Enjoy!

Book Fifteen: The Locker: Part Three

After that night Sam really didn't see Mercedes except for their little run ins at their lockers but even those were brief. She would always say hey before quickly grabbing her things and heading away with her friends or Shane.

Every so often he would get the urge to text her just to let her know everything was going better and that his parents agreed that him staying with his dad was best for everyone. Then after a while he started seeing her in passing because of her being all over the place or just plain busy with her senior adviser role.

"Hey! Are we still hanging out tonight?" Marley, Sam's girlfriend asked, hugging him.

"Yep also… I wanted to ask about homecoming." Sam said with a grin.

"What about homecoming?" She asked moving in closer with a smile.

"Well would you go with me?"

"Ahhh! Yes! Of course I will, oh my I need to go dress shopping!" She excitedly said giving him a soft kiss before waving as she walked away.

Sam was happy she said yes even though they were dating she could have easily said no and that might have crushed him, he tensed slightly when he felt a hand on his arm but smiled when he saw it was Mercedes.

"Hey! Long time no talk… or see." He said cheerfully but only got a nod as she worked to unlock her locker.

"So I wanted to tell you that things are going good… since I moved in with my dad. I thought about texting you but I didn't want to bug you plus dad has been on my back about rescheduling the dinner with your family, so when do you think we could come over?" He asked.

"Oh that's great cutie and anytime would be fine just text me and I'll tell my parents." She said putting her books away and closing her locker.

"Cedes, we need to finish talking." Sam heard from behind them which was followed by an annoyed sigh from Mercedes.

"Shane, I'm not in the mood and I have to go anyway… I have a doctor's appointment so we can talk later." She said, not turning around to look at him.

"Do you mind? I need a minute alone with my girl." Shane said to Sam who just looked at Mercedes and she nodded letting him know she was fine and he walked away, slowly.

"Shane, listen I really need to go so I'm not late for my appointment." She said moving past him but he stopped her.

"Look I get you're upset but it's not like we weren't planning on this in future." He said and Mercedes jerked her head up and gave him a dark look.

"You told me you were wearing a fucking condom! You told me that I had nothing to worry about and you knew I was changing my birth control and now I have to go the damn doctors to make sure I'm not fucking pregnant! Planning for the future doesn't mean you get to pick and choose when the fuck it starts! I have dreams too Shane, dreams a child could hinder while you get to go live yours, you better hope like hell I'm not because your dreams will be on hold just like mine!" She said through gritted teeth before storming off leaving Shane there shaking his head in disbelief. She walked straight to her car surprised when she saw Sam standing there casually leaning against her car.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, wiping her face quickly and putting on a brave face.

Sam just gave her a look before grabbing the keys out her hand and opening the passenger side and nodding for her to get inside, she hesitated for a moment before sighing and getting inside as Sam walked to the driver's side and got in.

"Where are we going?" He asked calmly.

"Sam I'm fine really." Mercedes said softly.

"Yeah and so was I all those months ago. Come know the gig… unless you want me to straddle you?" He said with a smirk making her giggle.

"To be fair it was the only way I could stop you, I'm literally 5'2 so any hope I had of tackling you and succeeding went out the window." She replied with a smile before it faded, Sam grabbed her hand and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Look, I know we're not best friends and you have your own life but you helped me so let me return the gesture. I won't tell anyone anything, no judgment and this time I'll take you to my house and feed you snacks… deal?" Sam offered with a warm smile.

"Okay deal." She said, biting her lip nervously. "I have an appointment with my lady doctor..."

"Okay where?" He asked starting the car and pulling off.

"How old are you?" Mercedes asked, realizing he might be underage.

"I have a late birthday so I started at six instead of five. I'm sixteen." He answered with a chuckle then proceeded to drive where she instructed. The drive was short but he could tell the second they pulled up that she was beyond nervous.

"Want me to go with you?" Sam asked, breaking Mercedes from her thoughts of impending doom.

"Would you? Like I know this is weird and crazy but-"

"I don't think you heard me when I said no judgments, if you don't want to tell me then that's fine but I will be here for you like you were for me." He interrupted squeezing her hand gently.

"We… he didn't when he said he did and now I'm here hoping like hell I'm not pregnant." She said.

Sam just nodded looking at her with an unreadable expression before unbuckling his seat then hers and pulling her into a hug as best as he could with the console in between them, she accepted the hug feeling the tears roll down her face. He let her cry and gently stroked her hair until he felt her trying to wipe her tears.

"No matter what happens today you have a friend here to help… I'm not sure what I can help with but for you to open up and tell me that means a lot." He said, pulling away with a deep sigh.

"Ready?"

"Mhm, let's get this over with." She said opening the door and getting out as he did the same. They both were silent as she filled out her paperwork and she was called back not soon after.

"You want me to go with you?"Sam asked standing when they called her name and for the first time since he saw her today she laughed.

"I do but you can't… I'll be okay, thank you Sam." She said giving him a hug before heading back as he sat back down. He played a few games on his phone while he waited before he got a text from Marley.

MR:Hey where are you?

SE:Had to help a friend… not coming back.

MR: Oh, what friend?

Before he could respond Mercedes came running from the back as he stood up she crashed into him squeezing him tightly. He just smiled and assumed that was a good sign and hugged her back before she pulled away running her hands through her hair letting out a deep sigh.

"I'm not.. pregnant and to be sure she gave me the morning after pill. I have to take it with food and preferably soon, I don't even know what to do. I'm so happy and angry at the same time!" She said letting out another relieved sigh.

"That's good! I am happy for you, come on let's get some food in you so you can take the medication." Sam said, nudging her along.

After going to the local grocery store and grabbing an absurd amount of snacks and drinks they headed back to his house as promised and he led them downstairs to the basement that his dad converted into a movie room.

"Woah… this is awesome! You should have parties down here." Mercedes said admiring how much it looked like a mini theater, there was a popcorn machine, projector, snack bar and actual movie seats except they were more like fancy recliners. There was also a light dimmer, surround sound and two different levels of sitting and there was an actual vending machine.

"Okay it's official I'm moving in just for this… shit I don't have any change." She said digging in her purse but stopped when Sam laughed before coming up behind her and pressing one of the buttons.

"You don't need any, dad restocks it faithfully." He said with a chuckle, grabbing the drink and handing it to her.

"If I'd known you had a vending machine I wouldn't have made you pick three different types of drinks."

"I forget that it's here sometimes, come on let's pick a movie." He said, grabbing her hand and sitting her in one of the plush seats. He reached over her and handed her three different remotes earning him a confused look.

"Sound system, projector, firestick."

"I'm so loving this… thank you Sam. I know I said it earlier but thank you. I was so pissed that he would seriously think it was okay to just do something like that..." She said biting her lip and turning everything on then scrolling through to find a movie.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure!"

"Why did he think it was okay?"

"His reasoning is because we were planning for that in the future that he didn't see any harm in not using one now but I didn't know because he lied and said he was… umm we use the bare skinned so that's why I didn't notice until after." She replied, shaking her head. "I must be the craziest girl in the world to think I had any real idea on what I was doing."

"No it's not your fault, he's your boyfriend and should have been honest with you. I would cut him off if I were you… make him suffer a little." He said with a low chuckle that made her giggle.

"Oh he's beyond cut off… no this cupcake is off limits until after graduation." She said seriously but Sam's laughter made her smile.

"Cupcake huh? Just learning a whole lot about you today."

"What? I like calling it a cupcake because it brings joy." Sam's laughter grew and she couldn't help but join in, hitting him playfully.

"I figured you'd say because it's sweet not because it brings joy!" He said laughing harder and she hit him again rolling her eyes.

"What guys don't call their things by different names?"

"Oh no we do, just not cupcake!" She shot him a look and he held his hands up trying to hold in his laughter. "Sorry, but cookie I can understand but cupcake sounds…"

"Plush, soft and sweet. The epitome of one Mercedes Jones." She quipped with a smirk and he nodded.

"Yeah you're soft." He said without thinking and she looked at him with a smirk before nodding, biting her lip slightly then turning on Avengers.

"So you think I'm soft huh? She asked, grabbing a handful of Oreo's making him blush.

"I mean when we hug you feel soft… I don't know about anything else."Sam said, glancing at her for a quick moment before getting comfortable in his seat.

"So I'm just not sweet and plush...got cha." She joked trying to hold back her laughter when she noticed his eyes grow wide.

"No, I mean yes you're very sweet! It's a little unnerving honestly… I mean I think it's a part of you you know? Cause your sister and mom are also sweet… I don't really know what you mean by plush.." He said quickly, making her let out the laugh she was holding inside.

"You are too damn cute I swear." She said, shaking her head.

"That wasn't funny..." He replied with a light chuckle feeling relieved he hadn't offended her.

They watched the movie in silence only talk when comparing Captain America and Tony, they got into a great debate on why Thor was the mightiest ending with Mercedes simply stating that Thor's body alone made him mighty. After they finished that they agreed on having a mini marathon and watched Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

"Hey about the popcorn machine?" She asked with a smile.

"Works? Yeah come on I'll show you." He said pausing the movie and walking over to the machine with her in tow. He grabbed all the things they needed and turned it on so it could get warmed up, he hand her the oil and kernels nodding for her to do the honors. She smiled brightly and began pouring the oil followed by the kernels doing a little dance once she finished but the look on Sam's face made her stop.

"What?" She asked innocently and Sam just smirked.

"Ah… you'll see in a little bit." He said, chuckling and walking back to his seat. She looked at him before taking her spot as well and they resumed the movie, a few minutes later the popcorn began popping and Mercedes grew excited but quickly realized Sam's amusement. She had put in way too much and it slowly started overflowing and she looked at Sam worriedly.

"Why didn't you stop me!" She said jumping up and looking for something to put the popcorn in before she started shoveling it on her shirt, Sam was full blown laughing at this point and couldn't tell her where the buckets were.

Mercedes was trying to catch the popcorn but it kept overflowing. She couldn't help but laugh as well before she started throwing handfuls at Sam. He quickly grabbed some himself and threw it back and before they knew it they were in full blown popcorn fight. She finally found the buckets and scooped up a bunch before dumping it over his head laughing loudly, Sam gave her a look and she immediately ran but he caught her before she could make it up the stairs.

He grabbed her by the waist and carried her back before placing her down and quickly dumping a bucket over her head laughing along with her, he had to admit seeing her being carefree like this was a treat especially since she was so upset earlier.

He brushed some popcorn out of her hair before lacing his hands into her hair. He had wanted to touch her hair to see if it was as soft as it looked and it was surprisingly softer than he expected. Her curls always looked so coily and tight but when he ran his hand through them they moved easily without getting caught on his fingers. She didn't seem to mind so he did it again this time with both of his hands gently rubbing her scalp making her moan softly and lean into his hands.

"You might want to stop before I fall asleep." She said after a few moments with a giggle.

Sam just chuckled but he didn't stop for some reason it was soothing to him to play with her hair only when he felt her hands grab his is when he stopped. She gave him a sweet smile before backing away looking at all the popcorn on the floor giggling before looking back at Sam who was still looking at her quietly.

"Come on let's clean this up before your dad bans me from ever coming over again." She said grabbing a bucket and getting down to pick up the popcorn Sam joined grabbing a bucket and they both cleaned up all the popcorn they could find before he took the buckets upstairs to throw away right as her phone started to ring.

Hello?

Well what's the verdict?

I'm not, thank God.

Why does it sound like you don't want what we've been planning?

I don't want it now! Do you realize you tried to trap me? I have my own fucking dreams Shane.

You can achieve those dreams after we're married and I'm a huge NFL star.

Goodbye.

Don't hang up, let me come over… let me apologize in person.

No… your version of apologizing involves sex and you're cut off until we graduate… probably even after that. I can't trust you not to try that shit again.

Bullshit! We had plans for after homecoming… I got the room and everything.

Well now we're just watching a movie and when I get tired I'll be going home.

Seriously?

Yep. I'll see you tomorrow.

Cedes-

She hung up feeling rather triumphant and she knew he was going to just call back again later but in that moment she felt good to let him know where they stood. She checked the time and saw that there was still one more hour before she needed to be back at the school to help with afternoon tutoring and decided to get out of Sam's hair.

"Hey, I think I'm going to head out, I need to get back to the school for afternoon tutoring but I need to get a few things from my house first." She said as Sam came back downstairs and he immediately shook his head.

"Nope, you're finishing this marathon with me." He said, grabbing her hand and sitting her down with a silly smile.

"I can always come back, you know but I can't miss my sessions today." She said, shaking her head and getting back up. "I'll text you later and thanks again for today, you're a good friend." She added as she headed towards the stairs only for him to grab her again carrying her back down laughing gently placing her back into her seat and then sitting on her.

"Nope. If I let you go back I'm not being a good friend. I spent pretty much the whole afternoon with you when you helped me so being that it's only been a few hours you have to stay. You can miss one session you do way too much as is… I mean seriously you're early to school and stay late! You know what, we're going swimming, come on!" He said getting up and grabbing her hand.

"Wait what? No! I don't even have a swim suit." She said as he tugged her along without responding weaving her throughout his house until they reached the back door and walked out to see their beautifully decorated backyard. She looked at him like he was crazy and he just chuckled before taking off his shirt and her eyes grew wide before she looked away. When she looked back he had just gotten his jeans off and was now taking off his socks smiling before he jumped in the pool with a wild laugh.

"Come on! Your turn Mercy!" He said when he resurfaced with a bright smile.

"Oh hell no! My hair can not and will not get wet today." She replied, shaking her head firmly and she bit her lip when she saw the look on his face before moving back with her hands up. "Nope this isn't happening!"

"Come willingly or I'll help you." He said with a smirk.

"Oh really? You think you can take me Evans?" She replied, never one to back down but when he just nodded she knew he wasn't going to back down either, so she just stood there with her hand on her hips daring him to try.

"Come Merce, it'll be fun." Sam reasoned and she just shook her head and he let out a deep breath before swimming to the edge of the pool and pulling himself up flashing her a devious smile before she started to run but he caught her and turned her around in his arms.

"Clothed or not?" He asked, only giving her a few moments to respond before he started towards the pool.

"Wait! Not my jeans… I love these jeans." She said trying to hold back her smile before she unbuttoned and pulled her jeans down and kicked them to the side before he scooped her up and ran straight to the pool jumping in with her still in his arms. They came up at the same time laughing and she splashed him before absentmindedly pulling off her shirt and throwing it over so it landed by her pants.

"I'm going to get you back for this Sam." She said with a soft laugh.

"Is that a threat or a promise?" He asked floating on his back with his eyes closed, she looked at him catching herself admiring his firm body and his face as he looked beyond peaceful, his jawline relaxed yet still very chiseled. She made herself look away before he opened his eyes and caught her staring.

"No, a promise is meant to be broken and a threat is meant to invoke fear. I just have my word to give you so that means it will definitely happen." She said moving close the edge, Sam opened his eyes when her back was to him and had to bite back a groan, she was stunning and the way her hair danced on the water made him want to touch it again, his eyes roved up her body as she turned and he immediately blushed when he saw her looking at him while shaking her head and smirking.

"See something you like?" She asked playfully and Sam had half a mind to say yes but he chose to just shrug and dip under the cool water to calm himself down, he had a damn girlfriend and she had a boyfriend plus they were really just becoming friends but damn it if she didn't look amazing in her matching underwear.

"Maybe." He quipped as he came back up slightly closer to where she was and winked.

"Only maybe?" She teased and Sam moved closer before splashing her. He couldn't help the laughter that came out when she glared at him before she dipped under the water, he felt a slight tug before going under only to see she wasn't there and suddenly realizing she had pulled his boxers off so quickly that he didn't even register it. When he surfaced she was standing there dangling his boxers with a triumphant smile.

"Told you I would get you back." She said laughing and pulling back when he tried to grab them from her shaking her head.

"Uh-uh Evans, we Joneses believe in swift payback so I'm going to be taking these with me and you can figure out just how you're going to get out without your oh so nosy neighbor seeing you." She said grabbing her clothes and his backing up further still laughing.

"If you think I'd be embarrassed to get out right now then you really need to get to know me better because I have nothing to be embarrassed about." He said giving her a challenging look to which she just shrugged and put his shirt on since hers was wet and pulled on her pants.

"Well that's good to know but too bad I won't be here to confirm that." She said placing his clothes on the far side of the patio and tucking his underwear into her back pocket. "Bye cutie." She added with a wink before going back inside and running straight into his father.

"Oh Mr. Evans, I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention..." She said with a nervous smile.

"It's fine… is my son out there?" He asked knowing the answer would be yes.

"Yes..." She replied slowly realizing he was naked and she had his shirt on. "I'll go get him for you." She quickly turned back and walked outside just as Sam was getting out of the pool and she gasped before turning around with her back to him.

"Oh don't get shy now." He said making her laugh but she didn't turn back around.

"Your dad is here and I figured you'd want to know before getting out of the pool naked." She replied looking over her shoulder to find his eyes on her, winking before walking closer to where she was standing until he was directly behind her.

"Told you I had nothing to be ashamed of." He whispered before pulling his underwear out of her pocket and sliding them back on just as Dwight came outside.

"Well I assume it's a good reason you're half naked and at home already." Dwight said crossing his arms over his chest.

"Merce needed some help so I helped and she's staying for dinner." Sam said playfully bumping Mercedes on the shoulder as he walked by to grab his jeans. "We're still grilling right?"

"Yeah as long as your folks say it okay then you're more than welcomed." Dwight said nodding.

"I'm sure they won't mind, thank you Mr. Evans."

"Call me Dwight and please let me know when your family wants to us over for dinner." He replied with a smile before heading back inside not before he gave his son a knowing look to which he nodded.

"Come on, let's get you into some dry clothes." Sam said holding the gate opened so they could walk to her car.

"Don't you want to change first?" She asked noticing he didn't have a shirt on at all.

"I will once you change, you can give my shirt back later." He said nudging her along.

"Well shoot and here I thought I could keep it." She replied pretending to be sad, making him give her a look that they both laughed. They opted to walk to her house instead of driving, joking about any and everything until the subject of homecoming came up again.

"Is it true you're preforming?" Sam asked.

"Yep Shue asked since a majority of the New Directions are going to have dates and would like to spend time with them if me, Quinn and Santana would help out. It took a lot of convincing for Santana to say yes but we'll be doing a group number and each an individual number."

"Mhm.. what are you going to sing?"

"It's a surprise." She said, shimming , making him laugh.

"Where the hell have you been?" They heard and looked in the direction of the voice and Mercedes let out a deep sigh.

Shane is annoying... ugh