Mercedes walked into the den. "How do I look?"
Marcy looked up. "Who are you impressing?"
"Sam." Mercedes turned in her black pointelle V-neck sweater dress with openwork trim at top & flounced hem. She paired it with black ankle strap 2 1/2 heeled pumps. "I want him to suffer."
"He def. will." Marcy put her feet down from the table.
"Good. I shouldn't be home too late."
"Why are you telling me?"
Mercedes sighed & rolled her eyes. "Because you should always tell people where you're going. It's safety 101!"
Marcy rolled her eyes back. "You haven't told me where you're going."
Mercedes started. "Oh! I'm meeting Sam at Sally's."
"I still don't care."
"Marcy!"
"I'm kidding. Geez, nobody likes comedy?" Marcy said with a straight face.
Mercedes huffed. "I'll be back. Do you want to give Tia a hug?"
The twins, who she was talking to, stood up & ran to her. She gave them big hugs because she knew that by the time she got back, they'd be asleep.
Mercedes went to the front door & picked up her purse, getting her keys out simultaneously. She locked the front door behind her then got in her car & drove to Lima to Sally's. She parked & went inside.
She scanned the diner & saw a head of blonde facing away from her so she went to him. "Sam?"
Sam jumped up. "Wow! You look great!"
"Thank you." She let him kiss her cheek before sitting across from him in the booth.
He slid in & folded his hands on the table top. "I've missed you."
"Sam-"
"No, let me finish. I really missed you. You were my first love."
"If I was so damn important to you, why did you ignore me for months, date a friend & tell her she was the only one for you?" She bit off.
"I was wrong. I'm so sorry for that. I just couldn't deal with you being gone. You & all my friends were gone. I acted like a huge baby & ignored you because honestly? I think I resented you.
You left me alone & I hated it. So I ignored you. Britt felt the same when Santana dumped her & we needed each other. She knew what I was going through."
"So did Tina & so did Blaine but they-" Mercedes stopped. "Lost their minds, too. Oh my goodness, what happened to you guys?!"
"We couldn't handle being away from you all. I lost Puck & Mike & Finn & you. Tina lost all the girls in glee & Mike. Blaine couldn't stand being away from Kurt. It was not fun."
"You had each other & Artie."
"Being together just reminded us we were alone."
"What about all that stuff with Brittany? About how she was the true love of your life? How you two got married? Every stupid bad decision you've made this year?"
"Can I say I lost my mind?" He spread his hands out with a sheepish grin. Upon seeing her not crack, he sighed. "Well I did. I stopped thinking & just reacted to stuff."
"You were not the Sam I knew & loved."
"Loved? As in past tense?"
"I told you, I will always love you. Some part of me always will. But I moved on. I had to."
"But we can pick back up." He took her hand. "I'm back to my old self & you're still the sweet person you always were. We can make this work."
"We had our time, Sam." She took her hand back.
"& it's now!" He pleaded.
She took a deep breath & then a minute to collect her thoughts. "I can't be with you."
"Why? Can you honestly say you don't want to be with me?"
She sighed.
"See? We're meant to be."
"Sam, I'm no longer in love with you." She spoke honestly.
His eyes reflected his heartbreak. "But I thought you loved me."
"I do. But it's not the same as in love. My feelings have changed. I couldn't sit there & wait for you to come to your senses."
"Why not?" His voice was small.
"Because that's not how it works."
He looked away.
"Sam, some girl is going to be lucky to have you. The real you. But that girl won't be me."
He looked down before turning to face her. "Can we at least be friends?"
"Yes. & I forgive you."
He smiled. "Thank you."
She smiled back. "Do you want to get something?"
"Sure. Maybe something to drink? I'm not hungry."
"That'll be good." Mercedes flagged down a waitress. "Can I have a strawberry tea?"
"Sure thing, Mercy." The woman had worked there for years & knew most of the regulars. "What about you, handsome?"
"A coke." Sam smiled at her.
"Coming right up." She walked away.
Sam sat for a moment before he blurted out, "I asked your sister to go to the movies. Is that okay?"
Mercedes felt a pang. Though it wasn't jealousy, it still hurt but she smiled through it. "Yeah, sure. I don't mind."
"Really? Are you sure?"
"Yeah. It is a surprise though. I didn't know you liked her."
"I barely know her but we seem to click & she's very pretty."
"She looks like me."
"You're very pretty."
She smiled. "Thank you."
"I really like her hair."
"She's not going to let you pull it." She told him straight off.
He blinked. "I never- I wasn't- When did you start talking like that?!"
She giggled. "It's her! She talks like that & it rubs off on me."
"So she's just as sassy as you?"
"Sassy isn't the word she'd use…"
"How is she? Like her personality. What can I do to make her like me?"
"Excuse me? You want my help to get my baby sister to like you?"
"We're friends, aren't we?" He shrugged.
She blew out a breath. "She likes a gentleman but not fussy guys."
Sam brightened. "Fussy?"
Mercedes looked up as the waitress came back with their drinks. "She likes manly men. Think Puck with manners."
Sam nodded. "But I can't be like Puck. He's crude at the best of times."
"He's also lewd & rude but he's strong, resilient & smart. All qualities she likes." She twirled her straw in her glass.
"I'm strong. I don't know what resilient means. & I'm stupid."
"You're not stupid, Sam. How many times have I told you that?"
"See? You have to keep telling me."
She rolled her eyes. "Well I'm telling you again; you're not stupid. But you don't always think things through."
"Do you think she'll go for me?"
Mercedes swallowed hard. "She might."
"Might?"
"She will." She nodded. "You're a good guy. Why wouldn't she?"
M&MC
Mercedes got ready for bed slowly as she thought about the past hour & a half. She'd spent most of that time telling Sam how to impress her sister & hating it.
She started when she heard a noise. She immediately turned to the window but her door opened.
"Hey?" Marcy slipped in.
Mercedes whipped around to face her. "Hey. How'd the twins go down?"
"They fought it tooth & nail as per usual." Marcy sat on the floor by Mercedes's pallet. "How'd it go with Sam?"
Mercedes sighed as she folded her legs. "Better than expected."
"Does Mikey have anything to worry about?"
"No." Mercedes snorted & rolled her eyes. "Never that."
"Good." Marcy made to get up but Mercedes caught her hand.
"He's still taking you to the movies tomorrow."
Marcy drew on all her acting skills. "Are you sure you're okay with that? You know I'd never do anything to hurt you."
Mercedes tried to be mature. Her version anyway. "No, go ahead. You're not hurting me."
Marcy didn't buy that for a minute! "Okay. I guess I should plan what I'm going to wear then."
Mercedes felt miserable. "Don't you have a boyfriend though?"
"Yeah but if I like Sam better, I can just dump him."
Mercedes's eyes widened. "You'd dump him just like that?"
"Just like that." Marcy nodded, lying her butt off.
"What about Mal?!"
"What about Mal?"
"You know he wants you."
"But I don't want him." Again with the lying. At least partially.
Mercedes blinked. "Well I guess you have it all figured out."
"Sweet dreams, big sister." Marcy winked as she got up & left.
Mercedes pouted before grabbing her phone & calling Mike. "Come over. We need to talk."
M&MC
Mike raised an eyebrow. "Are we gonna talk or are you just going to stare at me while biting your nails?"
Mercedes pulled her hand from her mouth. "I saw Sam today."
The brow jumped but remained up. "You did?"
"Yes. We went to Sally's to talk about us."
"I wasn't aware there was an "us" when it came to you & Sam."
"I mean our past relationship & where we stand now."
"Oh really?" Mike felt his jealousy rise. "Where do you stand?"
"As friends."
The blood rushing through his ears receded. "Friends?"
"Yes. We talked it all out, he apologized, I forgave him & we're friends now."
He breathed a good helping of air between his lips. "Good. You were friends first & you should be friends now."
"Really?" She was surprised at him then surprised that she was surprised.
"Yeah. I'm happy for you."
She leaned forward & kissed him. "But there's something I'm gotta tell you but you can't tell Mal!"
M&MC
"Your friend, Sam?!" Mal gaped.
"Yup." Mike nodded. After leaving Mercedes in the wee hours of the morning, he'd snuck into his own house & woke his brother up.
"She can't date him! She's not dating me!" Mal was no longer sleepy.
"I know. What are you going to do?" Mike leaned back.
Mal tapped his bottom lip. "I have a plan but I'll need your help."
M&MC
Marc walked back into the kitchen after answering the door. "Marce? It's for you."
Marcy looked over from helping the twins. "Who is it?"
"Was. It was a delivery man." He handed her what was in his hands then took his seat.
Marcy gaped at the violets. "Who are they from?"
"There's a card."
Marcy looked for it (it was right in front of her) & picked it up. She read the brief lines silently before blushing.
"Who are they from?" Mercedes wanted to know.
"Mal."
"What does the card say?" Rose asked.
Marcy shook her head with red cheeks & a frown.
"Is it inappropriate?" Marcus guessed.
"For a girl with a boyfriend, yes."
"I need to see!" Mercedes tried to snatch the card from her but Marcy kept moving. Mercedes stood up & they fought even harder for the small card. "Let me see!"
"Go away!" Marcy pushed her. "Stop it! You're going to wrinkle it!"
"You're going to keep it?" Marc was surprised.
Marcy blushed again & in that hesitation, Mercedes grabbed the card. "Ha!" The brunette ran away with it as she tried to read.
Marcy shot after her. "Give it back!"
Mercedes stopped as the words sunk in. "Oh my goodness!"
Marcy snatched the card back & glared daggers at her sister. "You are so irritating sometimes!"
"I can't believe he said that!"
"Was it dirty?!" Rose demanded.
"No. It was completely sweet!"
"Sweet?" Marc echoed. "What do you mean sweet?"
"Sweet as in sweet!" Mercedes came back to the table. "If I were Marcy, I would run into his arms!"
"Well you're not & I'm not." Marcy sat down heavily with a grumpy look on her face.
"How can you resist him?!"
"Easy!" Lies. Marcy had melted but kept up the tough facade.
"What are you going to do with the flowers?" Marc asked.
"Find a vase." Marcy picked at her meal.
"You're a strong woman." Rose complimented.
Marcy said nothing.
"Course she is! She's mine!" Marcus thumped his chest.
Rose made a pained face.
Mercedes facepalmed. "Oh, Daddy."
M&MC
Mercedes hated this. She was painting her car & it was taking longer than she thought. It was nearly time for glee & she'd only gotten the roof, trunk & hood done while everything else lay open in front of her.
This was tiring! She wiped sweat from her face & left a purple streak across her forehead. She shook out her right hand as it had a major cramp.
She walked around the car before going to her supplies & packing up. She would finish it the next day. Afterwards, she got in her car & drove to McKinley.
The drive took a while but she made it in time for glee. She walked in & sat down next to Artie. Quinn leaned over. "Where were you?"
"The junkyard. I was working on my car." Mercedes whispered back.
"Should I finish mine?"
"If you want. I really want to take mine with us."
"I'm sick of my bug but I don't feel like working. What should I do?"
"Stop being lazy?"
Quinn narrowed her eyes as Mercedes giggled quietly. "That's not nice."
"Girls?" Mr. Shue caught their attention. "Please pay attention. Like I was saying, this week's lesson is prom."
M&MC
Sam sidled up to Mercedes when glee was over. "Your sister didn't come today."
"I know." She watched as Mike watched them while he was talking to Finn.
"Can you tell her to meet me at the movies on Elm? I don't have her number."
"I can do that. What time?"
"6:15."
"I'll do it." She smiled before walking over to Quinn, who was blatantly being nosy. "Do you want to go to the park?"
"Sure." The blonde shrugged.
Mercedes took her by the hand & led her out.
M&MC
Mercedes felt better after unloading everything on Quinn & it showed when she came home an hour later. She went through the house looking for her sister. She found her in her room, sitting cross-legged in the middle of her floor, looking at her phone.
"Marce?" Mercedes shut the door behind herself. "Are you okay?"
Marcy looked at her with troubled eyes but then she blinked & it was gone. "I'm fine."
"Why weren't you at glee?"
She lifted a shoulder & looked back down at her phone. "I wasn't sure if you were going."
"Why aren't you dressed? Sam wants you to meet him at the Elm St movie theater at 6:15."
Marcy blinked. "I didn't know that."
"I should have texted you." She could admit to that.
Marcy didn't react. "Okay."
Mercedes waited but Marcy didn't move. "Aren't you going to-?"
"Get out." Marcy sounded tired.
"What?" Mercedes frowned.
"Go! Get out! Leave!" Marcy snapped irritably.
Mercedes groaned. "Fine!" She stomped out & slammed the door.
Marcy rolled her eyes & muttered, "Diva." under her breath.
Mercedes, who didn't hear that, leaned against the door to hear what was going on. It took a minute but she heard Marcy on the phone.
"Sorry about that. It was unexpected."
Mercedes really frowned. Who was she talking to?!
"Everything is set. It's all going according to plan."
Marcy was sounding like a villain in a bad action movie! Mercedes listened harder.
"No, I got her right where I want her."
Who?! Mercedes mentally screamed.
"I have to go. I have an engagement. It's an engagement! I'll contact to you later. Yeah."
It stayed quiet so Mercedes moved away from the door before she was caught. She ran next door to her room & locked the door. She dialed a number quickly then another. "Quinn? Mikey? Marcy's a spy!"
M&MC
Marcy readjusted her black V-neck studded knit tunic with 3/4 sleeve & sharkbite hem. She paired it with white bootcut pants with skinny black vertical lines & colorblock 2 3/4 heeled pumps in navy, beige & black.
She stepped inside the building & looked for a strapping blonde. She spotted him waiting by a booth so she went to him. "Hey."
"Hey! You look great!" He wore a blue Henley with blue jeans & work-boots.
"Thank you. You look nice, too. Rustic."
Sam took it as a compliment. "Thanks. I was thinking we see As It Falls."
"You like foreign movies?" She was surprised. Okay, suspicious.
"Yeah. I watch them all the time." He swore.
She blinked. "What time does it start?"
"In five minutes. We have to buy the tickets fast. I'll buy your ticket for you."
"No thank you. I can pay for myself." She walked to a working booth.
"No, I insist." He trailed after her.
"But I must override your insistence & counter with the demand of "let me"."
He smirked. "I see your "let me" & raise you an "I'm old fashioned"."
"I call your "I'm old fashioned" & all in because I just paid for my ticket while you were distracted." She held the paper up.
His face was classic shock. His eyes were wide & his mouth was open. "How'd you do that?! You didn't ask for it!"
"I typed it on my phone." She held that up next.
He read the words one for As It Falls please. "Well! You're good."
"Thank you."
"How'd you do that without me seeing?" He turned to the cashier. "One for As It Falls please."
The worker printed out the page & asked him for the correct amount.
Sam paid & they moved into the concession line. "So how'd you do it?"
"I can text without looking. I did it when we walked over & I got my debit card out at the same time."
"You're good." He repeated. "Okay I'm buying snacks."
"I have stuff. Just get me a small popcorn."
"That's it?"
"Want to go to dinner after this?"
"Sure."
"Then that's it."
"Nothing to drink?"
"Nope." She had a bottle of juice in her purse.
"Okay." Sam ordered a small & medium popcorn & a medium drink. They went to the flavor station & doctored up their popcorn before he went to get root beer.
They handed their tickets to the usher & he ripped off the stubs & handed back the rest. "Studio 8."
They went to that theater & found seats. "Are you sure you don't want anything?"
"I brought stuff with me." Marcy opened her large purse. "Plus, we're having dinner after."
"What'd you bring? Mercy used to bring stuff with her when we were able to come to the movies." He realized how that sounded. "I'm sorry."
"Why?" Marcy was confused.
"I just mentioned your sister on our date." Sam blinked.
Marcy stared at him a long time in total confusion until she blinked. "It's okay."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
Sam relaxed. "Okay."
M&MC
"So where do you want to go?" Sam asked as they exited the movie he quite frankly didn't understand & half slept through.
"I don't care." She threw away their trash.
"What about Breadstix?"
"That tacky Italian wannabe place?" She raised a brow. "Whatever."
"Did you drive?" He asked.
"Yeah. Come on." Marcy led them out to her car, where she unlocked the door for them to get in.
She plugged in her phone & put her seatbelt on.
"Why do you do that?" He put his seatbelt on.
"Do what?" She put the car in drive & drove to the restaurant.
"Play that music."
"Driving with music helps me focus."
"Oh."
It didn't take long to get to the faux Italian eatery & she found a parking space quickly. He got out & came around the car to open her door.
"Thank you." She smiled.
"You're welcome." He smiled back graciously.
They walked inside & were led to a booth. They sat across from each other & put in their drink orders; a coke for him, a raspberry tea for her.
"I had fun." Sam said as soon as the waitress walked away.
"You were snoring."
Sam blushed. "I was not!"
"I had to close your mouth." She insisted.
"No way!"
"Several times."
Sam blushed heavily. "I'm so sorry. I just didn't get it."
"Didn't you read the subtitles?"
"It's hard for me to read fast." He admitted. "I have dyslexia."
"Oh, I'm sorry. That must be challenging." She sipped her tea.
"It is. But I've gotten better with it."
"Was school hard for you or did you have great teachers?"
"Def. the first one! I hate reading out loud."
"Me too. I had a speech impediment & reading aloud always sucked."
"You had a speech impediment? That's when you can't talk right, right?"
"Thanks for that. But yeah. I misspoke frequently."
"Was school hard for you or did you have better teachers than me?"
"I had better teachers than you."
His face fell & she giggled. "I thought we were in the same boat?"
"We are. My teachers were just patient with me & my parents hired a speech therapist. In less than two years, I was talking like everyone else."
"My parents tried to help me the best they could, too. I'm really lucky to have them."
She was quiet for a while before she asked, "Do you want to order food?"
He was aware something was different but he didn't know what. "Sure. What are you thinking of getting?"
"Um… I don't know." Her mind was still on something else.
"Excuse me, ma'am." Sam stopped a passing waitress. "We're ready to order."
"Okay. What will you have?" The woman cocked a hip.
"I'll take lasagna."
"What about you, sugar?" She looked at Marcy.
"Uh… a chicken Caesar salad with ranch dressing." Marcy rubbed her forehead.
"Okay. I'll get those orders in." She swept away.
Sam waited a moment before reaching for Marcy's hand tentatively. "Are you okay?"
She flinched before looking up, clearing her face of any emotion before pasting a slight smile on it. "Yeah. Just thinking."
"Mercy told me you like sports."
She smiled for real. "I do. Just don't ask me about any teams by name except for Green Bay."
"You're a cheesehead?"
"Majorly. I was so stoked when they won the super bowl. I won quite a few bets that year."
"Do you watch the super bowl every year?"
"Yeah. It's a family tradition."
"We have family traditions, too. I wish we had one involving the super bowl. That one sounds fun."
"It usually is. What traditions do you have?"
"Thanksgiving, Christmas, our birthdays, the fourth of July, all fun. What about you?"
Marcy thought about it. "Birthdays are a big deal. Halloween, Christmas, New Years, Valentine's Day, super bowl, the playoffs, the world cup, the world series."
"You're all really into sports, huh?"
"We're competitive. You should see us during the Olympics."
"You have traditions for Halloween? Like what?"
"We don't have sugar because Daddy's a dentist & is adamant that we don't so we have a party instead. We dress up, decorate, have food & we get to eat one donut & the best part, we get cider."
"Apple cider?" That wasn't what he was going to ask.
"Yeah. We go to Apple Town every October & pick apples & get apple cider."
"So donuts are like banned for you guys?"
"Yeah but I don't like donuts no way. Unless they're the Krispy Kreme kind."
"Those are good." He got distracted.
"Especially when they're warm & with ice cold cider." She was lost in the memories of something she hadn't had in years.
Sam was close to drooling. "I wish I was in your family!"
She laughed. "For one little donut?"
"For family togetherness. You have a great family. But then again so do I."
"It's not all bad."
He frowned. That had nothing to do with what he said. "Huh?"
"Nothing." She shook her head.
He wondered where she was going so much. It was as if she was carrying on two conversations, one with him & the other with herself. "So what do you like to do for fun?"
"Anything really. I like games, I like sports, I like art-"
"Art?!" He perked up. "I make macaroni sculptures!"
Her mouth spread into a smile before she giggled. "I use colored pencils & crayons when I draw or paint."
"We're- we're- we're…" Sam couldn't think of a good word.
"Revolutionaries?"
"Is that a good thing?"
"Just think about the people that were first to do something that's wildly popular."
"Ah. Very good thing."
She winked at him.
"So this is nice." He drummed his fingers against the table.
"What? Talking or Breadstix?"
"Us being here. Are you having a good time?"
"Yeah." She decided. "I am."
He was flushed with warm feelings. "So even though it's not over, you would consider this a good date?"
Her eyes flicked to his before she looked up seriously. "Sam, I have to tell you the truth."
He gulped. "You have a boyfriend."
"I do but that's not it."
That's not it?! His jaw dropped.
"This isn't a real date." She went on. "I only said yes because I'm not good at saying no."
His eyes fell to the table & he whimpered like a dog.
"I only kept the appointment cuz my sister's always so nice that she hurts herself & I wanted her to assert herself for once."
"Assert herself? How?" He was confused.
"By telling me not to date you. I have to be honest & say that I don't have any feelings for you (though I think we're meant to be great friends [I can feel it]) & I'm sure you don't have any feelings for me. I think you asked me out as a failsafe for when Mercy didn't want to get back together."
He hung his head. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. She's an amazing person & losing her had to sting. But I'm nothing like her. It would never work. Though it's tre rude, I understand where you were coming from & I forgive you. But I really just want to prove a point to my sister."
"This is the second time in two days that a Jones has told me "thank you but no"."
She smiled. "We're polite like that."
"Did you think about this working at all?"
"For a second. You're cute, funny & nice but the fact is; you dated my sister. We don't date each other's exes & stuff. That's too hurtful. But she's so nice, she'd let me do it anyway, even though it hurts."
"She really is the best person I know." He admitted.
"Me too. That's why I have to protect her."
"By fake dating me to get her to tell you to stop & that's going to be her asserting herself?" He was back to confused.
"Yes."
"Girls are complicated."
"We really are." She freely admitted.
He thought through things. "She said I'd find the right girl for me."
"I'm not the right girl for anybody."
"What about your boyfriend? I'm sure he loves you." He found himself saying.
"We've been dating for a month."
"Mercy & I were together for a month when I realized I loved her."
"Mercy is lovable. I don't know Pierre enough to love him. I don't even actually believe in love."
"You don't believe in love?!" His mouth fell open.
"Nope."
"How can you not believe in love?"
"There's a lot of little reasons but I just don't see it."
"But how?" He was lost. He'd never heard of someone not believing in love before.
"There is no how. There just is."
"So you're going to get married without loving your husband?"
"I don't believe in marriage either."
His mind was blown! "You can't-! How is this possible?!"
She shrugged lightly, knowing she was confusing him. "It just is."
"So you're never going to get married? Or fall in love? Don't you want kids?"
"No." She told him what she'd told people prior to the twins.
He clutched his face. "You have to!"
She chuckled. "No, I don't."
"You're right; you're nothing like your sister! She wants all those things!"
"I know. I'm the one who grew up with her." She was highly amused.
"How can two girls who grew up in one house turn out so different?"
"Everyone's a snowflake."
"What?" Now he was lost.
"A snowflake is completely unique. So are people. I told you. We're not interchangeable."
He digested that. "So you're going to live your life alone?"
"I'm not alone. I have family. I have friends. I'll date."
"What's the point of dating if you aren't going to get married?"
"The point of dating is having fun with someone you like. I'll still be doing that."
"But you'll know it's not going anywhere."
"I do. All relationships end. Either by divorce or death but they all bite the dust. I'm just not acting shocked by its demise."
He worked his mouth. "I've never met anyone like you."
"I know it's a lot to comprehend but don't feel sorry for me. My life has meaning without holding out for the false hope that some other human being completes me."
"That's so sad though. I want love for everyone."
"You're one of those people…"
His lips thinned. "Be nice to me."
She smirked. "Fine. Tell me about you."
"Huh?" The subject change was a bit much for him.
"Tell me about Sam. What do you like, what ya don't. Talk to me."
He smiled. "I can do that."
M&MC
Mercedes heard when the car pulled into the driveway because she'd been paying attention to whenever any car turned down their street. She hung out her window, watching as Marcy got out the car with the twins & went to the front door.
She ran to her door & tried to listen for sounds. She heard loud footsteps coming up the stairs so she expected Marcy to come to her room.
She didn't.
Mercedes waited but a whole hour went by before there was a tap on her door. She popped up from her pallet & looked towards the door as the knob turned. She pasted a blasé look upon her face.
Marcy, in pajamas, slipped in & closed the door behind her. "Hey."
"Hey." Mercedes twitched. "How was your evening?"
"Very good."
"Really?" Mercedes gaped.
"Yeah. We talked for the longest time & we kissed when I took him home. We're meeting up for coffee in the morning."
"You're joking!" Mercedes's brows drew together.
"Nope. I think I've finally found the one."
The color drained from Mercedes's face. "I can't believe this!"
"Believe it." Marcy smiled. "Sam & I are going the distance."
"What about Pierre?"
"He can't give me what Sam can."
Mercedes pressed a hand to her chest. "No! No, no, no! You can't do this! You're my sister! How could you?!"
"How could I what? You said you were okay with this. I asked multiple times."
"How could you think I was serious?!"
"I'm not supposed to take you at your word now?"
"That's not what I mean!" She started sniffling. "He was my boyfriend! I loved him."
"But the past is the past, right?"
"But he was still my boyfriend! No, I forbid you to date him!"
"Why?"
"Because it'll hurt me!"
Marcy smiled softly. "Exactly."
"What?" Mercedes tried to calm down.
"What did I tell you at that poor excuse for a family picnic?"
"What?! I don't know!" Mercedes didn't see the relevance.
"I told you to stick up for yourself & tell people how you really feel."
"What does that have to do-?" Her eyes widened. "You tricked me!"
"I like the word "hoodwinked"." She blinked once.
Mercedes narrowed her eyes. "You tricked me! You never were going to date Sam!"
"Of course not, stupid. You're my sister! I would never date one of your exes, your boyfriends or your crushes! The fact that you would tell me you're okay with it just to stay the sweet, nice one pisses me off!"
Mercedes's mouth was hanging open.
"If I was a worse sister, Sam & I would have gotten it on! As it stands, I had to convince him I wasn't what he wanted!"
Mercedes hung her head. "I'm sorry."
Marcy just raised an uninterested eyebrow.
"I am! I swear! Next time I'll be honest. I promise. & I'll start telling people how I really feel. I'm not naïve & I shouldn't act like it."
Marcy's lips twitched. "We are meeting for coffee tomorrow. It turns out that we'd make great friends."
"I'm glad. I know it's been hard for you to keep friends."
"I haven't had a really good male friend since Jude. I miss the hell outta him."
"Swear jar."
"I'll put in a dollar." Marcy deadpanned.
"Thank you."
"For what?" Marcy was still stuck on the swear jar & money.
"For being there for me & trying to protect me, even if it's from myself."
"You want to hug me, don't you?"
Mercedes pounced on her. "I love you, Sis!"
"Yeah, yeah. Get off." Marcy struggled out of her grasp.
Mercedes pouted & let her go. "I have a question for you!"
"Shoot." Marcy leaned back.
"Are you a spy?!"
Marcy blinked once, twice. "What? What?!"
"I heard you talking to someone about the plan being on schedule & stuff! You have someone right where you wanted them! Are you lying about being a dancer so you can cover up your real job?!"
Marcy's face was filled with confusion until a thoughtful expression took over followed by a blank face then amusement.
"Tell me!" Mercedes couldn't stand the suspense.
Marcy started laughing. "Stop eavesdropping!"
"I wasn't- I didn't mean to- just answer the question!"
"I'm not a spy, you nutball!" She continued laughing.
"Then why did you say-?"
"I was talking about you!"
Mercedes was confused. "What?"
"I was talking to Karou about you."
"Karou? But you said-?"
"The plan was fake-dating Sam. I had you right where I wanted you because I knew you were stewing over this."
"You said you had an engagement."
"The movies with Sam?"
"You said you'd contact her. Nobody says contact!"
"I said contact because I meant contact. I didn't know if I'd call her or text her but I was going to contact her in some way later on tonight."
Mercedes's mouth formed an "o".
Marcy just waited.
"Oh my goodness! They were right!"
"Who?"
"Mike & Quinn! They said it was ridiculous for you to be a spy!"
"They were right."
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to be crazy. I don't know what's wrong with me!" Mercedes fell back.
"The heat is getting to you?"
"It's not even that hot. It's just me. I'm the problem."
"You're not a problem. Calm down, chick. We have wild, vivid imaginations. It happens."
"How can you be so calm?!" She sat back up.
"Because it's not a big deal. It's okay."
"Thank you." She reached out a hand. "What are you about to do?"
"Go to sleep. You never know. I might sleep through my coffee date with Sam & Blaine."
"Wait? Blaine's going?"
"Yeah. We're going to talk about a few of the comics we got last week."
"That sounds like fun."
Marcy shrugged before getting up, ignoring her sister's hand completely. "Maybe. Did you get your Cadillac done?"
"No. I started painting & I only got a few things coated. It's harder than I thought."
"Oh yeah. You still want my help with your fuel?"
"Yeah but that'll be later on in the week. If it takes as long doing other stuff as it does painting,-"
"It won't. Painting is hard, 'specially on a car. You want help?"
"Nah, I got it. If I'm not done in two days, I quit."
Marcy laughed. "Night."
Mercedes waved her off. "Night."