A/N: 2024 update of the original 2011 story

Chapter 1: New Beginnings, Unexpected Reunion

Mercedes Jones let out a long sigh as she sank into the big brown recliner, the leather creaking under her weight. She flipped her long brown hair back, savoring the cool breeze from the window that kissed the back of her neck—the first real comfort she'd felt all day.

Move-in day was never easy.

Her eyes roamed the room, taking in the organized chaos. Most of her boxes were unpacked, and her curtains hung like old friends, shielding her from the unfamiliar world outside. Her bed was made, her clothes hung neatly in the closet—well, most of them. But three whole boxes of shoes still loomed in the corner like a daunting mountain.

"Oh Lord, help me..." she muttered to herself, resigned to deal with it later.

Her gaze shifted to the opposite corner of the room, where a mountain of belongings had somehow materialized in the past few hours. She smirked and rolled her eyes, knowing all too well who was responsible.

Just then, its creator stumbled in—literally. Noelle, with her choppy bob of platinum blonde hair, fought to regain her balance, her thick-rimmed glasses slipping down her nose as she wrestled with the box in her arms.

Mercedes snorted, "Need a little help, Noelle?"

Noelle's back straightened immediately, a weak attempt to salvage her dignity. "No, no... I'm fine," she insisted, pushing her glasses back up with a hasty swipe.

Mercedes arched an eyebrow at the towering pile in the corner. "You sure about that?"

Noelle glanced at her handiwork, then flashed Mercedes a sheepish grin. "Oh, that? It'll be gone before you know it. Don't worry." She hastily began opening another box, dragging it toward her room as if that would make the mess disappear.

Mercedes couldn't help but laugh. Noelle was still the same quirky, adorable mess she'd always been. From her eclectic, almost hipster style, you'd never guess that she and Mercedes would become fast friends—best friends, in fact. Well, next to Kurt and Quinn, that is.

They had met freshman year at Byrnes University, a time when Mercedes had loved the campus life, the friends, the freedom—but something about the program there just didn't sit right with her. It wasn't what she wanted, and deep down, she knew it.

Noelle, another music major with a vocal performance concentration, felt the same way. She had transferred to Richter University after her first year, urging Mercedes to do the same. Mercedes had hesitated, clinging to her big scholarship, but eventually, she realized that staying at Byrnes meant stifling her passion. She needed to be somewhere that would cultivate it, somewhere she could truly fight for her future happiness.

So here she was, at Richter, with Noelle ready to welcome her with open arms.

After dragging a few more boxes into her room, Noelle collapsed onto the couch beside her, nudging Mercedes with a red faux suede boot. "So, how do you like Richter so far?"

Mercedes finished her text to Kurt, telling him she was settled in, before replying. "Well, seeing as I've only been on campus as a student for less than a day, I can't say much yet. But honestly, I'm getting some good vibes already."

Noelle's face lit up with excitement. "Yes! I knew your intuition would be spot on! It's amazing here—you're going to love it! The music program is exactly what we were looking for!"

"Right, right, you already sold me a long time ago," Mercedes waved off her friend's enthusiasm with a smile.

"I know... I'm just so excited that you're here, Mercy!" Noelle jumped up, hugging Mercedes from behind the recliner.

Mercedes patted the arms wrapped around her. "And I'm excited to be here with you. But I think it's time for a break from all this mess." She glanced meaningfully at the chaotic corner.

Noelle sighed dramatically. "You're completely right... Let's go explore campus. We've got some time before we need to meet up with the rest of the Gold Tones this evening."

Mercedes raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so I'm meeting them already, huh?"

"Of course!" Noelle beamed. "You have to meet your new family! We have a little tradition of getting together at the end of move-in day. It involves a lot of karaoke, ice cream... and maybe a little booze." She winked.

"Sounds like my kind of party," Mercedes grinned.

"Then let's go!" Noelle offered her arm with a flourish.

"Lead the way," Mercedes laughed, standing and linking arms with her friend.

After an hour of walking through the picturesque campus, Mercedes and Noelle found themselves near the science building. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the cobblestone pathways, and the scent of fresh-cut grass lingered in the air.

"I don't know what they feed those squirrels," Noelle muttered, eyeing the creatures as they darted from tree to tree, their chattering almost aggressive. "They're freaky little monsters."

Mercedes chuckled, watching as two squirrels seemed to bark at each other from the branches above. "As long as they stay out of my way, I'll be fine."

"No promises," Noelle warned with a playful smile. "I swear Professor Revels, from the English department, is like those squirrels in human form. Just as unpredictable, and just as likely to throw something at you." She nodded vigorously, her expression serious despite the humor in her eyes.

Mercedes burst into laughter, clutching Noelle's arm for support as she doubled over. Once she managed to catch her breath, she wiped a tear from her eye. "I love you, 'Elle. Have I told you that today?"

"Millions of times, diva-bear," Noelle replied, her face softening. "But I never get tired of hearing it." She gave Mercedes a side hug, then glanced at the leather braid watch on her wrist. "Oh, we don't have much time left until we have to meet the others. Let's start heading that way."

Mercedes took in the campus as they walked, the beauty of it striking her once again. Tall oak trees lined the pathways, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze. Fountains burbled cheerfully in the distance, and statues of various university founders stood like silent guardians along the way. The architecture was a blend of old and new, with some buildings boasting classic brick facades while others gleamed with modern glass and steel.

She could already picture herself sitting on one of the stone benches on a Sunday afternoon, a book in hand, humming a melody under her breath. The thought brought a contented smile to her face.

"You're going to love it here," Noelle said, as if reading her mind. "There's something special about this place, you know?"

"Yeah, I'm starting to feel that," Mercedes admitted, her voice filled with quiet wonder. She was pulled from her thoughts as Noelle gently tugged on her arm.

"We're going to cut through this field," Noelle said, pointing to a grassy expanse. "It's the fastest way to get to the music hall."

Mercedes tilted her head. "You can drink in the music hall?"

Noelle smirked, putting a finger to her lips. "Shh... not so loud," she teased, her eyes glinting with mischief.

Mercedes laughed, shaking her head as they stepped onto the grass. The field was dotted with groups of students—some lounging on blankets, others tossing a football, and a few more chasing after a frisbee. The atmosphere was carefree, the perfect backdrop for the start of something new.

As they wove their way through the people, Mercedes found herself relaxing more and more. The weight of the move, the uncertainty of starting over, seemed to lift with each step. Noelle was right—this place felt like it could be home.

They were in the middle of the field when Noelle broke the comfortable silence. "So, before we get there, I wanted to run something by you. We've been brainstorming our set list for our first performance, and—"

"Mercedes?"

Mercedes stopped to turn around, wondering who else but her friend linked to her arm would know her name. Noelle was tugged to a halt beside her.

Then she saw him.

The name escaped her lips before she could register what that was happening.

"Sam...?"