Mercedes wiped the tears from her eyes. No matter how hard she tried to stop them, they wouldn't stop falling. She stood up from her tan recliner and walked over to her double paned window nook. She sat on the light brown suede cushions and looked up at the darkening sky. She wanted to forget the last twenty-four months, but the whole two years kept replaying in her head like it was a tape on loop. She shook it off no man was worth all this suffering she thought.

As she wiped the tears away again she began to get pissed. How all the tears she thought had long dried returned for an encore was beyond her. As her invited guest gathered around her 51 inch flat screen TV, stuffing their faces with the spread she laid out for them and telling their predictions for game seven of the basketball finals she began to regret inviting anyone over.

As her eyes turned towards the TV her head told her to look away seeing the players wouldn't do her any good, her heart wanted to catch a glimpse needing the validation that she still felt something. And as the pre-game started, she did feel something, she could feel the hot steam of anger rise from her body. All the hurt and lies resurfaced and she sank deeper into her own world of self-pity.

A part of her was afraid of what watching this game could mean and how it could hash up all those memories she tried bury. But a bigger part of her wanted to see where it all went wrong?

As the commercials played she went back to her recliner and sank down deep into the seat. As everyone laughed at the TV all she could do was sit there and wallow in her own stew of hatred, denial, loneliness and loss. When the game started, Mercedes couldn't pull her eyes away from the monitor. She wanted to but something inside her kept her eyes glued to the screen.

The camera panned over the players and the crowd, she rolled her eyes at the fans cheering and chanting. The game hadn't even started yet and they were screaming like it was over. She didn't know what people got so excited for. Jumping and screaming, looking a fool over players they didn't even know. But what made it worse was she was once happy to be a part of it all, happy to be loud and proud supporting her team…and him.

The camera stopped on Sam Evans and Mercedes felt her heart flutter. Damn him for still setting those butterflies loose in her stomach. Shame on him for still holding a place in her heart and screw him for all the hurt that he caused. Her best friend Quinn sat next to her on the edge of the chair and caressed Mercedes's hair.

"You ok?" she said with a tone filled with sadness and concern. Mercedes sank deeper in the recliner folding her arms together. "Yep" She forced out of her lips. For saying nothing would be a dead giveaway she thought.

Quinn tilted her head sighing. "I can't believe you didn't want to go to the game. It's the finals."

"I don't want to see it in person." Mercedes whispered so softly Quinn barely heard her.

"You don't want to see it or him?" Quinn spoke in a knowing tone.

"Neither." Mercedes expelled. Quinn hugged her.

"Sweetie it's been four months since you walked out of his life come on let it go."

Mercedes stood up forgetting the people around her and walking back to the window nook.

"Quinn he lied to me, he hurt me. How can I let it go? I trusted him."

"I know you did. But he never meant to fall for you anymore than you meant to fall for him."

Quinn wanted her best friend to feel better; she needed her to be her old self again. The last time Mercedes was this distraught was when she had filed for divorce from her first husband.

Tears flooded Mercedes's eyes. Her guest which included Quinn's husband and brother in law, Mercedes's two cousins who happened to be brothers and her next door neighbor were all engrossed in the food and placing their bets on who would win.

"It doesn't matter anymore; he doesn't want to see me." Even saying the words created a little doubt in her heart.

Quinn turned Mercedes towards her with a light in her eye. "And how do you know that?"

"He has been back in town since last night if he wanted to see me he would have come here. He knows where I am he knows where I live." Mercedes wiped her eyes as Quinn sat with her.

"You walked out on him maybe he figured you didn't want him and he did send you the tickets. Seems to me he made the first move and the next one is up to you." She gave a hopeful smile.

Mercedes heaved a deep sigh.

"I don't care it doesn't matter anymore I will never get what I want."

"And what do you want?" Quinn asked hoping for once her friend would be honest with herself.

They showed Sam again and Mercedes hit her head on the back of the window pane. "I don't know." She moaned softly.

"You remember when we would watch the games and you would tell me how much you loved him? And wanted to be with him, you knew he was the one. And now you have him and you talking about you don't know what you want but you and I both know you do." Mercedes exhaled deeply.

"I know." She whined. "And you know I want him I have always wanted him. It's him who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with." Mercedes's eyes lit up as she thought back on the first time they kissed.

Quinn stood. "So go get him. You still have the tickets and Mary has Zack and Maddie come on we can leave these clowns here." She pulled her up and Mercedes pulled away.

"So they can mess up my place I don't think so I just got this place in order."

Nicole pulled her towards her room.

"You have been making excuses ever since he sent you the tickets. Come on. The game won't start for another 20 minutes it takes what 45 minutes to get to the arena the most we will miss is half of the first quarter so come on. I know you wanna go and you know you wanna go let's get it together and go to the game." She said in a tone that signaled to Mercedes she was serious.

"Why do I have to be the one going to him why can't he come to me?"

"Because men aren't like the ones in those romance novels or hit movies. They are not the fullest books on the shelf when it comes to love. You have to make that first move and the last. Make him remember why he fell in love with you and that you can forgive him." Mercedes folded her arms and frowned.

"I don't want to forgive him I want to know why he lied to me. I wanna know what he was doing with that stupid heifer and I want to know if his feelings were real or fake."

"What were yours?"

Mercedes looked at her with eyes glistening, "You know they were real."

"So get in the car and let's go find out what his were."

Mercedes stared at her best friend for a second then gave a half smile.

"Give me five minutes and we can head out."

Mercedes ran into her room and pulled out the jersey Sam gave her the first time they kissed. She pulled out a pair of black leggings and a white t-shirt and walked into the bathroom. She frowned as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her doe eyes were puffy and her bow shaped lips were swollen from crying. She looked down to her stomach smoothing down her shirt. She washed her face brushed her teeth then pulled her hair out from the ponytail as she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. 12 minutes later she was out hair done, smelling good wearing "Pure Seduction" by Victoria Secret that he loved so much and ready to see Sam whether he wanted to see her or not. And unfortunately she was banking on the latter.

Sam looked out into the crowd. He glanced at the empty seats in the fifth row. He knew Mercedes wouldn't show up but he couldn't help the wishful thoughts that crept through his mind. He squeezed the ball between his hands trying to release some of his anger and aggression. Someone tapped him on his shoulder and he jumped. He turned and faced his best friend Finn Hudson.

"Hey man you alright?" he asked his best friend as he bounced his own ball between his hands.

Sam looked at him for a second then nodded his head yes.

"Yeah I am. Are you ready?" he gave Finn and inquisitive look.

"You know I am."

Sam looked out again and Finn frowned. He knew his boy was in a bad way and while he wanted to do everything he could to help him, they had a championship to win. One step at a time in his eyes. He'd get Sam to focus on the game, they win then he'd help him woo the love of his life. What woman didn't want a baller with a ring? But then again he thought, Mercedes surely was not like a lot of the women he knew. She was like his wife and he knew that meant she was stubborn as a mule.

"I know you wanted her to come but maybe it's for the best. You have been kinda off your game these last few weeks."

"We're winning aren't we?" Sam stated in a know it all voice.

"Yeah we are. But not the way we should be."

"Well enlighten me how should I be winning huh? In every game of these finals I have scored at least 17 points, 5 assist and 5 blocks or more."

Finn placed his hands on Sam's shoulder. "Yeah and before you were pulling 25 a game at least. More than 10 assist and 10 blocks. You have had more triple doubles than all of your teammates this season combined. And now you settle for that? Do you think she would let you settle for that?"

Sam rubbed his right-hand over his freshly cut hair as he held the ball on his hip with his left-hand. "Look man I just…I just need to tell her I am sorry. I need to see her to feel her to hold her."

"Well you can go find her after the game. Right now, I need you to stay focused. If we win this game we are back to back champs." Sam gripped the ball then tossed it to his best friend.

"Don't you mean when we win?" He said with a wide grin. Wining would be a great conversation starter when he went to see Mercedes.

"Ok you're right when we win. I don't want you to lose your focus or get hurt ok. Game seven is big for us so let's get it together." Finn held his fist out so Sam could bump it. Sam bumped it and cleared his throat.

"I got this. Just give me a minute." Sam stated starting to feel anxious to get that game over with.

"Ok well that's all you got games bout to start."

Sam walked off the court and looked up to the celling. He said a little prayer as he always did. And though his prayer was for everyone to remain safe out on the court, his heart yearned for him to pray for Mercy. That she would forgive him and come back to him with open arms. He knew he was stupid and was willing to learn from his mistakes. All he wanted was second chance.

He recalled their first conversation. His heart did desire her and he had already prayed for her. So instead of praying for her he thanked the Lord for her forgiveness. He put his index finger and middle finger on his right hand together, kissed them, and then reached his right hand up to the sky. That was his way of paying respect to the Lord for always watching over him, and then he walked onto the court. He glanced up again at the empty seats and realized that it was going to be a long game.

Mercedes and Quinn walked into the arena with 2 minutes left in the first quarter. As they walked to their seats, Mercedes felt Goosebumps creep up her arms. She heard the crowd cheer louder. The Eagles were up by ten and in possession of the ball. She smiled as Sam made a layup then ran back down the court. While they took their seats all Mercedes could do was look at Sam. Watch his body glisten under all the lights, see the determination on his face and glance up and down at his body arousing herself at the thought of being with him again. She felt herself jump out her seat as the clock rounded down and Sam blocked a shot that was caught by Finn. They ran back down to their basket and even though Sam missed the shot, seeing him just made everything feel right in her soul.

It wasn't until Sam looked up and caught a glimpse of her did she realized this was the man of her dreams and she needed him. As their eyes met, the heat moved through her like a volcano ready to erupt, she had to look away. She glanced at Quinn who was staring at her.

"Are you ok?" Quinn asked with concern in her eyes.

"I will let you know when the game is over."

Sam couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Mercedes. She was so beautiful, breath taking really, just that glance at her made the heat rise from his belly like it was ready to explode. He didn't know what she was doing there but he didn't care. Just seeing her gave him hope feeling all through his body. The quarter ended and he looked up to her trying to get her attention again. Willing her eyes to meet with his. And when she did, he felt love course through him in a way he hadn't since the day she walked out on him. Finn brought him back to reality but his mind didn't wander to far from Mercedes.

Mercedes couldn't control her emotions anymore. Seeing him in his element brought back all the reasons she fell in love with him in the first place. And all the reasons she left.