Spotlight
There are many lies you can tell, but there's one, that if you do, you hurt yourself
The breakup was amicable, they were both moving off to different parts of the world, hoping to be successful and knew things they would have to do to get them to where they needed to be would hurt their relationship. So, on the last day of school, they did what every other couple leaving school were busy doing, and broke up
"So, this is it" she turned to look at him
"I'll never forget last night or any other night we shared" he smiled pulling at her chin to kiss her again
"I'll never forget you" she smiled, closing her eyes at him wiping away her tears
"Remember, wherever I am, whatever I'm doing, whoever I'm with…"
"Me too" she hugged him "I'm so going to miss you"
"I miss you already" he hugged her back "Your smell, taste, moves, kisses all of it"
"Mmm" she squeezed him "All of the above" she looked up at him "We'll keep in touch though?"
"Of course, Florida and Washington might be poles away from each other, but the phone" he pulled his out "Is in my pocket"
"Don't come to the airport, I don't want to see you standing there, I won't go"
"I couldn't" he hugged her "I wouldn't let you go" he rested his chin on the top of her head "Can you believe we just has sex for the last time?"
"I can believe it's going to happen for us again" she looked up at him "And I'm not saying I'm waiting for you, we agreed we wouldn't" she smiled "It's just that everyone you ever sleep with is going to be measured against me and…"
"Sure of your self or what?" he laughed
"Pretty much" she giggled looking up at him "It's just that I know, if it's me, I'll be measuring them against you, and I might even sneak you in there if I need a little help"
"Always a pleasure" he raised an eyebrow
"Are we one hundred percent sure we need this spotlight we're craving?"
"Regret isn't a pretty thing" he frowned
"Well boyfriend" she looked into his eyes "Sounds weird saying that for the last time, I hope you get everything, well nearly everything you ever wished for"
"I so wish that for you too girlfriend" he kissed her and watched her walk into the house, she was crying before her hand turned the handle, it didn't take him long either, he'd just about got to the bottom step before he broke, life was never going to be the same, they were both still so very much in love with each other.
Three months in and the conversation still wasn't lacking in their platonic relationship, somehow they'd managed to find themselves in a placebo friend zone. Then the Christmas school reunion ended with them in bed together at his parents' house, and her sneaking through the window in the morning, leaving him fast asleep while she took the next flight back to Washington. That had resulted in just over a month of conversations about regrets for splitting, her looking at the possibility of things working for them, him threatening visits, both blocking each other's suggested moves so much it turned into frustrated shouting, and then phone silence.
8 Months Later
Sam's POV
None of this was my fault I sat smiling at Brittany attached to my right arm, she brought this on, she made me do this, I took another look at the girl sitting next to me, hoping I wouldn't look into her eyes and yearn for them to be someone else's. I don't know why it hadn't occurred to me that she'd be here of course she would be, it's the championships, she's a freaking champion I know this
"What's the matter babe?" Brittany pulled at my arm asking I don't know how long she'd been trying to get my attention, all I know was that right now, even though it wasn't something I'd wished for, there was someone else in the room who had my attention a long while ago and it seemed that had changed
"Nothing" I looked at her giving her that false smile only Mercy knew and understood "I was just clocking the competition"
"I thought you didn't know anybody here?"
"Hence your company" I smiled trying to turn on the charm
"Great first date, can't wait to see what the second one will be" she rubbed my leg as if we were that familiar
"Sure" I sat wondering why I was leading this girl on, if I'd have told her the truth she wouldn't be smiling right now, because she'd know that there's no way she'd have been here had I known Mercy was going to be here, I was dying for that particular hook up "Give me a.." I made to get up, but my legs suddenly let me down as I saw this prick walk over to my woman and wrap his arm around her so familiar I knew he meant something to her, she didn't even flinch at him touching her, that hurt.
"You alright?" Brittany asked me, I wanted to stand there like a spoilt kid in the middle of the dinner hall and shout, no I fucking ain't, rush over to him, grab him by the neck and squeeze until he'd stopped breathing, but what good would that have done, we'd promised each other not to wait, I hadn't, so I needed a reason as to why I was taking all this so badly
"I guess tonight's a bigger deal than I thought it was" was all I could find, so that was all I gave
"It's going to be fine, you're songs going to be great" she squeezed my hand, it was endearing, and I wanted to lean in and kiss her but the conflicting pictures in my mind of some man with his hand around my woman's waist and Brittany sitting there telling me things I only wanted to hear from the woman across the room forced me to not react
"Sure" I rolled my eyes at how unfair I was being to Brittany, I'd written my heart on my sleeve again, Mercy would know it as soon as she heard the first line, I'd said it so many times
"I need the bathroom, I'll be back in a tick" Brittany got up and left me sitting there, my eyes quickly searching the room to find where Mercy was, I was prepared for this showdown, played it so many times in my mind it had to work, I got up to make my way over to her
"Mercy" I whispered in her ear, not too close, but close enough for her to turn and see my waiting lips, that was a me move at school, she always fell for it
"Sam" she span round saying my name before she'd even seen my face, our lips brushed, and she stopped for a second to look into my eyes before she remembered there were people around us "Fancy seeing you here" she hugged me like a long lost friend
"I wasn't surprised to see you" I grinned at her
"This is Noah, Noah this is Sam" she looked at the prize dick stood behind her now she'd turned to face me
"Noah" I held my hand out like I was meeting my best friend, little did the man know we were already the worst of enemies, the grin on my face was because I'd brushed my hand against her breast and she hadn't so much as blinked about it, she was still mine
"Sam" Noah smiled at me, and I knew the game was on, this guy knew about me
"Excuse us a minute Noah" Mercy grabbed hold of my cuff and pulled me with her "What the hell are you really doing here?" she hissed at me, but when I looked in her face I knew she was pleased to see me
"Well, I wasn't expecting you" I laughed "But now we're here" I rolled my eyes "What say we…"
"Sam" we heard distracting us "I thought you didn't know anyone here?"
"Oh" I turned half smiling at Brittany "I found an old school friend" I looked at Mercy apologetically "Mercy this is Brittany"
"Nice to finally meet one of Sam's friends, he's usually so closed" Brittany's genuine smile made me feel guilty for a second, but looking at their hands meeting, I realised I never wanted that to happen, but I couldn't see a way to stop my real life interacting with my false life "Sam's song is up for a nomination too, so I guess you two are rivals" Brittany looked at us
"No competition" I told her "Mercy a singer, I'm a songwriter, totally different category" I smiled touching the same hand Brittany had just touched hoping she could feel me wiping that memory away
"You wrote something new?" Mercy's eyes lit up, I felt so proud, I'm not sure how well I hid that
"Yeah, a friend's singing it tonight" I grinned
"Babe" Noah came up behind us grabbing Mercy around the waist again, I had to bite my bottom lip to stop myself from saying anything "Santana wants to meet you"
"Santana as in Lopez?" Brittany asked, the excitement on her face was undeniable "Isn't she one of the judges?"
"Yeah" Noah smiled "But first and foremost she's the sister of my best friend, if you know what I mean" I took the opportunity to stare into the man's eyes at that point, because I was puzzled as to how little he knew about my woman, she needed no introductions "And I want her to meet my girl" I stood looking at Mercy, thinking about the last thing I'd said to her when she shouted t me 'I'll date who I damn well want' I know she heard me tell her, not ask 'just know you'll never belong to another man' and then she gives me this dick head standing there calling her his girlfriend
"So, this is your boyfriend?" slipped out before I could stop myself, I smiled to hide my wound
"Not so much a boyfriend as a boy who's a friend" she grinned at me
"Come on" Noah pulled at her arm obviously upset at her putting him straight
"We'll speak soon" she told me
"Are we not going to meet Santana?" Brittany asked going into sulk mode
"I don't actually know her" I informed her, clearly she wasn't keeping up with the conversation
"So, who do you know?" Brittany stomped her foot at me like she was in school
"Are you fucking with me right now?" I looked at her unable to believe the behaviour
"Are you talking to me like that right now?" she snapped back, I can't lie, I looked around the room to see if anyone was watching before I moved in flicked her hair playfully back off her face and whispered in her ear
"Shut the fuck up, find a seat, and plant your bony ass in it before I march you the fuck out of here" we didn't say another kind word to each other for the night, and to be honest I wasn't even bothered I had my song and Mercy's performance to focus on.
Nearly halfway through the night Mercy came out singing, and as usual I was mesmerised
…It could be the way that you hold me (hold me), it could be the things that you say (that you say)
Oh, I'm not too sure what it is, boy, but I know I like feeling this way, hey, oh, baby
It's truly something special, dreams are really made of, let's stay together you and me, boy, there's no one like you around, oh baby
I really like what you've done to me, I can't really explain it, I'm so into you
I really like what you've done to me, I can't really explain it, I'm so into you… 'So Into You' by Thuy
It was spectacular, there was no way she wasn't going to win she got her well-deserved standing ovation. Then a while later my partner in song came out to sing the song I'd chosen from my repertoire; I could have cried when I turned to see tears in Mercy's eyes and a smile of pride on her face. Once she caught me looking we just stared at each other the whole song through, I guess we were both wishing the same thing
Lie so sweet, until I believe, that it's only been me, to touch you
I, I pretend, no one has had you like I did, I don't need the truth, baby
So lie, lie again, no one has had you like I did, I don't need the truth, baby, no…'Lie Again' by Giveon
At the end of the official part of the evening, we held our trophy's up, smiled at each other, and left for the after party, I had business to take care of with Brittany first, she wasn't about to stand the test of time, she had to go, tonight.
Mercy's POV
I saw Sam walk into the room, I kind of focused on him for a minute because he had a girl on his arm, I was happy when he came over and got pissed with Noah when he introduced himself the way he did, after he'd told me that shouldn't happen. I need to confess at this point that I was elated that bitch wasn't on his arm, I smiled to myself at the thought of us hooking up again, if I could get rid of this damn fool, I looked at Noah and smiled trying to disguise what was going on inside my head.
He wasted no time in letting me know he was feeling the same way I was, our lips brushed, his hand found its way against my right nipple, and it took everything in me not to close my eyes and let out a moan from the tingle it sent through me, I knew I belonged to this man. I couldn't resist the chance to speak to him and to be honest at that second I didn't really care how that looked, I was on fire for the man, unfortunately we were interrupted by the one Brittany before we could have a proper conversation.
All evening we shared looks until the end of the night, I smiled when he walked into the afterparty "Your friend seems to be following us tonight" Noah caught my line of sight, I couldn't help but stare
"It's a competition, everyone's in town for the night" I snapped back at him "Do you mind if I go talk to him, he's on his own?" I asked to save him face with his friends, I was leaving him to it anyway, no way could I be in the same space as Sam and not be with him
"Sure, bring him over, he can join us"
"I'll ask" I stepped off excited to get some time with him alone, my smile grew just as much as his as I walked towards him "Hey"
"Hey" he smiled back at me that smiled that stripped all my clothes off instantly "You felt that?" he chuckled
"You've still got it, if that's what you mean" I laughed
"I was kind of hoping…"
"Sam" I frowned
"I'm not waiting" he assured me "I just feel like when we get these opportunities we shouldn't let them pass us by"
"Where's Bethany?" I looked over his shoulder, waiting for her to pop up
"Whoever she was isn't anymore" he smiled at me "I didn't want to hurt your feelings"
"So, you finished with her?"
"No" he laughed "She finished it, she was totally out of line on something, we argued, and she left" he looked over at Noah "So who's he?"
"First date basically" I turned to look at Noah "He's been trying to impress me all evening, dropping names, getting me to meet people, all that shit" I rolled my eyes
"Didn't you tell him you were you own trail blazer?"
"I shouldn't have to" I turned to look at Sam, big mistake, I fell into those damn eyes of his and those familiar words started to slip out my mouth "I love… your song, dance with me" I tried miserably to save myself
"Here?"
"Right here" I stepped closer to him giving him no choice, he walked me out to the dancefloor, held me in his arms and took me back to heaven
… I told you I don't want the truth
So just lie so sweet (lie), until I believe, that's it's only been me, to touch you…
"This is my most favourite song ever"
"You just heard this song for the first time two hours ago" he laughed
"Yeah but I loved it instantly, like I love you" I looked up at him aware of what I'd said
"I'm sure we established that mutual feeling a while back" he smiled at me
"Did we?"
"We did" he laughed
"You're a genius you know that right?"
"You looked great up on that stage tonight too, the spotlight suits you" he smiled at me as we moved slower than the music in our circle of privacy
"You look good enough to eat" I looked into his eyes knowing he'd caught the invite
"What are you going to do about The Arc man?"
"Who?" I frowned "There's only us here" I smiled resting my head on his chest, for the rest of the song
I, I pretend (I pretend), no one has had you like I did I don't need the truth, baby (I don't need the truth)
So lie, lie again, no one has had you like I did, I don't need the truth, baby, no
Oh, I, oh (oh, I, oh, oh, I, oh) 'Lie Again' by Giveon
"I need to kiss you so bad right now" he looked into my eyes telling me, when the song finished, everything inside me wanted to just do it, but we both had reputations to think about, I'd already taken it far enough by dancing, to add a kiss would have been social suicide
"Room 513" I smiled "Noah wants you to join us" I looked over at where he was standing with his friends
"Do I have to?"
"Please" I looked up at him with the promise eyes, I laughed inside knowing he couldn't resist
"You're so not playing fair" he laughed following me across the room towards Noah and his friends
"Sam" Noah smiled at us coming towards him "Guys this is Mercy's school friend Sam" I wanted to shout he's my person, but I held it down "This is Finn and Dave" he pointed at the guys "So Sam" he started a conversation before Sam could say a proper hello, trying to grab at my arm to pull me to him like he owned me
"Do you want a drink?" Sam asked me, I smiled and nodded a yes he needed to get away before he did something he shouldn't, this guy was turning out to be past rude "Noah" I pulled away from him gently
"Too much?" he asked, I nodded politely, glad he'd got the subtle message, he played nice for the rest of the night, he kissed my cheek and saw me into my room
Room 513
"You took your time" Sam sat on the couch waiting impatiently for her to arrive "I thought…"
"Don't" she held her hand up "That's gross"
"So…" he looked at her scared to ask the question "Are we…?"
"Okay to do this?" she asked, "Do you want me to lie?"
"No"
"Yeah, we're fine to do this" she sat on the couch beside him
"Are you just telling me what I need to hear to give me what I need?" he turned to look into her eyes
"I think the real question is, have you?"
"No" he smiled "I wouldn't do that to you"
"Sam" she frowned "We promised"
"We did" he grabbed her hand "And I promise as soon as I find someone I want to fuck the ass off, other than you, I'm there"
"I love it when you talk dirty" she giggled moving closer to him
"But you do know you belong to me?"
"I think that's you belong to me Mr" she giggled "My logical brain keeps telling me this can't work, but everything else fights against that decision, all the damn time" she kissed his lips
"I don't think this break up can happen unless we both put a hundred percent into it" he kissed her back "And I'm never going to do that"
"Me neither" she kissed him and stayed there "I miss you babe" she grabbed hold of his neck and pulled him closer
"God" he gasped "You just don't know" he pulled her across him onto his lap, she held onto his neck so tight it left his hands free to do what he wanted "Tell me your mine" he mumbled, flicking her onto the couch so she was sitting spread legged in front of him "Tell me" he peppered kisses down her neck
"Sam" she gasped he was doing everything she needed him to do, except dealing with this like another hook up
"I just want you to want me" he knelt in front of her looking into her eyes while his hands roughly removed her panties
"I want you babe" she grabbed him back kissing down his neck and chest "I want you so much" her mouth grabbed his, a sigh of relief at his familiar fingers wondering around deep inside her "That feels so good" she moved against his fingers, she was his, her head fell back as his mouth wondered down her chest and his lips grabbed hold of her nipple, he was doing it again, and she was loving it
"Tell me" his thumb came into action rubbing at her biggest love muscle, as he spread her wide and took pleasure in seeing the fuck me look on her face
"Babe" she gasped "I…" she gasped again, he was blowing her mind
"Have you been doing this to yourself?"
"What?" her head jerked up to look at him "Have you been doing this to yourself?" she grabbed hold of his bulging, throbbing dick
"Yes" he smiled "Have you?"
"Yes" she admitted embarrassed
"So, you want this just as much as I do" he moved his fingers inside her and rubbed her spot again, smiling at her eyes closing as her mouth opened eagerly "And all I need to hear are those two little words, and I thought I wanted you to, but please don't lie to me"
"Babe it's an impossible situation" she moved his hand "We've got another two years at college, and we don't know…"
"I know" he interrupted her "That we'll do whatever we need to do to make each other live their dreams"
"Okay" she pulled him to sit on the couch "Let's try something else" she undone his trousers to expose what was waiting for her "Tell me your mine" she looked into his eyes as she started to pleasure him with her mouth. He wasn't arguing, his eyes rolled as his head fell back on the couch, they both knew he was putty in her hands already "Tell me" she stopped to grin before going back down on him
There was no hesitation "I'm yours" he gasped grabbing her head to give her the full force of his want "Babe" his voice hitching several times ending with a giggle "And the moral of that was?" he watched her get up to sit next to him
"You already know I'm yours, I told you that our first time, and I meant it"
"Miss Jones" he laughed pulling her into him
"Truth, I lied to myself as well as you, because I'll wait for as long as we need to"
"I lied to myself too" he kissed her
"Let's not waste the night"
"No intention of" he pulled her on top of him to finished their night.
Back to College
"Sam" Mercy woke up shocked to find he wasn't in bed, leaving early was always her thing, this morning she supposed he wanted her to feel how this felt "Sucks" she slammed the pillow and fell back into it, springing back at the thought of Noah "Conversation" she grabbed her phone, she needed to get this over with "Noah can we meet in the lobby in twenty?"
The conversation was amicable, apparently he'd gone to a party after he'd seen her to her door that wasn't so tame, she gave him props for his honesty and left it there, there was no need for sharing. She ate breakfast, went back upstairs to get dressed, threw her stuff into her case, and grabbed a cab to get to the airport, her mind flashing on Sam and the night they'd shared while she waited
"Babe" a familiar voice whispered in her ear, making her smile
"Babe" she turned knowing his lips were waiting for her, she grabbed him and took the kiss "What are you doing here, I thought you'd…. what?" she looked at what he was holding up "Babe" she gasped trying to take it all in
"Last time I checked, forcing ourselves to live like this was a pretty lonely life for both of us" he huffed "We're both living for nights like last night, we haven't moved on, I'm not moving on"
"Babe"
"I know we agreed to end it but… I'm hurting babe, it's not working for me"
"Me either" she grinned at him
"So?" he looked at her puzzled
"Of course, I want us, but…" she giggled wrapping her arms around his neck
"We'll figure it out" he hugged her back
"Will we?"
"Yes" he brushed her hair off her face and kissed her "My win's working for me already, I've had a few calls from colleges, this morning, a couple in Washington" he wiggled his eyebrows at her "If you're willing to share the spotlight with me up there?"
"Those eyes on me…" she looked into his expectant eyes "Are the only spotlights that matters"