Sam had been wracking his brain, his heart. He wanted to know what he wanted. He just couldn't decide. Every time he tried to imagine his future with Quinn, he was happy but the pain of the past always came back. He couldn't help but wonder what could have been for them, had they not broken up. To add to everything, Sectionals were in three weeks and the glee club had non-stop rehearsals. Sam was exhausted but he couldn't stop.
Quinn noticed how tired Sam had been. As hard as it was to be around him, it was a lot easier than being away from him. She was trying to make sure things didn't feel awkward because she didn't want to lose him as a friend. Rachel was always around so Sam and Quinn were never really alone together. But Rachel had flown out to New York to work out her new deal and Sam and Quinn were alone. And she was determined to make sure that they could still hang out together. Quinn tried to think of somewhere they could go, somewhere fun. And then it hit her.
"Hey." Quinn said, walking up to Sam at the end of rehearsal.
"Hey." Sam said, looking up from his sheet music.
"What are you doing tonight?" Quinn asked.
"Nothing, why?" Sam asked.
"You and I are going to Colour Me Mine." Quinn said.
"We are?" Sam asked, with his signature grin.
"Yup. You're clearly super stressed and it's time for you to get out of your own head." Quinn said.
"Quinn, are you sure?" Sam asked. He felt weird hanging out with Quinn without giving her an answer. He knew it was unfair but he didn't want to lie to her.
"Yes. I am 100% sure. Now go, get ready. I'll come pick you up an in hour." Quinn said.
Sam hesitated for a second but decided to agree. It would be fun to finally go to Colour Me Mine with Quinn, even if it was ten years later.
Quinn was really excited. She loved spending time with Sam and she knew Colour Me Mine was just what he needed. All she really cared about was being there for him and if this made him smile, then it was worth everything.
Within the hour, Quinn was at Sam's place. She was dressed in a grey hoodie and jeans, very different from how she usually dressed. Sam looked her up and down, when he opened the door. He couldn't help but smile.
"I know, I look homeless. But I didn't know what else to wear." Quinn said, blushing a little.
"No, it's not.. You look cute." Sam said. He really meant it. He was so used to seeing Quinn all dressed up and she always looked great. But it was nice to see her not try for a change. She somehow managed to look breath taking anyway.
"Thanks." Quinn said with a shy smile. She knew Sam probably didn't mean much by it but a compliment from him, meant the world to her. The way he looked at her reminded of her of Sectionals; how he'd told her she looked beautiful right before they went on. How her heart had fluttered, how she knew then that she falling in love and fast.
The night was filled with Sam and Quinn trying to make pots and failing. Each attempt appeared to be worse than the last, which made both of them fall laugh. By the end of the night, both of them were covered in paint.
Quinn picked up a cloth and began to remove the paint next to Sam's lips. You could cut the sexual tension between them with a knife. All Quinn wanted was to lean in and kiss those lips of his, but she stopped herself. She didn't want to push him to make a decision, he had to do it all on his own.
"Thanks." Sam said, almost in a whisper.
Both of them were quiet for a while. After Colour Me Mine, they decided to go and sit in a nearby park and look at the stars. The night was beautiful and so very romantic. While Sam was busy looking at the stars, Quinn couldn't stop looking at him. He was so filled with wonder as he looked at the sky. He was perfect, in every way and Quinn was happy just to be there looking at hims.
"What?" Sam asked, smiling after he noticed Quinn staring at him.
"Nothing." Quinn said.
"Tell me." Sam said.
"You looked at the stars with such wonder. It's cute." Quinn said, with a smile.
"Looking at them makes my problems seem small." Sam said, with a smile.
Quinn thought about them in the astronomy room, that very first time. If she could go back now, she would kiss Sam and tell him how she wanted to sing with him. How she needed him, how much she would always need him.
"So this is what it would've been like, had we never broken up." Sam thought, not releasing he was saying it out loud.
Quinn was a little surprised by what Sam had just said. But she was happy, happy that he was thinking about them.
"Nah." Quinn said.
"What would it have been like?" Sam asked, turning towards Quinn.
"We would've been married by now. Probably had two kids." Quinn said, with a teasing smile.
"Is that right?" Sam asked.
"Uh-Hun." Quinn said.
"And how exactly do we end up married? Do we date through high school and college or did you propose to me while we were still in high school?" Sam asked, trying to see Quinn's reaction.
"So, we date through high school. I go to Yale and you go to a college near me. After college, I of course really want to get married. But I never tell you and I give you a hard time about it. You being you, just put up with it and love me anyway. Then one day, we come back to Lima and you propose to me in the Astronomy Room at the exact place where you gave me the promise ring. And you say something about how you kept your promise about marrying me someday." Quinn said, tears forming in her eyes.
"You've given this a lot of thought, huh?" Sam asked, getting serious.
"To be honest, it's all I've thought about for a while now. I just keep wishing I could back in time and make sure we never broke up. Because I know, in my heart that with you, I'd have the world of happiness. And I knew that even then. Even when I was torn between you and Finn, I never wanted to break up with you. I chose you. Because even when I was my most selfish, I knew in my heart that you were it. And so much has happened and none of that has changed." Quinn said, tears streaming down her face. She looked down at her hands, not wanted to look at Sam.
Sam had a lump in his throat. He knew Quinn loved him and he wanted more than anything to be able to say it back but he just couldn't.
"Hey.." Sam began, putting a hand on the side of Quinn's face. "You know that I love you, right? And I am so sorry that I haven't.. that I can't give you an answer yet but you are one the most important people in my life. And that is never going to change. And I am so grateful that we ended up here, because here is good. And it's only going to get better." He continued.
"I love you too, Sam." Quinn said, hugging Sam.
Sam and Quinn sat on that park bench for hours. Just holding each other. Things were complicated but for those few hours, it didn't matter. They were together, in each other arms and neither of them had ever felt safer.