Let Me Hold You
Chapter 10
After Christmas, the second semester began at McKinley, Quinn's last semester of high school. The winter months in Ohio were gray and cold and basically dismal with nothing to look forward to until Regionals. Thankfully, Sugar planned a Valentine's Day dance at Breadstix with her rich father reserving the entire restaurant for the night so there was that to look forward to.
Sam and Artie were getting along fine again and had figured out a routine that worked for them. Artie's uncle usually stopped by once a week, sometimes twice, and never had any complaints to give Artie's parents. Artie and Sugar were still going strong, so on weekends Sugar and Quinn usually found themselves there, helping the boys get the house cleaned and laundry caught up. Sam and Artie took turns going to the grocery, and Sam's cooking skills were coming along. Some weekends, they'd make their own pizzas at home and relax and watch movies in the family room until Sam had to run the girls back home. Quinn was actually becoming good friends with Sugar and finally got to the point where she overlooked the girl's odd behavior and just got to know her. They got to know each other well while their boyfriends were involved in the video game world.
Some of the best nights that winter, though, were when Quinn spent the night with Sam. It was usually when her mother was going to be out of town and Artie's uncle had dropped by because then they knew his uncle wouldn't be stopping by again for probably another week. Some nights they'd Skype with his family to catch up on what was going on in Indiana. Since it was winter and the roads were sometimes bad, Sam was allowed to stay in Ohio and he just checked in with his folks in Indiana via computer daily. When it was time to try to get some sleep, Quinn would slip into one of Sam's t-shirts and they'd curl up in his bed, generating their own heat, and whisper to one another about anything and everything. Sometimes, there was no talking, just lovemaking, then sleep.
One night, after a particularly involved session, Sam spooned Quinn, wrapping his arm around her, nearly ready to drift off to sleep.
"Sam...I don't think I could be away from you..." she whispered. He snorted himself awake.
"Whaaaa...?" he asked, sleepily.
"You know, in college, what if I get into Yale or Cornell? How will I ever leave you?"
He hugged her tighter while thinking of his words. "You won't be leaving me...you'll be bettering yourself...I'll always be here...I'm not goin' anywhere..."
She turned around to face him. She ran her hand along his cheek.
"Remember what happened to me when we were apart over the summer?" she asked, smiling a bit.
"I haven't forgotten...you'll be fine, wherever you go. And, if Artie's parents are still in Europe next year, you'll know where to find me," he said, smiling back at her, then leaning into her to kiss her. "I'm not going anywhere, Quinn. We'll figure it out, right?"
She kissed him back.
"What brought this on all of a sudden?" he asked, pushing up on an elbow. "Did you hear from one of the schools?"
"No, not yet...I was just thinking, you know, about the future..." she said, flipping back over to spoon against him. He took his place again, wrapping an arm around her.
"You should hear something soon, right?" he asked her.
"Yeah, probably..."
The next week, she got her acceptance letters from Miami University, Oberlin, and the University of Cincinnati. The two Ivy League schools she had applied to still had not responded to her other than letting her know they received her application paperwork. Sam was at Quinn's, working on homework, and she showed him the letters. He had a huge grin on his face, scanning over the letters quickly.
"I knew you could do it...you are seriously one of the smartest people I know..." he stood up and hugged her. "Now, you just need your letters from the other two to make your decision."
"Thanks, Sam," she said, sucking in her breath. "We'll see about Yale and Cornell. I'm not too sure-"
"Stop right there...you are smart enough to get into those schools...stop with the not being sure..." he said, gripping her upper arms. "I'll miss you like crazy, though."
Quinn sighed. "I know it'll be hard but..."
"But what?"
"I kinda wish I'd be closer to you so it's easier to visit," she mumbled, nibbling on a fingernail, looking at the letter from the University of Cincinnati.
"Quinn..." he started.
"I know, I know...I mean, this school's education department is top-rated in the country, Sam!" she said, holding up the letter.
"Let's just wait and see what the other two have to say, okay?"
She sighed again. "Okay, yes, that's a good idea. Now, we need to go over your English."
Sam rolled his eyes but cracked open his book.
xxxxx
She received her letter from Cornell a couple days later. She had applied there and to Yale. The main reason behind applying to Cornell was it was closest to Ohio. She didn't tell Sam that, though. She tucked the letter in her desk drawer and figured she'd wait until she got a response from Yale before making Sam open them and read them to her.
At least while at school, she didn't have to think about colleges as all the talk was about Finn and Rachel. They announced to the Glee Club that they were planning on getting married soon but had not yet set a date. They wanted to invite all the Glee Club kids.
It was more than a little shocking to their friends. Quinn actually asked if maybe they thought they were too young to make that kind of commitment. Kurt was outwardly opposed this, as well. Others asked about their parents...what did they think of this and had they given their permission. Some asked Rachel about her plans of performing on Broadway in New York City and she said Finn would be going with her...duh, they'd be married! Tina wholeheartedly agreed with the idea of them getting married and asked to be a bridesmaid. To Quinn and Kurt, Rachel uninvited them to the wedding, saying she would've loved to have seen Quinn in a bridesmaid's dress. Sam wrapped his arm around Quinn's shoulders; he could sense the sting of Rachel's words to Quinn by the way she sucked in her breath and bit her lip.
Later that afternoon, Quinn had gone to Artie's to help Sam with algebra and the conversation turned to Finn and Rachel and their big plans.
"I just think Rachel is really screwing up her opportunities...I even told her so," Quinn said as the three of them sat at the kitchen table. "She really has a talent and dragging Finn to New York with her is like tying an anchor around her waist."
"Well, we may think so and everyone but them may think so, but it's their decision...they're 18," Artie replied.
"Surely Finn can find something to do in New York or go to school there?" Sam asked. "What if it was me and you, Q? What if I wanted to get married, like, right now?"
She looked at him, her eyes wide. "That's so different, Samuel."
"How so?" he asked her, smiling.
"We're not set to go to New York City to take Broadway by storm," she replied, snorting.
"You might go to Yale or Cornell. What if I proposed to you right this second...what would you do?" he asked, still smirking.
Quinn looked from Sam to Artie and back to Sam. "I'd...I'd go to school and we'd have a long engagement, that's what I'd do!" Sam and Artie chuckled.
"She's so in love with Finn, though, who're we to say they won't make it work?" Artie said.
"Truth, man," Sam said, high-fiving him across the table.
"I still think she's making a big mistake..." Quinn said. "But, like you two said, it's not for me to judge their decisions...I'll tell her I'll be a bridesmaid, I guess."
"She'll be happy that you changed your mind; she really wanted you there," Artie said to her. "Now, what about that proposal, Sam?"
Sam laughed nervously, glancing at Quinn. "We'll know when the time is right."
Quinn smiled back at him.
xxxxx
Valentine's Day was quickly approaching. Sam and Quinn planned on going to Sugar's party at Breadstix, then heading back to Artie's. Quinn talked to Rachel about her upcoming wedding and told her she'd be a bridesmaid to support her but still had conflicting emotions about them getting married. She told Rachel she wanted her to be happy and pursue the fame that she deserved, and, if Finn was meant to be by her side through all that, then so be it. Rachel squealed and hugged Quinn and began telling her all the details about her bridesmaid's dress.
Most days in Glee Club were spent rehearsing their songs for Regionals, which was happening a month after Valentine's Day. They were doing a couple mash-ups and Rachel would have a solo.
On the day of the Valentine's Day dance, Quinn received the letter she had been awaiting from Yale. She placed it with the letter from Cornell in her desk drawer and chose not to think about them until after the evening's festivities. Before she left her house, though, she tucked them in her purse to take to Artie's later on. She had planned on making Sam open them and read their decisions...she just couldn't do it.
xxxxx
Breadstix had been transformed into the Love Shack for Sugar's party. Sam and Artie arrived together, and Quinn met them there. She was wearing a tiny pink dress with a blue jean jacket over it. She had talked Sam and Artie into wearing red button-down shirts with Valentine's ties.
"You look so handsome," she said, falling into a hug with Sam.
"Will you be mine?" he asked.
"I will, as long as you'll be mine," she replied, pecking his cheek.
They danced to and sang Love Shack, then sang Cherish together with Mercedes and Joe, and slow danced a lot. The party was fun, and the fact that Sam was there enjoying it with her did not escape Quinn. For awhile, she even forgot about the two Ivy League responses sitting unopened in her purse. She just enjoyed her time with Sam and their friends and good music and good food.
After a few hours of partying, though, it was time to head out. Sam drove himself, Artie, and Sugar back to Artie's and Quinn followed in her car. Inside, it was agreed that they were all exhausted and once Sam helped Artie with his bedtime routine he retreated to his bedroom. He found Quinn sitting on the edge of his bed, nervously fiddling with two letters in her hands.
"Artie's taken care of and it looked like him and Sugar were already celebrating Valentine's when I left his room...what'ch'ya got there?" Sam asked her, sitting down next to her, loosening his tie. She handed him the letters.
"I can't open them. You open them and tell me what they say," she said, placing the letters on his lap. He glanced at them, then picked them up, reading the return addresses.
"Oh my gosh, Quinn! How long have you had these?" he asked her.
"Just a few days...I'm too freaked out to open them though..."
"Which one first?" he asked her with excitement.
Cornell was the one she was hoping said yes out of the two so she said Yale.
He stood up and set the Cornell letter on his desk. He made a grand display of opening the letter from Yale, snapping the paper out, clearing his throat, and prepared to read it.
"Dear Mizzzz Fabray..." he said, laughing. He cleared his throat again and continued.
"Your application to the 2012 entering class has now been carefully reviewed by the Admissions Committee. It is with great regret that I must inform you that we are unable to take any further action on your application." He stopped smiling and his face scrunched up to read the rest. "What is this...?"
Quinn held her breath. "Just go on, please."
He shook his head a bit, as if he couldn't believe it. "Because of the exceptionally competitive applicant pool this year, the selection process has been unusually difficult, and the Committee has had to choose only a few students from a large number of academically qualified applicants. We greatly appreciate your interest in seeking admission to Yale University."
His room was quiet for maybe three seconds. "That is complete bullshit! You deserve to get in!"
"We knew it was a long shot, Sam...it's okay, really...let's just, let's just open Cornell's letter," she said quietly, knowing that it probably contained the same type of response.
He was mumbling as he opened the Cornell letter. "That is just crazy...you're good enough for that school!"
Before unfolding the second letter, he took a deep breath and sat down next to Quinn.
"Okay...Miss Fabray, despite your fine record and accomplishments, the Committee on Admissions has not found it possible to offer you a place in the class..." He paused then, not able to process what he was reading. He had known in his heart she'd be accepted to one, if not both, of these schools and had been preparing himself for the day she'd have to leave. "This year, we have received more applications from qualified applicants than we can accommodate in our class. This has made the deliberations of the Committee on Admissions particularly difficult. We only wish we had more opportunities available for fine students such as you."
They were both quiet as he refolded the letter and put it back in the envelope. She suddenly patted his knee.
"You know, it's not the end of the world...I still got accepted-"
"You deserve to go to a fine school like those, Quinn. Why can't you see that in yourself?" he interrupted.
"It's disappointing, but I think I'll focus on Cincinnati now," she said, smiling at him.
"I just want you to have the best...your smarts will be wasted in Cincy," he said, frowning.
"You're so cute when you pout," she purred, running her hand up his arm to his cheek.
He glanced at her. "I can't help it...this upsets me..."
She chuckled. "I think you're more upset about it than I am."
"You should be upset!"
"Like I said, it's not the end of the world for me, Sam. Now I can go to Cincy and be close to you your senior year," she said, leaning in and lightly placing her lips on his earlobe.
"You know what that does to me," he groaned, turning his body a bit to face her, his hand sliding up her thigh.
"I know...and right now I just want to forget those stupid letters, Sam..." she whispered, leaning into him to kiss his other ear. The more she sucked on his earlobe the closer his hand got to her panties. They had learned his earlobes were extremely sensitive one night in his car when she licked and kissed him there and he came in his jeans.
As he pushed against her, laying her back on his bed, he worked her panties off and she undid his jeans. He pushed his pants down as he leaned up over her, now kissing her urgently. He lowered himself down to her and entered her…somewhere in the back of his mind he realized the feeling was more intense than usual. She held on tightly to his arms, whispering his name, kissing him, rocking her body with his.
He began moving quickly, the feeling sensational to him. He lay on her closely, kissing her neck, her fingernails tracing lines down his back. Upon feeling his climax nearing, he leaned up to look down at her as she grabbed his hips. When he came, he pushed deep into her, grunting. She held him in place as he trembled over her, then he lay back down close to her, moving slowly in and out of her.
"I want it to happen for you, Quinn," he mumbled into her neck.
"It will, Sam…it's okay…it always feels wonderful," she replied, stroking his hair.
"It felt so good tonight…" he said to her, moving to lie next to her. He began rubbing circles on her belly. "You're perfect, did you know that?"
She looked over to him. "I'm not perfect, Sam…"
"For me, you're perfect," he replied, kissing her. "I want to show you how perfect…"
He pulled her on top of him. He positioned her over his semi-stiff cock, hands on her hips, and began moving her slowly back and forth.
"Sam…" she whispered.
"Shh…I'll be ready to go again in no time," he said, smiling up at her.
She leaned forward to kiss him, feeling him harden beneath her. Slowly, as they kept kissing, he slipped back inside her easily. She sat up and moved on him to however it felt good, tilting her hips forward and rubbing her clit against him. He lightly touched her belly up to her breasts, massaging them, watching her expression, seeing her heart necklace glimmer against her skin.
As she rode him, she could feel him moving his hips up to her slowly, deeply. She had never felt such control during their lovemaking. She was able to control how her body moved against his, the pace, whether she sat up fully or lay directly on him. She finally realized that moving her hips in a slight circle as he pushed in and out of her was causing an unbelievable feeling in her lady parts. It was somewhat like the feeling Sam would make happen with his fingers but somewhat different, more intense. Her breathing picked up, sounds escaping her throat she didn't know she could make, her eyes closed to the pleasure. Sam watched her as she neared her orgasm, himself about to fall over the edge as well.
The feeling built in her lower belly, a warmth wanting to explode, and she quickened her pace, moaning with his thrusts. She suddenly wanted to come on him, wanted him in her as she orgasmed. The feeling washed over her finally, and she leaned into him, whispering his name as quietly as she could, clenching her muscles around him, gripping his shoulders. Knowing he made her climax set off his own orgasm. He grunted as he felt himself spill into her, holding onto her hips again to keep her close to him.
They stayed that way for some time, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking, until her knees weakened and she rolled off him, panting and pushing her hair from her sweaty brow.
"That was amazing, Sam," she finally said to him. "It's never felt like that before." She watched her fingers dance over his chest, rising up and down.
He looked over to her. "It's always that way for me. You were so beautiful in that moment."
She smiled a little and mumbled thank you.
After cuddling for a little while longer, and nearly on the edge of sleep, Quinn pulled herself from his bed to get dressed. It was a Tuesday night, school the next day, not to mention Artie's uncle usually dropped by on Wednesdays and Sundays (they picked up on his pattern), so Quinn needed to get herself and Sugar home. Sam pulled on his jeans while Quinn went to Artie's room to get Sugar after straightening her clothes. She returned to Sam's room and he motioned for her to sit with him on his bed. She sat on his knee, her arms wrapped around his shoulders.
"This was a great night. You know how much I love you, right?" he said to her.
She fingered the dainty heart necklace and kissed him. "I know it. And how I love you, Sam Evans," she replied quietly.
"I kinda hate to say this but it's their loss, ya know? They'll never to get to know the Lucy Quinn Fabray who I've come to know and love…their loss…" he said to her, hugging her close.
"Thanks Sam…" she said, thinking of how happy she was that the two Ivy League schools were out of the equation and she could focus on going to college in Cincinnati. He seemed more disappointed than she was but she wasn't going to let on that she really wasn't bothered by the Ivy League decisions.
They heard Artie and Sugar making their way through the house, but, when Quinn went to stand up, Sam tightened his grip around her waist and stopped her.
"Wait a second, I wanna ask you something," he said to her.
Quinn sat back on his knee and looked at him curiously. Sam took that as his cue to continue.
"Quinn, this summer, come to New York with me. I know that you may not be that upset about the schools, but I still want you to have some fun before you start college. We said that we would go sometime after Nationals and that would be the best time! Please, Quinn, say yes."
Quinn was shocked to say the least. She hadn't expected this. She turned in his lap so she could face him properly.
"Sam…what about Artie? And what about money? I can't ask you to use all your savings for a trip to a place that will always be there," she said, shocked.
Sam had expected this and already knew what he was going to say.
"Artie's parents are coming back for a couple weeks during the summer, so someone will be here to help him. And, I've been saving my allowances for awhile, so I'll have enough. I want to do this for us!"
Quinn could see how much he wanted this, and, quite frankly, she wanted it too. She also couldn't resist the look he was giving her, so she just gave in.
"Okay Sam, I'll come with you. We'll go to New York together!" Quinn said happily.
"Thank you Quinn!" Sam told her with just as much enthusiasm, leaning in to kiss her.
Sugar then popped her head into Sam's room, asking Quinn if she was ready to go, so they reluctantly got up from Sam's bed and also made their way to the front door. After a few more kisses and hugs, the girls hopped in Quinn's Volkswagen Bug and left for home.
"Did you two have a good night?" Artie asked Sam while Sam helped him go through the rest of his bedtime routine.
"Yeah, it was awesome…you?"
"Yep…"
Back in his room, Sam stripped out of his jeans and sat down on his bed, set his alarm. He saw the two rejection letters still sitting on his nightstand. He picked them up and put them in a desk drawer and crawled into bed, somewhat shocked that Quinn had been turned down but soon dreams of seeing New York City with her took over his sleep.