A/N: I decided to edit this, not really rewrite but edit and add, make it flow better. Sorry it took so long
Summary: 'I took my lucky break and I broke it in two. Put on my worried shoes…my worried shoes. And my shoes took me so many miles and they never wore out.' Quinn Charlie Fabray is different, her parents are divorced, her father is doing his best, and she's just trying to walk one mile at a time.
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The ride is so relaxing that she can almost breathe without shaking, without pulling a tuck and roll to get out of the car but it doesn't last long. As they approach the soccer complex she suddenly feels like throwing up but her brother rests his hand on top of her head. When the car comes to a complete stop she doesn't move and her brother smiles a little bit ruffling her hair, she puts her head down to move out of his reach but she smiles, they hadn't known each other long but they were close with one another in no time realizing they shared a lot of habits and interest. As far as she is concerned he's been part of her life from the very beginning.
"I love the short cut Charlie, it looks really nice."
Charlie smiles at him, "Thanks Sam, I like your hair too."
"We have matching cuts." He teases, touching her hair again, "Maybe I should go ponytail length."
Charlie sticks her tongue out, "Shut up, Sammy."
Sam gets out the car and Charlie follows leaning on the car trying her hardest to shrink down and blend in with the hunk of metal. Sam reaches in the back and gets out a football walking forward with Charlie close behind him. She quietly counts her steps as Sam slows down to walk with her. He walks at the same pace only moving when she gets to the next number, he knows that numbers are as important to her as glee club is to him.
"Sam, can't I just wait in the car?"
Sam shakes his head, "No way, I want you to meet my friends."
"What if they don't like me?" She whispers lowly and stops walking, "what if they make fun of me?"
Sam puts his arm around her, "I promise you they won't make fun of you. Okay? My friends aren't like that. Though, you can't take Santana too serious because she's nicer than she seems."
Charlie nods nervously and moves from under Sam's arm and he quickly moves back to her side but keeps his arm to himself trying to remember the rules about distance. Charlie had learned about Sam during the last 3 months when her life started crashing down around her. Her parents got a divorce after her mom learned about Sam from an affair between her dad and Sam's mom. Coupled with Charlie coming out. Russell decided to take her side and signed the papers without a fight taking his little girl to Lima, Ohio where he found Sam homeless and moved him in as well happy to have a chance to know his now 16 year old son. He eventually fought for and won custody of Stevie and Stacey when revealing to the courts they too lived in the hotel with Sam as their caretaker.
When they reached the stands Sam put his bag on the bleachers, "You need some new shoes, Charlie."
"No way," Her voice gets high pitched, "these are my worried shoes, Sammy."
Sam makes a face before grinning at her, "Well if that's the case they look great."
Charlie smiles looking down at her worn out high top red Chuck Taylor's, the fabric looked tattered, the red was faded in some parts, the white parts of her shoe had faded sharpie writing, and her white shoe laces seemed to be the only clean part of the shoes only because her other laces had fallen apart in the washer two days before. The tongue of her left shoe was half missing and the tongue of her other shoe was tattered around the edges. Sam has been asking about shoes since first seeing them but her response is always the same.
"Yo, guppy lips," Puck runs up, "Who is the hot chick?"
Sam elbows him, "This is my sister, and her name is Charlie."
"Oh." Puck gives her a smile while extending his hand, "Nice to meet ya, I'm Puck."
Charlie stares at his hand and shakes her head, "nice to meet you too."
"Are you single?" He smiles, putting his hand down nervously.
Sam pushes him back, "Dude, she's my little sister."
"We're the same age."
"2 months difference, Charlie."
Puck rolls his eyes, "It was a joke dude. Anyway this is Mike, Finn, and Santana."
Charlie gives them a shy smile and looks down at her feet, counting the letters in their name in a silent whisper, her hair covering her eyes. She starts to count up her breath, trying to stay calm then looks back up.
"Wait in the stands or wander around. And we can do whatever you want after this." Sam smiles and runs out to the field.
Charlie sighs and crawls into the stands and leans back against the seat behind her. She cocks her head to the side looking at the way the teams are set up. Mike, Finn, and Sam on one team with Santana and Puck on the other. It doesn't look very fair, she's about to stand up and walk down when a brunette girl, very short, runs to the group wearing too short shorts and a white tank top over to Santana and Puck. This really doesn't look fair, one team has two girls and the other team has none. She furrows her brow and leans forward resting her forearms on her knees.
"Why are the girls on same team?" Charlie asks no one in particular.
Brittany walks up sitting beside her, "Because they're really strong." She smiles, "I'm Brittany."
"Hi there I'm Charlie." She smiles nervously, "So do think they're gonna win?"
Brittany nods, "No matter what team Sannie and Rachie are on they win."
"Is she the one that has my brother in a headlock?" Charlie frowns a little, "Is she nice?
"She's just playing around with him." Brittany smiles, "Don't worry she is pretty nice but if she's mean again she won't get sweet lady kisses."
Charlie looks at her, with admiration, "She's your girlfriend?"
"Yeah, wanna hear about it?"
"Sure."
Charlie smiles and listens intently to the story about their sophomore year, she can't believe that people actually go through this kind of stuff. Santana being kicked out and made an outcast and then being outed on camera. Her daddy was so happy for her when she told him and even went to PFLAG until it embarrassed her. He set her up on a blind date and it ended with Charlie yelling at her dad for taking pictures of them. The entire date.
"And now she lives with Rachel but she seems a lot happier." Brittany finishes with a smile.
Charlie grins, "That is amazing."
"Yeah, it was so great when she finally did all that for me." Brittany gets a dreamy look.
"You're my new best friend."
Charlie stops looking at her when she says that, she usually keeps those thoughts to herself but Brittany just makes her feel so comfortable that she can't help but wanna be around this girl constantly. Her sister use to tease her for being a kid, saying that only kids make instant best friends.
Brittany claps and hugs her, "Yay, I have a new friend. You should come with me to feed the ducks on Sunday."
"I love ducks! Look at my shirt." Charlie points to the duck on the front of her shirt wearing a tuxedo and a top hat, "Oh…please don't touch me."
"I'm sorry," Brittany inhales excitedly, "I want a shirt like that!"
Charlie smiles trying to think of the next best option, she was wearing a tank undershirt and Brittany was her best friend. They did always say that you give people you love the shirt off your back. Charlie nods pulling her shirt over her head.
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Both teams are glaring at each other because it's currently a tie game but Mike has to head to dance class.
Santana crosses her arms, "So you forfeit, that's cool."
"We do not; we can pick it back up later." Sam nods.
Santana scoffs "Can't do that Evans, I gots plans with my lady tonight."
"Then you forfeit." Mike pointed out, "loser."
Finn nodded, "Yeah you quit."
"Just because you three losers have no lives doesn't mean we don't." Puck says smugly.
Sam glares, "Oh shut up Puckerman."
"Just say you forfeit so we can get out victory dance over with." Rachel leans against Santana.
Santana looks at her nails, "We needs to get outta here."
"Sam, why is your sister stripping?" Finn points to the stands.
The players look up and then look at each other before walking over to the stands.
Sam leans on the fence, "Charlie, what are you doing?"
"Giving my best friend my shirt, what does it look like?" Charlie gives Brittany the shirt, "Daddy says you give your friends the shirt off your back."
Brittany hugs her, "Sannie this is my new best friend, Charlie."
"We've met, come on Britt." Santana crosses her arms.
Sam look at Charlie and sighs, "He didn't mean literally, Charlie."
Brittany hugs Charlie again and walks down the bleachers as Santana takes her hand pulling her to the car talking quietly to Brittany, mostly about boundaries, while looking over at Charlie. Charlie walks down the bleachers wearing just her jeans cut off just an inch above the knee, her sneakers, and tight undershirt. Sam sighs as the guys give him a pound and walk across to the field to the other parking lot. Charlie walks over and smiles at Sam who gives her keys to the car.
"There is an extra shirt in the trunk." Sam grins when she bounds off toward the car.
Rachel looks at her Sam, "Your sister is cute."
"Stay away from my sister, Rachel." Sam glares at her.
"Oh come on, she's pretty and has a great body and she obviously has no shame."
Sam glares at her, "I mean it, Berry. We're friends but I'll pay Zizes to throw you in a trash can if you touch my sister."
Sam walks ahead and Rachel follows him when hearing a soft voice that makes her heart swell. She bit her bottom lip before noticing the way Sam clenches his jaw while glaring out the corner of his eye. When they get to the car Charlie stops singing and smiles wearing a white shirt that hung loosely on her frame.
She smiles widely, "Can we go to the book store? I saw this antique one a few miles away, I was gonna walk but I made a new best friend and well I forgot about the book but I really want it. Like I really want to buy something."
"Sure thing, Charlie. We just need to drop off Rachel first. Rachel this is my sister Charlie Fabray."
Rachel looks at her with a shy smile, "Charlie? Is that short for something?"
"Uh no, what would it be short for?" Charlie frowns at her then looks at Sam then back at her.
"Maybe something like Charlotte."
Charlie laughs, "Charlie is my name. Just Charlie, can we go now? You wanna come with us to the book store?"
"I would love to." Rachel gives her an easy smile, "Doesn't that sound fun Sam?"
Sam gets in the driver's seat not saying a word. Charlie smiles and opens the back door for Rachel and once she is settled in she closes the door and gets in the front. She puts on her seat belt while looking at Sam.
"Sam."
"No Charlie."
"Sam."
"Charlie."
"Do it."
Sam sighs and puts on his seat belt then she looks at Rachel who already has her on. Charlie nods triumphantly as Sam pulls out the parking lot heading to the book store. She picks up her iPod up and starts a song from the beginning and starts singing under her breath staring out the window, her arms dangling out.
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When they pull up to the bookstore Sam runs across the street to 'Game Stop' to pick up a few video games and anything to not end up in the book store. Charlie pouts until she grabs Rachel's hand and drags her into the store. She pulls Rachel into the back of the store to the fantasy section then releases her hand after realizing she's holding her hand. Charlie sits in the floor reading 'The Metamorphosis' with a confused look on her face.
Rachel smiles sitting beside her, "You look confused."
"This book should be in the Philosophical section." Charlie looks at her, "Have you ever read it?"
"No, I don't think I've ever heard of it."
Charlie gives her a shocked expression, "How far behind is your school? I got this book in AP English in 9th grade."
"I don't think we'll even be on that this year and I'm a junior." Rachel laughs softly looking over her shoulder at the book.
"You can borrow it when I'm done. Wait, I have a better idea." Charlie stands and grabs another copy.
"What is this idea?"
Charlie smiles and walks away leaving a confused Rachel in the floor, the brunette stands and follows Charlie to where she is paying for the books.
"You should know that most of your books are in the wrong section. This one should be in Philosophical." Charlie grins at her.
The cashier rolls her eyes, "Thank you for your purchase."
The blond looks a little thrown off by the rudeness as she grabs her books and pulls Rachel out behind her. She sits on the bench and grins at Rachel patting the seat beside her until the girl joins her.
"Okay, so I figured you could read it and we could talk about it." Charlie grins at her.
Rachel nods, "Yeah, sure."
Rachel feels such easiness around Charlie she feels like she would do anything to see the pretty girl smile that way. Her heart pounds the closer Charlie gets to her and points over each passage that she feels is important, so far it's every other sentence. She can feel the differences that Sam briefly mentioned. Something about her being different, Rachel can see it and feel it. She wonders what he meant; her thoughts didn't form words as Sam is rushing across the street eying Rachel.
"Come on Charlie we need to help dad with Stevie and Stacey."
"Oh yeah, can Rachel come over for dinner?"
Sam shakes his head, "Maybe some other time. You know its family night. So let's drop off Berry and get home."
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Charlie runs into the house and picks up Stacey with a huge smile on her face and Stevie runs over hugging her legs before jumping on Sam.
Stacey smiles, "Hi Charlie!"
"Hi Stacey, you wanna play before dinner?"
"YES! Can we go paint?"
Charlie nods, "Yeah after I talk to daddy." She puts Stacey down, "Go set your canvas up."
Stacey smiles and hugs Sam before running down the steps. Charlie walks into the kitchen and sneaks up behind her dad poking him.
"HI DADDY!"
He turns around, "Hey there princess. Did you have fun today?"
"Yeah I made a new best friend…"
"HEY!" Stevie glares while reaching in the cookie jar.
Charlie smiles, "After you of course. Oh and I made another friend named Rachel. I don't think Sam likes her."
"Oh why is that?" Russell looks at Stevie, "One cookie and go finish cleaning your room."
"Yes papa Russ." Stevie takes two cookies and runs to his room.
Charlie smiles taking a carrot off the chopping board, "He just looks at her weird. But I think she's pretty and I got her a book so we can read it together. She's never heard of Metamorphosis, can you believe that?"
"You're kidding me? Stop stealing carrots rabbit."
"But they're so good, how was work?"
"Oh you know it was wonderful." Russell gives her a Kool-Aid smile, "Nothing like working in a hospital."
Russell is a therapist at the local mental facility for troubled youths. He's a surprisingly happy man to deal with mentally unstable or extremely depression day in or day out. Russell's happy disposition could be blamed on his current home life and Judy being out of his life. When Russell took in the Evans' kids he was even happier with Sam's willingness to call him dad along with Stevie and Stacey calling him papa Russ.
Stacey runs in, "Charlie we're supposed to be playing."
"Oh right, we're off to do some great painting daddy." Charlie scoops up Stacey and runs down to the basement.
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After dinner, that resulted in several debates about whether or not Darth Vader or Voldemort was a better Hitler eventually Sam gave up and let the Fabray's win. Though he promised that once the twins were old enough they would be on his side, Stacey disagreed and Stevie said he didn't care either way. Once the twins were in bed Charlie and Sam went outside.
Charlie kicks around her soccer ball, "I'm pretty nervous about school starting."
"Don't worry; I'm pretty popular so I can take care of you." Sam smiles, "Plus Brittany likes you so no one will mess with you."
Charlie grins, "You think so?"
"Oh yeah, no one messes with her because of well Santana and Rachel. You'll see." Sam starts tuning his guitar.
"What about them?" Charlie holds up soccer ball.
Sam smirks, "Well okay at your old school did you have cheerleaders?"
"It was a magnet school Sam…we didn't have sports teams."
"How did you play soccer?"
"Community league, but I have seen some cheerleaders."
"Have you ever interacted with cheerleaders?"
Charlie nods, "I use to kiss one a lot but she said we had to stop if we didn't go further so we stopped."
"Wow…" Sam looks at her, "Uh so you know that cheerleaders kinda run things?"
"Well yeah…so Rachel is a cheerleader? She's kinda short."
Sam laughs, "Yeah, her and Santana are Cheerios…a different breed of cheerleader."
"A different breed, like a liger?" Charlie balances the ball on her foot, "Why are they named after cereal?"
Sam laughs again, "Yeah like a liger. Come on its bed time."
They go into the house seeing Russell on the couch sleeping, Charlie walks to put a blanket on him as Sam heads up the steps. Charlie smiles kissing his forehead and cuts out the light walking up the steps going to room before she closes the door Sam pokes his head out.
"Hey Charlie, can you do me a favor?"
"Sure."
Sam smiles, "Don't give anyone else your shirt."
"Shush."
He winks and closes his door. Charlie goes in her room and changes out of her clothes; too tired to shower, she falls in the bed wearing sweatpants. She looks at the ceiling and starts talking.
"5…4…3…2…1" Charlie smiles as she hears a knock, "Come on in Stacey."
Stacey opens the door holding a zebra, "Charlie can I sleep with you?"
"Sure can." She smiles.
Stacey closes the door and runs into the bed curling into Charlie closing her eyes.
"Can we leave the light on?"
"Just tonight, OK?"
"OK."
Charlie smiles and closes her eyes.
"Sing to me Charlie."
"You got it." Charlie clears her throat, "I took my lucky break and I broke it in two. Put on my worried shoes…my worried shoes. And my shoes took me so many miles and they never wore out….my worried shoes…"