I Love L.A.
Reader's Request
Finally started writing again, sorry for the wait
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to come to life, time will pass anyway.
"Fuck" Mercedes stood in front of her mirror feeling more nervous now than she'd ever felt, she flicked her hands trying to get the nerves out of her body, but it wasn't working, in fact it was making it worse "What the hell" she looked down at her sweating hands, before looking back into the mirror at her makeup running down her face already, she quickly grabbed some wipes to rub it all off and start again.
"Why am I putting myself through this?" she asked herself as she scrubbed at the streaky mess.
Flashback (Mercedes POV)
Sophomore Year
This had all started out as a bit of a schoolgirl crush kind of thing, everyone was crushing on someone, I didn't feel like being left out, so I thought what the hell, found a guy, and crushed the hell out of him, in a romantic way. Of course, the whole point of a crush was that the other person didn't have a clue, so the fact that I really wasn't physically interested in him, was neither here nor there.
At the time I didn't give a second thought to the plot when Quinn approached me, in fact, I thought it was just some good old-fashioned fun that would get us close again after our usual end of year blowout, now the new school year had started.
"Come in all dressed up" Quinn advised as we sat bunched up in my bedroom hatching attention plans "He'll want to know then" I didn't have the heart to tell her I was just playing along with their game, I didn't even like white guys, but stupidly I let her dress me up.
"Pink?" I asked when she pulled the clothes out the bag, cussing myself for trusting her enough to buy clothes for me "Q that is not my damn colour."
"I know, but I thought it had to be something he's never seen you in before, so he notices" she told me, like I wanted to be noticed.
"But Pink?" I asked again, in my best about to cry voice.
"Mercedes trust me, he'll notice" she held the thing against me "With the right hair, make up, and please get rid of those trainers and find some heels".
"Nobody wears heels to school" I snapped that fact.
"We need you to be noticed" Quinn forced the outfit into my hand "Choose your colours" she looked at my dresser.
"I have nothing to go with pink" I snapped again "As I said, it's not my colour" I picked my make up off the dresser and walked towards my bathroom.
"Find something white or black" Quinn called after me "And for god's sake make it sexy".
"Sexy" I rolled my eyes before looking back at her to cut her in half with them, this girl was about to dress me up like a freaking pig. I washed my face and started on my usual regime, I wasn't super confident with colours, so I tended to stick to the usual skin tones with flashes of gold as my comfort look. I put it all on, just a bit thicker than I would usually and tied my hair up into a bun, leaving strands of it hanging back and forth to give that sexy look she'd talked about. "A bit much for school" I looked in the mirror frowning at my finished look "Fuck knows what this is going to look like with pink" I huffed before taking a deep breath and walking back into my bedroom.
"Where's the pink?" Quinn asked.
"I told you, it's not my damn colour."
"You don't know what's your damn anything" she snapped back "Shoes".
I stood for a minute thinking who's this bossy bitch, before I remembered I had some shoes mom had given me, they weren't heels in Quinn's books I knew that, but they were higher than my trainers. "These" I walked over to the closet and took them out.
"No way" she frowned "Come on Mercedes help me out here".
"I don't wear heels."
"Correction you didn't wear heels" she grabbed the shoes "We can stop at mine on the way, I have some you can wear".
"I've never walked in heels."
"Until today, and you better be ready to pull this off, big time."
I wanted to scream at her I don't want him to fucking notice me, I'm not interested in boys, but I'd started the charade, so I guess I'd brought all this on myself. I stood there like a plaything while she undid my hair, so the curls flowed down my back, before I stepped into this ridiculous pink patterned skirt, that hit just above the knee and what looked like a glorified sweat top with elbow length sleeves and a bow at the bottom that pulled in to make it look baggie at the waist.
"What do you think?" she stood back asking me.
The words that came to mind was 'its fucking ridiculous', but she was a friend, and she'd gone out of her way, she didn't have to do any of this, so I smiled grabbed her hands and replied "You were right, it's perfect" pushing the itchy label in the back of my skirt down.
"A few trinkets, some heels and he won't be able to resist" she pulled me with her "I have some football earrings, they worked great for me, conversation piece, they always like to talk about themselves" she picked up my purse and slapped it at my chest, I grabbed it with my spare hand. As she'd said we stopped off at her house and got these six-inch heels, I climbed into them and suddenly felt sick, I was so high off the ground a fall could mean instant death. The earrings should have been advertised as face balls, every time I made a turn, I closed my eyes fast, because the damn things made to pop my eye sockets out my head for how hard the slapped my cheekbones.
"Q, these are frigging dangerous" I told after feeling a slap that I was sure would leave a bruise.
"Stop moving your head so fast, elegance" was what she came back at me with, okay I thought never mind being blind, as long as I look good, this was such a waste of time and effort, I didn't even like the guy.
We were finally ready, Quinn was her usual self, she never had problems getting her guy, she was on guy number second, or was that fourth, she'd become the captain of the cheerleading squad, the previous one had held the spot for three full years, so she had some giant shoes to fill, and she was getting on with it. She could have been walking around in a trash bag and still be getting wolf whistles, kisses and all the attention a girl could want.
"Let's do this" she smiled pushing the door open for us to enter the corridor, it was busy, school was starting, people were getting prepared. Lockers opening and closing, kisses being exchanged for the morning, a group of guys bigging up some guy that maybe hit second base with someone last night, it all happened in the corridor.
"Mercedes" Tina looked at me shocked "Girl" she frowned.
"I know" I nodded at her.
"Q" Joe called her over to his locker, she'd been after him since last year, it seemed when she became the lead everything changed for her on that level, he was cute, sweet, and attentive, I watched as he gave her a rose and a kiss.
"Work it girl, I'll see you later" she smiled at me leaving me to face this alone.
"Mercedes" Kurt pulled up next to me appearing out of nowhere "What the hell?" he looked me up and down "No damn way this is not you".
"This is me Kurt"
"Diva, this is not you" he linked arms with me "I can't believe you let that hag dress you like a prize pig".
"Stop" I giggled "I didn't know how to say no".
"You know why she did this?" he asked as Tina came in on my left side.
"We're the geeks Mercedes, everyone makes us the laughingstock, you should know that by now" Tina reminded me.
"I know"
"She wants Sam, that's why she did this" Kurt told me, I rolled my eyes, I should have guessed it, she'd made it her duty yesterday to tell me what he liked, what I should do to get his attention, and then turned up to come and help me. I really thought we'd turned a corner, we used to be so close in kindergarten and all through school really, until the beginning of last year when she started being popular with the guys, that cheerleading spot hadn't done her any favours.
"She can have him" Tina snapped, she knew my secret.
"No doubt, but to make a fool of someone else just to get what you want, that's the pits" Kurt pulled me close "Sorry".
"She won't get the opportunity again" I told them.
"So, what are we going to do about... This?" Kurt asked looking at the pink mess.
"Actually, I'll play her game, the sooner he doesn't like me, the sooner I can get back to being the real me, I hate trying to be with the in crowd".
"That's my geek" Tina laughed "Let's go study the ass of math".
"Oh, I love when you talk dirty to me" I laughed, attempting to break my ankle in the process.
"We've got you" Kurt grabbed me, breaking the fall.
There were looks, lots of them our class wasn't used to bright colours, make up, and heels, to be fair I saw more concern on my classmates faces not surprise or judgement, which saddened me. I became something of a novelty for the morning within our group, and then that dreaded thing happened, Kurt and I had to go to club, we walked in the door and lost our focus for a second.
"What the hell are they doing here?" I asked Kurt, knowing he had as much information as I had right now. Quinn was sat clinging onto Joe, with Rachel; miss bossy boots, and Jessie; bossy's pet, stroke, boyfriend, huddled together like a fur ball.
"They're interested in joining glee club" Sue told us.
"I bet they are" Kurt hissed as we sat on the front row as usual "You have got to be shitting me?" he rolled his eyes "Tell me this wasn't planned" he whispered in my ear, my jaw dropped to the floor as I watched none other than Sam Evans, walk into the room. That was bad enough, but apparently, he'd made a connection with Kurt's recent, well only crush to date, Blaine Anderson, who was following him in, this was going to be bad.
"Shit" I tried to pull my skirt down, fade my face into the furniture, sink through the floor all at once, I surprised myself because I really didn't think I cared.
"I'm guessing you two are more recruits of Quinn's?" Sue asked him.
"I was asked to attend" he smiled "I brought my friend" he grabbed hold of Blaine's neck playfully.
"Have a seat" Sue told them, we all watched as they took up spaces behind us.
"So I guess if you really want to see what we do in here you've come at the right time, we have two of our best singers in the room, I'm sure they can find something to sing for you" she looked at us "Kurt, Mercedes" I know we wanted to say no, but we knew Sue, embarrass her once, that was the only chance you got, so reluctantly we got up and faced the group.
"I guess..." Kurt looked at me "We could do 'Everything Has Changed' by Taylor Swift & Ed Sheeran" I smiled remembering he really liked that Blaine guy, he needed this more than I did.
"Sure" I nodded, there was lots the world could take away from me, but my voice wasn't one of them.
Mercedes: All I knew this morning when I woke, is I know something now, know something now I didn't before.
And all I've seen since 18 hours ago, is green eyes and freckles, and your smile in the back of my mind making me feel like
Chorus
Both: I just want to know you better, know you better, know you better now, I just want to know you better
Know you better, know you better now, I just want to know you better, know you better, know you better now.
I just want to know you, know you, know you.
Cause all I know is we said hello, and your eyes look like coming home, all I know is a simple name, everything has changed.
All I know is you held the door, you'll be mine and I'll be yours, all I know since yesterday, is everything has changed.
Kurt: And all my walls stood tall, painted blue, and I'll take them down, take them down, and open up the door for you.
And all I feel in my stomach is butterflies, the beautiful kind, making up for lost time, taking flight, making me feel like...
"Yep, pretty much that's what we're about, perfecting our instruments" Sue interrupted, I smiled at the crowd, but as my eyes passed around the room Sam was looking at me, he had a sadness in his eyes, I couldn't understand. We held each other's gaze for a second before Quinn's voice came into the room.
"I really don't think it's for us" she told Sue getting up with her entourage in tow "It's not good enough".
"It was good, really good" Sam told Sue.
"Yeah" Blaine agreed.
"Will you be back?" Sue called after them.
"Never say never" Sam turned to reply, winking at me in the process.
I can't lie at that point I took an instant liking to him, he wasn't mean like the others, he cared about the impression he left on people, on me, he didn't even look like he was confused about my dress choice. How was I to know that one kind gesture was going to turn into a full-blown, real-life crush. Granted he didn't pay me any mind after that day, but for the rest of the year I was his stalker, I'd wave and giggle at him, I got so angry when he started dating some bitch with legs that touched the sky.
Junior Year
Something dreadful had happened over the summer, Quinn's parents had split up, it was the talk of our little town, he'd been unfaithful with some woman he'd met while he was supposedly on a sabbatical. The shame of it was enormous for Mrs Fabray she took her two daughters and left, went back to Oregan as far as we were told. Mr Fabray didn't seem like he had any shame about the situation, he moved the woman in, and they seemed to be living their best life, but the town was divided, and eventually he'd moved away too.
I was still living in that place in my head that only I visited, Sam Evans although wrapped up in the arms of yet another woman, was the man of my dreams, I wasn't so much jealous anymore I just resided myself to her not being the girl for him and knew I was willing to sit and wait for my turn.
"It's not going to happen" Kurt whispered in my ear, he'd crept up behind me while I was stood at my locker daydreaming about the man who was whispering sweet nothings into that damn girl's ear.
"They won't last" I told him.
"Maybe not, but you two have been in the same year for nearly five years, and he'd never so much as said hello, take the hint".
"You're just being mean because Blaine's finally asked you out".
"I'm not being mean" he snapped "Blane says he's really into this new girl and he's committed to her, he's a one-woman man Mercedes, he's not going to be thinking about anyone else while he's with her".
"And that's something else I love about him" I rolled my eyes at the perfection of the man, kindness, faithful, committed, everything about him was ticking my boxes.
"Mercedes, Kurt" Mr Schuster called us from down the corridor "Could I see you in my office please?"
"What did we do?" Kurt looked at me wide eyed.
"Nothing" I told him as we made our way to his office.
"Okay we don't have the support of Mrs Hudson this year, so we've decided to pull together our own student support".
"Okay" I looked at him puzzled.
"And that's where you come in, I want you guys from the top classes to tutor those in the lower groups, only until we find someone to take Mrs Hudson's place".
"What do we need to do?"
"You'll already know the material, they're about six months behind you guys, so just help them to catch up" he smiled "It will look great on your resume".
"We'll do it" Kurt jumped in before I could refuse.
Two days later I was sitting in the classroom in front of about ten students that needed that extra support, of all the people to be in the group Sam's girlfriend just had to be there, and when they picked their tutors, she just had to pick me.
"Brittany S Pearce" she held her hand out "You don't know me, but Q told me you were an old friend of her" she smiled.
"Yeah" I politely grabbed her hand before offered her a seat, "So" I looked at my group "We need to set a timetable" I looked at Kurt for reassurance "We won't be chasing you to attend that's totally up to you, but we'll be there for classes".
"Yes" Kurt carried on "We thought Tuesdays and Thursday after lessons for ninety minutes".
"And we'll alternate, so if you do Science, and History with Kurt on Tuesday, you'll be doing English, and Math with me on Thursday" they both turned to see who was standing in the doorway.
"He's like my little puppy" Brittany giggled at Sam stood there; I was hurt by that comment, but I held it back "I'm kicking him to the curb tonight" she announced, crushing my already hurt heart for the hurt he was going to feel.
"Sorry" he stepped in looking at Kurt and I "I just need to have a word with Brittany" he pointed at her.
"I'm in a lesson" Brittany rolled her eyes at him.
"We can do this here if you want" I'd never heard him talk so much before he had a sexy but stern voice.
"Fill your boots" she leaned on the desk irritated.
"Okay" he smiled at her "I've made my decision; I don't want to try a twosome let alone a threesome and I'm not down with sharing you with a woman either" he raised his eyebrows at her "So, I guess that means we're done?".
"What?" she got up to go after him, we all watched him leave, I for one had the biggest smile on my face.
He spent the rest of the year alone as far as I saw, he was focused on his game, determined to be scouted. My mom did an intervention, obviously she saw I was struggling, and gave me some gems about life. After that conversation I decided to do some work on myself, I watched some chic flics, took some hair and makeup tips from my aunt, and became a regular member of the gym, it never hurt to stay in tone.
That summer I vowed to myself that I wasn't taking any advice from anyone except myself, if I was going down, it was going to be because of something I did. I'm not bragging, much, but I'd put in the work, my thighs were looking like two rocks, my eating habits had changed, so my skin was glowing, and my confidence had grown, I was ready to face my senior year, moreover I was ready to approach the guy I'd been dreaming about since sophomore year.
End of Flashback
Senior Year
"Natural" she reminded herself as she wiped away the offending make up, before her nerves could kick in again, she grabbed her bag, keys and left for school, she was driving now, as a result of her brilliant results last year.
The first person she saw was Kurt, he was jumping out of his dad's pick-up waving madly at her with excitement, he'd been away for the summer because his dad had work in Mexico, so she was eager to hear all about that. "Diva" he screamed as he got close "Loving the look" he looked at the car "And the ride" he hugged her "Sorry I didn't get round last night, had to hook up with Blaine, you know how that is".
"I do" she finally got a word in
"Hey" they both turned to see Sam stood at his car parked next to Mercedes'.
"Hey" they both smiled.
"Good summer?" he asked looking straight into Mercedes' eyes.
"Productive" she smiled.
"Can you believe this is our last year together?" his voice was like an electric shock running through her.
"I know" she giggled.
"Is this yours?" he pointed at the car she was leaning on.
"Yeah" she tapped it "Reward for good grades last year".
"Not just a pretty face then?"
"No, she is not" Kurt butted in
"That's right, you were teaching Brittany last year".
"I was" she smiled looking at Kurt, her eyes begging him to stop interrupting her dream.
"This new look suits you" Sam looked at her cocking his head with interest "Have a good day".
"You too" she nodded "Did you hear that?" she turned to Kurt asking, "He noticed me".
"Maybe the natural look is his thing".
"Come on" her hand hit her hip so hard he had to look in case she'd dislocated something "Have you seen the girls he's been around, plastic all the way".
"And have you seen the girls he'd parted ways with?" he huffed "Come on" he grabbed her arm and walked into school, making the usual stop at their lockers before heading to class.
Everyone clapped at having the real Mercedes walk back into class, she'd always been one of the brighter tools in the box, but according to Miss Pilsbury; their teacher, she'd lost her way at bit, and everyone needed to give her time, to find her way back, it seemed today was that day. After last years, life depends on what we do, so don't waste it lecture, we were given our new timetables and left to do our thing, Kurt and I agreeing to meet for lunch and then glee club at the end of the day.
"Welcome back" Sue clapped her hands excited as we appeared in the class "We might need to do some recruiting this week" she warned.
"Sorry I'm late" Tina walked in, they'd been trying to recruit her for nearly three years, and she decides to join them in the last year.
"T" Kurt grinned, his eyes widening as Blaine, Mike and Sam follow her in "You never said" his eyes focusing on Blaine.
"I wanted to surprise you" Blaine laughed taking the seat next to him, while Sam took the seat on the other side of Mercedes.
"Do you mind?" he leaned in to ask her.
"No" she gulped down air for how close he was.
He turned out to be a really funny guy, he was all the things she'd seen over the years she'd been crushing on him, but there was so much more about him, he was more than passionate about football. Midyear he became the quarterback, and that brought a whole load of other problems for him, girls, pressure, envy, it was clear he was finding it all a bit too much.
"To the auditorium" Sue announced, there were no questions her voice was enough when she was in these moods.
"Sam" Mercedes sat next to him "Hope you don't mind me asking but, are you alright?"
"Not really, just got a lot on".
"Quarterback?" she nodded "I identify" she laughed "It's not all roses being a nerd".
"People just expect so much".
"What do you expect?"
"To get a scholarship, get some good grades, win at nationals, maybe date someone nice, simple things" he smiled.
"Goes without say you're going to get that scholarship" she smiled "You're above average, and Kurt or I can help with those grades if you're struggling" she looked at him "And we are going to win at nationals, have you heard our song list?" she laughed "So that just leaves the date thing, and I really can't help you with that".
"Thanks" he looked into her eyes smiling.
"For what?"
"Putting things into perspective" he hugged her and got up to carry on with practice.
Weeks later they were at Nationals in Los Angeles, the place was busy with choirs, everyone adding last minute touches to their performances, having taken Mercedes' advice even Sam was relaxed.
"Okay" Sue stood in show circle with them "You've put the work in, you know what you can do, you know what you need to do, so get out there and do it" she put her hand in for everyone to follow "Sing to win" she told them they all repeated her raising their hand in the air.
"Mercedes" Sam pulled her away from the crowd "I wanted you to be the first to know" he pulled a letter out of his costume "I got the scholarship" he waved it in the air.
"Sam" she grinned hugging him "Let's go win this thing" she stood in front of him looking up into his eyes, if this was all they were ever going to have, she'd be good with it.
"Mercedes" his face serious "You know you said you couldn't help with my dating thing?"
"I really can't" she laughed.
"Maybe you can" he rubbed his hands down his thighs and grabbed her hands "We're in LA" he looked around "I want to do things with you I've never done with anyone else, and a date in LA would be just that, would you like to?"
"Yeah" she got out before he could finish "As soon as we win nationals, I'm all yours" she rolled her eyes, she didn't care if it never went any further than this, she was going on a date with Sam Evans, crush goals. "I love LA" she held her eyes to the heavens.
"Pardon?" he asked.
"Nothing".