Home is where the Heart is

Please, Dad

"Please, Dad," Mercedes begged. She had explained Sam's situation to her father, every last bit. Hope-filled her for a second when he almost cracked a smile or possible nod of sympathy, but no. He still didn't want a homeless kid staying at his house, someone who lacked food and warmth...a family. Mercedes's mother was on board with it, but it was ultimately up to her dad.

"And you said he lost his job?" He asked with a cup of coffee in hand, gently sipping it whenever Mercedes opened her mouth.

"Yes."

"But what about his uncle...you said he has care over him?"

"Well yes, but he doesn't take care of him. Sam told me he's barely ever around."

"I'm just not sure. You lied to me, Mercedes. And I feel terrible about his living situation, but isn't their anybody else?"

"He has no friends!" She yelled. Mercedes was sadly his only friend, but at least they found each other when they did. She couldn't imagine Sam keeping up his busy schedule and never finding a roof over his head. Her dad finished his coffee and gently placed it down, then stood up and got ready to walk into the kitchen.

"I'm going to think about it." He said, but his expression didn't seem like he would at all.

"I won't marry Shane." Mercedes blurted out. It was a last resort, but she had to take it. She didn't know where Sam was or what he was doing or if he was hungry. Her father stopped and turned around, clearly pinching a nerve. He went to speak, but then closed his mouth to think.

"You're seriously playing that card." He finally replied.

"I am." She did because she knew how much he liked Shane, and she knew her admiration for Sam was strong.

"You're saying you don't want to marry him then, just for this boy to live with us." He asked in utter amazement. Mercedes didn't give that a second thought.

"I love Shane, it would break my heart not to marry him because of this." She said with a hint of exaggeration. Her father didn't take his eyes off of Mercedes, as if she was crazy yet sane enough to manipulate.

"Fine. He can stay." He caved. Mercedes smiled, and so did her mother in the back who was eavesdropping on the conversation.

"Thank you, Dad."

Mercedes felt she couldn't deliver the news fast enough. Sam was only a phone call away, a phone call from breaking the news that they could see each other every single day. She picked up her phone and dialed his number that didn't take very long to memorize (or she took the extra time too). After a few rings, she heard his voice.

"Hello." He answered.

"I have some great news. My dad said you can stay! You just have to make sure to sleep on the couch, but he finally agreed after tons of begging and explaining and..manipulating but he said yes and that's all that matters! You can stay, Sam." There was a long pause after Mercedes spoke... too long for the type of news it was.

"Sam? Are you still there?"

"Yeah." He said, but his tone was mellow and nowhere near enthusiastic a homeless person should be when finding out their getting a home.

"I thought you would be more excited, did you hear me correctly?"She asked.

"I heard you...it's just,"

"Just, what?" She asked quickly, wondering why he wasn't jumping on this opportunity. "Aren't you still homeless or did you find a place to stay?" She could hear Sam heavily sigh through the phone.

"I'm still homeless." He said calmly." Its just...I'm not sure if I can stay with you, now."

"What do you mean?" She asked. Stay with her now, what changed?

"Your engaged, Mercedes." He began. "And, I'm not sure if I can stay with you and know that you're getting married to someone...someone that's not me," His voice got quieter as he trailed off. "I have feelings for you, and I don't know if I can hide that. And I don't know if I can live with a person I love knowing I'll never be able to be with them."

Any words Mercedes wanted to say, had jumped out. Her heart sank. The word love got to her. She didn't know how to respond, but she felt as if she was in a sad song, stuck between two people with one pulling on her arm and the other being held down from a ring. Apparently a ring made everything more complicated, especially when she would forget it's their.

"How long have you had feelings for me?" She finally asked after she could have sworn Sam hung up due to the long pause.

"The day I first saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful girl to ever exist."

And with that, Sam hung up. The phone in Mercedes's hand stayed stiff, she felt frozen, but not enough to let a tear slide.

The pit in her stomach grew as Shane showed up on her call display, but she still answered it to hopefully feel love for him so that she didn't have to do what she had to in order to be happy, but Sam made her decision pretty easy.

"Shane, I need you to come over." She said with a sob.

"Is everything okay baby, you sound upset?" Mercedes didn't feel the love she hoped for him, and so had to get it over with.

"...I'm in love with someone else."

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The wait is almost over, their almost together...almost.