Ch. 2 : Confronting

Disclaimer: I do not own anything that pertains to Glee nor references to popular culture.  

Standing in the middle of the living room, was an ivory skinned guy with bleach blond hair wearing McKinley High's infamous red and white Letterman jacket. He was glancing around the room wondering if anything had changed since the last time he was here. It wasn't too long ago - just a few days - but he still wondered if anything had changed as it did a couple of hours ago at school today. His royal blue eyes trailed around closely as he wondered if the book on the coffee table had always been there or if the TV had either been angled towards the sofa or lounge chair. While continuing to look around for any other signs of subtle change,  his eyes began trailing towards the series of pictures lined on top of the fireplace. He gazed at each one grinning a little of the family members of the house when slowly his smile began to fade. He'd noticed from one of the pictures the girl he'd left an hour ago was sitting with the girl he was waiting for on the steps of the school building smiling at the camera. He glanced at it closely, bringing the picture to him in one hand, while in the other innately clutching tighter to a small white box in his Letterman jacket pocket.

*~*~*~*~*

"SAMMY SAMMY WAKE UP!"

Samuel Evans felt the coolness of water droplets sprinkling over him as his eyes were still closed from sleep. He couldn't help but think what the water droplets reminded him of before opening his eyes and staring at four blue ones staring back at him.

"WAKE UP!!!"

He heard his twin siblings shout before shaking him ferociously.

"Ok ok, I'm up," he pulled himself up so they would stop shaking him. He watched with a squint of them running out of the room before plopping himself back down on the couch.

RING

"Stacey, Stevie get in the tub before the water gets cold," Sam heard his mom shout to his younger siblings from the bedroom.

RING

"Sam! Are you up?," Mrs. Evans continued to shout, "Is that the doorbell? Can you get it. I'm on the phone with your dad."

"I'LL GET IT!" Stacey began running towards the door.

"NO I'LL GET IT!" Stevie yelled trailing right behind her.

Sam quickly got up from the couch and rushed towards the door before his siblings could reach it.

"NO! I GOT IT!," he said and blocked them from the door with a smirk.

"HEY THAT'S NOT FAIR!" Stacey yelled.

"YOUR TALLER AND BIGGER THAN US!" Stevie yelled too.

"TOO BAD! MOM TOLD ME TO GET IT! NOW GO AND TAKE YOUR BATH BEFORE THE WATER GETS COLD," Sam instructed and pointed them towards the bathroom. He watched his siblings turn around with a sullen expression on their face as they walked back towards the bathroom. Once the coast was clear of them out of the living room and into the bathroom, Sam hurriedly went to the nearest drawer that had his shirts and pants in. He quickly put the first items of clothing on and opened the door.

"Quinn?!" he said once he saw her turn around. She was carrying a large box. "What...what are you doing here?" He stepped out wondering if anyone else from school were here too.

"I'm volunteering for the local church donating food and clothes to those in need. You live here?"

Sam didn't respond at first. He felt embarrassed that someone from school - particularly the head cheerleader he was currently seeing - knew his living situation. Before he said any other word he felt the door opening a bit wider.

"Oh are you from the church?" Sam heard his mom ask beside him.

Quinn nodded with a smile. "Oh good good," Mrs. Evans greeted, "please come in," she gestured Quinn inside.

"There's actually more in the car," Quinn said.

"Oh wonderful," Mrs. Evans said enthused. "Sam can you please help...I'm sorry I didn't get your name," she turned towards Quinn.

"Quinn," Quinn responded.

"Sam please help Quinn bring in the items she brought for us."

Sam pursed his lips and stepped behind the door to put his shoes on. He walked outside and saw Quinn's crimson Volkswagen bug. He opened the handle that opened the back of the car and saw it stuffed with piles of boxes. He peeked inside and saw there were food, clothes, and linens in the boxes. Sam knew he should be happy that the items would definitely help them out for a couple of weeks for the season to come since winter is around the corner; however while truly feeling appreciative of the donations being given to them he would have felt appreciative if no one knew his family's situation. After glancing through the items, Sam then grabbed a box and walked back inside.

"So do you go to McKinley too with Sam?" Mrs. Evans asked Quinn while they started to unload the box.

"Yes, I'm actually the head cheerleader there," Quinn said.

"Oh yes, that's where I remember you. You know I was a cheerleader at my high school too. In fact, that's how I met their father. He was the quarterback and captain of the football team." Mrs. Evans informed.  "Do you and Sam have class together?"

"Yes. We're actually in the glee club together," Quinn replied.

"Oh, I'm so happy to hear that. I was afraid Sam would have a hard time meeting people especially since we recently moved and he's in his third year in high school."

"Well it seemed he didn't have a hard time since he became the new quarterback for us," Quinn replied and looked at Sam with a luring smile once he came in and set the box down. "Actually," Quinn continued before Sam stepped out again to bring the rest of the boxes in, "if you don't have any plans tonight a bunch of us are going to Breadstix. We would be happy if you could come."

"Uumm...I have to take care of my brother and sister tonight," Sam replied.

"Oh you should go," Mrs. Evans interjected. "It's ok I'll watch the kids tonight."

"But don't you -,"

"It's no big deal," his mom waved it off.

"Uumm...ok," Sam shrugged.

"Great so I'll go ahead and pick you up later tonight say around six 'o' clock," Quinn responded.

Sam nodded with a tight smile before heading out to bring the rest of the boxes in.

****

"Hey, are you okay?"

Last night, Sam was ecstatic to walk to Mercedes house. He was excited to talk about past and upcoming episodes and continue to figure out how they all connected with the ninety-ten percent. But tonight after going to Breadstix with Quinn and the rest of the football team and cheerleaders he felt different. When Quinn arrived and picked him up he hoped that it would be the members from glee club and then he would see Mercedes, but when Quinn told him they were just meeting up with the usual group - that meant they were going to hang out with the football players and cheerleaders. Sam felt awkward after Quinn left earlier that day. The fact that someone knew - particularly one that introduced herself as his girlfriend that made it all too uncomfortable.

When Sam arrived, he arrived earlier than usual. Mercedes just about finished eating dinner with her parents and were lucky enough it was her that answered the door. They embraced as usual but Mercedes felt there was something off about the kiss. It was sort of embarrassing to introduce Sam to her parents but since he did arrive early there was kind of no choice. Fortunately enough her parents had a get together every Saturday night so the introduction was brief but very much to the point.

"So are you two dating?" Mr. Jones frankly asked in the foyer as he grabbed his coat.

"Dad!" Mercedes exclaimed as she glanced at Sam awkwardly.

"What?” Mr. Jones slightly lifted his arms and shrugged his shoulders wondering about the two of them, “Am I not suppose to know if you two are?"

"Dad, Sam and I are just friends." Mercedes placed her hand on her dad’s shoulder reassuring him.

"Honey, let's go we're going to be late." Mrs. Jones walked in placing her purse over her shoulder and nudging him out the door.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones walked themselves out. Mercedes made sure they walked into their car and drove off before she turned around to Sam.

"Sorry about that," Mercedes grimaced. They walked into the kitchen and Mercedes headed over to the cabinets to grab a bag of popcorn.

"It's no problem," Sam replied as he watched Mercedes tear the plastic cover and placed the bag in the microwave. "So where are they headed?"

"Oh at the Henderson's. It’s their adult night hangout time since my dad seems to not stop working at the office. It's the only way my mom can get him distracted and not have him be rushed off for some emergency wisdom teeth pulled."

Mercedes watched Sam nod when she turned around but somehow she knew he wasn't really interested on where her parents were going.

"Hey," she walked closer to him, "don't worry about them. I'm sure they'll be home after midnight," Mercedes placed her arms around Sam's neck. She felt Sam wrapping his arms around hers. They instantly leaned in and kissed, but it still didn't feel the same. Something was up but Mercedes still couldn't figure it out.

DING

Their lips unlocked and their arms unwrapped around each others. Mercedes grabbed the bowl and poured the popcorn inside while Sam grabbed the drinks and they headed into the living room to watch The Twilight Zone.

Sam at first didn't want to answer Mercedes question or more like he wanted to say that he was fine, but for some reason or more like he knew Mercedes would know that he was lying.

"It’s just that someone at school knows something about my family that I didn't want them to know," he finally confessed. He didn't look at her as there was silence between them. He was still thinking about the incident from before and wondered how this will play out tomorrow. He was actually grateful of the silence and even more grateful of Mercedes not pressing on about the situation. She didn't even ask what about his family that he didn't want the person to know. Instead, Sam just felt a sudden embrace from her. Sam was shocked at first, but then slowly embraced her back - feeling maybe that's all he needed.

"Look," Mercedes began as she mumbled into his ear, "people here - especially at McKinley - they forget about things quick. So I'm sure come tomorrow the person will already forget about it."

Mercedes watched Sam nod but knew he wasn't really that convinced. "Look why don't you stay tonight," Mercedes automatically said then stood up in front of him.

"Huh?" Sam replied - he was looking up at her surprised.

"Stay! My brother is away for college," Mercedes hurriedly explained, "and we have an extra bedroom - actually we have two," she held up two fingers in the air. "You can either stay in his room or the guest bedroom. My parents wouldn't mind they would understand," she finished feeling slightly out of breath.

"You want me to stay," Sam asked as he stood up coming closer to her. Mercedes didn't move. She kept her ground and followed the trail of his eyes rising above her. Mercedes felt everything in her body flutter like butterflies in her stomach. Her heart pounded to a sensation that chilled within her before she slowly nodded back.

Sam's barepink lips curled into a snakelike grin, "I would if I could," he mumbled into her ear as he wrapped his arms around her.

Mercedes smelt the lemony scent of soap and shampoo as she too wrapped her arms around him before placing her head on his hard stone chest."Then why don't you," Mercedes mumbled back. "It's late and seriously my parents wouldn't mind," she tilted her head back to look up at him.

Sam heaved a heavy sigh. He wasn't lying to Mercedes - he really wanted to stay not only to watch the rest of the episodes she was able to record but also because whenever he was with Mercedes he simply just felt like he was home with her. Sam looked back at her and saw her lugubrious eyes. He didn't want to part from her - not like this - and felt like he needed to show her that what he said was one hundred percent true - that if he could he would.

"Close your eyes," he whispered. Mercedes cocked her eyebrows up giving a look that she was being serious of him staying tonight.  "Please," he pleaded and palmed her cheek until her eyes fluttered down expelling a breathless sigh. Sam leaned in towards her until he felt his nose nearly touching hers.  He smirked a bit as he licked his lips - feeling the familiar tug he often felt when he was around her. He then gently pressed his lips on top of hers. He started off soft, gentle yet tender that he tightened his grip around her waist to bring her closer to him to dip his tongue in her mouth. As Sam began pressing his body against Mercedes, their steps staggered back until the wall hindered their steps. Mercedes body pressed against his as she felt his member flip. And before they could stop it, their entire body was reacting to the kiss. Sam brought his other hand up and pulled her neck closer. He felt her warm body in between his legs as Mercedes felt her fingers unconsciously grip his jacket pulling him closer to her and groaned loudly into her mouth.  Together, they slightly pulled themselves off each other with their foreheads still touching and their lips lingering on top of one another. He didn't want to do this - he didn't even want to say this but knew he had to.

"I can't see you tomorrow," he mumbled onto her lips, "but I promise I'll see you Monday before school starts," he quickly reassured her as he felt Mercedes pulling herself away from him.

"Promise?" Mercedes asked with a sullen look on her face.

"I promise," Sam replied and placed his lips onto hers again.

***

Mercedes Jones was at the bus stop. She glanced at the times on the pole and noticed there were several drop offs before school started. School started around eight and the drop off times were as early as five 'o' clock in the morning. She wondered which one would Sam have chosen and kind of regretted not asking him. She continued to look down at the times and saw one that was five minutes before school started. She looked up and walked closer to the edge of the curb and stuck her neck out to see if a bus was coming. The street was desolate - no bus was coming. She then brought her phone out and checked for the time. It was three minutes to eight. Mercedes sighed at the time. She decided to sit down at the bench, wondering if what had happened over the weekend actually did happen. She turned her head towards the school building when she heard the final bell ring and watched as the students rushed into the school building. She turned her head back towards the road and didn't see any buses coming. She stood up and tilted her head out to see if anything was coming her way but still nothing. Maybe, she thought, maybe he's already here.  She decided to depart from the bus stop slightly disappointed that she missed him and walked towards the school building. As she walked in the hallways thinking about what had happened a few days ago for some reason she slightly wondered if what had happened actually did happen. She wondered if Sam actually came over to her house. She wondered if the conversations were real or even when they sat next to each other he would put his arm around her and she would put her head on his shoulder. She wondered it all until she looked up from her thoughts and saw a ray of light shining upon a red and white Letterman jacket she was all too familiar with over the weekend.

Sam saw Mercedes lugubrious face lifted with lucidity standing at the end of the hallway right in front of him. With smiles on their faces, Sam and Mercedes embraced each other like before.

"Sorry I'm late," Sam whispered in her ear. He watched as her smile didn't falter when he palmed her cheek and brought his lips close to hers.

"Excuse me...Mercedes."

Sam and Mercedes halted their movement before turning towards the interruption. It took them awhile to separate once they realized who it was - Anthony Rashād.

Anthony didn't seem bothered by their closeness and continued, "You're Mercedes right, Mercedes Jones - Kurt's friend." He looked at Mercedes hoping he had gotten the right girl. Mercedes nodded slightly and watched a sense of relief overwhelm him. With a huge smile on his face, Anthony held out his hand. "My name is Anthony Rashād. I don't know if you know this but Kurt told me about you." Mercedes shook his hand. After the handshake Anthony gestured a greeting  to Sam then looked back at her and continued. "Uum...well I was hoping to catch up with you before the bell rang for classes but I was wondering if I could talk to you...alone," he made a slight grin back to Sam. Sam and Mercedes looked back at each other feeling a tad bit awkward of Anthony's  request.

As Sam looked into Mercedes eyes he really didn't know what to make of this situation. It felt  awkward, random, and weird yet he felt a sense of trepidation within him.  He didn't know what this meant and his mind quickly began rationalizing in the ninety-ten percent theory. Ninety percent he knew Mercedes was hiding from Anthony the day she hid behind his locker. He knew ninety percent of this because she simply told him. But the ten percent?, he continued to think. Then remembered what Mercedes said about the theory. The ten percent comes true when you believe in it. But then he thought about his version. Ninety percent comes true if you think about it. He wondered what did Mercedes want or even more what did she think about. Did she want the ten percent to happen or the ninety? If ninety was Anthony then it wouldn't come true but if it was ten percent then it would. No -

"Ummm....," he then heard Mercedes interrupting his thoughts. Sam realized he wasn't staring at her but was looking more so at the floor. He jerked his head up slowly coming out of his rationalization. He saw Mercedes looking back at him with a confused look on her face.

It took him awhile, but realized what it meant and responded, "I...I'll let Mr. Shue know you'll be late," and gave her a tight smile.  Before Sam walked away from them he heard Anthony thank him and felt himself cringe at the appreciation.

As Sam continued to walk down the hallway and closer to the choir room he was continuing to contemplate on what he had thought earlier.

"Is that Anthony talking to Mercedes?" he heard a familiar voice interrupting his thoughts. He didn't realize Quinn was in front of him  standing at the threshold of the choir room. He saw a smile creep on her lips, "It looks like he's going to ask her out."

"You think so," Sam quickly turned around. He watched Anthony smile at Mercedes as he opened the door for her for them to talk outside. As he watched Mercedes step outside and look up at Anthony with a small smile, Sam felt upset that he had made a mistake in his decision.

****

"So I'm sure this seems out of the ordinary for you," Anthony began as they walked outside and into the courtyard, "but your friend Kurt actually mentioned you to me," Anthony gave a friendly smile.

Mercedes returned another tight smile. She unconsciously nodded her head knowing Kurt had this planned all along. She didn't even tell him that she didn't go on the date he set up a few days ago but knew he would figure it out one way or another.

"He said that you guys get coffee at the Lima Bean after school and I was wondering if you would like to go sometime."

"Like a date?" Mercedes jerked her head to meet Anthony's eyes.

"Yeah," Anthony replied.

Mercedes widened her eyes and inhaled a deep breath. This isn't happening! This isn't happening! She quickly thought. This seriously isn't happening! This shouldn't be happening! She instinctively started pacing from side to side.  Why is this happening? Why is he here? And Sam? Sam, she continued to think. I didn't want any of this so why is this happening?  

"Why?" Mercedes didn't realize she said it out loud.

"Well," Anthony began. Mercedes halted in her tracks and looked back at him. "Kurt mentioned you had a crush on me last year and explained how nice and cool you are."

Mercedes huffed a small chuckle to herself, "the ten percent got the better of me again," and shook her head. She walked towards the nearest bench and sat down. She closed her eyes and exhaled a heavy breath and heard Anthony walk closer to her. She seriously didn't know what to think of this. She didn't know if she was mad or upset with Kurt that he had set her up with Anthony a few days ago. She figured Kurt had set this meeting up today so that she wouldn't have an opportunity to run or hide anywhere.

"Listen Mercedes," Anthony began and grabbed her hand, "if you need to think about this I completely understand. Sectionals is this week right?" Mercedes nodded her head before Anthony continued, "so I'm sure you're thinking about that more than going on a date with me. But look," he began to smile, "if you ever want to take a night off not thinking about sectionals or even school just come up to me and we'll go have that coffee. Kurt said your favorite drink is the double chocolate chip with a twist." Mercedes returned a soft smile with a nod. She then looked down at their intertwined hands. Not since freshman year did she ever think that an upperclassman would look twice at her especially one that was captain of the football team.

She then watched Anthony get up and walked back into the hallway. Mercedes looked back out at the courtyard. She turned her head and noticed a few feet away where she saw where she fell out onto the rain with Sam. She couldn't believe that just days ago she was content of not having a boyfriend. That she was content that junior year was going to be her year by being herself. But now...now she didn't know. She didn't know what to think of any of this. She didn't even know what to think of her relationship with Sam. At first, it was nothing. Strictly platonic between them. She simply hid behind his locker and then The Twilight Zone popped up and next thing she knew she was out in the rain with him and felt every emotion fill up within her. That incomprehensible feeling and not knowing what to make of it. Even of her having dreams of him, she still didn't know. She just simply knew the ten percent got the best of her as usual. That’s what she concluded with Matt and Anthony and all the guys she ever had a crush on. She didn't think this would happen. She didn't even know now if the ninety-ten percent theory could hold up to any means of reasoning at this point. And what was the point, when now all she wanted to do was wake up and not be in any of this predicament she was now currently in.

As a few more minutes passed, she finally got up and walked into the hallway.

"He asked you out didn't he?"

Mercedes turned around to the sound of Sam's voice. She was surprised to see him standing so close to the entrance doors that she couldn't believe she completely disregarded him once she walked into the hallway. Sam didn't look up. He kept his head down allowing the strands from the top of his blonde hair cover his dark sea blue eyes. Mercedes didn't want to respond. She preferred a simple nod, but as she walked closer to him Sam still didn't lift his head up to meet her gaze.

"He did," she softly whispered - barely letting her voice echo through the desolate hallway.

Sam nodded. Maybe this was a good thing, he mildly thought to himself but dared not say it aloud especially in front of her or maybe even more like to himself.

"Sam, I -"

"You should go out with him," he lifted his head with a sigh.

"What?" Mercedes incredulously responded. She  stepped even closer to him - surprised by his sudden suggestion. She tried to look back into his eyes, but Sam wasn't even looking at her. He was just looking up at the ceiling.

"Go out with him."

"But...but Sam...I'm I'm not into him. I like you.”

"I like you too but Cedes there's a reason he came back. "

"But I'm sure it's Kurt's doing," Mercedes waved it off.

"Even if it may he still came back. I've been thinking specifically about the ninety-ten percent and what you said about it, you know how the ten percent comes true instead of the ninety. And I need to know, did ten percent of you wanted this to happen? Did you want him to come back?"

"I...,” Mercedes pondered at the question.“I don't know. I've never thought of it."She took a few steps away from Sam a little taken aback of him asking this.

"Go out with him." Sam sighed pushing himself off the walk he was leaning on heading to the choir room.

"If I do, will you still come by tonight?" Mercedes grabbed his arm.

Sam nodded still not looking back at her before walking to the choir room. 

“SAM…& MERCEDES! SO GLAD FOR YOU TWO TO FINALLY JOIN US!” Mr. Shue announced of their arrival. "Ok, everyone lets get with our partners and start from the top.” Mercedes placed her bag at the front of the room and walked towards Sam who was her partner.

“Remember you guys, sectionals is in two days and we can't afford to make any mistakes,” Mr. Shue continued.

All throughout rehearsal Sam never looked back at Mercedes. His caprice of the whole matter made her feel fretful of the situation at hand. She didn't quite know what to think of it at first. She glanced every so often at him  that maybe what he did say wasn't true - that maybe she pretended what she just heard. But watching his face become screwed and scolded with discontent didn't have her feel of any solace within her because she knew she had something with Sam even though she didn't want to have a boyfriend.

Once rehearsal was over Mercedes walked into the hallway in serious thought as she watched in her deigned discretion Sam walking away from her. She knew she was over thinking it, but the look Sam gave to her once he walked into the building earlier today reminded her of the dream she had over the weekend. The look he gave made her body feel the chilling sensation in every inch of her body like she was covered in goosebumps and butterflies in her stomach all at once. She didn’t want to think about it let alone feel it, but it just wouldn’t stop.

"Soooo Mercedes," Kurt and Tina walked up to her, "when's the date with Anthony?" they playfully asked.

Mercedes rolled her eyes at them, "I don't know."

"You don't know?!" Tina exclaimed. "Come on Mercedes, didn't you say last year he was your kind of chocolate thunder at one point."

"Yea but -," she began as they grabbed their bags and walked to class together.

"But," Kurt cut her off, "he's wanting to go out with you. Come on Mercedes, remember junior year is our year and being with him can be your year."

"Plus," Tina added, "everyone is with someone, Kurt is now with Blaine, I'm with Mike, Britney and Artie are somehow making it work. Finn and Rachel, Puck and Santana…and look," she pointed, "Quinn and Sam."

Mercedes turned her head towards where she pointed and saw Quinn and Sam holding hands. Mercedes felt her heart race and her body warming.

"So you see Mercedes," Kurt began, "you have to go out with Anthony. One date wouldn't hurt would it?"

Their steps had halted once they saw Anthony at his locker. Mercedes thought about what they had suggested. Mercedes heaved a heavy sigh and looked back at them, "Junior year is my year, huh?" Kurt and Tina nodded with a grin. Mercedes heaved another sigh, "Ok," she conceded, "but if the date gets weird or shots starts firing in the air imma blame you guys," she pointed at them.

"Just go and say you'll be happy to go out with him today after school," they weaved their arms around hers and walked her towards Anthony's locker.

***

The small white box caught Samuel Evans attention once he opened his locker to put his books away. It encased a minuscule heart shaped ring his father gave to his mother when they were in high school together. The reason why he’d asked his mom for the ring in the first place was for him to get his status back in school.

For one week, Samuel Evans was on top. He wasn’t considered the new kid anymore nor anyone knew his financial situation. Instead, he was Sam Evans, the quarterback, dating the head cheerleader Quinn Fabrey. But lately, his mind hasn’t been on obtaining his status by proposing to Quinn to officially be his girlfriend but instead on the moment he was in the rain with Mercedes Jones. All weekend he had thought about Mercedes and what he had seen in her. He knew he saw something that was completely incomprehensible to the ninety-ten-percent. When he looked into Quinn’s eyes they were beautiful, gorgeous, but he couldn’t connect with it like he had with Mercedes. That moment - that mere moment - he had with Mercedes he hadn’t had with anyone else before. It was a simple feeling of acceptance - to act and be whoever he wanted to be without any means of judgment.

“Hey,” he felt a soft tap on his shoulder. He turned around and saw Quinn smiling at him. “Walk me to class?”

Sam nodded as a bright light caught his attention. He spotted Mercedes walk in the hallway with Kurt and Tina. His body warmed with immense heat once their eyes met.

“You know,” Quinn said as she took his hand, “after hearing your parents talk about how they won prom queen and king in high school, I think I’m inching closer for us to become official.” She looked up at him with a sly smile and began walking hand in hand with him.

Sam returned a tight smile. He remembered the first time he saw Quinn Fabrey, he didn’t even believe he would be with her. According to the theory, Sam thought if he believed in ninety percent of something it would come true, but now that he sort of was with Quinn, he realized ten percent of the theory came true. Maybe Mercedes was right, he mulled over in his head then thought about the moment he was out in the rain with Mercedes and looked into her eyes. But when we were out there, I didn’t have a percentage on her. Sam grew confused of the theory. He didn’t know if this meant that he should be with Mercedes or still propose to Quinn to be his girlfriend.

“So I’ll see you after class?” Quinn looked up at him then leaned forward on her tiptoes to kiss him on his cheek. Sam returned another tight smile clutching onto the small white box in his Letterman jacket pocket.

He walked down the hallway thinking what he had said to Mercedes before he stormed out of the choir room. A tinge of guilt seeped within him as he remembered the face she expressed at him, but he also felt that maybe this was suppose to happen. That the ninety-ten percent theory rang true and continues to run true until the belief has been fulfilled. Was he thinking the moments he shared with her didn't mean anything? No. But the matter of the fact was, ninety percent of him wanted - needed - to be popular and the fact that Quinn knew his living situation he couldn't jeopardize his status. Not so soon and not like this.  Maybe it was a good thing. Maybe she should go out with him and say yes. Because maybe, he thought, she wanted it. He continued to walk down the hallway and was struck by a surprising scene. The back of a tall dark senior wearing the familiar Letterman jacket and in front of him the girl he had been thinking about. He saw Mercedes eye shift towards where he stood. It felt like centuries that he had stood at that spot. Rooted to where he could no longer for go. Rooted for the fact that he had stepped into The Twilight Zone. He watched her eye glance back down as he loosely listened to Anthony give her his number.

"So, today after school I don't have anything planned," Sam heard Anthony say as he started to walk past them. He saw as his arm was placed over Mercedes and how she stared back at him. It felt like this all happened in slow motion once he felt a chill down his spine and the blood pumping his heart increase immensely.

He walked into the locker room and noticed not many were in there. Artie and Mike were in the corner looking and waiting for something while some players were at their lockers.  Sam walked towards his locker and opened it. He placed the small white box in it and stared daggers at it with narrowed eyes. Everything in him continued to boil. Was this really happening? Did all this just happen? Did I actually see her and him...? Are they? Will they? Is it?

CRASH

Sam turned around. He heard someone falling followed by laughter. He rushed over to the scene and saw Mike on top of Artie on the floor. He still heard the cackles and looked up from where Mike and Artie had fallen and saw another tall senior standing before them. He was big and wide and knew exactly who this person was.

Sam stared back at his teammate, the line backer of McKinley High, Karofsky. He watched him looking down at his teammates laughing and pointing at them. He knew this feeling all too well. Feeling inferior, being picked on, being known that he didn't have any balls. He watched as Karofsky nudged fellow teammates to laugh with him as the weaker bunch on the team were being picked on. He knew this feeling. He knew it because what he had seen on the floor was him last year. Everything in him chilled down his spine as he remembered he didn't have more balls than his fellow teammates. His hand gripped into a fist as it unconsciously began to shake. Not again. Not again. The feelings of wrath and envy fueled his thoughts as he watched all of his teammates laugh at his classmates from glee and with all this it made him sick. And not the kind of sick where you want to go home and be in bed but the kind that wants to make you vomit and be mad and -

WHAM!

His heart raced as he watched Karofsky topple down in front of him. His eyes widened as he couldn't believe he just punched one of the biggest linebackers in school; and the feeling he had wasn't of feat but it had more fuel, more energy, more aggression. Everyone around him looked at him. He didn't know what to think of it except that he just wanted to hit him again and he did. He kept punching him, kicking him until blood spewed out of him. Sam felt the moist on his knuckles as he kept doing it over and over. He couldn't stop himself because it felt like he was punching not for his friends and fellow teammates who consistently continued to be bullied but also for himself. He was beating until his year ago self finally felt justified.

****

“Oh my god!” Tina charged into the choir room with her eyes wide. "What happened?!" she leaped up the steps and ran straight towards where Mike was sitting. Artie and Mike were rubbing their shoulders while Sam was holding a wet paper towel over his eye. He noticed Tina wasn't alone as the cheerleaders from the group walked in.

"We got into a fight with Karofsky," he began. "Artie and I approached him to tell him to stop picking on Kurt and then he pushed me into Artie and Sam came out of nowhere and just started punching him."

"You punched him," Quinn looked at Sam surprised. When Sam nodded he noticed her expression looked mildly enthusiastic. He knew if this had happened last week he would have been smiling along with Quinn because punching Karofsky meant he was one step closer for having his status back in school. But something in him made him feel otherwise.

"Well are you okay? Do you need to go to the nurse?" Tina was down on her knees to be eye level with Mike. Sam watched as the serious thought she initially had towards Mike completely faded away. He noticed she was concerned for him, worried of what he had gotten himself into. From looking at them together like that he wondered if Mercedes would have looked at him the way Tina had.

"I'm fine," Mike smirked back at her.

"You better be, man," Puck walked in with a couple of ice packs in his hands. "Now that word has spread that Sam pummeled the big man on campus for saving your asses, all of you guys are the talk of the town." He handed the ice packs to the guys before sitting next to them. "Man, if only I wasn't on probation I would've totally nailed him myself. You're one lucky man, Sam. You're on top now. Enjoy it."

Quinn's mind sparked once she heard this recent report and immediately grabbed the ice pack out of Sam's hand, "Here I got that," she said and gently placed it on his eye. "This is perfect!" Quinn said joyously while mending Sam in the choir room, "you standing up to Karofsky will definitely make us be a shoe in for prom queen and king. You should come over tonight so we can figure out our next move in addition to - what do you call it? - a little something something."

****

Anthony placed his order to the barista of two cups of frozen coffees at the Lima Bean. While watching the barista make his order, his eyes trailed towards the girl that was waiting for him at one of the tables in the coffee shop. He smiled at her to see if she noticed but she didn't. Her eyes were glancing outside at the parking lot towards the school. Anthony didn't know what to make of her demeanor. When he was first approached by Kurt Hummel he didn't know anything of Mercedes Jones as well as he knew little about Kurt Hummel. He knew of Kurt briefly from football and knew some of the guys on the team were in glee club, but still he didn't know Mercedes Jones.

"So, did you hear the news?" Anthony asked as he walked over to the table and placed one of the frozen drinks in front of Mercedes.

"What news?" Mercedes asked. She scooted the drink towards her and tapped the straw on the table to get the wrapper off.

"The news about Karofsky and Sam?" Anthony replied as he too mimicked Mercedes in opening the straw. He noticed her mind had sparked once she heard this. Maybe she was into gossip, he figured from her response. But her response wasn't for titillating interest instead it was of concern.

"No! What happened?"

"Well apparently Karofsky pushed Mike into Artie and the next thing he knew Sam came in and punched him."

"Sam punched Karofsky?!"

"Yeah," Anthony nodded while taking a sip from his drink. He noticed she wasn't sipping on her drink. Instead he noticed her looking back again outside at the parking lot and across the school.

"Then what happened?" Mercedes asked her head still turned towards the school.

"Well...once Karofsky was down Sam just started kicking him and then Azimo came in and tackled Sam and started punching," Anthony replied after taking his sip and watched her dark brown eyes grow wide.

"Oh my god," Mercedes whispered more so to herself and shook her head.

"Hey," Anthony reached his hand towards her and patted her arm, "don't worry your friends are fine."

He gave another smile to reassure her that all was well and saw her return a small smile.

"So what do you like to do," he asked, content that she was smiling back at him.

*~*~*~*~*

Sam was still staring at the photo of Mercedes and Quinn in front of the school building. He still didn't know what to make of it while still clutching onto the small white box. He wondered if he was still right in his decision for leaving Quinn and wanting to come here to explain what he had done - said. But deep down he knew he needed to. When he saw Mercedes leave after school with Anthony, he knew he felt the same feeling as he always felt with her. His heart raced, his body warmed, and the incomprehensible feeling crept within him again.

"Sam?" He heard her voice and turned around.

Mercedes walked into the living room and she too didn't know what to make of him standing in her living room. While standing distances from each other the air felt tense as it mounted between them.

"How long have you been here?" Mercedes asked.

"Awhile," Sam responded and proceeded to walk closer to her. He was grateful enough that she didn't step back as he did this. "Cedes, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I was being a complete jerk. I was just -"

"Jealous," Mercedes completed his sentence.

"Yeah," he smirked and concurred, "I was jealous." He watched her smirk back at him.

"So did you go out with him?" He asked and watched her nod. "And how was it?" He continued.

"Well...," Mercedes thought, "he's cool and all but..."

"Not your type," he completed her sentence.

Mercedes returned a soft smile, "Yeah," she concurred, "he's not my type."

They continued to smile at each other. Sam and Mercedes were happy that they were together again since it seemed like before they were never going to speak to each other again.

"So...was that from Karofsky or Azimo?" Mercedes pointed at his eye.

"Both, but it's no big deal," Sam replied still with a smile on his face.

Mercedes nodded with a soft smile. The feelings she had earlier today returned but it wasn't as overwhelming as she thought it would be. Surprisingly, it calmed her like it always did.

"So does it still hurt?" she asked as she stepped closer to him and elevated her tiptoes to take a closer look. Sam leaned in closer for her to see.

Their eyes met and again felt the familiar tug that they both shared. Sam unconsciously wrapped his arm around Mercedes' waist to bring her closer to him. His body warmed immensely as her body pressed against his. "A little," he replied when he noticed her wince at the site.

"Let me get you a bag of ice," she sighed.

"Cedes, wait," he said as he pulled out the small white box in his Letterman jacket pocket.

“Look,” Sam grinned wider as he opened the box in front of her, “I know this sounds crazy and I know I'm not your type, but ever since we fell out in the rain I've been feeling everything with you. A feeling greater than the ninety-ten percent that continues to pull me closer to you of every second of every minute of every hour every day."

"Sam...what are you saying?" she asked as she began to feel every nerve in her body flutter like there were butterflies in her stomach.

“Be with me,” he proposed.

Mercedes bottom lip dropped. She couldn't comprehend it. She definitely felt she was in The Twilight Zone, but as she gazed down at the heart shaped ring, she saw in Sam’s face that he was being serious and felt the calming warmth subsiding within her again.

Sam's grin grew wider as he pulled Mercedes forward closer to his lips. He felt everything with her. He felt the feelings he had when they fell out in the rain a few days ago.  He felt the incomprehensible feeling that continued to pull him closer to her. He felt the feeling when they were in the hallway this morning before they were interrupted by Anthony. He felt the feelings that overwhelmed him when he finally did kiss her in her living room. The feelings he had with her never faded. He didn't know how to comprehend these feelings except that it didn't matter. It never mattered and for that he embraced her with a deeper intensity that he felt within himself and for that needed to show her that. He slid his tongue down her lips and instinctively felt her moist tongue wrap around his. He groaned at the semblance and as he was about to wrap his tongue around hers again he felt a sudden halt of  Mercedes’ actions. He opened his eyes and although surprised of the sudden cease of their affection when he saw her expression worriment filled within him as her eyes glazed over with a barefaced look coming upon her.

"Cedes, what's wrong?" he immediately asked with concern. He placed his palm towards her cheek, but Mercedes quickly unwrapped her arms around him and began backing away from him.

"Everyone is with someone," she whispered to herself. Something inside her awakened - a feeling of disgust and betrayal. Her thoughts swam with the memory of her conversation with Kurt and Tina earlier today. She remembered, she remembered, "you're with Quinn," she jerked her head up and gazed at Sam realizing what she has been doing these few days with him.

"Cedes, Quinn and I -"

"Are together," Mercedes choked, "you guys were holding hands after rehearsal today, after you -"

"Cedes," Sam scrunched his eyebrows and stepped closer to her, "Quinn just wants to be prom queen and I wanted to be popular but that doesn’t matter to me anymore. Cedes I want to be with you. I want to be your boyfriend. Cedes, I'm...I'm...," he placed his hands on her cheeks, but felt her still stepping away from him, looking down, and beginning to shake her head.

"But…I can't…I can't…," she reluctantly repeated, “Sam. It matters too much for her. Quinn is my homegirl - she's like a sister to me and I ...I just can't do that to her."

"Cedes…what are you saying?"

"I'm saying...," she stepped even further away from him her eyes slowly beginning to water, "I can't be with you. Not like this," she waved her hands back and forth between them.

Sam felt everything in him drop. He didn't watch as he heard Mercedes walk away from him. He just stood there with his head down, eyes shut. He clenched his fists hoping the pain from the small white box searing in him would wake him up from the inevitable dream he was currently in.

♥