Notes: This is my first-time writing from Skank!Quinn's perspective and I have little information on her canon character so this story will be my personal take on how her character should be portrayed in this alternate universe. Also, note that this is strictly AU, so all canon details would be redundant.
Sam had thought he had long grown numb of the ache in his chest, reminding him pitifully that there was no place on earth he could possibly escape seeing them together. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, just hammering in the fact that he had to face the girl he loved be with someone else.
The blonde stiffened at the thought. Someone that was not him.
He could see them rounding the corner, snuggled closely against each other as their breaths fogged together in harmonious sync.
Sam Evans was not someone to be jealous. Especially not of someone else's pure, unadulterated happiness radiating off the cold December air.
He felt bitter.
There was nothing in his life that went against the very definition of right. He had finally moved out of the tiny apartment that squeezed his family of five together, paid off his student loans and on his way in achieving that master's degree.
No doubt, he was still struggling between his studies and paying off the rent for his unbelievably tinier apartment he managed to find, but Sam was quite content with his life.
Until that very instant, standing dumbstruck on the sidewalk, he watched them make their imminent approach towards him that he froze in his tracks.
Nowhere to hide.
Her eyes lighted up with such glow it wrenched his heart, waving her hands enthusiastically when she caught sight of him.
"Sam!"
The corners of his lips twitched, forcing a smile onto them as he waved back obligatorily, hoping she would stop what he knew she would do.
It was hopeless and Sam knew it.
He released a sigh, opening his arms as her smaller body hugged his.
"Hey, there." He murmured into the soft brown hair that nuzzled against his torso, the curls cascading down her back.
She pulled back, that heartbreakingly brilliant smile so firmly planted on her features he was worried momentarily that her facial muscles would hurt from the overexertion.
"Sam."
The tone was lower, subdued. Not belonging to one enthusiastic childhood friend whose arms were wrapped around his waist.
He lifted his eyes to meet his, the smile faltering slightly. "Jake."
"It's so good to see you." Breaking his reverie was the ever excited girl, still keeping her hands on Sam. It was a crime not to get affected by her mere contact.
"Likewise, Marls." The lack of sincerity in his voice was obvious, but the girl was bound to miss it.
Sure enough, Marley tore away from her best friend and went back to loop her arm around her boyfriend's. "I'm almost frozen to death out here. C'mon, let's get inside."
The couple filed through the door, Sam following closely behind, as they entered the café.
The Atrium was quiet, a long walk from his apartment. Sam hated coffee, hated the adrenaline it released in a person's body, hated how it was how the happy couple met.
He really wished he could order something strong right now, something to drown his thoughts before he could face seeing them together, knowing it would never be his place.
But it was nine in the morning. And he was in a coffee shop. Did he mention that he hate coffee?
Sam declined the other man's offer to order before following his best friend to a table near the windows. It was big, spacious enough to give them all the personal space they needed.
Her cheeks were flushed pink from the weather, a color that never ceased to amaze him every time he saw it flush her skin. It made her feel even more perfect than he knew she was, capturing wonderfully the angelic image he reserved just for her.
"How are you?"
It was a simple question. Something everyone asked all the time as a greeting.
He shrugged as nonchalantly as he could muster, eyes averting to avoid her gentle ones. "I'm great. Classes are great, school is great and the city is great. Everything is great."
Her thin eyebrows rose in question and Sam had to bite on his bottom lip, swallowing the truth that was threatening to spill.
Of course she saw through his lie. She was his best friend, for crying out loud. One look was all it took.
Marley was the smartest person he had ever known and her perceptiveness was astonishing. Growing up, Sam had never been able to fool her for the slightest bit. Except the part where he nursed the greatest and unreciprocated crush on her. That was a living proof of how he had even managed to survive all those years of acting classes.
He held his hands up in surrender. "I am. I really am." He assured her, even adding in a small smile that hopefully convinced her he was telling the truth.
If she had any remaining doubt, he would never know since that was the moment Jake returned with their orders, sitting down next to her.
She gave her boyfriend a grateful smile, taking the cup in her hands before carefully sipping at the foam. The man settled his own drink on the table himself, quirking an eyebrow, a silent question.
"Sam was just telling me how well he's settling in the city." Marley shrugged, meeting his gaze sideways as she continued to sip.
The other man simply nodded, dropping the conversation.
Of all people who could have seen through his lie, it had to be Jake. Sure, he had never confronted Sam about it, but there was a heat behind the pointed glares he sent his way whenever Marley was not looking.
Not that she would notice, anyway. She was blissfully ignorant of the animosity between the two.
A loud ring blared through the tranquility of the café and Sam was thankful for the distraction.
"Oh, it's Unique!" Marley chirped once she identified the caller, grinning widely as she swiped to answer the call. "I haven't heard from you in forever!"
He barely restrained the urge to roll his eyes, fully aware they had talked almost every other day. Forever was undoubtedly an exaggeration.
"What? I can barely hear you." Her eyebrows were furrowed together, as if trying to make sense of the situation. Sam could hear the buzzing from the other end, incoherent yelling in the background.
"I'm going to go outside for a bit. The reception's awful in here." Marley declared after a moment of attempting to rectify the situation, which was close to none. The café always had atrocious reception. Not that Sam cared in the least. He never would have stepped inside if it was up to him.
Jake nodded and the brunette leaned in to peck quickly on his cheeks, mumbling a soft apology before rushing outside. Sam dropped his gaze, feigning interest in the stray strings hanging off his shirt.
"Sam."
He raised his head, locking eyes with the other man, a silent yes? directed at him.
A sigh. "I have something to tell you while Marley's gone."
He could feel the panic rise in his chest, sending him into a frenzy over the possible topics they could have together. They never talked. In private, anyway. If it hadn't been Marley, Sam could never imagine himself knowing Jake. The confident man who took nobody's crap, especially when it came to his girlfriend.
He gulped and nodded, trying to withhold the temptation to bolt and run away before the conversation could even take place.
"I'm going to propose."
One simple sentence and it sent his world crashing down. The world seemed to have gone still, letting him take in the news as best as he could, which was unbearably pointless. Sam felt the air leaving his lungs painfully slow, as if fate decided to play a cruel joke in drawing out his death, instead of dealing him with a single blow.
If anything, sitting there opposite of Jake was worse than burning himself into the depths of hell.
He tried to recompose himself, schooling his features to not seem like he was not currently struggling for breath.
"That's… great." He was really misusing the word great.
"Sam…"
Before he could add anything further, something that could possibly cause yet another explosion in his head, he held his hand up, silencing him.
"No. That's really great to hear. You guys are… perfect together."
"Are you sure you're okay?" His voice sounded kind, so very unlike Jake. But he could see his own face being reflected in his hazel orbs, looking every bit of pathetic.
"Why wouldn't I be–"
"Because you love her?"
Sam choked, sputtering out in bewilderment. "What?"
The other man exhaled, curling his fingers around his cup to bring the drink to his lips. He took the opportunity to examine his features. The resignation in his face was palpable.
"I'm not dumb, you know." Jake finally said, his eyes searing straight into Sam's. He felt exposed in front of him, like he was peeling away everything he had ever known.
"I saw how you look at her. I know. That's how I look when I see her face."
He stayed silent, refusing to answer, and he apparently took it as a cue to continue.
"I didn't say anything because I love her, too. I couldn't risk ruining your friendship over that."
His fists clenched underneath the table, trying hard not to break in front of him. Not here, not now.
He must have seen it too – damn it, Sam – when he sighed again, shaking his head.
"What I'm saying is that–"
"I'm fine." He interrupted through gritted teeth, despite knowing he had absolutely no right in getting annoyed over the matter. "I really am. She's my best friend and I want nothing but the best for her, even if it meant it wouldn't be with me."
A pause. His breathing sounded eerily loud.
He released his hands, the knuckles having gone completely pale, before bringing one up to push the fringe that obscured his face away. "I know she's happy with you. And I couldn't be more thankful." Their eyes met and Sam hoped his words conveyed the sincerity, even though it was hurting him to even admit the truth.
Jake's frame relaxed visibly. He could tell he was mulling over his declaration, trying to decipher any hidden meaning.
A short minute passed before his lips curved into a tentative smile, reaching his eyes.
"You're a good person, Sam."
Before he could even form any decent response to that, Marley came back with a smile, skipping over to her previously occupied seat.
"What did I miss?"
Jake broke their gaze to glance lovingly back at her, mimicking the prominent smile on her face.
He felt like a bomb dropped in his face, struck by epiphany as he watched them interact easily, like two puzzle pieces finding their way to each other.
Somewhere deep inside of him, he knew he could never give that to Marley.
"Shit, I hate to do this but we really need to go." She looked at her friend sheepishly, waving her phone around to emphasize the urgency. "We have to be at this place in like thirty minutes…"
Sam shook his head, the smile coming to him easier than it did earlier. "It's fine. Don't worry about me."
Marley kissed his cheeks apologetically, giving his shoulders a small squeeze before slipping into Jake's arms again with ease as they got up to leave.
He barely had time to sigh in relief when she turned her head back a second later, her hands already on the door.
"You're coming to the Christmas party at my house, right?"
There it was. He had been fairly certain that she would have forgotten to invite him this year, being so in love and all. Honestly, a part of him was glad he did not have to decline her polite offer.
Now that he knew Jake was going to pop the question in the near future, he really wanted to avoid them to the best of his effort. Despite his acceptance that he would never be the partner worthy of his best friend, he could never bear the sight of seeing her accept the ring from her beloved.
The look of pity she sent his way did nothing to ease the ache in his heart. She was oblivious to his inner turmoil, but she knew him enough to know something was up. What, exactly, was the real question.
"Actually, I need to go back home. My parents insisted I return for the holidays this year."
Her face contorted into one of sympathy and concern and he almost winced at the blatant lie he made up. He hated to see the look on her face, hated how small it made him feel, hated to having to lie in order to avoid spending time with her.
"Oh, well. Tell your mom I said hi and I miss her blueberry pies."
Sam nodded mutely, not being able to admit he could barely afford his rent, let alone a plane ticket back home.
"I'll see you soon, okay?" Marley blew a kiss at him, waving along with Jake before they stepped outside of the café, linking their arms together.
His eyes followed their figures until they disappeared from his sight, still laughing and close.
As much as he hated the place, he could barely pick himself up and leave. He would hate to go back and spend even more alone time in his empty apartment, surrounding himself with misery.
Without thinking further, he pulled his laptop out of his long forgotten bag, lying idly by his feet, and powered it on, figuring he could distract himself with his assignments at least.
Quinn stepped inside the café, inhaling the aromatic scent that infiltrated her nostrils.
It made her feel alive, springing some much needed energy into her worn-out body.
Puck had pressed against her back, his rough fingertips roaming her skin tight jeans, though she could tell he desperately wanted to touch the skin hidden beneath it.
Her phone vibrated in her pockets and she had to push his wandering hands, making him frown in the process, in order to grab it.
The picture being flashed on the screen made her grimace. It was a picture taken years ago, when she had not been looking. Back when she thought Quinn was the most perfect girl in the world, so very unlike the person she currently was.
Her voice was strained when she answered. "Hey, mom."
"Quinn!" Judy sounded way too cheerful, which hinted at nothing but good. Before she could dwell on it, the voice on the other end continued. "What are you doing?"
"Uh." She glanced around, inspecting the store carefully as though her mother was going to jump out of nowhere. It was a crazy notion and she could only shake her head in disbelief at the absurdity of the idea. "Nothing much, actually. I'm just grabbing myself some coffee at The Atrium."
"Oh, The Atrium." Her mother repeated, making the name sound like a disease. Which was really her fault, seeing how she bumped into her high school nemesis at said café during one of her rare visits. Ever since then, she would flinch whenever the name was brought up in conversations, which was why Quinn loved patronizing it so much. It always ruffled her mother's feathers and nothing gave her more satisfaction than that.
"Quinn, babe. Do you want your usual, or?" Puck shouted from the cashier, having gone to order like the impatient ass he was.
She waved him off, stepping away further to place some distance.
"Who's that?" Judy enquired and she could hear the rustling in the background, meaning her mother was outside, probably walking.
"Nobody."
"It didn't sound like nobody."
Quinn rolled her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. It was too early to deal with her probing and she needed at least a truckload of coffee in her system before she could attempt to do so.
"Fine. It's a guy." She admitted, watching him pull out his wallet to pay. "That I'm dating."
"How long?" Russell's voice interrupted and Quinn froze, having not noticed the change of listener.
"Uh." She bit her lip, pretending to think. "A few weeks, maybe?"
She heard a snort before her mother took over again. "Where did you meet?"
We met at the bar that I play at, which you probably don't care and hate, anyway. "The library."
"Oh, did you?" Judy sounded skeptical and Quinn could hardly blame her. Not even in her wildest dreams could she possibly imagine her daughter in a library, meeting any form of a decent guy. Who was nothing like Puck, at all.
"Yes, we did." She reaffirmed, murmuring a quick thanks when Puck walked back to her, handing over her much needed caffeine. A groan escaped her throat as soon as she took a sip, her weariness washing away immediately.
"We'd love to meet him, someday."
Quinn hummed pensively, paying no attention. "Yeah."
She could lie and told them they broke up by the time she went back home for Christmas. It would be fairly easier, even. What were the chances of her lasting with an actually decent guy?
"I guess we'll see him soon."
"Sure." She tuned out completely when Puck leaned in to kiss at her neck, brushing away the pink hair that fell to her shoulders.
"That's great. We'll be there in about ten minutes."
What?
Her shock made her lose whatever grip she had left on her coffee, dropping it on the ground.
"Fuck, Quinn." Puck whined as he jumped out of the way, narrowly avoiding being scalded by the hot liquid.
"You're– What?" She sputtered, not caring if her boyfriend muttered several curses under his breath and swatted at his shirt. No, she had more pressing matters on hand. "You're in New York?"
"Yes, dear." Quinn could hear the smile in her mother's voice, as if she was enjoying the surprise way more than she was. "We were just visiting your aunt when we realized we haven't seen you in months."
"But–"
Judy went on like she never heard her speak, at all. "Plus, we have all these preparations going on for the Christmas get-together we're planning, it's so frustrating… Oh! You know what?" She sounded like a lightbulb had just went off inside her head. "You should invite this boyfriend of yours, too."
What? No. "Uh, my boyfriend's pretty busy this Christmas."
"No, I'm not." Puck interrupted and Quinn practically hissed at him, hoping her mother did not hear that part.
"Great!" Of course, she did. "We'll see you in a bit. Love you."
The line went dead.
Great, great, great, great.
She just lied to her parents about meeting a boyfriend in the library and got him an invitation for Christmas? Back home? Quinn groaned out loud, mentally cursing the babble-mouths that were both her and her boyfriend.
"What's up?" Puck enquired, seeing the furrow between her eyes.
Not to mention her parents were on their way to meet said boyfriend, expecting to see a nice, down-to-earth American boy who went to libraries and swept their daughter off her feet.
Which was everything Puck was not. Mohawk, tattoos and a piercing in his tongue – there was nothing about him that screamed approval in her parents' eyes.
"My parents are having an epiphany and suddenly decided to visit me. I need you to leave, or pretend not to know me."
The apology that was on her lips never left, since the realization dawned on Puck's face and immediately drained all color from his features.
"Fuck. Wow, I get it. I'm out." With that, he practically fled the café with his tail between his legs.
Quinn was contemplating on whether to join or murder him.
But there was no time left to decide. The clock was ticking and her parents would be arriving any moment, now.
She smoothed her untidy locks, ensuring her pink hair covered the ink on her shoulders and rolled her sleeves down to veil the rest of the tattoos. Judy and Russell would most definitely have a fit seeing the dye in her hair – horrifying was what they would call it – and the dark lines that went down the curves of her arms.
That was why whenever she visited them, she made sure she bleached her hair back to a color they would approve and brought along all the long sleeves and pants she could find, in attempt to conceal everything they hated on her body.
There was no time to do so in the present situation, unfortunately, but to utilize the most of her current resources to concoct an image her parents kept pretending she was.
And a boyfriend. Shit. She had forgotten about it.
Quinn scanned the relatively empty café in matter of seconds, trying to find anyone remotely fitting. It barely had any customers, apart from an elderly couple and a handful of students agonizing over their homework.
Something – or rather someone – caught her attention when her eyes reached the table by the windows.
He had blonde hair, with his bangs swept to the side neatly, which was a stark contrast to the panic rising in Quinn's chest.
His forehead practically had 'golden boy' etched all over, looking every bit of the wholesome good guy every parent would dream of having their daughter to date.
Especially hers.
The man was typing away at his laptop, oblivious to her distress, as he frowned at the screen, pondering over something she could not see.
But, almost as if he could sense her scrutiny, he glanced up just in time to catch her in the act.
An amused expression formed on his lips and he offered a kind smile, which resolved the nagging feeling nestled deeply inside of her. That and also, made up her mind to storm over before stopping in front of him.
His smile turned quizzical, but remained on his features.
"I need your help."
