Take Me Back To That Day: A Samcedes Story

Chapter 5: Mint Chocolate Chip Mocha

Mercedes stifled a loud laugh as she stepped into the campus café, biting down on her bottom lip to keep from drawing too much attention. The last thing she wanted was to scare everyone with her laughter echoing off the walls. "Stop it, lord, you're crazy! Stop it!" she whispered into her phone, barely suppressing another snicker.

Her first month at Richter had flown by, yet it felt as though she'd been there much longer. Right from the beginning, she had clicked with the other members of the Goldtones. They were a strangely diverse group, but somehow, it just worked. Their chemistry helped them blend beautifully musically, and that same chemistry made their time together so much fun. In just one month, Mercedes had formed friendships that felt as though they'd been years in the making. They reminded her of the New Directions... but without the high school drama.

As Mercedes thought about it, she realized just how much she had grown as a person since her high school days. She had taken the broken friendships and managed to make them stronger. Kurt and Quinn, in particular, were her foundation, next to her family. Mercedes still talked to them regularly, feeling a bit lost without her usual video chats with Kurt. She also kept in touch with the rest of the old gang, meeting up for dinner or a quick chat whenever schedules allowed.

She had retained her headstrong "diva" attitude, but she had also learned a valuable lesson in humility. The world didn't revolve around her. As tempting as it was to wallow in her own problems, she knew she was blessed. She had a great family, great friends, and a passion for music that kept her moving forward. She understood that while it was essential to take the initiative to fulfill her dreams, it was also important not to burden others with her own needs. A true diva knew how to use her attitude the right way.

Mercedes had taught herself to keep her eyes on the future and not dwell too much on the past. She was a woman on the move, too focused on her goals to be bothered by problems that had already run their course. Her last year at Byrnes had solidified this lesson, which was why she had found herself at a new school. Whenever she discussed college with her family or mentors from church, they always advised her to work hard and have a plan. She took that advice seriously—she wasn't in college to wander around aimlessly.

This semester, Mercedes was exploring her options for a career in music. Performing was her passion, so her main goal was to break into the music industry. She had connected with local studios in hopes of recording and was scouting possible venues to perform. Success in the industry was part luck, part persistence, but mostly hard work.

Mercedes Jones was a woman with a plan, and nothing could sway her from it.

She chuckled softly as she stood in line, scrolling through her agenda. "Okay, Tiff, I'll see you later at practice, okay? You and Valerie need to stay out of trouble until then! Listen to me, woman! ...Alright, see ya, pretty girls!" She hung up and tossed her phone into her bag. She glanced over at the sitting area, searching for a table. She planned to get a head start on her homework, and the small table in the corner seemed perfect. She turned back to the counter as the line moved forward, not even bothering to look at the menu—she always ordered the same thing.

"Grande mint chocolate chip mocha, right?" a deep voice spoke from behind her.

Mercedes quickly turned around, surprised that someone had read her mind. She nearly gasped.

Sam.

He grinned, a hint of laughter in his eyes. There it was again, that familiar clench in her chest. Mercedes fought to give him a response but found herself momentarily speechless.

"Yeah, I remembered. Turns out, it ended up being a favorite of mine too," Sam said, his smile widening. He looked down at his feet for a moment before meeting her eyes again. The sunlight streaming through the window illuminated his green eyes, making them seem brighter, more vibrant. They hadn't changed one bit.