Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, but if I did, it'd be totally different…

A/N: This is my first fic ever! It's a three-shot, one part being uploaded a day until New Year's Eve. I hope you enjoy, and reviews are always lovely. - Em

"Make my wish come true…"

Sam Evans closed his locker and shook his head to clear his thoughts for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. Resting his forehead against the cool metal door, he absently rubbed the back of his neck as his mind wandered yet again to events in the choir room earlier that day. The tinsel Mercedes Jones looped around his neck might as well have been electric, so intense was the tingle that rushed through his body. Her earnest performance, the warmth in her eyes – it had been as if she was singing to him, for him.

But she wasn't, and she wouldn't be anytime soon, she made that clear in the hallway last week. He had been confident then that he could make her see that they were destined to be back together. But seeing the way she held Shane's hand in the halls, and the way he looked at her…it made him rethink his original plan. Sam felt a pang of jealousy and pushed those images out of his mind. He shouldn't be thinking about her that way. Not anymore.

He would love to be the one intertwining his fingers with hers as he escorted her to class – the one to look at her like she was the most perfect thing in this world. But the most important thing was that she had someone who did, and that she was happy. Sam wasn't thrilled that he couldn't be that guy, but he would do his best to respect her wishes; she was important to him. And that oaf was important to her; one piece of tinsel doesn't erase four months of dating, he reluctantly reminded himself.

"Sam." He was jolted out of his latest bout of self-pity by the beautiful lilt of her voice. Good God, she was radiant. She'd always been beautiful, but it seemed like she'd become even more stunning since he'd been back. Her delicate curls, pinned back on either side looked so soft he almost ran his fingers through them. And that purple dress she wore hugged her phenomenal body just right; he'd had a hard time hiding the appreciation his pants showed during her musical number- he was sure she felt it.

"Sam." He snapped back into the moment to see Mercedes looking up at him with an expression that was part bemusement, part concern. "I was just wondering if you were okay…I saw you leaning against your locker, and you only do that when you're frustrated or upset so I…" she trailed off, blushing and tripping over her words. Mercedes? Fumbling with her speech? Since when?

"Thanks, but I'm fine, really." Sam lied, his own cheeks heating up slightly. He hoped she wouldn't notice his tells- she'd always been able to call him on his bull. It didn't help that he unconsciously blinked furiously and shoved his hands in his pockets when he fibbed. "But it was nice of you to check on me. I meant to tell you after glee club that I thought you sounded amazing, by the way." he said while ripping his hands out of his pockets. And of course, every coin known to man flew out and onto the floor.

He wished he were dead.

She put her books down and knelt down to help him pick up the change. He glanced at her and his stomach flipped. She was slightly bent over so that the tendrils of glossy black hair almost covered the smirk and cocked eyebrow of her amused expression. Her full lips were pressed together in a way that let him know she was suppressing a giggle. God, how he missed kissing those lips; his mind wandered to how soft they felt, how he loved sucking on her pouty bottom lip in the middle of a kiss just to hear moan-

"So are you going to stare at me with that stupid look on your face, or help me pick up these coins?"

"What? Oh- sorry. Sorry…" he muttered as picked up the last couple of nickels and dimes. As Sam got back up, he realized that he had to see her during this break, preferably sooner than later. If friendship was all she could offer him now, he'd respect that. But he was going to get as friendly as possible, dammit. He helped her to her feet, and put the change she gathered back in his pocket. After handing Mercedes her books, he took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair, tugging on a tuft in the back before starting, " Hey, Cede…"

"…Yes?" she questioned, her eyes snapping to his. He could see the curiosity in her eyes, and sense her tensing up, as if bracing herself for what he was about to ask. That made him frown a bit, almost imperceptibly. He missed the ease that they shared.

"I was wondering, if you would want to hang out tomorrow night…" he asked, "just as friends, of course." he quickly added, seeing her eyes narrow ever so slightly. "You know, watch a movie, shoot some pool, just chill." He could feel her soften her stance just a little, and he let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding.

"I'd love to," she began and he physically brightened "but I have plans with Shane for the next two nights, and then it's Christmas Eve, and I have all this family coming in from out of state, and you'll be gone…" she trailed off, looking a bit guilty. "Maybe we could-"

"No, it's fine. It was stupid of me to ask, of course you want to spend time with your boyfriend." came Sam's rushed reply. He tangled his fingers nervously in his hair, his cheeks heating up once again. "I guess I'd better just give you this now…" he said, pulling a meticulously wrapped box from his backpack, and almost thrusting it into her hands.

"Sam, I-"

"Merry Christmas, Cede…" he mumbled, not able to meet her eyes. He turned on his heel and rushed down the hallway before she could see his crestfallen expression.

"Sam. Sam!" she shouted, her voice bouncing down the hall after him. Mercedes swallowed painfully and let out a defeated sigh. She stood there long after she heard the door to the parking lot clank shut.