Take Me Back To That Day: A Samcedes Story

Chapter 2: I'll See You Around

It took a moment longer for her mind to catch up and truly grasp the shock of seeing Sam Evans again—for the first time since...

Since...

That summer in high school.

For a fleeting second, a memory surfaced: her front porch, the darkness of a summer night, the soft gleam of his green eyes illuminated by the dim moonlight. His hand tightly grasping hers, a single tear streaming down her cheek.

But just as quickly as the memory appeared, it vanished, and she was back in the present, standing in the middle of a sunlit field, her friend at her side, and Sam looking at her with clear confusion etched on his features.

"Mercedes... You... Long time no see," he breathed out.

She forced a warm smile, though her heart was still reeling. "Yeah, it's been a while, Sam."

He was the same and yet different. His hair was shorter now, more of a dirty blonde than she remembered. His face had matured, and though his eyes still held that same familiar warmth, there was a depth to them that spoke of experiences she didn't know. He no longer carried the awkwardness of a teenage boy. There was a confidence in his stance that hadn't been there before.

Sam tilted his head slightly, studying her. "Are you a student here? I've never seen you around."

Mercedes shifted her weight uncomfortably, crossing her arms as if to shield herself from his gaze. "Yeah, you haven't. I just transferred from Byrnes."

Sam nodded slowly, processing the information with an unvoiced "oh." "Well, that's great! Welcome to Richter!" A big, genuine smile spread across his face. And for reasons she couldn't quite pinpoint, something in her chest tightened. That smile... It had always had an effect on her, leaving her weak in the knees back in high school.

But this was now, she wasn't some lovesick teenager, she definitely did not want to appear that way years later.

She forced a bigger smile, trying to convince herself as much as him. "Thanks! I'm happy to be here!" Though, at that moment, she wasn't entirely sure if she was.

Noelle gently touched Mercedes' arm. "Mercy? We should get going." She pointed a thumb over her shoulder, indicating the direction of the music building. "The others are probably waiting for us."

Mercedes suppressed what might have been a sigh of relief. "Oh, okay." She turned back to Sam, her smile softer now. "It was great seeing you again, Sam."

He nodded, his smile never wavering. "Alright. I guess I'll see you around." And with one last grin, he turned and started to walk away.

Her chest tightened once more as she watched him go.

"Yeah, I'll see you around..." Mercedes murmured, more to herself than to him.

Noelle tugged her along, and as they walked away, Mercedes could feel her friend's curiosity bubbling up. "So... how do you know the star quarterback of our school?"

So he was still a football player. No surprise there.

"He was... We were in Glee Club together in high school," she said, leaving out the details that were best kept in the past.

Noelle raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "He was in Glee Club? The same guy who's now the poster boy for our football team?"

Mercedes chuckled, more at the memory than anything. "Yeah, he was pretty good. Sometimes played the guitar for us."

"Well, that kills a stereotype," Noelle mused. "I wonder if he could join us in the off-season... We're short on male vocals."

Mercedes considered it for a moment, but before she could form an opinion, they reached the door to the music building. As they ascended the stairs, she couldn't help but notice that the building had a certain old-world charm, even if it was a bit outdated. Something about it felt welcoming, and she found herself looking forward to the many hours she would inevitably spend here.