A/N: 2024 update of the original 2011 story

Chapter 3: History

Sam hurried down the staircase, the sound of his sneakers slapping against the concrete echoing in the stairwell. As he pushed through the front door, a warm summer breeze greeted him, and he couldn't help but smile. It felt good to be back at Richter, where the familiar hum of campus life buzzed in the background.

Walking from his dorm on the far east side of campus toward the big field in the center, Sam nodded to people who waved or called out his name. He didn't know half of them, but that wasn't anything new. It was just part of the life of a quarterback—faces blurred together in the whirlwind of recognition. He appreciated it, sure, but he never let it go to his head. Popularity wasn't something he chased anymore. High school had taught him how fleeting it could be, how quickly you could be dropped to the bottom. Popularity didn't mean much when life got tough. It didn't give him the people he really cared about.

What mattered now was being thankful for what he had. Since high school, life had changed. His family had finally gotten back on their feet, and Sam could focus on his studies rather than constantly worrying about putting food on the table. He'd conquered his dyslexia, turning what was once a crippling challenge into a quiet triumph. He'd even managed to snag not only a sports scholarship but also a small academic one—something he never thought possible. It was more than he could have asked for, especially considering how much he'd feared being a burden to his family after graduation. His prayers had been answered, and he was grateful every day.

College had treated him well. Decent grades, a starting quarterback position by sophomore year, and a division championship under his belt. People were already whispering about NFL draft picks, a thought that left him both flattered and, truth be told, a little anxious. He wasn't sure if that was the path he wanted. College life was good—better than good—but what came after? That was the part that scared him. He couldn't share those fears with anyone, though. His family, his friends, his coaches—they all had too much faith in him. He didn't want to disappoint them, so he kept his doubts to himself.

As he reached the field, Sam spotted a couple of his teammates tossing a football back and forth. He jogged toward them, ready to share a few plays that the coach had drilled into him during their last summer practice. But before he could reach them, a loud voice stopped him in his tracks.

"SAM!"

Sam inwardly cringed. With a resigned sigh, he turned toward the source of the voice. A group of girls was lounging about twenty feet away, their shorts and bikini tops gleaming in the sun. One of them, a brunette, was waving him over.

He was too nice for his own good sometimes.

Slowly, he walked over to them, a polite smile plastered on his face. "Hey, girls. Hey… Megan." After the usual round of flirtatious greetings, he focused on the girl sitting up in front of him.

Megan lowered her sunglasses, revealing her heavily made-up eyes. "Hey, Sammy. What have you been up to this summer?"

Don't call me Sammy. "Nothing much. Working. Practicing."

"That's cute." Cute? "The girls and I went to the Bahamas. Wish you were there!" The others chimed in with enthusiastic nods and comments about how much fun they had.

"Sounds like a good time," Sam said, forcing a smile. I couldn't care less.

"We're already planning a big trip for Spring Break. Can you say CANCUN?" Megan's tone was dripping with excitement.

Sam fought the urge to roll his eyes. "Yeah, I think I can say it… but I'll probably be busy that week. You know, football and all." He hoped the disdain in his voice wasn't too obvious.

The girls laughed. "You're so funny, Sammy!" Megan tossed her head back, probably trying to show off her chest. Gag. "But think about it. You've got plenty of time to work around that schedule."

"Sure." Sam's response was blunt. "Anyway, I'm heading over to play ball with the guys. Talk to y'all later. Bye!" He forced another smile before turning on his heel and walking away, making a beeline for Chad, who was on the other side of the field. As he got closer, Sam broke into a run, jumping to intercept the ball just before it reached Chad's outstretched hands.

"Hey, that's not cool, Sam!" Chad threw his hands up in mock indignation.

Sam turned and shoved the ball against Chad's chest. "Don't you ever set me up on a date again," he said, his tone half-serious. "You're terrible at it." He laughed, ruffling Chad's hair before he could protest.

Chad backed away, smoothing his hair down with a scowl. "Well, hello to you too, man…" He tossed the ball over Sam's head to Damon, their short, stocky, dark-skinned teammate.

"What's wrong with Megan, Sunshine?" Damon caught the ball effortlessly. "She's hot, and it looked like you two were having a merry ol' time over there." He grinned, throwing the ball back to Sam.

"No, we weren't…" Sam replied, catching the ball with ease. "She was just bragging about Cancun and the Bahamas. Not my scene. You guys need to stop throwing girls at me."

Chad caught the ball next. "Hey, we only do it because you don't go out there and get a girl yourself! You're all work and no play. For a guy who could get any girl here, you're scoring pretty low on the hit list." He noticed a few more of the guys arriving and threw the ball halfway across the field to their running back.

Sam scoffed. "I don't need to score high on your so-called 'hit list.'" He made air quotes with his fingers. "I've had one girlfriend and a few dates in the two years I've been here, and I'm fine with that. Hell, I don't even care if I get another girlfriend in college."

Chad and Damon exchanged a look. "Seriously?" Damon stared at Sam as if he was wearing a pink leotard.

Sam shrugged, catching the ball their cornerback had thrown back. "I'm just saying I'm not looking right now. Whatever happens, happens."

"What are you women gossiping about?" Zach, their running back with long dreads, jogged over to them.

"Sam's love life… or lack thereof," Chad smirked.

Their cornerback, Jake, caught up with them. "Oh yeah, Sam! You need to get you some ass."

Sam threw a hard spiral at him. "What do you mean I need to get me some ass?"

Jake shrugged, tossing the ball to Damon. "It's called taking care of our quarterback… We need another division win." The others nodded in agreement.

Sam ran a hand over his face. "What does getting any and winning a division championship have to do with each other? I was single last year!"

Chad laughed. "Still seems like a good idea."

"I can't believe I have to deal with you guys every day," Sam said, shaking his head.

"You love us, don't deny it!" Damon's laughter was infectious, and the others joined in.

It was over their laughter that Sam heard another sound—a laugh, definitely not from any of the guys. It was lighter, unrestrained, almost melodic.

He knew that laugh.

Sam turned his head, scanning the field for its source. A group of girls was sitting nearby, but it wasn't them. No, there it was again. He looked further in the distance and spotted two girls walking in their direction. One had short blonde hair and glasses, and the other was a shorter, dark-skinned girl with long, straight brown hair.

He squinted, something stirring in his memory. There was something familiar about that girl. She laughed again, and recognition hit him like a freight train. As the pair walked around Megan and her friends, making their way through the group playing Frisbee, Sam's heart skipped a beat.

No way.

It can't be.

Is it... "Mercedes?" Sam heard himself say before it fully registered in his mind.

The girl stopped before passing their group, turning around and pulling her friend to a stop as well.

Ten feet away, and there was no doubt in his mind—it was her. She looked different, yet the same. Her eyes, her nose, those lips… "Sam…" Her voice, soft and familiar.

It was Mercedes Jones. The girl he'd left behind years ago in Lima, Ohio.

"Mercedes…" Sam felt his breath catch in his throat. "You… Long time no see."

Her wide eyes relaxed into a smile, a smile that stirred something deep within him. "Yeah, it's been a while, Sam."

"Are you a student here? I've never seen you around." It was a big campus, sure, but a girl like Mercedes wouldn't go unnoticed for long.

Sam couldn't put his finger on it, but something about her seemed different. It wasn't just her figure or her hair, though she'd definitely changed. There was something in her eyes. "Yeah, you haven't. I transferred from Byrnes." Those eyes looked up at him, full of something he couldn't quite place.

A grin spread across his face at the news. "Well, that's great! Welcome to Richter!" The memories came flooding back—those tough years in high school, when he'd gone through so much growth. He'd learned a lot, and he never regretted it. Seeing Mercedes again brought those memories back in full force.

"Thanks! I'm happy to be here!"

Her friend tapped her on the arm. "Mercy? We should be going now. The others are probably on their way." Mercy? How did this girl know her nickname? Only Mercedes' family called her Mercy. Sam was the only one who called her Cedes.

"Oh, okay." Mercedes turned back to him with a flip of her hair over her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I gotta go. It was great seeing you again." There was something off in her tone, something distant.

"Alright. I guess I'll see you around." Sam gave her a small wave.

"Yeah, I'll see you around…" Mercedes gave him one last smile before letting her friend pull her away.

And yeah, she may have changed but…

Damn, she still had that ass.

"Yo." Sam snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of Damon's voice. "Who was that chick?"

It was then that Sam realized his teammates had been listening in on his conversation with Mercedes. "Oh… She… went to my high school back when I was living in Ohio."

"And?" Zach raised an eyebrow.

"And what?" Sam flinched, suddenly nervous.

Jake crossed his arms, smirking. "AND… that look you were giving her while you were talking, not to mention the fact you were totally checking her ass tells me that you two were more than just classmates in high school."

Sam knew he couldn't fool these guys. "Yeah." He let out a sheepish grin. "We had… some history." He opened his hands, signaling for the ball.

Damon threw the ball to him, letting out a loud cackle. "Chad! You were aaaall wrong!" He stomped at the ground, still laughing. "You were throwin' the wrong stuff at Sunshine! He prefers chocolate!" The other boys joined in, Zach letting out a whooping laugh and falling over on the grass. Sam held his face in his hands, feeling the blush creeping up. He meant what he said about dealing with these guys every day being a challenge.

Luckily, with enough threats, they quieted down just in time before more of the guys arrived. They played late into the night, the field buzzing with energy. Someone started a bet, and before Sam knew it, it was 12:30 a.m. With practice early in the morning, most of the guys headed back to their dorms. Sam lingered with a couple of his defensive teammates, striking up a conversation on the way back. It went longer than expected, and they stopped by the fountain to talk more, swapping defensive and offensive plays with a few jokes about the coach mixed in.

Mid-sentence, Sam heard that laugh again. There was no mistaking it this time. He kept talking to the guys but glanced in the direction of the sound. There she was again, walking with her friend—this time, they looked tipsy.

"Looks like people are starting early," Everett, their linebacker, quipped.

Sam laughed, recognizing the telltale signs. Mercedes was always the happy drunk. "Yeah, looks like it." He looked up at her, realizing she was closer now—and looking straight at him. Her eyes, though slightly glazed, held a sincerity that made his heart skip a beat. There it was again, that look in her eyes.

Before he could process it, Mercedes turned back to her friend, playing around as if the moment they just shared had never happened.

Sam didn't know what he saw in those eyes... but he swore he was going to find out.