The Model & The Singer

Chapter 6

A/N: Warning- This chapter has Sam talking about dealing with BDD (Body dysmorphic disorder), bulimia, and anorexia.
...........

He continued to look at Mercedes while she stared at the open door he held for her. Her mind was asking what was she truly worried about. The fact that she could have fun for the first in who knows how long. That he could be a good guy to be friends with. Because you can never have too many friends.

Sam sighed, looked away, and was about to head inside. He was giving up on this. It was started to look like more work than it was worth. He started to let the door go and mentally prepare where he was going to look for his career boost. Before he could let the door's handle slip from his fingers, he felt a touch.

His green eyes looked at the hand upon his before meeting her face. "Okay." She told him in a soft tone. Sam gave a small smile before stepped back and held the door back open to let her in first. Mercedes walked in before she stopped to turn to face him. "This is your idea, so I should let you lead." She stated.

Sam nodded before he walked up some. They started to walk together before Mercedes noticed that the mall wasn't that busy. Sam glanced at her and guessed what was on her mind. "It's one of the slow days. I figured that this was a good day to come." He said. "So, I have a few ideas in mind but what would you like to do first?" He asked her.

Before Mercedes could say anything, Sam heard her stomach growl. The strange rumble caused them to both laughs. "Well, considering my girl was going to take me to lunch after our mani/pedi sessions. Then some tall blondish haired, green-eyed guy came in and took me away." She said in a playful tone while she looked around before letting her brown eyes settled back on him.

Sam stood there, chuckling before he took her free hand in his. "Well, Ms. Jones, we can't our billion dollar voice be parched. Nor can we have its owner starved for a bite to eat." He said, leading her down the mall to where a big food court was. "What are you in the mood for?" Sam asked.

Mercedes stood next to him and glanced around at the many places to eat at. She smiled a genuine smile before she spoke. "Subway." Sam lead her over to the sandwich shop before they stood in line. "You order first." She said. "I'm still thinking." Sam nodded before he orders a six-inch bacon chicken ranch sub meal with bottled water. He asked for just lettuce and tomato on the sandwich when he noticed Mercedes looked finally ready. "This is together," Sam said to the cashier.

"Okay," Mercedes began to say. "I want a roasted chicken salad. With all veggies, bacon bits, and shredded cheese. And I would like two packs of French dressing and a large sweet tea." Sam stood there as they pilled on every veggie they had. Once they were done, they put it with Sam's food on the same tray. "That's nineteen thirty-two." The Cashier stated.

Sam paid for them and got his change before he grabbed the tray. Mercedes grabbed her cup and filled it with ice then sweet tea before heading over to where Sam sat at. When she sat down across from him, she placed her drink to the side and reached for her food. "Yes!" She said as she began to open her salad and pour the dressing on it.

As she was digging into her food, Sam paused from eating his food to watch her enjoy each bite. "Oh. My. Goodness!" She said in between bites. He watched her eyes close and pause from chewing to slowly lick her lips. Mercedes opened her eyes to see Sam quietly staring at her.

She reached for a napkin to wipe her mouth before finishing her chewing. "I'm sorry." She stated after eating. "It's so good." She told him. "I can see that." He said before he focused on his sandwich. "Sam." She called to him, causing him to look up and see her fork full of salad and dressing. "Try it."

He arched a brow while he looked between the fork and her. "What?" She asked. "It's not like I have cooties," Mercedes said. Sam chuckled before he shook his head. "I figured that much. It's just I have to watch my figure." He told her. Mercedes' placed the fork back down in her food before she showed a look of surprise on her face.

Sam grew concerned at her expression before sighed and placed his sandwich back down. "What?" He asked her, already knowing what was on her mind. "You're watching your figure? For who?" She asked in a curious tone. Sam let his green eyes narrow and cleared his throat before he spoke. "For my employers. Fashion designers, photographers, and executives, you."

"Me?" She said with surprise. "You don't have to go on a diet. Not for me. If you want to eat, then eat." She told him. Mercedes let her brown eyes following his gaze down to his food. She noticed he barely took a bite out of it, causing her to grow concern. "It's more than that. Although, it's a reason I try to order light or as Santana says like a chick." He explained. "But the main reason is I have body dysmorphia." He said before he glanced back up to see the horrified look in her eyes.

"I was diagnosed when I was thirteen. When I was in the fourth grade, with my parents' permission, I went out for beauty pageants. They were starting to include boys and it was a great way to get money for college or other things." He said as he looked back down at the sandwich. "I made it all the way to the end, only to place second. I learned that two of the judges thought I looked a bit chubby in the cheeks and in my gut area. If I was thinner, then I would look better." Mercedes shook her head in disbelief as she continued to listen to him reveal a part of himself.

"My mom chewed them out and when my dad found out, he was pissed. They told me nothing was wrong and that I was fine. I just had some leftover baby fat that would fade once I grew taller and got another year older. But all I heard were the two judges. And I started to try ways of losing weight. First, I tried bulimia but I hated sticking my fingers down my throat and the vomiting. So that was a one-time thing. Then I tried anorexia. That was easier for me than bulimia. I can watch what I eat by not eating. But my mom would notice I started to skip meals when I was home. I would lie and say that I ate at school." He said before sighing. "I almost passed out at school once and Santana cornered me and demanded to know what was going on."

He felt the tears well up in his eyes as he continued to focus on his food. Sam was too afraid to look up at her and see she would judge him or worse not believe him and laugh. "Well, I confessed that I was taking sips of water from the water fountain to make up. And she was pissed six ways from Sunday. She called my mom and my mom called my dad and they took me to our family doctor and a psychiatrist. And that's when we got the news about my disorder. Although, my parents still blame those judges to this day. It took a lot of therapy and interventions but my family and my friends help me. This business does pull you back some. I just want to continue to do a good job."

Sam paused then exhaled deeply before he shook his head. "The fashion industry kindly reminds you that a perfect body is only part of it. Especially when you're forced to retire at twenty-five. But I need this job, Mercedes. So, I didn't want to eat in front of you but I didn't want you to wonder why I wasn't eating and-." He said before cutting himself off when he felt her left hand on top of his left hand. Sam glanced up to see her brown eyes sparkling from the unshed tears in them.

She looked so broken as she gently held his hand before she spoke. " Sam." She said in a low tone for only his ears. "This job is more about what the first song is about. Me finding love. A deep, passionate love. And that goes beyond looks, age, and what people think." The tears escaped her eyes as she tried not to so hard. "Sam, yes, you are a very attractive man. But what got you the job was the fact you did something none of the pretty boys thought of." Mercedes gave a small smile and leaned in. "You focused on how I was and not the fact that you wanted to date me or be famous because of me. You got the job because you're a great man. Not just a pretty face."