February 13, 2022
Out of all the visits Kurt and Blaine made to southern California, this had been one of the most important thus far to happen. This time, Kurt made a solo trip out to California, flying into the LAX and arranging for a ride to Beverly Hills for his brief stay. He'd flown in the evening before Mercedes' big night—three nominations at the 64th annual Grammys—and ended up getting roped into some work before joining his friends. With all of the pre and post Grammys parties happening in and around the city of angels, it was already determined that his trip would be anything less than demanding of his event-planning expertise. But his priority on this visit hadn't been business for him; it was about his oldest and closest friend.
While Kurt took care of business around the star-studded city, Mercedes spent the hours prior to the big night getting ready. In between errands, Sam treated her to a massage before her at-home hair and nail appointments arrived. The stylist renewed her medium length weave and gathered it in a curly bun while her nail beautician gave her a clean French tip manicure. During some down time, she picked up her phone and made a video call to northern California residents, Tina and Mike Chang. She loved the instant Skype-like feature most phones now had—especially when she was making long distance calls. Mike spoke to her briefly before Tina stole the phone from him and held their three-year old son up to be in sight of the screen.
"Are you gonna wish Aunt 'Cedes good luck, Mikey?" Tina asked, looking at the toddler.
The pint-sized replica of Mike sucked in an enthusiastic breath and bellowed, "Good luck Aunt 'Cedeeees!"
Mercedes giggled softly, "Thank you sooo much Mach 3!"
Tina giggled as well, "Sam got you calling him Mach 3 now too?"
The singer shrugged at her phone, "It grew on me. Plus it's kind of a cute nickname with him being born so fast, and he's the third 'Mike' in a row. How's his little brother or sister doing by the way?"
Once she set Mikey down, Tina tilted the screen to show her rounded stomach where her free hand was rubbing. Mercedes heard her say, "Doing good. Just a couple more months to go!"
"Mercedes, help! She's gonna kill me!" Mike shouted somewhere in the background, sounding severely desperate.
"Oh, right," retorted Tina with a roll of her eyes and some head shaking. Mike laughed aloud while Tina went on to say, "Anyways, I've been trying to get things together at the boutique for the time that I'm gone. I think my assistants can handle it but not being in the shop at the start of spring is gonna be killer, but in between the baby's naps I might be able to work on some designs for autumn. You and Sam are coming up for the shower next week, right?"
"Girl, you know I'm not gonna miss it. I can't speak for Sam but if it means sparing Mike from getting roped into baby shower games, I'm sure he'll come too. They'll probably go to a basketball game or something. But would you pleeeeease make my baby-spoiling job easier and tell me what you guys are having?"
"Ah, ah, no way Mercedes. You'll find out at the shower just like eeeveryone else. But for now, go get yourself a Grammy!"
Grinning brightly, Mercedes joked, "Okay, okay if you insist." She blew a kiss at the tiny camera, "I'll call you tomorrow."
"Okay. We'll be watchiiiiing," sang Tina before their call ended.
Feeling light, giddy and anxious, Mercedes then called her mom and stepfather, her brother, Sam's parents and Stacey, and Stevie—who had been away on training for the Navy. While the calls were all brief, all of them wished her the best that evening. By the time she finished said calls, it was time for her to get dressed. Sam returned from running his errands in time to zip her up in a glimmering gold and white swirling-patterned, one-shoulder gown that was very becoming of her. Beyond her hips, it donned asymmetrical layers that fishtailed two feet across the floor. In return for his help, she helped adjust his tie and cuffs, and the two departed to pick up their friend.
As a trio, they rode in Sam's hybrid SUV down to the Staples Center. During the drive, Mercedes pulled out her phone to check her text messages. One was from Mrs. Evans, wishing her the best. The singer looked up from her phone and asked, "Have you talked to your mom today?"
A slight flinch made Sam avert his gaze from the road briefly, but he quickly returned it to the windshield. After one pursed-lipped swallow, he answered, "Yeah, while I was out. She said she was good but she sounded tired so I didn't talk to her too long. She told me she, Dad and Stacey would be watching you tonight so I'm sure you'll get a call from them tomorrow if they didn't already." His lips pulled up into a soft smile, "They're all really proud of you."
Mercedes heard the fraudulent cheer in his tone; she reached for his hand and when he permitted her to hold it, she rested it in her lap with both her hands surrounding it.
Kurt, who was on the phone during the brief discussion, wrapped up his call and then slipped his phone into the inner pocket of his tux jacket. "That was Blaine. He sends his love and best wishes, although we're both convinced you'll be walking out with at least one Grammy tonight. And if not then they're crazy."
"Don't jinx me!" Mercedes grinned, growing excited all over again. "But thank you."
Sensing her anxiety, Kurt snapped his fingers thoughtfully to start a subject change. "Hey did you know they're finally bringing The Princess and the Frog to Broadway, right?"
"Really?"
"It's about time," Sam chimed in.
"Mhm! Blaine told me the other day. He and I really think you should come to New York and audition for Tiana. You'd be a shoe-in. Besides when's the last time you were on that kind of stage?"
Mercedes threw her head back and let out one girlish chuckle, "Oh man, not since Rocky Horror."
"Which we didn't even really get to perform," recalled Sam. "Not in front of an audience at least."
"It was a lot of fun though," said Mercedes.
"Yeah. Sam, remember those gold shorts you had to wear for Rocky?"
"Oh God, yes!" laughed Mercedes before Sam could answer. She looked at him, noted his face going red and quickly bit down on her lip. "I'm not sure that it's something he tries to remember though."
Kurt sipped back some water from a bottle and adjusted his sunglasses. "But really, Mercedes consider the audition."
"Are you sure there's no ulterior motive, Kurt?" Sam asked with a grin, eyeing Mercedes.
Appearing innocent as ever, Kurt balked, "Like what?"
Smiling back at her boyfriend, Mercedes answered, "Like luring Sam and I out to NYC for a visit."
"Weeeell Lizzie does miss her Uncle Sammy and Aunt Cede."
Mercedes giggled and awed, and Sam smiled. "Mercedes and I miss her too. We've just been so busy, but I promise we'll be out there to visit."
Before the conversation could carry on further, the bright red Staples Center moniker appeared ahead of them. Once security let Sam's SUV through to the valet, the three got out of the car to walk the red carpet. Kurt lingered behind as Sam offered his bent arm to his girl. Mercedes threaded her own arm through and together they met the flashing bulbs of the sea of photographers. At one point, there was an overwhelming request for solo pictures of Mercedes.
"Ms. Jones!"
"Over here!"
"Give us a smile, Ms. Jones!"
"Who are you wearing, Mercedes?"
With her hands on her hips, Mercedes popped one shoulder toward the cameras, tipped her chin up and grinned. "Christian Siriano," was her answer to the question. She felt amazing, and being in a familiar situation such as the red carpet did wonders to calm her nerves.
Once inside, she, Sam and Kurt sat beside one another during the show. Midway through the night, the two men joined the audience in clapping for her revived cover of, "I Will Always Love You" at the end of the In Memoriam tribute—a song that had not been heard on the Grammy stage in almost exactly one decade. But her greatest swell of support came when the timeless Mary J. Blige presented her with the Grammy for the year's Best R&B Vocal Performance.
Mercedes, after overcoming the initial shock, lowered her hand from her face and automatically twisted to her left to peck her boyfriend on the lips. And as she rose from her seat, Kurt pulled her into a fierce yet jovial hug, and then stepped aside as she gathered up the skirt of her gown to get out of the row and to the stage for her award. She received another hug from the superior R&B female artist before turning to the podium. The crowd clapped profusely for her which made her fight against her tears one hundred times harder. Finally she mustered up the will to ramble quickly and adorably through her speech: to thank God, her mom and brother; Sam—"I love you honey," was interjected there—her best friends, her manager and last but not least, her fans. Her final words were, "You know, I like to wear necklaces—especially ones that say and mean something. Tonight I wore one," she touched her hand to her collar, "that says 'dream' because being right here has always been my dream, so thank you all for helping me make it come true. Don't give up, dreamers!" And as she thrust the award high above her head, she trilled, "God bless!"
She followed the music vet off the stage and was ushered to a back room for a brief interview and photos of her with her award. One photographer asked her, "How's it feel winning your first Grammy?"
Hearing the words made Mercedes grin wider, "I just…it's—I'm speechless!"
"You weren't just a minute ago!" teased another photographer, causing everyone to laugh.
One journalist asked, "Any advice to the aspiring artists out there?"
Mercedes brows came together even though she was still smiling. "Um…you mean besides what I said about dreams? Just work hard, don't give up, and appreciate the love and support in your life."
"And who was that for you, Mercedes?"
Without hesitation she answered, "God, my mom and stepdad, my brother, my boyfriend, my best friends and my manager. Who else?" And after finishing with a sassy smirk, she took a few more photos and left to return to her seat.
After the music-honoring show ended, she, Sam and Kurt attended Clive Davis' hotel after party together. Of the trio, Kurt was the only fully sober one, and the time zone difference had him retiring to his suite early that evening. Sam downed a glass of champagne when Mercedes had been toasted for her success and Mercedes helped herself to enough beverages to give her a light buzz. They danced and chatted with fellow winners, nominees and other Grammy attendees for several hours. At one point in the early hours of the morning, a still athletically-built Sam found Mercedes, wound his arms from behind and whispered a reminder in her ear that it was officially Valentine's Day, and that she probably wouldn't want to spend her little time with Kurt hung over tomorrow morning. Her response was a pout but she agreed and decided at two that it was probably best to call it a night.
Once the valet located Sam's tinted Tahoe, he and Mercedes made their leave for the night, ignoring the blinding bulbs of the paparazzi hailing them from the exterior of the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
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