New Directions: School Dance McKinley High 1965 Lima, Ohio

"Baby, get me some punch would you?" Shane said, as he continued to ignore his girlfriend. An hour had already passed at the dance and he still hadn't asked her to share one with him. Twice a year the student council would put on a dance so that the North high school, McKinley, and South high school, Roosevelt, that was predominantly black, could meet up for some friendly fun. But usually it was mainly the whites keeping to themselves and the blacks doing the same, usually taking refuge on either wall of the gym.

Mercedes Jones had never attended one of these dances, since she usually spent her Friday nights doing homework, but it was her senior year and she wanted to have some fun for a change. Her boyfriend, Shane Tinsley, star lineman of Roosevelt seemed determined not to dance. Instead he retold his Friday night football tales to his adoring fangirls and teammates. Mercedes, who had already heard the stories about fifty times already, left to go get some punch at the table at near the entrance of the gym.

Mercedes poured herself a cup, taking a sip. She looked at her dress and sighed in disappointment. She was wearing her favorite picnic dress that accentuated her curves perfectly. Her hair was done in a high ponytail with her bangs curled to the side. Her mom even lent her the white pearl necklace.

"Hey,"

Mercedes looked up. A handsome boy in a McKinley letterman jacket with green eyes and a crooked smile had come up to her. She had seen him across the gym staring at her, but she wasn't sure if his eyes were just missing her and he was actually looking at someone else.

"Hi," Mercedes said, slightly confused as to why this boy was talking to her.

"I've seen you before. You and your brother sang at my church once," he said, his country accent coming out. "Maybe," Mercedes said, sipping her punch. "You're names' Mercedes right?" Sam said. "That's me," Mercedes said. Awkward silence fell between the two.

"I'm Sam Evans," the boy said.

"I know who you are," Mercedes admitted. "I do read the newspapers you know."

Sam blushed, leaning against the table. Sam Evans was the star quarterback of McKinley High and even made All-American that year.

"Yeah, umm I just wanted to introduce myself… I think you have a beautiful singing voice," Sam said. "Thank you, Mr. Evans," Mercedes said, giving him a small smile.

"Is that all or you still have something on your mind?" Mercedes added after Sam still stayed at the punch table. Sam bit his bottom lip. "And maybe I wanted to ask you to dance," he said. The two laughed.

"That's sweet but my boyfriend is standing over there," Mercedes said, pointing over to the wall on the other side of the gym, where Shane was still telling his stories.

"He's an idiot," Sam said, straightening his letterman jacket, and fixing his tie.

"Excuse me?" Mercedes said, raising an eyebrow.

"Any boy would have to be. Leaving you alone like this," Sam told her.

"You're trouble," Mercedes said, laughing.

Sam held out his hand.

"Come on. One dance and you can go back to Mr. Idiot over there, and I promise to leave you alone…Unless the real reason you don't want to dance is because you're afraid."

Sam had said the magic words. Mercedes put her cup down. "Excuse me, Mr Evans. Mercedes Jones is not afraid of anything. You just better hope your country self can dance," Mercedes said, taking his hand.

Sam's face beamed, pulling the girl of his dreams out to the middle of the floor where other couples were dancing. The Contours' Do You Love Me started playing.

You broke my heart
'Cause I couldn't dance
You didn't even want me around
And now I'm back, to let you know
I can really shake 'em down

Mercedes squealed. "This is my song!" she said excitedly, as Sam spun her around. "Alright girl then show me what you can do!," Sam said, letting go of her hand. Mercedes winked at the quarterback swinging her hips to the music, circling him.

Do you love me? (I can really move)
Do you love me? (I'm in the groove)
Ah do you love? (Do you love me)
Now that I can dance (dance)

Sam started doing his best Elvis twist. He grabbed Mercedes' arm twirling her into him, holding her close as he body rolled on her. She fanned herself playfully as Sam looked at her seductively, holding her waist to his.

Watch me now, oh (work, work)
Ah, work it all baby (work, work)
Well, you're drivin' me crazy (work, work)
With a little bit of soul now (work)

"Shane! Ain't that yo girl with that white boy?" One of Shane's friends said. Shane looked to the dance floor to see Mercedes shaking her stuff with Sam Evans. The whole crowd watched them, half of them gawking and the other half cheering.

I can mash-potato (I can mash-potato)
And I can do the twist (I can do the twist)
Now tell me baby (tell me baby)
Mmm, do you like it like this (do you like it like this)
Tell me (tell me)
Tell me

"Ah Hell Naw. Mercedes!"

Shane marched to the dance floor, ready to break up the two who were laughing and still holding each other.

"Mercedes! What're you doing?" Shane said. Mercedes let go of Sam, her face still hot from her dance with Sam. Sam breathed heavily next to her, unable to wipe the confident grin from his face.

"I'm just dancing. Uh this is Sam," Mercedes said. Sam held out his hand, but Shane refused to shake it.

"It's late. I'm taking you home. Now." Shane said sternly.

"But it's only been an hour. I've only gotten to dance once," Mercedes said, starting to get upset at her boyfriend's childish behavior.

"You heard me Mercedes! I'll go get your coat," Shane said, walking away to get their stuff.

Mercedes turned back to Sam, giving him a sad smile.

"Well, it was nice meeting you Sam Evans," Mercedes said politely, fixing her hair a little.

"This can't be it," Sam said, shaking his head.

"Shane is my ride. I have to leave when he does," Mercedes said.

"I'll take you home. Just don't go yet," Sam said, taking Mercedes hand gently. Mercedes looked into the handsome boy's green eyes. She smiled. "You are trouble Sam Evans," she said, straightening his collar. "You know you couldn't drop me off on my side of town without everyone talking."

"I don't care what everybody thinks. Just stay please," Sam said. Sam knew tonight was special the moment he saw Mercedes across the gym. After seeing her sing at his church he was went crazy the next few weeks, because he knew there could be a chance he would never see her again. This second chance had to be God smiling down on him. He wouldn't let this opportunity go."

"Baby. You ready?" Shane said, arriving with Mercedes coat and purse in hand. Mercedes looked once more into Sam's eyes. Why did he look at her like that? Mercedes wondered. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she knew there was something special about him. He was different.

"I gotta go," Mercedes said, letting go of Sam's hand. Mercedes walked to Shane, taking her coat and purse. Sam watched as his dream girl walked away with Shane. But then she stopped suddenly. She said something to Shane Sam couldn't hear from so far away. She quickly walked to the punch table out of Shane's view, pouring herself another cup, and taking a napkin. She took a pen out of her purse, writing something down. She walked over to Sam who was still standing in the same place. "Here. You looked kind of thirsty," Mercedes said, handing him the punch. She winked at him and quickly caught up with her boyfriend. Sam watched the two leave before looking down at the cup. He noticed he could see some numbers being magnified in the reflection of the cup. Sam looked at the red napkin. She had wrote down her number and the time to call her.

"Yes! Thank you God." Sam whispered under his breath, putting the napkin in his pocket. It was a good night.