Sam looked up from his locker and saw a very smiley- no grinning would be the right word- a grinning Alexis walking up to him. She waved as she passed him and she headed off to get her books from her locker. He grinned back and knew that she must be on top of the world at the moment because her happiness was so infecting.

His eyes followed her as she passed and then he returned them to looking for his own books.

"What's happened now?" asked Puck as he leaned back against the other locker. Sam ignored him and he just hummed a tune in response.

"Ok seriously dude what has gotten you so happy?" asked Puck as they walked together to History class. "Is this about-?"

"Hi guys," said Alexis as she saddled up next to Puck and opposite Sam. "How are you two?"

"Well I'm good but Sam seems to be really happy for-"

"Oh well that's great that you're both feeling good," she answered and before Puck could say anything else she said goodbye and made her excuses so that she got to class on time.

"Well, well Mr Evans," said Puck, "I do believe you quite like Miss Costa."

"She's a friend," replied Sam as they followed said girl's enthusiastic footsteps to class.

"What Evans? Do you not want to lose her as a friend or something?" He didn't respond to that, he just ignored him. "Wow Quinn and Santana really messed you up didn't they?"

Sam swished his head towards Puck. "I'm not messed up; I-!"

"See," replied Puck. "Even mentioning their names makes you act differently."

He paused outside of class and realised that he was right. "I'll be ready for a relationship when I am," he replied.

"Yeah but if you wait she might be gone," he answered back. "Don't brand Lexis with the same brush." He sat down at his seat and so did his friend who was reflecting on what his momentarily wise friend has said. No the girl he had gotten to know in the last two weeks was kind and nothing like the girls he had dated. She wasn't interested in the things those girls had been interested or, if she did, not with the same emphasis or importance as the others. No constant checks of makeup in the mirror, no dating certain people to get up the popularity ladder or group; Just pure and simple Alexis Costa.

The bell rang suddenly and he realised that he had taken no notes and after quickly deliberating that maybe, after what he had been thinking, that asking her would be a good idea. He looked up to see her leaving the classroom and he ran after her. As he caught up with her he saw her face lengthen at the sight of something on her phone.

"Hey what is it?" he asked softly as he walked up beside her.

"What- Oh nothing," she replied as she began walking swiftly towards class but he kept up with her small strides. He thanked the fact that his height made him able to take bigger strides to be able to stop her by standing in front of her.

"What is it?" he asked.

She looked up and sighed. "My dad's away tonight," she replied.

"Is your mom not going to be there?"

"She… she died last year," she answered him whilst awkwardly looking at her shoes.

Damn he shouldn't have said that. "Is it an important day today?" he asked as they slowly made their way to Calculus.

She looked up again then in front. "It's my birthday today. We were going to go out for dinner tonight with my Dad."

Damn again. He kept on asking all the bad questions. Then a brilliant idea struck him. "Why don't I come round and I'll bring a cake?"

"Oh Sam you don't have to-!"

"Yes and I will. Besides I need to use your notes from History so it's an equal exchange."

She smiled again as they got to class and thanked him. She also reassured him that he could have a look at her notes. When she left him smiling he felt her on top of the world and he felt glad that he helped her up there.

After Glee club had ended Sam bounded down the steps up to the school and started jogging home. He heard his ring tone go off and found a text from his Dad telling him that he'd be out late that night for job interviews. He ran inside and grabbed some money for a small cake for them to share and put it in his bag then jogged up to the grocery store.

He purchased a small sake and then quickly running to the birthday girl's house because the sky looked like it was about to pour down with rain. He almost stopped to admire the very nice house but move quickly onto the porch to get out from underneath the opening heavens.

After ringing the doorbell successively twice the door opened and she invited him in with a thanks and "I've photocopied the notes for you."

They ate the cake, which at points was rather difficult because Alexis got some icing on his nose playfully and then Sam spent ten minuets trying to get her back.

By the end of the hours they spent celebrating they had gotten to know each other even more and they said goodbye three hours later with a small taste of regret it=n their mouths.