I can't thank you all enough for the reviews and the story alerts. I really wasn't sure if I'd get a positive response to be honest. So thank you again from the bottom of my heart. I just hope I can live up to everyone's expectations ;) Enjoy!
Rachel fumbled through her makeup bag for her favorite lip gloss. She glanced quickly at her alarm clock, before leaning toward her mirror and applying a thin layer on her lips. She pursed her lips together and stared at her reflection. Her necklace caught her attention as the gold star shimmered in the light. Her hand instinctively reached for it and she rubbed her fingers back and forth across the star. Perhaps this particular necklace wasn't the right choice, she thought, after all, it was a gift from Finn. Finn. She wondered if he was at home, fumbling with his tie or looking for a pair of dress socks. She spun in a half circle in front of the mirror, admiring her dress. She smoothed the purple beads on the black tulle skirt, as the doorbell chimed downstairs.
She peeked around the top of the stairs. Her dads were chatting with Sam, who stood awkwardly by the front door. Rachel took a deep breath and descended the stairs ever so gracefully. Sam stopped talking mid-sentence, meeting Rachel's gaze as she reached the bottom step.
"Rachel…" he couldn't even finish his sentence. She reached out and carefully took Sam's hand, raising it up over both of their heads. Clutching his hand, she twirled around him, giggling softly.
"Oh sweetie, your dress is beautiful." her father, Leroy, exclaimed.
"Thank you, daddy." Rachel grinned.
"That's what I was going to say." Sam leaned over and whispered in her ear, causing a rosy shade of pink to creep across her cheeks.
"How about some pictures before you leave?" her dad, Hiram, suggested, motioning towards the front door, waving a camera in his hand.
"You don't mind, do you Sam?" she asked.
"Nope." Sam smiled, following Rachel out the front door. They stood in front of two oddly shaped bushes while Rachel's dads snapped several pictures. Sam placed a corsage on her wrist as her father's filled up their memory card with more pictures. Rachel kissed both of father's sweetly on the cheek and followed Sam to his mother's car.
"Thanks for playing along." Rachel said, breaking the awkward silence on the drive to the school. "Humoring my dad's for pictures, that is."
"Oh I didn't mind. My, uh, mom was working, so she wasn't able to come and take any pictures." he shrugged. "You sure you don't want to grab something to eat first? I know it's not very traditional, but I could slip through the drive thru of a burger joint if you're hungry."
"No thanks, I'm a vegan anyways." Rachel shook her head, looking away to gaze out the window.
"Oh, sorry I didn't know that." he apologized. How the hell was I supposed to know she was a vegan?, he thought. Hementally cursed himself for even suggesting that. The rest of the ride was silent, neither making any attempt at conversation. Rachel fiddled nervously with the beads on her dress, while Sam kept his eyes focused on the road in front of him. Rachel perked up once he pulled into the school parking lot. She scanned the lot for familiar vehicles in hopes that perhaps Tina or Mercedes would be there.
The music was blaring as Rachel and Sam entered the gymnasium. Black and silver balloons and streamers adorned almost every surface. Rachel noticed that the lights were so dim that she could hardly see what was in front of her. Sam tentatively reached for her hand and guided them to an empty table.
"Um, you want something to drink?" Sam finally asked, pushing his chair out and standing up.
"Sure." Rachel replied. She absently played with the table cloth, scanning the low lit room for familiar faces.
"You came!" Mercede's voice boomed behind her, causing her to flinch slightly. Rachel whirled around in her seat to see Mercedes, Tina, Mike and Kurt standing behind her. She jumped up to greet them.
"By yourself?" Kurt asked, glancing around for a possible date.
Rachel scrunched her nose at Kurt. "No, I am not here by myself. I came with Sam."
"Evans?" Mercedes asked, trying to hide her shock.
"Yes, why do find that so surprising?"
"I didn't think you and Avatar boy were friends." Mercedes replied. Mike let out a chuckle only to be silenced by a quick smack on the arm from Tina, as Sam returned with two glasses in hand.
"Hey guys." Sam interrupted, handing Rachel a glass of punch.
"I almost didn't recognize you Sam. You clean up nice." Mike laughed.
"Same for you Chang." Sam scoffed, playfully punching Mike in the arm. Rachel motioned for everyone to join them at their table. As they sat, Mercedes leaned over and whispered something to Kurt. Kurt craned his body slightly to the right and looked over his shoulder. Rachel followed his gaze and caught sight of Finn and Quinn standing just inside of the entrance, with Puck and Lauren just a few feet behind them.
Please, please, please review and tell me what you think! Fluffy chapter, I know, but more to come.