Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, Some Kind of Wonderful (1987), or Secret Admirer (1985).

A pajama clad Sam sat at his desk with his feet kicked up and a stormy expression on his face. She was leaving, and there was nothing he could do to stop her.

'Why should he stand in the way of her dreams? But was leaving Lima, OH necessary to her following her dreams or was he being selfish? She could follow her dreams safely here and he wouldn't have to worry about anything.' Sam allowed his thoughts to run as his finger danced on the button of the phone.

Still reeling in shame at the memory of him not being supportive of Mercedes, he was supposed to always be there for and never leave. Now she was leaving him for good, not for a few weeks but forever. Forever without his closet confidant, his amigo, his partner in crime, other half, what the fuck was he suppose to do now.

"Run that back by me darlin'," Sam said as he pushed his plate away turning his body to face Mercedes. She was looking at her hands the entire time and finally looked up to see Sam was blinking rapidly in either fear or confusion.

"I got a letter from the Cincinnati Music and Creative Arts Development Program," Mercedes said in almost a whisper. She reached into her jacket pocket pulling out the folded letter and sitting it on the table. Sam created distance between himself and white fibrous material as if touching it would catapult him in an alternate world.

"That summer camp thing you went to, man Cincinnati is like only two hours away! Man you had me going!" Sam celebrated and leaned back in the booth while Mercedes tensed up further she wasn't done.

"No Sam I got a letter from them saying that they want me to go to LA there's this guy who owns this Independent label. He saw my end of camp performance of 'Disco Inferno' somewhere on youtube and now he wants me to sign with them. He contacted the camp who sent me the letter."

Sam felt as if he had the wind knocked out of him, tears pricked his eyes and he looked away feeling as if he was in elementary school again; as if someone had rejected his sandbox castle.

"I don't understand, doesn't this guy know your still in high school your only sixteen how the hell are you gonna make it in LA when you never even let Ohio before." Mercedes flinched at his outburst but the diva in her wasn't gonna let him get away without a rebuttal.

"Sam I can take care of myself I'm a big girl, besides I'm not leaving for a few weeks and by then school will be almost out its perfect," Sam spat out his drink that he had been sipping nonchalantly on the other side of the booth.

"Your leaving before school is even out?"

Mercedes nodded and watched her friend fight the urge the unleash a tirade of cuss words that looked to be on the tip of his tongue. She reached out and intertwined their fingers. They had never been apart since he moved from Tennessee in the fifth grade for more than a few days. He closed his eyes in a last ditch effort to calm his breathing.

"How do you know this guy is even legit and not some sketchy pervert scamming his way through the internet," Mercedes bit back laughter as she watched his eyes dart from side to side and hunching his shoulders to imitate some kind of social outcast.

"Trust me this guy is all of that and more he found Foster the People, Fun, My Chemical Romance and Aloe Blac. His name is Stedman Player," Sam gave her blank stare as she smiled sheepishly at his.

"Hell to the hell no! What kind of name is Stedman Player, he sounds like Oprah's porn star lap dog for that matter."

Mercedes huffed and began to frantically type into her phone. Sam watched as she furiously turned the screen his direction allowing him to read Stedman's online profile on his Facebook fan page.

1,756,345 fans.

Holy shit.

Sam fixed his eyes on her once more for a few seconds before slurping the remainder of his beverage loudly.

"He's sexist," Mercedes squinted her eyes and her mouth dropped slightly.

"What? How the fuck did you come to that conclusion," Sam leaned in closer causing Mercedes breath to hitch.

"All those bands are guys and I didn't see not one female on his artist fan page."

"He's signing me dummy," she countered back as Sam made a sound with his lips and looked away swallowing a laugh.

"I said all guys, remember?" Mercedes mouth dropped and she slapped him in the chest playfully.

They sat in silence for a moment absorbing each other's energies both reflecting mirror pictures. The silence was thick and slightly uncomfortable, neither knew what to say to comfort the other. There was nothing Mercedes wanted more than for Sam to leap out the booth pull her into his arms and profess his everlasting love for her. While Sam on the other hand just wanted this moment forever, he had never been without her and he didn't want to start now. But how do you tell your best man you need them especially when they're not a man at all. A woman who was your best friend that you confessed every secret to, a woman you would kill for.

"I have an idea," Mercedes looked up hopefully as Sam reached into HIS back pocket to pulled a white envelop. Her breathing hitched and he smiled his goofy grin that made her heart melt grilled cheese style.

"This is a letter I wrote Quinn do you mind looking over and making sure it sounds ok. Even with my dyslexia I just want to make sure she...you know gets it," Sam offered as Mercedes sat back truly dumbstruck.

"Did you really just sit here and bring up that Bimbo while our future together are hanging on the line? HELL TO THE GOTDAMN NAH!"

Mercedes sucked her teeth as her nostrils flared releasing pent up air lodged in her chest. Sam pushed himself out of the booth safely to the other side, in the event she exploded he didn't want to get hit by shrapnel.

"I cannot believe you right now, Samuel Ryan Evans! I cannot fucking believe you bring her name up after I tell you I'm leaving Lima and my possibly never come back and you sit here and all you can think about is her! Sam for once think about me, and what the hell is going on in my life. If this thing goes through then I won't exist in this town anymore! Don't you understand that?!" Mercedes whispered harshly across the table as Sam cringed.

"What do you mean if?"

"He wants me to send him a song or a video of me playing and I don't have anything except that song I recorded in your basement." Sam nodded his head and sighed in relief at her confession, he needed her to stay she was everything to him and he could not risk loosing her to some jerk producer that wouldn't look out for her the way Sam would. He needed to tell her that she was meant the world to him but when he turned his head a completely different statement escaped his lips.

"Maybe it's a good thing, you not going, who am I gonna talk to when Mike is sucking face with Tina?"

Mercedes shook her head at his ill delivered joke. Looking him dead in the eye she said "Sam is that all I'm here for is to be your backup for Mike?"

"No your everything to me," he mumbled as Mercedes leaned forward straining to hear him.

"Sam stop mumbling I can't understand a word your saying."

Sam watched as Mercedes leaned forward to get in better hearing range for his next statement and he froze. There was no way in hell he was going to repeat that statement and get shot down like he did in his basement. He had to change the subject.

"Nothing, just do this Quinn thing for me please! Please just do me this one solid," Mercedes sighed at his request and retrieved the outstretched letter from his hand.

"Just answer me this, what is so important about a girl you don't know and who probably wouldn't notice your scrawny ass if you dressed up like a Macy's Day float?"

Sam sat back and closed his eyes as if to save himself the embarrassment of staring his best friend in the face.

"She is the girl that in reality nobody can have, she is theoretically so perfect that just to stand in her presence makes me a better man. If I could just have her look at me just once then maybe I'm worth it you know? I don't even think it's really about her in the end so much as it is about me getting out of the Lima Heights Motel mindset. To me I'm still a homeless, train wreck, who isn't good at anything and can't read. She could change that, if she can see me maybe someone else will. I just want to be something other than invisible," Mercedes eyes soften as she watched Sam's lip tremble and eyes feel with tears. She got up and slid next to him and rested her head on his shoulder as his jaws clenched. With his hands clasped together against his mouth.

"I will help but no matter what happens please Sam I'm here I can be that for you, I see you. You will never be invisible to me," Sam wrapped his arms around her and inhaled the scent of her hair relaxing in her embrace. The two never even noticed the waiter returning to the table.

"That was so beautiful," the waiter said biting his lip before sliding the bill toward the two and backing away.

"We gotta stop these public therapy sessions," Sam said in a bit of a whisper laugh while using his sleeve to whip his eyes. Mercedes laughed at his joke and Sam pulled out his wallet. Mercedes quickly stopped him and smiled.

"Please Sammy, this ones on me."

He flipped open his laptop and found an old video of her and Sam that had been made in his room a year ago. He smiled at the memory and began to play the video in its entirety.

Sam was seated on his chair with his guitar slung around his shoulders while Mercedes sat Indian style on his bed looking almost sickly as she shook her head. She side eyed the camera, which was on the other side at the end of the bed staring back at her.

"Come on Mercy its not that hard just open your mouth, any other time you have no trouble at all," Sam said before dodging an onslaught of pillows.

"Stop Sam, I'm nervous enough as it is without you making fun of me." She covered her face with her hands while falling back on the pillow.

Sam untangled himself from the guitar strap and sat it on the bed across from her. He reached forward and pulled her hands into his. Mercedes at first not wanting to look at him she finally turned her head and met his stormy gaze.

"You can do it," he said in stern voice that rattled throughout her body. She nodded and he released her and leaned back folding his arms over his broad chest. Mercedes picked up her notebook and took a deep breath.

"NO!"

She whipped her head in his direction as he snatched the flimsy object away from her tossing it in the corner.

"Sam what the heck!"

"You don't need that thing, you have been writing this song for the past few months you know this better than I know Na'vi. That's really saying something."

Mercedes looked longingly for the security blanket that he tossed in the corner then shifted her eyes back up to meet his.

"I can't do this Sam," Mercedes said in a huff falling back on the bed.

"Why not?"

Mercedes remained glued to the mattress hoping that her playing dead would make Sam retreat or grow bored and suggest something else. Not her Sam, he was intrigued wiling himself on the balls of his feet he pounced on his unsuspecting friend who screamed. He proceeded to unleash his wrath of tickle and zerbets on her body until shook uncontrollably.

"Uncle," Mercedes chocked out in laughter while trying to dodge the puffy face kisses.

"Nah girl...its Daddy," Sam whispered with his deep voice willing her to freeze in her tracks.

Sam rolled off his friend noticing the look of shock on her face as she stared at the ceiling then back over to him. He laid next to her and stared at her not really knowing what to say.

"Sorry-" Mercedes cut him off quickly.

"No its totally fine, just hearing the words 'Daddy' come out your mouth like that made you sound like a black guy named Jerome," Sam burst out laughing as Mercedes said daddy again in a deep voice.

"So are we gonna do this or what? Cause I borrowed that camera from my weird neighbor with all the cats."

Mercedes turned to him and said, "Why does he have all those cats? How did you know he had a camera?"

Sam made air quotation marks with his fingers and said, "he 'bird watches' but really I think he watches Ms. Peterson who lives behind him do her morning aerobics in the back yard."

Mercedes frowned and asked, "How do you know she does morning aerobics?"

Sam gets quiet and rolls into a sitting position on his bed twiddling his thumbs.

"Ew...that's really gross," Mercedes said making a face causing Sam to roll his eyes.

"We are definitely getting off topic here, why can't or why don't you want to shoot the video?"

Mercedes sat up curling her legs under her and looked at him with big doe eyes as if she was nervous.

"The song's about you Sam its about love and trust and knowing that if all else fails I have you," Sam pulled back slightly as he listened to his friend speak.

"You love me?"

Mercedes looked fear stricken as she fidgets and begins to ramble incoherently. Sam sighs and shakes his head; he pulls her into his arms and waits for her to settle.

"Sam you're my best friend and I love you more than a lot of things in this world I'd do anything for you," Sam looked stunned as she confessed her version of their relationship which wasn't that far off from his truth.

"I mean if we were thirty and the last people on Earth and I do mean the absolute last, I'd marry you," she quickly recovered.

"Ouch," Sam said pulling back feigning mock hurt as his tried to mask the clenching in his chest.

"I don't mean it like that, its just we're best friends and it would be weird if we dated or anything. I'm too me, and you are definitely too you," she said looking at him with a joking expression.

"What's that suppose to mean, and it wouldn't be that weird," he grumbled retreating back to his chair.

"What are you saying?"

"What are you saying?"

The two stared hard at each other for a while before Sam sighed and through his hands up in defeat. He didn't know who he was kidding he didn't have a shot in hell with her. She was the type of girl that married a politician or a doctor. He would never be good enough. He was just a few dollars short of being homeless again and she was absolutely perfect in every way THAT girl would be...if one was thinking about what they saw in a wife. Sam knew deep down they were definitely NOT each other's type.

"It doesn't matter, WE are never gonna be...not even when we're thirty. Sorry to kill your dreams sweetheart. But for right now can you pretend to be in love with me for the songs sake. Just for five minutes that shouldn't be too hard."

Mercedes smiled sadly as Sam picked up the guitar and began to strum lightly. Mercedes unfolded her legs and went over to her friend. She removed the guitar and sat in his lap.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean that stuff the way it sounded," she whispered and for a few seconds he was silent then shrugged and smiled.

"Who cares I need you as my best man anyway," she laughed at his comment and returned to the bed. Sam got up and turned the camera on and then returned to his chair. This time when Sam picked up the guitar he strummed with more feeling.

"This song better be good bugs," Sam said before dodging another blow to the head via pillow. Mercedes wrote in private but she would hum the melody that Sam had heard one day and been playing ever since on his guitar.

"Just sit back and listen,"

you won't find him drinking at the tables

rolling dice and staying out til 3

you won't ever find him being unfaithful

you will find him, you'll find him next to me

you won't find him trying to chase the devil

for money, fame, for power, out of grief

you won't ever find him where the rest go

you will find him, you'll find him next to me

next to me, ooooh

next to me, ooooh

next to me, ooooh

you will find him, you'll find him next to me

when the money's spent and all my friends have vanished

and I can't seem to find no help or love for free

I know there's no need for me to panic

cause I'll find him, I'll find him next to me

Sam looked up to see Mercedes was sitting on the edge of the bed with her eyes glued on him. His breath caught in chest as it swelled at the sound of her heavenly voice.

when the skies are grey and all the doors are closing

and the rising pressure makes it hard to breathe

well, all I need is a hand to stop the tears from falling

I will find him, I'll find him next to me

next to me, ooooh

next to me, ooooh

next to me, ooooh

I will find him, I'll find him next to me

when the end has come and buildings falling down fast

when we spoilt the land and dried up all the sea

when everyone has lost their heads around us

you will find him, you'll find him next to me

next to me, ooooh

next to me, ooooh

next to me, ooooh

you will find him, you'll find him next to me

next to me, ooooh

next to me, ooooh

next to me, ooooh

you will find him, you'll find him next to me

Sam sat back literally stunned at her lyrics she wrote this for him...about him. This is how she saw him and he would always fulfill that vision she had of him, he would always be next to her. Sam made a vow right there that he would be there protecting and guiding her through whatever she was too proud or scared to face. He loved her too.

As the song ended his memory faded and he locked his feelings about the memory in the back of his mind. How dare he be selfish about her dreams and how the hell was she going to chase them in Lima of all places. He was going to get her to LA even if it meant never seeing each other or her getting close to that Player guy. He just wanted to be that guy she wrote about and would brag to all her friends that there was no one out here like him in the world.

'Mercedes has done so much for me, even if she does leave me it would be a push in the right direction.'

Sam opened his laptop and began to type out the homepage for Stedman Player...

Mercedes stood with her back to the kitchen counter fuming. For the life of her she could not understand why this Quinn thing bothered her so much. She and Sam were friends had been since they were little. It's not like they were ever going to be anything more.

She took the pot that was hanging from above the stove and walked over to the sink faucet. She angrily turned the water on allowing the pot to fill. Mercedes slammed the pot down on the stove sloshing the water. She turned on the burner and stood back watching the water boil.

"What the fuck am I doing making grits?" she lashed out.

She gripped the edges of the countertop and groaned out loud. Pulling her up into a loose bun she exhaled deeply. Mercedes then reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope, that had been Sam's letter.

She opened it and began to read it: "Dear Quinn how are you? I'm fine. I just wanted you to know you smell nice and when I look at you my palms get sweaty and I want to throw up. Not in a bad way, though. I wanted to pick you flowers but the school gardener got mad. Please look my way, I will give you the cookies my mom baked me for lunch I promise. From Sam I am."

Mercedes looked up at the ceiling as her eyes filled with tears. She bit her lip and her body trembled as she tried to resist the laughter that formed in her gut. Not being able to hold it anymore she burst into laughter.

Once she settled, Mercedes hoisted herself on the granite top island re-reading the letter Sam had written. He was clearly being serious but it only came out as comedy. Sam was amazing at a lot of things but it was clear that expressing himself on paper was definitely not his forte. Sam was an incredible artist; he was a natural athletic, universally kind to the point where he could be conceived as a push over, a closet singer, and could play the guitar beautifully.

She had even convinced Sam to start giving her lessons and that first one had been unforgettable.

Mercedes sat across from Sam at the top of the hill and stared at him with her big doe eyes. Her back was bone straight, with her hands clasped in front of her. She looked like a student prepared to receive material on her first day of school.

Sam looked at her while biting back laughter as she stared at him. Sam shook head as he reached over and grabbed her shoulders.

"Mercedes relax this is not class you don't have to be so studious. Its just you, me, and Bernie the oak tree," Sam said gesturing to the over grown plant that was providing them shade.

"Yeah I know I'm just nervous."

"Of what?"

"Sam your so good at this and I don't want to fail okay, I have never failed at anything," she rambled.

"Mercedes sometimes failing is the best thing in the world, that's when you figure out what you're made of."

Mercedes nodded her head as Sam pulled her to sit directly in front of him, inches from his face. He pulled the strap over her head and positioned her hands on the correct strings. Mercedes scooted even closer to him and Sam began to turn red. She reached out to him and he scooted back.

"What's wrong Sammy?"

"Nothing Bugs, it's hot that's all," he answered taking off his sweater which pulled at his undershirt revealing his perfectly sculpted chest and stomach. Her eyes were transfixed on his body; her mouth hung open as drool seeped at the corners.

Sam separated his sweater from his shirt and finally got a good look at Mercedes. He waved his hand in front of her face and she began to blink.

"Um, sorry I thought I saw something," she said nervously as she fiddled with the cords.

Sam smiled at her trepidation and he playfully took advantage of that. He took her hand and rubbed it under his shirt. Mercedes snatched it back and glared at him who was grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"You liked that huh, it's okay you can admit it Mercedes," she glared at him and decided to fight fire with fire.

She leaned forward inches from his face and she watched his every movement become solid as concrete. She stared in his eyes and bit her lip. She drew closer her lips were in the closest parameters without even touching. The sides of their noses touched and she could feel him shaking. Mercedes smirked inwardly as she watched his Adams apple bob up and down.

"That's what I thought," she boasted back as she leaned away from him as a cocky grin rested on her lips.

"Whatever, come on we don't have all day lets get started," he said lightly irritated and Mercedes internally rejoiced.

He turned her body so that her back was rested against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and used his hands to guide her motions. He rested his chin on her shoulder and looked down at what strings they hit. Mercedes thanked the heavens that he could not see her facial expression. They had been working for some time before she abruptly stopped causing Sam to frown.

"What's wrong?"

"I have a confession," Mercedes said turning to face him. Sam by now was completely confused and this showed on his face clear as day.

"What is it?"

"I never kissed a boy before."

The silence between the two gathered as they stared each other in the eye with unreadable expressions.

"Oh," he said leaning back slightly.

"You know what its stupid I don't even know why I said it, its no big deal," she said trying to get up only to have Sam snatch her back down. Sam quickly leaned forward and placed his lips softly on hers. He took his hand and placed his on side of her face as Mercedes sat immobile. The kiss itself was soft and quick; Mercedes heart never beat so fast.

"There now you can say that your first kiss wasn't from some jerk who doesn't care about you." Sam said sheepishly as she rubbed the back of his neck.

She would never forget that day it was the day she fell in love with Sam Evans.

Mercedes sighed deeply they never mentioned the kiss after that day. After that day they never discussed the flirting or the kiss, it was almost as if it hadn't happened but she knew otherwise. Mercedes didn't know if other best friends were like her and Sam but if there was something he wanted or needed she'd be the one person that would make sure he got it. Right now that wasn't her, it was another girl and she wanted to die but if it made him smile then she wanted to be apart of his happiness.

Reaching into draw under her she pulled out a notepad and pen. She would re-write his letter and slip it in Quinn's locker. It was the least she could do since Sam had given her so much. Even if she felt that all her love was unrequited Sam would have something, he would have something wonderful. Even if it broke her heart to see it happen...

The next day Sam was coming down the stairs to see St. James leaned against a locker talking to some sophomore named Harmony. He put his finger under her chin and said something that must have been funny cause she laughed. Sam hid in a corner and watched as Jesse cheated on his girlfriend.

Sam was so busy looking at the picture in front of him he never noticed Quinn whipping around to the corner. Once Jesse saw her, he quickly sent the younger girl away but it was too late Quinn looked furious.

"Baby, I have been waiting on you," Jesse said as he reached to kiss her but she turned her head.

"Its not like you were lonely," she said shoving past him to get to her locker.

"You don't know what your talking about baby, she's my friend's little sister. She was sad about some stuff and I was just helping her through that," he argued as she fumbled with her combination.

"Really, I didn't know you were a therapist all of a sudden!"

"Gosh Quinn, I didn't know you were so insecure! Your intimidated by an underclassman she means nothing to me, you are everything baby," Quinn's face held a soft smile at his words.

"I love you but I cant be in this relationship if all your gonna do is accuse me of cheating," Jesse said putting his head down.

"I'm sorry Jesse I just saw you too and reacted," she said reaching out for him but he pulled back.

"You know what Quinn, I'm gonna wait by the car just get your stuff."

Jesse turned and walked away without another word leaving Quinn alone, sad about their fight. Sam watched while fighting the urge to go over and comfort her but he stayed put. She opened her locker and a white envelope fell out. Quinn reached down and picked it up, putting in her purse. She shut her locker and exited the hallway leaving Sam wondering about his letter...

A.N:Thanks for reading guys between work and barely seeing my home all I want to do is read fanfiction not write it. Lol

I really hope that you like this chapter it was a real labor of love for me, it was inspired by Emeli Sande Next to Me. (which are the lyrics to the song by the way she wrote them I don't own anything that beautiful.)

I hope you guys enjoy the direction I have decided to take the story in please don't hate me!

I wanted to give a Shout Out to these folks below for reading and updating. You guys rock!

Moonlight015

93flwerfly

QTFics

seven-month-itch

Princess976

I wanted to give a very special SHOUT OUT to Nakala for being supportive and giving great advice! Go girl! All these folks I mentioned have great material and the same goes for the stories I put in my favorites! Guys we have to support Sam/Mercedes stories!

I will be going back to make corrections to my previous chapters to take care of the careless grammatical mistakes and confusing sentence structures. I hope this chapter pleased you. I love you guys. PLEASE REVIEW!