Sam Evans is Coming to Town
Shot for The Holidays
Sam Evans had left Lima in a cloud, he'd had some massive disagreement with some people he couldn't even remember the names of and left friendless, he'd sat for maybe a day thinking about the consequences of his actions, before he literally blanked his mind, vowed never to look back and dived into the life he'd chosen for himself with a vengeance
He was more than happy to leave, he'd got his big break just weeks after he made the decision to move on and found himself in New York, the big apple, it didn't take long for him to make new friends and the world of modelling was made for him, it was were he belonged he never grew tired of the endless come ons, girls throwing themselves at him and men giving him fuck you looks, he got a buzz off it.
"Sam" Demi; his agent, called across the office "You've had everything you've ever wanted over these past 11 years haven't you?"
"Everything" he sprawled himself across the couch telling her
"So now I want you to do something for me, well for your career actually" she stood over him telling him, of all the women he'd ever been with or even had the urge to be with Demi had never been one, they'd just never crossed that line
"What do you need me to do?"
"That's a good word that, need" she smiled "Because I need you to do this gig for me, actually it's not even a conversation, it's from the top, you signed a contract and this is what they want unless you have enough money to get yourself out of it, and I can tell you now you have..."
"...What is it Demi" he sat up impatient for her going around the houses "Just tell me what it is"
"They want you to do this back to your roots Christmas shoot thing"
"What kind of back to my roots, to when I started modelling?"
"I get the concept as back to school"
"School?" he shouted "I don't even remember the damn name of the place, it's some dingy little town in Ohio somewhere" he sat up telling her "That life has no bearing on where I am now"
"But we need to make it have bearing Sam, that's the point"
"I blocked all that shit out obviously it was a bad experience I don't need to get back to it, is there nothing we can do about this?"
"Nothing sorry" Demi looked at him telling him, in the back of her mind she was more than curious about his past, he'd never spoken of it except to say he was from Ohio and he left as soon a he could because he hated it so much "So I guess you need to pack a bag, we leave in two days"
"Shit" he banged his knees with his fists hissing "Two days" he got up saying looking worried already, he'd made up so many memories of his time in Ohio he really wasn't sure what was true and what wasn't, he'd talked of a relationship in the early days but in all honesty even if he was in court today he'd never be able to remember the name he'd given that damn girl, he'd had flashes some nights that he couldn't make sense of, everything was lost, he'd really blocked Ohio out of his mind for good.
The day soon arrived and even he knew he was being extra quiet, there was something he needed to remember that he didn't, wouldn't or was it couldn't
The Girls
It was Christmas and everyone was gravitating back home to Lima for the holidays, it was the only time they actually got to spend together, Rachel was based in Paris, Santana in Germany, Brittany in Texas, Tina in Michigan, Quinn in Mexico and Mercy in Los Angeles so these times were precious.
'Sam's going to be in Lima for the holidays' Kurt texted them on the girls group chat
'How do you know' Mercy texted back
'Because they're doing a shoot at the garage' he replied
'What for?' Rachel asked
'He's doing some back to his roots thing' he replied
'Roots! he cussed us and walked out of our damn lives' Tina wrote
'Fuck him' Santana wrote in capital letters
'Don't be nasty we used to love him, we still do' Quinn wrote
'Will you guys still be going home?' Mercy wrote asking
'Yeah' Tina wrote followed by a shower of yes'
'I'll see you all at Mom's on Saturday in the den asap' Mercy wrote 'I'm assuming you're talking to the phone in reply Britt, love you' as everyone sent her hearts
"Right" Mercy said as they gathered in her den a week later the day before Sam was due to arrive "Sam Evans we all know we have history with the man, what's the plan of action?" she asked before taking a sip of her champagne
"He said some horrible things before he left, but I'm married to Jessie now, I'm so over it I'm not even phased" Rachel told everyone
"I'm happily married, as you all know" Santana announced "Puck and I are good, but I guess I still have a thing about him calling me a hoe in front of my Mom that was so damn embarrassing" she rolled her eyes saying "And I vowed I was going to have that out with him if I ever met up with him again"
"Who the fuck is Sam Evans, that's what I want to know" Quinn shouted "I took that last rejection speech of his real serious, but Biff and I are end game no doubt"
"Good for you girl" Tina told her knocking fists
"Artie and I are solid, Sam was a good friend back then I guess" Brittany added "Before he decided to tell everyone I offered it on a plate and begged him to use me, it was a damn game"
"I heard you were doing that back then?" Tina asked surprised at Brittany's tone "What about you Mercy?"
"I have nothing, seriously, we met we fell in love, promised to love each other forever and all that young love shit but we grew up, and I guess I still love him as a friend he just doesn't want to know that right now"
"Seriously?" Tina asked shocked
"Really, you know I'm not up for running after someone that doesn't want me, I've got too much choice right now" she gave Quinn a high five saying
"Well I don't have a grudge, but he did dissed my kiss, it was the only thing we'd ever shared" she frowned
"Now you're just grabbing at fucking straws Miss T, stop" Mercy laughed telling her "So the plan is?"
"If we get our chance to say our piece say it, and for fuck sake keep the men out of it" Santana suggested
"It's give week and I signed us all up to do choir practice" Mercy informed them
"Great" Rachel rolled her eyes unimpressed
"Kurt told me Sam would be doing shoots there in the evenings so, if you have anything to say to him you can catch him then, don't thank me" Mercy closed her eyes and held her hand up in the air telling them
Lima Ohio
Sam
"We've got a week to get this done the quicker the better but Christmas is definitely cancelled" Demi told him as they landed to crowds of youngsters waving at him, he loved the hype, attention everything about being famous. He'd have usually had some model hanging off his arm, but this trip for some reason he didn't want that "This whole thing is strange Sam" she added as she watched him actually taking notice of his fans
"Stranger to me" he turned to tell her "Get me out of here" he smiled as he spoke, looking around the crowd as he went his eyes caught onto a few women standing just under the canvas cover watching him not smiling, clapping or anything just watching. He jumped in the car after signing a few more autographs and looked back at the women standing watching him wondering what the hell that was all about "Did you see those women just standing there staring?" he asked Demi as the car door shut
"No I wasn't looking around, it's my job to watch you"
I know these streets" he sat forward in the car telling her as they drove, "I don't know why I don't remember my life here"
"Something bad must have happened" she smiled telling him "If you need to remember you will" she tapped his arm telling him
He lay in bed that night, he'd have liked to have found some sleep before his busy day, but he didn't his mind was over playing it about those freaky women watching him, looking at him with; pity, that was the only word he could think of to describe it. The next thing he knew it was morning and Demi was walking into his hotel room shouting his name as usual waking him before dawn to get his run in before his shoot
"Sam it's a long one today, we're on the clock so hurry it up" she smiled as she heard the shower going already "We're at the school every evening, we have to work around the school day so it might bring us to the full week"
"Okay" he grabbed his coffee telling her as he grabbed his trainers to make time, he'd got maybe 40 minutes to do 10 miles if he was lucky he'd get 12 in and get back to get ready for set "In a bit" he told her leaving for his jog
Day 1
Oh Holy Night
Sam had been on location at the cafe all day getting some shots that he really wasn't happy with, the place didn't feel like part of his history to him, he was pretty sure the owners knew that too, they just wanted some publicity and the girls hanging around the place along with the reporters were playing it up for the owner.
"We're off to the school now it's nearly 5pm" the photographer told him "Time is money we have 2 hours lets get to work" he shouted as everyone started packing up to get to the next venue. Sam jumped in his ride with Demi and made his way to the school, he was hoping to capture some memories before everyone got there, but when he walked in there was nothing
"Sam here's the canteen" Demi shouted as she walked through the corridors
"I could maybe get a coffee before this shit starts" he yelled as he left her to her own devices and went into the canteen to rummage "Arrh coffee" he flicked the switch to turn the kettle on telling himself as he searched the cupboards for a cup
"Hello" he heard turning to see a brown haired girl standing smiling at him
"Hello" he replied searching his mind to remember if this woman was at his shoot earlier and decided she wasn't
"Nice to have you back" she leaned her head telling him
"Sorry do I know you?" he asked standing with the coffee jar in his hand
"Yeah" she laughed "I'm Rachel was Berry now St James, I married Jessie you remember him right?"
"No, actually I don't remember him, should I?"
"Well I'm embarrassed to say, but we were in love once" she smiled
"We were?" he asked shocked "Sorry it's just that this" he pointed between them "Doesn't feel like it was ever that for me"
"That?" she asked
"Love" he smiled "It or should I say you don't seem like someone I'd love"
"Should I be offended again?"
"Again?" he asked confused
"Yeah again, the last time we had a conversation about love you told me almost the same thing, I wasn't good enough"
"So I didn't love you then?" he laughed
"Maybe love was a strong word" she giggled "Anyway it's all over for me I guess I've been holding a grudge against you for all these years and shit you didn't even remember I existed"
"Grudge?"
"Yeah, ragged me out the last time we spoke told me about some fake relationship you had with me for pity"
"Sorry for that, but you can't make people like you, you know?"
"Oh I know that" she smiled "I'll have one of those if you're offering" she looked at the kettle telling him "Except hold the coffee, sugar and just drop one of those bags in the green box in it"
"That's something completely different" he laughed wondering how he ended up making this woman a hot drink "So I guess you know I model, what do you do?"
"It's my turn to do the carol service practice with the Glee Club we've just finished and I was taking myself a 10 minutes before my night job"
"Two jobs?"
"Family I have 3 children 10, 8 and 6 all demanding time, energy and love" she smiled "And of course a husband"
"Very important job" he smiled back at her that Sam Evans smile that made you have to swoon
"Yeah so romantic" she laughed
"So what were you teaching the children?"
"They already know it, it's just performing to an audience they have problems with, they're singing Oh Holy Night" she smiled
"And what are you singing?"
"More like... I don't know I guess it would have to be dedicated to my hubby, he's such a romantic...
"Lucky man" he chuckled hearing footsteps coming
"Sam" Demi came to the door shouting "Sorry" she looked at the two of them smiling to say "I didn't know you were talking to anyone"
"That's fine" Sam told her calling her in "Demi this is Rachel she says we went to school together, and I'm still trying to establish if we were ever in love like she told me" he looked back at her
"In love, novelty" Demi laughed "He has no heart this one" she tugged at his shirt telling Rachel "Nice to meet you" she held her hand out for the greeting, Rachel shook it smiling
"Nice to meet you Demi"
"Sam they're ready for you" she turned to him saying as she waved bye to Rachel and left
"Nice to have met you …. again" he laughed shaking her hand before leaving with the coffee in his hand
They took their full two hours before the janitor came to close up, Sam's shots in the changing room still hadn't finished, he'd put a jacket that was hanging in the locker room on for the last shot and they'd suddenly decided that was what all the other shots were missing cheer leaders and sports jackets
"Don't tell me we've wasted a damn day" he threw the jacket down shouting, he hadn't got anywhere to be but for some reason he really didn't need to be here, he felt agitated for being forced to stay. He got back to the hotel had something to eat and had a few drinks before diving into bed, wondering why that Rachel girl tried to get him to remember he loved her, when it wasn't even true "What's not to love about me" he concluded before falling asleep
Day 2
Jingle Bell Rock
The next day Sam was up doing his usual run before his busy day, with Demi waiting with his coffee "locations a bit further out today so make it a short one" she told him as he almost jogged past her
"Thanks" he grabbed his drink as he pasted "Where are we going?"
"Rinky Dinks Ice skating rink I've been told"
"Where the hell is that?" he stopped jogging to ask "Do they really want my history or one they've made the fuck up?"
"We just get the itinerary sweet, we're puppets" she waved at him as she watched him close the door "Either you really don't remember this shit or your a damn good actor" she mumbled as she cleaned up after him before booking his ride and checking his shots for the day
"It's fucking freezing out here" Sam rubbed his hands together telling Demi as they stood at the ice Rink waiting for instruction "Could I get some gloves or something my finger tips are blue"
"I'll get onto that" she walked away telling him as they heard the photographer shout and rolled their eyes at his revelation that the damn place was too cold to work and they were heading indoors
"To the school, same rules as yesterday two hours make them count"
Sam didn't even wait for Demi he was in the waiting car before she could turn to tell him to go, there were a few fans standing watching through the gates and he made her stop the car for him to sign autographs and take selfies before he quickly got to the venue "I'm grabbing a coffee" he told her jumping out the car and heading to the canteen he'd visited yesterday
"Well Sam Evans" he heard as he walked down the corridor towards the canteen, making him spin round to see who was behind him
"Hi" he smiled when he turned to see a blond, tall girl standing at the lockers he'd just passed
"Hi" she walked up to him hugging him, a bit too forward for his liking, he pulled away fast "Excuse me, do I know you?"
"It's Brittany Abrahams well Pierce now I married Artie" she smiled
"Sorry my memories shot I really don't remember you"
"Oh that might be because you don't remember why you went there with me"
"Where did I go with you?" he rolled his eyes asking, his mind on the last girl telling him he'd professed undying love her her "Is this like some sort of prank?"
"A prank" she laughed "Just for the record I'm not stupid because I remember, I mean I know Christopher Cross discovered America"
"What?" Sam asked puzzled as to how the conversation got there
"You hurt my feelings" she barked at him "The world already seemed like a scary and confusing place, it was just too fast for me and made me feel dumb, you shouted at me just because my brain works differently"
"I'm sorry I really don't follow you" he looked around to see if anyone was here witnessing this
"I really liked you Sam, you asked me to love you"
"I'm sorry" he shook his head telling her, trying to let her know she'd got the wrong person, shocked when she burst into song right there in the corridor, he stood watching her sing 'Like you Like That' by L Devine
I would wait every day to get you all alone with me, what you saying, honestly?
Don't say maybe, cos I'll go crazy, you're all I think about, dream about, talk about, never doubt
Want it now, tell me now, if you want to, do you?
He had nothing to say or do as she danced around the corridor doing some jingle bell rock moves to this random song that had no music, she stopped right in front of him, he had to step back to define his space
"See I sing and dance better than Brittany Spears and now I realise I'm a powerful woman, I really am" she told an even more confused Sam, nothing this woman had said made any damn sense
"I don't actually know Brittany Spears to make that comparison" he found her name somewhere in this conversation to make the comment
"Am I speaking another language or something, why don't you understand a word I'm saying?" she looked at him puzzled
"I guess you're speaking another language" he laughed
"Well I understand you, so I guess you might just be the dumbest person in the planet, and that's coming from me"
"I guess you must be" he smiled and walked away backwards from this obviously mad woman
"Sam" Demi said as he bumped into her "Watch where you're going, where's that coffee?"
"I didn't get there, I had this really crazy conversation with this... I don't even know what to call her, Brittany I guess" he looked back at the woman dancing her way down the corridor "This place is fucking crazy" he chuckled as they walked towards the canteen to get their drink
"Sounds like your getting visits from ghosts of Christmas' past" she laughed
"Do you think?" he stopped walking to ask her
"No" she tapped his arms still laughing "We don't believe in that shit Evans"
They went back to the changing room to get those shots the photographer wanted from the day before, spent the entire two hours, fussing around the two girls that didn't fit the cheerleader bill, while Sam sat around waiting to be invited into the shot "This isn't working" Glen; the photographer, finally admitted making Sam roll his eyes for them finally seeing what he'd been thinking all along "We'll pick it up again tomorrow, last try people and get some different girls" he shouted as everyone started dismantling their tools to leave
His bed was more than inviting that night, he'd hardly had seconds to think about the events of the day before his eyes were closed
Day 3
Here Comes Santa Claus
"Today might be a bit painful" Demi told him as she handed him his morning coffee "It's at the American Family Motel" she told him stood waiting for a reaction
"What's a motel got to do with my school years?" he stopped to ask
"You'd have to ask the researchers" she smiled not wanting to tell him he'd been homeless in his past life
"There's a lot to ask these fucking researchers, when I get back" he told her his mood not good, as he left the hotel for his jog
"I don't get it" he told Demi as he sat on the bed in the Motel later that day, which took up the majority of the room, it was clean but old, everything was old and overused "What's this got to do with me?" he looked around asking
"Right" Glen shouted as everyone jumped to attention "Let's get something done today" he told them as everyone went into automatic pilot to get the shots done as quickly as possible "School" he shouted some five hours later
"Get me something to eat" Sam instructed Demi as he jumped in the car "I'm going to find the school library see if I can conjure up some history"
"History?" Demi asked smiling
"Yeah I maybe need to know something about my old life" he walked off telling her, jumping in his ride and heading to the school
He walked through the corridors looking at the signs guiding him to the library, maybe they had year books he could look at see something about his former life, find out why he needed to forget
He turned into the library and saw a Spanish looking woman sitting there, he rolled his eyes, he should have expected it but he didn't "Hi" he smiled as he walked past her
"Well here comes Santa Claus, hello Trouty" she smiled jumping up to walk towards him mischief on her face
"Who?" he asked offended
"Trouty" she smiled "Guppy face, trouty mouth, is that how peoples lips look, where you come from in the south" she sang laughing when she finished
"I think that's really rude" his face red with anger as he spoke
"What's actually rude Trouty is chatting shit about me"
"My name's Sam if you don't mind and do I know you?"
"I'm Santana Lopez or Puckerman nowadays, you remember Puck right?"
"No I don't actually"
"God Rachel was right you wiped us out"
"Sorry?"
"Sorry, a bit late for that, or is it?" she checked her self asking "I guess now I'm happily married out of my lesbian phase and love my daughter I could accept a sorry. I don't know if Puck would forgive you that easy though"
"What did I do to you, and Puck is it?"
"We went there Trouty behind his back, you fucked me behind your home boys back"
"My home boy? I didn't do that" he held his hand up telling her
"Okay that's an exaggeration I guess" she rolled her eyes smiling "You told my Mom I was a hoe, now that's fucked up"
"I guess I could see how that would be fucked up" he smiled "But please tell me that's not what you've held against me for..."
"Eleven years Trouty, Eleven fucking years" she smiled
"And was it worth it? the payback I mean"
"Not really, I guess it was more about the shame of it" she laughed
"I get that" he smiled
"I mean, not only did I give you full visitation rights to the set of rambunctious twins that live between my ribcage, I also gave you clout in this damn school and you dissed me"
"I don't remember, but I hope you'll accept a sorry as a small token and a firm understanding that I seriously have no interest in those rambunc.. whatever they are between your ribcage"
"Was that another diss?"
"No" he laughed "It was a genuine response, we went to school together yeah"
"Yeah"
"I'm building bridges"
"It's Christmas consider it built" she smiled hugging him
"So, why are you still here?"
"Choir practice, Christmas carols and stuff for the young ones, we generally donate time to the Glee club giving back and all that"
"Glee club?"
"Yeah you know singing, dancing, competitions"
"What are you guys singing?"
"Nothing, just vocal training and dance moves the kids are performing on Saturday"
"I'd have liked to see you performing" he smiled
"I don't do Christmas songs sorry, too tame for me" she laughed
"What do you do?" he checked himself he was flirting with this girl
"Oh stuff like 'Slow' by Matoma ft Noah Cyrus" she laughed as she sung "I don't want to go slow, every time you're pulling backwards, I just gonna fall in faster, cause I don't wanna go slow"
"Love that song" he smiled
"You know Trouty despite the fact that your mouth-to-face ratio is way off, you still somehow mange to still be cute" she smiled
"Is that a diss or a complement?" he laughed
"When you remember me you'll know it's a massive complement" she laughed "Bye my rides here" she waved walking away as Sam stood wondering how she knew that with no windows in the place
He found his way to the canteen to get himself a drink it was too near time for the shoot to start looking through books just now but if he got time tomorrow he'd put that at the top of his list of things to do "Sam you're sandwich" Demi shouted down the hall as Santana walked past her "Was that your urgent study?" she asked when she got to him
"Who Santana?" he laughed "She's got to be one of the rudest women I've ever met" he told her taking a bite of his sandwich, making their way to the canteen to get a drink before they got a message telling them Glen was ready.
They finally finished the shoot in the changing room and moved on to the auditorium, they were more looking at a concept than getting the models involved so Sam took the opportunity to leave early and grab himself a drink before bed. He looked around the bar at the girls on offer and there were some more than deserving of his company but as he made to make his move something stopped him, he didn't know what "Maybe I don't want to open old wounds" he sat back down telling himself.
"Hi" he heard as soon as he sat down, looking round to see a dizzy looking girl with large teeth and a small frame standing next to him
"Hi" he smiled back recognising fan behaviour when he saw it
"Sam, I'm Sugar you might not remember me I didn't have much of an impact on your life back then, but we were in glee club together, won a few trophy's" she smiled
"I didn't know any of that, but nice to meet you Sugar"
"Can I get you a drink?" she asked
"No I'm fine with this thank you, but can I get you one?"
"No I don't drink" she smiled as she started walking away "Bye Sam nice to see you again, don't be a stranger" she waved as she left
"Bye" he said throwing the last drop of his whisky down his throat and finding his room before he was accosted by any other old flames, he played computer games on the TV until he was ready for sleep
Day 4
The Most Wonderful Day of the Year
The usual routines undertaken and Sam was ready for his day at the Hummel Tire & Lube, not sure what they were doing there he didn't even ask a question
"Well Sam Evans if I could pinch myself I would" Kurt came towards him smiling as he spoke
"Hi" Sam smiled "I'm guessing we went to school together, seeing as your part of my childhood"
"This is actually my Dad's place, I don't work here and I'm trying to get him to give it up" he smiled "So what have you been up to?"
"Modelling and living my life I guess"
"Well that's why you left so good for you" he tapped his back telling him
"Sam get dressed we're nearly ready for you" Glen shouted
"Sorry ….?"
"Kurt" he held his hand out telling him
"Sorry Kurt maybe we'll catch up later, I have to work right now" he smiled walking away as he spoke to get ready for work , they ran over on the day and dinner was on the run again as they made their way to the school
"I need the loo" Sam ran off in the direction he'd seen them in "Too much coffee" he shouted back at Demi as he went, seeing the light on he dived in and jumped in a cubicle "Is this the ladies?" he asked himself as he stood doing his thing. The next thing he knew there was a woman in the place singing her heart out as he stood frozen in the cubicle
He stood smiling imaging her with a hairbrush in her hand singing into the mirror as he listened to her singing 'Obsessed' by Maggie Lindemann she had expression and everything he was cracking up
'You're so obsessed with yourself, maybe you should undress with yourself, hey, I get a table for two, your ego and you, take him home and make a move. So obsessed with yourself, obsessed with yourself,
He must have laughed too loud without knowing it "Who's there?" he heard as he held his breath and zipped his trousers up "Who's there I have spray" she shouted again, he slowly opened the door and walked out
"Sorry I didn't know it was the ladies" he told her rather embarrassed
"Sam Evans" she smiled "Back on planet earth" she stood looking at him "Wash your damn hands" she ordered as he walked towards the sink to do just that, thinking no one had to tell him to do that "We've been here before" she laughed "You had slushy all over your face and hair and I was cleaning you up"
"Sorry I ..."
"Quinn Fabray, I married Biff remember but I kept my name"
"I'm sorry I really don't remember you" he smiled at the blond looking back at him with some sort of expectation in her eyes
"One stupid mistake" she looked at him her face serious as she spoke this time "One stupid mistake and my whole life changed"
"One mistake?"
"I kissed Finn and you made me pay for that all my life, we could have been good together Sam, we were good together everyone said so, I was your first love" Sam stood shocked at this revelation, he could see himself falling for someone like this but she'd just told him she'd cheated on him and what? ….. did she expect forgiveness
"First love?" he asked "If you were I'm sure I'd remember you but I don't"
"Thing is I know back then I didn't appreciate you but we were perfect together"
"Operative word being were, I don't go backwards Quinn is it, and I guess I would have hoped that you'd feel the same, so sorry, I guess you can stop that wish right there, didn't I hear you say you were married"
"Sam" she grabbed his collar saying "You're a single man, I can be free and I'm sure you've noticed I'm still supermodel thin" she grabbed his face telling him "I didn't appreciate you back then but..."
"Stop it" he shouted pushing her hands off him "I'm not interested in any relationship right now, and when I am it won't be you Quinn"
"How do you know that?"
"Because you have a husband and you're standing here telling me all this, acting like this, I could never trust a girl like you"
"Is that why you wouldn't give me a second chance?" she grabbed hold of the sink asking
"Seriously I don't know, but it's my reason now"
"I've dreamed of you wanting me back, there were times at school I thought I'd go mad for you not wanting me, I guess I've led Biff to sort of believe he was second best, I just thought one day you'd forgive me, realise I was the one and come back"
"I'm sorry but since I left this place I've never looked back, I don't even remember this school"
"I could help you..."
"I was curious, but I really don't want to know now so no thank you, I just want to do my job and get the hell out of here"
"I'd like to be friends if that were at all possible?"
"I don't know" he looked at her suspect
"Come on it's Christmas, the most wonderful day of the year, give us a present"
"Us?"
"Yeah Lima" she giggled
"I'd be lying if I said I was going to keep in contact with anyone from here when I leave, I obviously buried it for a reason, my careers at a peak I really don't need the distraction"
"So you're all about you career?"
"Yeah"
"I guess that's one blessing, that's why you left"
"It was?"
"I'd say more but you don't want to know" she walked towards the door "And next time read the sign on the damn door" she laughed pointing to the ladies sign on the door she'd opened
"Will do" he smiled
"Bye Sam, and try not to be a stranger"
"Bye Quinn" he stood looking at the door as it closed "Much too fucking clingy and married" he smiled as he relived their conversation "And you're not the one"
"Sam" he heard someone shouting in the corridors and went out to see Demi running down "They need you what the hell are you doing?"
"Not interested in any relationships right now?" Quinn seemed to pop up from behind the lockers asking with a smirk on her face
"No" he smiled as Demi neared "Demi this is Quinn from school" he smiled at Quinn as she spoke "And Quinn this is Demi my agent"
"Hi" Demi smiled "Nice to meet you, sorry we can't stop he's at work" she said pulling Sam with her "Hurry up" she rushed off telling him "You get your leg over any which way you damn well can one day it's going to come back to bite you"
"I didn't fuck her, we were talking" he giggled
"Good she's not your type, too jealous" Demi told him as they reached the auditorium, they did some mad shoots around the seats and in the boxes above, dressed the stage up in the McKinley colours and had him prancing around the stage, it felt oddly familiar but he was in work mode so he switched that off and carried on. Soon the two hours were up and they had two more days left and one day of rest and then off, he was happy he was getting back home even though it was going to be boxing day he really didn't care for any of the celebrations anyway.
It just reminded him of how alone he really was in the world, having lost his parents in the jetting accident many years ago, which was why he'd ended up in that deadbeat town with some godawful people, treated him like shit, giving him names like fucking trouty, no wander he needed to get the fuck out of there, he fell asleep with that bad vibe running through his brain and woke up even angrier for a reason he knew not
Day 5
All I Want For Christmas Is You
"Don't" he held his hand up telling Demi just before she opened her mouth to say something morning like, she knew him well she moved out the way and let him walk out to get whatever it was off his chest during his run
"We're at somewhere called Breadsticks this morning" she told him as he walked in cutting his eyes at her crossing the lounge to find his bedroom "And that mood needs to change before you get there" she shouted after him as the door banged telling her he very much knew that
He came out with his poker face on ready for work "Lets do this" he rolled his fists and punched the air telling her
"Okay" she clapped her hands together following him out the door and making their way to breadsticks
He enjoyed the day considering his mood this morning there was food there and he got to eat a lot during his breaks, again they signed autographs and did mini- interviews for the local papers. The four hours seemed to rush by as Sam became anxious again, his mood changed like a light as Demi sat wondering what was going on for him. She knew he'd met some old school friends but in most part she didn't discuss the conversations he'd had mainly because he hadn't offered anything up, she was concerned that he was going straight to bed every night too, that wasn't him, he was a gamer.
"Everything alright?" she asked as he walked past her when Glen told him he'd finished
"Fine" he half smiled "I'll see you guys at the school, I've got something to do" the clue was definitely in that school, every interaction had been with people at that damn school, he'd made the time to visit the library today and he was going to get that done something was bugging him and he needed to know what. He was disappointed to find year books with classes in and just pictures of himself with just his name and the year under it, he'd expected more.
He left the library in an attempt to find the boys toilets and heard the children singing in the sports hall, he walked towards the noise smiling when he saw the male toilets and jumped in to do his business smiling as he listened to them practising their rendition of 'All I want for Christmas is you' they sound pretty dope to be honest he thought as he listened
He poked his head through the door and saw seats he slid in up the back behind a pile of chairs and sat on a stool peeping through the chairs at the singers "God she's tough" he whispered as he heard this black woman telling the poor kids to start again every time they got to the chorus, eventually she let up and he sat listening to her giving praise not noticing them leaving one by one and then it was just too awkward to leave without being seen, he sat still waiting for her to leave so he could move
He watched as she seemed to be praying, smiling because he really didn't think the kids were that bad, he checked his phone to make sure it was on silent and leaned in watching her, he thought she'd do something unmentionable, like pull her panties out her butt or dig her nose out but she didn't she sat at the piano on the small stage and started singing the most beautiful song, he hadn't heard it before
'All or Nothing' by Demetria McKinney
The sun don't shine, the stars don't glow, coz you keep my world spinning, like the rivers flow, like the mountains move, you make me feel like I am living , See nothing feels right without you, who I don't want to be, coz everything about you, are the missing part of me, and I want it all, all or nothing., Every scar, every mistake, all of your love, every heartbeat you or nothing at all, nothing at all. Walk though the fire, just to be close, no limits, when it comes to the one I love the most. You may toss that ceiling and fall in love, over and over and over again, you are my lover my nemesis, my everything. When my heart you decide, do you know you are priceless to me, when did you fall to the earth, baby, nothing feels right without you, who I don't want to be, and I'm so glad I found you, your the missing part of me, and I want it all, all or nothing. Every scar, and every mistake, all of your love, and every heartbeat you or nothing at all, nothing at all. What is life, what is living, who am I, if I ain't here with you
What is life, what is living, who am I, if I ain't here with you, If I ain't here with you
"Beautiful" he gasped feeling he eyes, shocked she'd brought him to tears, there was so much feeling in there, she was crying too, he watched her wiping her face wondering who this woman was singing to, he smiled as he watched her get up and leave the sport hall, he gave her a while to get down the corridor before he emerged and left himself
"Come on girls" he heard her shout as she passed the lockers "Get to the car quick" she laughed giving one of them her coat "You're parents will be spitting blood" she gigged
"Are you guys alright there?" he shouted before he knew his mouth was open, as Mercy's head shot up at the voice
"Yes thank you" she smiled waving before shuffling the girls out the door and she was gone
He felt his phone vibrate and looked to see it was Demi calling him, he made his way to the auditorium, ready to work, he'd almost missed his chat with some random girl today and sat wondering why the woman today didn't seem to know him. He finished work and went straight to the hotel to play games and find sleep, this gig was coming to an end and the thought of getting back to New York was exciting, life here was much too slow and the girls much too needy.
Day 6
Mary's Boy Child
"God this is the last day on set" he shouted as he came out his room "I can't wait to get back home"
"Are you sure you're just not running away from something here?" Demi asked
"Like?" he stopped to look at her asking
"I don't know you've met a lot of friends this week but you haven't really said anything
"Nothing to say mostly old flames that needed closure, nothing to write home about, that's kind of expected, with the money and everything"
"They asked for money?"
"No actually they didn't" he thought about that for a second what did they all actually want he asked himself "Where are we today?"
"Something called The Hurt Locker" Demi told him
"This shit isn't even funny any more" he giggled
"What?" Demi asked him looking just as intrigued as him
"You're asking me, I think the powers that be are just making this shit up as they go along" he grabbed his coffee and left the hotel room for his usual jog
"Shit look at this" Demi laughed as they walked into an old disused garage type place a few hours later
Sam went over to where she stood as they both looked at a wall of pictures, newspaper cuttings and strings "What the fuck?" he asked almost under his breath as he looked at it seeing pictures of the girls he'd been speaking to, noticing pictures of himself in gold pants standing vulnerable on a stage maybe in the auditorium, his treasure trailz shoot "How the hell" he asked about the picture being there "It's definitely an early picture" he told himself as he carried on looking at pictures of him walking down the school corridors, finally noticing the strings leading from his pictures he followed the first one and found a group photo he recognised that Quinn woman and the woman he'd seen singing yesterday and maybe that guy in the middle was the guy from the Garage but everything else about the picture was alien to him. He followed the second longer string and gasped when he saw him giving presents to the mystery woman "she meant something to me" he gasped, I made her smile, she made me laugh, his eyes flicking over the newspaper cuttings as he read about her success "Mercedes" he read
"The Unholy Trinity" Demi laughed snapping him out of his thoughts "God they look unholy too"
His eyes wondered around the board as he found the part she was talking about "I met these girls" he looked at a picture of them standing in cheerleader uniforms telling her "What the hell does it all mean?"
"I know this face now that's attached to it" Demi said pointing at the picture of Rachel "She really was Funny Girl on Broadway a while back"
"Rachel" Sam smiled "She said her name was Rachel"
"Yeah"
"And he was the guy from the Hummel Tire & Lube shoot the other day" he pointed at a picture of Kurt telling her
"That's Kurt Hummel-Anderson that famous children's story book writer" she smiled at her vault of information "That tall blond looks familiar" she pointed at Brittany telling him "And you don't remember any of these people?"
"No nothing" Sam finally looked at her saying
"Right" Glen shouted as Demi dragged Sam off to get ready for the shoot, they went through the session, had something to eat and every one went off to do their own thing for an hour or so until the school was free for the final shoot, there was some teacher meeting or something going on and choir practice.
"I'm going round the town" Sam told Demi as he backed out of the garage knocking over a pile of books that had been balancing in a slant for the shoot "Shit" he bent down to pick them up finding one that had Glee Club written across it, he flicked through it and saw writing, 'I think that might have some clues' he looked around before putting it inside his jacket and walking away. He got to the school and stood watching the teachers leaving, until there were trickles before he walked through the open door and found himself a quiet open classroom, he sat on the desk with his feet on a chair as he opened the book and started looking at pictures, and reading quotes signed by a Will Schuester. The first few pages were alien to him but on about page 6 he saw himself singing, laughing, dancing "He was happy here" he looked up to see a Chinese woman standing at the door "Hi" he smiled recognising her from the pictures on the wall and in the book
"Hi" she smiled "I know you don't remember us, I'm Tina or Miss T as you used to call me, we were in the same year at school" she walked towards him telling him, smiling when she saw the book in his hand "We had some good times in Glee Club" she laughed "Christmas' and Valentine's were the best"
"I'm sorry" Sam told her, he felt sad that he couldn't share her happy right now
"Don't be, we all understand, you left to make something of yourself and you did it. You don't remember us for whatever reason but we're all still very proud of you, you're one of us and we love you no matter what"
"That's a really nice thing to say" he smiled
"It's a truth" she smiled back
"I'm having difficulties with truths at the moment, I don't actually know why I'm blocking all this out" he held the book up telling her "And I can't get into my head to work it all out"
"You will when you're ready, it was a difficult time, choices needed to be made you chose what was best for you at that time you both did"
"Both?"
"I have to go I've said too much already, the choir are waiting for my fantastic rendition of Mary's boy child" she laughed as she walked away "See you Sam"
"Hold up" he jumped off the table following her, he needed to know what she meant
"Sam" Demi's face came into view saying "Time to roll" she smiled as she watched him looking at the back of yet another woman "Don't tell me, school friend" she laughed
"Actually yeah" he looked at Demi saying before looking back up at Tina moving down the corridor "She actually seemed like a friend"
"Well this is definitely work, get a grip" she pulled his cuff telling him as she went towards the auditorium, two hours later they were cheering for the end of the shoot and Sam was rushing trying to get back to his book maybe there were more clues in there something to jog his memory
The Girls
"Hi" Mercy smiled as all the girls piled into her parents house, it was Christmas Eve and they were about to get their traditional sing on, the guys were out getting snacks and drinks to join them, the fire was blazing, and the seasons joy was in the air
"Did everyone get to say what they wanted to Sam?" Quinn asked as they busied in the kitchen
"Yeah" everyone shouted back as Mercy looked around the room
"And you Mercy did you get to tell him what you needed him to know?"
"I... I didn't speak to him" she told them as everyone stopped to look at her "We made a decision, it was hard but we made it, and I just feel I need to stick to it"
"But..."
"...Nothing we made a decision" she butted in stopping Tina's comment in it's track
"But Mercy we all know you still love him, you haven't so much as looked at another man since..."Rachel tried to say
"...I said we made our decision"
"But you did.." Santana started
"...Stop" she shouted across the kitchen as everyone went into silence, they knew it was a touchy, painful subject for her, they were hurting for her too
"What's up?" Puck shouted as he came into the kitchen breaking the silence as everyone went into normal mode
"I'll tell you what's up" Mike walked in telling him as everyone looked in his direction "Sam Evans is in town and guess what, someone" he looked at Tina saying "Forgot to mention it to me, I know you knew" he told her
"I know you all knew that shit" Artie warned as he went towards Brittany
"Are we detecting history lessons?" Biff asked
"No" Quinn lied to him
"So we found out where he's staying and we thought we'd give him a Christmas visit" Jessie told them, as the girls looked around the room
"Mercy I thought you'd be blowing this up" Blaine looked at her saying
"Leave it" Kurt told him as they found chairs around the kitchen to sit and watch the girls work, they ate, drank got merry and sang until late into the night no one mentioning Sam again for the night
"Song of the year" Santana announced seeing as it was her turn this year "Is a fitting Silent Night" she told them as they made ready to sing the song
Girls
Silent night, holy night!, all is calm, all is bright, round yon virgin, Mother and child, holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace
Boys
Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight, glories stream from heaven afar, heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Saviour is born! Christ the Saviour is born
Everyone
Silent night, holy night! Son of God love's pure light, radiant beams from thy holy face, with dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at thy birth, Jesus Lord, at thy birth
"Happy Christmas" echoed across the room as they exchanged gifts before everyone left with their bundles, happy.
Day 7
Santa Clause is coming to Town
Sam had grabbed the book he'd left in the classroom last night and took it back to the hotel, he'd been to the local library and read up on the Glee Club, he'd sat looking at the pictures over and over again, as far as he knew he'd kissed a lot of girls but not slept with them, he'd made friends with the Glee guys and they looked tight, he couldn't see what he needed to forget.
He'd fallen asleep thinking and woke up wondering, "This has everything to do with Mercedes Jones" he concluded as he got up, jogged and was back before Demi turned up with his coffee "I need to find out where this Mercedes Jones lives" he announced as she walked into his hotel room
"Okay" she handed him his coffee telling him as she got her phone out to get the information he needed "I didn't get Mercedes but I got the Jones residence" she showed him the phone
"Lets go" he jumped up leaving the coffee on the table
Twenty minutes later they were standing outside the Jones family home "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know. but I'll call you if I need you, I can take it from here" he opened the car door and left Demi in the car, his heart was beating fast as he walked towards the door, he knew this place, he knocked the door and waited for a long while before he surmised the place was empty and went back to the car "No one's there" he told Demi getting back in the car "There's a carol service this morning, she'll be there" he told her making his way back to the hotel, jumping in the shower and getting some decent clothes on before he left for the local church
He walked in and felt instantly at home there, he smiled as he saw a familiar frame on the front stage, he'd studied those pictures so hard he felt he knew her from every angle "Mercedes" he walked towards her saying she didn't turn straight away and he called her again when he was almost behind her "Mercedes"
"Yes" she turned around to look at who was calling her "Sam" she smiled, it broke his heart into pieces, he was ready to cry but he didn't understand why
"I'm feeling we err... can we go somewhere to talk?"
She looked around before she put the sheets down and guided him over to the pews "Are you alright?" she asked still smiling
"I know you're significant, I feel that, but I don't remember what happened here, why I blocked this part of my life out, but I know it has something to do with you"
"We made promises back then Sam, we said we'd never talk of it again"
"I just need to understand I mean I think I loved you, I mean really loved you and whatever happened was a consequence of the end of that love"
"I don't think our love was ever ended Sam"
"See I looked at you just now and I knew that" he smiled "Please tell me, we can break a promise for me, I feel like I'm going mad with all this"
She looked at him for a long time, his eyes begging her to share his past with him "We split up because I needed to be an R&B singer in LA and you needed to be a model in New York" she told him "It was a painful decision for both of us, we wanted to be together we wanted the lifestyle that we'd created, but we'd worked hard for our professional lives too, we sat down cried made our decision and then we couldn't live with it and it broke us"
"The pain of breaking up with you broke me, broke us?" he looked at her puzzled asking "Okay, so we chose fame over us and I've regretted it enough for me to block it all out?" he asked trying to make sense of it in his head
"No Sam" she huffed this was a conversation she was trying her damn best to avoid "We were having a child, the decision we made was to get rid of it and that broke us"
"God I asked you to get rid of our child" he repeated as tears sprung to his eyes "But I don't... we don't believe in that" he grabbed her hand telling her "I made the wrong choice"
"We made the wrong choice Sam and it broke us" she said as tears sprung to her eyes, he hugged her and with that hug everything came back, flashing through his mind like he was in a ball spinning through time, he knew without conviction he loved this woman with everything he was, he felt ashamed for what he'd agreed.
"I remember" He lifted her head up to tell her "And I was wrong, I'm sorry, I know that doesn't cover it but I regret my decision so much you'll never know"
"This is so the wrong time for all this, I have a stage to build, children to organise, Christmas to get through" she told him wiping her face dry as she got up
"I'll help" he followed her saying as she shouted orders and he followed them,
Soon people were arriving and it seemed like minutes and the church was full, he was sitting next to Mercedes watching as people got up and said their Christmas piece, Mercy got up and walked the little one's through the nativity play, a group of children did a dance and the Choir he'd been listening to all week led the congregation in all the carols.
When the children started singing 'All I want for Christmas is you' he grabbed hold of her hand, his heart jumped when she turned to him and smiled,, tears in her eyes, he hugged her and let her cry. The service was soon over and the church cleared as Mercedes went around speaking to people, they shared smiles when they caught each other looking, then suddenly they were looking at each other "Hi" he smiled
"Hi" she smiled
"Everything feels right, safe, warm, and I remember everything, I want you back, is it too late?"
"Will it ever be too late for us?"
"I hope not"
"I need to be honest, I made that decision because I didn't want to be the one that held you back after everything you'd conquered to be there, I was wrong if I could take it back I would believe me" he stood in front of her telling her
"I kept away because..."
"Finally" they heard as their heads sprung up to see Blaine, Kurt, Tina, Mike, Brittany, Artie, Santana, Puck, Rachel, Jessie, Quinn and Biff standing looking back at them smiling
"Sam" Mercedes called getting his attention "I need to be honest too" she grabbed his hand telling him "I kept away because I didn't want you to feel trapped" she started crying again, Sam went to hug hr but she stopped him when she started talking again "When you walked away it was too much for me I reached that place Mr S talked about, I couldn't loose all of you so I kept our baby" she looked at him telling him "You have to understand I couldn't go through with it, I didn't give anything up, I took a break had Samantha and went straight back to work"
"We had the baby?" he looked at her asking "Why didn't you tell me"
"You'd made your decision, I didn't want to tie you down like that"
"I've missed 11 years"
"You might of, but she knows everything about you, I made sure"
"Can I see..."
"Hello" he heard as he looked back at the group standing some crying some smiling as this pretty round faced, green eyed, thick lipped almost young lady came walking towards them her brown blond hair in wrinklets way past her back neatly twisted, her brown dress set off with some white, brown and tan beads wrapped round her neck "This is him yeah?" she looked at her Mom asking
"Yes Sweetheart this is him"
"Pleased to meet you finally Daddy, I asked for you this Christmas" she hugged into him telling him, Sam could do nothing but hug her back as he looked up at Mercedes before looking back down at his child clinging to him "We have a lot to catch up on before dinner" she smiled up at him, she had her Mother's smile but looked at him with his own eyes, he was totally smitten
"We do" he laughed but tears were falling "Sorry guys" he looked up at the crowd standing watching
"Welcome back" Puck shouted as they all came forward to hug him bursting into a seasonal 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town' by Mariah Carey
"Surely you mean Sam Evans is coming to town?" Mercy asked when they finished, making everyone laugh "Are you staying for Christmas dinner?"
"Wild horses couldn't drag me away" he kissed her nose telling her feeling more at home than he could ever remember, more so when he looked down at his daughter to see himself smiling straight back at him
"Best Christmas Ever" Samantha said, he couldn't disagree, he'd be waking up for the rest of his life at home with his family
The End
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas