Hey! Thanks for the reviews/favorites! They mean a lot :) Just to note, I'm Irish, so there may be some differences between life in Ireland and America so sorry, but I'll try to stay on the right track. I've included some events of Britney 2.0 just to give the story a bit of continuity. I probably won't do it for every Chapter/episode. This is Chapter 2, it's a little shorter than chapter 1, but be sure to tell me what you think. I welcome any suggestions or critics :)


Sam walked Marley home that night. He was a lot more quiet since she had revealed her lust for Jake, but he hoped he hadn't been too obvious. She swayed her arms and she walked beside him and he wanted to hold her hand more than anything. He shouldn't be thinking like this, because the more he thinks about her, the more he wants her. As they approached her house she spoke up
"Don't think I haven't noticed"
Dam, he was busted. He tried to act natural and unknowing as he replied
"What do you mean?"
"All these times you've been to my house and not once have you had me over to yours or told me where you live. You shouldn't be ashamed, look how small mine is! Besides I really want to meet these siblings of yours that you don't stop talking about!"
While Sam was relieved that she hadn't noticed his disappointment of her crush, he was further worried because she had picked up on this. He hadn't told her about his family living back in Kentucky and him living with Burt and Carole. He wasn't ashamed of either one but he just didn't want to confuse her. Also, he didn't like bringing people over to the Hudson-Hummel's because he was their guest and he shouldn't be inviting other people to someone else's house. Carole at first thought he didn't have and friends and felt sorry for him but he assured her he just felt it was intrusive and while she told him it was as much his home, he stood his ground.
"I'm sorry, I haven't been completely honest with you, sit down and I'll tell you." They sat down on the hammock outside her house and he was nervous again, not the first or second time tonight. He told her his story, everything, the foreclosure to the pizza job, to the motel, to Kentucky and the stripping. He had told this story so many times, but never in this amount of detail. When he first was asked about his past by his friends, he usually got very upset and cried, but he had matured and learnt to deal with his emotion so he didn't cry about it anymore. He was so thankful for what he had. Marley, however was in tears. She couldn't believe he had gone through so much and is still the friendly, caring and strong boy in front of her. She felt so bad that she had basically forced him to tell the story. All he had done since they met was take care of her, and not once had she returned the favor. She pulled him into a hug and whispered.
"Sam, I'm so sorry. For everything. You can talk to me anytime about anything." She made sure to sound as sincere as she felt. Sam, on the other hand had a completely different train of thought. Seeing her so upset made him upset. He was annoyed at himself for making her sad. "Please don't cry. I'm fine as long as you're fine" He squeezed her and inhaled her beautiful natural scent. They said their goodbyes and he waited until she went inside until he left. He quickly texted her a message, hoping it wasn't too soon for him to look needy.
Sam: Wanna come over tomorrow after school? :)
Marley: I'd love to. x
That x. Sam knew it was just a friendly sentiment but he couldn't help but smile the whole way home.

The next day Brittany got kicked off the Cheerios because off her grades. Sam felt bad for her, because he was in a similar boat and understood her problem. His dyslexia meant that he had to spend a lot longer on his homework than most other people in his class, and he still wasn't doing great, but he was trying. Mr Schuester announced it was Britney spears week again. He hadn't been a part of glee club when they did it the first time, but he saw their performance of Toxic at the Assembly and he could tell how much it helped Brittany. When glee club finished, he saw Jake Puckerman scootering down the hallways like he owned the place. Sam stood in front of him and he came to a hat, giving Sam a very dirty look.
"Hey" Sam smiled despite his silent jealousy of the boy.
"Who are you?" Jake asked bluntly.
"I'm Sam. Sam Evans. Your Puck's brother right? Me and him were practically best friends but is it weird that I know him probably a lot better than you?" After he said it, Sam realised that sounded a lot better in his head.
"Lucky you." Jake responded sarcastically. "Now if thats all, get out of my way" Jake started to move but Sam stuck his foot out to stop him from leaving.
"No, I wanted to talk to you about something, or someone actually"
"If this is about my idiot half-brother I don't want to hear it"
"No, he's not an idiot but it's about Marley"
"As in the dog that dies?"
"No the girl in our school, Marley Rose"
"What about her?"
"She likes you. And there's no way you can't like her. She's special, so treat her right. She needs to be wooed. If you don't treat her right you'll have me to answer to."
"I'm terrified" He mocked. "Sounds like you should be wooing her not me, but I'll think about it" He scooted off.


Later that day, Sam and Marley were talking and doing some homework during free period out on the bleachers. Marley had expressed her excitement at doing Britney Spears. She said she had a song in mind and asked Sam if he would help her practice. He agreed at once and almost wet himself with excitement that he was about to sing with Marley.
"Just let me run and get my guitar" Sam said, basically sprinting into the school. He returned about 2 minutes later having run into Coach Beiste and spoke briefly about football tryouts which he wasn't sure about this year, he had surprisingly really enjoyed Synchronized Swimming last year and he thought maybe even more than football. When he returned his heart dropped. Marley and Jake were singing together very closely. They finished and he put his jacket on her arms, and she looked extremely happy. Sam smiled to himself bittersweetly. He had tears in his eyes because he was devastated once again but seeing Marley this happy warmed his heart. He ran to the bathroom and shut himself in a stall because he didn't want anyone to see him cry. He was being stupid, and he kept getting his hopes up and then shattered for no reason. He quickly thumbed at his phone to explain his absence as the bell rang.
Sam: So sorry I didn't make it back out, ran into Coach Beiste and lost track of time. We'll work on your song later :)
Marley: No its fine I ran into somebody too :D I'll tell you later.
Sam sighed to himself. That was the first text in ages where she hadn't put an x. He should be pleased that she isn't giving him false hope but he being so paranoid, saw it as she didn't care about him anymore, not that she really did in the first place. He composed himself and made his way to Algebra. He took his seat second from the back and sat next to Brittany who was dressed differently and was eating a big bag of Doritos. He tried to talked to her, but she didn't seem tuned in and then the class started. Sam's mind started to wander, which it often did as Mrs. Kennedy asked him the answer to the question on the board. He squinted as he couldn't make it out. He had been meaning to go see the optometrist because he was pretty sure he needed glasses but he thought how expensive that would be and shook it off. He didn't want to raise suspicions and hazarded a guess "x=7?"
"Close but no sorry, Sugar what about you?"
Brittany was being pretty loud beside him and she was really starting to worry him and he needed to help her. Later on, he posted a map in her locker because he knew that would definitely help him. He talked to her for a while and they sorted out her problems, and she was pretty lonely so he promised he would be there for him as she put her head on his shoulder.
In the corner of the auditorium, Marley stood there watching the scene in front of her. She felt a very strong feeling of jealousy which she didn't understand. Confused, she walked away, upset for some reason. So what if Sam was seeing Brittany, she was just interested in Jake anyway. Sam was like a brother to her. Or was he?