Mercedes is confused. She's frowning at Sam who is staring down at her with these eyes...he's never looked at her this way before, at least without her knowing it.
"I'm sorry, Master Samuel. I don't think I heard you-"
"Then I'll say it again" Sam says confidently. "I become jealous of you."
"Why? When? How?" Mercedes asks in a rush. "I've done nothing for you to be jealous of-"
"Mercedes" Sam says grabbing both sides of her body. "You don't have to do anything, in order for me to be jealous."
Mercedes eyes roll dramatically. "Master Samuel you are makin' no sense-"
Sam can't bring himself to admit it yet, so he just pulls her even closer into him and allows his hold to explain everything. His arms wind around her back and torso, squeezing her tightly as he takes the moment to appreciate her. Her clean scent, is a welcomed and nice difference from Quinn's strong perfume. The feel of Mercedes warm body is soft and comforting; his shoulders flex around her frame cradling her close. Mercedes is completely frozen as she allows Sam to hold her. She's overwhelmed with so many feelings, but she can't stop her body from melting into Sam's form…it feels so good. Mercedes feels Sam's head rest on top of her's until she feels him pull back. He lifts her chin to face him and everything in her core is silently begging him to stop; it would be harder to forget how wonderful this all feels if he were to kiss her. Mercedes is completely frozen...every last function has left her body except for the ability to breathe. She's starring at him wide-eyed and her body language is completely rigid. This silence continues for what seems like forever until Sam can't take it anymore.
"Say somethin'" he begs.
Mercedes opens her mouth to speak, but no words come out. She looks at him completely amazed...how can this really be happening? She bites her lip hard trying to wake up from what she isn't sure is a nightmare or fantasy. Sam looks at her face seeing the gears turning in her head...her mind is clearly racing with his confession.
"I need to go" Mercedes says monotone.
Sam's eyes bug out. "Now? You need to leave right this second?"
She nods as if she's in some sort of trance. He lets her go stepping away from her as she calmly walks out of the room. As soon as she's out she runs out of the nearest exit straight for the cabins. Her mind is racing with each stride she must've been joking…This really wasn't happening. Their had to be a logical reason as to why he was acting like this. Mercedes jumps up and down kicking the ground some more entirely frustrated. Some of the elderly people are looking at her like she's lost her mind; she straightens herself, nods and continues back to her cabin. When she get's there she kicks the door before opening it and walking in…the little place is empty so she takes full advantage of kicking and beating her pillow and bed post.
"He must've been drunk…we did serve him wine with his dinner" she thinks to herself.
If Mercedes is upset about anything, it's the mere fact that Sam has given her hope. Maybe they can't be together in the way she always dreamed…but maybe there was another way? This was the first time she's ever allowed him to get that close...he held her tightly in his arms and-
"No" Mercedes hisses in the empty cabin.
She's right! Sam is practically engaged to Quinn.
While Mercedes is pacing back and forth in her cabin, Sam is pacing in his room. He has no idea how this night was supposed to go...he's not even sure if it went according to the dream he had about confessing to her. He waits a little for the answer to come to him...no, this is not at all what he expected. He sits on his bed completely frustrated , running his fingers through his hair.
"What did you expect her to do?" He groans falling back on his bed.
Sam replays Mercedes reaction in his head...she looked absolutely terrified. But why?! I told her how I felt, shouldn't that change everything?! Did he misread her? Did she not see him in that way? As nothing more than a friend...an employer in the least? That hurt to even think about...what if she didn't reciprocate? What if this was a one sided idea?
Sam groans hitting his pillow.
The next few days are a little difficult for both Mercedes and Sam. Mercedes is standoffish and nothing more than polite towards Sam. She gives him no genuine smiles, only quick winces and every time that Sam tries to talk to her she begins listing off the many tasks she has to get done for the day. Quinn Fabray hasn't been back to the Evans Estate since the dinner party; she's still hanging on tightly to the promise of their secret engagement. She's gotten what she's wanted, therefore she has no reason to pester him. Sam on the other hand is determined to talk to Mercedes. She's done a very good job avoiding him so far...but even if Sam has to summon her to see him, he's determined to get another chance to get Mercedes alone.
Dinner is being served to Mr. Evans and Sam in the smaller living room as usual. Sam is the one who's trying to get Mercedes attention as she quickly sets the dishes in front of him and his father. She gives him no eye contact. Mr. Evans can feel the tension in the room; he shifts lightly looking back and forth towards Sam and Mercedes.
"Uh.." Mr. Evans begins. "Is somethin' wrong between you two?"
Mercedes shakes her head and gives a smile to Mr. Evans. "Everything's fine Master Evans...how's your dinner?"
"Dinner's great, its just that it seems a little tense in the room?"
Mercedes shrugs her shoulders and pretends she has no idea what he's talking about. Mr. Evans looks to Sam who's brooding at Mercedes.
"Son," Mr. Evans starts. "Just please promise me that you won't take this out on the house."
"What do you mean?" Sam asks confused.
"Playing the same song for hours and hours" Mr. Evans says knowingly looking to Mercedes who looks embarrass.
"I won't" Sam smiles.
Dinner is finished and Mr. Evans leaves the room first after thanking Mercedes. Mercedes begins clearing the table quickly and quietly as Sam sits in his seat watching her.
"Are you done with your plate Master Samuel?"
"Yes, thank you."
Mercedes reaches in front of him to get the plate ignoring the gaze Sam is trying to give her. She removes his plate and puts it with the other dishes.
"When your done" Sam begins, in a voice that sounds like his dad; his command voice. "I need you to come back here."
Mercedes nods taking the dishes to the kitchen to wash. Sam breathes out heavily and frustrated watching her leave the room. With each chore Mercedes has to accomplish she's becoming even more upset with Sam.
"He just had to mess everything up!" She hisses to herself washing the dishes. "Everything was fine the way it was and then he had to go and-"
"Merce what are you goin' on about?" May enters into the kitchen giddily.
Mercedes gives May a glare before deciding to say nothing and go back to washing. "Nothin'."
"You really need to learn how to lie better Mercedes" May laughs airily.
"And you really learn how to be more responsible" Mercedes snaps. "You were supposed to help me with the cleanup tonight."
"I know Merce but-"
"No but's May" Mercedes whines. "I can't keep covering for you!"
"But you don't understand" May groans. "Abe and I are-"
"I don't want to hear it!"Mercedes yells. "Just finish in here."
May looks taken aback at Mercedes' tone and attitude. She takes the dish rag from Mercedes and nudges her out of the way. Mercedes shakes her head walking out of the kitchen. She sinks down to the floor to sit just to think. She buries her face in her hands not at all sure what to do or how to think. The only way she decides she's going to get any answers is to face Sam. The night goes on and the entire plantation is growing quiet with the passing of the day. The house is emptying out and settling down for the night. Sam has been patiently waiting for Mercedes to come back, and when he sees that she's not he becomes worried. The first place he checks is the parlor but it's empty. He decides to go to the kitchen but instead of finding Mercedes he finds May's. Sam breathes out trying to think of the places she would go; the sound makes May jump and she breaks a plate. Sam gives her a look as she fearfully bends low to pick up the pieces of the shattered dish.
"I-I-I-I-" she stutters. "Please don't be upset Master Sam...I didn't mean to break it, you just scared me and I wasn't expectin' on seeing you this late, especially with Mercedes not bein' around-"
"She's not here?" Sam asks fishing out the bits of information he can find useful. "Where'd she go?"
"I'm not sure Master Sam...she didn't say...she seemed real upset though...but I'm sure it's nothin'"
Sam nods taking a broom to sweep up the leftover pieces of the plate. May stands there watching amazed as Sam completes the cleanup.
"I really didn't mean to break it Mr. Evans...I really am sorry."
"Don't worry about it" Sam shrugs a smile.
May nods going back to work leaving Sam to go to one of the many hideouts on the plantation. Mercedes is pacing inside of the Evans barn. Stalls and stalls of horses are listening to her vent in French about her problems before sitting on a bale of hay. Minutes later Sam enters the barn finally finding her; he smiles to himself proud of the fact that he knows her so well.
"I've been looking for you" Sam says trying to start a conversation...he ends up scarring Mercedes badly enough to fall off of her bale of hay. Sam rushes to her immediately grabbing her hands to help her to her feet. When she has her balance she tries to let go of Sam but he holds onto her hand a little longer.
"Th-Thank you" Mercedes says trying her hardest to ignore the massive ripple-feeling spreading through her body. She begins brushing hay from her clothes. Sam takes this opportunity to touch her by brushing the hay from her shoulders and picking it out of her hair. His hand rests a little longer than necessary on the sides of her face, but she steps away breaking the contact.
Sam hates this most of all...she feels so distant towards him; he doesn't like it. He refuses to give up...even if things don't turn out well he's determined to straighten out everything tonight. He's got to many questions for them to be ignored.
"Will you take a walk with me?" Sam tries again.
Mercedes gives him a look. "Are you ordering me, Master Samuel?"
Sam rolls his eyes. "It's just us Merce, you don't have to call me that."
"It seems like I do, Master Samuel" Mercedes smiles bitterly. "Seems like you forget, Master Samuel."
The way Mercedes drags out the word makes Sam's skin crawl. He knows very well what she's doing; she's highlighting their differences. But he doesn't care...he will be heard tonight.
Sam's gaze isn't loving; it's entirely analytical. All traces of romance have gone and now he just wants answers.
"Answer me this" he begins. "When you look at me, is that all you see? A master? Never a friend, or even a person? Was I ever just Sam?"
Mercedes is quiet as she looks at him unsure of how to respond. Sam scoffs nodding his head preparing to leave the barn; his feelings are already somewhat hurt.
"Wait" Mercedes says and he stops immediately. "To me you are Sam...but you will always have Master, and I will always be Mercedes-"
"Not tonight" Sam cuts her off determined. "Tonight I don't want to be your master... just Sam."
Mercedes sighs grave but Sam continues.
"And as Sam...I'm asking you to come with me."
Sam's eyes start to warm from the glacial stare he was just giving. He's practically begging her to go with him and that's when Mercedes finally realizes that Sam is giving her a choice. She can choose to go back to her cabin and forget that any of this is happening. She looks deeply into his emerald green eyes and sees his sincerity. She nods and they walk together.
They end up deep in the outer fields. The night is kind, warm and breezy. A long row of tobacco plants is all that stands between them. The sky is dark with only a summer moon to light their way. Their figures walk quietly in two rows until Mercedes decides to stop.
Sam can already tell that she's thinking hard about something. He smiles a little seeing how her face is twisted into a thinking expression.
"What?" He asks.
Mercedes bites her lip before talking. "I was just wondering..." she trails off.
"Yes?"
"Am I allowed to speak freely?" Mercedes asks cocking an eyebrow waiting for his answer.
Sam nods continuing to walk ahead. "Please."
Mercedes nods following. "Good, because I have some questions."
"I'm sure you do" Sam chuckles. "Have you thought about what happened a few days ago?"
"Yeah" Mercedes says slow.
"And?" Sam says hoping for some great confession of undying love.
"You hugged me" Mercedes says like she's explaining that the sky is blue. "Like I don't get it!"
"Surely she can't be this naive?" Sam thinks to himself. That hug seemed to explain everything to him.
"But how did it make you feel?" Sam says looking at her amazed.
Mercedes stares at him long and hard before saying one word. "Confused."
"Confused" Sam echoes weakly. This is definitely leaning towards a one-sided romance; he's starting to become crushed. "I mean you say so much that I could take in many ways and I don't know which way you mean!"
"Like what?" Sam asks looking for a way to make his feelings more clear.
"Like when you say you get jealous of me-"
"Yes!"
"It makes no sense!" Mercedes shouts. "I mean I work in the kitchens and you own just about anything under the sun...or at least you like to think so-"
Sam scrunches his face...now he's the one confused. "I'm not sure what you mean-"
"If watching me do housework makes you jealous...you are more than welcome to wash a pot yourself" Mercedes says with a laugh. "Although I don't think I can picture you doing that."
Sam begins laughing extremely hard. "Is that what you think? I envy your chores?"
"What else could you be jealous about?" Mercedes says. "I have nothin' else...nothin' you couldn't have-"
"Your wrong" Sam says quick. "There is something else that I want...and I can't have it, or at least I'm not supposed to...but I do. I want it bad Merce."
Sam steps over a row of plants so now the two of them are standing in the same row. Mercedes is starting to frown seeing that he's about to tell her something important. He steps toward her closer and grabs her hand; he grips it tightly making it difficult for her to pull away. Mercedes stomach is practically doing flips but like always she's trying to ignore the feeling.
"I should've told you so many times before" Sam breathes out looking at their interlocked hands. "I've kept how I've felt silent for too long, because I thought it was easier. But I realize now that it's harder not to tell the person you like, how wonderful you think they are. Or how happy they make you, just by being there. Or how seeing them everyday isn't enough...that I want more."
"What are you sayin-"
"I'm saying I like you Merce...I've liked you for a long time" Sam says looking at her. "And I'm tired of pretending that I don't notice you."
"Notice me?" Mercedes frowns.
"Yeah" Sam breathes slow. "Like I don't see how beautiful you are...or how opinionated and rebellious you can be. Or how when you smile, it makes me feel like it's mine because you're giving it to me-"
"Why are you telling me this?" Mercedes asks cold. She raises her gaze to look at him and her eyes are starting to tear up. "You know nothing can come of this...you're engaged to Quinn."
"Only to buy me some time" Sam says confident. "I only said that so she would back off. This engagement can be put off for as long as we want-"
"But why start something we can't finish! Why torture ourselves?"
"Not telling you everyday that I'm in love with you is torture enough" Sam says starting to get angry. "I won't deny my feelings any longer...Mercedes, please?"
The tears from her eyes spill over running down both sides of her cheek. "You're askin' me to cross a line...a very thick line that stands between us Sam."
Sam's hand cups her cheek stroking it gently. "The only thing that stands between us Mercedes is you."
Mercedes relaxes her face into his hand, wrapping her own to the cloth of his shirt. Sam steps even closer and ducks his head low until his lips touch hers. They are soft and unresponsive for the longest time, until Mercedes returns the pressure. Her first kiss is sweet and romantic as Sam's eager mouth creates slow rhythms she can follow. When the kiss becomes too much he pulls back allowing their foreheads to continue touching.
"I do love you Sam" Mercedes admits quietly. "I'm just scared too."
"Me too" Sam admits bringing her into an embrace. His head rests on top of hers. "But this feels too right to ignore..."
A/N: Thank you guys for the love and support for this story! you're responses have been wonderful and your reviews have been a pleasure to read...i can't believe the number of people actually taking the time to read my stuff...thanks again...and just to clear things up...Sam & Mercedes did/do not sleep together...it's too soon if it happens now...Mercedes is going to make Sam wait lol much love...pce!