Disclaimer: I do not own any of these wonderful characters from Glee.
Sam found Quinn at the playground. He hadn't been looking for her, he had really been avoiding Sandy. But, now that he saw Quinn, he realized that he needed to talk to her. She was sitting at the top of the slide, hands on the overhead bar. Her face was expressionless, eyes glazed. Her nose was still cherry red from crying.
Sam moved to sit on one the fire truck bouncy seat (the ones with the spring underneath). Quinn didn't acknowledge his presence, until she whispered, her voice barely perceptible, "I wish that I was five years old again." Her eyes drifted to the two girls playing in the sand box, they were making a castle. "I think that I was happiest when I was five. I had my parents and my sister, I was pretty when I was five, the kids at kindergarten were nice to me, and…I didn't have to worry about anything. Not growing up or the future or what I'm supposed to do with my life…like I have to worry about now."
Sam got up and climbed the playhouse to sit behind Quinn. "Why worry? Why not just wait and see how everything plays out? You're still in high school."
Quinn shook her head and answered, "High school is when you're supposed to figure everything out, especially if you're a senior. I don't know what college I want to go to or what I want to become…" she trailed off. She didn't want to start crying again.
"The problem is that you worry too much. Maybe if you stop looking for answers, they'll find you."
"I don't work like that. I don't ever want to be surprised when my life takes a turn again."
"But not everything works the way we think it will. The things that don't happen in our lives, maybe even the ones that we really wanted, are for the better. You will come to the point in your life when everything is as it should and when you're truly happy. And then you'll know that everything happens for a purpose. You'll think that it was a good thing that Sam left because now I have the best life possible with this great new guy." Sam shrugged.
Quinn said, "But that's in the future. How do I get there?"
"You just have to be patient. But, I promise you that it will happen." He smiled and continued, "You're going to find the best guy for you and then you'll think: 'Why did I ever like Sam? Sam can't even compare to this guy!'"
Quinn almost cracked a smile, "Maybe."
"Just trust me."
"Trust a guy who speaks Na'vi?" Quinn started giggling. "Hey, let's go back to the party. I want to get my life started right."
They slid down the slide together and then left for the pool.
"Emma, are you going to watch the dance competition?" Will Schuester sat down on the chair across form her's.
"Watch?" Emma looked almost shy. She then blushed, "Well, I was hoping that we could dance together, but if that would ruin your chance of—
Will kissed her. Emma allowed herself to enjoy the kiss until realizing that she hadn't yet brushed her teeth after lunch. She started flailing her arms, breaking the kiss. "Will! I didn't get to brush my teeth!" She hurriedly rummaged through her bag.
Will rolled his eyes. He grabbed Emma's hand, "So, I take it that you didn't take your medication today?"
Emma stopped. "I've been getting off it actually," she admitted quietly, hoping Will wouldn't be able to hear her.
"You can't do that, Emma. You don't just get off of something."
"That's not true. People stop smoking all of the time and drinking and—
"This is different, Emma. Remember how good you were feeling when you took your medication? Not taking it now brings you back to where you were, when you couldn't do certain things because it freaked you out."
Emma had taken out floss and was now flossing her teeth. "I bet that if you take your medication now, that you'll be able to go into the pool in an hour."
Emma stopped flossing. "The pool," her nose wrinkled at the thought. "I didn't bring my medication," she slanted her eyes to the ground.
"Yes, you did. You're always prepared for everything. Who brings a rolling pin and their own napkins to a pool party? I bet you have a first aid kit in there."
"Well, of course!"
"Okay," Will thought for a moment. "I bet you have mosquito candles in there, a flashlight, a lifejacket."
"Don't be absurd, Will," Emma's face was coloring again.
"Binoculars, closed-toed shoes, your retainer."
"You know I have a retainer?"
Will continued, "Pepper spray, Kindle, un-starched surgical gloves, and a cheese grater."
"Well, I might have all of that stuff…"
"And your medicine is in there too. Come on, Emma, I know it is."
"Fine, so everything you said is in my bag. I'll just take my medication if it'll make you happy."
"Thank you, Emma. This pool party will be a lot better for you once you do. Trust me."
"Sure, trust a guy who puts margarine in his hair," muttered Sue. She was tanning a few seats off, but she had catlike hearing.
"What's in your bag?" Finn asked Rachel.
"We should start practicing for the dance competition, you guys!" ordered Rachel.
"It's almost two o'clock, we have no time," Tina pointed out.
Rachel shook her head, "Finn has just informed me that the first half hour is warm-ups and just anyone who wants to dance, then the competition starts. I was thinking that we could perform a whole musical number since we are a Glee club. We shouldn't get lazy just because it's summer!"
"What makes you think that we want to dance with you?" asked Santana.
"Well…" Rachel didn't know how to answer that one.
"Brittany and I are a team. We're gonna blow you guys away!"
"Fine. But, we'll be the ones winning," Rachel narrowed her eyes. "Who is going to be on my team?"
"Well, that depends, who else is a team captain?" said Arite.
"Brittany and I are a closed group," Santana crossed her arms. "Come on, Brit, we should practice."
"I kind of want to do my own song. But, I'll be in yours too," Sam added.
He and Quinn had come back from the playground. Quinn looked much better and Sam assured Mercedes that everything was good between them. Mercedes had been suspicious about his wording, Not too good I hope, she thought.
"I have a song that I want to do too, but I'm open to more people in my group," said Kurt. He had a song that he'd wanted to do for awhile now.
Rachel, sensing that she was about to lose everyone to Kurt, quickly came up with a solution, "I don't see why we can't do two songs." She flashed everyone a big smile. "We'll do Kurt's song and then the song that I had in mind."
Kurt nodded, "Sure, Rachel."
"Is there anyone not doing the competition?" Rachel asked.
"Well, Puck and I are sort of working," said Finn. He knew this would disappoint Rachel and that was not what anyone wanted to do.
Rachel's face fell. But she had another idea, "Hey, Mr. Schuester!" she called. Their teacher looked around. "Do you want to be in our group for the dance competition?"
"No, but thanks, guys. Emma and I are entering together."
"So, that's everyone, except for Puck, Finn, Brittany, Santana, and Mr. Schue? We can still do this! Let's go practice!"
"Hey, Porcelain, come here a minute," Sue Sylvester was still tanning. Kurt was about to join the group for a rehearsal before the dance competition, but he didn't want to anger Sue by ignoring her.
"Yes, Sue?"
Suddenly, Finn came out of nowhere and knelt next to Sue, bowing his head down. He lifted his arms and in his hands was a slushie. Sue promptly took it from him and then drank a small sip to test it. "Sensational! Avocados, cotton candy, and of course, whey protein! What do you think, Porcelain?"
"Um, Ms. Sylvester?" said Finn awkwardly.
"You may go." She waved him away and then looked expectantly at Kurt.
Kurt couldn't believe that Sue Sylvester was asking him about her slushie. He really didn't know quite what she was asking. "Well, I prefer to be slushied by coconut flavored slushies because they're easiest to get the stains out because it's not colored."
Sue chuckled, her eyes flashing darkly. "I wasn't asking you if you want to be slushied by this. I was merely inquiring as to your opinion on the flavor."
"Oh," he had to admit, the flavor didn't sound particularly appealing. He decided to change the subject, "That's an interesting swimsuit, Ms. Sylvester."
"Thanks for noticing. It's of my own design."
"It certainly suits you."
"That is a travesty!" Sandy had once again managed to butt in on a conversation. "There's a reason that swim wear is not inspired by sweat suits!"
"And what about you? Is that glitter I detect? Where did you get that in the last hour?"
"There's glitter in my sunscreen, jealous?" Perhaps Sandy actually thought that Sue would be jealous the way he was smirking. "Perhaps you would like to try some?" he asked Kurt. "I could do your back." Kurt shuddered, shoulders shaking. "Oh! Poor thing, you're cold. Here," Sandy was removing his cardigan that he had tied around his shoulders, "this will keep you warm." Kurt stood stock still as Sandy draped the cardigan over him. His eyes were wide with shock.
"Um, Kurt, are you coming to practice with us? We're doing your song next." Blaine had been watching the conversation, not sure when he should interrupt. But, seeing Kurt end up in this situation with the creeper, he had decided that it was time to intervene.
"Hold it right there, Porcelain and…wow, you remind me of a koala, from now on, your new name will be Koala bear or Cuddly Koala when I feel like it. Anyway, what song?"
"There's a dance competition soon."
"Dancing…and singing is involved how?"
"We're a Glee club, singing is kind of unavoidable," explained Kurt.
Sandy hadn't taken his eyes off Blaine. He hadn't seen him this close up before. "You must be Blaine," he extended his hand to him. Blaine looked at Kurt, whose expression said Don't take it!
Blaine turned to Sue instead. "I love your swimsuit."
"Why thank you, Koala bear."
Sandy looked lost. He took his hand back. He had to think of something to say and quick before they left. "I like your swimsuit," Sandy said to Blaine.
Blaine decided to be as polite as possible, thinking that it would get him and Kurt away from Sandy quicker, "Thank you, and I see that pink is your color too."
Sandy's cheeks turned pink, flattered that Blaine had acknowledged him.
"I find pink to be ostentatious. Porcelain's purple is a much better look," said Sue.
Since the cardigan that Sandy had put on him was pink, Kurt felt that Sue had given him a blessed opportunity to take it off. He was quickly stripped of it and handed it back to Sandy.
"I think that on the certain person, pink looks simply divine," his voice turned to sugar when he said that last word, looking directly at Blaine.
Sue had noticed how Sandy was looking at Blaine and how Kurt was confused between gaining Sue's approval and how Sandy was looking at his boyfriend. Now, Sue Sylvester liked the Glee club to feel as much discomfort as was physically and figuratively possible, but she also felt that Sandy was just plain creeping her out. "Porcelain and Koala bear, get out of here and go practice your routine! I don't want to see any slacking or any incorrect formations out there! March!"
Kurt and Blaine left with no hesitation. Sue turned to Sandy. "After this competition, you will get them in the pool. We have one thing left in our arsenal: Chicken fights! This is a Glee club, which means that they are all competitive. Play to their competitive side!" As Sandy dejectedly walked towards the open deck of the where the dance competition would take place, Sue called back to him, "And don't you ever insult my taste in clothes again! If I didn't need you for this plan you would already be six feet under, pal! You hear me?"
Up next is the dance competition!
