Seeing the tall blonde football player Jacob quickly headed for the exit. But he wasn't faster than Sam, His strong arm flying inches away from Jacobs face and blocking his exit.
"What do you have there Jacob?" Sam growled as he tore the camera from the now terrified boy's hands.
Jacob just froze as Sam played back the footage on the camera. He saw Rachel walking to her car and then headed off towards the field once she realized what had happened to her car. He saw Rachel's 30 yard shot scream into the back of the net, he saw her dribbling the ball up and down the field cutting back and forth, he saw her passing with precision, and some of the other girls on the team showing her how to juggle the ball on her feet. He also noticed the camera angle, Jacob had followed Rachel out of the school building that day and went from hiding behind the bushes in the parking lot to hiding under the bleachers at the field.
"You are a sneaky little perv you know that don't you? Who have you told about this?"
"All I said was that there was a new surprise soccer star at McKinley, I haven't told anyone that it was Rachel, at least I haven't yet." Jacob smirked, "I was waiting to put it on my blog tomorrow."
Sam let his arm fly of its own accord hurling the flip cam into the near by wall, shattering it into multiple pieces.
"Jacob if you run your mouth next time it wont just be the camera!"
Sam then headed off in search for Rachel. He figured he would check the most obvious place, the auditorium, but she wasn't there. He swung by the choir room figuring thats the next logical place to go, but no Rachel. He was walking up and down the halls trying to think of where she would go when he heard a bouncing sound . He followed it to the gym where Rachel was juggling a soccer ball.
She heard him enter and the ball hit the floor rolling across the gym. She looked so upset. Soon the whole school would know about the soccer team. I mean she always knew they would find out eventually but she hoped that it would be after she actually played in a game and proved herself.
"Rachel don't worry I took care of it Jacob won't be bothering you anymore."
Sam explained every detail as it went down in the cafeteria. As Sam assured her by putting his hand on her shoulder, all the tension and anger she had been holding in dissipated, and she melted under his touch. She couldn't help rolling into his body and wrapping her arms around his middle in a hug.
"Sam thank you for being so good to me. Its been rough since the break up with Finn, and even though i'm over him now, its become like open season on me not having a boyfriend on the football team anymore."
Sam reciprocated the hug and couldn't deny that holding her just felt right. The hug lingered neither one moving.
"I like this." Sam said looking down at Rachel. He knew this was a bold move but if he didn't say something now he was afraid he would never have the courage to again.
"You like what, Sam?"
"This right here. You and me Rachel. I like it. It feel like this is how it should be." Sam felt a pit form in his stomach as he waited for Rachel's reply.
Rachel felt a warmth in her stomach radiate out reaching every part of her. Her huge trademark smile slowly spreading across her face.
"It does feel that doesn't it."
Relief swept over Sam's body as he returned the smile, gave a chuckle and just pulled her tighter into his chest.
This is the moment where Sam the gorgeous athletic football player and Rachel the school punching bag and future soccer star became Sam and Rachel the couple.
The rest of the week continued with Rachel's new schedule the first game of the season was this Friday and she wanted to be ready. Sam would pick her up every morning to condition before school. Followed by class, sitting with Sam at lunch, and then more class. Glee would be the last period of the day and it didn't take the rest of the glee kids long to realized the new relationship between the two. The would sit next to each other, hold hands and giggle back and forth. Finn and Quinn the schools new power couple were not very amused but the rest of the group seemed happy for them. Then Rachel who would usually hang back and put away chair would speed out of the room to make it to soccer practice.
Even though Rachel's secret wasn't out in the open there were things that changed about her and people did notice. Rachel would no longer wear her hair down and curled. It was always pulled back in a ponytail and straight. It was just too much work to curl it before school after training with Sam. Her wardrobe went from skirts, blouses and knee socks to jeans, t-shirts and hoodies. She sill kept her quirky style with her shirts always in bold colors and patterns but it wasn't the same. Rachel found that her old wardrobe got easily wrinkled in her gym bag and she would spend so much time trying to iron it all out before classes started. It was just easier to switch up her wardrobe. The other thing that changed and was most noticed by school heart throb and self proclaimed "sex shark," Noah Puckerman, was Rachel's body all that working out toned her arms legs even more then they already were. It was game day when Puck finally decided to say something.
"Hey Berry whats going on with you?" Puck asked her one day after history. They had actually remained fairly close friends since he had vowed to be nicer to Jews.
"Nothing why do you ask?"
"Well you are dressing different, wearing your hair different, rushing out as soon as glee finishes up, and i'm not gonna lie your body is smokin'"
With that comment Rachel slapped Puck's arm, "That is totally inappropriate Noah!"
"Hey i'm just being honest and don't tell me nothings up. I know you pretty well Berry and there is defiantly something going on with you I just can't put my finger on it."
"Ok Noah I'm not going to lie to you there is something going on but you will find out soon enough. Actually you will find out this afternoon."
At the end of the day Rachel made her way into the the girls locker room. She slid up her cherry red socks over her shin guards and securely tied her cleats before sliding her matching red jersey over her head. It had her last name above the number 4 written in white. One last tightening of her ponytail, and she head out onto the field with the rest of the team.
As she reached the field she noticed that the bleachers were at capacity. Everyone in the school showed up. Even though Jacob never leaked her news the rumors were still flying around the school about this new star and everyone wanted to see who it was. Rachel warmed up and passed with her partner Kate as far away from the bleachers as possible so no one could recognize her. It was about 10 minutes till game time when Coach Holliday came up to her.
"Hey Rachel don't be worried you are going to do great. You have more natural talent for this game than I have ever seen before."
The reassuring words and smile did little to help ease the butterflies in her stomach. Performing on stage in front of an audience was one thing but performing athletically on a field in front of her high school tormenters was another.
"Oh by the way Rachel we need you to sing the national anthem, our stereo system isn't working."
Rachel just nodded at Holly and followed her to the sideline where Coach Beiste, who would be keeping the score book announced,
"Welcome to the first game of the Titans 2011 soccer season, todays national anthem will be sung by one of our own, starting forward, Rachel Berry." With that Coach Beiste passed over the mic.
Instead of applause the crowd was filled with confusion and disbelief. She could already hear the taunts of man hands, and freak being yelled across the field. As she began to sing tears well up in her eyes. No matter how many times she was teased it always stung. When the song was over she jogged onto the field with the rest of her team and positioned herself mid field. She was more nervous than she had ever been until she looked up into the stands and saw the mo-hawked head of her friend puck and the more importantly the shaggy blonde hair of Sam. He was wearing a red t-shirt with her number 4 on it. He wasn't ashamed of her. He stood there proudly wearing it while everyone around him was tearing her down. He and Puck were both clapping and cheering for her despite the hostile environment that surrounded them. Sam made eye contact with Rachel smiled and gave her a reassuring nod. That was all she needed a surge of confidence filled her and then she heard the whistle blow the game had begun.
Rachel streaked up the field with out the ball when Kate crossed it to her just outside of the box. She agilely side stepped around the first defender and then did a spin move completely faking out the next opponent in her way. With that she ripped a shot right past the goalie into the lower left corner. The girls on her team instantly rushed her tackling he to the ground in celebration. When she got up she had a huge smile on her face and noticed that the taunts from the crowd had been replaced with silence and mouthes gaping open in shock. Even Finn Hudson kept rubbing his eyes trying to make sure what he saw really just happened. But through the dead silence her two boys were screaming for her and jumping up and down. She had to admit that this felling was better than any felling she had ever had on stage.
The rest of the game was going great Rachel had two assists in the first half along with her goal, and then scored off of a corner kick in with 5 minutes to go to put the titans ahead by one. With a minute left to go the opposing team's star player intercepted a McKinley pass and began flying up the field towards the goal. Rachel more determined than ever sprinted after her closing the gap between the two of them with every stride. A chant of,
"Berry Berry Berry"
Arose from the stands. As just her opposition was about to shoot Rachel slid across the ground slide tackling the ball away from her. As she got back up to her feet the whistle blew signaling the end of the game. McKinley had won the game and a large part of it was because of Rachel Berry. She turned around to see Sam hopping the fence and running towards her. He lifted her up and spun her around.
"Rachel Berry you are truly amazing!"
He exclaimed right before giving her a celebratory kiss.
In that moment Rachel Berry felt the most happy and content than she ever had. She still loved singing, but she loved this new talent that she discovered too. It was exhilarating. But most importantly she had Sam. A boyfriend who seemed to be nothing but supportive, and loving, and most importantly not ashamed to be with her like Finn had been.
This feeling of euphoria was only replaced by fear of the unknown.
"How will everyone treat me on Monday?"