A Gift Of Song For You

Chapter 9: Leavin'

Song Inspiration: Leavin' by Jesse McCartney


The next day, Sam felt great. He knew that this was the ninth day and he was closer to winning Mercedes' heart back. After he finished singing today's song, he had five more days. With the last day being Valentine's day. He walked from class and headed to the weight room. He wanted to get some training in before he went swimming some practice laps. But soon as he walked in, he was met with several mean looking faces. The leader was Shane Tinsely. Sam stood there as he took a deep breath and started to walk past them when Shane reached out a hand to stop him. Sam glanced down at Shane's hand, palm out on his chest.

He glanced up and locked his gaze with Shane's. "You think you're so damn slick, don't you, Evans?" Sam narrowed his eyes as he studied Shane's expression. "About what?" Shane snickered some as he keeps his eyes on Sam, while he talks to his pals. "Like he doesn't know. Right guys?" The guys nodded in agreement as Shane continued to speak. "You get Mercedes to dump me for you Glee club losers. You're nothing but the rejects of losers." He laughed, causing his friends to laugh as well. "I had her from that stupid club. I even had her away from those selfish losers, especially that Rachel girl. But then you come back, thanks to those reject losers. And suddenly her world is turned upside down."

Sam grew angry as he stood up straighter and eyed Shane closely. "First of all none of them are losers. They are my friends. And they are Mercedes' friends also.  If you cared about her like you say you do, you would support the fact she has friends like her." Shane laughed giving his hand against Sam's chest a push. Sam grew angrier as he held his ground. "She doesn't need any of you. She needs me. You trick her into leaving me, so you can brainwash her."

This time it was Sam's turn to laugh. "Please! I can't brainwash Mercedes into doing anything. She does something, it's because she wants to. And I respect that. Can you say the same?" Sam said as Shane remained quiet. "She left you because of the facts. You were a rebound. I moved. She didn't love you. She loves me. And if I never moved, we would still be together. Deal with it." Sam said, checking off what he said with his fingers. 

Shane gave a slight nod as he spoke. "Oh, I'm about to deal with it." He snapped his fingers as several of his friends stepped up to Sam. "These are junior players that will be seniors next year. They are going to protect me and make sure I don't lose my full-ride scholarship."

Sam grew worried as he stepped back some. "What are they going to do?" Sam asked while he watched Shane and the guys smile. "Wipe that smug, big-lipped look off your face. Get him, guys." Was the last thing Shane said as Sam started to defend himself.

Later, Mercedes sat at lunch realizing that she couldn't wait for today's song. She was getting used to them and secretly loved the fact she was being serenaded every day up to Valentine's day. She sat in front of her tray, filled with excitement on what the song could be. While she continued to wonder, someone sat down in front of her. She looked and was surprised to see Shane. "Shane? What are you doing here?" She asked, full of surprise.

"I wanted to tell you that Sam and I talked and he realizes that he was wrong. You don't need to talk to him anymore. You need to come back to me." He shrugged so casually as he began to eat. Mercedes stared at him, the feeling of shock takes over as Shane's words repeated in her head. "What? Sam, said that?" She asked Shane. "Yeah, he did. And I told him I would tell you." He said as he chewed another forkful of food.

Mercedes couldn't believe after all of this, Sam just quit. That he gave up so easily. "Oh." She began as she as about to tell Shane something when a familiar voice rang out. "Shane!" Everyone's heads turned in the direction of the voice. Mercedes couldn't help but smile as she watched Sam make her way to them. The closer he got, she noticed something wrong with him. Her smile turned into a frown as she stood up. "Sam?" She called to him in surprise.

Sam lightly glanced at her as he walked passed her and stepped up to Shane Tinsley. He stood before a somewhat cocky looking Shane. "Shane," Sam began as he narrowed his green eyes at Shane's brown ones. " I don't know what's sadder. The fact I told Mercedes that you would play dirty or the fact you actually did it." Sam said in a tone that told he was still in pain.

Mercedes stepped up and stood before both of them as they faced one another off. It was then she noticed the bruised right cheek and the black left eye. And when Shane's friends stepped up near him, she noticed the scratches and black eyes and bruises on them as well. Mercedes' mouth dropped open as she realized what happened. "What did he do that was dirty?" She asked.

"I didn't do anything that was dirty, Mercedes," Shane said as he gave her a glance before he focused back on Sam. "He's just mad that he gave up and is trying to change his mind. You can't. She's mine, Evans." He stated before he tried to pull her close. Sam watched Shane and it made him angrier. He shook his head  letting that anger be heard in his voice. "I did not give up. You tried to beat it out of me. And when I told you that I would never give up on her. And I would never stop loving her, just like I know she never stopped loving me. You made sure to sic your pets on me." Sam said before he gave a small smirk. "But I made sure I got my licks in as well. I wasn't about to let anyone beat down on me."

Mercedes grew even more concerned as she watched them ignore her when she spoke again. "What is going on?"She demanded to know. "Stay out of this Mercedes!" Shane said before he closed in on Sam, letting him see his size. It brought on intimidation to most kids, but Shane needed to know that Sam wasn't most kids. "How are you going to tell her to stay out of it?" Sam demanded from Shane. "This not only concerns her, but this is also about her!"

Shane thought about how he didn't want Mercedes here. He knew she would be concerned for her ex. Especially now, she was seeing him hurt and trying to mask the pain from that hurt. He knew he had to get her out of here and fast. "Come on, Mercedes. Let's get out of here." He said as he grabbed her by the arm and tried to drag her away. Sam knew it was now or never. He pulled his iPod out of his bookbag as he watched the two of them softly argue. Sam hooked up his iPod to the mini speakers, he also had in the bag and turned it on. He noticed that Shane was succeeding in trying to drag Mercedes away.

He hurried up and scrolled to the song he was looking for and pressed play. "Mercedes!" Sam yelled in the cafeteria. His voice stopped Shane and Mercedes in their tracks. Sam glanced at the iPod as he watched Artie roll over and gave a nod and smile. He pressed the volume all the way up as the karaoke music played and Sam began to sing.

Hey baby girl, I've been watchin' you all day
Man that thing you got behind you is amazin'
You make me wanna take you out and let it rain
I know you got a man but this is what you should say

Why don't you tell him that
I'm leavin', never lookin' back again
You found somebody who does it better than he can
No more makin' you cry, no more them gray skies
Girl, we flyin' on the G5, G5

And we're leavin' never lookin' back again
So call your shawty and tell him you found a new man
The one that's so so fly, the one that keep you high
Have you singin' all night night night

(Oh, oh, oh)
Yeah
(Oh, oh, oh)
Man she gon' be singin'
(Oh, oh, oh)
She gon' be singin' like, oh oh oh
(Oh, oh, oh)



Mercedes stood there as Sam stepped up to her while he began to sing and dance. She started to laugh and smile noticing their friends dancing and helping him sing the chorus. Shane frowned and noticed that she was focusing on Sam do his act for her. He started to pull her with him, only to see Mercedes stand in the same spot while her eyes focused on Sam's. She began to gently rock to the beat as she started to move towards Sam.

Now if I talk it girl, you know that I'ma walk it out
Man I'll put my money money where my mouth is
'Cause you the baddest little thing that I've ever seen
So I'ma ask you one time if you got a man

Shane gave a hard tug on Mercedes' hand causing her to turn from Sam and focus back on Shane. Sam noticed and reached for her other hand gently, holding it as he continued to sing to her. He let his thumb massage her skin as he let her see the natural light in his eyes for her. Shane let go of her hand and knocked Sam away as he blocked her from Sam's view. Sam moved around and grabbed both of Mercedes' hands and lead her away from Shane.

Why don't you tell him that
I'm leavin', never lookin' back again
You found somebody who does it better than he can
No more makin' you cry, no more them gray skies
Girl, we flyin' on the G5, G5

And we're leavin', never lookin' back again
So call your shawty and tell him you found a new man
The one that's so so fly, the one that keep you high
Have you singin' all night night night

(Oh, oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, oh)
Man she gon' be singin'
(Oh, oh, oh)
She gon' be singin', uh, she gon' be singin'
(Oh, oh, oh)
She gon' be singin', girl, you gon' be singin'



Sam massaged her hands in his as he made sure her beautiful brown eyes were locked with his green ones. He leaned down and sung the next lines to her as he made sure he wanted her to hear the words loud and clear. He hoped she would follow them and leave all the drama behind.

Don't stress, don't stress, don't stress
Just tell him to the left left left
Don't stress, don't stress, don't stress
'Cause we gone and we gone and we gone

Mercedes listened to the words as she felt Sam lead her away from Shane and closer to their friends and his Ipod. He let one of her hands go and moved his up to her face. He caressed her cheek as he continued to sing to her. Telling her how he felt.

No stress, no stress, no stress
Girl, you deserve nothing but the best
No stress, no stress, no stress
Girl, you need to tell him

Mercedes nodded in agreement to the words as she knew she should have just ripped the band-aid known as Shane Tinsley some time ago. She knew that she had to end all of this once and for all. So she can be clear and free. Even if it means that she had to let Sam completely go also.

I'm leavin', never lookin' back again
You found somebody who does it better than he can
No more makin' you cry, no more them gray skies
Girl, we flyin' on the G5 G5

And we're leavin', never lookin back again
So call your shawty and tell him you found a new man
The one who's so so fly, the one that keep you high
Have you singin' all night night night night night

(Oh, oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, oh)
Man she gon' be singin', oh
(Oh, oh, oh)
Singin? all night, night, night, night
(Oh, oh, oh)

(Oh, oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, oh)
Man she gon' be singin'
(Oh, oh, oh)
She gon' be singin', uh, she gon' be singin'
(Oh, oh, oh)
She gon' be singin', girl, you gon' be singin'


Sam finished the songs with his friends in the background while he focused on his girl back in his life was so close. It was all his for the taking. He listened to his friends clap and cheer as he stood before Mercedes. "So, Mercy?" He asked her softly. "I know I need to do it." She said as reached out and touched his cheek.

She walked from Sam as she stood before Shane. "I am done with you, Shane Tinsley." She announced for everyone to hear. "I stayed with you out of loyalty. Not love for you. I never did love you. And you know that. You kept me with you because you hate to lose. And you definitely didn't want Sam to win. But what you had done to him was ultimately unforgivable. And I can't deal with you! Not ever!" She yelled.

Sam smiled and knew it was all good from now on. Mercedes glanced from Shane as she looked to see Sam's gorgeous smile upon his face. She knew this part was going to hurt him bad. "And to make sure that I never am the reason or the cause for that kind of pain ever again, I am going to let him go. And I can't wait until I finish up this year and move far away. I have my choice of any college and I will take advantage of that. I'm leaving Ohio forever."Mercedes admitted to Shane in front of everyone.

"What?" Sam yelled in surprise as their friends all look on in shock.