So I found my jumpdrive yay. And here is next chapter as promised.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story and maybe some of the characterization(maybe) everything else belongs the owners.

Chapter 13

I was in my bed asleep when I heard a knock on my bedroom door.

"Go away, Dad, it's the weekend." I didn't understand why my father would be bothering me on the weekend.

"It's not your dad, Cedes, it's me Kurt."

"Kurt?"

"Yeah, sleeping beauty, so wake up and let me in. What are you doing with a lock on this door? Does your dad know?"

"Of course he knows he put it on for me." I unlocked the door to let Kurt in but as soon as he heard the lock click he barged in breaking out in a full on Kurt Hummel signature frantic rant.

"Cedes, how could you? You finally get over him and then you fall right back into his slimy chiseled arms. Why, I don't know, because he almost destroyed you and all the fabulousness that is you. But you are back with him. I know we have been distant lately, I'm still trying to figure why that is, but I will not sit idly by and watch you do this to yourself again. If I have to, I'll beat Puck up myself. Though, I may need to pay Santana to actually do it for me." Kurt stood glaring at me with the love and compassion I had long missed. I visibly flinched hearing mention of that slut's name, but I ignored the desire to call her a few choice words realizing that Kurt had everything all wrong.

"Puck?"

"Yes, Mercedes don't play stupid. It doesn't match the purple satin pajamas you are wearing so well. I've seen you two around and it doesn't look like you guys are doing homework."

"We're not-he's my-"

"If you say boyfriend I might just punch you." My favorite person in the world shrieked into my face. He is such a pansy (a very bold pansy).

I looked at him as laughter threatened to escape me at the irate site before me. "Boyfriend, no, Puck is not my boyfriend, Kurt." The sigh of relief breathed from Kurt's mouth relaxed his body and he plopped down on my bed lying on his back. "Oh thank goodness- you know what we went through to get over that."

"Yeah, it was bad, but Puck and I remained friends remember."

"Friends, yes, but not this chummy love fest travesty you guys have been parading around for all to see lately."

"What-not a love fest, babes, we're just-he's like a really good friend now. We finally talked about our relationship and we're cool now. Better than cool. He apologized and everything."

"So you two aren't together?"

"No."

"Oh…okay. I guess I'll be…going then." It killed me to hear the sadness in my bestie's voice.

Solemnly he rose from the bed and began to walk to the door. Lost in the moment, I almost let him leave. I shook myself before I let the only man who has ever loved me unconditionally, besides my father, walk out of my life for what could have been forever.

"Kurt wait!" He stopped in his tracks, but he didn't turn around. I had hurt him. I don't think I really knew that until that very moment. I didn't know what he had been going through or facing. I had been a lousy friend. "Don't go. I know we haven't-I haven't been around. I have been…"

"Avoiding me." He spoke, but still didn't turn around.

He was right. I had been avoiding him. Subconsciously at least. "Yeah." I croaked out nearly tearing up. "I have. But it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with me."

"Really, Mercedes, because it sure didn't feel like it. Did I do something? What happened?"

I had planned on begging him to be my friend again. I was willing to do anything and everything to get him back into my life. I didn't care if he could be a self-righteous know it all (birds of a feather) I just knew I had to have him back. What I didn't expect was to have to – want to explain everything to him. I owed him as much. He'd been there for me during the Puck debacle, and I had been there for him during the Karofsky terror. Even though I was scared out of my mind of exposing this side of myself to Kurt, I did it anyway. I couldn't hide from the person who I consider my soul mate.

"It wasn't you. You didn't do anything. It was me. I sort of got involved with this guy and…"

"Mercedes did he hurt you. Did he…" Kurt trailed off unable to say what he was thinking. What is it with the men in my life thinking I'm rape bait?

"No nothing like that. I guess I have to start from the beginning because unlike Puck you have NO idea what was-is going on."

He strolled back over to the bed grabbing my hand on the way sitting us down side by side. I so hated having to retell the Mercedes and Sam saga. I hated it with all my guts because I could never refrain from crying during the process. Thinking about it now I feel the familiar sting behind my eyes. I really love Sam and I'm so fearful I may not be able to stop.

"Sam and I-"

"What? Who? When? How did I not – wait I'm really missing something."

"If you'd let me finish, you might get the answers to those questions. As I was saying, Sam and I started dating like several months ago or so. I guess I can't really call it dating. He wanted it to be a secret; I went along with it. In the beginning, I thought it was the best thing to have happened to me, we were in love, and you've seen Sam. Eventually, not so far down the line, I-we made love. And soon that was all we were doing. He broke up with me before he got with Quinn, but that didn't last long. We got back together, but we kind of stopped talking like before and then there was Quinn and Santana. He told me the relationships with both were just for show, while I continued to lurk in the shadows. That boy had me wrapped around those big lips so tight I couldn't see straight when it came to him. Things were changing, I could tell, but I didn't want to say anything about it for fear of losing him. In the end, I caught him making out with Santana after rehearsal and I haven't spoken to him since."

"Mercedes." His breath hit my face when he said my name and I could literally feel the pity. "Why didn't you come to me? I could have helped you leave him."

"I was ashamed Kurt. I didn't want to hear what you had to say about my choices. I can see it on your face now. You think I'm pitiful and I should have done something other than sit quietly while Sam pooped on my lap."

"Uh…I…wouldn't do that."

"You wouldn't? Do you remember the tot's rebellion I started? You came to me afterward and the stuff you said to me was…it hurt me so much that that was what you thought of me, but I let it go because I love you so much. I know you didn't mean anything malicious by it. I couldn't tell you about what I had with Sam. I didn't want you to say anything that would possibly make me hate you. Hating you would only make me hate myself."

"I-I didn't know what I said affected you so much."

"It did, but like I said, it wasn't worth losing a friendship over. I know you said it out of love." I smiled to lighten the blow, "Self righteous love, but love."

"So, you stopped being my friend because you didn't want me to know about you and Sam?"

"Yes and no. The other reason was that I was so wrapped up in Sam. He became my life. I was always waiting on his call or for him to come over. He's the reason I got dad to put the lock on my door. He thinks it's because I'm growing up and want my privacy. I just didn't want to get caught. So the drift happened without me even knowing it. By the time I realized, I hadn't spoken to you in a while it was too late."

"I'm sorry."

"For what? You didn't do anything."

"Not really, but I did make you feel like you couldn't confide in me and what kind of friend makes their person feel that about them. You do know you are my person, right? Blaine may be my boyfriend, but you're my soul mate."

"Yeah, I know and you're mine." Tears were streaming down my face at that point and Kurt's eyes were clouded with tears of his own. I looked into his eyes and we both suffocated each other in the tightest hug. We were back.

After a while of blubbering like some babies, he finally gathered himself enough to be the nosey busybody he can be. "But you said something about not having to start from the beginning with Puck?"

"After I was assaulted with the image of Slutana and Sam trying to kiss, I drove to his house. I needed someone to talk to and my car just kind of had a mind of its own."

"Slutana, good one. You chose Puck over me?"

"I know right, there are plenty more where that one came from. But yeah, in a way, but it was more like I didn't have a choice. I know you probably hate me for it, but I needed him. He was the first boyfriend I have ever had and our relationship was almost identical to the one I had with Sam."

"You told me you didn't hook up with Puck."

"I didn't. I was still a virgin when he broke up with me."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Anyway we talked and he beat me over the head about letting Sam hurt me like that, but he didn't pity me. Ultimately, he just felt like a douche for doing the same thing to me. He apologized a crap ton and really helped me out a lot."

"So what, are you guys like best friends or something now?"

"Kind of but not really, you will always be my best friend. But we are like best friends now, he can't take your place, but he's like my number two after you."

"He better be."

We both erupted into a bout of laughter. We were us again and I couldn't be happier. We were meant to be.

Kurt decided to stay over for a little longer, so I got dressed and met him down stairs to head out to the Lima Bean.

The drive to the Lima Bean was filled with chatter. Kurt and I had so much to catch up on. I told him more about what happened with Puck and me, and what we've been up to while he blabbed about the highs and lows of his relationship with Blaine. It seems he and Blaine nearly broke up because of some outsider named Sebastian, who Blaine was attracted to like the opposite ends of a magnet, but they're doing fine now. He also told me that in my absence he had to schmooze with Rachel. Then preceded to guilt me into paying for whatever he wanted at the Bean because I owed him for forcing him to suffer the self-serving, self-absorbed peach that is Rachel Berry. I willingly obliged. I did owe him big time. Once at the Bean we ordered our drinks and food: Kurt a huge double chocolate chip muffin, on my buck, me, I got my favorite white chocolate macadamia nut. Just as we were about to sit down, in walked Puck. I was a little surprised because the Puck I know never came into the Lima Bean; he finds it too pretentious. His words not mine. I know, right, him using that word.

"What are you doing here?" I waved Puck over to our table.

"Hey, Merce. Kurt? When did this happen?"

"Today." We both said simultaneously.

"You finally got the balls to apologize, huh?"

"Uh, it's a long story that incidentally started with Kurt thinking I was getting back with you." I couldn't help the laugh that escaped me. Kurt was so frantic and thinking back it was quite a sight. However, Puck didn't seem amused, he actually looked… hurt?

Kurt and I began to tell him the story in tandem. By the time we had finished my cookie was gone, Puck had eaten Kurt's muffin, and all eyes were on me.

"Did she tell you that she technically hasn't broken up with the douche bag?"

"Puck, you never answered my question, why are you here?"

"Mercedes you suck at deflecting, but I'm here because my mom wanted me to pick something up for her. Kurt, did she tell you she's been avoiding Sam?" Puck didn't let me slide out of the limelight. I made a point of avoiding that part of my relationship with Sam because everyone knows how Kurt would react. Which he did. React.

"What, Cedes, you didn't tell me you were still with him. Dear God, you haven't been seeing him behind our backs have you?" He was at a full out screech and everyone in the Bean was staring at us. It was humiliating. And I'm not stupid. Why would I see Sam secretly(oh, track record, guess I forgot)?

"Hush, Kurt, God do you have to be so loud? And no I wasn't seeing him behind Puck's back seeing as you and I have only made up today. See. That's why I didn't tell you; you overreact and make me feel worse." The tears were brimming but I chose to swallow them – I did not need to make more of a scene in public.

"Sorry." Kurt whispered. Fine time.

I guess Puck could see that I was having a hard time because he decided to defend Kurt and attempt to placate me at the same time. " He didn't mean to Merce. Right Kurt? We know you wouldn't do that."

Kurt brightened nodding vigorously, "No, Cedes, I'm sorry you know I can't help it. Really , it gets hard to control the timbre of this voice sometimes. It's a curse and a blessing." He smiled weakly.

I love these guys they are the best. Meddlesome but the best.

"So I take it she didn't tell you."

"No, but I guess I get it." Kurt cast me a furtive glance.

"I've been trying to get her to cut him loose since she came to me, but eh." He said as gently as he possibly could.

"Why hasn't she broken up with him?"

"I don't know, I think she's scared." I could see it in his eyes the disappointment. The anger. Puck was becoming impatient with me.

"Of what?"

I looked at them both dumfounded. They were immersed in a conversation about me in front of me excluding me. "Hello! I'm sitting right here, so why don't you ask me."

"Because, Mercedes, you're gonna lie." He stated as a matter of fact.

"I resent that. I have not lied about anything to you."

"Yeah? You said you were going to talk to Kurt, but he ended up coming to you. You lie." He had a point. But he didn't have to be so crass.

"But I haven't lied about Sam."

"Not yet." I had no idea where this was coming from. Up until that moment he had been as nice as Puck could be. But I guess everyone has their limits. He was tired of my indecision; it made no sense to him.

"Why are you being so mean. I'm not talking to you anymore. Kurt, my best friend, do you have anything you want to ask me that I'm not going to lie about?"

Kurt looked between the two of us with a glint in his eyes that quickly faded when he noticed my confusion. With a look of intent, he swallowed hard and set his jaw, "Why haven't you broken up with the guy who has treated you like a doormat?"

"Kurt," I rolled my eyes at a mute Puck who was glaring at me (what his deal was is a mystery), "Puck is right. I'm scared. What do I say to him? How do I-"

"How 'bout you screwed me over; I hate your guts. I'll wreck you if you come near me again, douche, it's over."

"I wasn't talking to you, Puck, and that's the point I'm trying to make. Yeah, he 'screwed me over' but for reasons I can't understand I don't hate him. I should, I know, but I don't. And yeah he hurt me but I'm stuck."

"Oh, Cedes, honey." Kurt looked like he was going to tear up.

"Don't girl up Hummel. She needs to break up with the guy. Love him or not."

Kurt gathered himself, I could tell he didn't want to say it but he did anyway, "He's right, he's never right, but he's right now; you really need to end it with him. It might help you with putting him behind you."

"I know." It was the most uncertain I have been about anything. Crazy considering I should have been uber-confident about breaking up with Sam.

"Look, Merce, I'm not going to stop riding your back until you do. You can do better than Sam and until you get rid of him you won't realize it." Puck had veered away from his I'm a big mean bully antics and returned to his newly discovered sensitive side.

"I know."

"I'm with Puck. Whatever it takes to get you away from Sam I'll do."

"I know. Uh, Kurt do you think you can catch a ride with Puck, I kind of…" I had a lot to think about and it was all pressing the corners of my mind threatening explosion. I just needed to get away. Needed time to myself. Thank God Kurt knows me so well because he didn't question me once.

"Okay."

"Hey, you can't-" Puck was about to yell at me for treating him as if he wasn't there but he had it coming.

"She can and you will. Leave her alone. Go ahead, honey, I don't mind riding with this meathead."

"Thanks, Kurt. Puck. Both of you. Later, 'kay."

I walked out of the Bean leaving them behind as I set out to figure out if I had enough strength to do what I knew I should have done the first time he suggested we date in secret.

So here it is I hope you liked it if so let me know. Also for those of you who watch grey's anatomy did you get that Mercedes and Kurt have a Meredith and Christina relationship.

So yeah, review more coming the breakup and all that good stuff.

nakala