Ch. 3 : Realizing

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

There wasn’t much to see in the dim lit hallway, but a single ray of light shining at a particular locker. The locker wasn’t special. It didn’t hold any significance, but there was a white piece of paper hanging on the front slits of it. Mercedes Jones walked in cautiously, aware if Principal Sylvester caught her she would actually get expelled; and not just expelled of having poor grades or setting slushies in the football team’s lockers, but getting expelled for bringing tots to school!

From the corner of her eye, Mercedes glanced at the large glass window panes of the principal’s office and spotted that it was completely empty. In fact, as she turned around she realized the entire hallway was empty except for the ray of light shining at her locker. A grin of relief crept on her lips, but as soon as she spotted the white piece of paper her heart quickly sank. Damn, she figured it out, Mercedes grudgingly walked up towards the note. She figured if this was an expulsion letter, Principal Sylvester would definitely send her to a detention center for juvenile female delinquents. She snatched the note quickly to meet her fatal doom, but as she looked at the white piece of paper, she realized it was more of a notebook paper than an official notice from the principal’s office. She opened it curiously and read, Meet me in the astronomy classroom. A grin of relief crept on her lips again.

 “Hey Sam,” Mercedes walked into the astronomy classroom. She spotted Sam standing behind a desk with his head down. With the ray of light shining upon him, his face brightened when he looked up at her. He met her half way and immediately reached for her hand to guide her under the foam shaped planets.

“These galactic mobiles aren’t the stars of McKinley,” he pointed and looked at the planets, “we are,” then turned and smiled at Mercedes. Mercedes felt the palpitating sensation she had when they were out in the rain the other day. She felt Sam wrap his arm around her waist and watched him take a deep breath, “Mercedes, I love you,” he confessed. Mercedes bottom lip dropped as she felt every nerve in her body flutter like there were butterflies in her stomach. “Look,” Sam grinned wider, “I know this sounds crazy, but ever since we fell out in the rain my shoulder’s been healed and I’m the quarterback again.” He released her slightly to bend down on one knee. Mercedes eyes grew wide as she watched Sam pull out a small black box out of his front pocket.

“Be with me,” he proposed.

Mercedes couldn’t comprehend it. She definitely felt she was in The Twilight Zone, but as she gazed down at the minuscule diamond ring she saw in Sam’s face that he was being serious and felt the calming warmth from the ray of light subsiding within her. 

RING

Mercedes eyes opened to a blank television screen. She noticed the tape she was recording The Twilight Zone episodes on was out of the VCR. She glanced around for the time and noticed the clock had struck midnight. The ten percent got the better of me again, she thought and walked towards the VCR to push the tape back in.

  

***

The hallway was merry when Samuel Evans walked into McKinley High. He didn't expect Christmas to be right around the corner, but it was and he saw everyone around him as jolly as radishes are purple. He didn't know what to make of it except for the fact that he had stepped into The Twilight Zone. 

DON DON DON

Samuel Evans continued walking down the hallway. At every turn he made he saw Christmas trees at every corner and streams of lights, garlands, and mistletoes hanging at every crevice of the building. The holiday for Sam was to be a happy time for him. The cable was to come back on at his house but instead his family experienced yet another setback. They have lost power and have been threatened with an eviction notice today in which they need to be out of the house by the end of the day. 

He was the first to walk into his astronomy class and was relieved to see that the classroom wasn’t ambushed by the festivities going on in the hallways. He took his seat and waited for the rest of the class to walk in. He was surprised to see all of the glee members and the football team and cheerleaders walking in but not more surprised to see Mercedes walking hand in hand with Anthony. As they took their seats right in front of him, he watched them turn to one another and what appeared to be in slow motion leaned in to kiss each other. He felt a chill down his spine and blood pumping his heart increase immensely as he watched Anthony pull Mercedes closer to him. 

"Get a room," he heard Puck call out once he walked in and took his seat. Sam watched them laugh onto their lingered lips but didn't separate. 

"Aren't they cute together?" Quinn asked as she sat down next to Sam. "Why don't you kiss me like that anymore?"

Sam turned to look at her, "Because I don't have feelings for you anymore," he bluntly said. He saw Quinn huff at his statement before Ms. Holiday walked in. 

"Ok class, good news! I have your test scores from the final exam and let's just say you all did well except for one. Sam," she called, "may you please come up here."

Everyone "ooo'ed" as Sam stood up, and walked to the front of the room towards Ms. Holiday. 

"Man, Sam what happened?" Ms. Holiday shoved his exam onto his chest. Sam immediately grabbed it and looked down at his score. 

"A zero!" he exclaimed, "Ms. H this can't be," he said as he flipped through the pages. 

"But it is Sam," she replied disappointedly. 

"But you gave us the answers. Look here," Sam pointed to a question he knew that was correct. "The planet to be viewed first is Venus," he pointed and showed her that he had written Venus. 

Ms. Holiday shook her head, "No Sam, its Uranus."

Sam jerked his head up and looked at her incredulously, "But Uranus is one of the planets that can't be seen with the naked eye."

"I'm sorry Sam and you were the best student in here. Look," she stepped closer to him, "of course I'm not supposed to do this," she lowered her voice to a whisper so that only he could hear, “I'll let you retake the test tomorrow. I'll even give you the answers before and during when you take the test. But look, my advice is to get a tutor preferably one who passed like Mercedes. She seems to really know this stuff even without the answers I've given. So go up to Mercedes and ask if she could tutor you okay," she looked up at him to see if he would comply. 

Sam was staring back at Mercedes. He saw her look at Anthony like he was the only thing in the world to her at that very moment. Everything in him chilled down his spine and the grip on the exam he held began to shake unconsciously. Mercedes was supposed to be his friend. Actually more than that and now he felt betrayed. 

Sam continued to watch Mercedes and Anthony together. The feelings of wrath and envy fueled his thoughts as he watched them continue to hold hands and stop to kiss when they were under a mistletoe. He had no idea how he was going to ask her especially since they were wrapped up like a perfect couples Christmas present of kisses and hugs and smiles and laughs 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!

Sam's heart raced as he watched Anthony topple down in front of him. He couldn't believe he just punched Anthony. The feeling he had was the same feeling he had with Karofsky but it had more fuel, more energy, and more aggression. Everyone around him looked at him including Mercedes. Sam didn't know what to think of it except that he just wanted to hit Anthony 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. 

"Sam! Sam!," he heard a deep voice call out to him.

Sam awoke from a shook. His body was cold, warm and dripping with sweat. He opened his eyes and saw his dad above him. Sam sat up from the couch and rubbed his eyes.

“Hey son, are you okay?” his dad asked as he put his hand on top of Sam’s forehead.

“Yea…dad,” Sam tiredly replied then shifted his head to the clock. “What are you doing up?”

“There’s some work that’s being offered,” his dad replied as he walked into the kitchen. Sam followed him and pulled a chair to sit at the table. “Jim from the construction site is picking me up. It’s an hour away.”

He watched as his dad opened the refrigerator to get the gallon of milk out, then headed towards the cabinets and pulled two glasses out from the shelf. He continued to watch his dad pour the milk into the two glasses and handed a full glass of milk to Sam before placing the milk back into the fridge.

“How long is the shift?” Sam asked before taking a sip of his milk.

“Until 7.”

“And the construction site you’re on now?”

“Doesn’t start until 9.”

“And how long are you there till?”

“Until 5.”

Sam nodded his head as if this was a kind of procedure he needed to take note of for the coming course of the day.

“You sure you’re okay son?” His dad asked before taking another gulp of his milk.”

“Yea dad,” Sam nodded, “I’m fine.” Sam noticed a concerned look on his father’s face before taking another sip. “So when is Jim coming?”

“Oh in a few,” his dad said before taking another big gulp to finish his milk, “Aaaawwww”

“Nothing like a tall glass of milk to start the day,” Sam and his dad simultaneously said and clinked their glasses together with a smile.

Sam still had a full glass of milk as he watched his father get up and wash his glass and placed it on the drying rack to dry. Through the window they saw headlights flowing through.

BEEP BEEP

“Oh…that’s Jim,” his dad said and turned around to head into the living room to grab his coat. Sam got up to follow him.

“Hey son,” Sam heard his dad say as he watched him grab his coat and bag, “let your mom sleep in today if you can please.” Sam noticed the concerned look return to his father’s face.

“Yea sure,” Sam replied as his dad nodded.

“I’ll call before I’ve to clock in.”

“Ok…yeah,” Sam nodded.

“Ok,” Mr. Evans concurred and too nodded before heading out the door.

“Don’t work too hard!” Sam shouted as he watched his dad walk to the truck.

“NEVER!” His dad shouted back with a smile.

Sam smiled back as he watched his dad get in the truck. The dark truck pulled out and Sam waved goodbye to them. He stayed outside and watched the truck turn. Sam looked what was around him and realized in this moment it was peaceful tonight. His eyes closed and innately breathed in the crisp air as his head tilted back. He inhaled another deep breath of the air before opening his eyes. His clear blue orbs were looking up at the stars. He knew all of the stars and the stories behind them in an instant. Of what he could see he inhaled another deep breath of the crisp air and noticed the Gemini Lovers setting low on Jupiter’s equator.

He remembered their story as his feet began to shift and his body slowly rocking back and forth before starting to walk – feeling the tug fill within him again. He didn’t really calculate how long it took him to be in front of her house but he was. So grandiose with the two pillars adjacent to one another with French tall doors in between.

He took another deep breath as he felt the tug overtake his being. He walked onto the steps of the porch and approached the window on the side of the house. His sea blue eyes were able to peak in and see a TV screen filled with a black and white snow. Watching the snow on the screen reminded him of the cable being out. It made him wonder for a moment if the cable will return back on at his place as he remembered the concerned look his father gave to him before he left. His eyes then shifted to the couch. He could only see the back of it and shifted his head to see if anyone was on the couch.  

***

Three weeks had passed since Mercedes told Sam that they shouldn't be together. She didn't want to do it; she didn't even want to think it. She didn't want to think nor remember what she saw between Sam and Quinn; and before she walked towards Anthony. But she did. She did once she felt Sam deepening their kiss and everything from regret, disgust, and betrayal seeped within her. She remembered and she remembered what Quinn wanted and knew deep down she couldn't do that to her – a friend that became a true sister to her and knew they needed to stick together – like hoes before bros.

But then she watched Sam. She watched as Quinn took his hand. She watched as they walked together. To everyone, she knew they looked perfect together, like Barbie with her Ken. But Ken – Sam – didn't look happy. He never looked happy. Neither when they rehearsed, neither during sectionals, and neither when they celebrated their achievements of advancing to regionals. She saw, she watched that he was never happy and felt she needed to change it.

"Hey, Artie," Mercedes called as he strolled passed her and turned around. "Can you do me a favor?"

***

Another day of school began. Another day of rehearsal began. Another day of seeing Mercedes chocolate skin began. Another day he walked with Quinn down the hallway; and another day of doing interviews promoting why people should choose them for prom queen and king. It was just another day of Sam's hell in The Twilight Zone. He lost all feeling the day Mercedes told him they couldn’t be together. He was still hoping that what she said wasn't true - was hoping that it was all a lie, all a dream. Every day he calculated the ninety-ten percent theory wondering if ninety percent of this he saw this coming and wondering that maybe ten percent...but then ten percent meant Mercedes. Mercedes, he thought, Mercedes thought that ten percent of the theory comes true. He couldn't think about her but when he did it hurt it ached. Every time he saw her, thought about her, he felt the feeling. The incomprehensible feeling he still didn't quite know but truly didn't care. He didn't care about anyone but her. But then when he saw her or felt her standing next to him during rehearsal he couldn't look at her because ninety percent of that he knew that's what she wanted.

Sam was eating lunch with the usual group – the football team and cheerleaders. He was quite happy to see that Anthony was sitting with them at his usual spot unaccompanied by Mercedes. It sparked a smirk in him of her absence. That was one thing that made him happy for the time being. Not seeing Mercedes with Anthony and for Sam that's what he admired about her –she was truly someone who kept her word. Anthony wasn't her type and Quinn was like a sister. But then what was he to her?

RING

His mind continued to wander in that revelation as he heard Artie calling out his name. "Hey Artie, what's up?" Sam said once Artie finally approached him.  

"Here," Artie held out a small envelope and watched him stroll away.

"Ready to walk me to class," he heard Quinn say behind him. "What's that?" she pointed at the envelope.

"Umm...something from the football team," he quickly thought up and placed it in his jacket pocket. He watched as Quinn nodded and grabbed his hand for it to be intertwined with hers. They began walking out of the courtyard and into the hallway together. As much as he detested walking the hallways with Quinn, he continued to oblige to it. He continued to be part of the act of convincing everyone to vote for them to be prom queen and king.

"This is perfect, you know," Quinn began, "everything we've planned is going accordingly. From the interview with Jacob to the posters almost being completed I think we have secured our spot for the winning," she smiled and looked up at him. "And you know what else, everybody is still talking about the fight you had with Karofsky. I mean some of the things they're saying are pretty outrageous but it's good for us," she finished and turned towards him. Sam realized they were standing in front of her English class. He huff a heavy sigh as he watched Quinn shamelessly lean towards him for a kiss. He leaned down but simply gave her a peck on the cheek and walked away.  

Once he turned the corner, he pulled the small envelope out of his Letterman jacket pocket. It felt slightly heavy and opened it immediately. He poured the object out onto his hands and saw what appeared to be a key. He looked inside the envelope and saw there was a note wedged in there.

'R-109'

Sam looked at the note slightly confused. "R-109?" he thought.  He glanced around wondering what this meant and noticed the door in front of him was R-209. He turned the corner and saw another door be R-210. "It's a room number," it occurred to him and remembered that the choir room was in the hundreds because it was downstairs. He quickly ran downstairs and noted the first door number he saw, R-120. Sam began jogging down the hallway, turning corners here and there and noting room numbers as he passed by them. The room numbers began to decrease as he continued to jog. He was getting closer until he noticed a blue door with a faded font of black paint that read R-109. He inhaled deeply before placing the key in the doorknob. He turned the knob and slowly opened the door. Before peeking in he looked around the hallway to see if anyone was about to come. When it looked like no one was coming his way he peeked inside and noticed the coast was clear. He stepped in and closed the door. There was little light coming through the room from the window above and saw around him televisions, projections, videos, and VCRs. As he glanced around, he saw a television already set up with a VCR connected to it and on top of the VCR there was a note on top of it.

PRESS PLAY.

The tape began once he pressed the play button and sat on top of the closest piece of furniture he found. As he heard the familiar intro to The Twilight Zone, everything in him stopped. "What the hell is this?!," he said ferociously to himself and before the intro ended Sam immediately pressed the eject button, grabbed the video cassette, and walked out of the room.

"HEY!" Sam yelled once he found Mercedes sitting in the cafeteria. He watched Mercedes jerk her head up as he held the VHS tape up in the air and stormed closer to her with anger cascading his thoughts, "Is this you?" he slammed the video onto the table. "You said we shouldn't be doing this. SO WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!" He stoutly roared in her ear and causing those closest to them to glance sideways at them. He watched Mercedes glance down at the video cassette. This was the first time in a week that he was looking at her. Everything in him fueled as he just stared daggers at her. He was furious and angry with her.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS HUH?!" he yelled again and watched as she continued to stare back at the tape. He scrunched his eyebrows more furious now. "CEDES WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!" He grabbed her shoulders and turned her towards him. "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!" He shook her and felt everything in him whelm up as he continued watching her not look at him.

"SAM?!" Quinn rushed into the cafeteria behind him, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"

Sam snapped his head up once she was in front of them. He noticed her eyes growing wide as she realized his hands gripping on Mercedes shoulder. He slowly loosened his grip and stood up and began walking away.  

"HEY!" Quinn yelled back after quickly consoling Mercedes and ran after him, "DON'T WALK AWAY FROM ME WHEN I ASK YOU A QUESTION," she cut him off. She stood right in front of him with scrunched eyebrows and her hands on her hips waiting for an explanation.

"IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS OKAY" he stepped to the side and began walking away from her again until he felt her take a hold of his arm. "Well it is my business when you're shouting and grabbing members from glee club, particularly one that’s like a sister to me. You know I don't know what's gotten into you lately but," she stepped closer to him and whispered, "we've got a reputation to protect if we want to win prom queen and king."

"Whatever," Sam rolled his eyes. He shook his arm out of her grip and stormed off shaking his head at whatever horror he was still living in.

  

Quinn watched Sam storm out of the cafeteria. She didn't know what was going on with him lately. She knew something was up but figured that could be changed in what he first called it when they made out "a little something something." At first when he said that, she wasn't reluctant but defiant to not give him any because based on last year she knew "a little something something" meant more and that wasn't what this year was suppose to be about. She knew what she wanted, heck she knew what she wanted last year and the year before and the year before that. High school was the year to make something of yourself. That with this little town called Lima, high school was all that was for this town to know you for something. And she had...well at first...but like she knew and promised to herself and to Mercedes this year was her year. This was the year that no one saw her as Quinn Fabrey the head cheerleader that got knocked up by the bad boy of the school but Quinn Fabrey the girl who became something more. The once knocked up chick that accomplished goals in her life. The teenage girl who has regained her title in school. The runner-up of homecoming queen had been through the shambles and brothels and bruisings of her fellow students. The once runner-up who had it all and then fell apart – no that was not going to happen this year nor now.

"Mercedes? What was that?" she turned around once she saw Sam leave the building, "Why was he-" she cut her sentence short. She saw a single tear drop from Mercedes cheek.

"Hey, don't take it personally," Quinn said consoling and rubbing her back. "He's been yelling at everyone lately, especially me," then soon embraced her with a hug and continued, "You know they say girls have their time of the month? Well boys do too." she pulled herself back hoping to get a reaction from Mercedes but saw her still looking down like she was with Sam.

"Merce-"

"I need to tell you something," Mercedes replied before she looked up at her.

***

Quinn Fabrey had everything in place before the school bell rang for after school dismissal today. She didn't have any mishaps nor any interest of conflict. Jacob was to be here for more promotional pictures of her and Sam raising money for homelessness. This too was conveniently perfect as she figured out her boyfriend's recent situation - that he was poor. For her king to be poor meant they got the sympathy vote. To say that he was – to encourage that he was – meant the security of them becoming the most powerful couple in school. But as she had everything set in place, everything so eloquently set in stone the words she heard Mercedes say was somewhat quite difficult to comprehend.

"You did what?" she remembered Mercedes confront her.

"But when…how?"

"You said -"

SLAP

Quinn felt the searing pain on her hand and quickly placed it above her mouth. She couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe nor know of this. "This is pure conjecture." "YOU'RE LYING!" and stormed out into the hallway and into the girl's bathroom.

How can this be, she thought, Am I ugly? No. Then what is it? What is it about me that no guy wants me? How is it that the one cute guy that happens to be new in school - how is it that he likes her? How was that even possible? And how can she, Quinn scrunched her eyebrows, how can someone that’s like a sister to me, how could she simply betray me like that how, how...

"The booth is setup Quinn," a voice behind her said.

Quinn looked up and noticed a short blond girl with glasses standing at the threshold of the bathroom door, "Thank you Becky."

Quinn stepped out of the bathroom making sure that she was poised and composed, making sure no one noted the scene that had just occurred a few hours ago; and well if it did then maybe she would just tell and confess the truth. What shame would she have of it anyways? At the end of the day, she would be considered the victim and she would have the sympathy vote instead because she knew deep down, "this is my year."

She walked into the courtyard satisfied that everything presented to be in place - including Sam who was waiting for her near the booth. She walked towards him with a smile and waited for her usual kiss on the cheek from him - and surprisingly he did. She watched as he was ever so cordial, he pushed her chair out, he scooted close to her - he did everything perfectly as how they rehearsed. He placed his arm around her shoulders and said his thank you's and smiles when people donated money. From these moments he was what appeared and considered to be the perfect boyfriend, the perfect gentleman, the perfect candidate for prom king. She watched as how the girls fawned and doted him - they liked him.  

"So we heard your dad lost his job with the construction company and figured we'd pitch in to help," Azimo said with his crew and poured out a mountain of dirt in the booth.  

Sam shifted his eyes down on his lap.  They were covered in dirt right down to his shoes. He could feel the inside of his shoes and socks were beginning to be covered in dirt. Stay calm, he told himself as he heard the cackles from Azimo, his crew, and everyone around. Oh Sam wanted to punch them. He would be glad to take them all down. But then taking them all down meant an eight on one. Another black eye and he was pretty sure he would get some broken ribs that his family simply wouldn't be able to afford.

"We thank you for your donation," Sam said through clenched teeth and a very forced smile. As he watched them walk away cackling he stood up and walked out of the booth.  

"Where are you going," Quinn whispered fiercely before grabbing his hand.

"Taking a break," he kicked the dirt out of his way.

He knew this was a stupid idea in the first place, he thought while storming into the hallway infuriated by what just happened. He hated the idea, didn't even want to do it because he felt he was being put on display and now everyone knew. Everyone knew his recent situation. He didn't even want to figure out how they knew but for some strange reason it didn't bother him. "I guess the jig is up," he thought to himself until his steps halted and everything in him subsided.

At the end of the hallway he saw Mercedes at her locker. His body felt the familiar warmth he got whenever he saw her. He watched as she went on her tiptoes and her body touching the locker. It reminded him of the time when she looked at his eye and how he felt her body being pressed against his. He smiled at the remembrance and felt the familiar tug within his steps beginning to unconsciously pull himself forward towards her.

"SAM!" Quinn yelled behind him.

Sam and Mercedes jerked their heads towards Quinn's call. Sam watched as Quinn walked towards him and noticed she still had dirt on her dress. But for Quinn, the dirty dress didn't seem to bother her so much once she realized Mercedes at her locker. Every moment that she had earlier of her and Sam securing the votes seemed to wash away as she watched Sam snap his head back towards Mercedes.

Mercedes eyes didn't waver from his. She stood there gripping the end of her locker. Hours ago she was held and shook by the guy she had feelings for and slapped by the friend that was like a sister to her; and watched as they all stood in a standstill in the desolate hallway.

"It's true isn't it?" Quinn said as she walked in the middle between Sam and Mercedes. "About you being with her last week," she turned her body towards Sam – trying to block his view of Mercedes – so she could see it for herself. For all the reason of why he's been acting cold, distant, and yelling at her in any which way he could. She wanted to see the reason of it all. The reason of him yelling at Mercedes earlier and she did, "You're in love with her," she realized not as a question but as a statement – an accurate statement in his eyes.

Sam looked over Quinn and his gaze fell back on Mercedes. Love, he thought. So that's what it was. That is what the cause of his anger. He - Samuel Evans - was in love with Mercedes Jones. He was in love with her and couldn't even tell her that.

Quinn scoffed as she watched his gaze drift away from her, "and yet," she then pointed at him, "she broke up with you because of me."  Sam rolled his eyes at Quinn when he saw her point to herself. He turned around and headed towards the exit.  

"Sam wait," Mercedes called and ran after him.

"Go back Cedes," Sam said firmly as he exited the building.

"I'll go back if you do," she said once she cut in front of him. "Look Quinn still needs you," she looked up at him. She watched as Sam glanced back down at her. Her breath hitched a bit as she felt every cell in her body intensify with chills running down her spine and butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She still felt her heart beating rapidly from the remembrance of Quinn’s statement. She never heard the word of love be applied to her and never thought she would in a romantic way.

"Come on," Sam replied with a heavy sigh and grabbed her hand. They exited the building together, but Mercedes realized they were bypassing the courtyard and heading towards the entrance gates of the school.

"Uumm...Sam," Mercedes turned her head back to the school and noticed Quinn standing at the front steps of the school building.  

"I've had enough of them for one day," Sam answered before she responded and felt Sam's grip tighten as they continued walking farther and farther away from William McKinley High.  

Mercedes didn't say anything as they continued walking together. She glanced up at Sam every so often wondering where he was planning to go. They walked for about fifteen minutes when suddenly Mercedes felt Sam's steps halt and felt herself being pushed back against the nearest wall by him.  She watched as he took off his jacket and draped it over her then pulled out a ball of wrinkled cash and some change out of his pocket.

"Stay here," he ordered.

"But-," Mercedes saw him turn around and grabbed his hand.

"I promise I'll be back," he said with concern and palmed her cheek, "I'm just going to the liquor store," he nodded to the side to indicate that it was around the corner. Mercedes was reluctant to let him go at first but soon nodded.  

Mercedes watched Sam walk away from her. She had no idea what was going on and felt an unbearable bout of nervousness. She didn't know what she was doing. All she felt at that time was to follow Sam. as she waited for him she felt that she looked rather noticeable in his crimson and gold letterman jacket and crept behind a dumpster fearing Quinn and her henchmen would find and slap her again. It didn't take long once she noticed Sam coming back from the liquor store carrying a plastic bag with a few items inside and met him before he reached her. She noticed that he looked rather happy with what he was carrying as he immediately grabbed her hand and again began walking. Again she didn't ask any questions but did feel content to see him happy as they walked. It felt like ages the last time she saw him smile and noticed their steps quickening once they reached a residential area. She glanced around unfamiliar of the street until their sprint had halted at a house that was slightly in the middle of the neighborhood. She felt Sam immediately letting go of her hand and setting the bag down before he took out a packet of toilet paper out of the bag. He ripped the packet open and handed her a roll then grabbed two himself. Sam again grabbed her hand and jogged to the nearest tree.

"Have you tee-peed a house before?" he asked with a wide grin.

Mercedes shook her head with a grin. "Sam who's house is this?" she asked as she watched him unroll the paper and began flinging it in the air towards the tree.

"Azimo's," he simply replied and began flinging the other roll in the air. They watched the stream of paper glide in the air and over the tree until it fell on the ground on the other side. Sam quickly ran over to the other side and picked it up. "Come on," he called, "you know he had this coming anyways," he said with the huge grin on his face.  

Mercedes soon laughed back and shook her head as she too began unrolling the toilet paper and flung it in the air towards the tree. She couldn't believe that it was just over a week that she hung out with Sam. Or that it was over a week that she had laugh this hard before or even had this much fun before. And then she heard him laugh too. She couldn't believe how much she missed his laugh. It was so profound yet childish that what they were doing was childish that she would only be able to fool with him and only him.  That as much as she couldn't comprehend it, she knew ninety percent of this was real and that ten percent of her beliefs didn't matter anymore.  

"Hey!"

Mercedes turned her head to the direction of the yell and saw Azimo on the other side of the street.

"Oh shit!" Sam yelled and quickly ran up to Mercedes to grab her hand. He ran towards the items and snatched them quickly as Azimo started running after them. Sam and Mercedes dashed to the end of the street laughing at the curses shouted at them. They ran and laughed until Sam spotted a large tree to hide behind. He ran behind the tree with Mercedes by his side and put his hand over her mouth until they couldn't hear Azimo's banter anymore. Once the coast was clear and all they heard were the birds chirping in the tree they slid down and once again began laughing out loud.

"Did you see his face?!" Mercedes exclaimed smiling.

"Yeah! That was so awesome!" Sam exclaimed back with a fanatical grin.

"It looked like we were done for!"

"I know!" Sam nodded then pulled out two cans of four lokos out of the bag and handed Mercedes one.

Mercedes grabbed the can and opened it along with Sam. They simultaneously began drinking and laughing and recalling the events that recently passed.  

"I can't believe we just did that," Mercedes shook her head once she swallowed the bubbly fizz cooling down her throat, "you think he'll report us," she looked towards Sam.

"Nah," Sam shook his head before taking another sip, "I'm sure we'll just get another slushy facial tomorrow."

"Well...I hope he doesn't know where we live. My parents will be pissed if they come home with toilet paper all over their lawn and knowing him I'm sure he'll even egg our house too."  

Sam nodded in agreement and took another sip. He looked out to the riverbank then back at Mercedes. He watched as she was looking out at the riverbank and sipping her drink while leaning back against the tree. He wondered if she was feeling a buzz as he was.  

The sun was setting to dusk as the colors of the sky were turning a myriad of colors of pink, orange, red, and purple. Above the middle of the river Sam could see a single star shining bright that he knew wasn’t a star but a planet.

“You see that right there,” he pointed to it and glanced at Mercedes. Mercedes nodded her head. “That’s Venus.” He watched Mercedes turn her head to him in wonderment. “And if we wait long enough we’ll see the hands of the Gemini Lovers.”

“The Gemini Lovers?” Mercedes asked curiously.

“Yeah…have you heard of their story?” Sam asked excitedly. Mercedes shook her head with a smile. “Well the story goes the female lover is looking for her lover. She’s asking and pleading ‘where is my lover?’ but she could not find him. She searches all over the universe until she reaches Jupiter’s Equator. From there her lover has been there waiting for her and once they meet he takes her hand.”

Without thinking Sam unconsciously takes Mercedes hand. It still felt soft the first time he remembered touching her hand and a warm sensation flowed through his body like before. For Mercedes, a chill went through her down her spine but soon a warm sensation calmed her. She didn’t want to ask it, she wanted to stay in this moment, but she did.

“Do the Gemini Lovers stop holding hands if they’re not on Jupiter’s Equator?”   

“Eventually,” Sam replied, “but it won’t be for another billion years if that.” He began slowly loosening his grip on Mercedes but felt her stop him - holding his hand tighter.

"Wait,” Mercedes began, “but tonight they're still holding hands right, because they're on Jupiter's Equator?"

Sam nodded with a grin and began again to intertwine his hand around Mercedes’ as they happily await for the hands of the Gemini Lovers to appear in the darkened sky.

♥