at the pizzeria, he went to his locker to get changed for the shift while his dad spoke to his manager about him leaving.

The shift passed quickly with Sam being so lost in thought. A new start, a new state, a new school…

He looked at the clock. It was 11pm. He should be texting Mercedes to say goodnight.

SHIT!

He was going to speak to her today after leaving so abruptly in the morning! He fished in his pocket for his phone, only to remember that it would still be in his mom's purse after she took it off him at the lunch table. He cursed. She was going to hate him. First for leaving without a word in the morning, and now for being unreachable when he had texted that they would chat later.

And most of all for not being able to make things right with her.

They could barely get things right when they were in the same town. They would never be able to make it as a long distance relationship. He was a boy and he had needs. Kentucky was a new town, a new student body, a new pool of fresh pussy.

Surely it wouldn't take him long to forget what he was leaving behind here.

Maybe being in Lima had made him go soft. Lima had been the place where he had attempted to have actual relationships with girls and all it had done was result in constant heartache. Maybe this was his opportunity to go back to what he knows best.

Sure Mercedes would be mad be she would get over it soon enough. And being mad would help her get over it faster. Leaving this way would protect her. She had broken things with him. All he had to do was leave things exactly as they were.

But it's not just her you're protecting is it?

Maybe you're trying to protect your own heart too!

Heart? What the fuck did his heart have to do with anything? Yes he'd miss the 'booty-call' afternoons. But that was it. Okay and maybe the friendship too. The cooking together and the food fights. The movie watching and the trying out of his impressions. The comic book reading and the Anime watching. The kissing and the cuddling.

Cuddling? What the fuck?

Maybe moving was a good thing. Maybe he was getting soft. Sam Evans didn't do cuddling. And he sure as hell wasn't going to add cuddling to the list of things that he was going to miss. Cuddles from Stevie and Stacy were more than sufficient.

When he got home he was going to have to thank his dad. He was having a lucky escape. If he spent anymore time around this girl he would be left with an emotional attachment. And Sam Evans doesn't do emotional attachment. He fucks them and leaves. Mercedes Jones was a mistake. Getting involved with a virgin is always a mistake. They get attached and are hard to shake off. He was getting a lucky escape and should be thankful.

To walk away at this point would be totally acceptable. No harm no foul. Right?

And to think he had nearly talked himself into believing that they had something special!

Sam chose to ignore the heaviness that had settled on his chest and the self-doubt in the back of his mind and went back to folding pizza boxes.

He told himself over and over again.

This was a lucky escape…