OPEN ARMS ~ A FABREVANS RECONCILIATION
Setting: Season 3, after Sam joins WMHS Men's Synchronized Swim Team
"He joined the what?" Quinn asked Tina quietly after Glee practice.
"The synchronized swim team! Didn't you notice his slick hair?"
Quinn had noticed it alright. She kept an eye on him as much as possible these days.
She missed him, missed him terribly. She was trying hard, though, to be a better person after the whole debacle with Shelby and Beth. She knew people thought she had fallen off the deep end into the abyss, but she was coming back, better. She was not going to try anything underhanded to win Sam back. She just was going to be his friend. Besides, it was obvious to everyone that he was still head-over-heels for Mercedes.
The question Quinn now had was how deep did Sam's affection for Mercedes go? He knew she had a big bad boyfriend and Shane had even had some words with Sam but Sam wouldn't back down.
Now that Sam had joined the men's synchronized swim team, she heard the snickers in the halls and classrooms, she saw the sympathetic looks from Mercedes, she saw the other boys looking down at him as he walked down the hallways, goofy grin on his face, totally unaware that the entire school was laughing at him.
Well, not the entire school. Quinn didn't think it was funny. She knew how it felt to try to win someone's affections, just to be laughed at or rejected. She knew that sting well. She wondered what the final straw would be, what finally would break Sam and make his goofy grin disappear.
A week later, after it was common knowledge about Sam being a synchronized swimmer, in Glee rehearsal Mr. Schuester made a shocking announcement: he was going to propose to Miss Pillsbury and he wanted the Glee Club to help him. Coincidentally, Miss Pillsbury loved to watch synchronized swimming, so Mr. Schue thought he could mix her love of music and synchronized swimming into sort of a mash-up as his proposal. This would require the Glee Club donning swimsuits and performing a number in McKinley's pool. Quinn watched Sam's expression; he looked like he was over the moon. She watched him seek out Mercedes' gaze, but she was busy discussing swimsuit options with Kurt. And then Quinn saw it…a very quick flash of disappointment slip past Sam's face as he turned back toward the front of the class, doodling on his notebook.
"And the best thing, guys…we'll be singing an epic Journey song!"
The room erupted in classic groans. Mr. Schue played the song for them, though, and surprisingly they came around and decided it was a great song for a proposal. They began rehearsing the song.
xxxxx
For the next 2 weeks, they rehearsed the song out of the pool and eventually in the pool. They had decided on suits with skirts for the girls, red-and-white striped halter tops and navy blue skirts, and the boys wore long navy blue board shorts and red-and-white striped tanks. They learned very simple moves in the water, staying above water the whole time. While rehearsing in the pool area, they soon learned the acoustics were awful and they had to adjust for the echo. Mr. Schue's plan was to have Miss Pillsbury paged to the pool where the kids would burst into song and their water routine and Mr. Schue would appear in his tuxedo to propose.
As they rehearsed and Quinn learned the lyrics of the song she couldn't help but think of Sam. Of course, she watched him watch Mercedes and knew he was thinking the same thing, the song meant something to him about Mercedes though not about her.
Every day after practice in the pool, Shane was waiting outside the locker rooms for Mercedes and she went with him happily. Sometimes, Quinn would catch Sam watching them go, then he would wander off, forlorn and alone. Her heart ached for him, but she waited. She would know when the time would be right.
xxxxx
The day of the proposal arrived, and the Glee Club treated this performance as seriously as a competition performance. The girls changed into their swimsuits in the locker room, then did each other's hair.
"He said he wants to talk to me after this," Quinn overheard Mercedes whisper to Rachel.
"Won't Shane be waiting on you?"
"Not today…he has some interview with OSU," Mercedes replied, sighing. "I've tried to let him down easy, but he's just so damn persistent!"
Quinn had an idea about whom Mercedes spoke.
"What are you going to say to him? I think he really loves you," Rachel whispered. Quinn's stomach turned.
"Oh, he doesn't love me! He thinks he loves me, but he doesn't…things just got…carried away…this summer, that's what he's in love with," Mercedes said, rolling her eyes. Quinn couldn't believe what she just heard. What did Mercedes mean, carried away? Did they do the deed? Then it hit her. Sam was going to get his heart broken in a big way after this proposal. She thought it might be wise if it took her longer than usual to change after the pool performance.
They took their positions in the pool, admiring Mr. Schue in his black suit. He went to the pool office and had Miss Pillsbury paged. The performance had begun.
The kids heard her heels clicking down the hall, getting closer and closer to the pool. She stepped inside the pool area on the deck, facing the Glee Club wading in the clear blue water.
"What…?" she asked.
The boys started singing.
Lying beside you, here in the dark,
Feeling your heart beat with mine…
Then, the girls sang.
Softly you whisper, you're so sincere,
How could our love be so blind?
Quinn glanced at Sam; he was glancing at Mercedes who was looking anywhere but back at Sam.
The boys sang a line, then the girls…
We sailed on together…
We drifted apart…
Together, the entire group sang:
And here you are by my side…
Miss Pillsbury stood on the deck, watching the group, her hands clasped together under her chin, stars in her eyes. Quinn couldn't concern herself with Miss Pillsbury's reaction, though…she kept her eyes on Sam Evans.
So now I come to you, with open arms,
Nothing to hide, believe what I say…
So here I am, with open arms,
Hopefully you'll see, what your love means to me…
Open arms…
They glided through the water, singing their lines with passion, keeping the splashing to a minimum. They took their stationary positions and the girls sang first…
Living without you, living alone,
This empty house seems so cold.
Then, the boys sang…
Wanting to hold you, wanting you near…
How much I wanted you home.
They did the give-and-take again, first the girls, then the boys:
But now that you've come back,
Turned night into day…
And all together: I'll need you to stay…
This was Mr. Schue's entrance; he sang the final chorus to Miss Pillsbury as the Glee Club provided soft background harmony for him. He approached Miss Pillsbury, and the kids quieted down. He knelt on one knee, proffered the engagement ring, and proposed.
Miss Pillsbury was a teary mess at that point but nodded in approval and fell into Mr. Schue's arms. The kids cheered and made their way to the side of the pool to congratulate the couple. By the time the group hug had broke apart, Mr. Schue and Miss Pillsbury were as wet as the kids but very obviously happy. They retreated to the locker rooms to change.
Quinn decided to take a shower and then messed with her hair in front of the mirrors as Mercedes changed out of her suit. When Mercedes grabbed her bag and purse, Quinn quickly changed into her street clothes and slipped out into the quiet hallway and listened.
She heard their voices nearby, talking quietly. She followed their voices until she was just around the corner from where they had met. Frankly, she didn't like eavesdropping, listening in on their private conversation, but she was determined to be there for Sam when Mercedes crushed his heart.
"Sam, please understand," Mercedes said to him quietly. "I'm in love with Shane and have been for some time. I have a future with him. I want to be your friend, Sam, but you've got to let it go..."
"'Cedes, you said you loved me this summer...what happened to that? I'd do anything for you...why can't you understand that?" Sam pleaded.
Mercedes sighed. "I said I loved you in the heat of the moment and, yes, maybe in that one moment I did love you...but, we're just too different, Sam. And, I'm afraid you fell in love with what happened, not with me. I'm really sorry, Sam, but you've got to stop. Shane's starting to get upset..."
"What happened between was so special for me, 'Cedes. Just know that you're killing me now...go to Shane...he'll never love you like I love you..."
Quinn heard footsteps moving toward her and she ran around another corner to avoid being seen. From her new hiding spot, she saw Mercedes walking swiftly down the hall, appearing to be wiping tears from her face. In a way, this whole thing saddened Quinn. Maybe Sam and Mercedes were right for one another, she thought dejectedly. I can always still be his friend, I guess.
There were no more footsteps, so Quinn moved back to her original hiding spot and peeked around the corner. What she saw made her heart clench up.
He sat alone on a bench outside the boys locker room, bent over, holding his head in his hands, shoulders trembling, broken. She hesitated about going to him; he was in such a vulnerable state...he might lash out at her. She held her breath and walked to him slowly.
She sat down next to him and quietly asked, "Are you okay?" She lightly touched his shoulder.
He sat up straight and looked right at her. His face was red and tear-streaked, and, all she wanted to do in that moment was kiss him and make it all better.
"No, I'm not..." he mumbled.
She wrapped her arms around him then and they stayed that way for some time.
"I thought it was real with her," he said finally, sitting up from Quinn.
"I'm sorry, Sam, I'm sorry she can't see all the good right in front of her face," Quinn said quietly, casting her gaze downward.
He chuckled sarcastically. "Obviously, I wasn't that good..."
She rolled her eyes. "I wasn't talking about that! I was talking about the good person you are. You know what? Let her have Shane. She'll soon find out what she's missing...like I have unfortunately."
He looked at his hands clasped together between his knees. "What do you mean?"
"It was a hard lesson to learn but I see it now. I'm missing you in my life."
"You dumped me for Finn, remember?" He shook his head slightly.
She sat there for a moment, his words stinging her.
"You're right, Sam," she said finally. "I shouldn't expect you to believe a word I say when I misused your trust. You know where to find me if you need me."
It took all the strength she had to stand up and walk away from him. He watched her leave.
xxxxx
For the next month, he had to fight every impulse he had to go talk to Mercedes. He watched her and her boyfriend from afar, sometimes feeling eyes on him but he'd turn and there'd be no one there. Quinn offered to help him with an essay he needed to do for English, and she never once mentioned them going out or Mercedes or anything like that, just kept it to spelling and grammar and the topic of the essay. Rehearsals began for Mr. Schue's wedding and sometimes she'd offer Sam a ride back to Finn's house, especially if Finn and Kurt were otherwise occupied. She'd always drive him straight home, not once suggesting they stop at The Lima Bean or anything like that. She'd ask him about his family, his classes, even the synchronized swim team...but never would talk about anything more serious than that. As each day slowly passed for Sam, he slowly began to realize that Mercedes was right, they were from two different worlds and she was genuinely happy with Shane.
Valentine's Day rolled around, and Kurt did his Lonely Hearts Club with the Warblers at Breadstix, even though he was officially not a member anymore, he reminded everyone. Sam sat down with Puck, Artie, and Rory. The others were there to see the Warblers perform. Sam tried to not look at Mercedes and Shane and just focused on Puck and Artie trash talking each other. A glimmer caught his eye, and he saw her and for whatever reason he saw her in an entirely different light. Different from when they had dated, different than how she had been recently...he saw a new Quinn.
She wore a pretty pink dress with a sparkly pink headband. He guessed that that was what caught his eye. She sat down with Mike and Tina and Sugar. He watched her from his table, watched her laughing with those at her table, her eyes shining, exuding a radiance he had really never noticed before.
"Yo, earth to Sam Evans...dude..." Artie was saying to him.
"Yeah, what?"
"Whatchu lookin' at, boy? Some pretty girl in pink, I'm guessing," Artie said, following Sam's gaze.
"Yeah, so..."
"You've taken that ride before...don't tell me you're thinkin' about doin' it again."
Sam sat there, silent and watching.
The Warblers came back from a break and started singing No Air. The lights were dim, the candle on Quinn's table was casting a flickering light over her face as she watched the other couples going to dance. She felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Would you care to dance?"
She turned and looked up at Sam Evans. Her heart jumped. He was handsome, wearing black jeans, a white button-up, and red tie.
"I'd love to, Sam..." She took his hand and let him lead her to the dance floor.
She draped her arms over his shoulders and he awkwardly planted his hands on her hips, both keeping a respectable distance from one another.
We're only dancing as friends, she thought.
Was she always this tiny? he thought.
They moved together, except their movements were out-of-sync with one another unlike the others. They looked at everything else but each other. Finally, his eyes met hers; he bit his lower lip. Her hazel eyes went on forever, it seemed to him. Everything around them was no more when her eyes focused on him, drinking him in, allowing him entrance into her world.
If I should die before I awake,
It's 'cause you took my breath away...
Losing you is like living in a world with no air...
"Nice thing Kurt put together," Sam mumbled, glancing at the decorations, tearing his eyes off hers.
"Yeah, I missed it last year..." she replied.
I'm here alone, didn't wanna leave,
My heart won't move, it's incomplete...
If there was a way I could make you understand...
She felt his arm move to the small of her back, pulling her just a bit closer to him.
"You look really pretty tonight, I just wanted to tell you..." he said quietly, casting his eyes downward, a blush creeping up his cheeks.
"Thank you, Sam," she answered. She moved her arms farther around his shoulders, playing with the ends of his now-short hair.
'Cause my world revolves around you,
It's so hard for me to breathe...
She was finally so close to him, she gently rested her head against his chest. She could feel his heart beating, could smell his aftershave, felt his arms tighten around her waist. She closed her eyes and let him envelope her.
No air, no air...
He rested his cheek against the top of her head for the remainder of the song. At the end, he reluctantly let her go and watched her walk back to her table. He stood there, dumbfounded, wondering what the hell just happened. He returned to his table and tried to focus on the talk amongst the other three guys about Modern Warfare and Call of Duty and the Cincinnati Bengals. All he wanted to do, though, was sneak glances at the pretty blonde girl in the pink dress and sparkly headband who was presently giggling behind her hand at something Sugar just said.
Soon enough, the couples started leaving to continue their Valentine's Day plans elsewhere. The Warblers' set was done, and Puck, Artie, and Rory decided to go to Artie's house to play some new game on his XBox. They asked Sam to join them, they needed a fourth, but he said no thanks, he had other plans.
"Umm, dude, I'm your ride back to the Hudson's," Puck said, confused.
"S'ok...I'll find a way home..." Sam mumbled, watching the others leave arm in arm, hand in hand. He saw Mercedes look up at Shane and smile as he put her coat over her shoulders and he smiled too, finally happy for her.
The restaurant turned on their canned music but left the lights dimmed, candles glowing on all the tables. Sam stood up and approached Quinn's table, now empty except for her.
"May I?" he asked, gesturing toward the empty side of the booth.
She was sipping on a pink drink.
"Sure..."
He smiled across the table at her, unable to contain it. "Happy Valentine's Day, Quinn."
"Thank you, Sam. And a happy Valentine's Day to you, too!" She returned his smile.
"I just had a question…" he said quietly.
"And what's that?"
"Can we start over?" he blurted out.
She paused before answering, gazing at him.
"Hi...I'm Quinn Fabray...and you are?" She held her hand out over the table.
His smile couldn't get any bigger. He took her hand in his and shook it.
"I'm Sam Evans. It's a pleasure to meet you," he replied, his words tumbling out slowly.
They talked the rest of the evening, even shared a thin sliver of cheesecake, until Breadstix turned on the lights and began closing.
Sam and Quinn blinked in the bright lights.
"I'll definitely be running that off tomorrow," he laughed, taking one last tiny bite of the cheesecake.
"I should too!" Quinn said, nibbling on it also.
"You wanna jog with me? I have a nice trail, just bundle up...it gets chilly," he told her.
"Sure, I'd like that. Umm, do you have a ride home or...?"
"I'm just gonna call one of the guys to come pick me up..."
"I don't mind dropping you off at the Hudson's, Sam..."
"Thanks, Q..."
He stood up and took her coat from the hook at the booth and waited for her to stand. He put it on her shoulders and waited for her to her arms through the sleeves. He put on his own coat and they headed for the exit.
She pushed through the door, squealing. When was the last time he had ever heard her sound so happy? Had he ever heard her be so happy and uninhibited? he thought, following her.
"It's snowing Sam! It's beautiful!"
She began twirling around in the tiny flakes, illuminated by a street lamp. The snowflakes dotted her shoulders, caught in her hair. He had to laugh when she stuck her tongue out to catch them there.
"C'mere!" she called to him. He joined her, and she wrapped her arms around him in a giant hug. "Such a wonderful night!"
He smiled. It had been wonderful, magical, he thought. He embraced her tightly.
"I'm so glad we're friends, Sam Evans!" she said, happily. His heart fell. She might not like what he was about to tell her.
"Quinn, I-I meant what I said about starting over. I want us to be more than friends," he said to her, his heart thumping in his chest.
He leaned into her, his cold lips touching her cold lips softly.
She was shocked, stunned that he was kissing her. She had backed off him after talking to him outside the pool but hadn't given up on his friendship. She told herself then he had moved on and she needed to also. But, she hadn't moved on. It had killed her to hang out with him and not reach out to touch him or flirt with him or kiss him.
He wondered if he should stop kissing her. He was gripping her upper arms, afraid to let her go again, when he felt her mittened hands slide up his arms, to his shoulders, pressing their bodies together. When the kiss did finally end, they were both covered with snow, both clinging to one another's upper arms. Both started talking at once.
"I'm sorry Quinn..."
"Sam, just having you..."
"I'm sorry...for the day at the pool...I've thought about that day a lot..." he continued.
"Just having you in my life, even if we're only friends, was enough for me...if you weren't my friend, I don't know what I'd do..." she said.
She pushed herself up on her toes and kissed him again. "Hi, my name is Quinn Fabray, and it's so nice to meet you..." She giggled, and he hugged her close.
As she drove him toward the Hudson's, she hummed the song Open Arms.