I don't know how it really started. The liking of one of my best friends, I mean. At first it was just the little things he did: the small smiles from across the hall or classes or the longer hugs that we shared. Sam had went from being a boy I hung out with to being the boy that clouded every thought. Sam Evans had turned me into a complete mess.

"Emmy, there you are," Sam said as he walked up to my locker. Speak of the devil and he shall come. I smiled up at the blonde boy as I organized a few things in my locker. Pictures of Sam and I littered the inside of the door along with a small calendar and a mirror. "I want you to come to Glee practice with me."

"No, Sam. We've been through this. I have too much going on already with yearbook and babysitting to do Glee," I said as I pulled out the books and binders that I would need for homework for the night.

"Please, Ems. We need you. And it's only for an hour after school. Please. You love to sing and I think it would be good for you."

"I can't, Sam. Just, no. Stop that, I can't." He was giving me that look that rivaled with a sad puppy and I almost gave in before turning and walking away. Truth is, I really wanted to join New Directions, but I didn't have the time since my parents were getting divorced. I hadn't told Sam about that yet so he was still oblivious to the reasons why I couldn't join.

I drove to my little sister's school and waited in the line of parents for their kids. Gracelyn was only seven, only a year younger than Sam's little brother and sister, and was just as oblivious to the fighting and dad storming out of the house.

"Emmy, look at what I painted today," Gracelyn said as she climbed into the front seat and handed over a piece of paper with a uneven rainbow on it.

"This is really pretty, Gracie. Seatbelt on," I said and I waited for her to do so before pulling out after the car in front of me. "How was school today?"

"It was good. I played with Stacy today. She said Sam was sad cause you won't sing with him." It was then that I felt guilty. My seven year old sister was the one who was making me feel guilty, not my best friend.

Once at our house, Gracelyn ran inside and I followed after her, typing a text to Sam with one hand.

Why should I join? - Ems

You love to sing. - Sam

I'll think about it. Why were you complaining to Stacy about it? - Ems

Good. Let me know if you ever want to come. You'll need to audition. And I don't know. Just happened. - Sam

Okay. I have to watch Gracie now, but I will think about it. - Ems

I closed out of the conversation and walked into the kitchen to find my mom sitting there. This was off seeing as how she was never home before eight o'clock.

"Mom, what's going on," I asked once I was a few feet from her. She looked up at me then and I gasped when I saw the handprint that was on her face. Through all of this, my dad had never laid a hand on my mom and now I was scared.

"You're father's gone," she mumbled and looked down at her cup of coffee.

"What happened?" She looked distracted and I didn't know if I could handle this on my own.

"I found him in the living room with some younger woman and he got angry when I confronted him about it. He left with her after he slapped me."

"I'm sorry, mom."

"Not you're fault, baby girl. Go check on Grace and then go hang out with Sam. I know this has been stressing you out more than it should have been."

"If you're sure." She nodded at me and I retreated out of the room and made my way up to Grace's room. She was playing with her dollhouse in the middle of her room and I stood in the doorway for a few minutes before going to my own room to think for a few minutes.

You free to hang out? - Ems

Yeah. Sure. Glee ends in 15. Meet you in the lot? - Sam

Sure. That's fine. I'll pick you up. - Ems

Fifteen minutes later I found myself waiting in my car in the lot outside of the auditorium doors. Sam walked out a few moments later waving at Puck and Finn slightly before pushing his hands into the pockets of his letterman's jacket. Another moment later, I found myself wrapped in Sam's warm arms.

"What's wrong," he asked.

"Mom and dad have been talking about getting divorced. I guess today mom came home early and dad was in the living room with some younger woman. Mom confronted him about it and he slapped her and then he left," I said into his shoulder. By the last sentence I was crying and he was running his hand through my hair.

"Let me drive. You can't like this." I nodded slightly, but didn't start to move. "C'mon, Ems." I nodded and then pulled away from his chest and I grimaced thinking about what I probably looked like. We both got out and he pulled me into another hug before shrugging off his jacket and handing it to me. I smiled shyly up at him before pulling it on and then getting into the passenger's seat. He adjusted the driver's seat before getting it and then turning towards me. "Why didn't you tell me before now?"

"I don't know. I thought things would get better." I shrugged and tried to wipe a few of the tears off my cheeks. He chuckled and swiped a thumb under both of my eyes. His calloused fingers catching the tears better than my own small ones.

"Things will get better, you know that right?" I shrugged again not really wanting to hear all the cliché sayings. "Want to just go on a drive?" I nodded and pulled my iPod out of my purse, plugged it in, and started out Journey and REO Speedwagon playlist.

We were near Westerville now and for a moment I thought about asking Sam to go to Dalton so I could see Kurt, but decided against when I realized he would ask why my face was so red and why I was wearing Sam's jacket.

"We should get back. We both have homework," I said when I noticed the time. He sighed and nodded before making a series of turns to get us back in the direction of Lima.

When we got to my house he pulled into the driveway and we sat there for a few minutes, letting Don't Stop Believing fill out ears.

"Don't shut me out again, alright?"

"Yeah. I know. Let's go inside." He nodded slightly and he grabbed his bag before walking into my house with me.

"Hi, Mrs. Montgomery," Sam said once we were inside and my mom was in our view.

"Hello, Sam," she said, walking up to him to give him a hug. He returned it, squeezing just a little more than usual. They smiled at each other when the pulled away and he glanced at me before he nodded at the stairs. I nodded back and led him up to my room.

The night was spent doing homework and listening to music from the eighties. Every once in awhile I would help Sam out with a math problem or something and sometimes Gracelyn would barge into the room, but Sam welcomed her in, letting her climb into his lap and snuggle into his chest. The sight of that made me smile. She looked so vulnerable and I truly hated seeing that.

At seven we ate dinner and then at eight thirty once we had cleaned up the dishes and Sam had played the prince for Grace, I drove him home.

"Thank you, Sam," I said once we were at his house.

"Anytime, Emmy," he said into my ear as he gave me a hug. He left my car and started walking up the driveway, only stopping for a moment to turn back to wave at me.

Once back at my house and up in my room, did I notice that Sam's letterman's jacket was still hanging on the back of my desk chair.

I do not own Glee or any of it's characters.

I do own Emmylou, Gracelyn, and any other original characters that may be portrayed in this story.

This started out as I dream. Well a chapter far, far from this one did at least. You'll find out later. :]

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