~Sam's POV~
(A Week Later...)
"This is ridiculous," I half-whine. "You should be coming home with me, not staying at your parents."
"Three weeks" she cackles in the passenger seat beside me. "You can't wait three weeks?"
I take my right hand and curl it around her thigh, before giving her a lovable squeeze and she chuckles. "I've waited for you, long enough."
I feel her tense up and realize how it's a double meaning and I immediately start backtracking.
"Not for sex, I mean like I'm cool with waiting. It's just...I'm really excited for the domestic life" I smile nervously, exchanging her thigh for her hand instead and she cuddles up to my arm. "Like...making you breakfast. And staying in to watch movies. The occasional jam session."
"Sunday Brunches after church-Oh my God!"
"What!" I say slamming on the breaks and it jerks us forward.
"Church! Like I am so insensitive! How could I be so selfish!" She freaks out as I coax myself out of a panic attack.
"Merce! What the hell! You scared me to death!" I shout practically clutching my heart. "I thought something was really wrong."
She sulks a bit lower in her seat. "I'm sorry...Its just I remembered something important."
I close my eyes and sigh realizing that everything is fine. "Is it CPR?" I joke before taking her hand, and easing the car off again.
"No," she smiles squeezing it gently. "It's about the church...My family and I practically chose mine; like I didn't even ask to see if that's what you wanted."
"Well, if you wanted to get married in a church yours would be the only option since you're not catholic."
"I know, but what if I convert?"
"What?"
"Convert. Become catholic," she says easily. "I mean it's not like its too far of a stretch from being Baptist."
I cock my eyebrow and we both share a laugh and she rephrases her statement.
"Its still Christianity, with the same Jesus and the same God."
"Exactly," I add flicking the turning signal and completing a left turn. "Which means it doesn't matter where we get married. The same God is everywhere."
"Yes, but your mother isn't" she winces and I chuckle. "And I just want things to go smoothly. This is a lot to take in."
I sigh hearing how scared she is about my family. Not that they don't like her, it's just our history is...different. If anything, my parents are skeptical about this decision. They've witnessed firsthand how our relationship has a habit of stopping before it get's started. And I hate to be the one to say it, but Mercedes seems to have a tendency to break things off no matter how much I protest. Three attempts at being together, and none of them have lasted a year...how is it supposed to last a lifetime.
I guess that's why her family is so supportive; they know I'm not going anywhere in this relationship. Any commitment I make, I have every intention of keeping it. And I know Mercedes has the best intentions, but I also know that she will sacrifice it all if she thinks it'll be better for me in the long run. Jesse was right. I am racing against time. Time has never been on my side when it comes to Mercedes, because she thinks too much.
I complete the final turns to get to her house and I stop the truck in front. She sits silently looking out the window, and I inch over to get closer to her and she snuggles up to me immediately. I fucking love that. How whenever I'm close, she just wants me closer. My head leans on top of hers and she sighs gravely causing me to smile.
"Mercedes..."
"What."
"Everything is going to be perfect...even if this wedding isn't."
She leans away to look at me. "Dude...that's like the worst thing you could say to a bride! Don't you realize that everything I'm stressing about is to ensure that we have the perfect day?"
"Yes, but even if it's a complete disaster-"
She shakes her head with her eyes closed, waving her hands in small mystic-circles in front of her face, chanting 'No-Negativity" and I smile even bigger catching them.
"In the end, I still get you."
She stops chanting immediately, peeking one eye open.
"I am marrying the most beautiful soul I've ever known...the only person I ever want to imagine the rest of my life with...the literal girl of my dreams" I say ducking my head low so she can see my eyes. "Who cares where it happens or who doesn't like it. The only two people that matter are sitting in this truck...not to mention, this wedding is probably a good practice round for whatever challenges we face in life."
"How do you mean?"
"Well, we already know people don't approve. And considering how nothing for us can ever go according to plan, we're bound to come up against something trying to sabotage what we have..."
"I won't waver" she says closing her eyes again. "Even if you don't see this through, I will."
I smile reaching up to stroke her cheek.
"Whenever we get too close, I find some excuse to run away...I'm not doing it this time," she says determined and I nod seeing how hard it is for her to stay by my side.
Whenever it comes to us, Mercedes is somehow always insecure..and for the life of me I can't understand why. She's entirely amazing...and I'll be the luckiest man alive after she says "I, Do".
"I don't mind you running if it's to me" I joke and she gives me a look. "But do me a favor, okay?"
She nods waiting.
"No matter what happens...the dresses don't coordinate. The groomsmen are too drunk at the ceremony. The cake is lopsided. Your weave lost a track-"
She hollers covering her smile as I list off disasters, and her dark brown eyes light up mirroring my mood.
"Just, laugh it off" I grin, pulling her in for a hug. "Because at the end of the day; I got'chu, babe."
She squeezes me tight. "Thank you."
"Anytime," I say rubbing her back. "Now let's get inside, cause I'm starving."
We separate after she kisses my cheek and I get out first to get her bags out of the car.
"This is it?" I ask suspiciously. There are only two suitcases and one carry-on. "Okay, who are you and what have you done with my fiancé."
"I'm learning to travel light" she giggles coming over to help. "Besides, a lot of my stuff belonged to the record company and I already gave most of it back. This stuff is all mine."
"Oh" I say easily until I attempt to figure out why she had to give back anything... "Did you cancel your contract?"
"No."
"Mercedes?"
"I made you a promise Sam. I didn't quit anything without consulting you...I'm still under my labels roster."
My eyes squint. "If I look on Wikipedia and you're name isn't there-"
She rolls her eyes taking a bag and rolling it up the steps. I follow her and we enter the house; her brother, father and uncle are all in the living room watching baseball.
"Hey! I'm home!" Mercedes calls and they each give a collective 'Hey'.
"Hey, everyone" I say routinely and they give me the same response.
Mr. Jones is the only one who get's up to greet us, and he takes her in a bear hug. "Hey, baby-girl" he says sort of gruffly. He takes one hand and extends it towards me, giving me a firm shake. "Hey, Sam."
"Hello, Sir" I respond politely and he chuckles releasing my hand.
"Come, come now Sam. We're gonna be family" he chuckles releasing Mercedes and she walks towards the kitchen. "You can call me, Mr. Jones."
My nose flares trying not to smile and he gives me a taunting smirk before walking back into the the living room.
"If it's all the same, I think I'll stick to Sir."
~Mercedes' POV~
(The Next Morning...)
Buzzzzzzzz-Buzzzzzzz...Buzzzzzzzz-Buzzzzzzz.
My hand feels blindly on the nightstand table next to my bed, and when my fingers touch the screen I tap it letting my hand rest on it not wanting to answer it. I breathe hard keeping my eyes closed taking the phone and bringing it towards my face.
"You're going to open your eyes...in three...two...one."
I keep them closed an extra minute until I yawn and they open slowly. Glancing around my bedroom, sitting in silence like I do every morning. The phone vibrates again causing the screen to illuminate his name across the top. I immediately start smiling; I put my hand to my forehead feeling the sudden swoosh spreading throughout my body and the past few weeks fast forward in my mind leading up to the fact that I'm marrying Sam Evans.
Samuel. Evans.
I legit lie back once again just reveling in the fact that I got him. I...actually got him. The sweet and sexy, lovable dork I was totally head over heels in high school...especially after Prom-On-A-Budget. I mean...of course I sort of liked him before, like a few minutes after he walked into the choir room but I also figured I had no chance. He was legit passed around just like every other guy in Glee except for Kurt.
I have to admit, at first I was put off at the idea in even dating him in the beginning. But he was just so...genuine. And persistent. And little by little, he proved to me that our time together was indeed special and not just a place-holder for something else.
He makes me feel special and valued...and he's constantly had my best interest at heart. He keeps me grounded, and he forces me to remember the important things. And he's so considerate. Loyal. Kind...he's legit perfect. And I got him.
"You used to call me on my cellphone...Late night when you need, my...love-"
"Hey!" I grin and he chuckles.
"Hey...Good to hear you're up."
"I am" I say still smiling. "How'd you sleep."
"Alone" he laughs. "But I can deal...21 days."
"That's right. 21 days, and you'll never have to sleep alone again."
"Ohhhhh, I'm so gonna hold you to that" he exaggerates and I laugh. "So...since it's Saturday and I don't have work I was wondering if I could steal you away today?"
"Tonight, absolutely. But my day has already been claimed."
"Seriously? You just got here" he sighs. "How am I slacking already?"
"You aren't slacking, it's just my mom is already starting to freak out about this wedding...seeing as how it is in 21 days."
"O...kay...well, do you need help with anything?" He tries and I hear in his voice how bad he wants to see me.
"That's sweet, but you're not going anywhere near a dress shop until well after our wedding."
"Wait, you're dress shopping?" He says like he's excited. "Come on, Merce...I should be allowed to see something-"
"Yeah, right!" I laugh. "But while I've got you, are you objecting to any colors?"
"Uhhhhhhm..."
"You know what-"
"No-No-No-No I can do this. Colors I don't like...nothing neon. And no sequence...right?"
I giggle. "Very good."
"See. I can help" he chuckles. "Purple is always nice."
"See I thought about that, but then I thought it was too cliche. Besides, I feel like both proms dominated the color."
"Which is why we should keep the scheme going. It has meaning."
"Yeah...it usually means that not long after we break up" I say proving a point. "Forgive me for not wanting to jinx it."
"Good point. Its a bad idea, bad idea" he says backtracking immediately causing me to laugh again.
"But I think we're just looking for Bridesmaids, today. Which reminds me, can you please ask your family when your they're coming into town? That way your mom's there when I make the final decision for my dress?"
"Sure" he says after a pause.
"What?"
"Nothing, I just didn't know you wanted her to be there. At least, not for that."
"Oh" I say easily. "Well...I do."
"Okay" he says in a way I know he's wearing my lopsided grin.
"Ok-ay" I mock him and he tells me to shut-up.
"So, just to summarize we'll do dinner at home and then I've got a surprise for you afterwards."
"A surprise?"
"Yeah" he says before noticing the apprehension in my silence. "It's totally low-key, I promise. But wear something nice, and comfortable shoes."
"Okay, now I'm scared. What's going on."
He chuckles. "Would you relax, we're gonna have a good time."
"But you said something nice-"
"Not nice-nice, like...first-date nice. Which it is, because it's legit been forever since you let me take you out. So...eight-o-clock, sound good?"