Home is where the Heart is

Birthday Suprise

May 31st rolled around, meaning prom was near, nights got warmer, and it was someone's birthday.

"Happy birthday!"

Sam opened his eyes to see Mercedes standing over him. He rubbed his eyes, still half asleep. "Thank you." He said.

"Follow me." She said. Sam wondered what she was doing, but shrugged and got up off the couch. He was still sleepy.

"Take a seat." She said while pointing to her bed. She got up to shut the door of her room while Sam smiled in confusion.

"What's going on?" He asked in between a yawn. "It's so early."

Mercedes went to her closet, rumaged around a bit, and then came out with her hands behind her back.  "I've always wanted to hear you sing and so I figured this would encourage you."

"I told you no gifts." Sam said shaking his head. He felt spoiled enough as it is, a gift would just push it over the edge. "Remember?"

Mercedes sighed. "I know, but just please open it. It is your birthday."

"You're too much. I hope it's not anything big." He said, but his jaw dropped as she pulled it out from behind her back. It was a huge rectangular box.

"Don't say anything." She said while placing it on her lap before he could comment about the size of it. Sam gave her a look of annoyance and then proceeded to opening the wrapping paper. He unwrapped the cardboard box and then opened it to reveal something he never thought would be in his hand again.

"Mercedes...no. Please no." He said as he pulled out a guitar case. Mercedes intently watched him pull the guitar out of the case. It was the same one from the store.

He immediately picked it up in awe,  quickly put it in a position ready to strum, and then gently plucked the strings to reveal an acoustic sound. The sound brought back so many memories, wonderful memories of him playing for his mother. After he snapped out of it, growing slightly teary-eyed in the process, he put it back in its case.

"I can't accept this." He said.

"What-what do you mean? It's your birthday and you deserve something special." She said. Sam stood up and walked back and forth tirelessly.

"How can I accept this expensive guitar. Your giving me a place to stay, providing me with food, and-and I have nothing, Mercedes. I have no money."

"I don't mind, really." She said. Sam stopped pacing to face her.

"I mind, Mercedes. You know how awful it feels to not take your girlfriend on a date and pay. It's embarrassing! And I have nothing to give you for your birthday, or what if I just want to surprise you once and awhile with a gift-I can't."

Mercedes walked over to Sam to face him closer. "Look at me, I don't care about presents or money or expensive jewelry. You can't buy love, Sam."

Sam shook his head and looked her deep in the eye. "I want to ask you to prom...so bad, but I can't afford a tuxedo or a limo or anything fancy. You can't even tell your parents about me."

"I don't need all that stuff, we can go to prom together. And you know how my parents are, but I want to be your prom date so, so bad. You know that." She said encouragingly, but Sam cut her off.

"When did we ever, think this would work? I'm poor." He cried. "I lost my job...I can't give you enough. You deserve better, Mercedes." Sam was practically in tears as he talked. Mercedes put a hand to his face.

"You are enough." She replied hoping he would stay and listen, but he didn't. "Where are you going?" She asked.

Sam sighed. "I don't know. Maybe take a stroll...get my job back so I can feel worthwhile."

He walked out of the room and shut the door behind him. Mercedes looked at the guitar and felt a pang of guilt, but she knew he was just feeling some insecurities. She heard her phone buzz and went to check it.

From Kurt: Did he ask you yet???

Mercedes and Kurt have been talking about prom for weeks now. She was just patiently waiting for Sam to ask her.

Sadly, no. We got into a bit of a fight...

She replied, and then put the phone away. She didn't know where Sam was going, but was  looking forward to spending time together on his birthday. Guess not.

"Mercedes," Her mother called from down below. "Your father and I would like to talk to you."

Maybe Sam was right. She couldn't lie to her parents anymore. Mercedes pulled off her ring and took a deep breath knowing what she was about to do, and then hurried down the stairs. Her parents were at the kitchen table with smug smiles. Her dad was holding a black pamphlet with a shiny car on it.

"We have a perfect idea." He said to her. "Here, come over here." Mercedes followed her dad's orders and looked at the pamphlet on the front while her mother checked to see her reaction.

"A limo," Mercedes said enthusiastically.

"Yes. We thought your senior prom should be special, So we'll phone Shane and set this up for you guys to arrive in." Her dad said proudly. Mercedes gulped and didn't say anything, causing her father to grow curious.

"You don't seem happy." Her mother said. "Is something wrong, dear?"

"We don't have to have a limo if you don't want to-

"No, dad." She said nervously. "The limos fine."

"Then What is it?" Her mother asked. Mercedes looked around the room and played nervously with her hands. Now was the moment to tell the truth.

"It's actually, the person." Both of her parents looked at each other in confusion and so Mercedes felt she needed to be clearer.

"I'm not going with Shane to prom." Her father took off his glasses and squinted at Mercedes. "I'm actually hoping to go with someone else." It looked as if her dad heard someone was deeply hurt.

"What do you mean? Did you guys break up?"

"Yeah, I called off the engagement because...because I'm in love with someone else,"

"Who, dear?" Her mother asked.

She soon found her strength. "Sam." 

Her father stood up with a bewildered expression. "Mercedes, of all people, Sam? He's no good, have you seen how troubled he is?" Mercedes could feel the anger build up inside her, but she knew it was coming.

"You don't know him as I do, dad. He's a great guy and I love him. I don't need your input on who I date."

Her mother, on the other hand, seemed very calm and supportive. "Has he asked you yet?"

"No, mom, but I'm hoping he does. We're in a bit of a fight right now, well he is. He says he's not good enough for me." Her mother stood up and apparently saw the pain she felt, and so put a hand on her shoulder.

"I hope he decides to go with you." She said, but her dad didn't seem to agree. He didn't say a word and stormed out of the kitchen.

"I'm sorry, Mercedes." She said. Mercedes didn't know what she was sorry for, Sam leaving or her dad not respecting her choices, but either way, it helped.

----------------------

Will they go to prom together?  Thanks for reading!