Applause

It's great when you believe in yourself, but empowering when someone else believes in you just as much as you do

"I know it's hard" Sam sat on the phone telling her "But you've got to push through, it will happen one day"

"It will happen for you too" she sighed "I hate that I don't see you every day anymore"

"You..."

"We don't have to be together to be best friends Sam"

"I know that Mercedes, but we're so far apart, it's frustrating having to wait till the end of the day to speak to my best friend"

"I'm happy to hear I'm still your best friend though" she giggled

"I'm still working on my parents"

"I hope they break soon; it was so strange walking around school today without seeing you, holding your hand, our morning kiss"

"I miss the goodnight kisses too" he laughed

"Was it all a dream?" she asked

"This new school's crap, they don't even have a proper music department" he sighed ignoring the question "I miss you; I miss all of you"

"Me too" they sat in the silence for a minute "Do they have a glee club?"

"It's not good enough"

"You can make it good enough though, at least we'd see each other at nationals"

"Tall order" he laughed

"Just do what Finn did to get you" she suggested "Just to a lot more people"

"I don't even remember my teacher's name let alone to find eleven good singers in the place" he laughed

"I have every faith in you, you'll make this happen"

"And I have every faith that you'll get that lead someday, if not in that choir you'll get it where it matters"

"It matters now"

"I know it matters now, it always matters, but you know what I mean, cream rising"

"I just need to be front and centre, just once"

"It's not going to be just once, it's coming"

"And you're going to be that quarterback, the one everyone remembers"

"And if we can say and believe all of that, why can't we believe we're going to be a couple again?"

"I didn't say never" she giggled "I know that word is not in your vocabulary"

"You got that straight" he laughed "So what's the plan for tomorrow again?"

"Play nice, do my best at auditions, and don't drag Lintel when she gets the lead" she replied, "And yours?"

"Run around like a crazy person, to get eleven of the best voices to agree a song change, so I can see you at nationals" he snapped

"Easy" she snapped back

"And what do I get if I pull this off"

"What do you mean?" she giggled "Sam" she warned "Friends remember, tomorrow"

"Tomorrow, I expect rewards" he replied before the call closed

Back Story

They were both holding back because neither really knew if they were ever going to be in the same space again, so it was hopeless making promises that couldn't be kept. They been together nearly two years all together, six months in secret and eighteen months in the open, it was a sad evening for everyone when he finally broke the news to Mercedes who was totally besotted with him

Quinn had let it slip, in their conversation as they all sat listening to Kurt and Blaine doing a song, they thought might be good for regionals, the holidays had just ended, they were in the running to win nationals and the whole group were determined the cup was theirs "What?" Mercedes looked at Sam shocked before getting up to leave the crowd

"Thanks Quinn" Sam snapped following Mercedes across the lawn to the roundabout "Merc..." the look she gave him made him stop talking and sit instead, there was nothing he could say to soften the blow "Shit" inside he was mad as hell about it coming out like that, but right now wasn't the time to show that, he sat watching her waiting for some sort of reaction.

He knew she was thinking of him right now, sorting things out in her head, concluding that if he had any say, this wouldn't be happening, she also knew he hated when she came out of her bag on him, that usually resulted in him punching something or someone during his game. The silence got longer, they could hear each other breathing, both trying to control tempers

"I'm sorry" he finally whispered "I was trying to find the right time"

"How long have you known?" she turned to ask him

"My parents have been talking about if for a while and I..."

"How long Sam?"

"Since last week" he bit his bottom lip and looked at her

"So, why haven't you said anything before now?" she looked at him "Did you even have the intention to tell me anything, or were you just going to get off one day leaving me to work it out?"

"Because, I didn't know how, I was, hell I'm still hoping everything falls through"

"But you never even told me they were even thinking of leaving"

"I was scared" he raked his hands through his hair "If you want the truth, I was fucking scared" he looked at her "I don't want to lose you" he moved closer to her "I love you"

"And I love you, but..."

"That's what I'm scared of, that but" he looked at her "I mean it when I say you mean the world to me, and nothing or no one will ever change that, I promise"

"We can't do the long-distance thing Sam"

"Why not?"

"Because" she looked into his eyes "There are so many beautiful girls in Kentucky, one look from them and you'll forget me" she smiled at him with teary eyes "You say it every day, you're an eighteen year old man, with needs"

"We deal with that" he hissed

"Not when you're a thousand miles away" she looked at him

"You're wrong"

"Sam" she frowned, almost laughing at him accusing her of being something she never was

"I'd never want anyone to do that for me except you" he lifted her chin with his finger "I might only be eighteen, but I know what real love is, and we're in it"

"Sam" she leaned her head on his chest and cried as much as she wanted to "I don't want you to go"

All he could do was hold her tight and pray that this wasn't the last time he was going to do that "Don't cry babe" he pulled her hair off her face and kissed her forehead "Everything will be alright"

"How do you know?" she looked at him asking

"Because I want it to be, I'm hoping you do too"

"I do" she looked into his eyes before their lips met "I miss you already" she stopped to tell him before she dived back in "When are you going?" she finally asked

"Three days"

"Three days?" she gasped pulling away from him

"Listen" he stopped the meltdown she was about to have "We'll call each other every night, we'll be honest about everything"

"Like?" she looked at him questioningly

"If you even think about someone else, I need you to tell me"

"I think that's going to be more you than me" she giggled "What's going to happen about you being my favourite quarterback, you earned that spot" her eyes wide with the thought of him losing out on it

"I guess I'll have to start all over again, or change my dream"

"Don't change your dream for anyone Sam, if that's what you want to do, make it happen"

"And you don't give up on the singing thing, I know you don't think it, but you're good, you've got what it takes, and if I don't get back to school, I know I'll be turning up, fighting to get backstage at some supercharged international gig, to claim my girl" he laughed

"I'm going to be that girl now" she giggled suspiciously

"What's up?"

"You need to say goodbye to them tonight" she nodded at their friends watching Rachel and Finn singing now "I'm not letting you leave me for the next three days"

"I don't plan to" he kissed her again "Come on let's get this done"

They went back to their friends and Sam officially told them the news, everyone was upset about it, not only were they losing a friend, but they were also losing their twelfth man, New Directions weren't going to be the original crew anymore. They sat around singing, and sharing memories of their time together, pretty soon it was near everyone's curfew time, so they dispersed as usual to say their private goodnights and that was their last gathering in the evenings until Sam left Lima, and McKinley High for good as far as they knew.

They all turned up at his house that morning to see him off, it was a sad affair, everyone was crying, hugging, and they sang him to the car

"Sam" Mercedes pulled him back and hugged him "I think we should just be friends until we sort this out"

"What?" he pulled back asking "Where's this come from?"

"I think it's for the best"

"The best for you?" he hissed

"For both of us, we don't know what's ahead, it's unfair for me to keep you waiting" she looked into his eyes "Please" she smiled crying "It's the only way I can deal with this" her eyes begging

"You were always going to do this weren't you?" he looked at the car "With my parents here to stop me getting out of control?"

"I was always going to keep this real, you know that" she giggled through her tears "Best Friends?"

"Best friends that call every night, and tell each other the truth?" he hugged her crying

"Promise" she whispered in his ear before she let him go, and then he was gone

End of Back Story

That was two weeks ago, so of course they were still fresh into this friend thing and finding it difficult to keep boundaries. But now there was a different focus, the usual in-house battle had started between Rachel, Santana, and Mercedes for the solo spot, while Sam was finding it hard fitting into his new all boys school, especially as the football team wasn't all that.

He lay on his bed thinking about the conversation he'd just had, and how back in Lima that used to end so different, usually he'd end up rubbing one out, if she hadn't done it for him earlier, he could hear her whispering in his ear, as she'd explode on his fingers. He smiled at them always bursting into laughter at the mess they'd made, after arguing who wasn't going to mess on who, or where, and then the wipes would come out for the clean-up, he missed it all, he missed his girl.

He needed her back, and maybe he'd jump on that tomorrow, he didn't feel right getting rewards knowing they weren't together, it felt like cheating. He fell asleep thinking about his double rewards tomorrow, after making plans as to how he was going to get that group of guys that called themselves a choir away from singing the hymns that had taken them to fourth place at regionals, to something a bit more up tempo for nationals, fast.

The next day he managed to get four of the guys willing to try something else, she managed to nail her audition, but so did Santana and Rachel so the call was they did something together, it was better than singing background the whole evening, so they took it

"How did you do?" Sam asked excited as they started their usual nine o'clock conversation

"We all got it, and we've got to work on something together that showcases all our voices"

"I don't suppose it could have been any fairer" he frowned "Obviously you can handle the solo, pity he can't see that"

"And you?"

"I got four, maybe five on my side"

"I guess we're both looking for rewards then" she grinned at him

"I guess we are" he giggled "It's been a while"

"What do you want me to do?"

"Don't tease" he laughed

"What if I kissed your..."

"Stop" he snapped "This doesn't feel right"

"What's wrong"

"I need you to be my girl"

"Sam" she moaned

"What?" he stared at her "I can't help it if anything else feels like cheating"

"Seriously?" she giggled "Why didn't you just say you want us to get back together?"

"Because I know you" he laughed "You've got a thousand reasons why this won't work"

"And you've always got a thousand reasons why it will"

"And I'm always right" he smiled "So, are we...?"

"...Yes Sam, I was going to ask anyway"

"No, you weren't" he laughed "Full of jokes today"

"I'm just..." she looked at him seriously

"Just what?"

"I was thinking maybe I made a mistake breaking up with you, I thought I could handle it, but I'm not doing well, and it got me thinking, long distance is better than what I'm feeling now"

"Horrible, isn't it?" he huffed "I just didn't want you stressing but, yeah it's been bad for me too"

"So, it's official?"

"Yes, we're official" he laughed "Rewards here we come" he wiggled his eyebrows

"We have more good news" she smiled

"What's happened?"

"You've heard where nationals are haven't you?"

"No"

"McKinley High" she giggled

"Seriously?" he asked excited "We couldn't have planned this" he punched the air, she watched him for a few seconds missing his touch, he'd have grabbed hold of her just then and kissed her so hard "What?" he stopped to ask

"I miss you" she frowned

"Things are going to change now we're back together; you know that?"

"I know" she laughed "Now where was I?" she grinned "What was it you wanted me to do again?"

"Is your door locked?" she nodded a yes "Okay clothes off" he smiled getting up to take his off too, they were used to this play, it wasn't perfected yet, but it worked for them. Afterwards they lay smiling at each other the usual embarrassment kicked in for a second, the one that always kicked in when they realised, they'd got off on their own, followed by some dreamy conversation and then sleep

They woke up the next morning as if the past two weeks hadn't happened, she was smiling for Sam's ring tone waking her up with a smile, she grabbed the phone to hear the words that had brought her to life every day for just over two years, she'd missed them

"Morning Miss Perfect" he smiled

"I'm not perfect, I look a mess"

"Perfection can me messy too, look at me" he laughed

"Now that is perfection" she giggled at his hair standing to attention in all directions, and his face clowning "My bae" she sent him a kiss "I have to pee" she got up telling him "Call me on the way to school, love you"

"Love you too" he called after her closing the call

They spoke every day, at every opportunity, he was talking more to the old crew specifically Finn as it seemed he was becoming a prominent figure in the school choir, and he didn't have a clue what to do, so he was a great help. Soon it was the weekend of Nationals, the McKinley kids were excited for it happening at their school, while Sam and Mercedes where just happy they were getting to see each other again.

Lima

It seemed like all the buses got there at the same time, there were groups of people everywhere, Mercedes and the others walked around looking for Sam in all the chaos "Hey" he came from nowhere and grabbed her hand

"Hey" she turned smiling as their eyes met

"Sam" Finn shouted, and everyone seemed to ascend at the same time, each patting, hugging, or kissing him, Mercedes stood holding his hand, watching it all, their eyes barely leaving each other for what seemed like an age

"Sam" his choir master called

"Sorry guys I've got to go" he squeezed Mercedes' hand and walked away 'Park in an hour' he tapped in his phone and sent the message, smiling when their eyes met again, and she nodded a yes

"Are you two a thing again?" Kurt asked Mercedes looking at her suspiciously

"We think it's more than a thing" she grinned at him

"So, when did this happen?" he asked excitedly

"Two weeks after he left" she laughed

"I should have guessed" he grinned "Finn said he was calling a lot, I didn't make the connection, but we weren't telling you because we didn't want you upset" his finger waving around as he joined the dots in the conversation "Are you happy?"

"Yes"

"Then I'm happy for you Mercedes" he hugged her "I know Blaine and I, as well as Tina and Mike are going to be tested by the long-distance thing next year when Mike and I leave, so any tips, welcome"

"Just two" she grinned "Grab any time you can get, and carry on mastering the phone sex thing, it gets better with distance"

"Nasty" he screwed his face before laughing "Thanks" they touched heads before joining the others to discuss nationals

"That was the longest hour" she grabbed hold of his top as she got to him, grabbing his lips before he could say anything "I needed that" she gasped breathlessly when she finally let him go "Are you able to get out later?"

"After practice I'm hanging with you for a while"

"Perfect" she kissed him again "I feel like a naughty child"

"You can be, if I remember rightly"

"I want to get naughtier, is that a word?"

"It is if you say it" he laughed "God I missed this, I miss us" he pulled her to him as close as he could get her without melting into each other "What do you mean naughtier?"

"Tonight, I'll bring the wipes, but, tomorrow, after we win nationals, you bring the protection"

"Are you sure about this?"

"I'm sure" she grinned at him, "But it has to be one of us that wins"

"Rewards" he laughed "You always know how to get the best out of me"

"In more ways than one" she kissed him again. They'd talked every day, but they still found things to talk about for nearly an hour as they sat in the park, wrapped in each other

"Hey" they turned to see Finn smiling down at them "I love seeing you two together again"

"Get used to it" Sam smiled getting up to hug his friend again

"What, you two?" Finn asked shocked

"Yeah, we never really stopped" Sam told him

"You kept that quiet" Rachel smiled at Mercedes

"Still navigating" she smiled

"So" Rachel hugged Sam "Ready for nationals?"

"Yep" Sam snapped, pulling Mercedes up

"You better bring it"

"Every intention to" he hugged Mercedes and looked at her grinning "Rewards"

"Is that inside talk for sex?" Finn asked surprised "I didn't think you two..."

"Mind your business" Sam laughed knocking shoulders with him, before they went off to practice before meeting up again to enjoy the rest of their night.

Nationals

"Morning Miss Perfect" he smiled down the phone

"I'm not perfect, I look a mess" she covered her face giggling

"Perfection can me messy too, look at me" he laughed

"Now that is perfection" she giggled at his hair standing to attention in all directions, and his face clowning "My bae" she sent him a kiss

"I'll be at yours in forty-five" he warned "Be ready"

"It's our day today"

"I woke up thinking about that, I can't wait to win this thing"

"You're going to win something" she gave him her sexy eye look

"Get dressed" he laughed closing the call

The day was so filled with rehearsals they didn't get much chance to speak to each other except by message for most of the day, exchanging glances in the dinner hall at lunch, because he'd been told not to fraternise with the opposition the night before.

It was a great judge line up with the likes of Keith Urban and Kylie Minogue, among other Australian's because that was the theme, songs by Australian artists, song writers whatever as long as it came from the other side of the pond. The show started with a bang early evening with Vocal Adrenalin singing a rowdy version of a Kylie Minogue song. The Warblers didn't disappoint either with their energetic rendition of a popular Peter Andre song, it was clear the competition was going to be close

"You're up" Kurt's head popped around the curtain telling Sam who was wrapped in Mercedes

"We finally get a second and I have to perform" he laughed kissing her before he pulled away "Break a leg"

"You break a leg"

"I intend on breaking something tonight"

"Reward focused; I like it" she giggled

"The last one's for you" he blew her a kiss and walked away

Mercedes stood side stage watching as Sam and his new choir performed to the best of their ability, smiling when she heard their final song was a rendition of 'She Looks So Perfect' by 5 Seconds of Summer

All: Hey-hey, hey-hey, hey-hey, hey, hey-hey, hey-hey, hey-hey, hey

Sam: Simmer down, simmer down, they say we're too young now to amount to anything else
But look around, we work too damn hard for this just to give it up now

If you don't swim, you'll drown, but don't move, honey

Chorus

All: You look so perfect standing there, in my American apparel clothes you wear, and I know now that I'm so down
Your lipstick stain is a work of art, I got your name tattooed in an arrowed heart, and I know now that I'm so down

Hey! hey-hey, hey-hey, hey-hey, hey...

"Your boys on form" Santana whispered in Mercedes ear "Got our work cut out."

"Thanks" Mercedes grinned, knowing she was right

"We've got this" Blaine told Santana "Be positive"

"We're last for a reason, come on let's wow the judges" Quinn reminded them "And you three better have this wrapped" she looked at Santana, Rachel and Mercedes smiling

"Wrapped" Rachel confirmed looking at Finn, they went on stage and did their songs the girls ending with their jumpy rendition of 'Turn Me Loose' by Young Diva's

Santana: I was born to run, I was born to dream, the craziest girl you ever seen, I got to do it my way, or no way at all.

Mercedes: And then you came around, tried to tie me down, I was such a clown, you had to have it your way, or no way at all.

Chorus

All: So why don't you turn me lose, turn me loose, turn me loose, I got to do it my way, I want to fly (Mercedes: I want to fly).

Rachel: And I was here to please, I'm even on knees, making love to whoever I please, I got to do it my way, or no way at all
Mercedes: Well, I've had all I can take, I can't take it no more, I'm gonna pack my bags and fly... baby, or no way at all...

"How do you think we done?" Puck asked Finn

"It's tight" Finn shook his head "Tough call" they sat around waiting for the results

"We did enough" Tina assured them, grabbing hold of Mike as if she didn't actually believe what she'd said

"Yes" Finn yelled as they stood on stage nearly half hour later, New Directions were celebrating a home win, while Sam's choir had taken a proud second place "Breadsticks?"

"No" Sam smiled "We've booked something" he threw his arm around Mercedes shoulder and walked away from the crowd "Double rewards"

"If you can't be good, be careful" Brittany called after them, they didn't take the bait

"Are you sure about this?" Sam asked as they walked through the park

"I'm sure about you" she grabbed hold of his arm to carry on walking to her house

They got to her house and ran up the stairs, talked long enough to make sure the coast was clear and the bedroom door was locked before he made his move, grabbing her to him and kissing her hard and deep, her hands sliding down to a familiar place, smiling at his usual gasp "Stop" he snapped pushing her away "You can't do that, not tonight"

"Okay" she stepped to him "Your rules"

"Clothes off" he ordered; she didn't say anything she did as told and lay on the bed watching him put on protection "That's better" he stepped towards her, smiling at the familiar scene, silence filled the air as he took the lead, her body quivering as his lips moved down her body, working on her until she shivered from the inside out "Ready?"

"Mm" she gasped at the feel of him quickly invaded her body sending more shivers through her, she screamed at the intensity, and grabbed hold of him for more "Deeper" she screeched at him pushing himself deeper inside her

"You alright?" he pulled back

"Yeah" she gasped, her hands clutched his butt and pulling him in

"Babe" he gasped grabbing hold of her hips tighter to slam into her, everything around them got slow and intense, even the music got blurry as they sealed this new level in their relationship "God" he hissed, they both knew what that meant, it was his turn to shudder "That felt so damn good"

"And fast" Mercedes added giggling "But I feel... undone"

"Mercedes" they jumped at hearing her mother's voice

"Mom"

"Have you seen Sam?"

"He's at the park with the other's I'm just getting changed to join them"

"Tell him his mom said he needs to be in by twelve, same goes for you"

"Okay" they jumped up to get dressed, Sam through the window and down the oak tree, while Mercedes went out the front door as if nothing had happened.

"Hey" Artie smiled at seeing them

"Hey" Sam laughed as they stood applauding them

"Finally," Santana cheered