I couldn't believe that she did this to me! It was a few minutes after prom, and everyone was either too busy making out to leave the cafeteria or they decided to head to the after party at Puck's house. Rachel (who just happened to be my ride home) was nowhere to be seen and Jesse was stumbling around the parking lot in a drunken stupor calling out her name. There was no way I was going to thank her for inviting me if she couldn't even be here to provide me with a ride home afterwards. I sighed. Why do all of these things seem to happen to me? What did I ever do to deserve this?

I mean come on! I wouldn't have come to the freaking prom if I knew that my ride wouldn't be able to pick me up. I hadn't even brought my phone with me, so there was no way I could contact anyone. It was too late to call Kurt and Blaine to come back for me, they were probably off somewhere else doing Lord knows what. I pushed past the remainder of the crowd in the cafeteria making a hasty beeline for the exit. I just managed to push open the door when I heard someone calling my name.

I peered over my shoulder to see a tall muscular silhouette approaching me. The scent of dove soap filled my nose. "Hey" Sam said completely out of breath. "Hey" I ducked my head hoping that he wouldn't notice my blush.

It was embarrassing; I couldn't believe that I was seriously becoming attracted to him. After all, he only seemed to go after the stick thin beautiful cheerleaders…why would I even think that he would like….me?

"You going home?" he asked tucking his hands in his pockets. I nodded avoiding his open gaze.

"I was looking for Rachel but it seems like she left already" Sam said scuffing his worn leather shoes on the concrete sidewalk.

I rocked back onto my heels and sighed, watching my breath float around in the chilly air. Of all the times for Rachel to ditch me, she had to choose a cold day.

"I know, she even left Jesse," I murmured gesturing to the drunken boy bawling hysterically in the middle of the empty parking lot. Sam chuckled.

"I guess we better walk then" he shrugged. I nodded feeling the goose bumps rise from under my thin shawl. I couldn't really tell if the goose bumps were from the temperature or from the excitement building up inside me. "How far is your house?" Sam's voice was a gentle whisper.

I shivered cupping my hands and blowing into them for warmth. "It's a few blocks down from Green Chester Road" I replied. Sam shrugged out of his suit jacket and slid it over my shoulders. Instantly, I was cloaked in a heavy feeling of warmth and comfort. His suit smelled just like soap; I repressed the urge to close my eyes and drink it in.

"You look gorgeous under the stars," Sam sputtered almost as if he hadn't really meant to voice that particular thought out loud. I could make out the telltale signs of a blush on his face as he averted his eyes away from mine. I smiled, "so do you"

Sam laughed nervously, using his other hand to rub the back of his neck. A short silence followed that and I took the time to study his features. He was beautiful (can guys be beautiful?) with that adorable tamed bed head look and the most 'blackalicous' lips I have ever seen on a guy.

"Did you have a good time? I mean I know that I probably wasn't the guy you wanted to dance with but-"

"Sam, this night couldn't have been any better. You were amazing" I reached out from under the warmth of his jacket to give his hand a reassuring squeeze. Instead of letting go of my hand, Sam laced his fingers in mine. My heart all but stopped. "I really did have a good time" my voice came out wistful. I grimaced hoping that my crush on him wasn't too obvious.

He smiled down at me, his eyes twinkling from underneath the fringe of his blonde hair. "So did I" his hand grew warm in mine.

We traveled the rest of the way keeping up a comfortable conversation. Sam was telling me about his comic book collection and we became so caught up in our discussion that I hadn't realized that we were standing in my driveway. The bricked driveway was damp from the midnight dew leaving it looking glossy. Inside the house I could tell that no one was up because there were no lights on.

Thank goodness for that. If Mom were awake she would want me to tell her about everything, in painstaking detail. If Dad were awake, he'd get out his paintball gun and chase a poor unsuspecting Sam down the road. My family was insane.

I smiled up at Sam before letting go of his hand.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow" I murmured feeling a blush already flooding into my cheeks. Sam leaned over wrapping his long arms around my torso and pulling me into a hug. I closed my eyes, burying my face into his shoulder.

"I guess so" he replied, his voice tickling my ear. I sighed as he leaned away. He chuckled before leaning over once more and planting a warm kiss to my cheek.

"I'll wait for you to go inside" he said as he walked me up to the porch steps.

I could feel his eyes on me as I rummaged through my tiny purse and pulled out a set of multicolored keys.

Inserting the correct one into the keyhole I turned to give Sam one final wave. Only then had I noticed that I still had his jacket draped across my shoulders. Great, not only was I feeling a little lightheaded from his innocent little peck on the cheek but I would also be responsible for him freezing to death out in the cold. "Here's your jacket" I began to unravel myself from his jacket. He bounded up the steps and rewrapped it over my shoulders.

"Keep it, it'll be my excuse to see you before Glee Club" he winked kissing my forehead and trotting down the steps.

"Sam! You can't walk all the way back to the Motel without a jacket! Are you insane?" I hollered. He tilted his head, swiveling around on his heel to stare up at me.

His eyes were a cloudy hazel as they refocused on me. I opened the door, putting a hand on my hip. "Are you inviting me inside then Mercedes?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes at his lousy but adorable fake British accent.

"Of course, I'll call you a taxi. Can't have you wandering around without a jacket on" I clutched his jacket towards my chest. He smirked realizing that he wasn't going to be getting it back anytime soon.

"Aright alright" he held up his hands before brushing past me and over the threshold.

I chuckled staring up at the glowing stars in the sky before shutting the door behind me. Maybe I'll actually have something to thank Rachel for tomorrow after all.