ENJOY!

Chapter 8

Mercedes was debating going over to Sam's to get some sense of clarity about what happened last night. Mal had come over two hours after she'd left and assured her the video had been deleted but that she was basically banned from practices, games and whatever else involved the team from here on out.

She didn't even have the energy to argue with him about it because she was still reeling from the truth bomb that was dropped on her. She'd allowed herself to get so enthralled with Sam that she never questioned if this was the norm for him. She admittedly felt like an idiot but a small piece of her held out hope that she was different and that Sam really did care more about her.

"Ahem." Mercedes heard as she walked past her garage and froze.

She looked over her shoulder and almost stumbled over trying to get away from him.

"I thought you'd be more excited to see me but then again considering you've been spreading your legs for any man that will give you attention I can see why not." Jesse said smugly.

"Why… How are you even here?" Mercedes stammered.

Jesse stepped closer to her and moved her hair behind her ear. "Isn't it obvious? I'm here for you. It's time you come home, Merce. To your life, to me. You've made your point I get it you want more adventure in our sex life fine. But this is done."

Mercedes swallowed hard, stepping away from him. "No. We can't…we aren't…I'm not coming back with you."

Jesse laughed. "I am growing impatient. You wanna keep this house fine, we will have it for summers or whatever but let's go."

Mercedes shook her head no. "Jesse I can't do this with you, not again. I am finally living my life."

"By getting caught on tape with a man?" She gasped looking at him and he smirked. "Oh yeah I heard and saw. You coming here was a mistake. Pack your stuff and lets go now."

"No! And if you don't leave I'll have you arrested for trespassing. You don't even have a code to get into here and if you used someone else's they probably have been alerted already!" Mercedes warned.

Jesse smiled. "Call them, this is just a lovers spat, considering we are engaged they will understand. And considering last night you had a party I am pretty sure more of those people didn't use a code anyways so if you are gonna threaten me, make it a good one baby."

"She asked you to leave." They both heard from behind them. Mercedes looked and saw Sam standing there with an angry expression.

"Excuse me, this is between my Fiancee' and me. Go away." Jesse said, grabbing Mercedes arm and pulling her towards him.

Mercedes tried to break away but he held her arm tight. "Tell him you are fine Mercedes."

Mercedes winced from the pain.

Sam moved closer to them. "I don't care who you are or think you are, but this is our neighborhood, and I don't recall seeing you buy a house around here so you can leave on your own or I can have security throw you out."

Jesse scuffed before looking at Mercedes. "I don't have to go anywhere, do I Mercedes?"

Mercedes closed her eyes, feeling like that same submissive girl Jesse had control over for years, she just assumed it was love. But somehow with Sam standing in front of her, she wasn't feeling so weak.

"You need to leave Jesse. I don't want you here. We are not together, when I left you I ended things. Period." She pulled away from Jesse holding her arm where he gripped her.

Sam stood tall, arms crossed over his chest as he stared Jesse down. "Do I need to call for assistance?"

"No, that won't be necessary." Jesse looked over to Mercedes. "I can take a hint…can you?"

He walked away and Mercedes shook her head angrily before turning to Sam. "Thank you for that…I have no idea how he found me…I thought moving here I would be safe."

Sam watched Jesse get into his car.

"He came in with everyone at the party and didn't leave." She said still trying her best to remain calm. Talking a breath she turned fully to Sam and Sam sighed running his hands through his hair.

"You should probably tell your brother that he is here, maybe he can stay with you or you can move back in with him."

"I just got my independence from him, I have no desire to go back."

Sam shrugged. "Okay, well do what is best for you…I should be going."

She frowned. "Sam…can we talk about what happened last night?"

He turned to her. "I don't see the point."

"You don't see the point? Your teammate filmed us having sex and made me think that it was a natural recurring thing for all of you. But I don't care about all that. I just want to know what is going on…with us."

Sam stared at her silently for a moment. He liked Mercedes, he was sure if he got to know her better he would like her even more, and the sex…the she was the best he had ever had. But his career was all he had, his family depended on him, his charities and he couldn't afford to get suspended or let a woman, no matter how great she might be, ruin things for the team. "Mercedes, there is no us."

"What?"

"There is no us. We had sex and yeah it was hot and all but I need to focus on my career and you are a distraction not only for me but the team. I gotta go."

He walked away but she followed him. "So you used me? Got what you wanted and now you are done?"

"What did you expect Mercedes? You wanted it as bad as I did so don't act like you didn't like everything I did to you. But right now I have to choose between you and my career."

Mercedes rolled her eyes. "You're a coward. Pathetic coward. I don't- I don't sleep around but yet with you-" She stopped shaking her head. "You know what. Go to hell."

Sam laughed. "Really?"

"Yes really. We may be neighbors but that's it, don't talk to me don't look at me. We are done here."

Sam looked at her before moving closer to her. "It ain't going to be that easy and you know it."

"Oh it will be easy! I am officially done with you!"

"Then walk away from me." He challenged.

"You think I won't?" She said, staring at him but her legs still couldn't bring themselves to move.

Sam moved closer forcing her to step back but she was trapped. "Then do it." He replied, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"Then move out of my way!" She snapped at him, not wanting to show just how bad she wanted him.

Sam looked at her before pulling her closer and crashing his lips onto hers.

She wanted to pull away from him and if she was smart she would have, but instead she pressed herself into him, pushing her tongue through his lips, hungrily kissing him back.

Sam ran his hands under her thighs and lifted her, pressing into her and running his lips down to her collarbone. Mercedes moaned out, hating the way she felt at this moment.

Sam smiled against her lips, kissing her once again before pulling away and letting her go. "Told you it wouldn't be easy…well for you. I gotta go. Try not to touch yourself thinking of me."

Mercedes stared at him confused for a moment. "What the hell."

Sam shrugged. "It's what I do right? Nice to know that I can still use you though, but unfortunately for you, I have other girl's who can fill that role."

"Wow… you are a piece of shit!" She said, slapping him. "Don't talk to me again."

"Didn't plan on it." Sam spat, rubbing his face. "Have a nice life." He said before walking away.

Mercedes shook off her embarrassment, she had other pressing matters than Sam Evans. Jesse had found her and she knew he wasn't going to leave her alone until she gave in and she couldn't do that. Not this time, she had to hold strong so she called her brother and told him about Jesse showing up.

She left out that Sam helped her because she didn't want to give him credit for a damn thing. Mal said he'd be right over and arranged for a new security system to be installed and told her to tell the officer at the gate about Jesse.

"How the fuck did he know which place was yours?" Mal asked for the tenth time as he paced back in forth angrily.

"I don't know… he was just here and he knew about what happened last night." She replied.

"And that's another thing! I told you to stay away from Evans and you just had to go do the exact thing I advised against!"

"I get it! I fucked up and trust me I never want to see him or anyone from your fucking team again. I should've moved back to grandma's house." She said feeling like a child.

"Well maybe now you will smarten up, I was just trying to protect you Merc and I won't apologize for that. I am your big brother, it's what we do. And I know you don't like it, but I am not just gonna up and let people hurt you even if they are my friend. And I know I have been hard on you, but that doesn't mean that I am not happy you are here. I want us to be closer. I want you to thrive."

She shook her head, with Sam being an ass and Jesse knowing where she lived, she needed to get away. Had to.

"What's going on with your mind?"

She looked away from her brother but he moved into her eyesight. "Talk to me bean."

She looked at him with tears in her eyes. "You haven't called me bean since I was 12."

"Felt like I needed to remind you that I got your back. Even if I lecture you. Even if you don't understand."

He pulled her close to him and she laid her head on his shoulder. "I really wanted to get to know Sam, I liked him and wanted to know more about him. And with Jesse here I am terrified."

Malcolm sighed. "Sam isn't a bad guy, he's just not relationship material. I asked you to stay away because I knew he would hurt you like this. Men like him…they enjoy the chase and once they get it, there is nothing else in it for them, so they leave you hurt and confused. I have seen it before and I am just glad you learned the truth. I know what happened with Jesse was a lot and now Sam, it makes you think that all men are dogs. But they aren't. Just those guys. When you are ready to date again, I have someone I think would be great for you. He's funny, sweet and worthy of you."

Mercedes sighed, rubbing the arm Jesse grabbed, bruising already showing. "I don't want to think about Sam anymore. I am worried about Jesse. I know you upped my security in the house, but I am still worried."

Malcolm nodded. "That is why I asked Kurt, Quinn and Santana to take turns staying with you. I also hired someone to follow you when you leave to go places. Jesse won't get to you again. I know you have a meeting with that producer so he will start later tonight while you are there."

She wanted to fight him on the help but frankly the fact Jesse found her scared her shitless. He also seemed like he could spiral out of control at any moment and she didn't want to find out what that meant. "Okay Mal. Hire whoever you want. I just want to feel safe."

"Okay his name is Dave he used to play for the Patriots before he retired and opened his own security firm. The man used to be an asshole but he's good at what he does."

She nodded. "Okay, well I have a meeting with a producer so if you want to call him up he can meet me there."

Malcolm smiled. "Really now?"

She nodded. "Yes I am taking your advice, it can't hurt to talk to him and see if it works you know?"

Malcolm nodded. "How about, since I have the day off, I come with you, I will talk to Dave while you and the producer do your thing."

Mercedes pulled him into a hug. "It's official I have the best big brother ever."

"I mean it's been obvious your whole life." He said with a laugh.

Mercedes stared out to the executives in front of her, how the hell was this her life right now? She had shown up to a meeting with Shelby Corcoran and now she was standing nervously as they filed in. She didn't even have a chance to warm up; they wanted her to perform now. But that wasn't a problem for her, she just didn't know what to sing.

Even though she was sure he hated her, and she didn't like him much, he helped her at the game and maybe he would help her here. She thought back to what he told her and realized she knew just what to do, how to show them the real her. Her family.

Thinking of her Grandmother, who loved Whitney Houston, Preacher's Wife was her favorite movie, they watched it often. And then thinking of her brother, and Sam, the song she decided to sing.

Malcolm gave her an encouraging smile as she sat in front of the piano and mic.

"Hello, my name is Mercedes Jones and I am going to sing "I believe in you and me" by Whitney Houston." She said and closed her eyes for a moment, before she started playing.

"I believe in you and me, I believe that we will be, in love eternally. Well as far as I can see. You will always be the one, for me. Oh yes you will. And I believe in dreams again, I believe that love will never end. And like the river finds the sea. I was lost, now I'm free. Cause I believe in you and me."

As she played along with her song she looked out to the Executives, some were captivated and some talking but she just kept singing.

"I will never leave your side, I will never hurt your pride, when all the chips are down, baby. I will be around. Just to be right where you are…my love. You know I love you boy. I will never leave you out. I will always let you in, oh baby, to places no one's ever been, deep inside, can't you see…that I believe in you and me."

As she searched the room again she slightly froze seeing Sam walk into the room. She didn't know if it was real or a dream but she caught his eyes and started to sing to him.

"Maybe I'm a fool, to feel the way I do, I will play the fool forever, just to be with you forever. I believe in miracles, and loves a miracle, and yes baby you're my dream come true. I was lost. Now I'm free. Oh baby cause I believe, I do, believe in you and me…see I was lost…now I'm free. Cause I believe in you and me…yes I do, I believe in you and me…"

She closed her eyes as she hit that last note and froze as an applause arose from the crowd.

She opened her eyes and Shelby smiled at her. "Now that's what I am talking about. I think she would make an amazing artist for our label." There was a murmur of agreement and she smiled.

Mercedes beamed as a few people came to speak with her and watched as Malcolm made his way over to Sam. They talked for a bit and then Malcolm went outside, Sam glanced at her one last time before walking out the big room.

Malcolm ran his hands through his hair. "Okay tell me again why you are here?"

Sam sighed. "Look, Quinn and Margaret called me trying to reach you, they was worried."

Malcolm looked at him confused. Margaret was their financial planner and if she and Quinn had searched for him, something was seriously wrong. "Why were they trying to reach me?"

"You told her you wanted to stop the transfers from going into Mercedes old accounts…its when she realized that someone changed it to where the money you were sending your sister never saw her account, I bet you can guess whose account it did go into."

Malcolm shook his head, "No way. No. That's not possible."

Sam sighed. "Have you asked your sister if she had gotten your money?"

"What money?" Mercedes said, catching the end of their conversation.

Malcolm looked over. "Merce what happened to the money I sent you?"

She looked at him. "Again I ask, what money?"

"Merce I was sending you twenty thousand dollars a month."

Mercedes laughed. "The hell you were. I wouldn't have accepted that and you know it."

"Then where…are you telling me that for the last year I have been giving that bastard twenty thousand dollars?" Malcolm said, seeing red.

Mercedes laughed bitterly. "Just when I think he can't get any lower…I can't…" Mercedes shook her head. "Wow."

Sam looked at her, he sighed, "You didn't know, it's not on you. And now that your brother knows, he will handle it."

"I will. You bet your ass I will."

Mercedes stared at him for a moment. "Why are you talking to me? Could have sworn we said all we needed to say earlier."

"I was trying to help you out, just because we can't see eye to eye doesn't mean I don't have my best friends back."

Mercedes nodded. "Well, have it far away from me. I came out here to tell you I am headed to the studio. "

Mal beamed before scooping his sister up and spinning her around. "Hell yeah! I knew you could do it!"

Mercedes giggled and Sam forced himself to look away. He was happy for her and he was happy other people were about to see just how talented she truly was.

"Mal, I am gonna hit you up at practice." Sam said, giving Mercedes one last look before walking away.

Mercedes glanced at Sam watching him go and then shook it off looking at her brother. "Go ahead and get to practice. I am getting a driver and the label is providing security so I don't have to worry about Jesse.

Malcolm caught Sam's glance at Mercedes, he also caught her looking at him. Their looks mirrored each other. And while he was glad his plan to keep them from each other was working, a part of him felt guilty. "I did what I had to, to protect them both." He said, though part of him didn't believe it.

Mercedes sat back listening to the dozen of songs that her team wanted to record. Her team! She was still surprised at that. When she was given her contract, the first thing she did was call Quinn and Santana. Thankfully they both could represent her. And after learning the deal they wanted for Mercedes was actually really grateful that she had them in her corner.

"Alright do we like any of the songs?"

She loved them all but wanted to try her hand at songwriting. "I love them, they're all amazing. I was wondering if I could write one" She asked.

"I personally love that idea! Do you want to take an hour and have us come back?" Shelby asked and Mercedes smiled.

"Yes!"

"Ms. Jones you have a real gift and it would be in our pleasure to help you and if you feel like you can pull out a winner let me know."

"I will! I've been toying with a melody and a few lyrics… I think I have a hit." Mercedes replied thinking about the lyrics and then her mind immediately went to Sam.

From the moment she met him, a song had been brewing inside of her, and to finally have a n outlet, it was amazing.

As the other women walked out, Mercedes sighed walking around the studio, it was a place she never thought she would be in. Dreams from when she was eight years old singing for her grandmother and Malcolm. Standing in front of their friends in church singing out and enjoying it.

Everything she loved was being brought back into her life, and it was overwhelming but it was also so exciting.

Sitting in front of the piano, she played around with the notes, getting a feel for the music, the notes all of it. She was so consumed she didn't even realize how much time had passed. Shelby walked into the room with a smile.

"I see you are hard at work."

Mercedes smiled sitting back in her chair, she sighed heavily. "I have, its coming along but its missing something."

Shelby sat next to her. "Well then let me help you, that is what I am here for and I see the fire in you, so let's get it blazing."

It took them the better part of three days, but by the end, they had a beautiful song. Now she was sitting in front of her team, Shelby handing out music sheets to the musicians and Mercedes sitting in the booth and closing her eyes, once again Sam came to mind as she started to sing.

"I can't hold my tongue even if I try, you found me out, now I'm exposed. I've been moving slow, tryna keep control, seen many come and go.

Does it exist? Does love even exist? Does it even feel the way the people say that it feels? Does it even exist? What is this? What is this? I don't even know if what I see is real, don't want your love if it's temporary. All I've seen in love is temporary I just don't know I feel some things on the low. I feel some things I don't show for sure. If your love is temporary, temporary

I've been tryna break down my guard, not shut people out

But every time I let them in, they let me down. Tired of saying, "At least I tried", this time I will fight, his isn't worth losing my mind

Does it exist? Does love even exist? I don't believe it feels the way they say that it feels. Does it even exist? What is this? What is this? I don't even know if what I see is real. Don't want your love if it's temporary.

All I've seen in love, it's temporary I just don't know

I feel some things on the low I feel some things I don't show for sure.

If your love is temporary, temporary, put everything on the front line. Will you put everything on the front line

For your love? (Temporary) Put everything on the front line

Will you put everything on the front line

For your love? (Temporary) Give everything up except love

Will you give everything up except love

For your love? (Temporary) Give everything up except love

Will you give everything up except love

For your love? (Temporary) No, no (temporary) .Ooh (temporary)."

She was afraid to look up, afraid of what people would think.

Shelby hit the talk back button with a smile. "Now that's what I'm talking about."

Mercedes opened her eyes to see everyone smiling at her, and for the first time she just exhaled.

Soooooo... CAN WE TALK ABOUT Temporary! Hang on because it's about to get bumpy for Mercedes and Sam!