~Mercedes' POV~
I stir a bit in the bed snuggling a bit more into the soft covers in that place between sleep and awake. I was having the loveliest dream where I kissed Sam and we ended up confessing how we felt-
Holy. Fuck.
I sit up frantically within the bed and clutch my head as the events of last night start to prance around, reminding me what happened...
Sam and I kissed...and it felt good. Really good. And some other things were probably said, but its like they're sort of muffled...And something about, this not being "over"...
I shake my head...
This is awful. Like I remember what I said but I can't remember how he reacted. I mean, we were both pretty drunk so there could be a really good chance that he remembers none of what was said or done last night. And although that would totally suck...I'd find some way to deal. But either way I have to know...and if he doesn't remember I just have to play it cool for the rest of today and tomorrow until my flight back to L.A...everything would be fine-
"Mercedes, wake up!" Kurt yells knocking on the other side of the door. "We're going to be late for breakfast at Rachel's and Santana and Britney fly in today."
"Coming" I call faintly, before peeling back the covers to get out of bed.
I know I need a shower so I go over to the fresh towels waiting on the nightstand, along with my makeup kit and robe and head for the bathroom across the hall. The door's shut so I knock and Sam's laid back tone answers me before I can run.
"I'll be out in a sec."
"Oh-kay" I answer, cringing the entire time on the inside.
Another moment later the door opens revealing a sopping wet Adonis in the doorway, and I swallow hard.
"Uh-Morning!" I wince and he ducks his head a bit embarrassed too.
"Morning" he says shuffling past me to get to his room.
Fuck. He doesn't remember.
I slap my forehead before walking into the bathroom, filled with steam and the heavenly fragrance of his body wash. God...I almost forgot how I loved the smell of him and his Irish Spring soap. I throw a tiny fit in the bathroom before starting to turn on the water.
Is this payback? Like the one time I build up enough courage to do something, he forgets the next day.
All I really want him to do is remember. Remember us and me and how we feel together. Because he was right and I was stupid. And as much as I may want to tell him how I feel, I know I won't...because if he somehow doesn't feel the same I'll be mortified beyond belief.
That's it...he's trying to give me a way out because he doesn't feel the same. It makes sense. I was too late. And I can't hold onto anything we said or did because he was really drunk, even though I wasn't as bad.
When the water feels good enough I step in and crane myself towards the shower head trying to inhale the water attempting to drown myself because I do not want to deal with today.
~Sam's POV~
Shit.
She forgot.
Why does this always happen to us? We make progress and then she pulls away. And then I'm left standing there like a dumbstruck idiot because there are only so many times I can hear her turn me down before I end up a sobbing mess in the fetal position.
But in all honesty, how many times do I have to tell her that I'm still in love with her? That I only want to be with her? That for the rest of my life, I'm pretty much guaranteed to be wired only for her.
And I swear to God if she says she just wants to be friends, that we're nothing more than friends, or anything along the lines of friendship I'm guaranteed to flip a fucking table.
There is absolutely nothing "friendly" about us. I've seen the way she looks at me, and I know for a fact that friendship is the last thing on my mind when I look at her...so labeling our tension as something else is just a bunch of bullshit that no one believes! Not even our friends. Not even us!
"Yo, Sam! Hurry up!" Blaine calls. "We're gonna be late."
"Alright" I answer continuing to dry myself off.
I end up wearing a simple pair of jeans and a v-neck tee, along with a dark blazer and a beanie hat. Something casual but still fashionable enough to keep up with everyone else.
When I open up the door Mercedes is checking her reflection in the hallway mirror, and I'm nearly floored because she looks incredible. She's wearing this fitted navy dress with a thin yellow belt wrapped around her waist. Its tight and intricate with a cute pattern, but totally shows off her thick hourglass shape. Her legs tone down into this perfect "V", and her nude strappy heels flex her calves delicately wrapping around her ankles like a present. She fluffs out her long and wavy dark hair before smiling at her reflection. She smooths out her dress and catches a glimpse of me staring at her like some stalker, and after this moment I probably will be because watching her get ready was probably the sexiest thing I've ever seen her do.
She gives me a shy smile before starting to turn in the opposite direction...and its crazy because its like I can't help myself from what's about to happen next.
In the three seconds it took to get to her, I've got her pressed up against one of the walls kissing her full mouth exactly the way I want too. And the best part is, she responds. Its not like I'm taking her off guard or taking advantage of the situation, but like she's wanted me to do it for a while.
Her hands reach up and tug the collar of my blazer before her lips nip and suckle mine. I grunt a little against her and she breaks away with a giggle.
"Thank. God."
"Thank God indeed" I say kissing her quick again and she laughs.
"No! I'm serious! I thought you forgot what happened last night" she grins trying to whisper. "I thought it was going to be really awkward and-"
I kiss her once more, shutting her up and when I break away her eyes stay closed, like she's riding on a high.
"We can't forget this, okay?" I say. "We have to promise each other that no matter what-"
"We remember this moment and how we feel" she finishes and I nod clutching her face to hold it. "I-I promise."
"Me too."
"Good" she smiles leaning in to kiss me again and I keep her there, just enjoying how sweet she tastes.
"Ah-hem" Kurt says impatiently. "We're late."
Mercedes tucks her lips in shyly before wincing. "Sorry."
"I'm not" I grumble and she bites her lips to keep from beaming at me.
"Lets just go" she offers slipping out of my hold to grab her purse and rush out the door.
"Uhm. I don't think so, missy" Kurt says chasing after her. "I want details."
~Mercedes POV~
"Why are ya'll acting like this is something brand new?" I say helping my friends set the table. "And if one of ya'll breaks out into song, I swear 'fo Jesus-"
"We're just curious as to what changed your mind?" Rachel says setting down a pitcher of orange juice. "I mean, one minute we're at the club dancing and then the next your knocking over some poor innocent girl-"
"Any girl grinding on my Sam, is not innocent."
"Oooooo!" Tina squeals excitedly. "You're, Sam?! Oh, Mercedes this is-"
"Not that big of a deal" I say although everything within my soul is contradicting the sentence.
"She's right. We shouldn't pressure them" Jesse says placing a large bowl of fruit on the table. "They'll have enough to figure out without our help."
"What's they're to figure out?" Rachel challenges. "They belong together-"
"Yeah, but aside from their emotional issues, they have a lot of physical barriers to work through."
I raise my eyebrows at him and he shakes his head.
"Oh don't even, we all know you're stunning" he says rolling his eyes. "I just meant that you need to keep level-headed about this."
"How so?" I say in a tone.
"Well, for one its a long distance relationship. Not to mention you have a demanding career that takes you everywhere" he adds. "I mean wasn't that the reason for your last breakup?"
I open my mouth to argue but I can't, so my face scrunches instead.
"Exactly" he says leaning in to kiss the side of my head. "Look, I hate to bring down your honeymoon phase...but I'm just looking out for you."
I pout accepting his advice until the craziest and most brilliant idea of my life pops into my head.
"SAM?!"
He along with everyone else in the house barge into the dining room looking for an emergency.
"Are you alright? Is everyone okay-"
"Marry me" I blurt and his eyes expand questioning if he heard me right. I nod adding a smile before repeating it. "Marry. Me."
~Sam's POV~
Tina, Rachel and Kitty automatically start screaming at the top of their lungs. Puck, Artie and Blaine are already offering me congratulations and plans for our bachelor party. Jesse, Quinn, Mike and Kurt look skeptical. And Roderick looks just as confused as me.
And as everyone is freaking out for a second within their own groups, Jesse, Quinn, Mike and Kurt form like a small barricade around her. And I just stand there watching the reactions of our friends.
"Mercedes, what the fuck?" Jesse says. "That's not what I meant."
"I agree" Quinn nods. "You're not thinking clearly. I mean have you and Sam even talked-"
"Marriage is a huge step" Mike says like it isn't the most obvious thing in the world. "Like have you even thought about what you're really asking him to do?"
"No. She hasn't" Jesse answers looking directly at her. "I don't get it, Mercedes. You're usually the smart and reasonable one-"
"He's right" Kurt nods. "Now what happened to change your mind? Because not even a day ago you were trying to convince us that you and Sam were just friends and now-"
"You proposed?!" Quinn exclaims. "I mean, have you even thought about how this would even work?"
"She's got a point" Mike adds. "You're career is literally seconds from taking off and who knows where you'll end up-"
"I don't care as long as I'm next to Sam" she says cutely and I can't help but smile.
"For the love of God, Sam!" Jesse groans. "Quit standing there and help us talk some sense into her."
I sigh reaching over to break up their little protection force and reach down to take her hand. She grasps onto me with both hands and I guide her away from the commotion into the bathroom. I lock the door and lean up against it once we're both inside and try to protect us both from the intensity of our friends. She looks at me nervously, practically gnawing off her bottom lip and I smile once more letting her know she can relax.
"Mercedes?"
She looks at me in a panic before remembering that she should breathe, and then she lets out a huge gust of air starting her speech.
"Look. I know that this is crazy. I know that we should've taken things slow and talked it out. I should've asked if you were even available or if you even wanted to become involved with me again but I had to say it before I lost my nerve" she rushes out continuing. "Because you and I both know that when it comes to you and I, I can never just say how I'm feeling. I can never admit to you or anyone else that even after all this time, you're still the person who makes my heart beat off rhythm. That whenever we get together it just feels right and that I get insanely jealous when I think about how you're with other people!"
My eyes raise a little letting her finish because there is absolutely no way she's going to allow me to say anything.
"So yeah. I freaked out by asking you to marry me, because everyone started attacking my happiness with questions about how this was going to work. And then my doubt started creeping in, and that doubt has made me do a lot of stupid things when it comes to our relationship by making me feel selfish and insecure, and frankly I'm tired of listening to it" she huffs taking a second to get angry. "I have wasted so much time trying to convince myself that I'm not in love with you, when honestly...I couldn't love you harder if I tried."
She's panting a little. Out of nerves or the weight of her confession, but this has clearly taken a toll on her.
"And even if you end up saying no, that's okay because at least I tried. And yeah, this was a crazy idea but it seemed like the only way to silence my fears of never seeing you again."
She stands there cutely waiting for me to say something, but I'm not sure I can. She smiles nodding, thinking that this is my way of turning her down and steps towards the door attempting to leave. I take a long stride in, capturing her face and kissing her hard.
Before we both get too carried away, she leans away from me to look me in the eye.
"So...is that a yes?" She winces.
"That's a fuck yes" I say allowing my arms to fall to her waist, squeezing her close to me.
"Really?" She asks getting hopeful.
"Merce, how many times must I tell you that it's always been you" I smile. "Ever since Prom-On-A-Budget."
She beams up at me and my heart swells so much it hurts. "Cool."
I laugh leaning down to kiss her again.
This is the happiest I've ever felt...I'm fucking engaged...to the most beautifully incredible woman I've ever known.
"But our friends are right, we don't have to rush" I say calmly. "We can take our time."
"I agree. Like I want to do it the right way, and I have some stuff to figure out."
"Alright, so...two weeks?" I say decidedly.
"SAMUEL DWIGHT EVANS!" Kurt says on the other side of the bathroom door. "TWO WEEKS IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO PLAN MY DIVA'S WEDDING?!"
"Are you kidding me?!" She squeals and she leans her face in my chest to hide. "Are you all outside the door?"
An eruption of muffled explanations happen leaving Mercedes and I in fits of laughter, listening as our friends try and explain.