A/N: 2024 update of the original 2011 story

Chapter 4: Try A Little Tenderness

Sam dragged his feet as he exited the athletic building, his body heavy with exhaustion. Coach had worked him especially hard today, running him through extra drills and dissecting plays long after the rest of the team had called it a day. It was a minor miracle that he managed to escape before seven.

He spotted Damon, Chad, and Zach loitering by the building's gate, still caught up in conversation. Sam quickened his pace to catch up with them, feeling the weight of his heavy backpack digging into his shoulders. "Can I just call in sick for one day?" he asked, rolling his right shoulder in an attempt to ease the tension. Three weeks into the semester, and he was already drowning in homework. It was a wonder he'd survived the fall semester with everything on his plate.

"Nah, man," Damon said, slapping Sam on the back. "Keep that energy up. We're gonna need it for the Simpson game. The big 'un!" He mimicked a Tiger uppercut, his enthusiasm infectious.

Sam sighed, "It's just my luck that the Simpson game is the same week as my midterm papers are due. Dr. Chalmers isn't going to cut me any slack."

Zach scoffed, "Same with my Calc test, but do I really care? Nope!"

Sam frowned, "Well, you should. It's your senior year, and graduating is more important than one big game."

"Sorry I'm not some big nerd like you, Sunshine," Zach retorted with a grin, shrugging off Sam's concern.

Sam laughed to himself. The word 'nerd' didn't even begin to cover it.

Damon suddenly stopped mid-stride, his gaze fixed on something in the distance. "Hey, it's those singers."

Chad nodded, "Oh yeah, the Goldtones. Remember that version of 'Freebird' they did last year? It kicked ASS… Yo, Sam, where you going?" he asked as Sam started walking ahead of them.

"I want to watch," Sam replied, picking up his pace. The amphitheater wasn't far, and he could already hear the music drifting through the evening air. By the time he reached the amphitheater, a sizable crowd had gathered, most people lounging on blankets, swaying along with the music. The Goldtones were in full swing, performing a jazzy rendition of "Super Bass," their energy infectious. Some of the crowd had even joined in, dancing along with the group.

Sam couldn't help but smile as he watched. It reminded him of his days with the New Directions. Some of his best memories were tied to those performances, singing and dancing his heart out with his friends. Those were exhilarating times, moments of pure joy and camaraderie.

As he watched, Sam found his thoughts drifting to the reason he'd hurried over here. He scanned the stage, searching for a familiar face, but Mercedes was nowhere to be seen. He bit his lip, a flicker of disappointment tugging at his heart. He was sure she'd be here. A girl like Mercedes belonged in a group like this. They'd be fools not to have her.

The Goldtones finished their number, and the crowd erupted into applause. One of the girls stepped forward, waving to the audience with a bright smile. Sam recognized her immediately—the blonde who had been with Mercedes the day he saw her for the first time in years.

"Thank you, everyone, and welcome to the Goldtones' first performance of the semester!" she called out enthusiastically. "If you're new here and don't know, we're Richter's pride and joy… well, second to our football team." The crowd chuckled, as did Sam and his friends. "Our group is both an acapella group and a show choir, bringing you some of the best voices around. And speaking of the best voice… you're all in for a huge treat."

Sam's heart skipped a beat as the blonde girl continued, "The Goldtones are proud to introduce our newest member, transferring in from Byrnes University. She's a very close friend of mine, the sweetest girl you'll ever meet with a heavenly voice to match. And I say this without bias—the other Goldtones will agree with me—this girl can SING. You may not hear a better performance in your life! But enough of my rambling. Without further ado, I present… Miss Mercedes Jones."

The crowd's applause grew louder as the girl stepped aside, gesturing to the right side of the stage. Sam's chest swelled with pride, his thoughts racing. None of what she said was an exaggeration. He had been blown away by Mercedes' talent the very first time he saw the New Directions perform at lunch all those years ago. No one could sing like Mercedes.

He felt a light tap on his arm. "Hey, Sunshine, isn't that the girl you were talking to that one time? The one you have 'history' with?" Damon asked, curiosity laced in his voice.

Sam's breath caught as he watched Mercedes walk onto the stage, her presence commanding the spotlight. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the stage lights illuminated her, casting a golden glow around her figure. Her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, her golden brown satin dress shimmering in the light. Her smile—bright, confident—was the same one that had always made his heart skip a beat. "Yeah… that's her," Sam replied absently, his eyes glued to the stage.

The band began playing the opening chords, and Mercedes started with a powerful note that sent shivers down Sam's spine. She was singing Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness," and as her voice filled the amphitheater, Sam felt his heart stop for a moment.

As the song picked up tempo, his friends nodded along to the beat, their appreciation for her talent evident. "Wooo, that girl can SAAANG!" Zach crooned.

"Damn, you had THAT girl, Sam?" Chad asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

But Sam didn't answer. He wasn't listening. In fact, he wasn't really there. His mind was no longer at Richter; it had traveled back in time, to a place he hadn't visited in years. He was back in the McKinley High auditorium, sitting in the back row, watching Mercedes sing her heart out for a solo audition. He could see it so clearly—the way she poured every ounce of emotion into her performance, the way her voice resonated with something deep inside him.

Memories flooded his mind. The day Mercedes had shown up at his motel room to apologize for her accusations, the magical night they'd spent dancing together, the countless hours they'd spent talking by her car in the motel parking lot. They had become close, so close that he often wondered if what he felt for her was more than just friendship. But back then, he hadn't been sure. Two failed relationships had left him wary, almost scared of the idea of something more.

But now, standing here, listening to her sing, those fears seemed to melt away. Sam's hands unconsciously clenched into fists, his heart pounding in his chest. No girl had ever moved him the way Mercedes did in this moment.

When the song ended, and the crowd erupted into applause, Sam snapped back to reality. He was still at Richter, and Mercedes was still on stage, basking in the adoration of the audience. Her smile was as bright as the spotlight shining down on her, and for a fleeting moment, Sam thought her eyes met his. He hoped so because he wanted to convey in that brief connection just how proud he was of her… how he'd always been proud of her.

"Forget it. The boy is hypnotized," Chad mumbled, breaking Sam's trance.

Sam turned to face his friends. "No, I'm not."

Damon chuckled, "Yeah, you were. If that song had gone on any longer, you might have started drooling! Your mouth was hanging open!"

Sam turned away, trying to hide the blush creeping up his neck. He made a mental note: the next time the Goldtones performed, he'd make sure to watch from somewhere his friends couldn't see him—because if Mercedes kept singing like that, he'd always end up looking like a sappy mess.