Chapter 4

Quinn easily got over that night with Sam. It only took her a bottle of scotch before she passed out and forget about it. She really hoped Sam wouldn't show up anymore. He was like her weakness. She breaks down whenever he's around. The tough and strong Quinn Fabray that got to New York about 2 years ago becomes missing and she just goes back to the weak and foolish Quinn Fabray of Lima, Ohio. Luke never found out.

Monday morning and she had to go to work. Bringing a cup of coffee, she went out of her apartment and grabbed a cab. In about 10 minutes, she got to the office. Being one of the head in their department at the New York Times, Quinn has her own private office. Luckily, the elevator was easy to access. She wasn't really late so she didn't join the people rushing up the office. Walking around, she was greeted by her co-workers with a smile. Smiling back, she figured it'll be a good day. Work was the only thing in her mind and her deadlines for submission are still a long way to go and she's already halfway finished with her papers.

Before she walked inside, one of the secretaries stopped her to inform her about something.

"Good morning, Melanie. Don't forget to make your coffee." Quinn said, giggling before going for the door.

"Oh, hey Quinn. You have a visitor inside. I was told he was an old friend so I just let him in." Melanie said, smiling at her before going back to her work.

Quinn stopped with her hand on the knob of her door. She had a feeling who it was, she was just hoping her feeling was wrong. Exhaling deeply with closed eyes, she slowly opened the door to see it was Sam. Why does he keep showing up? Sam stood up the moment the door opened.

"What are you doing here?" She asked. She didn't know why but she closed the door. One, to keep privacy and another was she just wanted to lock both of them in one room. "I thought I told you to stay away from me."

"I... I just needed to find away to talk to you. I know you can't reject me with all these people around." He placed both hands inside his pocket.

Quinn can feel the coldness in her hands and feet. She had to be strong so she walked over to her seat like it's no big deal. "We really don't have anything to talk about, Sam. We just met a few days ago, remember? I'm sure you're girlfriend will question you if she finds out you're here." She giggled with a sarcastic smile.

Sam sat down on the seat in front her table. "It's just the two of us here, Quinn. Stop acting like that. I want to talk to you about something. Just please be yourself for 5 minutes." Sam said and his face was so serious that it scared Quinn. When Sam is serious, he really is serious. She can't avoid that face so her face went from sarcastic to serious.

"Why didn't you tell Luke about me?" Sam asked.

"That's none of your business. I have my reasons and those reasons are only for me to know." She said, opening her folder of paper works. "I'm pretty sure your girlfriend doesn't know about me as well so we're just even."

"At least, she knows I was engaged before. She just doesn't know who it was." Sam said, crossing his arms on his chest as he leaned back. Quinn suddenly looked at him in shock. He told her about the engagement. He was brave enough to admit his mistake but she couldn't. She was scared to let her fiancée know that she was once a failure at almost getting married.

Sam figured her stare. He knows the different kinds of look Quinn uses with those eyes. "Don't...don't tell me...your fiancée doesn't know you were engaged before?"

Quinn realized it. He knew how to read her. She looked away and just went back to checking her paper works.

Sam raised his hands in annoyance. "I can't believe this! Why didn't you tell him that?"

"It's none of your business, Sam. Nothing happened before anyway." She said, not looking at him.

"Still! You should've at least told him!"

"Look. If you're just here to yell at me for not doing something you really don't have the right to be mad at, then I think it's best if you just leave." She said, fighting back with those fiery eyes. "Now, get out. Five minutes is over." She said and went back to her work.

"I'm here to fix things, Quinn. I came over this early in the morning, lied to my girlfriend about what I was going to do, just so I could fix things between us."

"You really don't have to fix anything. It happened. It's in the past and I don't have any plans of dragging it to my future. Deal with it." She said, keeping her eyes away from him.

"Why don't you want us to be okay, Quinn? Just tell me." He said in a more calm way. There he was, using his puppy eyes again and Quinn just felt weak when she accidentally looked back at them. Wrong move, Quinn. Wrong move.

Quinn stared at him for a little while before answering. "I... I was hurt." Quinn said, feeling the tears start to form in her eyes. "It wasn't easy for me to just let it go. It hurt, Sam...so bad."

Sam was feeling just about the same. He can see through her eyes the broken Quinn that was before. "I'm... I'm sorry, Quinn. You don't know how badly I wanted to hurt myself for hurting."

"It wouldn't change anything. I wouldn't just heal even if I found out you were dead. I'd be even more hurt." The first tear started to fall.

"Well, death...would be less painful than living just to see you hurt." He sighed and saw the tear falling from her eye. "Please, Quinn. Don't cry."

Quinn immediately wiped it away. She can't let him see the weakness in her. "Forget it, okay. What's done is done." She said giggling. She stood up and went near the window with her cup of coffee. She just had to turn her back on him.

Sam stood up and walked over behind her. Suddenly, he placed both his hands on her waist and leaned his forehead on the back of hers. "I'm sorry, baby boo." He whispered, calling her the nickname he uses whenever he'd apologize to her before. It always gets her and she'd eventually forgive him before.

Quinn just closed her eyes. His touch feels so right and his voice near her ears was very calming. They stayed like that for a few seconds and were interrupted when Quinn's phone rang. She opened her eyes and grabbed her phone in her pocket. Sam removed his hands on her and moved a bit back.

Quinn answered the phone, feeling too caught up in the moment to even look at the caller id. "Hello?"

"Hey baby!" The guy said with such excitement.

"Luke!" She said as she turned to face Sam with wide eyes. "Uhm... Hi... Yeah..."

"You at work already?" He asked.

"Yeah... I just got here about uhm... 15 minutes ago." She said, trying to calm herself down. Sam just stood there and remained quiet, placing both hands back in his pockets.

"Great. I just got off the cab. I brought you breakfast. I'll be up in a while."

"What? I mean... No. I'll just come down and meet you there. Wait for me." She said, pacing back and forth around the room. Sam was mouthing to her what was wrong. Quinn just shook her head at him.

"No, it's fine. I'm already at the lobby, waiting for the elevator."

Quinn felt ten times more nervous. He was already there and Sam was in her office. "No, baby. I... I wouldn't want you to..."

"Oh, hold on. Elevator's here. I'll be there in a while. See ya." He said and hung up.

"No, wait! Luke..." Quinn's fucked up. She placed down her phone on the table. "Shit..."

"Quinn. What's wrong?" Sam asked., feeling quite concern by how her face looked like.

"Luke's on his way up here. You have to leave...now." She was walking around, shaking from the tension.

"Wait. We haven't even talked much yet." Sam demanded.

"Sam, please. You have to leave. Luke can't see you here." Her face was practically begging. She wasn't just scared for her; she was also scared for him. There will be tons of questions raised and she was not ready for those just yet.

"No. I'm not leaving until we finish talking." He was fighting back and that was not what Quinn needed as of the moment. She grabbed him by the arm and start pulling him to the door.

"Come on, Sam. I don't have time for this. You need to leave."

"And what? Another day will pass and we'll just act like strangers again? Not gonna happen, Quinn." He was sticking his feet on the floor and she can't move him.

"We'll talk some other time but right now you have to leave!" She was pulling him by the arm.

Luke was already on the 18th floor and Quinn's office was on the 22nd floor.

"Meet me tomorrow for lunch. Please." Sam had to make a deal before they get busted.

"I'll think about it, okay? Now, go! Leave!"

Sam held her hand and looked at her. "Please..."

"Fine! Just leave!" She said, more of a nervous tone than an angry one.

Elevator stops at the 21st floor as some passengers came in.

"You promise?" Sam asked, still holding her hand. He was using his eyes again on her that she stopped moving. She looked at him in the eyes in defeat and squeezed his hand. That was enough for Sam. It yelled more than "I promise". When she'd squeeze her hand before when he asks for something, it's an action word for "I'll be there."

Sam smiled and her and let go of her hand.

"Take the stairs at the back so he won't see you. Go. Now. Be careful." Quinn said as she went out of the office with him.

Sam just nodded and ran to the other side of the office to go to the back stairs. Quinn stood outside her office as she watched him run off.

"Boo!"

Quinn jumped in shock. Luke surprised her from the back.

"You look like you saw a monster." Luke teased as he laughed out. "You okay?"

Quinn turned around, still feeling her heart race. "You...you just scared me." She tried to giggle a bit. "Yeah, I'm okay. Let's go inside." She said before her co-workers start talking.

"Yeah, sure. I brought you some bacon sandwich. Your favourite!" He said as they walked back in the office. Quinn took some glances to check if Sam wasn't seen anymore. She smiled when she saw everything's clear.

Xxx

Night time came and Quinn had dinner with Luke at Harper's. There wasn't really an occasion. It was actually their normal dinner night at the Harper's. Dining at Quinn's or Luke's apartment was more special, to be honest. Luke had some things to tell his fiancée though.

"So, babe. I have something to tell you." Luke said, taking a bit of his mini potatoes.

"Mhmm. Shoot."

"I'm leaving for New Orleans tomorrow at noon. "

"Why so?" She asked, not really making a big deal out of it.

"There's a seminar for restaurateur and I was invited to come over. I was hoping...my fiancée would want to come with me." He said with a soft smile. He knew what Quinn would answer but he just had to give it a try.

Quinn's eyes went up to him. "Luke... I have work. I can't just leave it behind to accompany you." Honestly, work wasn't what she thought she'd miss. She was going to meet up with Sam for lunch the next day but Luke didn't need to know about that.

Luke stared back at her and sighed. "I just gave it a shot. I know you can't come but...I thought you'd might want to come."

Quinn saw the disappointment in his face. "Babe..." She said and reached for his hand. "I'm sorry but...you have to understand. I can't just give up those things to be your...accessory." That was what she really felt. Everytime Luke would bring her to some events, she never was his fiancée. She only looked like a prop that Luke has hanging around him.

"What? An accessory? I'm bringing you as my plus one." His eyebrow rose.

Quinn looked down at her food. She didn't need this conversation with him. She was excited to meet Sam to even think about her upset fiancée. "I'm sorry, okay... I can't go as your...plus one. I'd love to but... I just can't. I'm sorry."

"Yeah. It's fine. I understand. It's just that...I'll be gone for a week. How will I survive without seeing you?"

Quinn smiled at him. He always knows how to make their arguments into better conversations. "I'm going to call you, text you and even skype you if you want." She said, giggling.

"Well, you better do. This will probably be the longest time I'll be far from you. I hope I get back with a fiancée still." He said and giggled.

Quinn paused, thinking his puns were intentional. Does he know something? "Uhmm... I'll wait for you. Just be safe."

"Of course. Do you mind taking me to the airport tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sure. What time is your flight?" She asked, still thinking about what he said.

"Around 12 noon. Think you can have an early lunch break?"

Crap. She was supposed to meet Sam by then. Guess he'd have to wait. "Yeah, sure. I'll ask Melanie to watch out for me for a while." She smiled and went back to eating.

Luke had to stay at his place that night to pack so Quinn went back to her apartment alone. She thought it was nice to spend the night with wine, movies and just her trail of thoughts on how he'll tell Sam about how she can't make it the next day.

Carrying a glass of wine, she went to her living room couch and opened the tv to find some good show. Suddenly, here phone rang. Thinking it was her fiancée, she grabbed it and was about to press the answer button when she saw that it was from an unknown number.

She had doubts if she'll answer it or not. Not wanting to deal with random callers selling random product, she decided to let it ring until it stopped. After that, it rang again and it was the same phone number. She decided to answer it to find out who's on the other line.

"Hello?"

A small chuckle was heard. "Hi."

There we go. Her heart started beating fast again once she heard the familiar voice on the phone.

"Sam... How did you... Where did you..."

"Olivia's phone." He said and giggled. "I had to get your number while she was taking a shower."

"Mhmm. That's personal. You shouldn't have done that." She said. She wanted to giggle too but decided not to.

"Nah. She wouldn't mind...at least, to me. She really doesn't have to know." He said and let out a small sigh.

"You know...you've been risking too much this day on getting caught by my fiancée." Sam broke his heart when she said the word fiancée. It felt a bit said that she wasn't referring to him anymore. "Aren't you aware that he might be with me right now and ask who I'm talking to?" She said and giggled a bit.

"Well...if he was there, I'm pretty sure you would've hung up by my first word." Both of them laughed lightly. It was true though. He knew she knows who it was by the sound of his giggle. His voice to her was so familiar that even a sigh was easy to recognize. "If he did ask who it was though...what would you tell him?" Sam asked, being a bit more serious now.

"Random caller selling random stuff. That's what I always tell him when crazy suitors won't stop pestering me." She said and laughed adorably. She decided to turn off the tv and lie down on the couch. Sam has that effect on her. She forgets everything when he was there. She doesn't want to admit it but she's definitely losing this fight.

Sam laughed back at her. It was so Lima Quinn to tell her fiancée about those kinds of callers. Back in Lima, they'd always get those callers and one time, when they were watching a movie at Quinn house, someone called them to sell sliming teas. Quinn kept telling them that she didn't need to buy some since they have tons of teas at home. When the caller didn't give up, Sam grabbed the phone from Quinn and said he'll buy some. When asked for the address, he gave them the address and phone number of their overweight schoolmate. It was pretty hilarious when the overweight girl did buy some tea.

"What am I selling? Sliming teas?" He asked and Quinn burst out of laughter, reminded of that night with Sam.

"Please. I do not have an overweight friend right now to give the caller the number. Just so you know, Patty Harvest lost 110 pounds after graduation just because of that tea. She should really thank us, you know." She said and they both just started laughing out.

"I don't think she has any idea who gave her number out. I think I heard her say an angel granted her wish." They both just kept laughing, remembering the days back in Lima.

When her stomach couldn't take any more laughter, she realized she needed to stop. She let out a sigh and her face started to become a bit sad. "Hey... I forgot to tell you. I can't make it tomorrow at lunch."

"What? But you..."

"Luke's going to New Orleans for some seminar and he asked me to..."

"Are you going with him? Stay in New York. Come on." He said, practically begging but didn't show it to her.

"I'm... I'm not going. I still have work and he's staying there for a week. I'm just taking him to the airport tomorrow at noon." She said, feeling a bit sad that she disappointed him.

"Well...okay, I guess. I really don't have a say in this anyway." He said and Quinn remained quiet. "How about tomorrow night?"

Quinn knew she wasn't supposed to. She has a fiancée for crying out loud. Just because he's going to some seminar doesn't mean she can meet up with her ex-fiancee. "I don't know, Sam... I really shouldn't be doing this. Can you imagine how furious your girlfriend would be if she found out about this?"

"She...she doesn't have to know. We're doing absolutely nothing wrong. We're just going to talk. It's not like we're getting back toge..." He paused and an awkward silence passed them by. Sam realized it was too soon to talk about them. He wasn't even sure if she has forgiven him already.

Quinn was uncertain if she felt bad that he brought up the topic about them or the fact that he actually said that they were not getting back together. "Look. I really think it's best if we stay out of each other's way as early as now. Our partners are clearly unaware of what happened before and the ast thing I'd want to do is ruin a relationship."

"I... I just want to know if...you accept my apology. It's been years, Quinn. I think I have suffered enough to finally receive your forgiveness..."

Quinn sigh. She didn't know what to say. "Years of suffering isn't what I needed, Sam. I can't say I've completely forgotten about it all but... I've moved on. You've moved on. Maybe it's best if we do not talk about it anymore. Start new, you know. As if nothing happened before we met days ago."

"You really want to forget...and throw what we used to..."

"Yes." She cut him off. She knew she won't but she had to. She didn't want something holding her back from the past.

Sam didn't have any choice. It was either that or he'd have to deal with getting pushed away everytime she sees him. "Okay." He whispered.

"Okay?" She asked, making sure she heard him right. She honestly didn't expect him to give up that fast.

"Yeah. Okay... I won't bother you again. I'll go with your actions." He said, finally agreeing to act like strangers.

"Uhm...okay. Thank you...Sam." She said, feeling quite disappointed with what she did.

Another moment of silence came until Sam had enough heart break. "Guess I'm gonna go now..."

"Yeah, sure. Goodnight."

"Goodnight..." He said and hung up. Quinn just stared at her phone. She didn't know if she had regrets on what she did or what but it was the right thing to do anyway. She decided to finish off another glass of wine before heading down to bed.

Xxx

On the way to the airport the next day, Luke noticed something was bothering his fiancée. She was just staring at the window of the cab, letting her thoughts take her with the road. Their hands were intact but he couldn't feel her presence with him.

"I can just cancel the seminar if you don't want me to go." He said and Quinn jumped to his voice. It was too quiet for a while before he started speaking that she actually got surprised when she heard someone speak.

Quinn looked at him and smiled. "It's fine. It will be such a shame if you'd cancel on them the last minute. I know everyone's excited to meet one of New York's top restaurateurs." She said, giggling a bit.

Luke just smiled at her. "I know that's not what's bothering you. Do you mind telling me?" He asked.

Quinn's face fell when she realized she was being too obvious about her emotions. She doesn't have an excuse to give and that was the most terrifying part. She didn't want him to go all suspicious about her. "I... I don't know. Maybe I'm just tired. Maybe I'm just...stressed."

"From the wedding?" He asked. Quinn looked at him in the eyes. That wasn't the reason why she's bothered but she realized it was somehow part of it too. Maybe it was because she was handling the wedding all to herself while her fiancée was busy making more cash. "I know you're worn out but it'll be worth it soon, right?"

Quinn just smiled and nodded.

Luke wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the cheek. "When I get back...I promise we'll finish off the planning so we won't have to worry anymore."

She looked back at him again and smiled. Luke leaned forward and kissed her on the lips. She didn't think twice and just kissed him back.

When he pulled away, he had one more news to tell her before leaving New York.

"Your fitting for the wedding dress is tomorrow. Thankfully, I won't be here to see it. I might not make it till the wedding day." He joked and they both laughed. "So as a help... I asked Olivia not come with you."

Oh no. Not again. Quinn thought.

"I can go by myself, babe. It's fine." She said, reassuring him that she didn't need his best friend.

"Someone's gotta be there to compliment you. Besides... Olivia already said yes. She gets out of the pre-school by 1 in the afternoon and your fitting is at 3pm. She'll be there like she promised."

Quinn couldn't argue with that. Guess another girl's opinion wouldn't be that bad. Even if there were assistants to compliment her about the wedding dress, she needed someone to compliment her not because they needed the dress sold but because it was the truth.

"Okay. Thanks. I'll just call her tomorrow where we can meet up." She said as they got out of the cab.

"Oh, no. You don't have to worry about that." Luke unloaded his stuff as they walked inside the airport. "I already talked to Sam. He'll fill in my position for a while. You're gonna need a guy's opinion on what you look, right? I asked him to drive you guys around wherever you'll go for the whole week and he said yes."

I can't believe this. I'm gonna have to deal with him again. Quinn thought.

Suddenly, his flight was called for boarding so he has to leave. "There goes my flight. I'll see you in a week, okay?" Luke cupped her face and kissed her on the lips. "I love you, gorgeous. I'm gonna miss you." He said as they hugged each other tight.

"I love you too. You take care." She said and smiled.

"I'll call you when I get there." He said before walking inside for boarding. Quinn just stared at him. Her fiancée was completely clueless. At least, Sam wouldn't be a problem. He actually agreed to finally start acting like strangers so it shouldn't be that hard.

It's going to be a long week for me. Quinn thought before riding on a new cab to go back to work.

CHAPTER 4 IS DONE! LOL SORRY FOR THE LATE POST. IT'S BEEN A PRETTY STRESSFUL WEEK FOR ME AND ITS NOT YET OVER. I KIND OF RUSHED THIS CHAPTER ACTUALLY BUT I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT. NEXT UPDATE IS STILL UNKNOWN WHEN BUT KEEP CHECKING MY TWITTER AND TUMBLR FOR UPDATES. SamAndQuinn at .com :D As always! Read, review and share! Thanks you guys!