(I've Had) The Time Of My Life
Events can become priceless memories there to make sense of your feelings
Mercy got out the cab totally exhausted, she couldn't have wished for a better night, even if an actual fairy had come and stood in front of her right now "Here lady" the driver called alerting her to the fact that they had stopped moving, she was on cloud nine and beyond
"Thanks" she threw some money at him and stepped out the cab looking up at her building hoping her flat mates were still asleep, or had even stayed out, to save answering questions she didn't feel like answering. Walks of shame wasn't her thing, it wasn't what she usually did but last night was special, really damn special. "Quinn was right it was always those nights you never planned that turned out to be the most memorable"
She opened her purse, took her key out and entered her building, smiling all the way up to the fourth floor, slowly opening the door to reduce noise, she closed it quietly, smiling at the silence, wondering whether to finish the night with a coffee, wine, or a bath. Deciding she wanted to savour the night for a while longer she opted for wine and a bath, rushing across the room to get a bottle of wine and a glass before heading off to her bedroom and locking the door.
She'd been friends with Quinn and Santana at school, after which they went their own separate ways, and purely by chance their lives met up again in Florida three years later, of course Santana convinced them, her third eye had informed her it was fate, and they got a place together. All three had their fingers in anything showbusiness, jumping in and out of jobs, when the opportunity came up, encouraging each other to take those chances they'd dared to dream about at school, they were good for each other in that way.
Quinn was a beautiful free spirit, she was kind, considerate and loyal to her friends, but when it came to men she showed no loyalty, she'd been stung back in college and that had turned her into this ruthless, lady killer. She took no prisoners when it came to relationships, open or nothing, and that was working for her, until a likeminded Puck turned up and now it seemed she was committed without the commitment, he spent more time in the apartment than Santana or Mercy did.
Santana had taken some time to come into her own, she was the mouthy one all through school, but something she never talked about must have happened in the three years they'd been apart because for a while she just sat watching more than speaking her mind. After about three months she finally admitted what they'd known for a while, that she was into women, and she was in a relationship with Brittany who was threatening to leave her because she wouldn't admit her feelings, of course they supported her, and pretty soon she was back to her old self.
Mercy they all knew was the 25 year old virgin, she'd kept reassuring herself that she didn't want anything special, but when the dick stood in front of her, not literally, Quinn or Santana would set her up with some hot totty, she'd run to the hills. They'd be pissed at her for about a day, calming down when they walked into the apartment smelling freshly baked cup cakes or biscuits, she knew how to shut them up when she needed to.
She stepped into the hot bath smiling at it covering her skin like a sheet, she settled in and closed her eyes she needed to be back there
Flashback
She'd gone out with some girls from work who had tickets for some group she'd never heard of, one of the girls had dropped out and save wasting the VIP tickets Kitty asked and she's said yes to the invite. It was Friday night anyway and all she'd got planned for Saturday was the usual shopping, washing and maybe a fresh hairdo if she could fit it in.
She'd popped home at lunch time to get an outfit and left a note he knew none of them was going to bother to read. Later that evening she walked into the club and straight away knew it wasn't her thing, but she was there, there was a bar, and the crowd looked like it was going to be entertaining, so she decided to stay and enjoy the free night and boy did she enjoy the night
She'd been looking around the room, trying to work out who to diss first, because that's what she had decided her night was going to be about "Drink?" Marley asked
"Whatever everyone else is having" she opened her purse and passed her credit card over to Marley "And get the next round set up will you please?" she smiled, watching Marley snatch the card without answering
"I'll have the card, but the drinks are included" she laughed handing it her back
They were sat in a booth above the crowd, with a great view of the stage and about ten other people with them, they'd just stepped in, but Kitty was already at work trying to get into some tall, mouse haired guys pants. There were people closer to the stage than them below, but the way they looked on from above made it feel like they were closer than they actually were.
"Who did Kitty say this band was?" Mercy asked turning to look at Marley but seeing a blond haired guy, with piercing green eyes standing there "Sorry" she quickly turned back to look at nothing, shocked at her body's reaction to the man
"The Hearts" he replied making her have to turn back around
"Thanks" she smiled "Is that because they go around stealing hearts?"
"On the contrary" he laughed "I think they're all suffering from broken or dried up hearts"
"Dried up?" she looked at him puzzled
"Unable to find real love"
"Oh, that's a shame" she smiling at his attempt to grab her attention
"Dude" someone in the crowded room called, they both turned to see who that was
"Sorry got to go" the guy turned to leave "But please stick around, your ticket will get you back there, you can meet them yourself" he turned smiling to tell her
"Am I supposed to look forward to that?"
"I will" he smiled, she didn't know why her eyes refused to stop watching him as he walked away, but she giggled when he suddenly turned and caught her watching
"What did he say?" Bree whispered in Mercy's ear catching her attention, as she pushed a glass with something in it in her hand
"Who?"
"Who" Bree rolled her eyes "The hunk"
"Oh, the group was called The Hearts"
"Well, everyone knows that Mercy" she rolled her eyes again and walked off back over to the crowd, Mercy sat sipping her cocktail and people watching, she could hear the free talk going on the booth, everyone talking about sex, drugs and rock and roll, which was so not her thing.
"Oh" she sat up as the band walked onto the stage, the guy she'd been talking to heading the charge
"Here's what you all came for people The Hearts" some guy shouted over the mic as the room erupted, Mercy sat shocked as people flooded the room below them, there were hundreds maybe thousands of people below them screaming and she'd never heard of these people.
She'd expected heavy rock or something but the sound that came out of the group was easy to listen to, even easier when he found out that the guy she'd been talking to was the main singer and he wasn't half bad either, at least they had singing in common. Their eyes met and for what seemed like forever it was as if the crowd didn't exist as he sang to her
Smiling at him winking at her confirming she was right he was singing to her, if he was anything like her, he used song to express his feelings she sat listening to the words
Yeah, all the highs and lows, the loss of inhibitions, I'm under the throws of all my bad decisions
Everybody's asking questions I don't know, secretly, I'm desperate to stay in control, I will give you my confession, I'm alone, oh
So take it or leave it, my voice is nearly broken, drowning in slow motion, cause, oh, I'm down and hopeless, it's true
So take it or leave it, I'm numb, my body's frozen, and all my doors are closing, my light is dying slowly, it's true
So take it or leave it all 'Take it Or Leave It' by James Arthur
She felt a definite connection as their eyes played with each other, through the song she learned that they both had issues with staying in control, of what she'd never been quite sure, but it was something Quinn had commented about on many occasions. There was a sad moment in the song when she realised that at some point her body had become non-responsive to arousal, she'd closed herself off having heard all the horrible stories about guys just wanting one thing, or even taking it and leaving, she couldn't cope with that happening to her. The tingle happening in her panties right then alerting her to the awakening going on in her body and mind, she pressed her legs together and chuckled to herself
She found herself clapping sincerely when the song finished, sharing and awkward stare with the lead singer of the song "What's his name?" she asked Marley
"I don't know this is Kitty's fantasy group" she replied, both looking on stage again as the next song started, and they sat through a medley of songs sharing looks, until he realised every now and again that he was working and paid the crowd some attention
They'd announced a short break after the next song before the drums started, someone else was taking the lead on this one, the guy Mercy was watching was strumming his guitar looking at her for most of the song, then he suddenly stated singing again, their eye refusing to leave each other this time, so much so she couldn't concentrate on what else was going on, all she could hear was his voice and all she could see was his eyes the connection was that strong
Oh, hey love (Hey, love), I'd believe you if you told me, you're an angel, I would love you even if you weren't able, to love me the same way I do
I would write you in a million songs, I would back you even when you're wrong, I'll pretend I'm friends with all your friends
All that really matters in the end, is you. you and I
I'm by your side, If you're needing somebody, if something doesn't feel right, I'll, be your excuse when we're leaving the party
When you feel like you might die, you don't have to worry, I can bring you back to life I'm by your side
If you're needing somebody, always, always, always, always, always
I'm by your side, if you're needing somebody, always 'Always' by James Arthur
"God" she gasped and took a breath when the clapping broke their concentration
"Was he looking at you?" Kitty sneaked up behind her asking
"I don't think so" Mercy turned to respond, "Can you see how many people are here?"
"I can, but it looked like…"
"Don't be ridiculous" Mercy grinned "Is there anymore of this going?" she held her empty glass up asking
She was actually confused about the signals, not just the ones he was giving her, but the ones she was sending back. She knew that when she was ready she wasn't looking for anything special, but she thought at least she'd want it with someone she was sure could at least stay the night. This band was on tour, she didn't even know this guys name and her mind was wondering off to bedrooms and more specifically what she could do to him in hers.
He thought she was an angel and maybe in one sense she was, that part of her life hadn't been disturbed, but she was fucked if she was going to pretend to be a shy flower in a bedroom, especially one she was thinking, or was that hoping to be sharing with him in the very near future
"Here" Kitty shoved a full glass in front of her
"Thanks" she smiled taking the drink "Kitty, what's that guys…" she stood watching Kitty move off towards the guy she'd been talking to all night. Considering this was supposed to be her favourite group, she'd paid very little attention to them performing. "Hey" Mercy answered her buzzing phone and moved to the back of the room to listen to the conversation
"Everything alright?" Bree asked concerned when she walked back towards the seating area
"Yeah just my room mates wondering where I am" Mercy assured her "I did leave a note" she rolled her eyes smiling as she returned to her seat
"I think they call this unsociable" a man sat in the chair next to her commenting
"Excuse me?" the look she gave him letting him know she thought he was rude
"You've been sat in here with your back to all the action watching that damn band all evening"
"Well, that is what I came for" she pointed at the stage
"Nobody listens to them, they come for the action behind the scenes"
"Sorry you are?"
"Interested"
"Well, I'm not" she turned to look at the stage again, dismissing him
"Perhaps we got off on the wrong foot, that usually works for me"
"Perhaps we shouldn't get off any foot[BT1] " she cut her eye at him, he was much too cocky for her liking
"Friends?"
"Sorry the shows starting again" she pointed to the stage lighting up again, swinging her whole body away from him to make sure he got the message, her eyes widened at the guitarist standing side stage looking at her, she couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face. This time she smiled wider at the screams coming from the crowd below them even gloated a bit that maybe the one they were all screaming about only had eyes for her, he pointed directly at her before strumming his guitar and they went into song. She was unsure how long the second half went on for, but she did know by the time he announced the last song, she was ready for his hotel room, their eyes had had just about all the foreplay they could cope with. It seemed like he didn't care who knew he was interested in her, his eyes kept straying to the balcony for the rest of the night, she literally giggled when he burst into song telling her exactly how he was feeling
I don't want to feel this anymore, I don't want to be this anymore, take me there, take me there
I don't want to wake up on my own, you're the only thing I've ever known, take me there, take me there
Cause I, I want to hold you, like I never held you, and when I do, I'll never let you go
Well, I want to love you, like I never left you, and when I do, I'll never let you go (oh, when I do, I'll never let you)
I'll never let you go (let you go) I'll never (let you go) I'll never (let you go) I'll never let you go
I'll never let you go (let you go) I'll never (let you go) I'll never, yeah, yeah (let you go) … 'Never Let You Go' James Arthur
And then the concert was over, and they were on the go, everyone in the room moving in the same direction, she knew there was an after party, but she didn't know where. They jumped into waiting cars and travelled to a part of town she was familiar with, just ten minutes away from her building. There wee already people there, but no one she knew, she stood with Kitty, Bree, and Marley "Kitty what's the guitarists name?" she asked
"I have no idea which is which, I'm interested in Artie" she pointed to the guy she'd been talking to all night "He's their manager" she waved at him looking at her "And that dick with him is Shane, he generally lifts the boxes and stuff, but because they're playing again tomorrow I guess he's got the evening off" she leaned in forcing them to all do the same "Don't be fooled by that idiot" she whispered
Mercy's attention was taken with the band walking in the door, for some reason she held her breath and only exhaled when he came into the room. She watched him walking through saying his hello's, shaking hands, bumping shoulders, while his eyes searched the room "Hi" he smiled when their eyes met, standing for a second to acknowledge it before his attention was grabbed again. She stood watching him work his room, much like she did at her events, as the guy she now knew to be Artie guided him, along with the other two guys, around the important people "Sorry about that" he finally stopped in front of her "I've done what's expected of me and now I need to get out of here, are you up for that?" he looked around the room
"Yeah" she surprised herself with the quick response, Bree tapped her unable to believe that straight laced Mercy was taking a dive "I'll see you guys on Monday"
"Look after her" Kitty told the guy
"That's the plan" he laughed grabbing the hand and heading for the door "I hate that stuff, I'm kind of shy naturally"
"Me too, and just to be clear I don't do this"
"This?"
"Meet random guys who's names I don't even know and go off into the sunset" she laughed
"Neither to I, girls that is" he laughed "And the names Sam Evans"
"Mercy Jones" she smiled getting into the escalator
"I get the feeling we connected" he pressed the button for his floor
"Yeah so do I"
"I hope this isn't just about sex"
"We'll see" she surprised herself again with how open she was to this casual arrangement
They didn't wait for the door to shut before they were at each other, they'd already done all the foreplay they were going to do at the venue, and somehow in that short conversation they'd agreed it was going to happen, their bodies had dictated that for them. They moved lips locked clumsily across the room towards the bedroom, dropping her jacket on the floor before he grabbed her hand and pulled her in "Are you sure about this?"
"Yes" her body was already halfway there, the poor guy didn't even know she was ready to eat him alive
"It's been a while" he informed her, trying to tell her this was going to be quick
"Me too" she smiled at a secret she wasn't about to let out, he pushed her against the door taking her breath for a second before his lips made contact with hers again.
She grabbed his hair and pulled his mouth into hers "Condom" he pulled away to fetch one, he was back in seconds ripping the thing open, he noticed her expression change and thought he should ask again "Are you sure about this?"
"Yeah" she smiled watching him put the thing on
"Do you want to take your skirt off?"
"Oh, yeah" she started taking her clothes off, she was stood backed against the door with her bottom half exposed and suddenly she was scared, not for this to happen but of how different she was going to be on the other side of it, Sam grabbed hold of her and pulled back concerned
"What's the matter, you're shaking like crazy?"
"I'll be fine" she grinned embarrassed "I'm a virgin" she confessed
"Oh" his eyes widened "We can't do this" he backed off
"No, I want to do this"
"I want to do this, but not like this" he grabbed her hand and led her to bed, he was so gentle, undressing her fully, kissing her body until she was begging him with every touch to go further. His fingers invaded her body and she was fine with that, it didn't take long for her body to start moving to his rhythm "Oh God" she moaned as his thumb lightly brushed against her sensitive spot, it felt different with someone else doing it.
"You alright?"
"Yeah" she moaned about to go out of control
"Okay" she stopped for a second, wondering why he was sitting up looking at her exposed like that, his fingers were treating her fine but when he added his tongue, she wanted to scream with extasy, she lost all her inhibitions, she needed him to drag that feeling out of her, she grabbed his head and demanded closure. "I think you're ready" his head moved back up her body, he grabbed another condom to put on "This will hurt, just tell me to stop when you need to"
"I'm fine" her voice itched at him sucking hard on her already hard nipple while he slid into her
"Diverting the pain" he told her
That first time was over quickly, they went in the bath for a soak before returning to bed. Five hours later they'd tried all the positions she'd ever wanted to try, made up a few of their own and were lying in bed getting to know each other, having established sexually they were compatible.
"So" he lay looking up at the ceiling with her in his arms "Have you met a celebrity that took your breath away yet and what happened?"
"Oh god yes" she giggled "I met Oprah and all I could do was stand there with my damn mouth open, when she finally walked away I felt like such a fool" she moaned "But before she left she did hug me, and I said thank you"
"Result" he laughed
"You?"
"I shared a stage with Keith Urban once, and I was in awe all through the gig, well he'd been on it the night before playing to about 12 thousand fans and we were on it for some school choir thing, I was in the choir" he laughed "So I didn't actually meet him but when I usually tell the story I miss a lot of that information out"
"You make me laugh" she looked up at him "I guess we're going to have to talk about what we just did at some point" she turned to fling her body across him "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking are you okay?"
"Actually, I am" she smiled up at him
"Personal I know, but why did you wait so long to have sex?"
"I've been ready for years, but my body just made it's mind up tonight, all that foreplay on stage" she rolled her eyes "Hot as hell"
"I don't do that as a rule, there was just something drawing me to you, I haven't had anyone in my life intimately for nearly a year now" he squeezed her to him "I've never taken anyone's virginity before, it feels like a… privilege"
"Don't feel obliged to make this into something it's not"
"Oh, it's something" he laughed "And hopefully you're willing to work it out with me"
"We will" she got up "I need to get home; I'll never live this down if I stay out all night"
"You're going to leave me your contact details aren't you?" he sat up asking
"This I need to do again believe" she smiled, tapping her number into his phone before grabbing her clothes from around the room "Call me" she kissed him, laughing when he dragged her back into bed "Sam" she moaned giggling "I've got to go" she got up blew him a kiss and left
End Of Flashback
"Mercy Jones" she heard Santana's voice bellowing through the apartment "Get your ass out here"
"I'm in the bath" she shouted back
"Well get out of it and get out here" Quinn shouted
"Fuck" Mercy hissed getting up to dry off and wrap herself in her housecoat "What?" she swung her bedroom door open
"A little bird called Kitty tells us Miss Jones went off with some hunk last night and seeing as you're just arriving home, is there a conversation we need to have?" Santana asked
"I'm not giving details" Mercy smiled
"It's true?" Quinn giggled excited for her friend
"It's true" Mercy confirmed "Tonight I've had the time of my life"
"Good for you girl" Santana high fived her
"Are you going to see him again?" Quinn asked
"I left that totally up to him"
"Good move" Quinn agreed
"No regrets?" Santana asked
"Absolutely not" Mercy grinned "He said I was a privilege"
"Breakfast?" Brittany came out of Santana's room asking
"Sure" all three responded
"Shit that's my phone" Mercy got up hoping it was Sam, smiling when she reached it as saw an unknown number flash up "Hello?"
"Hey" his voice made her giggled "Just thought I got your number, but I didn't get your house number"
"Oh" she laughed wondering what the relevance was "I'm in 220"
"Okay, just checking you got home alright"
"Yeah fine" they small talked for a while, before he finally closed the call "That was… Sam" she smiled at him stood in her living room
"I just needed to let you know, that last night wasn't the end of us, it was the beginning, I have no answers yet, but we'll work it out"
"Breakfast?" Brittany asked rolling her eyes at the others
"Absolutely" Sam replied
"Stunning" Santana told Mercy out loud, making Sam laugh
"Sorry" Mercy walked towards him smiling